October 13, 2011 - Fall '11 Issue 4

The Beacon

Student Newspaper of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts North Adams, Mass.

Volume 73 Issue 4 For more content, visit online at: theonlinebeacon.com

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

Students seek sexual assault policy reform

Team dreams

Students Active for Ending Rape (SAFER) will work with MCLA students on Sunday to update the current sexual assault policy.

By Skyla Seamans Senior News Editor

Photo by Will CaseyBeacon Staff

Miles Thomas-Moore prepares to catch the Frisbee at Taconic Lawn. Students are pushing for an Ultimate Frisbee club.

SEE SPORTS, PAGE 10

Seniors Emily Burke, Alyssa Labonte, and junior Peggy Gallaher are hosting a SAFER Sexual Assault Policy Workshop on Sunday, Oct. 16, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Sullivan Lounge.

SAFER stands for “Students Active For Ending Rape” and is the only organization that fights sexual violence and rape culture by empowering student-led campaigns to reform college sexual assault policies, Burke said.

Burke won the opportunity to have trainers from the organization help lead this event through a raffle she entered on the SAFER website.

“Our workshop will answer the question of what makes a good sexual assault policy and will look at ways to improve the College’s current policy,” Burke said.

She said MCLA’s current sexual assault policy is too general and minimal and makes unnecessary gender based distinctions between men and women. There are also no clear disciplinary procedures and the prevention tips place blame and responsibility on the victims, according to Burke.

“The policy states tips like ‘always walk down well-lit streets’ and ‘never go out alone at night,’” Burke said. “Those are all good tips but that’s not rape prevention. They aren’t preventing anything. Rape usually does not happen in a dark ally.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, one in four college women will experience rape or sexual assault before they graduate and 84 percent of women SAFER, continued on page 3

Science Center breaks ground tomorrow

By John Durkan Editor-in-Chief

The Center for Science and Innovation’s opening creeps closer as MCLA will host a groundbreaking tomorrow at 1 p.m.

The celebration will take place on its site, which lies on Blackinton Street between the Office of Admissions and Montana Street.

The College community and invited guests are welcome to attend.

In the event of rain, the groundbreaking will be moved to the Church Street Center, according

Center for Science and Innovation Facts

to Bernadette Lupo, the coordinator of Marketing and Communications.

Due to the event, the portion of Blackinton Street between Montana Street and Church Street will be closed from traffic between 11 p.m. and 3 p.m., according to Director of Public Safety Joseph Charon.

Regardless of location, Blackinton Street will remain blocked off.

In addition, Charon stated that the Mark Hopkins parking lot, Freel Library lot, Admissions lot, Montana Street Commuter lot, Blackinton Street dirt lot and the Church

Three stories

tall, 65,000 gross square feet

twitter.com/ BeaconMCLA facebook.com/ MCLABeacon

Nine

flexible, multi-use labatories

Street Center lot areas should be vacated starting at 10 p.m. tonight.

In the statement, Charon also said “to use other faculty/staff and commuter lots besides the ones listed above for your parking needs.” He also said that campus parking regulations prohibit overnight parking in any faculty/staff or commuter lot.

The building of the Science Center is part of a $54 million project funded by the state’s Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM) that also includes renovations to Bowman Hall.

Solar

panels and heat wheels

Part of $54

million grant for renovations

Photo by Will Casey/Beacon Staff

The Center for Science and Innovation will open in 2013.

Class Government and SGA election results in

A look at two different FirstClass experiences

At the next SGA meeting, nine Senators will be sworn-in.

In this week’s comic, Aurora Cooper draws up two distinct FirstClass visions.

News, page 2

For Fun, page 15

Index

News World News Features A&E Sports: Science

2-3 4 5 6-8 9-11 12

Letters to the Editor Campus Comment Commentary Comics/Games Horoscopes Photo Essay

13 13 14 15 15 16

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News

Thursday, October 13, 2011

theonlinebeacon.com

Colleges Against Cancer seeks more walkers The MCLA chapter is still accepting participants for “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk” on Sunday.

By Jessica Gamari Staff Writer

The MCLA chapter of Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) is looking for people to walk in the Berkshire’s third annual “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk” on Sunday Oct. 16, at the Lee Premium Outlets.

“It’s not a race; it is a celebration of survivorship, an occasion to express hope, and a shared goal to end a disease that threatens the lives of so many people we love,” the American Cancer Society web page reads.

“When you raise funds for a Making Strides event, you’re helping create a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays - where breast cancer never steals another year from anyone’s life.”

Last year, about 250 walkers from the Berkshires participated in the walk, helping New England donate $6 million dollars to the Making Strides event. Across the nation, over 800,000 walkers helped to raise $60 million. The Making Strides Against Breast

FINANCIAL AID ANNOUNCEMENT AVOID IDENTITY THEFT! *Make a list of all credit card and bank account numbers and keep it in a safe place. *Memorize your social security number and important passwords. *Remove all information from your hard drive when discarding an old computer.

BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR IDENTITY! DON’T LET SOMEONE ELSE TAKE IT FROM YOU!! *************** Scholarship opportunity: Mass Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Educational Scholarship. Applications in the Financial Aid Office in Eldridge Hall.

Deadline Nov. 8.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk Lee Outlets, 17 Premium Outlets Blvd. in Lee, Mass.

Sunday, Oct. 16 7 a.m. to register, 9 a.m. start Registration is free, rides are available.

Contact Samantha Bergman or Stephanie Bush via FirstClass for more information.

Cancer event is not only about raising money. It’s about inspiring people to stay strong in their battle with cancer and raising awareness of ways to prevent getting sick.

CAC has been advertising for the event throughout the campus using FirstClass, Facebook, flyers, and even chalk messages in the quad.

“Students should join the walk because it’s a great cause and it’s an easy and fun way to show your support for the fight against Breast Cancer,” Samantha Berg-

man, CAC president said. “All you have to do is walk.”

Participants can choose to walk in the three or five mile event on CAC MCLA team, or on a team of their own. The event will be held at 17 Premium Outlets Blvd. in Lee, Mass. and registration is free. Donations are accepted. Registration starts at 7 a.m. and the events begin at 9 a.m. CAC members will carpool with their own cars if anyone needs a ride. For more details, contact Samantha Bergman or Stephanie Bush on FirstClass.

SGA to swear in Senators

By John Durkan Editor-in-Chief

The Student Government Association will swear in nine Senators on Monday.

Three vacancies remain after last week’s vote – both spots for the Class of 2012 Senate and one of the two spots for the Class of 2013 Senate.

The Senate-at-Large filled all six vacant positions.

Class government election results were also released on Oct. 5. After the election, one vacancy – the Class of 2014 Treasurer position – remained.

In addition, SGA President Todd Foy said Caroline Scully, sustainability coordinator and chair of the Green Team, will be in attendance at Monday’s meeting. She will provide updates on the Green Team.

The SGA meets weekly at Murdock 218 at 7 p.m. on Monday. The meeting is open to the public.

There was no meeting held this week because of the Columbus Day holiday.

Election results 10/5/2011

SGA Senate Senate-at-Large

Jamal Brown

Dennise Carranza

Sarah DiMarino

Jacob Fennell

Daniel Peluso

Hawa Umarova Class of 2014 senator

Adam Tobin Class of 2015 senators:

Osakpolo Igiede

Brendan Peltier

Class Government Class of 2012 Treasurer: Amanda Schuler Secretary: Sarah Grimaldi Class of 2014 Vice President: Sydney Dionne Class of 2015 President: Osakpolo Igiede Vice President: Aloysius Street Treasurer: Elizabeth Doughty Secretary: Jacob Fennell

News

Thursday, October 13, 2011

theonlinebeacon.com

Author, journalist Soledad O’Brien to address College

3

CNN anchor to lecture at Church Street Center on Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Press Release NORTH ADAMS, MA – Journalist and author Soledad O’Brien, who serves as an anchor and special correspondent for CNN, will speak at this fall’s Hardman Lecture Series event at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the MCLA Church Street Center.

The lecture is free and open to the public. No reservations are required.

O’Brien is the former anchor of “CNN’s American Morning” and a former reporter for “NBC News,” where she hosted “Weekend Today.” Her latest documentaries include “Rescued and New Orleans: Rising.” Previously, she reported for CNN’s critically acclaimed documentary series, “Black in America and Latino in America.”

Her memoir, “The Next Big Story: My Journey Through the Land of Possibilities,” recounts her most compelling moments as a reporter and how they have shaped her perspective on America.

At MCLA, O’Brien will give an insider’s look at what it takes to

Photo by Will Casey/Beacon Staff

Students Margaret Gallaher (left), Emily Burke (right) and Alyssa Labonte (back) are helping to make MCLA a safer college by advocating reform to our current sexual assault policy.

Policy to be reformed Photo courtesy of MCLA

Soledad O’Brien

SAFER, continued from page 1

report for CNN’s “In America” unit. Using her experiences, O’Brien will show all the strategies, hard work, and attention to detail that is needed to report on those untold, in-depth stories that reflect what America is today. O’Brien reports stories about the complex fabric of who we are in this country and brings to you the people, events and issues that are often ignored by mainstream media.

The Hardman Lecture Series is made possible through the generosity of the Hardman Family Endowment. For more information, call (413) 662-5185, or go to www.mcla.edu/speakers.

raped or assaulted know their attackers. At least 50 percent of rapes on campus are associated with alcohol consumption and only ten percent of rapes are actually reported.

Burke, Labonte, and Gallaher all agree that there should be an amnesty clause in the College’s sexual assault policy, which would encourage victims to report their experiences.

“The College has an amnesty policy concerning alcohol,” Labonte said. “They should have one for rape as well. Not having this policy prevents people from coming forward because they do not want to get in trouble. This also alters rape statistics on our campus.”

STAGE (Students Taking Action for Gender Equailty) President Brianna Vear, senior Alex Nichipor, and Burke met with the Dean of Students Charlotte Degen last semester about the current policy.

“These students are doing exceptional work to strengthen the College’s communication on sexual assault and prevention,” Degen said. “The College has already made its sexual assault policy more gender neutral and easier to locate on the MCLA website.”

Gallaher said there is a larger rape culture on college campuses than students realize. She hopes there will be a diverse turn out of students and faculty who will come to the workshop and voice their opinions on the topic.

“We know rape on our campus is not as rare as the numbers say,” Gallaher said. “This erases experiences. I also wish there was more mention of sexual violence in same sex relationships because it does happen.”

Burke said there will be no definite end product to the workshop. Instead,

“Night of the Living Dead” Coming soon to Minerva Arts Center 1288 Massaschusetts Ave., North Adams, Mass.

she hopes it will ignite a movement for a better campus and create more informed students on the strengths and weaknesses of the current policy.

