Student Newspaper of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts North Adams, Mass.
The Beacon
For more content, visit online at: theonlinebeacon.com Volume 76 ◆ Issue 4
Th u r s d ay, O c t o b e r 1 1 , 2 0 1 2
College launches multi-million dollar fundraising campaign By Nick Arena Staff Writer
MCLA is looking towards the future with its latest campaign, Sowing Seeds for Success. The campaign, designed to bring in donations for scholarships and school initiatives, was launched on Oct. 3 with the celebration of Grant’s tenth year with the college. “It really is about investing in the institution,” President Mary Grant said. According to Grant, philanthropy is the focus of the campaign. The school is currently reaching out to alumni and other possible donors to supplement the College’s endowment. “The goal overall will be to create as many endowed scholarships as we can because those will continue to perpetuate and support students for generations to come and create endowed funds that will support faculty work for generations to come,” she said. Sowing Seeds has already supplemented the College’s endowment to the tune of $17 million in the silent phase of the campaign, according to Marianne Drake, chief ddvancement officer of Instutional Advancement. “This is a compilation of grants and gifts, cash and pledges, to support multiple initiatives,” Drake said in an email. “Some of the gifts given are for endowed scholarship funds, so those dollars would go directly into the endowment and are restricted to the purpose for what they were given,” Both Drake and Grant added that the school has seen a number of donors, from alumni to corporations such as ARAMARK. “We’ve been seeing some nice success where people are coming in saying, ‘I care about a particular field and I’d like to create a scholarship to support a student going into that field,’” Grant said. She added that the College will continue to offer donors the ability to name new scholarships or rooms with the addition of the Center for Science and Innovation. “It’s an opportunity to talk with people about how they might be able to be generous in new ways and have naming opportunities in the new building,” she said. While Grant has worked with a number of administrative offices, faculty, and students to get this program off the ground, she emphasized that this campaign is driven by volunteers. “It’s like an old-fashioned barn raising, where everybody is just going to be part of it and working towards the same goal, which is continuing to strengthen the whole institution,” she said. Jason Brown, a senior and president of the Student Government Association (SGA), is excited to see the administration focus on the future of the College and its students. “I think that this is a fantastic, well-thought out plan for this institution’s future,” Brown said. “It’s something that will be really beneficial for us. It’s already been beneficial for us and I see where some of these donations have gone to already.” Michael Obasohan, Student Development event scheduler and MCLA alumnus, hopes to see the College use the program to continue taking strides forward. “It would just be awesome to see [MCLA] put in the front like with the science center,” Obasohan said. “It’s a good thing, there’s always something that can be renewed.” While Sowing Seeds promises to bring much to the College over time, students, faculty, and administration alike must be patient to see its impact. “That’s why it’s ‘sowing seeds;’ some of the work we’re doing now we may not see the results of for many years,” Grant said. “The work that we’re doing to engage students that are here, students that are having a good experience here,” she continued, “if we keep in touch with them maybe someday, when the student’s in a position to help, they’ll create an internship or come back and give a lecture, or maybe someday write a huge check to support other students. It’s a huge process and it doesn’t happen overnight.”
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Photo by Jess Gamari/Beacon staff
Thousands of people took part in The Ramble on Monday, an annual Columbus Day hike up Mount Greylock. For more photos, see the Photo Essay on page 12.
Verizon aims to boost service Upgrade from 3G to 4G would improve cell service on campus By Marc Latour Staff Writer
Verizon hopes to complete upgrading two nearby cell towers from 3G to 4G by December, according to Curt King, Chief Information officer at the College. The upgrade to 4G aims to do a better job with cell service coverage on campus, instead of having it on the fringe, King said. Conversations have revoled around Verizon because it is the cell carrier plan of the majority of the student population. About 70 percent of students use Verizon as their service carrier on campus, according to King. AT&T serves about 20 to 25 percent of the student population, while the rest of the plans scatter between brands like Sprint and T-Mobile, he said. Verizon offers an interactive map on its website to view the range of their cellular coverage. Currently the map shows that the campus has full 3G service. A disclaimer at the bottom of the site states, “Even within a coverage area, there are many factors, including customer’s equipment, terrain, proximity to or inside buildings, foliage, and weather that may impact service.” The campus community has long dealt with spotty cell service at various campus locations. “I think it would be in the best interest of the phone companies to make sure their customers, students and staff on campus, get phone signals,” English/ Communications Professor Ben
Women’s soccer records Professors offering overseas travel courses back-to-back shutouts
Jacques said in a recent email exchange. The hill behind Berkshire Towers sometimes blocks the cell tower’s signal. Since 3G signals travel in a straight line, it’s difficult for the tower on the Western summit of Route 2 to provide service to the College. The 4G tower upgrade would improve service because the sound waves move at a different frequency, King said. Aside from personal use, part of the College’s Emergency-notification system relies on good cell coverage. Poor cell coverage limits options, King said. “We have almost zero control over the cell signals, and the cell companies,” King said. “Right now, we’re not holding our breath for December,” King said, adding that the College is moving along with an Internet approach to emergency notifications. He continued to explain that the College is currently in negotiations with a few companies that have applications that could work around poor cell coverage. This includes the ability to download an application to a smartphone, and to be able to receive calls from the collegeprovided room phone number on a smartphone or tablet, as long as within the range of the campus’ wireless system. The application would also have a “buddy awareness” ability that tells a user if another person could or couldn’t receive messages. This system would work like the instant messaging form of communication, one
FPA professor to release book
Spots still available for trips to Ireland, Spain, and Japan.
