Baseball team splits opening games MCLA Baseball goes 3-3 in first six games of the season.
Profiles in Leadership continues
Harlequin’s new show opens to rave reviews
Past the tipping point
Jaynelle Bellemore featured in Profiles in Leadership this week.
“Little Shop of Horrors” delights fans of music, horror, and comedy.
Photography editor Marissa Zelazo shares her server experience in North Adams
SPORTS, page 10
NEWS, page 5
Student Newspaper of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts North Adams, Mass.
ARTS and ENTERTAINMENT, page 6
The Beacon
OPINION, page 12
Volume 75 Issue 8 Thursday march 29, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
President Mary Grant chosen as finalist in UMass chancellor search Student-run committees
Photo by Aaron Crawford/Beacon staff
SGA members, seen here at a meeting regarding Public Safety earlier this year, work together on a variety of topics to form committees.
By Ed Damon Editor in Chief
President Mary Grant is a candidate to become the next UMass Dartmouth chancellor. A 19-member search committee comprised of UMass students, faculty, staff, graduates and members of the Board of Trustees, announced six finalists on Monday. The finalists are each expected to spend a day on the Dartmouth campus meeting with faculty, students, staff, alumni, community leaders, and other groups. The names have been forwarded to UMass President Robert Caret, who will recommend one to trustees, who have the final vote. Bernadette Lupo, Coordinator of Marketing and Communications for MCLA, explained Grant was nominated by several people. “[She] has decided to take a closer look at the opportunity,” Lupo said, adding that it is too early to speculate. In a statement released Monday, Mar. 26, University of Mas-
sachusetts President Robert L. Caret said the search committee has done a remarkable job in selecting well-qualified candidates. “We are eager to attract a Chancellor who will carry on Dartmouth’s tradition of innovation and academic excellence and of working hard to foster economic and social progress in the region,” he said. The other finalists who were announced on Monday are: Jonathan Gibralter, President of Frostburg State University in Maryland; Divina Grossman, Vice President of Engagement at Florida International University; Daniel Julius, Vice President for Academic Affairs for the University of Alaska system; Maurice Scherrens, Senior Vice President at George Mason University in Virginia; and Jem Spectar, President of the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. Jean MacCormack, who has led the campus of approximately 9,000 students since 1999, has announced plans to retire at the end of this academic year.
Weekend Weather Friday
Sunny High: 49 Low: 32
Saturday
Mostly Sunny High: 49 Low: 34
Sunday
Sunny High: 57 Low: 36
bring change to campus Skyla Seamans Staff Writer
Have you ever wondered what goes on inside Student Government Association? Twelve taskforce committees comprise SGA to tackle a variety of topics. The first, the All-College Committee, was established under college contract to supervise all other committees. Members review campus policies, curriculum, and other issues to decide which committee they belong to. Junior Jason Brown said this committee contains students, faculty, and administration members and meetings are held biweekly on Thursdays at 3 p.m. “Any issue or concern can be brought to this committee,” Brown said. “We then decide what action to take on each specific issue. The Chairperson of the committee is Nancy Ovitsky and when we make
a decision, it must be approved or vetoed by President Grant.” Another committee is Academic Policies, which meets in Murdock 202 at 12 p.m. every Wednesday and is open to the community. APC is a standing committee made up of two SGA student representatives, faculty, staff, and administration, according to junior Korinna Dennehey. “Our committee creates and revises various academic policies the College feels we are lacking or ones that need to be updated,” she said. “Recently, we have been working on rewriting and clarifying the language of the Academic Honesty Policy.” Next, the Budget Finance Committee is formed by SGA Treasurer, Peter Swain. The major purpose of the committee is to allocate funds to clubs for each fiscal year. Members endure several weeks of meetings and then propose the allocations to the SGA Senate to vote
IN THIS ISSUE News
2-5
Op-Ed
12-13
A&E
6-8
Science & World
14
Sports
9-11
Comic & Games
15
Photo Essay
16
Campus Comment 12
upon. “This process is very time consuming and done within a fair and thorough manner,” Swain said. “We do what we can to make sure every club can still function as they have in the past, regardless of how much money SGA has to allocate.” Another purpose of the committee is to review and recommend funding for supplemental budget requests that clubs submit throughout the year. It also helps clubs learn how to properly budget their funds, how to save money, understand the budget process, and to answer any budget questions. “The committee is chosen by the treasurer to best represent all peoples of the campus community,” Swain said. “It is comprised of mostly non-SGA members including multiple Resident
COMMITTEES, continued on Page 3
For updates, friend us at: facebook.com/ MCLABeacon For breaking news, follow us on Twitter: @BEACONMCLA
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News
Thursday, MArch 29, 2012
Student Government in Brief March 26
–President Todd Foy reported on the President Council meeting he attended. Foy said the Council meets five times a year to discuss issues facing the College. The Council has faculty, staff and one student, which has traditionally been the SGA president. Topics discussed were the state’s Vision Project, which sets “blanket” goals for all of state colleges, and work that will be done on campus buildings. –Brendan Peltier, Student Affairs Committee chair, said recent retirement by Sharon Zavatarro and Susan Bailey of Career Services will not affect students. A new office worker will begin working Monday, April 2. But Senator Jason Brown said some students, including himself, have already been affected by the retirements. Foy said the size and structure of Career Services has been discussed around the College, and ackowledged the Administration is working on that. –Student Trustee Jaynelle Bellemore announced Freel Library’s new extended spring hours. The new hours are: Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m.- 12 a.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-12 a.m. –Senator Jason Brown announced the Class of 2013 will partner with Project Linus for an event on April 4, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Townhouse Complex Greenhouse. Students will knit or crochet a square of a blanket that will be sent to underprivileged children. –Senator Brendan Peletier, head of the Residential Program and Services Committee, reported to the Senate. Peltier explained to the Senate how RPS’s Advisory Board has been discussing whether the new Hoosac lobby should be open to the campus or only for Hoosac residents. Executive Vice President Jackie Nash said her only concern would be security – if students were allowed to use the lobby, measures should be in place to prevent them from going upstairs. –The Senate voted to suspend the language in Article 4, section H, clause 1 of the SGA constitution. This suspension allows MASSPIRG to appear on this year’s ballot. The student body will vote on whether MASSPIRG will continue to work on the MCLA campus.
Student Government Association meetings are Mondays at 7 p.m. in Murdock 218, and are open to the public
BGLAD and Women’s Center to host workshop By Amy Cubello Staff Writer
Come support B-GLAD by attending an upcoming workshop about transgender/queer families. The event is being held Today, March 29 7-9pm in Mudrock 303. The event is called “Reinvisioning Family: A Queer Perspective and it is being hosted by B-GLAD as well as the Susan B. Anthony Women’s Center. Keely and Marshall Malone will be conducting the workshop. They are a transgendered couple who have two children. Marshall is masculine identified and also a stay at home dad. They each have carried one child. The couple will be reading from their writing concerning their personal and political journey to create alternative family structures that suit them. They will also enlarge our sense of what family can be. This workshop hopes to encourage others to share their stories and discuss the role of storytelling as a vehicle for addressing difficult personal and societal issues. Sumi Culligan, a professor of
the Sociology department, said “as a society, we can benefit from learning about and discussing diverse families in order to expand our perspectives on families and family arrangements.” Kali Yomota-Kurland, student on the B-GLAD E-Board, says “Students and faculty should attend because it’s an eye opener to alternative families and can spark discussion about other types of diversity.” This workshop is “an eye opener to alternative families and can spark discussion about other types of diversity,” says Yomta-Kurland. Another B-GLAD E-Board member, K.P. Palmer, agrees with Yomota-Kurland. Palmer says “Students and faculty should attend because it will be very educational. Many people don’t know a lot about the queer community, and it will be a great perspective and cover many things other than just queer education.” Come support your fellow students in B-GLAD and learn about diverse families and how they live Today, March 29 7-9pm in Mudrock 303. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.
theonlinebeacon.com
Cooking Corner with Marissa Zelazo
Ingredients: 1/2 pound elbow macaroni 3 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons flour 1 tablespoon powdered mustard 3 cups milk 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced 1 bay leaf 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1 large egg 12 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded salt & pepper to taste Topping: 3 tablespoons butter 1 cup panko bread crumbs Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta.
