Baseball team splits double-header MCLA Baseball takes only the first game in a rainy double-header.
MCLA Students go to Kentucky for ASB.
Allegrettos performed at the Church St. Center
Crossing the line
The Alternative Spring Break went to Kentucky this year to help after the tornado.
The College’s choir belts out the hits in a two-night show.
Jessie Wright asks the question, When does humor go too far?
SPORTS, page 9
NEWS, page 3
Student Newspaper of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts North Adams, Mass.
ARTS and ENTERTAINMENT, page 7
The Beacon
OPINION, page 13
Volume 75 Issue 9 Thursday April 5, 2012
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Animal Adventures Josh McLean poses with a crocodile, one of many animals at an exotic petting zoo that visted the College. The Student Activities Council (SAC) presented “Animal Adventures” on Saturday, March 31 in Venable Gym. Animals included a kangaroo, a lemur, snakes, an alligator, a hedgehog, a chinchilla, a lizard, and more. Students and their little siblings were able to pet and hold some of the animals while marveling at their majesty. Photo courtesey of Nora Weiss
Students prepare for Earth Week By Skyla Seamans Staff Writer
In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, the Environuts are collaborating with the Sustainability Committee to plan conservation awareness and green living events on campus throughout the month. The Sustainability Fair will take place on Wednesday, April 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Events in the Campus Center Marketplace will include handouts, information, and posters regarding recycling, calculating our carbon footprint, the bike share program, and so on. Junior Jason Brown, president of the Environuts, said he hopes the success of these events will leave an example for future Earth Weeks on campus. “There will be a lot going on, between Earth Week and the Student Activities Council’s Spring Week,” Brown said. “As we move into nicer weather, there is no better way to welcome spring than by celebrating our planet and showing our support for sustainability on campus.” There will also be other venders
in the Marketplace, such as local food vendors like Wild Oats. ARAMARK will staff a table to inform the campus about available local foods and how they are incorporated into the College’s food service program. The Follett Book Store will table on the new eco-friendly graduation gowns. Environmental Studies Professor Daniel Shustack will display posters from his Environmental Resources, Science, and Management class. “Students in the course generate a poster based on their semester investigation into a topic of their choosing,” Shustack said. “Each semester, the class votes for the best two to four posters to be displayed on Earth Day for the whole campus to see. This year, we will display the eight to ten best posters from the last three semesters of the course, all with an environmental theme.” Jim Stakenas, Vice President of Administration and Finance and Chairperson of the Sustainability Committee, said he is most excited for the Chevrolet Volt hybrid and electric cars demonstration cour-
Weekend Weather Friday
Sunny High: 53 Low: 28
Saturday
Mostly Sunny High: 53 Low: 34
Sunday
Sunny High: 52 Low: 35
Photo by Takeya Lee/Beacon staff
The Environuts met up last week to discuss plans for the upcoming Earth Week. tesy of Bedard Bros. He also said there are infinite opportunities for the community to embrace sustainability efforts. “Even though the College has changed heating and cooling sys-
tems, we still have a long way to go towards sustainability,” Stakenas said. “The events we have planned will create the community’s consciousness towards the amount of energy they consume every day;
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
this is a lifelong learning experience. It also helps the campus meet its commitment towards long term green energy use.” EARTH WEEK, continued on page 14
For updates, friend us at: facebook.com/ MCLABeacon For breaking news, follow us on Twitter: @BEACONMCLA
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Thursday, April 5, 2012
Student Government in Brief
–Parliamentarian Natasha Dalton took over Secretary Jake Powers’ position for the meeting, as he was off campus with an illness. –President Todd Foy said SGA constitution edits will be brought to the Senate next Monday. –Foy said there’s a possibility Sharky’s Lounge in the Campus Center may become a work space for clubs. Foy said this would be something next year’s administration could pursue. –Jason Canales, from the office of Institutional Research, gave a presentation on the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). –Hawa Umarova, class of 2012 president, announced Senior Days packages are available for purchase. She also added that Krispee Kreme donuts will be sold to benefit the class of 2012. –Student Trustee Jaynelle Bellemore reported on the most recent Board of Trustee meeting, held on Thursday March 29. Bellemore said the Trustees were impressed by student initiatives like the bike share program. –The Senate voted to place a referendum on the spring ballot that would decide whether MASSPIRG would continute to run on the MCLA campus. –Parliamatarian Dalton distributed copies of constitutions of two new clubs to the Senate: Equestarian Club and the Animation Organization. –SGA Treasurer Peter Swain announced the Budget Finance Committee recommends a student activity fee increase. The committee recommended an increase of an extra $25 a semester, bringing the fee to $150 per semester. –The Senate voted for SGA to donate $100 towards MASSPIRGS Annual Hunger Cleanup. The majority of what is raised will go towards the Berkshire Food Project in North Adams, which serves lunch every weekday. –Senator Jason Brown announced there will be a Bike Share information table in the Marketplace this Friday, April 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. –Commuter Chair Sarah Grimaldi announced the Commuter Newsletter will be released on FirstClass.
Student Government Association meetings are Mondays at 7 p.m. in Murdock 218, and are open to the public
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Day of service brings students, community members together By Holly Johnston Staff Writer
Interested in making North Adams a better place, as well as meeting a diverse group of people within the community? The Twentieth Annual Community Day of Service is coming up on May 5 and is the perfect place to do so. Lorraine B. Maloney a volunteer coordinator at the College started up the Community Day of Service twenty years ago, according to Spencer Moser director of the Center for Service. “This event is one massive energized day. There are usually around 200 people who sign up. While the majority of students, there has been an increase of community residents over the past couple of years,” Moser said. Last year, there were a total of 19 community service sites. Moser mentioned the following ideas for this year’s sites: helping businesses on Main Street, cleaning and refurbishing local parks, painting the seats at Joe Wolfe Stadium, prepping the Windsor Campgrounds for the summer season, painting crosswalks downtown, as well planting vegetable gardens. “Students and members of the community have given their ideas for what they think needs to be done, and we are still accepting more,” Moser said. So far 60 people have signed up for this year’s Community Day of Service. Moser expects a lot more in the next few weeks. “We see a big improvement in the turn out every year and increase in involvement of local residents” he said. Moser coordinates the event in partnership with city officials and local leaders. Glenn Maloney has been Moser’s strongest partner, and has been a factor in the event’s evolution. Mayor Alcombright, as well as the organization Develop North Adams (DNA), also helped to coordinate the event. Moser explained that the impact of this event goes far beyond all the good work done on the actual day. The Community Day of Service brings the College campus and the North Ad-
Vandalism, Hoosac Hall drug offence: Highlights from the Public Safety Log Week of 3/25-3/31
Photo by Aaron Crawford/Beacon staff
Spencer Moser, head of the Center for Service, coordinates the Day of Service with city officials and local leaders. Last year’s day of service had about 200 people working on 19 different community service sites. ams community together in a real way. “Different walks of life congregate and learn about each other,” Moser said. “Students and residents get to roll up their sleeves and plant flower beds and clean up water ways. The physical act of service generates conversation and helps build community, and undoubtedly we all get to learn something new about each other, and often find commonality and shared
Sunday 3/25 4:10 p.m. – Public safety investigated a disturbance in Venable Hall. Monday 3/26 9:18 a.m. – Public safety responded to a report of vandalism on the Townhouse Lot dumpster. 2:38 p.m. – Public safety investigated several breaking
and enterings in the Townhouse complex. 8:55 p.m. – Public safety responded to a report of harassment on Montana street. 10:16 p.m. Public safety responded to a report of vandalism on the Brewer-Perkins building. Tuesday 3/27 3:14 p.m. – Public
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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interests – thus bringing people together.” “This event brings in a concrete way the College and community together. It produces relationships and allows this invisible wall between college and community to dissolve,” Moser added. For more information, contact Moser at 413662-5251, or visit the Center for Service office at room 307 of the Amsler Campus Center.
safety responded to a report of harassmentat the Brewer-Perkins building. 3:38 p.m. – Public safety responded to a report of vandalism in the Ashland St. lot. 4:51 p.m. – Public safety responded to a motor vehicle accident in the Mark Hopkins lot.
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Friday 3/30 4:19 p.m. –Public safety responded to a report of larceny in the Townhouse Complex. 11:53 p.m. – Public safety responded to a drug offense in Hoosac Hall.