Defeats conference rival Fitchburg St. 1-0 on Saturday
Anthony Gengarelly pens story about acclaimed autistic artist
News, page 2
Sports, page 6
Arts & Entertainment, page 8
Photo by Dennise Carranza/Beacon staff
Chief Information officer Curt King says 4G service would better cover the campus. like AIM, King said. The registration forms for incoming students included a checkbox concerning ownership of smartphones or tablets, which allow internet access through Hotspot. “It looks like at least 85 percent are using Wi-Fi,” King said. As another one of the College’s options, some repeater equipment was placed in Berkshire Towers on a few floors. King estimated that a single floor of repeater equipment could cost between $3,000 and $4,000; covering the entire campus with that kind of equipment could extend into the hundreds of thousands of dollars range. Over the summer, the College switched its administrative phone contracts over to Verizon.
News Sports Arts & Entertainment Campus Comment Fun & Games Photo Essay
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News
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Police Logs
The week of 9/30-10/6 Sunday, September 30 ◆ 3:10 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a report of vandalism in the Campus Center. A report was filed. ◆ 4:59 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a report of simple assault at the Blackinton/Montana street area. A report was filed. ◆ 5:27 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a medical call in the Townhouses. The subject was transported to the hospital. ◆ 6:16 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a medical call in Berkshire Towers. Services were rendered.
theonlinebeacon.com
Professors offering array of travel courses By Ryan Flynn Staff Writer
During the 2013 spring semester, the College will be offering three travel courses. These courses will teach students about a country’s history and culture, and will include a trip abroad during Spring Break in March. The following will be offered: a Spain travel course taught by Modern Language Professor Graziana Ramsden, a course on Ireland taught by History Professor Anthony Daly, and a trip to Japan taught by Professor Kailai Huang, the head of the History Department. The approximate cost for each trip ranges from $2,800-2,870. This will cover bus fares, hotel costs, certain meals, and plane tickets. Each class can take up to 20 students. There are 16 spots left for the Spain course, 10 spots for the Ireland course, and 19 students have already expressed interest in the Japan course. Students interested in a specific travel course should contact the professor in charge as soon as possible via FirstClass. The deadline for Spain is Dec. 2, Oct. 15 for Ireland and Nov. 19 for Japan.
Spain Students who take this course will get the opportunity to spend time in both Madrid and Barcelona. Ramsden emphasized that students will have the chance to experience a different country’s culture at an affordable rate. “The idea of travel courses is to give students who can’t afford a semester abroad the opportunity to experience cultural immersion in a country other than America,” Ramsden said. Ramsden said this will be her third travel course to Spain. She also said students will experience the dialects of Spain, as well as the country’s current troubling economic situation and the rich tradition and history. “The fact that they’re breathing a different air, hearing different languages, and seeing new sights is amazing,” Ramsden said. Ireland In Ireland, students will go to the cities of Belfast, Derry, and Dublin while seeing the countryside in between each location. Daly noted that students will get to experience the difference be-
tween Dublin, and Belfast and Derry, which belong to Great Britain. “You’ll see how the history has shaped the two countries and the impact that it has in the present,” Daly said. This is Daly’s second travel course on Ireland, saying his travel course is a great opportunity for students. “It showcases the beautiful countryside, interesting cities, and the hospitable people of Ireland,” Daly said. “It doesn’t get much better than that.” Japan Students will go to four different cities while in Japan: Kyoto, Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Kanazawa. Huang stated that students taking the course will be able to learn and experience the history, religion, culture, and art of Japan. He noted that students will notice extreme differences between Japan and America. “Travel to Japan and you’ll experience much more of a cultural shock than if you went to the U.K. or Australia,” Huang said. This will be Huang’s fifth travel course on Japan and he said it has
Monday, October 1
always been a wonderful experience. He also said Japan is a very memorable example of combining old ways with the new. “I’d like to emphasize that Japan is an interesting story of combining tradition with modernity,” Huang said. “It’s a co-existence of harmony and in my opinion, this is why Japan attracts a lot of people.” Financial Aid All three professors stated financial aid for these courses is possible, but it all depends on the student’s specific situation and the financial aid reward they receive for the semester. Junior Natalie Pozzetti said finances are certainly a factor when looking over a travel course. “I am not taking a travel course, but if I could I would go to Spain because I’ve always wanted to travel there,” Pozzetti said. “Finances do hold me back quite a bit.” On the other hand, Ramsden said that several students are able to take these courses for free. “A lot of students don’t have to pay pocket funds at all,” she said.