“I want students to be empowered to make these necessary changes,” Burke said.

“There are good strengths to our policy, like students’ access to condoms and emergency contraceptives, but other schools have an amnesty clause set in place and we don’t.”

Labonte emphasized that this workshop will benefit everyone on campus. The College needs a more specific and genderneutral policy, she said.

“Improvements will be made over time,” she said. “This workshop is meant to keep students moving forward on policy reform. If we don’t update the policy, we are doing a disservice to those not currently protected by the policy. I want empowerment and to see students willing to take the next step.”

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Thursday, October 13, 2011

National/World News

theonlinebeacon.com

Obama promotes job package Former governor President Obama presents $447 billion jobs package to aid economy.

By Darlene Superville Associated Press PITTSBURGH — President Barack Obama is pressing for passage of his full $447 billion jobs package in the face of certain congressional defeat while embracing more modest administrative remedies to the nation’s sluggish economy and high unemployment.

Continuing his personal campaign for the legislation, Obama was touring a union training facility in Pittsburgh Tuesday, making a plea for support of his legislation in a state crucial to his re-election bid. At the same time, the Senate was scheduled to vote on whether to proceed to the legislation—a step that would require a 60-vote supermajority that was beyond reach.

Eager to demonstrate that his administration was nevertheless taking steps to ease the economic crunch, Obama planned to join his presidential jobs council of corporate and labor leaders in Pittsburgh as they unveiled a report calling for sweeping and urgent changes in government policies.

The White House also was announcing steps to speed up envi-

ronmental and other regulatory approvals for 14 public works projects across the country.

Obama also planned to meet with unemployed construction workers while in Orlando, Florida, where he was to attend two political fundraisers later in the day.

In a 50 page report, Obama Council on Jobs and Competitiveness is laying out a series of policy overhauls sure to please and irritate Democratic and Republican partisans alike, from liberalized immigration and greater spending on infrastructure to less restrictive regulations and a more business-friendly tax system.

Topping the council’s list is a plea for improvements in the nation’s network of roads and bridges, for airport upgrades and modernized ports, and for updated electric grids, water and wastewater systems.

“If Washington can agree on anything, it should be this and it should be now,” the report states.

The 27-member jobs council is headed by General Electric Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt, and includes AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, AOL co-founder Steve

Case and Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg.

The report carefully avoids taking a stand on Obama’s $447 billion jobs package. Instead, it offers recommendations that are bound to meet resistance from one party or the other.

The president, however, will probably find comfort in the report’s demand for new infrastructure. His jobs bill proposes spending $30 billion to modernize schools and $50 billion on road and bridge projects.

The council’s report calls on Congress to reauthorize surface transportation legislation instead of simply approving temporary extensions. It proposes additional ways of leveraging private sector investment in public works projects, including a national infrastructure bank that would be seeded with public money to attract private money, a proposal that has bipartisan support and is also in Obama’s job’s bill.

As a start, the Obama administration on Monday announced 14 major public works projects that will receive accelerated environmental and permit reviews, with a goal of completing federal review within 18 months.

joins US Senate race

By Kevin Freking Associated Press WASHINGTON — Linda Lingle, a former two-term governor of Hawaii, announced Tuesday that she is entering the state’s Senate race, giving Republicans hope of capturing the seat being vacated by Democrat Daniel Akaka, who is retiring.

Lingle, 58, said that one of her strengths is getting people to work together regardless of party affiliation, a concept that she believes is in short supply in Washington.

“If elected, first, foremost and always, my decisions will put Hawaii people first as we decide the critical issues facing our state and country,’’ Lingle said in a statement.

Lingle was the state’s first female governor and served from 2002-2010. She won with about 62 percent of the vote in her second race. Her victories indicated she can appeal to moderate Democrats, which could be critical in an election cycle that features native son President Barack Obama at the top of the

Democratic ticket.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee noted that she nominated Sarah Palin for vice president at the GOP’s national convention in 2008, and called Palin a “true leader.’’

Lingle praised Akaka, as embodying “the spirit of aloha in Washington, D.C.” and serving the state for 34 years.

Lingle also served for two terms as the mayor of Maui. In a radio interview, she stressed that she would focus on curbing government regulation and spending.

Rep. Mazie Hirono and former Rep. Ed Case are competing for the seat in next year’s Democratic primary.

Hirono narrowly defeated Case in the Democratic primary for the 2002 governor’s race, but she later lost to Lingle.

GOP officials in Washington believe that Lingle’s entry into the race will also require the Democratic Party to invest in the race, which could leave less money available for races in swing states such as Missouri and Ohio.

Boston area college students join protest GOP Senator Brown casts Hundreds of Boston students march against Wall Street greed. himself as bipartisian choice

By Steve LeBlanc Associated Press BOSTON — Hundreds of students from 10 area colleges marched through downtown Boston on Monday as part of the national Occupy Wall Street movement, briefly confronting police while attempting to hang a banner on a Boston bridge.

The protesters gathered on Boston Common and marched in front of the Massachusetts Statehouse carrying signs that read “Apathy isn’t working, Raise your voice,’’ and chanting slogans like “Fund education, not corporations’’ and “We got sold out. Rich got bailed out.’’

Protesters later marched to a Charlestown bridge near the city’s

North End neighborhood hoping to hang a banner.

Police blocked the bridge, which was closed for about an hour before the protesters dispersed. Two demonstrators appeared to scuffle with officers during the standoff.

Police did not immediately report any arrests.

Francis Rick, a sophomore at Framingham State University, said many of her friends are struggling to pay for their education even while holding down part time jobs.

“A lot of us are already in debt and we haven’t graduated yet. A lot of my friends, even though they work 20 hours a week, that is not enough to cover their expenses,” said Rick,

a 19-year-old psychology major. “A lot of us can’t even afford to get sick.’’

The protesters met on Boston Common at about 1:30 p.m. A halfhour later they began their march and looped around the Common, passing by the Statehouse before heading toward Dewey Square in downtown Boston, the focal point of the Occupy Wall Street protests in the city.

Student protesters said they’re angry with an education system that they say mimics what they call the “irresponsible, unaccountable, and unethical financial practices” of Wall Street.

Similar protests have sprung up in other cities.

Republicans aim to knock out Romney Associated Press CONCORD, New Hampshire— Mitt Romney faces concerted attacks from fellow Republicans who will be trying to knock him out of the front-runner position during a Tuesday night debate in the New England state that usually holds the first primary election.

A strong early showing can give a boost to a candidate in the stateby-state presidential nominating contests.

Romney will be on friendly ground at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, a neighbor to Massachusetts where he served as governor.

With the Republican field still in flux and Romney leading, but

without broad-based support in the party, he likely will be targeted by fellow candidates who think they can gain ground by attacking him for his centrist political record.

But he picked up a key endorsement in the hours before the debate with the announcement that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie would be endorsing him.

Romney and Christie were to hold an event Tuesday in New Hampshire, where Christie will announce his support, the Romney campaign said.

Christie had been considering a presidential run in 2012, but decided against becoming a candidate last week.

The New Jersey governor’s endorsement will send much of that cash to Romney. Romney also

stands to benefit from the budgetcutting Christie’s ties to the tea party, a group of conservative voters that Romney has struggled to win over.

Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, whose candidacy has faded after early success in a straw poll in Iowa, urged conservative voters not to support a candidate who isn’t one of them.

“It’s not good enough to settle for anyone but Barack Obama,” she said while campaigning in New Hampshire on Monday.

Even lower-profile rivals tried to knock Romney off his game. Such criticism has not broken Romney’s pace. Nothing, to this point, has sparked an exodus among his supporters and Romney leads in polls of New Hampshire Republican primary voters.

By Steve LeBlanc Associated Press BOSTON — U.S. Sen. Scott Brown gears up for a re-election campaign; the Massachusetts Republican is busily casting himself as a bipartisan bridge builder in a bitterly divided Congress.

Democrats have been quick to portray Brown as beholden to Washington Republicans, however, while also calling a recent remark he made about Democratic front-runner Elizabeth Warren demeaning to women.

In the past week, Brown has decried political divisiveness on the Senate floor, sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell echoing the same sentiments, and urged Reid in a phone call to craft a bipartisan version of Barack Obama’s jobs bill.

For Massachusetts voters who are far more likely to elect Democrats, Brown’s message is simple.

“I’m one of the most bipartisan, if not the most bipartisan, senator there and I’m going to continue to do what I’ve been doing to be that independent voter and thinker,” Brown told reporters.

Brown’s campaign message hit a snag last week, however, following a Democratic primary debate in which Warren quipped that she kept her “clothes on” when asked how she paid for college. The questioner had mentioned Brown’s decision to pose nude for Cosmopolitan

magazine as a law student.

Brown shot back during a radio interview two days later, laughing and saying “Thank God” when asked about Warren’s comment.

Democrats immediately criticized Brown’s remark as sexist, but Brown later said he was just responding to a “wisecrack’’ from Warren about a decision he made to pay for school.

“She was joking, I was joking and I’m not quite sure what else to say,’’ he said.

On Sunday, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi weighed in, saying Brown’s remark about Warren, a Harvard professor and consumer advocate, shows he’s clueless about women.

“I thought it spoke volumes about how clueless Sen. Brown is,’’ the California Democrat said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.’’

The change from tea party firebrand to bipartisan dealmaker has been an evolution for Brown, who won a 2010 special election for the seat left vacant by the death of longtime Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy by vowing to be “the 41st senator that could stop the Obama” health care law.

Now, Brown says he’s a Republican who supports key elements of Obama’s jobs bill, including an extension of the payroll tax cut. Brown said he also supports an expansion of tax credits for businesses that hire unemployed members of the military and a repeal or delay of a withholding tax on government contractors.

5 Students embrace digital as well as vintage Features

Thursday, October 13, 2011

theonlinebeacon.com

By Mary Redstone Features Editor

There is no denying that we live in a digital age. We once lived in a time where being able to play Snake on your phone meant you were cool; now your phone can direct you to the nearest Taco Bell at one in the morning. Our computers are smaller and faster, and their use of the internet have even made calling in for pizza obsolete.

Of course, our music has gone down a similar path. Gone are the days of carrying around your Walkman and CD cases filled with anywhere from 12 to 24 CDs. Farther gone are the days when you would sit at your desk winding up a cassette tape with a nearby pencil or pen so you could hear that last song one more time.

Now, iPods are the most popular mp3 devices on the planet. As of Sept. 1, 2010, Apple has sold 275 million iPods since its introduction in Oct. 2001. This includes all of the generations of the iPod Classic, Video, Shuffle, Nano, and Touch. In 2010 alone, Apple sold approximately 50 million iPods.