While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter and whisk in flour and mustard till it’s smooth. Add milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika, then simmer for ten minutes and remove the bay leaf. Temper in the egg. This means to add a small amount of what you have already made, to the bowl with the egg, then combine everything together slowly. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese. Melt the butter and toss with bread crumbs to top the macaroni. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let it sit for five minutes before serving. It’s worth the wait!
Arrests and warrants issued. Week of 3/18-3/24 Monday 3/19 3:51 a.m. – Public safety investigated an alarm in the Campus Center, but could not locate it.
Tuesday 3/20 10:42 a.m. – Public safety referred to an outside agency to serve an arrest warrant.
3:33 p.m. – Public safety responded to a report of suspicious activity in the Shapiro building. No action was required.
Wednesday 3/21 11:47 p.m. – Public safety referred to an outside agency to respond to a report of disturbing the peace.
Thursday 3/22 2:30 a.m. – Public safety responded to a medical call at the Brewer-Perkins building. Subject was transported to the hospital.
port was filed.
Friday 3/23 5:54 p.m. – Public safety responded to a report of Malicious destruction at the Hoosac Hall parking lot. A re-
8:37 p.m. – Public safety responded to a report of larceny at Hoosac Hall.
Contact us Email: Beacon@mcla.edu News desk: 413-662-5535 Business line: 413-662-5404 www.theonlinebeacon.com Editor-in-Chief Edward Damon
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Saturday 3/24
6:12 p.m. – Public safety responded to a report of vandalism in Berkshire Towers. A report was filed.
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. Mission Statement The Beacon strives to provide timely and accurate news of campus and local events. Editorials Policy Unsigned editorials that appear on these pages reflect the views of The Beacon’s editorial board. Signed columns and commentaries that appear on these pages reflect the views of the writers. Letters Policy The Beacon welcomes Letters to the Editor. Deadline is noon on Mondays for that week’s newspaper.
10:42 a.m. – Public safety made three arrests of MCLA students at the library on charges of tagging property and liqour law violations.
Letters should be kept to 500 words or less and are subject to editing for grammar and content. The Beacon will not publish anonymous or libelous letters. Letters must be signed by the writer and include a phone number. Letters may be dropped off at the office or e-mailed to Beacon@mcla.edu. Contributions Policy The Beacon accepts stories, photos and opinion pieces for publication. Submissions should be dropped off at the office by Monday at noon or e-mailed to Beacon@mcla.edu. Advertising Policy The Beacon reserves the right not to publish any advertisement it deems to be libelous, false or in bad taste. For questions regarding ads, call the business line or email us.
News 4 Beacon International Report: Carranza in Africa Thursday, march 29, 2012
Coming to Namibia has been a great learning experience. I have been living in Windhoek, Namibia, the capital city, for two months full of excitement, great experiences, and struggles. Coming to Africa has been my dream since I was little and being here now shows that dreams really do come true. However, it wasn’t easy achieving my dream. This dream demanded so much hard work, tears, smiles and leaving those who I love the most behind. But now it all seems worth it. I am so proud of myself every time I think of how far I have made it. I currently study at the Polytechnic University of Namibia. I am doing a non-degree program here, in which I am allowed to take courses from different departments. I am taking courses such as Namibian literature, law, video production, public relations and communications. I am learning so much about different cultures, and different subjects that I never would have thought to study. I love all my classes and I enjoy learning something new every time I attend my classes. I am not only learning in the classroom, I am also learning amazing information from my peers here in Namibia. I am learning about the different languages from their tribes, customs, traditions, cultures and their amazing history. Na-
theonlinebeacon.com
Photo courtesy of Dennise Carranza
Former Beacon photographer Dennise Carranza reports on studying abroad at the Polytechnic University of Namibia. mibia is a fairly new country; they got their independence in 1990. The history of this repub-
lic is very interesting. People in this nation have gone through struggles during the coloniza-
tion time, as well as hardships with all the different tribes and nearby countries like South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. I am happy that I am learning so much. Besides all my learning experiences, I have met amazing people from all over the world: people from Germany, Austria, Indonesia, the Republic of Congo, Angola, Nigeria, South Africa and, of course, from the United States. I have also met many Namibians who have showed me a good time here. I have travel time as well, but not too much due to my university schedule. I have travelled to different parts of the city of Windhoek, like Katutura and Khomasdal. I have also done Safari Game drives and I have seen different types of animals like giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs, and leopards among others. Recently, I went to see the cheetahs and leopards get fed and it was the most amazing experience. It was somewhat scary, and there was so much adrenaline involved because the animals were so close to us and they would follow us. It was a good experience, however. My plans are to learn so much more and take advantage of this adventure to the fullest. I am still looking into doing some community service and to get involved more with the Namibian community. So far I have only joined the HIV and AIDS
Photo courtesy of Dennise Carranza
A leopard cub lets out a mighty roar at the photographer.
Club. I am looking forward to getting so much done and helping this community raise awareness for HIV and AIDS, since it is currently a huge issue in this nation. Along with my plans for this community, I plan to take this adventure to different places in Namibia, and other countries in Africa. This weekend I will travel to the Coast and I will see the oldest desert in the world. During my spring break, I plan to travel to Cape Town in South Africa. During the remaining 11 weeks here, I plan on traveling to Etosha (the jungle), to Walvis Bay (the coast), as well as to the northern and southern parts of the country. I also plan on going to Victoria Falls and possibly cross all the borders that surround the Falls, like Bowtana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. I hope I can accomplish all my plans as well as learn so much more than what I have already learned. This is a great opportunity that many don’t get and I plan to enjoy it despite any struggles or obstacles that there might be. I am glad I am able to share my experience with the MCLA community. I encourage students to utilize the opportunities the College offers because it is worth the risk and the hard work. This is proof that it is possible to make your dreams a reality as long as you work hard for them.
Photo courtesy of Dennise Carranza
A tower of giraffes moves along the African landscape.
News
Thursday, march 29, 2012
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Jaynelle Bellemore finds unique ways to deal with the stress of her busy life.
Killing Zombies Profiles in Leadership The Beacon’s new series features student leaders at MCLA and how they balance their hectic lives while maintaining their sanity and social life.