Blaze the Vote’s Tailgate the Debate Dates
◆ 12:53 a.m. - Public Safety responded to an alarm at the Townhouses. The alarm was unfounded.
Thursday, Oct. 11 9 p.m. Marketplace couches
◆ 11:28 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a report of suspicious activity in the Church Street Center. The report was unfounded.
Tuesday, Oct. 16 9 p.m. Sullivan Lounge Monday, Oct. 22 8 p.m. faculty panel 9 p.m. debate Sullivan Lounge
Tuesday, October 2 ◆ 6:14 p.m. - Public Safety responded to an alarm/ trouble at the Townhouses. The cause was unknown. Wednesday, October 3 ◆ 10:38 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a drug offense in the Townhouses. A report was filed. Friday, October 5
Weekend Weather 10/11 - 10/14 Thursday, October 11
Friday, October 12
Saturday, October 13
Sunday, October 14
Mostly Sunny High: 56° Low: 34° Precip. Chance: 0%
Showers High: 52° Low: 28° Precip. Chance: 20%
Sunny High: 51° Low: 38° Precip. Chance: 0%
Showers High: 61° Low: 52° Precip. Chance: 20%
◆ 12:30 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a medical call in Berkshire Towers. The subject was transported to the hospital. Saturday, October 6 ◆ 6:00 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a medical call in the Campus Center. Services were rendered.
local.msn.com/weather
News
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Media analyst to address College Author and journalist Howard Kurtz to speak as this year’s Hardman lecturer By Amy Cubello Staff Writer
Howard Kurtz will be joining the MCLA campus on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 7:00 p.m. in the Church Street Center to discuss his career as a journalist as part of the Hardman Lecture Series. Kurtz is a journalist for CNN, as well as the host of “Reliable Sources,” a news media critique show. Kurtz is also a columnist at the Washington Post and the Washington Bureau Chief of “The Daily Beast,” an online publication. According to the website, “The Daily Beast” is a news source “curated to avoid information overload,” and “dedicated to breaking news and sharp commentary.” It eventually merged and became the home of Newsweek Magazine. The Hardman Lecture series is a program made possible by the Hardman Family, who donated $1.3 million to the College and works closely with students on becoming well-rounded journalists after graduating. Past speakers include Laura Ling, Soledad O’Brien, and Marianne Pearl.
Broadcast Media Professor Michael Birch helps run the series.
“It is fully encouraged that all students attend.”
“It is fully encouraged that all students attend and definitely the Beacon journalists,” Birch said. He added that Kurtz is “an interesting individual” who has more than 85,000 followers on Twitter. Students with any questions about upcoming lectures should contact Birch through FirstClass.
Follow Howard Kurtz on Twitter @HowardKurtz and catch CNN’s “Reliable Sources” Sundays at 11 a.m.
MCLA
Semester Lectures
October 19: Brown Bag Lecture “Team Based Learning vs. Traditional Lecture” Presented by Sharon Claffey 3 p.m. in Sullivan Lounge November 8: Public Policy Lecture Presented by former senator George Mitchell 7 p.m. in the Campus Center gymnasium November 16: Brown Bag Lecture “News Literacy & The First Amendment” Presented by Joseph Ebiware 3 p.m. in Sullivan Lounge
Hardman Lecture Series
HOWARD KURTZ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 7 PM MCLA Church Street Center, Eleanor Furst Roberts Auditorium Howard Kurtz is the host of CNN’s Reliable Sources, the network’s long-running media analysis show, and is Washington bureau chief of Newsweek and The Daily Beast.
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Close presidential race showing new sense of urgency Associated Press
October 17: Hardman Lecture Presented by journalist Howard Kurtz 7 p.m. in the Church Street Center Auditorium
- Michael Birch
theonlinebeacon.com
Free and open to the public. The Hardman Lecture Series is made possible through the generosity of the Hardman Family Endowment.
MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
375 Church Street, North Adams, MA
The Commonwealth’s Public Liberal Arts College
413-662-5185 www.mcla.edu
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ With swinging polls making the White House race as unpredictable as ever, President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney were crossing Ohio Tuesday and making their case with new urgency in the campaign’s final weeks. Obama maintains more paths to victory, but polling shows a tightening race after more than 67 million people watched Romney shine in their debate in Denver last week. The challenger’s math is extremely narrow, particularly without Ohio. No Republican has won the presidency without carrying the state. Based on the presumed outcome of the 41 non-battleground states and Washington, D.C., Obama enters the final period banking on 237 electoral votes. Romney is assured of 191. On the road to the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency, nine battleground states _ Ohio, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina and Colorado _ account for the final 110 votes. Both Democrats and Republicans say internal campaign surveys after last week’s debate show Romney cut into the lead Obama had built in many key battleground states. But they say Obama still has an advantage in most of them.
College seeks service volunteers MCLA, along with the City of North Adams and other community organizations, will hold a Fall Day of Service on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The annual Fall Day of Service is an MCLA and City of North Adams partnership that brings the campus and community together for a day of service. Students and residents roll up their sleeves and work together in one of two projects. In the first project, MCLA students and community members will plant several hundred flower bulbs on the College campus in partnership with the College’s facilities department. For the second project, other volunteers will beautify and maintain a section of the historical Hillside Cemetery. “Sections of the cemetery have not been maintained,” said Spencer Moser, coordinator of MCLA’s Center for Service and Citizenship. “Headstones have fallen over and there’s a lot of brush and vegetation that needs to be clipped, pruned and cleared. The City is thrilled that we, on this Day of Service, can come with students and start to remove all the overgrowth and brush in this part of the cemetery.” All those interested in participating are welcome. Transportation to the cemetery will be provided. All participants should meet in the parking lot behind the Freel Library, on Blackinton St. at 9:45 p.m. A free pizza lunch will be provided. Participants should bring work gloves. The Fall Day of Service, which started three years ago, joins two other annual service events between the City and MCLA – the Community Day of Service in the spring and the MLK Day of Service on Martin Luther King Day. To sign up or for more information, contact Moser at 413-662-5251 or at spencer.moser@mcla.edu .
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News
Thursday, October 11, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
FINANCIAL AID ANNOUNCEMENT FINAL FINANCIAL AID DISBURSEMENTS ARE HAPPENING SOON!!! CHECK WITH THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE AND STUDENT ACCOUNTS TO MAKE SURE YOUR REFUND CHECK ISN’T DELAYED. ELDRIDGE HALL LOBBY LEVEL 413-662-5219 Financial Aid Office 413-662-5230 Student Accounts
Bring a book, get an apple Where: Pittsfield Wal-Mart When: Saturday Oct. 13 and Sunday Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
57 Main Street, North Adams Take-out, or indoor and outdoor seating
Bring a book in good condition and receive an apple as long as supplies last. All books will be donated to the Berkshire County House of Corrections.
413.664.9470 www.LumasMuffin.com Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 8-2:30; Saturday: 8-4; Sunday: 9-1, Monday: Closed
Key West Lounge 159 State Street North Adams (413) 663 5055 Open 7 days a week 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.
Our kitchen never closes! Hot Wings Chicken Tenders Mozzarella Sticks French Fries Onion Rings Wing Zings Fiery Fingers Pizza Lunch Specials All legal beverages
Keno 3 Pool Tables 7 T.V.s, all with Direct TV & NFL Package DJ Thursday and Friday Nights
Just a short walk from campus for a lot of fun, good food, and entertainment! See you at the Key! Find us on Facebook!
taking applications for bartenders
Students launch final push as voter registration deadline nears With the state deadline for voter registration in the upcoming national elections on Oct. 17 students on college campuses across the state launched an unprecedented online and on-the-ground campaign to mobilize young voters to the polls. This effort leverages the strengths of traditional on-the-ground voter mobilization, in coordination with newer online tactics. The result is greater than either method on its own. “There is a lot of talk about young people being less motivated to vote in this year’s election, but we know that reaching out to young people where they are can boost youth turnout,” said Catt Chaput, a senior at MCLA and fourth year MASSPIRG MCLA chapter member. “So we’re going into classrooms, onto computers and across campus quads to reach students directly.” A new website StudentVote.org, launched in partnership with MASSPIRG and the coalition of student organizations, including the Student Government Association, Black Student Union, Political Science Club, and the Society of Music known as “Blaze the Vote,” offers students at MCLA the ability to fill out and print their registration form right in their dorm rooms. Over the next week, students decked out in StudentVote.org t-shirts will make classroom presentations and directly urge thousands on campus to visit the site. Leaders positioned across campus will stop students on their way to class and ask them to post the website on their Facebook page using their smart phone on the spot. To spread the word quickly on campus, campaign coordinators will also ask students to text five friends about StudentVote.org in classrooms and on the campus quad. Computer clusters on campus will feature the StudentVote.org link on screen-savers and an intensive chalking and flyering effort throughout campus will highlight the site across campus. Posters with a QR code to StudentVote. org will allow students to use their smart phones to fill out a registration form and will also be plastered across campus. “With just 6 days to go,” Chaput said, “we’ve got a shrinking window to make sure that the voices of students at MCLA and in the Berkshires are heard on Election Day. Reaching the wired world of young voters and being persistent in our on-campus efforts is the best way to mobilize as many young people as we can.”