On the MCLA campus, this popularity holds true. Out of the 25 MCLA students who participated, 17 own iPods. This was a clear majority, since the next popular result, with six owners, was miscellaneous brands of mp3 players, including Android-powered smart phones. The final two votes were divided between owners of Microsoft’s Zune and those who did not own an mp3 player at all.

When asked why these students owned iPods, the overwhelming response was its portability; the most recent iPod Classic can hold up to 40,000 songs over 160 GB, while the iPod Touch has three different models ranging from eight to 64 GB. “It was the best for the money,” said freshman Monique Ferrecchia. “[It has] lots of storage space for a low price.”

“I’ve always had an iPod since they first came out,” said senior Todd Foy. “[I] never wanted to switch.”

In addition to portability, iPods have a higher range of functions that most other MP3 players, especially to those who own iPhones. Current iPods can also play video, but that is nothing compared to the iPod Touch.

They can access the iTunes store right from their iPods, in addition to the App Store for games and other toys.

“I own an iPhone, which technically comes with an iPod as a feature,” said freshman Taylor Krowitz. ”iPods are easier to use than most other music-listening devices.”

However, there will always be those who are not fans of the iPods, some of them even iPod owners themselves.

“I currently use my Android phone, only because it is the most convenient,” said junior Peter Mitchell. “I plan on picking up a Zune at some point. The volume

Photo by Cara Sheedy/Beaon Staff

Shannon Costello still enjoys the pop and hiss of an old record. output on the iPod is embarrassing and the equalizer on it is rather terrible, being much too trebleheavy even after using it.”

In addition to owning digital copies of music, students are also taking advantage of the evergrowing number of streaming websites. Of the 25 of students surveyed, all but three said they do not listen to some form of internet music or radio. The most popular site was Pandora, a Web site that creates radio stations based on common factors of a user-specified song or artist. “[I like it because] it keeps me in tune with new music that I wouldn’t have otherwise heard,” said junior Sam Boyden. “[It has] convenient, premade playlists of music I like and you don’t have to download anything.”

“It just gives me more options than what I have in my own li-

brary. I also like to find other artists and Pandora helps my lazy self get that done,” said Foy. Students also use these sites to stay up-to-date with new and emerging artists.

“The stations are very good at finding nifty patterns for similar artists as long as you are active in listening,” Mitchell said. “I use Soundcloud to discover up-andcoming musicians who are recording from home, usually.”

“I use Pandora mainly to hear new music,” said senior Andrew Bagley. “I love to make a station out of very different-sounding artists and see what comes out.

Sometimes Pandora hits gold and sometimes I pray for immediate deafness.”

Even though the iPod is the most popular mp3 player on campus, and in the world, and the music industry is becoming flooded

with online streaming, there are still plenty of people who favor a much older method of listening to music: vinyl.

Of the 25 students who participated in the survey, 14 said they own records and a record player, either at home or at school. This beat the other option, not owning records or a record player, with 11 votes.

Vinyl records have been around for over a century. Up until the 1980s, when cassette tapes became the player of choice due to its portability, vinyl dominated the playing field. Then, when CDs were introduced, vinyl was almost completely tossed by the wayside.

In 1991, CDs surpassed vinyl in sales and has continued to do so since, causing the sales of vinyl to spiral downwards.

However, in recent years vinyl has been making a comeback.

In 2009, only 1.88 million vinyl albums were sold. However, that figure doubled for 2010 and reached 2.88 million vinyl sales, the highest amount sold since its decline began in the early 90’s.

“I have albums that are not available in digital form,” said senior Sean Wheeler. “I don’t own an MP3 player because I have not taken the time to invest in one, and there’s something special about purchasing a physical album… the artwork, reading the lyrics, and sometimes the smell of a new album.”

Some students like to utilize both qualities of mp3s and vinyl.

“Records sound better,” said junior Tyson Luneau, “and represent a tangible item with larger artwork. However, records are not portable, so I have an iPod for that purpose.”

“I don’t own a record player personally,” said Bagley, “but I do make use of a friend’s player and my parents’ record collection while at school. I suppose if I suddenly got a lot of money and had to spend it then I might buy a record player, but otherwise I’m satisfied with what I have.”

The MCLA campus seems to follow the national, and international, music trends: iPods are abundant and internet streaming is on the rise, but vinyl is making a comeback amongst a small demographic.

Whether vinyl sales rise high enough to combat the sales of mp3s or CDs is something that may take another few years, if it happens at all. Until then, students and the general population will continue to have the option of the compact and portable mp3, or the large and warm-sounding vinyl.

Results of the MCLA students surveyed:

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A&E

Thursday, October 13, 2011

theonlinebeacon.com

‘Night of the ‘Lo’ Sottile: Ahead of the Game at Maya IV Living Dead’ Senior arts to play at managment student Minerva spent her summer Press Release

Night of the Living Dead is an original adaptation for the stage of the cult classic film of the same title by George Romero.

The dates are as follows: Oct. 19 @ 7:30 (Pay What You Can!) Th., Oct. 20 – Sat., Oct. 22 @ 7:30 Th., Oct. 27 – Sat., Oct. 29 @ 7:30 Sun., Oct. 30 @ 5 p.m Mon., Oct 31 @ 10 p.m.

General admission: $10 Students & Seniors: $5 The Saturday, October 22 performance will be followed by a special concert performance After the Apocalypse – Heather Maloney and Mike Quinones at the MAC!” at 10 PM. Tickets are $5 for the concert only.

Minerva Arts Center is located on 1288 Massachusetts Avenue, North Adams.

Purchase tickets at the door, and online at [ http://www.minervaartscenter.org/ ]www.MinervaArtsCenter.org (click on “Theatre Productions” and follow the link for “Night of the Living Dead”) or call [ tel:413-346-4502 ]413-346-4502. Seating is limited!

MARCO BENEVENTO

on Main Street.

By Nora Weiss Staff Writer

There are two things a person should know about senior Lauren Sottile: everyone calls her ‘Lo’ and art is at the center of her life. This past summer Sottile was appointed Associate Gallery Manager of the gallery Maya IV, a job some people spend their entire college career aspiring to do. Sottile was ahead of the game.

Working as a gallery attendant during the 2010-11 school year, Sottile got to see the business side of gallery managing firsthand. She welcomed patrons in Gallery 51 on Main Street in downtown North Adams while also participating in Museum Studies, an upper-level arts management class. The goal was for students to create an exhibit with the pieces the group agreed to showcase based on a chosen theme. Sottile’s experience in gallery managing was growing.

“I had learned so much,” Sottile said, “but I knew that being an Associate Gallery Manager would allow me to delve so much further into the gallery world.”

The Iron Horse Northampton Oct. 15 10 p.m.

Photo by Cara Sheedy/Beacon Staff

Lo Sottile worked at the Maya IV art gallery this past summer.

Maya IV is a part of the DownStreet Art entity, featuring artist Jarvis Rockwell, a descendent of famous artist Norman Rockwell. The gallery is seen as contemporary, according to Sottile, but has always been ahead of its time. The pieces are meant to show an example of how people live their lives and even the idea of some kind of afterlife.

Sottile recalled training for her position as something she put her heart into, as she utilized her training when others had gone home for the day. After a quick session on Adobe Illustrator, Sottile dove right into the subject of how to sell art.

Community members in the Berkshire art scene tutored her in different ways to approach art, explain it to the public, and overall handle

the physical work itself. Besides staying extra hours during North Adams/DownStreet Art events, Sottile managed a 30-hour work week organizing gallery volunteers and creating her own press releases and posters.

It was all worth it when art and life meshed together in a meaningful way, according to Sottile, who truly felt the impact and appreciation of her job.

“This lovely couple came into the gallery,” Sottile said, “and they instantly understood the meaning behind Jarvis’ artwork. Jarvis and I were both there, and it was so beautiful to discuss the art with the couple.”

“Working at Maya IV was amazing. I’ve learned so much more

about gallery life and having to figure things out on my own,” she said.

Sottile’s reign of success didn’t stop after the close of the summer; as of right now, she is interning at the Office of Tourism and Community Events in North Adams.

Currently working on establishing a better connection with local businesses, Sottile is finding herself immersed in North Adams traditional events and is helping to plan them.

“I am also involved with events like the Tree Lighting and the downtown Winter Fest,” Sottile said. “My individual project is to get the North Adams Banner up and running for the 2011-12 year.”

According to Sottile, she plans to take what she has learned from her time here in North Adams and create a similar community somewhere else.

“DownStreet Art has brought so much culture and business to North Adams,” Sottile said, “and I hope to do the same.”

Sottile credits her time as an arts management major as a springboard into her future; her time in the program has truly helped to assist her in achieving her future career goals.

“I would not be half the person I am without MCLA,” she stressed.

“The relationships I have made with my classmates and co-workers are something that I will hold onto forever. Through my experiences at MCLA, I have learned how to voice my opinion, how to get involved, and how to work in countless ‘real world’ business environments.”

NBA 2K12 Brings out the Legends With an NBA season in doubt, theres still one way to get your Basketball fix.

By Jonathan Landrum Jr.

Stephen Stills Live!

Calvin Theatre Northampton Oct. 13 8 p.m.

Associated Press The National Basketball Association has canceled the first two weeks of its season, and there’s no sign the lockout is going to end anytime soon.

That’s no reason for hoopsloving video-gamers to suffer, though. 2K Sports has come well-prepared for the league stoppage with ``NBA 2K12’’ (for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, $59.99), which delivers enough upgrades and new features to keep fans happy until the real thing returns.

This year’s edition of the bestselling basketball franchise introduces the new ``Greatest’’ mode, an enhanced ``My Player’’ mode and strong commentary, fluid gameplay and improved animation.

The Greatest features the league’s top 15 players of all time, including Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, as well as 30 teams from some of the most famous rivalries.

The presentation is flawless, capturing the true essence of how television broadcasts looked in different eras. For example, a Boston Celtics-Los Angeles Lakers matchup from the mid-1960s, highlighting center Bill Russell, is presented in grainy black and white.

ment in ``NBA 2K12’’ is the revamped My Player mode, which lets you build a player from scratch. Rather than starting in the Development League, as in last year’s game, your player is placed in a rookie showcase game. After the showcase, your created player is interviewed by three different teams and then heads to the NBA draft, featuring the likeness and voice of league commissioner David Stern.

On the court, ``NBA 2K12’’ delivers improved artificial intelligence on defense and broader offensive skill sets, along with a precise play-calling system. The player models’ faces and bodies are more on point this year _ especially Kobe Bryant, who looked more like an alien in last year’s installment.