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Thursday, April 5, 2012
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Alternative Spring Break goes to Kentucky this year
Photo courtesy of Spencer Moser
MCLA students help restore Kentucky after a massive tornado. Press Release The MCLA Alternative Spring Break (ASB) 2012 group spent spring break volunteering at The David School and providing first-hand, first- response tornado relief to families living in the heart of Appalachia, Eastern Kentucky. Six students and one staff member participated on the trip, and comment that the experience was incredibly interesting, incredibly educational, incredibly eye-opening and left a deep and profound impact on all the participants. The David School The David School has 29 high school students and is located in David, Kentucky, a rural village in the Appalachian Mountains, an area also devastated by recent tornado activity. The school is a non-denominational private high school with a mission to serve underprivileged and struggling students by providing a comprehensive education program for at risk youths who have limited financial resources. In order to be accepted at this school, the student and a guardian have to first meet with the principal. At this time, the student is explicitly told that this is a “work school.” “Work school” means you are assigned a chore and you must help out at the school. Tasks vary but they may include cooking, prepping meals, cleaning, mowing the lawn or any other chore that needs to be done. In addition to this requirement, there is also a rule setting forth a zero tolerance policy for drugs on campus. Since the federal government does not fund The David School,
they also require a fee of$30 per month from each student’s family. If the student and family agree, the student is immediately enrolled. It was started in the 1970s by Danny Greene, who is originally from New York City, who had come to David, Kentucky, as a college sophomore and was moved by the rampant poverty and illiteracy there. The school relies on donations and volunteers for every aspect of its operations. For more than 35 years, The David School has been changing the lives of Appalachian youth for the better. Danny shared inspirational stories and struggles he and others faced against the coal industry in order to open the school- much was learned from Danny around pursuing one’s dreams. The ASB group was shocked and overwhelmed by the extreme poverty that exists in this part of America. Floyd County, were The David School is located and the group stayed, has a small population of about 43,000 residents. The median household income is $21,000 and about 30% of its population lives under the poverty line. A key reason behind this poverty has to do with the long history of coal mining being the largest industry in the area. Right now, coal mining operations in Kentucky have been declining due to fewer federal mining permits, giving way to large unemployment and dependency on welfare and other assistance. This lack of self-sufficiency was the result of big coal companies moving out in the 1960’s and left the towns they had built, such as the small town of David, with no
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Photo courtesy of Spencer Moser
Korrina Dennehey and Kate Abbott were amongst the students who went to Kentucky. resources or support to be selftornado victims. faculty also serves as the staff of sufficient. On top of the sociothe school, and they and varieconomic issues the coal compaMentoring and Tutoring ous volunteer groups, provide nies leave behind, they also create MCLA students put their a unique learning environment massive environmental problems, mentoring and tutoring skills to for all the students. The number such as water and forest degrada- work when they shadowed David of staff is limited. Whether it is tion. The group reports seeing School students throughout the because of money, funding, loca“red” colored streams, which one class day. The MCLA volunteers tion or the unique challenge of MCLA student says she rememsaw what subjects’ students working with these students, the bered learning in class is a result struggled with and how students school struggles to keep enough of coal processing pollutants. treated their teachers. Many of staff to teach what classes they This type of poverty is widethese students chose to come to a think is necessary for these chilspread across Appalachia. Many work while your learn school bedren to graduate. The staff is like of The David School students cause of the overwhelming drug family and all shared that they left their towns’ public school problems at their last school. To are there because they believe in systems to escape the drug abuse, attend the David School students these youth, and are motivated by violence, and crime that is comhad to sign contracts that they the ideals and values of wanting mon among young people in the would stay drug free and would to make a positive difference in area. Kentucky faces a statewide be willing to clean the school or the lives of these young people, battle against drugs, specifically prep for meals as part of their and society as a whole. with prescription pills, making it education process. Since the The experiences at The David the 3rd most “medicated” state in school is not funded by the state School have left a lasting impact the nation. Unfortunately, many or federal government, the school on the MCLA students. Deof the David School students’ can be flexible with their teaching spite the hardship these youth have parents with substance schedules. A number of students face on a daily basis, they have abuse problems and are beMCLA worked with at David will each made a pivotal life choice ing raised by single mothers or be first generation high school to enroll in The David School, fathers, grandparents, and other graduates, meaning that the whether they knew it at the time family members. Lack of access push toward educational success or not. Although not all students to quality education means that at home may be low. The only that enroll in The David School many students “fall through standardization these students successfully complete the high the cracks” of the system. Most face is prep for the ACTs. The school program, many come have literacy rates lower than the goal of the David School is for back in one way or another. nationwide average. It is comthese students to earn their high Former students have brought mon for families to remain in school diploma; going to college their children in hopes of having a town or a single “holler” for is strongly encouraged but in no them enroll in the school. A few generations, and as a result, chilway the absolute expectation. former students have even told dren lack motivation to look for The MCLA students say teachDanny Greene that they always outside opportunities. Students at ing at David School can be had the school in their thoughts The David School are given a sec- daunting. The David School staff and it has made them want to ond chance to make it through express that these young adults aspire for something more in life. their education without the dischallenge them every day and in It was inspiring for the MCLA traction of substance abuse and every way. The class is arranged students to witness how much with positive motivation from by different skill and ability levels of an impact The David School dedicated volunteer teachers. at different tables, unlike the has had on its students and their The ASB students observed and traditional desk set up. Everyone experienced this poverty through learned at a different pace and Kentucky their work with the David School this set up allows different skill continued on page 4 students and interacting with the levels to be in the same class. The
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News
Thursday, April 5, 2012
KENTUCKY, continued from page 3
on the MCLA students. Despite the hardship these youth face on a daily basis, they have each made a pivotal life choice to enroll in The David School, whether they knew it at the time or not. Although not all students that enroll in The David School successfully complete the high school program, many come back in one way or another. Former students have brought their children in hopes of having them enroll in the school. A few former students have even told Danny Greene that they always had the school in their thoughts and it has made them want to aspire for something more in life. It was inspiring for the MCLA students to witness how much of an impact The David School has had on its students and their overall success.
Tornado Relief
The group learned much about tornados, and witnessed firsthand its wrath. Weather conditions were perfect for tornados on that historic Friday. There were forty-five different tornados that touched down that day. Many of the tornados were able
to stay on the ground for many miles. In West Liberty, Kentucky the twister that leveled the town was on the ground for ninety-five miles with winds of 140mph. In Salyersville, Kentucky near the David School and where we did our relief work, the twister had winds of 160mph and stayed on the ground for forty- nine miles. While the numbers are terrifying, the sights were puzzling. Homes, businesses, and churches would be flattened on one side of the road while whole housing developments would be untouched on the other. Tornados have a tendency to hop around and are never predictable- while anything and everything in its track would be destroyed and ripped apart, there was often one structure completely untouched without a scratch and with no damage at all. The impact of the tornados is on a massive scale- the like none of in the group had ever seendeeply impacting and changing all facets of life as usual. While at the David School the group was saddened to hear of a prior student of who perished during the tornado. Through the coordination of “Brother Eddy” at the local Burning Fork Baptist Church, the ASB group worked hand in hand
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with other college students from around the country on the front lines doing tornado relief. Over the course of five days students made care packages, helped run distribution centers and cleaned up the unbelievable amount of wreckage from the twister. Separating metal from wood and hazardous trash, student s helped homeowners clean up what was left of their homes and trailers. Family photos and irreplaceable items were a common sight, scattered up to a mile away from where a home once stood. Students traveled to multiple “hollers” or neighborhoods to do this work, and had the opportunity to work side by side with homeowners and directly hear their stories and concerns. Physical service wasn’t the only thing MCLA students brought with them to rural eastern Kentucky. Thanks to the college community, the students were able to bring down two duffle bags loaded to the brim with relief supplies such as toothpaste and feminine products as well as $600 in gift cards. In a last minute fundraising effort, the family of Korinna Dennehey was able to raise an astounding $650 more to donate to both the victims of the tornados and the David
school itself. As important the tornado relief clean up was and the donated supplies, the MCLA group feel they were also played an important emotional role for these victims by being caring, sympathetic and a shoulder for these victims to cry on.
Cultural Enrichment and Excursions
The ASB group also had the opportunity to explore and engage in some Cultural Enrichment and Excursions. Loretta Lynn’s birthplace was only a half hour drive away from the David School and the group had many die-hard country music fans that had to stand where the famous singer once stood. They report that traveling through the backwoods of Kentucky was an adventure in itself; Loretta Lynn really did live in the middle of nowhere. In order to visit her house they had to call ahead to the local General Store and make sure her brother could find someone to watch the store while he took us around the house. While waiting to go on the tour the group were able to chat with Loretta Lynn’s brother and two nieces, and heard amazing
stories about the area and history of the town. While wandering around Loretta Lynn’s house the group was able to see how “backwoods” and small town this young girl really was. Her brother painted a picture of how the area looked way back when; before the roads, electricity, and people. Before the road was built up to the hollow, people had to drive their cars up through the river, a bumpy ride. The group also explored downtown Lexington, which has many interesting art, restaurants and retail shops a wonderful fountain and park in the middle of downtown where many locals and tourists can enjoy some time in the sunshine. Keeneland race track was the last stop on the way to the airport to go home. The contrast from the backwoods where the group had been in for the week with the grandeur of the race track was interesting to compare. MCLA’s Alternative Spring Break trips are coordinated out of The Center for Service and Citizenship Office, by Spencer Moser.