Sports
Thursday, October 11, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
Scores, Schedules and Standings
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(at press time) Scores
Women’s Soccer
Men’s Soccer
10/6 Lyndon St W, 1-0
Women’s Tennis
Andrew Hodgson Sports Editor
10/5 Castleton L, 6-3
Celtics start 2013 campaign T
oward the end of the first half Rajon Rondo dribbled the ball, scanning the court for an open team-mate. When he didn’t find one, he did something that should have made Celtics fans jump out of their seat. Eyeing the hoop, the young point guard took one last dribble and nailed a three-pointer. Former Celtic Brian Scallabrine, who commentated on the Celtics first pre-season match in Istanbul, saw the look in Rondo’s eye. “He wanted that,” Scal said after the shot. The Boston Celtics began their NBA season this week on a European pre-season trip that included stops in Turkey and Italy. And not to jump the gun C’s fans but they looked pretty good. The way Rajon Rondo was playing it looked like he’ll be a top contender for the NBA MVP this year, with a solid team behind him looking at (this time we promise) a last shot at another ring for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. The first game took the team to Istanbul Friday to play Fenerbahce Ulker, a premiere European team. With his team looking rusty allaround, coach Doc Rivers used the game to rotate in all his new talent, along with the old staples like Garnett and Rondo, who looked good in the 97-91 loss. New components that Celtics fans will be seeing a lot of new players this year include guard Courtney Lee who was, interestingly enough, brought to Boston when Lee ran into Doc Rivers in Florida…on the day that the Rockets withdrew their offer for Lee. Lee looks to be an important part of the 2012-13 team. In Milan, Lee saw 18 minutes of play and put up eleven points. More importantly, in both games he took the point while Rondo got a precious few minutes’ respite. Jeff Green, a returning small forward, also showed promise in the 105-75 blowout in Milan, matching Rondo’s 17 points and grabbing eight rebounds. “The Jet” Jason Terry also seems to be fitting into the team well, taking the place of Ray Allen as a spot-up three-point shooter. Terry doesn’t have that patented three second release that Allen is famous for, but his outside presence will hopefully alleviate the loss of Ray “Shuttlesworth” Allen. And we’ll see Allen again: C’s fans don’t worry, on Oct. 30 the Celtics will travel to Miami to watch the Heat raise their championship banner, Ray Allen will be in Heat white for the first time.
10/6 @ Fitchburg L, 1-0
10/8 Becker College W, 5-4 10/9 Anna Maria College W, 6-3
Women’s Volleyball 10/4 @ Elms College L, 3-1 10/6 Bard College L, 3-2 10/6 Johnson St W, 3-0
Men’s Cross Country
10/8 @ Becker W, 3-1 10/6 James Earley Invite @ Westfield State 11:00a.m. 10/8 @ Maritime W, 3-0 28th place
Photo by Jack Guerino/Beacon staff
Senior co-captain Jacob McCall aims a header against Cobleskill.