The commentary is again impressive, with sportscasters Kevin Photo courtesy of f5torefresh.com Harlan and Clark Kellogg being Michael Jordan is one of many joined by former NBA player and legends featured in NBA 2k12. newcomer Steve Kerr. Unlike the Once you win a game in the sometimes repetitive commenGreatest mode, both teams will tary in other sports video games, be unlocked, allowing you to set the play-to-play from Harlan and up games between past and pres- Kerr provides a fresh outlook.

For newcomers _ or regulars ent stars. You can create a headwho need to brush up on their to-head matchup between Magic skills _ the game offers a training Johnson and LeBron James, or pit camp mode to practice all your the 1985 Boston Celtics against moves.

There are nine training this year’s champion, the Dallas session led by mentors Jordan, Mavericks.

Bird, Pete Maravich and Hakeem The most significant improveOlajuwon.

7 Washburn hosts ‘Poetry and Popsicles’ Laughter shakes Hunter Center A&E

Thursday, October 13, 2011

theonlinebeacon.com

By Nicole Knapp Staff Writer

Professor Donald Washburn read poems from his most recent collection, “Prayer Beads”, in the Taconic room of Berkshire Towers Friday evening.

“Poetry and Popsicles” was sponsored by Jesse McMillan, a sophomore and a Resident Advisor of Berkshire Towers.

“He’s one of my favorite professors,” said McMillan, who has had Washburn twice. “I know he recently completed some new poetry so I thought it would be a great idea.”

Washburn, a professor of English, started writing the poems for “Prayer Beads” last spring, two weeks before Lent. He became inspired and could not stop writing. He wrote two to three poems a day, and completed the collection in three months.

Washburn said he likes to write in fixed forms and wrote all 128 poems that make up “Prayer Beads” in the same form. Using the very first poem as an example, he showed that there were ten lines and that the first, fifth, and last line were all the same.

Washburn read and gave introductory and background information of 21 of the poems, which were about such subjects as God, spiritual exploration, faith, positive thinking, and death.

“I have to ask myself, what is the thought that you bring that

By John Durkan Editor-in-Chief

Photo by Cara Sheedy/ Beacon Staff

Professor Donald Washburn presented his poetry at Berkshire Towers Friday. your death is out there waiting for you?” Washburn said. “How do you cope with that?”

He went on to say that Poem 17, which dealt with the subject of death, is one of hope.

“That’s how you meet death,” Washburn said. “You dive into the water. You’re going to make the jump, but let’s do it like those boys on the cliff.”

Poem 38 was a poem about cardinals and how we are surrounded by beauty all the time, although we sometimes do not see it because we are concerned

Open Studios return downtown Press Release

MCLA, and Berkshire Cultural Resource Center (BCRC), working with the City of North Adams and the local arts community, announced that North Adams Open Studios will return Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 15-16.

Studios will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. This year’s Open Studios brings back focus on the artist’s workspace and the creative process. Artists will be in their studios to answer questions and give demonstrations throughout the weekend.

In addition, art galleries in the downtown will have artists present to discuss their process of art making.

Attendees will see a working printing press at PRESS Gallery, talk with Jarvis Rockwell about MAYA IV, see pottery being made at River Hill Pottery, and visit multiple artist studios in the Windsor, Beaver and Eclipse mills as well as artists’ private live/work spaces all over the city. Free passes to Mass.

MoCA will be available at Open Studios sites.

DownStreet Art, a citywide celebration of the arts, culminates on Open Studios Weekend. Over more than 10 pop-up galleries opened for this year’s DownStreet Art season.

These galleries will close after Oct. 16. New galleries will open in their place in June 2012.

Artists with studios in North Adams can register for Open Studios online www.northadamsopenstudios.com starting July 29th. The registration fee is $35.

The BCRC provides professional development training, resources and support to the artists, art managers and creative workers of Berkshire County. Through its multiple programs and presentations, BCRC brings performance and art to the Berkshires, showcasing some of what the Berkshires have to offer.

BCRC is a collaborative project of MCLA, Mass. MoCA and the City of North Adams.

Photo courtesy of Jon Secor

Studio21South is one of many open studios this weekend.

with other things. For Washburn, beauty is a sign that God exists.

Poem 81 was Washburn’s favorite poem, one of celebration and a thanks for life; a kind of poem, he said, you would read if you were feeling a little bit depressed.

“Someone may step on your feet but don’t you worry about that,” Washburn said.

Washburn also read poems about the devotion of his Shelties (collie-like dogs), how he is most moved by music, and an appreciation of all the poets out there. The last poem of the night, poem 118,

was summed up effectively in one sentence.

“Old age is not for sissies, as they say,” Washburn said with a smile.

Washburn ended the evening by telling the audience that he was happy to have been able to pass some of his poems on. He is not sure if he will keep writing, because he feels that it is a gift that comes from somewhere and if it happens, then it happens.

“It was a tremendously creative time in my life,” Washburn said. “I didn’t know I had that in me.”

Of course the Upright Citizens Brigade, a highly acclaimed no-limits comedy troupe, dropped jokes about stealing blood donations and some arguably called for violence.

“I haven’t decapitated anyone in two years,” one comic said. “It’s fine if I do it now and then.”

The improvisation troupe was well-received at a packed Hunter Center at Mass. MoCA on Saturday night.

On Saturday, Aaron Jackson, Shannon O’Neill, Brandon Scott Jones and Emily Axford performed.

The Upright Citizens Brigade was formed in New York City in 1996 by Amy Poehlner (“Parks and Recreation”), Matt Besser (“Reno 911”), Ian Roberts (“Anchorman,” “Talledega Nights”), and Matt Walsh (“Old School”). The group had a show for three seasons on Comedy Central.

Other notable performers to perform with the troupe are Will Ferrell, Zac Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman and many more.

Perhaps one of the performers at the Hunter Center on Saturday will become nationally known soon.

8

A&E

Thursday, October 13, 2011

theonlinebeacon.com

‘The Mill Children’ travels to Bennington Exhibit provides reflection on the role of children in North Adams’ industrial history.

By Nora Weiss Staff Writer

John Deming A&E Editor

Jungle Work There are people throughout history who we can say changed the music world forever. Some carry negative connotations like Lil’ Wayne or the Backstreet Boys, while the positive like Hendrix, Dylan, or Garcia forever require the prefix of ‘Legend.’

The passing of a music legend always has one positive: we can look at a fellow human being’s accomplishments and draw inspiration from their life’s work.

In the case of Steve Jobs, we are more likely to look at his life work and analyze his accomplishments in computer technology first. Digging deeper, Jobs was a man who had a legendary impact on the music industry in America and the world.

After vinyl records started to melt on the pavement, the cassette tapes of the world got lost under the passenger seat of my mother’s van, and CDs skipped out of fear of hearing me sing, along came the iPod; a device no bigger than your hand that held 20,000 songs, shuffled them, and allowed you to create a playlist at the speed of light.

Accompanying this revolutionary device was the iTunes store, and the ability to share any Mp3 file with your friends and the world. This store changed my life, as I could now choose songs rather than buy an entire album.

Instead of getting all of Three Dog Night’s greatest hits, I could now get “Never been to Spain” and “Joy to the World” (some very wise choices indeed).

It is a simple concept, yet in the grand scheme of things, the ability to enjoy and share music took three giant leaps and makes its predecessors look like dinosaurs overnight.

Mtv.com writer James Montgomery explains this phenomenon perfectly: “It made the audiophile’s long-unfulfilled dream of having your entire collection with you an absolute reality.”

In my case this is all its about.

When I was 16 years old I was obsessed with Pink Floyd. Standing to be counted with the rest of my favorite artists, having every album at my fingertips changed my life forever. For this I, and the rest of the world, owe gratitude to Mr. Jobs, a legend of our generation.

Local history stretches farther up the road than McDonalds (yes, there’s life beyond the Golden Arches).

The Eclipse Mill, which sits exactly a mile east of Mass. MoCA, houses four floors of artists in residence, who create their work in this historic building. Artist Ralph Brill took his skills and worked internally, researching the past of the Eclipse Mill and turning “The Mill Children” into a collaborative gallery full of pieces focusing on the stories of the child laborers of the early 1900s.

“The Mill Children” comes a century after photographer Lewis Hine took his camera and told the stories of the children who worked 12 hours day in the mill machinery back in 1911. The Eclipse Mill used to operate as a cotton mill, where many North Adams children would trek everyday to earn $5 a week. Many residents of North Adams can trace their ancestry back to the youngsters who maneuvered through the twists

Photo by Lewis Hine/ Courtesy of Brillgallery109.com

One of many of Lewis Hine’s photographs chronicling the lives of child laborers in North Adams. Originally shown at the Eclipse Mill in North Adams, Ralph Brill’s exhibit will open on Nov. 20 at the Bennington Museum in Vermont. and turns of the cotton machines.

“One woman from North Adams, through the artists’ research, told how close she was with her grandfather,” said gallery assistant Scott Coffrin. He pointed to the dirty face of a young boy outside the mill in a photograph hanging on the east wall. “People were curious about what Eclipse was before it became artist lofts, and then people wanted to know what

being a child laborer was like.”

The small gallery room has photographs from Hine and creative reflections from other artists. Pieces range from paintings, drawings, and even a recording of what the mills sounded like during the day. If you think about the jack hammers in the Amsler Campus Center renovation, you’re already drawing connections to “The Mill Children.”

The exhibit was popular while being housed in the Eclipse Mill.

Schoolchildren from all over Berkshire County have visited on field trips to draw their own connections to the pieces and theme.

Coffrin also explained the curiosity factor being quelled with this exhibit amongst many North Adams and Eclipse residents.

“It connects not just what the Eclipse Mill is and used to be, but helps to reflect the past so we can understand our present,” Coffrin said.

While “The Mill Children” has closed at the Eclipse Mill, the exhibit will be opening at the Bennington Museum in Vermont Nov.20. Eventually, the exhibit will be showcased in other Massachusetts mill towns, including Lawrence and Lowell, according to Coffrin.

Any history or art buff can check out personal mill stories and watch some videos about the exhibit on the Brill Gallery page via www.eclipsemill.com

‘The Nick and Artie Show’ begins on radio and television

By John Deming A&E Editor

Baby Gorilla is returning to radio.

After nearly two years off the waves, former Howard Stern sidekick Artie Lange is teaming up with comedian pal Nick Dipaolo for a sports-themed talk show simply titled “The Nick and Artie Show.” Syndicated in over 20 markets Nick and Artie will air from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. on weeknights, being national in scope and subject.

Dipaolo, a Boston native, and

Lange, a Jersey boy known for his love of the New York Yankees, will surely inject some of this rivalry into their show as well.