By Andrew Roiter Managing Editor Meticulous. This is one way to describe Student Trustee Jaynelle Bellemore. Long, brown hair kept off her shoulders by a neat ponytail, light makeup highlighting the features of her circular face, peach blouse, pearl earrings and a matching necklace, and denim shorts revealing a tan from a recent spring break trip to Las Vegas. But after speaking with her, one realizes there’s another word that best describes the 21-year-old workaholic: genuine. “I like to be comfortable...if I’m not comfortable with what I’m wearing or what I’m doing, then I’m not myself,” Bellemore said. Bellemore has nothing to hide, openly admitting to her nervous ticks and playing off remarks that she’s socially awkward with a laugh and a shrug as if nothing in the world could get under her skin. “I say what’s on my mind,” she explained. “That’s who I am, and I’m rocking it.” The business major’s schedule is packed to the brim. She’s enrolled in seven classes, and works for the Advancement office as a secretary. She
The Student Trustee discusses her hectic schedule, being herself and... annihilating the undead. holds the positions of Entrepreneurial Club secretary and Student Trustee, as well as a spot on the Library Advisory Group. “It’s crazy, [and] it’s definitely keeping me busy,” she said. “The SGA office comes in handy. It’s open until midnight, so I can just lock myself in and crank out my homework.” Her busy schedule has a structure, but is anything but routine. Her longest day, Tuesday, begins at 9:30 a.m. and, due to classes and meetings, doesn’t end until 9:15 p.m. Her day may begin one way but has the potential to shift at any given moment. “I’m also the type of person who gets bored easily,” she said, “so it’s nice to have something to shake up the monotony.” She admits that her schedule prevents her from being as physically active as she would like, but with the onset of warm weather she takes every opportunity to walk into downtown North Adams. “It’s a beautiful little town,” she said. The graduating senior’s weekend doesn’t even usually give her a reprieve. As a server at Freight Yard Pub in
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North Adams, her weekend nights are spent working as well. On slow nights she’ll be home early enough to go out with her friends. But other nights keep her bustling around the restaurant until one in the morning. And when she gets home she’s in no mood to party. “After work you just want to shower, put on your sweatpants and watch Netflix. So that’s what I usually do,” she said with a laugh. “I believe taking care of yourself is the most important thing.” She paints a picture of relaxing on the roof outside of her bedroom on a warm day, reading to calm down. Or on a cool night, just sits admiring the constellations. “I’m a pretty positive person, but everyone has a breaking point,” she said. After a pause, she added that there was one other activity that helped her come down from a stressful day. “Killing zombies.” Bellemore’s unabashed love of video games, Xbox 360 being her console of choice, helps her relax and let off steam. To her, nothing melts away stress like unloading on a group of mindless undead. “Definitely stress-relieving, killing some zombies,” she said with a wry grin.
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If you have someone you think should be featured, please send an email to beacon@mcla.edu
Photo by Carly Samach/ Beacon staff
I believe taking care of yourself is the most important thing.
Bellemore hopes that all of this stress will help her achieve her hopes and dreams. While her current plan is to stick around North Adams and work after graduation, she’s hoping for an internship with Oceana to help protect sea turtles. “I have a great love for sea turtles,” she said. But her dream is to be the marketing director for Victoria’s Secret. Bellemore wanted to thank two people in her life for helping her get to where she is today. In a brief moment of hesitation she tried to pick one over the other, but ultimately needed to thank them both equally: SGA Office Manager Diane Collins and SGA President Todd Foy. “They’re both crucial [to me]. They’ve both helped me in very different ways,” she said. “Diane helped me feel comfortable with myself. [And] Todd and I have a very different relationship. He definitely helped me realize what I wanted to do. He’s always by my side... but I couldn’t have done anything without either of them.” Andrew Roiter is a senior English/Communications major concentrating in journalism and broadcast media. This is his sixth semester on staff of The Beacon.
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A&E
Thursday, March 29, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
Little Shop of Horrors entertains with songs and plants
Photos by Marissa Zelazo/Beacon Staff
(Left) Seymour, played by Jon Kinney, pleads with Audrey II, puppetered by Jessie Wright, to grow. (Right) Audrey, played by Courtney McLaren, converses with shop owner Mr. Mushnik, played by Benjamin Balon.
By Tano Holmes A&E Writer
Harlequin performed the musical “Little Shop of Horrors”, directed by seniors Jessica Atanas and Annie Hochheiser, last Wednesday through Saturday in Venable Theater to full audiences. The two-hour show was captivating and well-choreographed, with essentially no mistakes. The show was set in a depressed urban environment where a nerdy florist named Seymour begins growing a new species of plant to appease his boss, a florist named Mushnik, and impress Audrey, the girl he loves. The plant, which Seymour names Audrey II, starts becoming famous and Mushnik’s shop gets plenty of new customers. But with the fame and success comes a plethora of problems, not the least of which is Audrey II’s increasing appetite for human flesh. There were many amusing moments throughout the
play. Mid-way through the first act, Hannah Sterrs, who played chorus girl Chiffon, made the audience applaud and laugh as she chased abusive dentist Orin Scrivello (played by Brycen Waters), off the stage and into the next musical number. “The whole experience was amazing but the best part was definitely the cast,” sophomore Hannah Sterrs said. “We all came together and became really close. We all were one big family: the cast, crew, directors, everyone. It was a great experience all around and a pleasure to work with everyone all the way up until the end.” The acting was quite convincing while still remaining comical. Mr. Mushnik, played by Benjamin Balon, was a perfect example of this. He interacted wonderfully with Seymour, played by Jonathan Kinney, up until the point where Seymour fed him to Audrey II. The show featured 20 different songs, which were a lively mix of 50’s-era jazz, funk and rock.
Jacqueline Coughlin, as the voice of Audrey II, showed off a deep, impressive singing voice vastly different from the soprano she usually sings as. The plant went through four different phases as it grew, three of which were operated by The Beacon’s own Jessie Wright. The third phase was a large four-foot puppet with whip-like roots and a moving mouth. The fourth puppet was gargantuan, and took multiple people to move when changing scenes. The band was half visible on the right side of the stage, and one could see the vigor they put into the music. Nick Raby was visible on the drums, banging out funky beats with his customary dance-in-his-seat energy. “I am extremely impressed by the entire show, it is one of the best I have seen at MCLA,” junior Wesley St. Marie said. “The whole cast did such a great job. Everyone was doing their part to make the show fantastic. It was truly a team effort.”
Local music festivals abundant this spring By Mary Redstone A&E Editor
The first day of spring has come and gone, marking a change from a bleak and soggy winter into a bright and playful spring. In the same way, the South-by-Southwest (SXSW) festival has come and gone, marking a change from the stagnant and uneventful past six months into the sweatty, expensive, but overall-fun festival season. There are dozens, if not a couple hundred, festivals lined up for the 2012 season. Some are smaller than others, and some are worldfamous. Which festival you may want to check out should be dependent on three factors: location, price, and genre. While there are so many festivals nation-wide, there are also
many right in the east-coast area. ◆ This weekend, Killington V.t. is hosting Snowmount 2012, a combination of “the world’s best musicians with the world’s best snow conditions”. Tickets are $175 for a three-day pass and can be purchased at http://snowmontmusicfestival.com/. ◆ In New York City, the NYC Pop Fest will be held on May 17-20 in various locations throughout the city, including the Knitting Factory on the 18th. The lineup and ticket information can be found on their website, nycpopfest.org. ◆ A little further, in Asbury Park, NJ, is the Bamboozle Festival from May 18-20. The organizers are returning to the roots of Bamboozle, at their original location, and attempting to diversify their lineup including Bon Jovi, Boys Like Girls, Skrillex and Incubus.Tickets are $216 for
a three-day pass and can be purchased through http://2012.thebamboozle.com/. ◆ Right in Western Mass. is the StrangeCreek Campout at Camp Keewanee in Greenfield. The festival is May 25-28, featuring Max Creek, Donna the Buffalo, and Strangefolk. Tickets are $95 until May 18 and can be purchased on their website, strangecreekcampout.com, the Northampton Boxoffice, and various Berkshire-area locations that are listed on their website. ◆ Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival, Croton-on-Hudson, NY, is a music and environmental festival inspired by Pete Seger’s original desires to clean up the Hudson River over 40 years ago. The festival will take place June 16-17 and feature folk and bluegrass bands such as Ani DiFranco, Bela Fleck, Punch
Brothers, Deer Tick, and Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Ticket prices are dependent of momberstatus of Clearwater, and whether you want to purchase individual tickets or full-weekend tickets. Pricing and purchasing can be found through their website, clearwater.org. ◆ For fans of bluegrass, the Greyfox Bluegrass Festival will be in Oak Hill, N.Y. from July 19-22. It is one of the largest bluegrass festivals in the country, and one of the longest-running. The lineup is known as a who’s-who of bluegrass, featuring the Infamous Stringdusters, the Del McCoury Band, Punch Brothers, and Tony Trischka & Territory. Tickets are currently $165 per person, but they will be accepting applications to volunteer starting April 1. More information can be found at greyfoxbluegrass.com.