Men’s soccer drops tight game to Fitchburg By Ariana Tourangeau Sports Writer
The Men’s Soccer team has been through a tumultuous week, most recently dropping a defensive battle to the Fitchburg State Falcons 1-0.This was another tough match as each team struggled to score throughout both halves. The game went into overtime. Fitchburg junior Carmen Bordonaro scored in the ninety-sixth minute, leading the team to victory. The Trailblazers had 12 shots including four on goal by senior and captain Jake McCall. Senior goalkeeper Dillon Wager had a great performance in goal with seven saves. The team is 4-7 overall, and 1-3 in league play. The heartbreaking loss rounds out three games that turned out very different for the Trailblazers, who were unable to spark the potent offense that showed in their Oct. 2 rout of SUNY Cobleskill. After an upsetting loss to the MASCAC defending champions Framingham State, the Men’s Soccer team made a comeback winning 7-0 to SUNY Cobleskill on Tuesday, Oct. 2. Seven different trailblazers scored for the team. The team had four goals in the first half and three in the second. The first goal was scored in the first 11 minutes off a free kick rebound from junior Drew Webster. Freshman Sean Kenney, sophomores Ben Souza, Lucas Prickett and Luke Fisher, and seniors Joe Mecca and Jake McCall also scored for the Trailblazers. Fisher said the team did the right thing by not letting the loss to Framingham affect future games. “We came into practice Monday determined to take the anger out
on SUNY Cobleskill the following day, which we did,” Fisher said. “We have been riding on positive energy and vibes since Tuesday.” McCall, as captain, agreed with his teammate that confidence is key but playing best as individuals and coming together as a team is more. “It’s easy to have confidence after a win, but it’s about carrying it into the next game and giving everything you have every practice to make your individual self better at your position,” he said. Although the team had to face another tough loss, the offense is really coming together and performing well with the rest of the team. Fisher said the team’s chemistry will continue to show in their playing and hopefully lead them to more victories throughout the season. “You couldn’t ask for better team chemistry than what we have going. Every player on our team has each other’s backs, and that is all you can ask for from your teammates,” he said. Not only does the team execute good chemistry on and off the field, but each player strives to work his hardest to ensure more wins, McCall said. “I think the secret in our focus is taking every game and treating it like it’s going to be the last game we ever play in our careers,” McCall said. “If you focus on it that way, it gives you a greater appreciation for the game of soccer and sports in general, because we are fortunate to have the opportunity to play in college and be in college.” The team has the whole week off to recuperate from the weekend’s loss and to prepare for their game against Westfield on Saturday.
Schedule
Standings
Women’s Cross Country
Men’s Soccer
10/13 @ Green Mountain College 10:00a.m. Golf 10/13 @NAC Championships, Farmington, ME 10/14 @NAC Championship, Farmington, ME
Conf
Salem St. 4-0 Framingham3-1 Westfield St. 3-1 Maritime 1-2-1 Bridgewater 1-2-1 MCLA 1-3 Fitchburg 1-3 Worcester 0-2-2
7-5-1 5-4-2 4-6-1 6-3-2 4-6-1 4-7 3-7-2 1-8-2
Women’s Soccer Conf
Westfield St. 4-0 12-0-1 Worcester St.3-1 5-6 Men’s Soccer Bridgewater 2-1-1 6-6-2 MCLA 2-2 5-6 10/13 Westfield St 1:00p.m. Framingham 2-2 4-7 Salem St. 1-2-1 6-4-1 Fitchburg St. 1-3 3-10 Women’s Soccer Maritime 0-4 1-8 10/13 @Westfield 6:00p.m.
St
Women’s Volleyball 10/11 Lyndon St 7:00p.m. 10/16 @ Westfield 7:00p.m.
Women’s Volleyball Conf
Framingham 3-0 Bridgewater 3-0 Worcester St. 2-1 Westfield St. 1-1 MCLA 1-3 Salem St. 0-2 Maritime 0-3
17-5 7-8 9-8 3-14 7-14 2-12 1-17
Women’s Tennis Men’s Cross Country
Conf
Colby-Sawyer8-0 10/13 @Green Mountain Castleton 6-1 Thomas 5-4 College 10:45a.m. Lyndon St. 1-5 Johnson St. 1-7 MCLA 0-4
13-2 7-6 5-7 1-8 1-11 3-7
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Sports
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Tennis finds success By Maci Estrella Sports Writer
Tuesday night the Women’s Tennis team bested Anna Maria to earn their second straight win, showing signs that the young team is beginning to gel. MCLA opened the match with two doubles wins from the duo’s of sophomore Megan Holmes and freshman Danielle Wiencek, and freshmen Sarah Cowdell and Ama Adwetewa-Badu. The two pairs showed court dominance, winning their matches by a combined 16-5. The wins gave MCLA a 2-1 advantage going into singles’ play. Sophomores Sarah Murphy and Megan Holmes won in the top two slots, with Holmes winning a third set tiebreaker. Anna Maria stayed alive winning the third and fourth singles bouts. The Trailblazers perservered and Cowdell and Adwetewa-Badu won both of their matches to clinch the meet for MCLA. The back-to-back wins are the first this season for the Trailblazers. The Women’s Tennis team competed in a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) match against Castleton State on Friday, where they lost 6-3. Sophomore Sarah Murphy and freshman Stephanie Giardina earned the first doubles win, 8-6. The second team made up of sophomore Megan Holmes and senior Danielle Wiencek lost in the doubles match, 8-2. The team was hit hardest in the singles matches, with Castleton taking all but one. Though it was not the game the Trailblazers had expected, there was celebration about the wins the team did have. “It was very exciting for me and Steph Giardina,” Murphy said. “We had our first win as first doubles.” The team remained positive about their efforts even when the score boards were against them. “It feels bad to lose, especially when we really want to win,” Laureano said. “We are still going to keep doing our best and hopefully win our next game against Becker.” On Saturday, the team gave back to the community by teaching local kids how to play tennis. The kids, ranging from ages three to ten, spent two hours learning the basics of tennis, even surprising the team with their skills. “It was fun spending time with the kids, and they were really excited to play,” Laureano said. “Some of them even knew how to play already, so we all had a great time.” After the tennis lessons were over, the children received certificates for participating. “I hope we get to do that again in the future,” Murphy said. “The kids were wonderful.” On Friday the Trailblazers will travel to play Sage College.