In 2009, Lange and Dipaolo filled in for Tony Bruno on Fox sports radio, beginning in essence what has become a multimillion dollar contract of three years that includes national syndication and a Television deal. On Oct. 3, “The Nick and Artie Show” debuted on DirecTV. Along with his success in radio, Lange has starred along long time friend Norm Macdonald in films

such as “Dirty Work,” co-wrote and starred in his movie “Beer League,” and wrote a bestselling biography called “Too Fat to Fish.”

This new project also marks a triumphant comeback for Lange who after nine years as Howard Stern’s sidekick on SiriusXM Radio, was forced to leave after a long struggle with depression, substance abuse, (which he discussed openly on air) and personal issues caused his departure from the show in Jan. of 2010.

Since that time, Artie has been in rehab and has eased back into

standup comedy, preparing himself for his new career in radio.

Dipaolo is no spring chicken to radio either. He is a frequent guest on Howard Stern, The Opie and Anthony Show, and guest hosts Dan Patrick’s radio show on occasion. Dipaolo is also known for his appearances on Louis CK’s shows Lucky Louie, and Louie, Comedy Central celebrity roasts, and a guest role on The Sopranos.

To find a local syndication of The Artie and Nick show, or to listen to recent episodes, visit nickandartie. com.

‘All Those Vanished Engines’ is a living relic

By Andrew Hodgson Staff Writer

The boiler plant at Mass. MoCA is a relic of the World War II industrial boom in the US. Tucked behind the main museum at Mass. MoCA, it stands isolated from the rest of the exhibits. “All Those Vanished Engines” is an eerie soundscape of a 1940’s electric plant.

Tucked away from the main building the plant has been repurposed by sound artist Steven Vitiello.

Vitiello uses the characteristics of the building to create an eerie soundscape. Old pipes and decrepit boilers now serve as a complex organ that encompasses the entire structure. The installation is meant to bring us back to

its creation in 1947 and contrast these sounds with the present.

The interior is a maze of pipes and boilers, unchanged from the plant’s functional days.

Visitors walk through the maze of pipes and mechanisms, followed closely by the hisses and whispers of industry. The exhibit encompasses two floors, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in both the building and sounds of the “Vanished Engines.”

The exhibit encompasses two stories. Walking up the original metal grated stairs the visitor is surrounded by the whispers of industry long forgotten. The timeliness of the exhibit is palpable in this economy. The building harkens back to a better time when America was the land of industrial fervor. It contrasts in the visi-

tors mind with current economic themes like unemployment and poverty.

Vitiello’s inspiration (and name) for the exhibit comes from a text

by Paul Park of the same name.

The text serves as the inspiration for the blending of the clamor of a working Boiler Plant with the eerie echoes of the past.

The text and exhibit both play with the idea of a building that is haunted by it’s own past production. The sounds the visitor encounters fade away and become louder at intervals to express the dichotomy between the loud, industrious past and the quiet, serene present of the space.

Vitiello is an accomplished sound artist and Kinetic Imaging associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Photo courtesy of Massmoca.org

“All Those Vanished Engines” boiler room at Mass. MoCA.

9 Men’s basketball gives back to community over the weekend with clinic for local youths Sports

Thursday, October 13, 2011

By Kaitland Hager Sports Writer Early on Saturday morning, October 1, the Boys & Girls Club in Pittsfield echoed with the sound of over a dozen basketballs bouncing against the hardwood floor.

“Right hand,” someone called.

There was a pause in the bouncing before an asynchronous symphony of leather against the gym floor began again. Across the floor, at the foul line, a group of boys stood at attention, waiting for their chance to take a shot from the elbow of the paint. In another section of the gym, even more boys worked on chest passes.

Led by the MCLA men’s basketball team, the 35–40 boys attending the basketball clinic which ran from 9:30 to 11:30, worked on the basics of the game they love so much.

“The clinic is basically an introduction of the team and then a brief demonstration of some fundamental skills,” coach Jamie Morrison explained.

To local youth, it’s more.

Every year, the MCLA men’s team opens the door to the surrounding community, inviting them to participate in a clinic aimed at young male athletes ranging from grades three to

eight. The clinic usually takes place at the Amsler Campus Center Gym, but for their first clinic this year, the Blazers ventured to Pittsfield to try and reach a different group of young athletes.

“It gives us a chance to show our support for the community, the local people, and the kids,” said junior Bilial Shabazz. “Just sharing our knowledge of the game all the while having fun with the kids and enjoying every moment of it is what it’s about.”

Senior Michael Robinson agreed. “It also gives these kids a chance to get to know some of use so when they come to the games they can say, ‘Hey, I know him.

That’s Mike. He helped me learn how to play defense better.’”

To players like Robinson and Shabazz, that’s one of the best parts of participating in the clinic.

Giving the kids the opportunity to interact with the players offers them many things, including meeting players they can call their role models.

“When I was a kid,” Robinson said, “I loved when the older kids would come and show me things about basketball because it made me feel like they cared about basketball, but even better, me.”

The clinic consisted of four different stations: dribbling, passing, shooting and defense. Morrison

theonlinebeacon.com

Photo courtesy of MCLA.edu

The men’s basketball team has held youth clinics over the past two weekends. and assistant coach Tony Skiffington split the kids into four groups and led them from station to station.

“After our first drills, the kids were not sprinting to the next station and Coach Skiffington blew the whistle and screamed ‘stop!’ and all the kids looked up like they just saw a great grizzly bear,” Robinson recalled. “He said, ‘now

sprint!’ and they sprinted to each station from there on out.”

The dribbling station included drills such as, covered stationary left- and right-hand pound dribble, stationary crossovers, between-the-legs, half-speed change of directions and moving crossovers., to name a few drills .

In the passing station, the Blazer’s worked with the kids on the

basics, including chest passes, bounce passes, left- and righthand passes, overhead passes and catching the ball off a screen.

MCLA athletes made sure they were using proper footwork, jumping towards the ball, being ready to take shots and knowing which foot to plant.

CLINIC, continued on page 11

Jillian Gregoriou’s work ethic finally pays off

By Bobby Beauchesne Sports Writer

Playing a college sport is a dream for many youths across the country. Competing at a sport at the collegiate level takes years of practice, dedication, and sacrifice. When one of the lucky ones to reach college level arrives on campus, he or she has usually been recruited and knows what to expect. However, senior volleyball player Jillian Gregoriou did not follow this path to college athletics.

When Gregoriou arrived at MCLA from Quabbin Regional High School, she had no intentions of playing volleyball. Today, the senior is not only on the squad, but has earned regular playing time.

In this short time, not only has she made the team, but she is looked up to as a team leader by underclassmen. It may seem like a quick turnaround, but it did not happen overnight.

“The summer before junior year, I really dedicated myself to playing volleyball,” Gregoriou said. “I worked hard to get in shape and practiced at local gyms. I put in a lot of effort so that I could be prepared for preseason.”

Last year, Gregoriou went into tryouts without any experience competing in college athletics.

Photo by Cara Sheedy/Beacon Staff

Jillian Gregoriou threw herself into being the loudest cheerer on the entire volleyball team.

Besides this, Gregoriou also had to face down the many other women who were all vying for a

spot on the team.

“I tried not to be nervous and just play my game. Making the

team was great, but I was not satisfied with simply being there,” Gregoriou said.

Gregoriou was not intimidated by the other players who had being playing all their lives. She looked at it as an opportunity to learn the game and get better.

“I knew my skills probably weren’t up to the levels of other players, but I knew constant repetition and coaching would benefit me. I just tried to keep an upbeat attitude and not get discouraged when I couldn’t immediately pick up a new skill,” said Gregoriou.

In the early going, playing time was tough to come by. Undeterred by the situation, Gregoriou turned it into a positive.

She said, “I was just trying to be a positive influence on the other girls. I would cheer as loud as I could for the whole game. After every match, I would have such a headache and sore throat from yelling nonstop.”

She quickly grew into the role of team supporter, a constant source of positive energy for the team.

Although playing time was hard to come by, she refused to be quiet and passive. Gergoriou made it a point to be the loudest in the gym and keep the energy flowing.

“At the beginning of the year, I had accepted that I may not play a lot. This did not bother me, and I just worked in practice and remained dedicated to the team.”

JILLIAN, continued on page 11

10

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Sports

theonlinebeacon.com

Ultimate Frisbee club taking shape Three-win week brings Tabling will take place in Bowman Hall for interested students. volleyball back to life

By Kayla Koumjian

By Brendan Foley

Sports Writer

Sports Editor

Ultimate Frisbee is an activity many students participate in. Since the sport is popular among the student body, many have long felt that Frisbee should be an organized program at the school.

Sophomore Kelly Lewis has been playing Ultimate Frisbee since high school. He is also one of the active members pushing for Ultimate Frisbee to become a program at MCLA.

“It’s not an official club. This is something myself and other students want to change.”

“I plan on having an official Ultimate Frisbee club for MCLA by spring semester 2012,” Lewis said.

Ultimate Frisbee was established in the 1970’s by high school students in New Jersey. It is a footballstyle game in which players score by passing into each other’s end zones. Players holding the Frisbee cannot move until they pass it to someone else on their team.

The sport is becoming more popular on college campuses across the country, which has lead some at MCLA to wonder why they shouldn’t start a club of their own.

Another reason for an organi-

Photo by William Casey/Beacon Staff

Frisbee is a mainstay of the Taconic Lawn in front of Hoosac Hall.

zation is that if Ultimate Frisbee became a club at MCLA, students would not have to look around campus for players to get a game going.

“I’m working on creating an actual club for Frisbee. People do play, but it’s all random and unofficial,” Lewis said.

Lewis has high hopes for Ultimate Frisbee’s future as a program at MCLA. The long-term game plan is to have a team that is genuinely competitive with other Ultimate Frisbee clubs.

FRISBEE, continued on page 11

Men’s soccer loses two

Trailblazers drop to 4-8-1 overall with a conference record of 0-3-1.

By Brendan Foley Sports Editor

The men’s Trailblazers soccer team has suffered another setback, dropping two games in the past week. The team drops to 4-8-1 overall, with a conference record of 0-3-1.

The team managed to break a losing streak last week, defeating Green Mountain College, 2-1. However the team was unable to maintain the momentum and the next game, this past Saturday’s match with Framingham resulted in a crushing loss.

The conference game was a particulary rough defeat, as the Trailblazers had actually come out strong, taking a 2-0 lead in the first half.

This was a refreshing change for the Trailblazers, who have struggled in the past with taking advantage of goal oppurtunities.

But Framingham refused to allow them to rest easy, applying almost constant pressure to MCLA, eventually managing to put one past goaltender Dillon Wager in the first half.

The Trailblazers maintained their one goal lead deep into the second half, when Framingham’s Romulo Carlhavo tied the

The Trailblazer’s volleyball team has roared back to life after a sixgame losing streak stretching back to September 20.