◆ On the other side of New England, the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I. will be July 28 and 29. My Morning Jacket, Conor Oberst, Jackson Browne, Iron and Wine, and City and Color will be some of the headliners. Tickets, which can be purchased at newportfolkfest.net, are currently available for $135. There are so many festivals coming up this summer that there are entire websites dedicated to simply listing them. For more information, head to musicfestivaljunkies.com for a list of every one of these festivals, even ones in other countries. Just remember to factor in traveling expenses, food allotment, and whether or not the festival price includes camping. The last thing you want to do is spend three days surrounded by cool people and great music without a tent.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
A&E
theonlinebeacon.com
7
Downstreet Art introduces 2012 mural project
DSA to design murals on walls around North Adams as part of their Last Thursday events throughout the summer and to increase North Adams tourism. By Andrew Hodgson
Photo Courtesy of Valeria Federici
A string quartet performs outside Gallery 51 last summer as a part of DownStreet Art’s 2011 Art Initiative. This summer plans to include live performances again but also add four to five murals on selected walls throughout the city.
A&E Writer To help transform North Adams from a mill town to a cultural and artistic tourist destination, DownStreet Art (DSA) will design four to five outdoor murals this summer. “We want to change the face of the city,” Valeria Federici, program coordinator of the Berkshire Cultural Resource Center (BCRC) said. The mural project is a result of DSA wanting to incorporate their goals of expressing local art and changing the face of North Adams. Instead of having art inside the galleries, artists will turn the city into their canvas. The project is the first outdoor art initiative ever in North Adams. The galleries will be kept alive with various performances and artists on top of the mural revealing. DSA began five years ago as a means for local artists, galleries, and curators to come together and coordinate their marketing and promotional efforts. Its season will begin with a kick-off party on June 28, and will go until Oct. 25. This summer, DSA will hold five “DownStreet Art Thursdays” on June 28, July 26, Aug. 30, Sept. 27 and Oct. 25. On these days all of the galleries associated with DSA will have exhibit showings as well as live performances. “People visit Mass MoCA, get in their cars, and leave,” Federici explained. Tapping into the tourism that is already drawn into the city from Mass MoCA, DSA strives to get MoCA patrons to stay and walk around Main Street to enjoy the city itself. In past years, DSA has added footprints stenciled into the sidewalks and other signage to market Main Street’s galleries to MoCA patrons. The murals will serve as this year’s advertisement for the group. The proposed mural locations are designed to surround the downtown area in art. In 2011, BCRC organized an open call for artists and created 20 exhibits for the summer from the open call alone. Thus far, the 2012 open call has been just as successful with new artists expressing interest daily. “We wanted to give all artists a chance so we did an open call in-
stead of just commissioning the murals,” Federici said. For the artists, outdoor art can present different challenges and advantages other than the obvious scale of being able to design an entire wall instead of the inside of a gallery. The pieces will also have a large audience, including residents of North Adams, students and parents visiting the College, as well as the thousands of people a year who come to the Berkshires to visit Mass MoCA. The murals will open over the summer on the last Thursday of each month starting in June and ending in October. Two of the openings will happen while MCLA students are back for their fall semester. DSA is making an effort to get students more involved at all levels and the two mural openings in the fall will allow students to see the progress of the last two works and see the other finished murals. “We want to create the feeling that something is happening [in North Adams] again,” Federici said. The artistic revitalization of North Adams should be reflected in more ways than just the galleries, and the mural project is the first time the art will break out into the public eye directly. The walls DSA has requested for the project from the city are all different dimensions. From smaller walls up to a three-story space have been requested. DSA and the city of North Adams are finalizing the walls before the projects start in June. The applications will be reviewed by a committee of curators from Williams College, the Clark Institute and other local museums, as well as MCLA DownStreet Art organizers. The committee helps oversee the design of the space, taking into consideration the public nature of the pieces and evaluating what content would be appropriate for each space. Artists will be notified within three weeks of the application deadline. Selected artists will be required to attend mural openings throughout the summer. The deadline for applications is April 5 and any visual artists interested can find the application at downstreetart.org
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Thursday, March 29, 2012
A&E
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Luma’s Muffin ‘n Mug caters to the college wallet
Luma’s Muffin ‘n Mug, located on Main Street in North Adams, opened on St Patrick’s Day and features bagels, muffins, moon pies, and local coffee. By Nora Weiss A&E Writer
Luma’s Muffin n‘ Mug is the newest food addition to the city of North Adams, bringing about with all intents of the word: cute. The small bakery-slash-coffeehouses sits nestled within the antique shop on Main Street, complete with tables, chairs, and the beloved wifi. Run by Nicole Maloney, Luma’s is complete with local coffee, eats, and environment. While Maloney bakes multiple treats for each day, her husband stops in on his break time to take out the trash. The cuteness doesn’t stop there, though. Maloney’s staple in her own café are her moon pies; flavorful cookie ends with tasty cream centers. A quick seller as of last week were oatmeal cookie moon pies with maple bacon flavored cream. “I’ve got endless combinations of whoopie pies,” Maloney says with a nod toward the glass cupboard of the pies. There are a few red velvet concoctions, as well as chocolate mint. It’s like a beautiful, and tasty, science experiment just waiting to be plucked. Maloney sees Luma’s as a quintessential bakery, complete with local treats and organic specialties. The almond biscottis are made from a small group in Pittsfield and the coffee is from the Pierce Brothers, a coffee business in Deerfield. Then there are the bagels; they’re Sunshine Bagels (Elf Parlor, anyone?). “They’re the best bagels you’ll ever have,” Maloney says. Standing behind the low counter in the cinnamon brown walls
Photo by Andrew Roiter/Beacon Staff
Nicole Maloney, owner and operator of Luma’s Muffin n’ Mug in Downtown North Adams, prepares a muffin for a customer. where the sun gives a cozy glow, Maloney explains she sublets the front room of the antique store and encourages outside seating (weather permitting, of course). She also delves into Luma’s having a relationship with MCLA students.
“I may look into Blazer Bucks, but not for a while. We opened on St. Patrick’s Day, so we’ve got some settling to do. For now, I just want to keep it simple.” Simple is right: coffee doesn’t go for more than $1.87 and Maloney has no minimum purchase
for cards. It’s a free for all for the student wallet. Maloney hopes to see plenty of students reaping the benefits of her homemade treats as they fiddle on their laptops in her store. With small round tables, a heavily stocked bookshelf, and a bright, airy window; Luma’s provides that quaint and intimate café that MCLA students have long been without. Open Monday through Saturday from early morning until 2:30 every afternoon, though Maloney says longer hours are in the near future. Located right next to The Hub, Luma’s Muffin ‘n Mug is sure to bring about that spring feeling we’ve all been looking for.
Hours:
Photo by Andrew Roiter/Beacon staff
The rising trend of bacon in everything comes to Luma’s, where her bacon cheddar muffins and oatmeal with bacon maple whoopie pies are in high demand.
Tuesday through Saturday. 8:30a.m.-2:30 p.m., with extended hours coming soon.