theonlinebeacon.com
Volleyball serves up a win By Andrew Hodgson Sports Editor
The Volleyball team earned it’s first MASCAC victory on Monday against Mass. Maritime, pairing that win with another against Becker, sweeping the tri-match and earning it’s second and third wins in a row. The first match of the day pitted MCLA against Becker College. The match marked the return of co-captain Julia Christian after she suffered an injured wrist, which kept her sidelined for Saturday’s two matches. She was back on top form against Becker, earning eight kills in the win. The Trailblazers took the first two games easily, while Becker charged back with a 25-13 win in the third game to force a fourth. MCLA reasserted their dominance however, and finished off Becker with a narrow 25-20 win in the fourth game. The nightcap match against Mass. Maritime was more onesided. The Trailblazers controlled service for the entire match and swept Mass. Maritime in the first three games. The most significant part of the team’s first MASCAC win was it’s ability to control a game from the first serve to the final point. Over the weekend the team hosted a tri-match with Bard College and Johnson State. The Trailblazers came out flat out against Bard, forcing them to play from behind for the entire game until sophomore Angelica Perfido got to serve. Three of the
Photo by Kayla Degnan/Beacon staff
Freshman Courtney Parent sets up team-mate and fellow freshman Jackie Paluilis. team’s last four points were aces by Perfido, snatching the first game. MCLA took the second game by a few crucial points. With Christian out with injury, the team found that other players had to step up and create offense. “Everybody on our team can play any hitting position so it’s hard to not have her but we are doing our best to make it work,” sophomore Darien Quick said of the team’s effort without their cocaptain. The Trailblazers led 10-9 in the first game against Bard when Quick came into the match. The Bard coach lept up, yelling to his senior, Cara Chalk, to make
sure she knew she was defending Quick. Quick has the ability to break open leads with her timely kills. “Number 12 you got her,” echoed through the gym and everyone knew who Bard was worried about. The teams were tied at 20 in the second game when Chalk took the ball to serve. Bard scored three points and took the game 25-21. MCLA handily beat Bard in the third game, 25-16. The serving on Saturday was some of the most consistent from the Trailblazers all year. “A game can depend entirely on service, we needed to keep our
serves in and we did,” Quick said. But Bard would not be bested, and pushed the match to a fifth game. When it was crunch time, the Trailblazers found themselves on the losing end of a 15-8 game to clinch the match for Bard. Still without Christian, but with the advantage of not having to play two games in a row, the Trailblazers took on Johnson State to wrap up the day. The Trailblazers were able to control the tempo of the game and score points off the consistent serves of freshman Courtney Parent. The Trailblazers are in action again tonight, hosting Lyndon St. at 7 p.m.
Soccer scores shutouts By Chris Oxholm Sports Writer
Photo by Jess Gamari/Beacon staff
Junior Brianna Dandurant fights for possession against Fitchburg.
It was a successful week at Shewcraft Field for the Women’s Soccer team. After falling to Framingham State, the Trailblazers rocked the net with back-to-back shutouts at home. The Trailblazers dominated the field offensively and defensively, getting chance after chance against Lyndon State. At 27 minutes Jen Ferrari knocked in a head goal, and at 38 minutes goal keeper Danielle Heinsohn blocked a breakaway, ending the first half with 1-0, MCLA. “We re-arranged our positions,” Lindsay Borbolla said. “We were just feeling out the field.” In the second half, Rebecca Pike scored at 10 minutes on a twoon-one breakaway and Borbolla scored shortly after at 12 minutes. Borbolla had a breakaway goal as well at 25 minutes and held it down on defense after to make it 4-0 in the end. “It feels good to be scoring,” Borbolla said, “especially after not playing last year and coming back.” It was also Pike’s first time playing forward for the Trailblazers, making her goal the first point she’s scored at that position.