Up until Thursday at Green Mountain College, the team had an overall record of 4-15 and a MASCAC conference record of 0-3.

Coach Amanda Beckwith commented on the downward trend, saying, “Losing is hard, but it is not the end. We have had to look at all we have overcome this fall and focus on the positive.”

One of the biggest obstacles the team has had to struggle with is the current team is young, with ten out of the fifteen players being freshmen.

“Sometimes it does take a little bit to adjust to college volleyball,” Beckwith said. “First years often say the game is faster and less about serving than in high school.

I think this did have an impact early, but now they are seasoned players and look forward to winning lots of games in the second half of our season.”

The team’s resurgence began at Green Mountain, but the team managed to carry through and in their subsequent matches on Saturday, a double-header versus the City College of New York and Bard at Bard.

Beckwith described her method for guiding to the team through the rough patch and out the other side.

“We have broken down the game into smaller components and improving the smaller parts have improved the overall outcome,” she explained.

The most recent match was a home duel against Mass. Maritime, the team’s first conference match since the Green Mountain loss.

The Trailblazers went toe to toe with the Mass. Maritime team and emerged triumphant with yet an-

other victory.

Coach Beckwith is optimistic about the effect this winning trend will have on the girls as they go forward with the season.

“The team looks at each match seperately and we will definitely be taking our recent wins and their momentum with us as we push forward.”

Along with these victories, the Trailblazers have also celebrated senior Kayla Bromback being named the MASCAC player of the week.

“Sometimes, it does take a little bit to adjust to college ball.”

Over the weekend, Bromback tied the school record for career kills and will have the oppurtunity to beat that record at the team’s next match.

The team obviously has much to celebrate, however some statistics remain troubling if the team is contine performing at such a level.

Twelve games into the season, the team has put up 557 attacks versus their opponents combined total for 228. The number of attacks is dwarfed by the amount of errors the team has made, accumulating 269 errors over the season. For comparison, the other teams have a combined total of 92 errors.

On the serving side, the volleyball team has aced 178 times to opposing teams cumulative of 70. But once again, the errors outrank the successes. The Trailblazers have committed 186 errors on serves, while rival teams have restricted themselves to only 70 over the course of the season.

The question remains whether or not the team will be able to maintain this level of play. The Trailblazers will play next tonight against Elms College at 7 p.m. at home.

Photo courtesy of MCLA.edu

The Trailblazers couldn’t quite bring it together to score over Southern Vermont in Tuesday’s loss. game.

Overtime followed, but it was only a matter of minutes before Framingham had scored once more, walking off with the victory.

The Trailblazers luck did not improve in the next game, this one a non-conference bout with Southern Vermont.

Only fourteen minutes into the first half, Southern Vermont Erik Argueta fired one into MCLA’s net.

Southern Vermont would later add onto the damage in the second half, ending with a 2-0 final score.

None of the Blazers ten shots on net ever found their target.

Photo Courtesy of MCLA.edu

Kelly Bryant goes up in MCLA’s victory over Mass. Maritime.

Sports

Thursday, October 13, 2011

theonlinebeacon.com

Students look to start Ultimate Frisbee club FRISBEE, continued from page 10

Brendan Foley Sports Editor

The Moment It’s not unique to sports.

That’s the first thing. Everyone has experienced The Moment in their lives, in some form or the other.

I don’t care if you are a sports person, a movie buff, a music connoisseur or a patron of any one of a thousand different art forms, all as completely different from the other as is humanly possible to be.

If you devote yourself towards experiencing human craft, at some point in your life you have bore witness to The Moment.

There’s no predicting it, no preparation, no real warning signs or ways to make sure you’ve picked the right viewing spot.

When The Moment happens, it happens and then it’s gone.

It’s The Moment you realize that a masterpiece is forming right before your eyes.

The athlete, filmmaker, musician, writer, has hit a groove, and every single thing is going right and you know, you know, not in any kind of logical sense but in a deeper, great internal way, that everything is going to keep going right. That there is nothing anyone can do to curb the perfection that is playing out. There’s no stopping it. You have become a witness to perfection. And it isn’t going to stop anytime soon.

While The Moment may not be unique to sports, it may be rarest and most effective in this form.

Sports is about odds. The difference between a masterfully executed play and a career ending disaster is infinitesimally small.

So the odds of a player being so gifted, so physically and mentally prepared, bringing it together enough to transcend statistics, odds, the opposition and maybe even the laws of nature, is nextto-nothing.

We are all always chasing The Moment. It’s why I sit through plenty of crappy, boilerplate Hollywood fare, because I’m hunting for a movie to make me feel the way I did while watching Sly Stallone run up those stairs or like the James Earl Jones, “People Will Come” speech from Field of Dreams. I’m waiting for that magical, unforeseeable thought to pop up: They are doing this. This is really happening. I can’t believe this is happening right now. Perfection achieved.

Then The Moment passes, and we go back to hunting.

“I would love to start competing against other teams,” Lewis said.

He then added, “I would also like to start practices and have meetings.”

Any student who wishes to play is more than welcome to, but Lewis and other players of Ultimate Frisbee would like to reach and maintain a certain level of professionalism in their play.

Lewis also believes many more students will join Ultimate Frisbee.

“I feel pretty confident that we will have a lot of players participating,” Lewis said. “As long as people know that it is available on campus.”

He and other students are looking forward to building and establishing Ultimate Frisbee at MCLA. Hopefully, the club will bring not only physical advantages, but social ones to the students who decide they want to take a chance with the burgeoning program.

If any students are interested,

framingham westfield bridgewater worcester salem fitchburg mass. maritime MCLA

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4-0-0 2-1-1 2-1-1 2-1-1 2-2-0 1-3-0 1-3-0 0-3-1

Women’s Soccer

Photo by William Casey/Beacon Staff

Ultimate Frisbee can provide both physical and social benefits. they can visit the tables at Bowman Hall and sign up to join Ultimate Frisbee.

“After a few weeks of tabling and getting the word out, a meeting will take place,” Lewis said.

CLINIC, continued from page 9

community, though that is one of its main goals. In addition to strengthening the MCLA-North Adams community relationship, it brings the men’s basketball team together in a way no other team activity can accomplish.

“The clinic this time of year is an opportunity for the guys to have some bonding activities and a fun and loose environment. It’s good chemistry for the team,” Morrison says.

“Everyday we’re competing against one another and it gets very chippy and competitive and this just allows us to be aroundthe game of basketball and have fun together,” Robinson adds.

Working the clinic, while building team chemistry, also allows the ‘Blazers to work on responsibility, communication and leadership

skills.

“Most importantly, we build strong relationships with the community because these are the kids that come out and support us at our games as well as their parents,” Shabazz said. “At the end of the day, it brings the community together as a whole.”

The Pittsfield clinic was the first clinic the ‘Blazers did this month.

A second clinic took place on Saturday, October 8 at the Amslser Campus Gym, at 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Local North Adams young athletes were in attendance, ranging from grades 3–8.

Shabazz summed up the attutide of all those involved in the clinic: “This is the only time I really enjoy waking up at eight o’clock in the morning.”

Gregoriou works hard to earn playing time JILLIAN, continued from page 9

“I did get some playing time eventually and I loved it,” said Gregoriou.

In her first season, Gregoriou earned her way into eight matches. All of the hard work, headaches included, was starting to pay off in the form of playing time. The women’s volleyball team compiled a 14-12 record in Gregoriou’s first season.

Going into this year, the volleyball team looks to improve. Gregoriou wants to take her game to another level. Her work ethic and attitude has also rubbed off on her teammates.

“Before the season, we voted on captains. I figured I would not even be considered,” she said.

“Several of my teammates actually voted for me, though, and I was honored that I would be thought of as a team leader.

Our goals as a team have not changed. We still want to win the MASCAC and go to the tourna-

(As of Press Time)

Men’s Soccer

Basketball team hosts clinic for local youths The shooting station worked primarily on form: hand placement on the ball, the follow through, bending knees and using legs to throw a shot up.

“We tried to make it fun,” Shabazz said. “We broke them up into two teams and did competitive shooting from different spots on the floor but making sure they used the right mechanics we taught them.”

The defensive station was all about making sure footwork was clean and precise. The kids even played one-on-one to test the skills they learned from the ‘Blazers.

“You would think these kids would only be interested in the shooting drills but they seemed to love doing all the drills,” Robinson said.

The clinic nott only benefits the

Standings

11

ment,” Gregoriou added.

She has also noticed a marked improvement in her volleyball skills, saying, “At practice we do a drill where you have to serve 20 times, and try to get as many in bounds as you can. Last year, I was lucky if I could do it a couple times. This season, I can get almost every one. I’m proud of myself for improving like that.”

“I was honored that I would be thought of as a team leader.”

Gregoriou has already matched her number of appearances from last year, and also has started in a match. Her work ethic and attitude has started to manifest itself on the floor. She is not only starting to master the physical aspects

of the sport, but she also has a great feel for the game. Volleyball is a game that depends heavily on communication, something that Gregoriou takes pride in.

“When you are on the floor, there is a lot of confusion and commotion. You have to be able to communicate with your teammates so they know who is going to set the ball and hit it,” she said. “I’m usually the loudest one when it comes to communicating. Sometimes, my voice is the only one I can hear.”

In her short time on the team Gregoriou has made great strides athletically as well as from a leadership standpoint. She is now a veteran that younger players can look up to as an example. It was her dedication and sacrifice that got her to this position, and she hopes this skill set translates into the world after college.

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8-15 14-8 8-14 8-13 8-15 2-11 0-20

Men’s Soccer 10/15 Fitchburg 1 p.m.

10/22 @Westfield 12 p.m.

10/25 Sage 3:30 p.m.

Women’s Soccer 10/15 @Fitchburg 6 p.m.

10/22 Westfield 1 p.m.

10/26 @Mount Holyoke

4:30 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball 10/13 Elms 10/15 @Salem 1018 Westfield

7 p.m.

TBA 7 p.m.

Men/Women’s X-Country 10/15 @WNEC 10/29 @UMASS Darmouth Women’s Basketball 11/16 @St. Joseph 11/22 @Becker 11/27 Williams

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

4 p.m.

Men’s Basketball 11/15 Sage 11/18 vs. Suffolk @Endicott 11/19 TBD @Endicott

7 p.m.

8 p.m.

4 p.m.

12

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Commentary

A look at alternative transportation Tano Holmes writes weekly for The Beacon from Heidelberg, Germany, where he is studying abroad.