Mary Redstone A&E Editor
The MBTA cuts services, raises fees, and tests our patience When I’m not at school here in North Adams, I’m back east in Leominster. I have always considered my bustling city a part of “Eastern Mass.”, and not central like our library system seems to think, because the Fitchburg/ South Acton line of the MBTA commuter rail runs through my neighborhood. Back in January, there began talks of cutting certain services on the weekends and increasing fees. I began to worry that my direct line into the city may be in danger. However, in an article released yesterday by the Boston Globe, the MBTA has made an official decision to cut certain services and increase fees starting July 1. The Fitchburg/South Acton line has been spared, but instead three other lines are cutting weekend service: Greenbush, Plymouth/ Kingston, and Needham. In addition, it will completely eliminate four of its 200 bus routes and reduce 14 others. For reasons that I do not completely understand (there’s a reason I’m not an Economics major), in addition to cutting lines the MBTA will also be raising fares. Charlie Card users (the plastic, reusable cards) will now have to spend $2 per fare, an 18 percent increase from the former $1.70. Prices for the commuter rail and bus rides will also increase. So why all the changes? The MBTA has projected that in the upcoming fiscal year, the amount of money they will take in from fares will be close to $180 million less than what they will spend to run the trains. I guess it just shows that all the people who commute daily, the college students who use the T to get around campus, and the hoards of people who flock into the city for sports events cannot compete with the rising costs of gas and maintaining the aging train cars. But fear not, fellow MBTA riders, MBTA Manager John Davis says that this is only a temporary setback, and that by July 2013 the fees and services should return to normal.
Sports
Thursday, March 29, 2012
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9
Softball drops two games, falls to 2-12 By Brendan Foley Sports Editor
The softball team continues to struggle, as they lost their first two games back after a disappointing Florida tournament. The softball team spent spring break in Florida, competing in the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic. The Trailblazers ended the tournament with a record of 2-10 to kick off the season, a disappointing start for the young team. The team’s first challenge upon returning to campus was a double-header against Bay Path College, which was held on Mar. 25. The day ended with the Trailblazers being swept, losing both games. The first game of the day was at 1 p.m., with junior Ainsley MacDonald taking the mound for the Trailblazers. MacDonald pitched for six innings, facing 37 batters throughout the game. She also contributed two hits for the effort. The game was close for the duration of the game, with the teams matching each other run-for-run. Heading into the bottom of the fifth, MCLA was up 9-6, but the onslaught was coming. In the bottom of the fifth, Bay Path smashed their way into the lead, racking up five runs and giving themselves a two-run bump over the Blazers. MCLA was unable to answer these runs in the top of the sixth, and went back to the dugout with the score still 11-9. Bay Path’s bats were now fully awake and they slammed MCLA
Photo by Will Casey/Beacon Staff
Back from Florida, the softball team braved the cold air to prepare themselves for the upcoming challenges of the season. for another four runs, putting the score at 15-9. MCLA would respond with one run in the top of the sixth, but it was not enough and the game ended with a score of 15-10.
Bay Path only managed to get one more hit than MCLA, ending the game with 11 hits. The second game was held at 3:30 p.m., and this one proved to be an even greater heartbreaker
for the team. MCLA took the lead early, scoring a run in the very first inning of the game, than adding on another two in the second. Bay Path scored two runs of their own, but
MCLA maintained their lead into the bottom of the fifth inning, when Bay Path snuck a run in by the Blazers, tying the game, 3-3. SOFTBALL, continued on page 10
Following in his brother’s footsteps, Daniel Gaines wants his senior year to count...
Daniel Gaines throws hard in final year By Kayla Koumjian Sports Writer
True passion for their sport is what motivates and drives athletes to succeed. This can be said about senior baseball pitcher Daniel Gaines. Gaines has loved the game of baseball since he started at the age of six. He also enjoys playing other sports, but baseball is ultimately his favorite. “My second favorite sport to play is basketball,” Gaines explained. “I played one season in high school. I also played one season of football but baseball has always been my favorite sport to play.” Gaines is from Holyoke, Mass and graduated from Holyoke High School. While there, he was a three year member of the varsity baseball program. He was also a member of the Bay State Games baseball team in 2007. His decision to come to MCLA was influenced by his brother, Andrew Gaines, an MCLA alumni who played on the baseball team. “I would have never known about MCLA if it weren’t for my brother. He played here, so throughout his first three seasons I would go to his games,” said Gaines. The two brothers were able to play one season together when
Daniel was a freshman and Andrew was a senior. Both are pitchers and share the same passion for the game of baseball. Along with his passion, Gaines is a very hard worker, and the team does all they can to support him when he is on the mound.
“I noticed when he is on the mound it gives the team confidence,” senior Nick Mancini said. Senior teammate, Nick Mancini, has great devotion for Gaines on the field, “I noticed when he is on the mound it gives the team confidence,” Mancini said. After playing with Gaines for three years, Mancini has nothing but positive things to say about his teammate. “We know that Danny is one of the hardest working guys on the team and you have a feeling that when he is pitching you want to play your best so he can get the W,” he said. Last season, Gaines led the Trailblazer’s pitching with an ERA of 3.45 and had 32 strike-
Photo courtesy of Ian Grey
Gaines, and the rest of the baseball team, have much to celebrate with their winning record. outs. He also led in wins, going 4-4 and started in nine out of the 11 games he played.
Gaines’ teammates have expressed great respect for his abilities and confidence in him to do
his best out on the field. Mancini loaded his teammate with praise. GAINES, continued on page 11
Sports 10 Baseball smashes Emerson in double-header In 15 games, 2012 baseball team has equaled total number of wins from last season Thursday, March 29, 2012
By Ariana Tourangeau Staff Writer Since returning from their trip to Florida, the Baseball team has split their record, 3-3. The team lost their first nonconference game at Clark University on Tuesday, March 20. The team was not down and out and on Wednesday, March 21, the Trailblazers came back by winning their first home game of the season against Norwich University with a score of 4-1. The team then dropped two games in a row on March 24, getting swept in a double-header by Lassell. The team then recovered by routing the visting Emerson College in a double-header on March 25. Daniel Gaines was the starting pitcher for the Trailblazers on March 21, giving up seven hits and seven runs in his 3.2 innings on the mound. Freshman Chase Priete relieved him and went three hitless innings. MCLA got three hits for the game. The final score was 9-0. On Wednesday, March 21 senior Rick Massey pitched seven innings leading the Trailblazers. He was relieved by sophomore Cody Weaver who pitched two innings to close out the game for a win. The game started out with a tie for three and a half innings before either team could score. Preite, now playing infielder, was the first to score for the team in the bottom of the fourth inning. Preite stole second and advanced to third after junior Joe Duncan hit a ground out. Preite was sent home after freshman Rory Slattery hit a sacrifice fly resulting in the first point of the game and putting the Trailblazers in the lead. In the fifth inning the Trailblazers scored two more runs. Preite hit a single to right center with the bases loaded, scoring two runs and putting the team up by three at the end of the fifth inning. At the bottom of the seventh inning, the Trailblazers scored yet
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Photo by Will Casey/Beacon Staff
The Baseball team improved to an 8-7 record with a pair of victories over Emerson College. another run putting them up 4-0. Norwich came back in the eighth scoring a run and putting the score to 4-1. Weaver pitched the last two innings, striking out two hitters in the ninth and giving the Trailblazers their first home win. On Saturday, March 24, the team played a double-header at home and lost two games against Lasell University. The first game ended with a score of 13-7. The second game of the day ended with a final score of 9-0. In the beginning of the first game the teams were tied 1-1. Lasell came forward, taking the lead by scoring two runs
in the third and seven runs in the fourth inning. The Trailblazers managed to come back in the seventh inning with six runs but it wasn’t enough to beat Lasell. The Trailblazers managed 11 hits for the effort. In the second game of the night, the Trailblazers struggled to get a run. Lasell shut the team out with a score of 9-0. Halfway through the first inning Lasell scored three runs on the Trailblazers. In the second inning, Lasell scored two more runs putting the score at 5-0. In the third the Trailblazers loaded the bases and had zero
outs but still failed to get a run in. MCLA finished the game with only three hits. Things began to look up for the team when it traveled to Emerson College for a double-header on Sunday, March 25. Gaines again took the mound for the Trailblazers, this time lasting all seven innings of the game. Gaines gave up nine hits for eight runs, but this time the Trailblazers’ bats were awake and they pummelled the Emerson defense. The team slammed Emerson with 12 hits and accumulated 15 runs for the game. Ross Miner and Weaver
led the game in hits with three apiece. The second game of the doubleheader was a lower-scoring affair. This time it was Miner on the mound, and he too managed to go the entire seven innings. He gave up only four hits throughout the game for one run. For their part, MCLA got five runs off of seven hits. Sean Coyle and Derek Lescarbeau tied for the most hits, getting two each. The first conference games of the season will be a home doubleheader agaisnt Mass. Maritime on March 31.