Seniors gear up for week Senior Week Calendar of dance and good times Tuesday, May 15 Friday, May 18 By Jessica Gamari Staff Writer
The officers of the Class of 2012 are beginning to finalize senior week activities. Senior Week begins on May 15 and leads up until graduation on May 19. Activities so far include a dance, movie night, and a possible trip to either Boston or Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn. The class has been fundraising and saving for this week since their freshman year, and is also funded through SGA. All senior classes participate in a Baccalaureate ceremony, which will be held on Friday, May 18, where the class year is engraved on a brick of Murdock Hall. After a brunch, the class reads past “ivy poems” from 10-15 years ago, followed by their own poem. An alumni social will follow, as well as a senior banquet in the evening. Jennifer Craig, Coordinator of Student Activities and advisor to all classes, says that the Murdock building was once covered with ivy. It is a tradition that all classes write and read a poem about the ivy plant being a metaphor for their education. With proper nurture and sunlight, the ivy plants grow and prosper. “The Ivy poem is about education, growing, and learning. After the revelation of the class year, students in their graduation gowns will present pieces of ivy to those who were instrumental to their learning and growing,” Craig said. The Senior Class council began planning in January, although for the most part, the activities are the same as last year. This year, however, the Class of 2012 is creating the first ever MCLA time capsule. “The time capsule has never been done in our history,” Hawa Umarova, President of the senior class, said. Umarova said the capsule contains a yearbook, CD supplement, Dance Company memorabilia, as well as personal letters from students to their future selves.
“We’re hoping to get an iPod shuffle with 2011-2012 radio hits. We’re going to include pictures of the current technology, like the iPod, Kindle, and Nook. It was also suggested that we include pictures of the current faculty and staff,” she said. The time capsule will remain in the ground for 30 years, and will likely be buried near the Center for Science and Innovation after its completion. The class gift, currently still up for debate, will most likely be something for the new building as well, according to Umarova. “We are an opinionated class; everyone wants something different,” she said. “It may be a piece of art, number of a classroom, or a piece of furniture. It has to represent our class.” The senior class officers are: President Hawa Umarova, Vice President Tyeson Bell, Treasurer Amanda Schuler and Secretary Sara Grimaldi. Grimaldi has been checking off the days until graduation. “I am excited. Our hard work is finally paying off,” she said. “I am most looking forward to using Senior Days as an opportunity to congratulate myself and my fellow classmates as we begin the next chapter of our lives.” There are several senior gift packages available. The “events package,” for $80, includes a yearbook, t-shirt, a senior cup, and helps to support the day trip and a donation for the class gift. This package also supports a Sullivan Lounge movie night, Alumni Social, senior banquet, brunch, BBQ cookout, and a dance party. The next package, the “gift package,” for $45, includes a yearbook, t-shirt, senior cup, and a donation to the class gift. Anyone wishing to buy just the yearbook can do so for $15. “I’m always excited, it’s my favorite time of the year,” Craig said. “It’s sad, but I get to help them celebrate a fun time, and I love it.”
•Check-in •Movie Night
•Graduation Information Meeting •Baccalaureate Ceremony •Senior Banquet
Wednesday, May 16 •Brunch followed by Presentation of Class Saturday, May 19 Number on Murdock •Commencement •Baccalaureate Ceremony Ceremony Rehearsal •Alumni Social office •Dance Party s ’ g i ra nn C e J n 318 up i er Thursday, May 17 Sign Room pus Cent am •BBQ Lunch ler C s m A •Day Trip: Boston OR Mohegan Sun Casino
EVENTS PACKAGE: $80 Yearbook, tshirt, senior cup, day trip, donation towards class gift, Sullivan Lounge movie night, alumni social, senior banquet, brunch, cookout, dance party GIFT PACKAGE: $45 Yearbook, tshirt, senior cup, donation to class gift YEARBOOK: $15 *Last Day to Purchase a Package is Fri. April 20* **Resident students wishing to stay on campus must purchase Events Package!**
News
Thursday, april 5, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
A few minutes with Foy
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The SGA President discusses how his college experiences have shaped the person he is today.
Photo by Carly Samach/ Beacon staff
Managing Editor Senior Todd Foy takes a subtle glance over my shoulder at a clock, too quickly to be noticed normally. He clearly has bigger things on his mind, but I have 45 minutes with him until he has to resume his duties as Student Government Association, SGA, president, a position he’s held since the fall. I met Foy our freshman year. I can’t remember where, he has one of those personalities that makes him ubiquitous. I’ve yet to encounter a person at MCLA who doesn’t know his name. “I just like to be social. I like talking to people and learning from people. The person I am was made by the people around me,” Foy said. At first glance, Foy and I aren’t dressed dissimilarly, fairly casually by most standards. We’re both in jeans, shortsleve shirts, and Converse low-tops, but he’s dressed very well in a way that I can’t seem to put my finger on. After a minute or two it hits me, his pants and polo shirt fit closely to his thin physique, and both are shades of blue that play off of his cerulean eyes. His medium-length blond hair shifts only slightly with the sudden movements of his body. He talks with his hands. Each point
he makes is punctuated with a flick of the wrist, a tilt of the head, or a shrug. On occasion his whole torso folds over almost to his knees, when something is raucously funny. The 21-year-old from Hadley has taken a rare break this year from his normally jam-packed class schedule. He’s spending his remaining time at MCLA focusing on his presidency and finishing his minors in anthropology and social justice. “I knew SGA would be insane. I know Jaynelle [Bellmore] is taking seven classes, I don’t know how she does it,” he said with a laugh and a nod to Bellmore, who is working behind us at a desk in the SGA office. Though he’s worked with Colleges Against Cancer and the Class Council in the past, his junior year the political science major consolidated his activities to exclusively SGA. “This is where my passions have always been, since freshman year,” Foy said. “Middle of junior year, I had just moved up to the executive board. You see a lot more on the [eboard].” Foy said that there were a lot of issues that
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he began to notice at SGA and the College in general. This made him redouble his efforts in SGA and throw himself in headfirst. Foy’s day is a mixed bag of classes and SGA appointments that stretch from nine in the morning till he finally stops between five and nine at night. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are for SGA and Tuesdays and Thursdays are for classes and homework. I asked Foy: with such a busy schedule, how does he manage to stay physically active? He laughed. “Assassin’s Creed is my exercise…I go home and I just sit… I’m just so exhausted that I just want to sit and pretend I’m a medieval assassin,” he said. Saturday nights are for him and his “brothers,” though. The guys that Todd lives with are his closest friends and while he enjoys heading to the bar, the satisfaction of opening a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and booting up Super Smash Bros. with his housemates in their 21+ townhouse can’t be beat. “I’ve found by now that you’ve hit that group of people that really know you well,” Foy said.
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By Andrew Roiter
The person I am was made by the people around me.
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. If you have someone you think should be featured, please send an email to beacon@mcla.edu
When Foy has a bad day he tends to retreat and get some perspective on his life, often by reading a book. “I think a little bit, fume a little bit and jump into some other place,” he said. “I think some people don’t take time for themselves.” Foy, who interned for Senator John Kerry last summer, recently applied for two jobs at political consulting firms in Boston and for a position with the Human Rights Campaign in Washington D.C. Foy thanked a multitude of people from MCLA for helping him become the person he is today and getting where he is, including Jaynelle Bellmore, Jameek Clovie and Diane Collins. But the one person who came to mind was director of student development Celia Norcross. “She’s like the mother of the campus,” Foy said. “She’s talked me off a lot of big cliffs I could have jumped off of.” But, he added, she allowed him to make enough mistakes so he would learn and grow. “Celia’s the person I think of, but it’s been the whole community,” Foy said. He finished by saying that he came to MCLA alone, and put himself through school. But he won’t be leaving the school alone, the changes; both the good and bad (mostly good he added) will stay with him.
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Thursday, April 5, 2012
A&E
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Neil Young begins work AP Review: on new file format and ‘Mirror’ only a fair take on fairy tale music service By Mary Redstone
A&e Editor There are certain things in this world that were clearly made for audiophiles: Beats headphones, vinyl-to-MP3 record players, and the 160-Gigabyte iPod. Musician Neil Young may soon be able to add to that list in the form of a new audio-file format that promises studio-quality sound at a reasonable file size that can be downloaded off the Internet. The format, currently under six trademarked names including “21st Century Record Player,” “Earth Storage” and “Thanks for Listening,” according to Rolling Stone magazine, won’t be available for some time yet. Young applied for trademarks last June, and now must wait aproximately a year’s worth of paperwork before the trademark is accepted. In a press release from Penguin Group, the company publishing Young’s upcoming memoir, the file-format was being described as being a part of a cloud-based service from which users can download the files. The release stated, “Young is… personally spearheading the development of Pono, a revolutionary new audio music system presenting the highest digi-
tal resolution possible, the studio quality sound that artists and producers heard when they created their original recordings. Young wants consumers to be able to take full advantage of Pono’s cloud-based libraries of recordings by their favorite artists and, with Pono, enjoy a convenient music listening experience that is superior in sound quality to anything ever presented.” Rolling Stone also links to the paperwork Young filed last year, where he describes the service as “Audio and video recordings featuring music and artistic performances; high resolution music downloadable from the internet… Online and retail store services featuring music and artistic performances… high resolutions discs featuring music and video, and prerecorded digital media featuring audio and video recordings for storage and playback” In an interview with MTV in January, Young said, “I’m finding that I have a little bit of trouble with the quality of the sound of music today…I don’t like it. It just makes me angry. Not the quality of the music, but we’re in the 21st century and we have the worst sound that we’ve ever had.”