By Tano Holmes

Foreign Correspondent The car is not the only way to travel from place-to-place quickly; with the extremely high price of gasoline in Germany, other options are generally utilized for travel. Train lines criss-cross throughout Europe, taking the happy traveler to any corner of the continent. They are comfortable, punctual and fast, many of them traveling more than 200 miles per hour. It is the most common way to travel to another city for young people here.

However, trains are quite expensive. For example, my trip from Bremen to Heidelberg, which took six hours, cost approximately 80 Euros ($110).

Having a basic knowledge of German is quite useful for train travel, and one should pay attention to the announcements, as the trains don’t stop for anyone or anything. One of my friends here had her headphones in and missed the announcement that the train was switching to express.

She ended up in Stuttgart, an hour away from Heidelberg.

Strassebahn (street train or tram) is the most used form of public transportation for getting around most cities. Many of the larger cities like Hamburg, Berlin, or Munich have well developed subways as well. The subways are clean and run 24 hours a day, making them extremely useful for zooming around the big cities.

The trams run on a very regular basis, generally every five to ten minutes, and are almost always on time. They cover almost every corner of nearly every city larger than 100 thousand people. The Strassebahn also runs 24 hours. In the early hours of the morning it runs less often, but one never has to be stranded, regardless of what time it is.

Bicycles are also widely used in Germany. Every sidewalk is about twice as wide as the average sidewalk in the United States, and is divided into two lanes, one for walking and one for bicycles. This makes cycling far safer and easier, as one does not have to compete with automobile traffic, and can simply ride in a two-foot wide paved lane instead. One should be careful not to walk in the cycling lanes, as cyclists generally go pretty fast. If you hear a bell ringing behind you, it is probably a cyclist, and you are in their way!

These modes of transportation not only cut down on congestion in cities, but also dramatically lower carbon emissions. They are socially useful and environmentally friendly. Schnell! Schnell!

Anthrax attack findings to be reexamined Associated Press HAGERSTOWN, Md. — A scientific journal plans to publish a research paper questioning the government’s conclusion that an Army microbiologist at Fort Detrick in Frederick was the sole perpetrator of the 2001 anthrax attacks that killed five people and sickened 17 others, two of the article’s authors said Monday.

The article will be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Bioterrorism & Biodefense, said the paper’s chief author, Louisiana State University epidemiologist Martin Hugh-Jones. Journal editors didn’t immediately respond to queries from The Associated Press about the publication date.

The New York Times first reported on the article Monday.

A Justice Department spokesman said his agency stands by its findings.

The research paper is based on the authors’ review of nearly 10,000 pages of scientific documents that the FBI released in February. The article maintains that the anthrax spores were coated with certain chemicals, mainly silicon and tin, which indicate a higher degree of manufacturing skill than either Bruce E. Ivins or the Fort Detrick laboratory possessed.

The FBI became aware of the chemical components early in the investigation, according to its own records, but discounted the chemical fingerprint in 2009 as being irrelevant to the investigation.

NASA signs over shuttle

Science

theonlinebeacon.com

Environmental groups sue Obama

By Dina Cappiello Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Environmental groups sued the Obama administration Monday for scrapping a stricter limit for smog-forming pollution, saying the decision violated the law and put politics ahead of protecting public health.

The lawsuit filed in the federal appeals court in Washington by four environmental and public health groups came after the White House last month said it would not support setting a new standard for groundlevel ozone until 2013, outraging environmentalists.

Environmental Protection Agency chief Lisa Jackson had said in 2009 at the recommendation of scientific advisers that she wanted a more stringent standard to protect public health.

But President Barack Obama, facing a re-election race in 2012 and under pressure from business groups and Republicans, rejected the final proposal. The White House said setting a new standard would create “needless uncertainty’’ at a time when the economy was struggling.

The cost of complying was estimated at between $19 billion and $90 billion a year, making it one of the most expensive environmental regulations ever and earning it a spot on a list of rules targeted by

House Republicans.

The Clean Air Act prohibits the EPA from considering compliance costs when setting a public health standard.

“EPA assured us repeatedly that they were going to finalize action on that proposal to strengthen the standard,’’ said David Baron, managing attorney for Earthjustice, which sued on behalf of the American Lung Association, Environmental Defense Fund, Appalachian Mountain Club and Natural Resources Defense Council. “Then all of a sudden, the Obama administration abruptly reversed course and said they weren’t going to strengthen the standards after all.’’

The new standard would have replaced one set in 2008 by President George W. Bush. Public health experts, the EPA’s scientific advisory panel and Obama’s top environmental official have said that standard fell short of fully protecting public health.

Ground-level ozone, the main ingredient in smog, triggers asthma attacks, causes lung damage and increases the risk of dying from lung disease.

Documents released last week by the EPA show that the agency wanted to change the standard from 75 parts per billion measured over eight hours to 70 parts per billion.

An advisory committee had recommended a range of 60 parts per billion to 70 parts per billion. It will now move forward with the level set

by Bush, while laying the groundwork for a new standard.

The White House said the EPA’s proposed regulation was based on outdated scientific evidence. It said other regulations imposed by the EPA would reduce smog in the meantime.

The administration’s decision angered environmentalists to a degree unseen in Obama’s presidency.

Frances Beinecke, the head of the council and a member of the president’s commission on the Gulf oil spill, told the group’s members that Obama had “dropped us like a hot potato.’’

The EPA said the administration had put in place “historic standards and safeguards for clean air,’’ including a long-overdue proposal to cut mercury pollution from power plants.

But that rule is under attack in court as well. On Monday, 26 states sided with the utility industry and asked a federal judge to delay regulations to curb mercury and other toxic pollution from coal-fired power plants. That action followed a letter sent by 11 governors to the White House seeking a delay.

Scientists to discuss Irene effects on lakes

By Kathy McCormack Associated Press

ONCORD, N.H. — The remnants of Hurricane Irene quickly passed through New Hampshire but might have left lasting changes to Lake Sunapee, one of its largest lakes.

The freshwater lake is one of about 30 around the world being monitored by a volunteer network of scientists, ecologists and engineers.

A buoy set in the lake in 2007 monitors temperature, wind direction and speed, and oxygen levels every 10 minutes. When Irene came by in

August, the buoy detected a lot of water mixing within the lake. Scientists want to know to what degree it affected lake temperatures and plant life.

“It’s like a big bathtub, and the water starts sloshing around, and it had been at different temperatures — it was warmer on the top and colder as you went down,’’ said Kathleen Weathers, a scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, N.Y., and a volunteer researcher for the Lake Sunapee Protective Association. “The first thing that it did was to mix it all.’’

Hurricane Irene doused the East Coast in August after a wet summer in most of the Northeast. Days later, the region was again soaked by Tropical Storm Lee. Weathers and others will be discussing how lakes respond to hurricanes and other natural events at a weeklong international conference in Newbury starting Monday. More than 100 scientists from 24 countries will discuss how to keep lakes healthy amid population growth and competing demands. Previous conferences were held in Israel, Brazil and China.

Associated Press LOS ANGELES — NASA has transferred ownership of the retired space shuttle Endeavour to a California museum.

A ceremony at the California Science Center Tuesday was attended by several members of Endeavour’s last crew including Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ astronaut-husband Mark Kelly.

Endeavour is expected to arrive next year at Los Angeles International Airport and then be towed through the streets to the museum near downtown Los Angeles.

Museum President Jeffrey Rudolph says Endeavour will be housed horizontally in a temporary display until a permanent exhibit is built. Its final position will be vertical, as if it’s ready to launch.

NASA retired the space shuttle fleet in July after three decades of flying. Museums in suburban Washington, D.C., Florida and New York will receive the remaining shuttles and prototype vehicle.

Freak Week 2011 Oct. 23-31

Campus Comment

Thursday, October 13, 2011

theonlinebeacon.com

13

Have you had the chance to enjoy any events downtown? The Beacon “ [I] only visited The latest Mass.

MoCA gallery.”

“Yes, only Mass. MoCA. I enjoyed their shows and art expositions.”

- Alba Vasquez, 2014

- Nalaja Caesar, 2013

The Beacon is published Thursdays during the academic year and is distributed free to the College community. The Beacon is funded by the Student Government Association, the English/Communications department and from ad revenues.

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“Yes, I went to an art gallery. Their work was meaningful . I would like to go again.”

“Yes,I recently attended the DownStreet Art. It was amazing. I enjoyed their unique art.”

- Anyelin Antigua Ortiz, 2014

- Danielle Booker, 2014

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“The children parade was cute! I liked the parade very much. The children looked adorable.”

“Yes, I have visited Mass. MoCA for different shows and galleries.

I really was impressed how Mass.

MoCA brings the MCLA community together.”

- Ashley Stukes, 2013

- Tyshawn McGee, 2014

This is what democracy looks like: Perspectives and Invitation It was a strange feeling to be on the ground at the tent city in Dewey Square, occupying Boston, knowing that if I were to have done the same thing half a year ago in Egypt, I would have been attacked and fired upon by the military.

I went to Boston with the intention of lending my voice and body to the movement, with the intention of letting the currents of the movement move through and carry me, with the intention of being a sponge, and soaking up as much of the character of Occupy Boston as I could.

What I got most out of my visit to Boston wasn’t information. I did learn about the infrastructure of the movement and met with people from logistics struggling to supply the impromptu city with basic necessities. I saw emergence: the impossibility of the task of trying to organize people with stark differences in where they come from and why they came to Boston, and the synthesis of that chaos into order.

An interior look at the tent city reveals that it has replicated a number of institutions modeled by larger society. There is a library, prayer space, a large media tent, a cafeteria with healthy and free food, a legal tent helping to train protestors and legal observers, music space, a well organized group of medics. There is more

that I’m forgetting, and surely more that I simply hadn’t the time to discover.

I saw people happy to shoulder the charge of democracy, happy to begin to work out for themselves what it was they wanted to movement to become, happy to try to figure out what it already was.

I was overjoyed to see people for whom this was the first direct action they had been involved in.

People who up until now had felt marginalized by our culture or economy or politics, who finally felt that they had found a way to make a difference, to make a genuinely meaningful contribution.

What I got most out of my trip to Boston was energy, was invigoration, was the drive to do whatever it was I could to help this movement succeed. The time for waiting is over, it has been over for a long time. This is our time, this is our radical youth, and it is whatever we want to make of it.

The Main Stream Media has been happy to declare the demonstrators as a well-meaning group, but one with an at best nebulous understanding of why they are there and what they are trying to accomplish. Whether this reflects ignorance, malignance, or laziness I am not sure, but in any event, the body of the press is failing to do its job.

So we must do it for them.

If you have questions, if you have

ideas to contribute, if you have energy to contribute, even if all you have to contribute is your curiosity, this movement needs you, this country, this world needs you.