Softball team struggles upon returning home SOFTBALL, continued from page 9
MCLA was determined not to allow another game to be taken from them, and in the top of the sixth the team hit hard for an additional two runs, planting themselves firmly in the lead. But Bay Path was relentless, and in the bottom of the sixth, they hti for an additional three runs, sweeping the day. The final score was 6-5, Bay Path. Ainsley MacDonald again took the mound for MCLA, and lasted over six innings before being relieved. She gave up 14 hits for the game. On the batting side, junior Kendra Hobbs contributed a home run for the MCLA side. Senior Kaitland Hager led the team in hits, getting on base three times in the game. The team combined for eight hits during the game.
MCLA’s softball team is one of the youngest teams on campus, boasting only two seniors for the entire roster. A full half of the twelve-person roster team is made up of freshmen. The month of April will be a tough one for this young team, as it will be devoted almost entirely to games in the MASCAC conference. In the current standings, MCLA is second-to-last, standing above only Mass. Maritime in wins and losses. The softball team will next play on Saturday, Mar. 31, in an afternoon double-header against Mass. Maritime. The first game of the double-header will be at 1 p.m. at the Athletic Complex. The Mass. Maritime game will be the first MASCAC conference game of the year for the Softball team.
Photo by Will Casey/Beacon Staff
The Softball team stretches and readies themselves for upcoming games.
Sports
Thursday, March 29, 2012
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Gaines pushes self and team forward GAINES, continued from page 9
Brendan Foley Sports Editor
“The Hunger Games” may very well end up being the science fiction film of the decade. This was surprising to me. Most young adult literature and films are designed around wish-fulfillment and simple fantasy. Having magic powers. Space travel. Megahot boyfriend who never ages. But “The Hunger Games”, at least as a film, turns on much of these concepts and creates something that is deeper, darker and angrier. For starters, Katniss Everdeen, as played by the rapturous Jennifer Lawrence, is an authentic feminist icon, a welcome-relief from four years of Twilight’s idiocy and misogyny. But more than that, “Games” is Social Revolution 101 for children, an examination and commentation on the way that dissent and revolution form in the minds of a people. The film clearly and cleverly illustrates the frission between the 1 percent and and the 99 percent without once calling attention to this metaphor. And more than THAT, the film makes the argument that change and revolution come not from violence and hate but through love and compassion. Katniss enters the games believing that it will be her hunting that will save her, but instead it is her capacity for love and kindness towards her competitors that gives her the upper hand. And in the outside world, it is watching Katniss halt the game to show respect and honor to a fallen child that makes the populace awake from the fog of subjugation and explode into revolution. Small gestures of humanity in the worst possible situation, and that is what brings out the fire of change. Which brings us back to the notion of this film being an early contender for Science Fiction Film of the Decade. After all, Time’s Man of the Year this past year was the image of The Protestor, and that makes Hunger Games uniquely relevant to this day and age. That’s what fiction, especially genre fiction like fantasy or science fiction, is capable of doing, something that nonfiction can only hope to do: to inspire and inform on a deep, emotional level that translates on an unconscious level. By creating fully realized characters and by leading the viewer to conclusions via visual design and editing, director Gary Ross is able to speak to viewers young and old. That’s what fiction should do, but so frequently gets caught in chasing marketing trends. Fiction should make you laugh, cry, fear and love and walk away a stronger person ready to change the world.
“I have had a great four years here at MCLA. I made a lot of friendships that will last long after we graduate,” Gaines said. “As a teammate he has the ability to keep everyone loose, but at the same time he doesn’t allow for us to lose focus of our main goals every game,” Mancini said. The baseball team is off to a successful start this season with a record of 6-5. Gaines believes in his teammates’ ability to make playoffs and keep the success going. Looking back on his college career, Gaines has nothing but positive things to say.
salem mass. maritime framingham MCLA bridgewater westfield worcester fitchburg
All
Conf
12-5 6-4 8-7 8-7 8-9 6-7 4-10 2-10
0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Softball bridgewater salem westfield framingham fitchburg worcester MCLA mass. maritime
All 11-3 10-4 6-5 3-7 3-11 2-8 2-12 0-6
Conf 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Baseball 3/31 vs. Mass. Maritime 1 p.m. 3/31 vs. Mass Maritime 3:30 p.m. 4/3 @ Union Photo courtest of Ian Grey
Daniel Gaines threw for an ERA of 3.45 last season. “I have had a great four years here at MCLA. I made a lot of friendships that will last long after we graduate,” he said. “It has also been great to play four years of college baseball, it has gone by fast,” he added. “It feels like it wasn’t too long ago when I was a freshman playing with my brother during his senior year.” Once the season is over, Gaines will be graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in business marketing.
“I plan on finding a good job in marketing and trying to travel more while I’m still young,” he said. He also wants to play his beloved sport even after he graduates. “I plan on pitching as long as my arm allows me to throw a baseball,” Gaines explained. He still has the rest of his final season ahead of him. Their next game is at home against MASCAC conference team Mass Maritime on Saturday, March 31st, at 1:00 p.m.
Intramurals program plans for weekend tournaments By Brendan Foley Sports Editor The Intramurals program is planning for two tournaments that will be held this weekend. While the fourth and final session of Intramurals is still pending, the program has found another way to keep the activities going. On March 31, the Campus Center Gym will host an indoor soccer tournament at 12 PM. Registration for this event ends on March 29. Goalies are required and the fliers for the event warn about the amount of bounce that can be expected from the hard wood floors of the Campus Center Gym. Four teams have already been created for this tournament The very next day, the Intramurals will also be sponsoring a dodgeball tournament, that is scheduled to be held from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. on April 1. For both events, registration can be performed at Intramural website at IMleagues.com/MCLA.
Standings
(As of Press Time)
Baseball
“Every time that he steps on the mound his determination, competitiveness, and confidence is what makes him our ace and a great all around teammate,” Mancini said. Along with his determination, Gaines is positive that the baseball team can go far this season and make playoffs, like his beloved football team, the New York Giants. “Our goal has always been the same every year and it is making playoffs,” Gaines said. “As we have all seen from teams, like the New York Giants, it is all about getting hot at the right time of the year and that time is in the playoffs.” Similar to his favorite team’s quarterback, Eli Manning, Gaines has the ability to lift his teammate’s spirits and help them stay driven for their goal.