MCLA & ASA Introduces SALT
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By Christy Lemire AP Movie Critic
Julia Roberts chews up the scenery and spits it back out again with great brio in her first truly villainous role as the evil Queen in ``Mirror Mirror.’’ And oh, what scenery it is. After all, this is a film from Tarsem Singh, director of such spectacular spectaculars as the trippy ``The Cell’’ and last year’s dreary ``Immortals.’’ Basically, the scenery IS the movie _ and the costumes, of course, from the late Eiko Ishioka. They dominate every moment of this cheeky, heavily tweaked version of ``Snow White,’’ but at least they’re a marvel to watch. They’d better be, because the dialogue and the action are, for the most part, rather dull and weirdly devoid of energy. This anachronistic, genre-hopping fairy tale _ I swear, there’s a ``George of the Jungle’’ joke at one point _ comes from screenwriters Marc Klein and Jason Keller from a story by Melisa Wallack. It begins with the beautiful, innocent Snow White (Lily Collins, daughter of Phil), who’s just turned 18, trapped in her bedroom in a castle perched high on a precipitous cliff. Her father, the King (Sean Bean), set off into the woods one day long ago and is presumed dead; her stepmother, the Queen, has taken over the kingdom and tyrannically transformed a place that was once merry into a wasteland of poverty and strife. The Queen’s right-hand man is the butt-kissing Brighton (Nathan Lane), who keeps trying to tell her she’s broke, but she won’t listen. All she cares about is her status as the fairest of them all, which she reinforces by visiting a mirror housed in a thatched hut hidden dramatically in the mid-
dle of a dark, isolated lake. (That Tarsem is an imaginative dude, we cannot deny that.) But fortunately, into her kingdom comes the young, gorgeous, single and (more importantly) wealthy Prince Alcott (Armie Hammer in a perfect bit of casting; he seems game to make fun of his all-American good looks). The Queen tries to woo him with a lavish ball, but the Prince only has eyes for Snow, whom he’d encountered briefly in the forest earlier that day when neither of them realized the other was, you know, royal. (The wedding she plans for him looks like something that could take place in the Capitol of ``The Hunger Games,’’ with its foppish guests dressed in garishly colorful, over-the-top costumes and makeup.) When the Queen tries to have Snow killed out of jealousy, the young beauty escapes and makes a new home with the Seven Dwarves, who get actual back stories and some of the film’s funnier lines. None of them is named Dopey or Doc, but they do give Snow a tough-girl makeover, complete with the obligatory training montage. Collins has a lovely screen presence _ she’s got this young Audrey Hepburn thing going _ but she lacks a certain oomph, even after her character has learned to fight and supposedly found her inner strength. Roberts rules her at every turn, even when she flashes that iconic smile in cruel fashion. She seems to be reveling in playing a role that’s such a departure; that sense of joy only sporadically finds its way to the rest of the film. ``Mirror Mirror,’’ a Relativity Media release, is rated PG for some fantasy action and mild rude humor. Running time: 106 minutes. Two stars out of four.
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Thursday, April 5, 2012
Allegrettos expand their catalog Review by Nora Weiss A&E Writer
The Allegrettos brought the house down with their a capella show last weekend in Church Street Center with humor, depth, and some sweet song selection. The Allegrettos introduced their bare talent with no holding back. The voices of the a capella group were charismatic; everyone’s voice had a vision in their tune and a path to forge along with the music. Each vocalist had a solo, something we do not get to experience with gospel. There was the cool serenade with senior Matthew Borkowski and junior Jackie Coughlin to Coldplay’s recent hit “Fix You.” With Borkowski’s consoling voice and Coughlin’s emotional range, the audience was transfixed from the get-go. The contemporary hits kept coming. Under sophomore Melody Rolph’s direction, each act brought modern music and old school talent to the stage. Gospel expert Jay Cottle sang part of a J Cole and John Legend mash-up with freshman Kelsey Duran. Thank goodness Rolph decided to have everyone have a solo, because if Duran had been hidden away in the background, the audience would have been sorry because the girl was focused with voice and made every lyric heartfelt and all around sexy. “I love being on stage,” blushed Duran after the show. “It’s my passion. It’s something that comes out of me naturally.” While Duran made her mark as a freshman, it was definitely an upperclassmen kind of night, especially when it came to the seniors. Humorous goodbyes were bid to singers and band members alike. Small speeches and
memories were tossed around about singers Joel Praino, Tony Tofani, Jeff Bliss, Jimmy Dunn and Borkowski; as well as band members Dan McDermott, Aurora Cooper, and John Sapienza. The Allegrettos will not suffer with the moving on of those seniors, though. As long as they keep soft and dreamy voice of freshman Ben Balon, the beautifully developed lungs of junior Jenny Beers, the well-rounded tones of sophomore Jon Kinney, and the bass-filled sound effects of junior Jordan Cohen. Under the leadership of Rolph and Cottle, the tight-knit group will more than remain, they will excel. Coming away from a confident trip to WGBY’s annual “Together in Song” competition, Cottle announced the group had the most “Likes” from viewers and that text blasting for more voting is soon to come. The group was united in each and every song, showing their not often seen (or seen enough) a capella skills. “This group is awesome,” Duran said. “I used to sing with a group of girls in high school and it was like a second family. I get that same feeling with the Allegrettos.” “It’s a lot more loose,” Balon commented on singing a capella versus gospel. “We have fun together no matter what.” Fun and family was what The Allegrettos were all about this past weekend. Sophomore Hannah Sterrs made mention of her finding herself within the group. “I really feel as if I’ve found a home,” she said to the audience before her closing number with Praino. With that, she belted out the peppy lyrics to “Home” by Edward Share and the Magnetic Zeroes.
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MoCA Fresh Grass Festival returns By Tano Holmes A&E Writer
Photos by Carly Samach/Beacon Staff
(Top) Brittney Gerber and Serwa Lake-Sample dancing along to one of the songs performed at the Sweet Disposition Show (Bottom) The Allegrettos begin to warm up with a song from the Lion King before their show on Friday night.
Society of Music to hold concert Saturday First-year club hosts its first concert in Sullivan Lounge Saturday, April 7 at 8 p.m. featuring Mikes Bakery, Kid Robot, and Subject to Interpretation. By Andrew Hodgson A&E Writer
The Society of Music is in its first year at the College. The Sullivan Lounge will be ground zero for the group’s first concert since their inception. Admission to the event is free and pizza and refreshments will be provided while three local bands showcase their talents. The Society of Music is using the event to give local bands exposure and also bring student music lover’s together. “Free pizza and great music, that what it’s all about,” Society of Music member Paul LaPointe explains. Doors open at 8 o’clock and the bands will go on at 8:30. The three bands playing at the event all have some connection to MCLA.
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Mikes Bakery is a local band including a student from Wheaton College outside of Chicago. Their style is indie rock with an alternative flavor. Kid the Robot, featuring Society of Music member Tyler Bernard also plays a young, high-energy form of indie rock. Subject to Interpretation is the final band performing at the event. The band includes MCLA freshman and Society of Music member Paul LaPointe. LaPointe is also a DJ at the College’s radio station, WJJW. LaPointe describes the band as “more pop/punk” than the other two bands. Any students with a passion for music are encouraged to check out the event. “[The Society of Music] is not just for musicians, anyone who loves music and want to help or-
ganize concerts like the one this weekend on campus are encouraged to attend,” LaPointe said.
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Mass MoCA is continuing its trend of offering great music at reasonable prices with its announcement of the second annual Fresh Grass Festival. Fresh Grass is a bluegrass festival and will last three days from Sept. 21 to 23. The lineup features some bluegrass staples like David Grisman, and Trampled by Turtles (who are also set to preform at Bonnaroo this summer), as well as some newer artists. Additionally, Mass MoCA is offering banjo workshops for those trying to learn how to play a little bluegrass themselves. If the weather is good, the festival will be held outdoors on one of MoCA’s many lawns. If it rains, the festival will move indoors to the Hunter Center. “I went to Fresh Grass last year and it was an amazing experience,” said Keifer Gammel , Mass MoCA’s box office manager and an MCLA alumnus. “I had not really liked bluegrass before, but this festival really got me interested in it, so much that I began looking up bluegrass artists on my own. And of course the festival will feature good food and drinks,” Gammel added. “It wouldn’t be a Mass MoCA show with out it!” Tickets go on sale April 11. If purchased between April 11-25, they cost $36 for general admission, and only $26 if you are a student. Tickets are available through Freshgrass.com or at the Mass MoCA box office, which can be reached at 413 662 2111.