A teach-in is happening this Saturday, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. in CC324 to help answer questions, to help energize and motivate us. I cannot express to you how important it is to come. If you’ve been involved with this movement already I’m sure you’ll be there. If you’ve been watching from the sidelines up until this point what better time to participate? If you still really aren’t sure what any of this is about, this is the perfect time to come and develop an informed definition.

Again, the time is now. I’ll see you out there.

Walt Bouchard ‘12

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

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Editorial Board

Compiled by Dennise Carranza

Letter to the Editor

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

Teach-In/General Assembly This assembly aims to help members of our MCLA community define and understand the Occupy Wall Street phenomena, what its roots are, why it has spread, what it addresses, and what it seeks to change.

We will be holding an open discussion about these issues, and articulating questions about anything that cannot be immediately answered.

Topics will be whatever is deemed pertinent by the assembly.

Everyone is invited: Students, professors, administration, staff, and community.

Saturday, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Campus Center 324

Submit a Letter to the Editor to MCLA Beacon Mailbox on FirstClass or to beacon@ mcla.edu.

Letters can be up to 500 words. See our policies on the right for more information.

Editor-in-Chief John Durkan

Photo Editor Cara Sheedy

Managing Editor Chris Goodell

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14

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Opinions

Commentary

Can Occupy Wall Street change the nation’s structure?

John Durkan

As rallies and protests spread all across America, how will politicians respond?

How long will this remain peaceful?

Editor-in-Chief

Earlier this year we witnessed from afar the uprisings all across North Africa and the Middle East.

Last semester, in the column “The clock ticks...slowly” (search for it at theonlinebeacon.com) I pondered if our own nation would be rallying for change in the near future, considering that as comfortable and relatively wonderful this country is, it’s far from perfect.

I wrote: “After all, we face an ever-increasing debt, inflation, two unpopular wars and a rise in unemployment while each of the main political parties whore themselves out to corporate interest.

“But alas, we sit where they want us – apathetic and on our couches comfortably.”

Well, that’s not the case anymore.

With thousands and thousands of people taking the streets in major cities all over the nation, this is a golden opportunity for a chance to change.

But what will it take?

First and foremost, the rally needs to stay organized and calm even as it increases in size and gets broken up by the police.

Last week I talked to a handful

of students who participated in the Occupy Wall Street rally in New York City.

First, I talked to a group of students who arrived after 700 people were arrested on Brooklyn Bridge. All of them suggested that the rally was unorganized, rowdy and filled with unrest. But they also noted that they only saw hours out of weeks of the movement and suggested to take their accounts with a grain of salt.

Afterwards, I talked to a student who arrived in the Big Apple the night before and ended up in a paddy wagon after marching onto the bridge. (That story is on page 3 of the Oct. 6 issue.)

Of course, a lot changed in the rally’s structure in those few hours. Sophomore Tim Shiebler, the student arrested during the Brooklyn Bridge march, described the rally’s structure as coherent and well organized.

And then, as soon as the police started making arrests, things fell apart. People became rowdy and unorganized. If it became violent, the mainstream media would’ve jumped all the rally.

Ultimately, when the Occupy Wall Street movement needs to make a decision when the police arrives – to respect their requests, or to refuse to move but go down peacefully with a clear plan of

what to do next afterwards. Chaos isn’t good press. Getting arrested is part of being in protest, after all, civil disobedience is still disobedience.

Next, the movement needs clearer goals. These goals have become a lot more clear in the past few days – to even the distribution of wealth by adding regulations to remove loopholes that allow corporate leaders to evade taxes and to use these taxes to help ease the debts of the lower class.

But that doesn’t mean all the other goals need to disappear.

There is a lot wrong with this country and this is the perfect outlet to express such displeasure.

Lastly, how will politicians react to this? Will they ignore this and make no changes? What do you do from there? If peaceful protest doesn’t bring changes, will enough people be angry enough to abandon peaceful protest and strive for revolution?

This is a great start. The press is picking up on this, people’s disapproval of the system is being heard. Let’s see if this is a real democracy where the cries of the people will be addressed by their representatives, or merely a democracy on paper that favors the rich through an unfair and broken system.

Science Center brings MCLA into the future The Center for Science and Innovation will help the College expand as science and technology dominate the job market in the years to come.

Chris Goodell

Managing Editor I’m excited for the new Science Center.

When the project breaks ground tomorrow it will mark the start of an exciting time for MCLA. As much as the English-major part of me doesn’t want to admit it, science and technology are likely the future, and it’s good to see the College working toward that future.

In a New York Times ranking of the top jobs for 2011, first on the list was Biomedical Engineer.

Ranking ninth was Biochemist and Biophysicist. The third, fourth, sixth, seventh, and eighth

spots on the list were occupations related to Healthcare. Starting to notice a trend here?

This is not to downplay the importance of the humanities at all. The future would be a bleak place indeed without the influence of literature or the beauty of art or the sound of music. However, the fact is that many of the most important problems facing our future – climate change, oil dependence, and destruction of renewable resources, to name a few – will (hopefully) be solved by the scientists and engineers of the world.

Do I wish the English Department could get a $55 Million bond from the state? Absolutely. We could certainly use some upgrades here in Mark Hopkins Hall. It would be wonderful to have more full time faculty

members, updated facilities, and (dare I say) a new printer for the Beacon office, but these things are unlikely to happen, at least through federal aid.

The government is only going to invest in higher education as it pertains to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) subjects. The rest of us?

Well, maybe we’re out of luck, but we shouldn’t let what we don’t have take away from what we do have.

I won’t even be here to enjoy the new building when it opens in 2013. I’m not a scientist and I never will be, but I am a proud member of the College community, so anything that benefits the institution as a whole is a good move in my book.

The future is coming, and it’s nice to see MCLA is ready for it.

theonlinebeacon.com

Editorial

A good move Every time Director of Public Safety Joseph Charon speaks about how the Public Safety office relocating from the Amsler Campus Center to its new Ashland Street location last summer, his face glows and his smile grows to an arm’s length.

However, some students disagree with the move, saying the office is too far away and therefore in a worse spot. But that’s not the case.

First, let’s look at what Charon is getting really excited about.

The office received a well-needed upgrade. There’s more space. The officers have more than the dinky closet-sized office that they had to work out of just a couple months ago. They even have a conference room now. There’s a nice little lobby too. The dispatchers have a little bit more space to work with – it looks a lot less cluttered. And on top of all this, MCLA didn’t need to build an entirely new space for the move and worked with two McCann Technical School students – who are now freshman

here – for interior layout. It’s always a good thing when MCLA can work with the community on projects.

Now, onto location – sure, the office isn’t centrally located anymore, but does that matter? First, considering the construction in the Campus Center, that location becomes instantly inconvenient.

Navigating to the former dispatcher location in the summer alone was a struggle. Next, the patrolling procedures haven’t changed.

From the new location, a police vehicle has incredibly easy access to Blackinton Street, which easily connects to the two roads that cut across the campus. Now for convenience for keys – this location is closer to the Flagg Townhouses. If you’re not in a dorm, it’s a shorter walk – but does this really matter, after all, you can crawl across this campus in minutes anyways.

Moving Public Safety to Ashland Street was the right call. This is good way to make the officers’ jobs more comfortable and their operation more effective.

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Thursday, October 13, 2011

For Fun

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15

Horoscopes

Aries: March 21-April 19 Something new takes over your mental space today, and it could mean that you’ve got someone new in your life as well. You feel totally up to any new challenge, so embrace the novelty!

Taurus: April 20-May 20 Avoid snap decisions today – in fact, it’s best if you avoid making decisions at all. It’s not that you’re confused, just that you won’t get all the info you need for another few days.

Gemini: May 21-June 21 Listen carefully when people start telling you what’s what – they know things you couldn’t yet have learned. Things should be pretty great, but only if you’re willing to listen and adapt.

Cancer: June 22-July22 You are in a big hurry, but try to do things right. If you go too quickly, you are sure to mess up the crucial detail that sends everything into a tailspin. Slow and steady wins the race.

Leo: July 23-August 22 Try to enjoy yourself today – though it isn’t hard! If you can slack off at work or skip out entirely, so much the better.

Your people are sure to find your energy exhilarating!

By Aurora Cooper

Autumn Word Search

ACORN APPLE BIRD MIGRATION BLOWING LEAVES BLUSTERY DAY CANNING CHESTNUTS CHILLY COLD CROPS EQUINOX FALL FARMING FEAST FROST HALLOWEEN HARVEST HAYSTACK HICKORY NUTS LONGER NIGHTS NOVEMBER OCTOBER ORANGE LEAVES PIE PUMPKIN RAKE RED LEAVES SCARECROW SCHOOL SEASON SEPTEMBER SHORTER DAYS SQUASH SWEET POTATOES THANKSGIVING TURKEY WINDY YELLOW LEAVES Word Search courtesy of puzzles.ca

Virgo: August 23-Sept. 22 Your colleagues are getting on your nerves – even more than usual! It’s a good time for you to step up and make sure that they’re at least listening to you.

That does go both ways, of course!

Libra: Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Business matters are much easier to attend to now – as long as you are focusing on the right people.

Fortunately for you (and them), your ability to discern important relationships is strong now.

Scorpio: Oct. 23-Nov. 21 A simple disagreement could get really ugly today – so try to recognize it while it’s happening and then pull back as soon as you can. Things should be smoother in a few days.

Sagittarius: Nov. 22-Dec. 21 You’re playing games – but you’re not trying to play anyone. You’re just having fun and getting things done, so if anyone asks why you’re smiling so broadly, just tell them it’s all good.

Capricorn: Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Take responsibility for whatever went down recently – even if it wasn’t all your fault. You should impress the right people with your willingness to take a hit for the team, and that’s all you need.

Aquarius: Jan. 20-Feb. 18 You can see patterns where others just see random noise – and on a day like today, there are hidden patterns everywhere! It’s a good day for you to make predictions or to fill in the gaps.

Pisces: Feb. 19-March 20 You need to get your head out of the clouds, at least a little.

Things are getting even weirder for your people, and they need to hear from you. Make sure you’re speaking their language!

Horoscopes courtesy of Yahoo.com

16

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Photo Essay

theonlinebeacon.com

MCLA RUGBY CLUB vs.

WESTFIELD by Cara Sheedy

On Sunday afternoon, the MCLA Rugby Club fell to Westfield State 63-5. The team showed their strength during this game.

Above: John Hollows kicks the ball out of MCLA’s 22.

Above: Peter Swain tackles his opponent as Jamal Brown reaches for the ball.

The team gathers on the goal line due to a penalty MCLA made on Westfield.

Above: Jamal Brown and Peter Swain work in unison to takle the Westfield player with the ball.

Above: A high tackle by Tim Parker as him and John Hollows run away from a scrum after the ball.