11
3:30 p.m.
4/6 @ Fitchburg
2 p.m.
4/6 @Fitchburg
4:30 p.m.
4/9 vs. Williams
4 p.m.
4/11 @ Southern Vermont 3 p.m. 4/13 @ Me.-Presque Isle 2 p.m. Softball 3/31 vs. Mass. Maritime 1 p.m. 3/31 vs. Mass. Maritime 2:30 p.m. 4/6 @ Fitchburg
2 p.m.
4/6 @ Fitchburg
4 p.m.
4/10 @ Springfield 3:30 p.m. 4/10 @ Springfield 5 p.m. 4/12 vs. Sage 3:30 p.m. Men’s Tennis 4/5 @ Clark 4 p.m. 4/10 vs. WNE
4 p.m.
4/16 vs. Sage
4 p.m.
4/18 vs. Green Mountain 3:30 p.m. 4/22 vs. Johnson State 1 p.m. 4/24 @ Lyndon State 3:30 p.m. Photo by Will Casey/ Beacon Archive
Intramurals will host an indoor soccer and dodgeball tournament this weekend.
4/25 vs. Springfield 4 p.m.
12
Thursday, march 29, 2012
Military academies hold first gay pride events NORTHFIELD, Vermont (AP)– At the beginning of the school year, gay pride events at a military academy with titles like “condom Olympics” and “queer prom” would have been unthinkable. This week, they’re a reality. Cadets in uniform at Norwich University, the nation’s oldest private military academy, participated Monday in sessions about handling bullying and harassment as part of the school’s first gay pride week. The events are believed to be the first of their kind on a military campus. Just over six months after the end of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule that prohibited gays and lesbians from serving openly in the armed forces, it’s a different – and less secretive – world. Until last year, only a select few at Norwich knew of the sexual orientation of Joshua Fontanez, a past president of the student government who quietly laid the groundwork for the school’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allies Club, which held its first meeting the day the law ended. He had always wanted to be a soldier but figured he’d have to keep his sexuality a secret. “The aspects of my sexual orientation, how that played in the military, that was something I was willing to sacrifice, being open versus serving my nation,’’ Fontanez said. “It’s something I feel I was truly called toward and truly loved, so it’s great that I don’t have necessarily to make that sacrifice.” Norwich, established in 1819, has about 1,300 cadets and 1,100 civilian students. The gay student club is believed to be the first of its kind in the country on a military campus, Norwich officials said. Thirty to 35 people attend meetings. The events this week – held at a different time of year from many other gay pride events, which usually are observed in June or October – include discussions of HIV testing; the “condom Olympics,” in which prophylactics are given as prizes; and a dance at which same-sex partners are welcome. As an institution, Norwich never banned open homosexuality in the corps of cadets, but because many of its students were destined for the military, which prior to the end of “don’t ask don’t tell’’ the law served to keep people quiet, said Norwich spokeswoman Daphne Larkin. Some members of Norwich’s Christian Fellowship have been uncomfortable with gay student club, but the two organizations have worked together, with members of each attending some of the other’s meetings, said biology emeritus professor Carlos Pinkham, the Christian group’s faculty adviser. “We make it clear to them that we use the bible as our guide and that as a result we can’t condone the stuff they do,” Pinkham said. “But the Bible is also equally clear, in fact, even more clear. ... Being judgmental about the sin without extending love to the sinner is another form of sin.”
News & Opinion
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Campus Comment compiled by Takeya Lee
If you could create the school’s mascot, what would it be? “That’s a toughy. I feel like not having one is ok.”
“I agree with Jake, but if there has to be one then its a bear.”
- Jake Bonenfant, 2015
– Jahnoy Edwards, 2015
“Some kind of explorer since we are the Trailblazers.”
“I think a moose since we’re so close to Mount Greylock.”
– Kurtiss Keefner, 2014
- Catherine Obrzut, 2014
“A tree.”
“I would have a deer because I see deer around here all the time.”
– Andy Lowe, 2013
– Vanessa Poma, 2015
Letter to the Editor Past the Tipping Point
I’m perfectly aware that most of the people I’m directing this to, probably won’t take the time to read it. Nevertheless, I will still attempt to educate the MCLA students who come into the restaurant which I work at, and pay only for their meal, not leaving a cent for a tip. Maybe they forgot, maybe they weren’t taught how to tip when they were younger, maybe they had no money – but most college students aren’t rolling in dough, so if you do not have the courtesy to tip a few dollars on your $100 bill, then maybe fast food restaurants with no waitresses are a better place for you to go. Before I was a waitress, I admit that I was not the best tipper either. I have never stiffed a waitress, but I did always think that the typical “20% rule” for tipping was far too high. I somehow believed that waitresses already made enough money doing their job, since I knew there was a minimum wage in every
state. I thought that waitresses had to be receiving at least the state’s minimum wage, however, little did I know that most local waitresses make $2 to $3 per hour. This equals to less than $15 for an entire 8 hour shift after taxes are taken away. Around here, restaurants aren’t always booming the way they are in more populated areas, so during slow days, I make barely enough money to put gas in my mom’s car for my commute to and from Florida Mountain. I have always found it interesting, that the dirtiest jobs seem to pay the least, while the cleanest whitecollar desk jobs receive the highest salaries. No, I am not saying that one is easier than the other, but if you have never been a waitress then you have no knowledge of what the tasks actually entail. Remembering the orders of 10 different tables, and somehow seeming calm and collected while keeping a smile on
your face no matter how much your feet hurt, can be difficult for anyone. Thankfully, I get wonderful tips from almost all my customers, except some of the MCLA students who seem to have forgotten common courtesy. One of my favorite quotes, puts it well: “A person who is nice to you but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person.” ~ Dave Barry –Marissa Zelazo Class of 2012
Do you have an opinion and don’t know where to voice it? Send your letters to The Beacon at beacon@mcla.edu and let your voice be heard!
Opinion
Thursday, march 29, 2012
I
‘Hunger Games’ shows a strong female hero
n “The Hunger Games,” Katniss Everdeen must survive a televised death match against 23 other young people and the only defense she has is her bow and arrows and her instincts. This brave character faces an even greater challenge: Proving to pop culture that women, who are not cast as sex symbols, can take the lead in any film and bring in huge box office numbers from both male and female audiences. And Katniss’s character does this. The opening-weekend brought in 155 million dollars, which makes the screening of “The Hunger Games” the third greatest opening in history. Hey, Hollywood, female action heroes can attract large audiences without over sexualizing and feminizing them. Imagine that. Katniss is a tough, intelligent, and compassionate young heroine, which is not common to find in popular culture. She even supports her family by hunting for food and takes care of her sister after her father dies. Unfortunately, for nearly 60 years, gender inequality on screen has persevered. Hollywood’s impression is that boys and men will not see a film with a female lead because they seemingly cannot relate to the character; but I think this myth is finally debunked. Nearly 40 percent of theatergoers who saw “The Hunger Games” during the opening weekend were male, according to the New York Times.
However, the National Organization for Women states that male characters outnumber females three or even four to one in the film industry. Females are also four times more likely than males to adorn sexy attire and have unrealistic body figures. Plus, only eight percent of directors, 14 percent of writers, and 19 percent of producers are female.
Skyla Seamans Columnist
What I love most about the film is how it avoids the restrictive gender lens. The author, Suzanne Collins, does not place gender stereotypes and constraints on Katniss. Instead, the film portrays a complex, humanized individual who happens to be female. Junior Corinne Blake, who saw the film and read the books, hopes this movie will encourage other strong female characters to take the lead in the film industry.