The Line-Up: ◆David Grisman Bluegrass Experience ◆Trampled By Turtles ◆Carolina Chocolate Drops ◆Lonesome River Band ◆Joy Kills Sorrow ◆Cahalen & Eli ◆Leyla McCalla ◆The Devil Makes Three ◆Infamous Stringdusters ◆Spirit Family Reunion
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Thursday, April 5, 2012
A&E
theonlinebeacon.com
Mary Redstone A&E Editor
I’m not flying, Jack, and neither is the money out of my wallet. Photo by Carly Samach/Beacon Staff
Jonathon Secor speaks with some of his students about the gallery opening and color used in the pieces.
Strange Soup exhibit opens at Gallery 51, runs through April 22 By Nora Weiss A&e Writer
On Thursday March 29, Gallery 51 revealed their latest art installation, the exhibit “Strange Soup”, which contained pieces centered on current events stirring in the political and pop culture world. Blunt political undertones mixed with bright colors and heavy texture sprang from the walls of Gallery 51 on Main Street. North Adamsbased artists Wayne Hopkins and Cathy Wysocki, who are originally from New Mexico, have their work on display until Sunday, April 22. “My work is about capitalism and militants,” Hopkins explained. Intense imagery, complex sculptures, and large canvas paintings give viewers a clear message of Hopkins’ point. He puts consum-
erism and upset of the political system on trial, forging images of humans and terms that define the last year of our way of life. From Occupy Wall Street to protest upset by soldiers, Hopkins creates forceful imagery that speaks volumes to what we see on the news every day. “My ideology relates to the world I created,” Wysocki explained regarding her artistic messages. “My work explains the nature of humans.” Wysocki presents meticulous sculptures depicting the general ins-and-outs of society, the good and the bad. Her color-packed sculptures and paintings revolved around the pedestal of our society and the complicated specifics that come along with it. Wysocki’s works show the struggles between humans as they compete for power, money, fame, and happiness. Why the name “Strange Soup”, though? None
of the work alludes to food of any kind and the art really is not all that strange. In fact, all the work is rather fascinating filled with depth that describes the frustration in our world covered in corruption and struggle. “Cathy found it actually,” said Hopkins. “It comes from a book where the story is told from the viewpoint of a dog. The dog sees humans as strange.” Freshman Lauren Feeney, who does her work-study at Gallery 51, found the artwork as intense as the work it took to install it. The weekend before the exhibit opened, she and other work study students were responsible for tacking the artwork up. “The artwork is very raw,” Feeney said. “It’s really graphic.” “Strange Soup” will be displayed at Gallery 51 until Sunday, April 22.
Photo by Carly Samach/Beacon Staff
Students Lauren Feeney and Laura Pettengill talk about the work of putting together of Gallery 51’s opening.
James Cameron is rich. Filthy, stinking rich. “Avatar” itself raked in $1.95 billion worldwide. That’s right, billion. Nine zeroes. If I was that rich, I wouldn’t be spending my time trying to find ways to be even more rich, I would be spending my time spending money. But, I guess this is where James Cameron and I differ. Cameron has re-released Titanic in 3D and I’m not sure why, but I’m going to guess that somewhere in the top-three is that he knows he’s going to make bank. The average movie ticket these days runs around $8, but that’s just to see the film on a boring, flat, two-dimensional screen. If you want three dimensions, you’re going to have to dish out somewhere between $12 and an astounding $20. So, if James Cameron brought home $1.84 billion the first time “Titanic” came out, when ticket prices were cheaper, I can only imagine how many billions of dollars he is going to make when tickets cost almost double the 2-D price. I could be wrong though; James Cameron could be looking beyond the dollar signs and truly believe that remaking “Titanic” in three-dimensions is something with artistic merit. This then begs the question: Why? I have been mentally reviewing scenes from the film which have stuck with me since I last saw it on double-VHS in 1998. The few scenes that have stood the test of my constantly depleting memory include: seeing the ship the first time, Jack and Rose standing on the bow of the ship, that one scene our parents fastforwarded through but we went back and watched it anyway, the ship hitting the iceberg, and that one guy falling off the ship and hitting the rudders on the way down. My next question then becomes, if these are the most memorable scenes to me, and probably to may others, are they going to be even more memorable in 3D? My guess is no. I don’t think that seeing Rose hang over the bow, or Jack “drawing [her] like one of [his] French girls” in threedimensions is going to make this film any more memorable to me. Just perhaps more poor.
Sports
Thursday, April 5, 2012
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Men’s tennis gets first win for program By Kayla Koumjian Sports Writer
Men’s tennis is off to a good start after picking up their first win of the spring season on March 29, against Becker College. Led by Coach Andres Limas, the Trailblazer’s record is 1-0 for the spring season. Last fall they dropped two matches against Union and Springfield College, leaving them with an overall record of 1-2. “So far this spring, with the addition of three new players, we had success with our win against Becker,” said freshman captain Mitch Mabardy. During the match, junior Daniel Nesti earned a pair of victories for the team. Nesti won in the number one singles slot 6-3, 6-2. Nesti also won in the doubles slot along side of senior Joe Whitehouse 8-5. Freshman Taylor Krowitz, freshman Brendan Peltier, and freshman Mitch Mabardy also earned single points during the match against Becker. The team is led by Limas, an Ecuadorian tennis pro who was ranked as one of the top 50 tennis players in the country before emigrating to the United States in 2005. Each player on the team is looking to get and maintain a successful record for the first men’s tennis season since 1989. Mabardy is very positive about the team’s future. “Overall our team has potential
to win matches as demonstrated against Becker,” he said. Since the beginning of the spring season, the men’s tennis team gained three more players , ultimately adding up to a total of eight players on their roster. Only one is graduating in May, which means the team is young and has time for improvement. “Among the positives: we are young,” Mabardy explained. “We only have one player, Joe Whitehouse, graduating this year.”
“Throughout our season you will see the team gradually build and it will become a successful sport here at MCLA very quickly,” said Brendan Peltier. Of the team’s eight members, five are freshmen. They are joined by sophomore Armory Galili and junior Daniel Nesti. Freshman Brendan Peltier agreed with Mabardy that the team has room to improve and develop their skills. “We are a new program and have a lot of room to improve,” Peltier said. Some of the aspects Peltier would like to focus on improving
Photo courtesy of Mitchell Mabardy
On March 29, the men’s tennis team earned its first victory in over twenty years. in is the individual skills of each player. “Collectively as a team we could improve on the performance in
double matches as well as the individual performance in the single matches,” he explained. Mabardy agrees with his team-
mate, saying, “Our team is focusing on becoming better developed players.” TENNIS, continued on page 11
Softball sweeps Mass. Maritime Baseball splits
doubleheader with Mass. Maritime
By Brendan Foley
Sports Editor It was a busy day for the Athletic Complex, with the baseball and softball teams embroiled in double-headers against Mass. Maritime. On Sunday, April 1, the softball team broke out of the rut that has made up much of their season and annihilated Maritime with two decisive victories. The first game was a loud affair, with the Mass. Maritime bench screaming support and cheers for every single batter who came up to face Trailblazer pitcher Kelly Pirzl. For their part, MCLA began every single inning by meeting at the pitcher’s mound to place their hands together for a team cheer. Pirzl pitched for the entire game, facing 31 batters through seven innings, giving up four hits throughout the game. Despite strong offense, the Trailblazers struggled with some defensive infield plays, giving up easy outs to dropped balls and overthrown bases. MCLA’s batters were much more vigilant, smashing the ball for 13 hits in six innings. Freshman Taylor Warnock led the team with three hits for the day, while freshman Kendra Hinkell and Sam Barbarotta and senior Kaitland Hager each contributed two hits
By Brendan Foley
Sports Editor A cold wind blew on April 1, and a gray sky stretched over the baseball field, with clouds constantly threatening to suddenly explode bounties of cold rain down on players and fans alike. Into this weather came the MCLA baseball team, their white uniforms almost immediately streaked with the brown earth of the baseball diamond. The baseball team was engaged in a doubleheader against Mass. Maritime, in the team’s first games of MASCAC conference play.
Photo by Serina Stimpson/Beacon Staff
The Trailblazers exploded past Mass. Maritime for their first home wins of the season. apiece. The final score of the first game was 10-3, for a Trailblazer victory. This would have been a good enough day for the softball team, but the Trailblazers had not even begun to go to work against Mass.
Maritime. The second game of the day was an absolute massacre with MCLA routing the opposition, 21-4. The game was ended after four and a half innings. SOFTBALL, continued on page 10
Sophomore Cody Weaver charged into the dug out, roaring “That’s the way you turn two, boys!” The team entered the doubleheader with a record of 8-8 and were coming off of a crushing loss to Elms, where they got trounced
9-1. The team was hoping to break the eight-game win record of the previous season, a humiliating season that the baseball team ended with a record of 8-22. For the first game of the day, Daniel Gaines was on the mound, pitching for all seven innings. Gaines gave up seven hits for three runs. The Trailblazer defense was in strong form in the first game, turning double-plays and snagging high hit pop-up’s. MCLA took the lead and maintained it throughout the game. The defense broke down briefly in the fourth inning, when MCLA led the game, 3-0, when an easy infield pop-fly dropping to the ground with no one calling the ball, leaving it to drop harmlessly to the ground and putting a runner on first. A Mass. Maritime bunt put a man on first and second with no one out. Fans grumbled from the sidelines, at each turn of the game, expressing displeasure at each error and base gained.
BASEBALL, continued on page 10
Sports 10 Softball scores first home wins in Sunday sweep Thursday, April 5, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
SOFTBALL, continued from page 9
This time it was Ainsley MacDonald on the pitcher’s mound. MacDonald, a junior, pitched for five innings, giving up three hits for four runs. Mass. Maritime proved to be their own worst enemy, committing a staggering 20 errors throughout the second game, giving MCLA every opportunity to score runs and snag bases. The MCLA bats had not dulled since the last game, with the team again hitting into the double digits. The Trailblazers took advantage of every one of their opponent’s blunders, pounding the Mass. Maritime’s defense with 13 hits in four innings and 26 at-bats. Warnock once again led the team with three runs to her name. She was matched by Hinkell, who also racked up three hits. Junior Kendra Hobbs was behind with two hits for the day. Hobbs and Hinkell tied for RBI’s, getting five each during the second game. This victory was especially gratifying for the team, as it comes following an extremely tough beginning to the season. After a disappointing trip to Florida, which yielded only two victories after twelve games, the softball team had returned for their regular season only to lose the first four
Photo by Will Casey/Beacon Staff
The softball team has returned to life after an extremely rough start to the season with two massive victories over the visiting Mass. Maritime team. games. This far into the season, the Trailblazers have accumulated 51 runs off of 67 hits. Their opponents have amassed 136 runs off of 113 hits. MCLA currently hits for an average of .213, while their opponents average out to .330.
The Mass. Maritime doubleheader was also the first games to be played within the MASCAC conference. With these two victories, MCLA now sits tied at first place in the league standings, tied with Salem State. Salem State is ranked first, owing to their much
higher record in regular season play. With the Mass. Maritime victories, MCLA’s record has improved to 4-14. Not counting the Florida tournament, the team’s record stands at 2-4. MCLA will next play on April
6 at Fitchburg State. Fitchburg currently sits at the very bottom of the MASCAC standings with an overall record of 3-15 and no conference victories. The next home games for the softball team will be a doubleheader against Sage on April 12.
The baseball team defeated Mass. Maritime...
Only to be soundly beaten in following two games
BASEBALL, continued from page 9
The Trailblazers did not panic and with the next batter, turned a double play. Now the team stood with a man on third but two outs. The Mass. Maritime batter belted the ball, but the infield was on guard and threw him out at first. The gathered crowed roared their approval of this sudden reversal in MCLA’s fortunes. Sophomore Cody Weaver charged into the dug out, roaring “That’s the way you turn two, boys!” MCLA’s batters finished the job that the defense had begun, smacking the baseball for 11 hits and five runs. Freshman Rory Slattery led the team with three hits. Weaver and freshman Chris Koch were right behind with two hits each. The baseball team kept up the momentum and ended the game with a final score of 5-3. The second game of the day would not go as well. Playing in the rain, Ross Miner took the bag for MCLA. Miner pitched for all six innings of the game, taking a shelling from Mass. Maritime, giving up ten hits for eight runs. The team also committed seven errors throughout the second game. Compounding the problem, MCLA’s bats fell silent in the second game, with only five hits throughout. Weaver led the team in hits with two hits in the game. The Trailblazer’s fortunes did
Photo by Will Casey/Beacon Staff
The baseball team celebrated another run on their way to splitting a double-header against Mass. Maritime not improve in their next game. The team next traveled to Schnectady, NY on April 3 to play against Union College Dutchman. The game resulted in a sound loss for MCLA, 14-8. MCLA got off to a strong start, with Weaver bombing a home run for the team in the first inning, his
very first for the season. A variety of pitchers took the mound throughout the game, with five different pitchers stepping up for the eight-inning effort. Joe Vaverka, Jared Gersch, and DJ Clark each pitched two innings, while Rory Slattery and
Weaver each contributed an inning apiece. Vaverka faced 15 batters himself, while Clark took on 13. Combined, the pitchers gave up 11 hits over eight innings. On the offensive end, MCLA put up a strong effort, with Weaver again leading the team with three
hits for the night. Combined, the team totalled nine hits off of 37 atbats for the game. With the Mass. Maritime vicotry, the team attained nine victories, putting them over their total from last season. The baseball team will next face Williams at home on April 9.
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Thursday, April 5, 2012
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Indoor soccer tournament held on Sunday in gym By Ariana Tourangeau
Brendan Foley Sports Editor
What’s Fair?
There are some issues which have very clear cut, well-established answers: Ted Williams is the greatest Red Sock in history. The Celtics are probably the definitive basketball franchise. McDonald’s is bad for you. Han shot first. See, it’s so simple. But then there are the issues, the ones which form the majority of problems and questions which surround us throughout our daily lives. These are the issues which have no clear winner, no definitively superior position. One of those issues is the question of whether or not the college basketball players who participate in the NCAA tournament should receive a cut of the royalties which the tournament generates. On the one hand, this is a huge industry, one that produces millions upon millions of dollars in revenue, thanks to television productions, sponsorships and of course, the great American pastime: gambling. That’s a lot of money floating around, and to not give any to the actual athletes who are going out and doing the actual labor and work, seems like exploitation of a very nefarious stripe. It seems like it would only be right to give the players a cut. That’s just basic ethics, right? Except, let’s be honest here: Would you really want to give a twenty year old millions of dollars? I mean, don’t get me wrong, we all WANT millions of dollars. Everyone could use that kind of scratch these days. The thing of it is, it’s already an insane situation how much these players get as incentives to go to these schools. There are numerous horror stories of athletes, not just basketball, but all sports, who more or less lose their minds after being handed ludicrous contracts, bingeing on ridiculous purchases, drug habits and irresponsible behavior. You know, the sort of things that college kids are known for. And therein lies the heart of this dilemma: basic decency means we want to see these kids, our peers, get the big dollars that they are training and performing to earn for their schools, but there is limitless potential for danger on a personal and professional level to these kids if you start treating them not like students, but professional athletes. And that’s what’s at stake here: students. Kids. Many of whom come from poor backgrounds and are being thrown head-long into wealth and privilege without developing the tools to properly deal with the onslaught. So what’s the answer? I do not know.
Staff Writer Four teams made up of guys and girls competed in an indoor soccer tournament put on by Intramurals on March 31 in the Campus Center gym. Indoor soccer was one of the more popular sports offered for the third session of the Intramurals program. Gary D’Annunzio, the senior Intramurals supervisor, both ran and participated in the indoor soccer tournament on the team named “The Moes.” D’Annunzio is a junior defenseman on the soccer team. Every team played six times in 4 on 4 games that were 12 minutes long. The tournament lasted for three hours. The four teams were “Hakuna Matatta,” “The Moes,” “Heavies,” and “Townhouse Love.” The Moes and “Townhouse Love” made it to the finals and went into head-to-head competition for the title of champion. “Townhouse Love” came out as the winner with a final score of 3-2. The winning team was made up of juniors Joe Mecca, Scott Winslow, Ryan Shewchuck, Jake McCall, and senior Morgan Chichester. They each received Intramural T-shirts as a prize for their victory. All four men are members of the Men’s soccer team. This week will also mark the beginning of the fourth and final session of Intramurals for this school year. The session will consist of Kan Jam, Co-ed 4 on 4 basketball, and volleyball. Kan-Jam, a game involving frisbees and small, plastic barrel-shaped targets, which can be struck for various points, is one of the newer additions to the Intramurals roster of activities. It requires four people to play, with two on each team. The Kan Jam league will be made up of six teams. Both bas-
Standings
(As of Press Time)
Baseball salem westfield framingham mass. maritime bridgewater MCLA worcester fitchburg
All
Conf
15-5 9-9 11-8 7-6 11-11 9-10 4-15 3-14
2-0 2-0 1-1 1-1 1-1 1-1 0-2 0-2
Softball salem MCLA westfield worcester bridgewater framingham mass. maritime fitchburg
All 14-6 4-14 7-9 5-9 12-6 4-0 2-10 3-15
Baseball 4/6 @ Fitchburg
Conf 2-0 2-0 1-1 1-1 0-0 0-0 0-2 0-2
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. Photo by Serina Stimpson/Beacon Staff
An indoor soccer tournament was held in the Campus Center gym on Saturday. ketball and volleyball leagues will be made up of nine teams. Rosters can be created online, at the Intramurals link located on the college’s athletics site. The Intramural Department is also hosting the White Water Rafting trip on Deerfield River on April 22. The deadline to sign up for the rafting trip is April 13 and spots are filling up fast. The Intramurals program is also working to keep even the non-traveling members of the MCLA community busy and active. They are hosting a Wiffleball Home Run Derby on April 28 at
the Athletic Complex. The dodgeball tournament, which was originally scheduled for April 1, was postponed due to a lack of interest. More time is being offered for more participants to sign up. The new date is still to be determined. For more information about Intramurals, or to sign-up for various tournaments and activities, visit the Intramurals site at www. imleagues.com. Paper rosters can be picked up at Adam Hildabrand’s office on the third floor of the Campus Center.