“What I loved about the story is how a male character does not save the day,” Blake said. “Instead, it is the other way around. Katniss saves the male character and herself from danger.” Blake also said she has male friends who have read the series and loved the story. To them, it does not matter what gender the lead character embodies as long as the storyline sparks their interest. “J.K. Rowling initialed her first name for the Harry Potter series because she was afraid her books would not attract male readers, since they were composed by a female,” Blake said. “I hope this idea is changing so that women will be able to write books for any audience and not have to worry if their gender will turn readers away.” Senior Courtney Wills said she appreciates how realistic and normal Katniss is and she knows both men and women can relate to her adventurous, independent spirit. “I think Katniss is important to literature,” she said. “We need more modern female leads who are innovative and strong, because women don’t have many literary role models.” Even the box office agrees: “There’s always been a lack of strong female leads,” according to Boxoffice.com, “but Hollywood is waking up to that.” So thank you, Katniss (and Suzanne Collins) for showing audiences everywhere that no gender is superior and that women can take the lead.
“The Wright Way”
The World Holds No Secrets from Us O
n Monday, March 26, James Cameron journeyed into Challenger Deep, the deepest part of the Marianas Trench, for a whopping three hours. The last time a manned expedition to these depths was done was back in 1960, when Jacques Piccard and U.S. Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh spent 20 minutes down there. Part of me wonders why a second voyage took so long for mankind to plan. The technology to reach such depths was already created. Why did it take 52 years for someone (James Cameron, of all people!), to think “Hey, remember that one really deep part of the ocean? Let’s go there!” Maybe we were too distracted by space exploration? The other part of me wonders how long before mankind has found everything worth finding. How long before the world holds no secrets from us anymore? Think about it. How much of the earth have we already discovered and documented? There’s no swashbuckling
Jessie Wright Columnist
through the jungle anymore, no indigenous tribes we haven’t made some sort of contact with. The little pieces of rainforest that haven’t been clear cut for timber or coffee/banana plantations we’ve already traipsed through. Well, not you and I, but somebody. There are plenty of species (insects, mostly) still waiting to be discovered. But let’s be honest, that’s far less exciting than finding an island or being the first to climb a particular mountain. The idea of a frontier, the allure of the unknown… it’s thrilling. Romantic, even.
It’s something our society lacks. There’s no drive to go adventuring anymore. On an individual scale, yes, but nothing like American frontiersmen heading out west en masse. There’s no maps with “here there be dragons”. With Google Earth, nothing is secret. Space is, to unabashedly quote Star Trek, “the final frontier”. In a few years, Voyager 2 will exit our sun’s gravitational range and we will finally be able to get high quality photos of things beyond our solar system. Even then, the most a person could manage (unless they were okay with never ever seeing their family again) would be a trip to Mars. The rest of it will remain far beyond our reach. I can’t help but wonder what James Cameron’s trip means for exploration in the years to come. In 2012 alone, there are three more expeditions to Challenger Deep planned by other people. How long before excursions to the bottom of the world like these become available to the general public? Maybe some things should be left unexplored.
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Thursday, march 29, 2012
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NOW SIGNING CONTRACTS FOR FALL 2012 SAME PRICE AS A TOWNHOUSE SINGLE With No Additional Cost for Extras Our carpeted rooms are much larger than the townhouse singles and are filled with things we think will make your senior year a lot more enjoyable. Although we have non-furnished rooms for a lower price, we think the complete package deal is your best value. Your room will have a Double Bed, 32� HDTV, Cable w/sports, large glass desk with convenient side shelves and a nice high back executive chair, a mini-fridge, a bureau w/mirror. The house will have a large 42- 47� HDTV with premium cable, sports and can even have NFL ticket. Brand new living room furniture will be comfortable and high speed WiFi is everywhere for streaming or surfing. Heat, hot water, utilities and parking are included as well. You can store things over the summer, come back early to get ready for school, leave for breaks at your convenience....or stay throughout. And you even have extra time after graduation to celebrate and savor the moment.
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For Fun
Thursday, march 29, 2012
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Sudoku
This Week in MCLA History March 29, 1984 The Beacon’s front page story this week was the selection of a new president at the College. Dr. Catherine Tisinger was selected as the ninth president of North Adams State College by the Board of Trustees. Tisinger, formerly the vice-president of academic affairs at Central Missouri State University, had teaching and administration experience at colleges throughout the country. Tisinger would serve as president until 1991.
Fill in the empty cells, one number in each, so that each column, row, and region contains the numbers 1 through 9 exactly once.
The Beacon also reported starting in the fall of 1985, the College would no longer have a men’s golf team or women’s field hockey. In their place would be the addition of a women’s soccer team. Athletic Director Joe Zavattaro said a lack of “feeder schools” and difficulty finding officials for games was the reason to end field hockey, while travel time was the reason to end golf. March 30, 2000 The Beacon reported plans for Murdock Hall’s renovation were a hot topic among the MCLA community. The initial plan had a projected cost of six to eight million dollars. It would bring the building back to the original design of more spacious classrooms and meeting rooms. Reaction to the initial proposal was mixed. Sociology professor Maynard Seider said there were already enough classrooms on campus. “What we really need are good, private faculty offices,” Seider said. “It’s very important to keep all the offices of each department together.” English professor David Langston disagreed. “The big windows and high ceilings are perfect for a spacious classroom setting,” Langston said. “To use this building for offices would be unwise.”
Comic by Aurora Cooper
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Horoscopes
Aries: March 21-April 19 This is a good time to slow down and take stock before making any new advances. Even those at the very top need to take time to absorb their situation and ensure that they can move forward. Taurus: April 20-May 20 Financial transactions are making life more interesting than usual, so see if you can get yourself back where you need to be (in the black, that is). Things are looking up for you, so keep pushing! Gemini: May 21-June 21 People are reading over your shoulder, kibitzing and generally inserting themselves into your business all day– how irritating! Just make sure you can do what needs to get done before closing yourself away. Cancer: June 22-July22 Familiarity doesn’t have to breed contempt – it can make life quite comfortable, at least for you! Now is the time to relax and do what you like, even if others are pushing to try exciting new things.
Courtesy of sudoku.au.com
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Leo: July 23-August 22 Your social circles are feeling a bit crowded, but they’re actually just stagnating a tiny bit. Now is a good time to start thinking about expanding them and opening up to some new faces. Virgo: August 23-Sept. 22 If you’re on the road, expect good times and great people. If you’re not traveling, now is the best time to plan a vacation trip. You can get great deals and you are sure to find willing partners. Libra: Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Your inner peace is manifesting on the outside today, leading to a calm demeanor and generally good-natured companions. It’s a good time for difficult topics, if there are any that need to be discussed. Scorpio: Oct. 23-Nov. 21 You’re feeling powerful – but so are some other parties. That could make conflict more difficult than expected for everyone, but you should still throw your weight around if need be. Sagittarius: Nov. 22-Dec. 21 You feel more obliging today, and that should help you deal with all those demanding people lined up nearby. If anything, you might rack up plenty of karmic and other debt to be cashed in later! Capricorn: Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Your fidelity – romantic and otherwise – is legendary, and today you find new ways to make it work for you. Of course, it’s not all about gain, but it’s nice to see the good guy win every now and then. Aquarius: Jan. 20-Feb. 18 You need to explore more of the world in order to understand your corner of it, and today brings a discovery that could be monumental if you push yourself mentally and physically. Pisces: Feb. 19-March 20 A new wrinkle makes your love life that much more interesting – though not necessarily more complicated. You may settle into a groove with your current sweetie or find someone new and hot.
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Thursday, March 29, 2011
Photo Essay
Little Shop of Horrors Photos by Marissa Zelazo