Tennis team comes back to life TENNIS, continued on page 11
Mabardy continued, “I believe that with the help from our coach our team will become an overall well developed team.” Peltier also had nothing but positive things to say about their coach. “We are so lucky to have our coach because he truly is an unbelievable player and teacher. He is guiding us in the right direction very quickly.” With a strong coach and determination, the team believes they can have a successful season. “Throughout our season you will see the team gradually build and it will become a successful sport here at MCLA very quick,” Peltier said. Mabardy is also optimistic about the future of the team saying, “Overall I think our season is going well so far and with two of the harder teams on our schedule be-
11
4/14 vs. Worcester 12 p.m. 4/14 vs. Worcester 2:30 p.m. 4/16 @ Bridgewater 1 p.m. Softball 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.
4/14 vs. Worcester 12 p.m. 4/14 vs. Worcester 2 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. Photo courtesy of MCLA.EDU
Men’s tennis coach Andres Limas. hind us, I am feeling good about would require 6 wins,” Mabardy the rest of our season.” said. Mabardy and the rest of the The team has six more matches team have a goal of finishing their left in the season and three of season with a .500 record. “This them will be home matches.
4/24 @ Lyndon State 3:30 p.m. 4/25 vs. Springfield 4 p.m.
12
Opinion
Thursday, April 5, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
Campus Comment compiled by Marissa Zelazo
Did you or anyone you know do anything for April Fool’s Day? “[I] told my dad that I got pulled over for speeding and received a $200 ticket. He freaked out.”
Ed Damon
Editor in Chief Satire can be a powerful thing. Pointing out the absurdities allows us to look at a situation from another angle. But when people are hurt, or when situations where people were hurt are trivialized, then there’s a problem. A good example of satire is The Onion. The satirical newspaper looks like a serious news source upon first glance – the stories are written in the standard news style, as if someone took a journalism class or two. Closer inspection reveals the paper is a farce. Past headlines include “NASA Launches David Bowie concept mission,” “Gay Teen Worried He Might Be Christian,” and “Number of Songs GOP Candidates Can Use Down to Four.” Boston University’s independent student newspaper, The Daily Free Press, received backlash for its Disney-themed April Fools’ edition released on Monday. Sexual assault has become a charged topic on campus after the arrests of two hockey players, as well as sexual assault incidents in dorms and a possible episode of sorority hazing in March. Students, alumni, faculty and staff were not amused by the top story on this issue, which made light of sexual assault. The article referenced ‘‘seven frat dwarves” who were arrested after they allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted a female Boston University student, identified as the ‘‘fairest of them all.’’ The response from B.U. alumni and students has been overwhelming. Though the April Fools’ stories weren’t posted online, news about the issue spread through Facebook and Twitter. A statement on the paper’s website responded to the uproar, saying the ‘‘aim was to publish satirical material about Boston University as a whole, and [they] did not intend to perpetuate harmful stereotypes or inappropriately make light of serious issues. ... We aim to learn from our mistakes and to move forward.’’ The Beacon is definitely not perfect. But I haven’t seen a college newspaper that is perfect, and even some “real” newspapers make me wonder if anyone copy edits the articles. Making mistakes is part of how journalism majors learn the trade. The staff of the Daily Free Press, however, appears to have more to learn about how to properly execute a parody. I’m happy to say this year’s edition of The Bacon has serious thought put into it. Hopefully, the campus community enjoys our take on the small absurdities we see.
“I lose my ID alot, so a friend who works in Public Safety told me it was in the Public Safety Office even though it in my bookbag.”
- Kaitlyn Chenevert
- Emily Simonds
“My dad tried to convince me that my grandmother, a devout Lutheran, converted to Buddhism.”
“[I] placed a fake beetle in Jeff Bliss’s coat pocket. He screamed like a girl and threw it on the floor.”
- Steve Danowitz
- David Camilo
“I covered multiple friends doors with newspapers so they couldn’t get in or out.”
“The townhouse below mine replaced their toilet paper with fake plastic toilet paper.”
- Lily Urquhart
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!
- Rozlyn Cummings
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Opinion
Thursday, april 5, 2012
National Young Feminist Leadership Conference inspires
Over five hundred men and women from colleges around the country assembled into the Hilton Crystal City’s overflowing ballroom for the eighth annual National Young Feminist Leadership Conference last weekend. I was one of these feminists. This conference was organized and funded by Students Taking Action for Gender Equality and the Women’s Center. Sitting in the front row on the first day of the conference with six other feminists from MCLA by my side and a room full of women’s rights activists is a remarkable experience. Having strong women like Sandra Fluke, Eleanor Smeal, and Shelby Knox almost in arms reach was inspiring in itself. “Show me what a feminist looks like,” chanted the Feminist Majority campus organizers. “This is what a feminist looks like!” The entire room echoed. After years of fighting for gender equality and listening to politicians, celebrities, and even fellow students bash feminism, I was ready to do something. As was everyone else. All I could focus on was the fact that all of the women and men in the room understood where I was coming from instantly. They shared similar stories to mine. They believe in feminism, in equality, in the power of women. They were fired up. I spent two days listening to feminist speakers from women’s issues organizations and female politicians across the globe who
have fought the war against women for years. I joined workshops that tackled domestic and global issues, from birth control access to women’s representation in congress and the media.
Skyla Seamans Columnist
Women make up 51 percent of the United States population, but only 17 percent of congress. For every dollar spent on birth control, over four dollars is saved. One in four women will be sexually assaulted, abused, or raped during her lifetime and one in six men will experience the same. These disturbing statistics were printed on buttons, mentioned by panelists, and resonated by students. These are real issues. Women’s basic rights to have a voice, to make our own choices, and to be respected and safe in our society are threatened even today. The message of the conference was clear: the youth voice matters, especially in the upcoming
election. In order to make a difference and to represent our voice, we must educate ourselves about these issues and make an informed vote! “Everyone in this room, right here, knows what is at stake during the upcoming election,” activist Shelby Know stated. “The battleground is our bodies. We are the leaders of the fight against us. We are going to run the feminist revolution. We are not the future, we are the now.” On the last day of the conference, MCLA students bound together with other feminists from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and Boston natives to lobby congress. Our target: Senator Scott Brown. But, he was on vacation, so we settled for the next best thing: his women’s issues staffer. We demanded our right to marry whoever we choose, no matter the gender. We spoke for reproductive justice and to end violence against women. We stressed the importance of the youth vote and having our voice represented during the upcoming elections. After our allotted 30 minutes, we walked out of the office with our heads held high, our feminist buttons proudly pinned onto our business attire, and a strong sense of empowerment. Inspired, but tired, we set out for our return home. This, right here, me. This is what a feminist looks like.
When does humor cross the line?
There is a fine line between genuinely funny and downright tasteless, and that line is different for everyone. No doubt by the time you’ve reached this column, you have thoroughly perused our annual April Fool’s Issue of The Bacon. I hope you had your fair share of snickers, chuckles, and guffaws. We worked hard for those laughs, spending precious overtime hours in the Beacon office crafting the silliest Bacon yet. We also worked hard to make sure we wouldn’t offend anyone. Not even ARAMARK. Boston University’s studentrun paper, The Daily Free Press, was not so conscientious. Their April Fools Issue, “The Disney Free Press”, contained Disneythemed articles that took jabs at drugs, prostitution, and rape, including a story where seven frat dwarves allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted a female BU student. Over this last week, the Internet, particularly Facebook and Twitter, has erupted with backlash against the newspaper, calling for the Editor in Chief ’s resignation. I will admit right now, I have a downright awful sense of humor. I will laugh at the most depraved, horrifying things; nothing is sacred. My personal view is: if I don’t privately laugh at everything, I’ll end up being
a mess, sobbing endlessly about how awful the world is, like I used to during my pre-teen years. The key word here is “privately.” I’m well aware that my humor isn’t for everyone, and if I were less careful about who I crack my more unsavory jokes to, I’d end up making more enemies than friends.
Jessie Wright Columnist
(That being said, I’m not a big fan of rape jokes.) Journalism (tabloids notwithstanding) is supposed to be professional. People are easily offended, and they have a right to be. Depending on how big your projected audience is, hundreds, thousands, perhaps even millions of people (if your newspaper has an Internet
presence) could be reading your articles at any moment. That’s a lot of people to offend. Alienate your audience (be it in any medium, not just journalism), and you lose them forever. When did The Daily Free Press think that their rape and prostitution jokes were actually funny and appropriate? Did no one on their staff take a step back and think “Hey guys. Maybe, just maybe this might come back to bite us in the rear?” In light of the recent sexual assault arrests at BU, these joke articles seem particularly in poor taste. I was astounded to learn that the Editor in Chief of The Daily Free Press’s Editor-in-Chief was a woman (Chelsea Diana). Did she think that her status as a female meant that she could get away with those kind of jokes? Who knows? What I DO know is that this blunder will follow her for the rest of her life… I wouldn’t be surprised if this debacle keeps her from ever getting a job as a real journalist. Know your audience. Know that when you laugh, the world doesn’t always laugh with you. And keep your rape jokes to yourself, not in your fake newspaper. Or better yet, don’t make them at all.
theonlinebeacon.com
13
Attention MCLA Students!
Have you taken Writing and Reporting the News 1? Want a chance to show off your skills?
If so then...
The MCLA BEACON wants you! Now accepting applications for... Staff Writers Arts and Entertainment Writers Sports Writers Cartoonists Features Editors Design Editors Copy Editors Advertisting Representatives Photographers Videographers Web editors
Application forms available on the table outside Mark Hopkins 111 The Beacon Newsroom
14 Earth Day Events Mark Hopkins entrance to Calendar be fixed before summer Thursday, april 5, 2012
Events
•Bike Share
Information Meeting
•Sustainability Fair •Earth Day/
Grand Opening of the Bike Share Program.
•National Weather Ser-
vice Training Program
•Green Living Seminar •Recycling Fashion Show
theonlinebeacon.com
Time/ Location
Friday, April 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.in the Marketplace. Wednesday, April 18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Marketplace. Sunday, April 22.
Wednesday, April 25, at 7 p.m. in Murdock 218. Thursday, April 26 at 5:30 p.m. in Murdock 218. Thursday, April 26, at 7 p.m. In Venable Gym.
•Garlic Mustard Derby
Saturday, April 28.
•Documentary Screen-
TBA
ings
Photo by Jess Fratus/Beacon staff
A chain link fence encloses the front entrance to Mark Hopkins Hall.
By Jessica Gamari Staff Writer
The front entrance of Mark Hopkins has been fenced off for over a month due to unstable stairs which did not pass inspection, according to Jim Stakenas, vice president of Administration and Finance. “The stones acting as steps are coming up,” Stakenas said. As a result, the State building inspection declared it a hazard and closed it off before there was an accident. Mark Hopkins was built in 1934, and the stairs have never been replaced. Stakenas said the damage is normal wear and tear, and is to be expected from
an 80 year old building. Currently, the administration is searching for a qualified engineer to repair or replace the steps for a fair price. “We apologize for the inconvenience, although we realize it’s not the most popular entrance,” he said. Stakenas said the administration is eager to get it fixed sometime before the summer. The original Mark Hopkins building located on Montana Street was built in the early 1900’s, near the site of the new Center for Science and Innovation. After being torn down, the bricks were used to build the Admissions Office and Wellness Center. The current Mark Hopkins building was rebuilt a few years later.
Bike share grand opening, Sustainability Fair among events planned for upcoming Earth Week EARTH WEEK, continued from page 3
The light bulb swap will allow anyone to trade their incandescent light bulb for an energy saving fluorescent light bulb. This table will also talk about what to do when fluorescent light bulbs burn out. MCLA has also partnered with MassRIDES, a service of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, to offer transportation options and support energy conservation, according to Dean of Students Charlotte Degen. “Our MassRIDES partnership supports our environmental goals, as well as reduces parking demand, improves air quality, lowers our carbon footprint, and saves money,” Degen said. NuRide is a free online way to receive rewards when a person travels by public transportation, bike, foot, telecommuting, carpooling or work a compressed week, Degen said. “If you are looking for someone to travel with, you can join NuRide to connect with other travelers going your same way,” Degen said. “Visit the MassRIDES station at the MCLA Sustainabil-
ity Fair and find out more information or sign up.” Bike Share safety information and sign up will also be present at the fair. The grand opening of the program is on Earth Day. “Stop in and look at our bike share bikes, pick up bike safety information and sign up to borrow a bike,” Degen said. “Save money, get exercise, reduce stress, get to where you are going and save our planet --- ride a bike!” There will also be a Bike Share information meeting on Friday, April 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Marketplace, along with at the Sustainability Fair. “I am super excited for the opening,” Brown said. “This program has been many years in the making. We would not be where we are without the hard work of the community. It was certainly a collaborative effort.” He said this is the pilot phase of the program. It will host seven bikes for students to rent up to 24 hours from the library. If the program is successful, it will expand, he said. On Wednesday, April 25, there will be a National Weather Service Training Program at 7 p.m.
in Murdock 218 to train students to become weather spotters. The Recycling Fashion Show will be held on Thursday, April 26, at 7 p.m. in Venable Gym. It is sponsored with the Residential Programs and Services recycling committee. Residential Advisors will model while faculty members will judge the show. “Residence members can arrange a team to work on a recycled outfit made out of any recycled material for the show,” Brown said. “This event is all about team building, being creative, and having fun. There will also be prizes.” A Green Living Seminar, on landscaping and bird biodiversity, will be presented by postdoctoral research associate Susannah Lerman of the U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station earlier that day. This will be held on Thurs, April 26, at 5:30 p.m. in Murdock 218. On Saturday, April 28, there will be a Garlic Mustard Derby, which is when a group of students tackle the invasive species along the Massachusetts and Vermont boarder. “We will be working with the trustees of the reservation,”
Brown said. “We get to enjoy their property for the day while doing service work, having a picnic and a bonfire.” Environuts will also be screening two films: their documentary on the Tar Sand Day of Action and the documentary “Tapped,”
but final dates will be announced. Finally, in celebration of Earth Day, planning is ongoing for a work day in the campus garden. For more information regarding these events or how to become involved, contact Jason Brown via Firstclass.
The Brown Bag Lecture Series continues this Friday Who: Education Faculty Toni Diamond and Barbara Kotelnicki What: How we use the e-portfolios for our licensure candidates as they complete their student teaching. When: Friday, April 6th at 3 p.m. Where: Sullivan Lounge *The Brown Bag Lecture Series is open to the public*
For Fun
Thursday, April 5, 2012
This Week in MCLA History
theonlinebeacon.com
Word Search
Horoscopes
Aries: March 21-April 19 Your instinct to let others know what they’ve done wrong is better left alone today -- almost nobody is ready to hear about their failings yet. Wait until they can see the results for themselves!
Spring Time
Taurus: April 20-May 20 It’s time to head out and have some fun -- try a concert or some other musical activity like a dance club. Your energy is just right for grooving along with the beats and harmonies that fill your soul.
April 6, 2000 Randall Hansis, the Interim Dean of Academic Studies had an idea to have an all Spanish speaking floor in the Berkshire Towers. His intentions were to allow native Spanish speakers to retain their language by creating an environment where Spanish is the primary language. Students studying Spanish would also have the opportunity to increase their use of the language and to further develop their skills.
Gemini: May 21-June 21 Try to catch up on email or anything else that is getting backed up. Communication is key, and your energy is great for small tasks and clearing away to-do lists. Write your grandma back! Cancer: June 22-July22 You may feel like showing off for your peers today -- it’s easy and fun! There shouldn’t be a downside, either, as long as you pay attention to them while they blow their own horns as well.
April
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
15
BIRD BUTTERFLY APRIL FOOLS DAY DAYLIGHT SAVINGS
FLOWERS PUDDLES RAIN SPRING
MAY UMBRELLA DAFFODIL TULIP
To view this and other comics online, visit us at theonlinebeacon.com
EASTER WINDY APRIL KITE
Leo: July 23-August 22 You need to deal with your finances today -- in one way or another. Things are good, of course, but they could always be better, and if you crawl a little further out of debt or make a smart investment, you’re golden. Virgo: August 23-Sept. 22 You feel more organized than usual today, so make sure that you’re using that great energy to do great things. It could be time to rethink your approach to storage or to clear out old projects. Libra: Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Life gets somewhat overwhelming today, so see if you can outsmart it -- or just hide away for a while! Things should start to get much, much better by this time tomorrow. Wait it out! Scorpio: Oct. 23-Nov. 21 A good friend needs to know what’s really going on, so fill them in as you piece together the details yourself. Your mental energy is just right for picking up on subtle clues . Sagittarius: Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Slow down and get things done today -- you know you can do it, as long as you avoid the temptation to cut corners or skip steps. Your good energy is sure to return as soon as you’ve made some progress. Capricorn: Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Look more deeply into today’s big situation -- your mental energy is just right for research of all kinds. It may take longer than you think, but that just means you’re getting better quality information Aquarius: Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Your emotions are more grounded than usual today, so make sure that your energy is moving in that direction. You may find that you can reconnect with someone who was close to you once. Pisces: Feb. 19-March 20 You have got to get to the bottom of today’s big mystery: Who are you really dealing with? This is the time to ask big questions and make sure that you’re getting the answers you deserve. Horoscopes courtesy of Yahoo.com
16
Thursday, april 5, 2011
Photo Essay
theonlinebeacon.com
Ross Miner pitched all six innings in the second game against Mass Maritime this past Sunday.
The trailblazers would go on to win their first game in the double-header against Mass Maritime with a score of 5-3, but lose the second 8-6.
April showers bring victory then loss in double-header against Mass Maritime Photos by Will Casey
The rain didn’t stop the double-header against Mass Maritime this past weekend.
Alon Willing sprints to first base in the third inning, gaining momentum for MCLA in the first game of the double-header on Sunday.