“Rebecca’s goal was her first goal as a forward,” Borbolla said. “It was a big deal for her but also for us as well.” The Trailblazers also had a conference match against Fitchburg State on Saturday. It was a scoreless first half with an even amount of possession for both teams, but things changed in the second half. Borbolla had a corner kick on Fitchburg’s goal side, leading to Ferrari heading it in. This put MCLA on the score board for a 1-0 lead at 22 minutes in the second half. “I took the corner kick,” Borbolla said. “It went to Briana Dandurant and it skimmed her head. Then Jen [Ferrari] headed it in.” Heinsohn had a moment to shine when she blocked a breakaway at 41 minutes. It was her second breakaway block of the week. “Danielle’s save on that breakaway saved the game,” Borbolla said. “Danielle has proved herself a goal keeper with breakaways. She’s the breakaway master.” MCLA held off Fitchburg for the last four minutes, ending the match at 1-0. The Trailblazers hope to keep this winning streak alive at Wednesday’s match against Western New England. The match will be at home starting at 4 p.m.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Arts & Entertainment
theonlinebeacon.com
MoCA unfurls ‘Jerry’s Map’ exibit for a limited time
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Photo by Kayla Degnan/Beacon staff
‘Jerry’s Map’,’ a changeable landscape by Jerry Gretzinger is on display at Mass MoCA until Oct. 14. By Michael Feloni A&E Writer
Here only for a short time, “Jerry’s Map,” created by artist Jerry Gretzinger, will be on display at Mass MoCA’s Hunter Center from Friday, Oct. 5 until Sunday, Oct. 14. “It’s really a little bit of everything,” Gretzinger said about his exhibit. “Everything from repitographs, press type, ballpoint, ruling pens… Everything.” Encompassing over 2,600 panels in total, this new addition to MoCA is massive. The entire Hunter Center, the main theatre at MoCA, has been hollowed out to create space for this expansive display. Gretzinger started the project in 1963. Just in case the year itself isn’t enough of a clue to the length of the project, it
started the same year the Beatles released their first album, Please Please Me, the same year Alcatraz closed, the same year Coca-Cola introduced TaB, and the same year the first James Bond film, Dr. No, was shown in U.S. theaters. It was also the same year President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. “There was a 20 year period where I didn’t really work on the project, between the 80’s and 2003,” Gretzinger explained. “When I started working on it again, all this new technology had come about and I had all new media to work with!” Along with the pens and pencils, Gretzinger also used recycled boxes from food products, oil paints, markers, plastics, and basically anything else he could get his hands on. Gretzinger did know the Map was going to be big, but not as big as it turned out. This was
possibly due to the fact that the entire map is completely fictional.
“We have the whole map completely encompassed by raised walkways so visitors can walk around and see the entire map from above.” - Jerry Gretzinger “I did calculate the dimensions in my head,” Gretzinger said, pointing at his temples and laughing. “I just didn’t realize that 2,600 panels were going to
Photo by Kayla Degnan/Beacon staff
A close up of the panels that form Gretzinger’s fictional world.
be this… huge!” Just for kicks, the 2,600 panels equal out to just about 2,000 square feet, not much smaller than the size of the average American home. While checking out several other locales last November, Gretzinger had several ideas for the presentation of the Map. He thought of a half-floor half on-wall styling, he thought of displaying it completely on a wall, but when he saw the Hunter Center at MoCA, he knew that he had his floor plan. “We have the whole map completely encompassed by raised walkways so visitors can walk around and see the entire map from above,” Gretzinger said. The 360 degree coverage of the Map allows for people to get hundreds of different points of view. Along with his brother, Gretzinger had the help of
at least seven other people, including, but not limited to, his sister-in-law, his sister-in-law’s aunt and uncle, MoCA interns, and several volunteers from a local senior center. “Jerry’s Map” has become a fan favorite of gamers as well. His exhibit has inspired digital designers in the popular RPG (Role Playing Game) titled Minecraft to create new worlds based off of Jerry’s Map. The Map became an instant hit on Reddit.com as being called a “single endless work.” “It’s funny because this whole thing happened by accident,” Gretzinger laughed, throwing his hands in the air. “There’s even a ‘Jerry’s Map’ module on Minecraft. The gamers love it.” “MoCA worked out perfectly,“ Gretzinger said. “especially because this is the first time I’ve ever seen it laid out in its entirety.”
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Greenfield/Mass MoCA
Gretzinger placing each of the roughly 2,600 panels.
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Thursday, October 11, 2012
Arts & Entertainment
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Professors to publish book about artist with autism By Haley Costen A&E Writer For Jessica Park, the world was confusing and frightning because of her autism. Through her artwork she is able to better express her emotions to the world. “A World Transformed: The Art of Jessica Park” is the the most recent contribution from the Jessica Park Project and Fine and Performing Arts Professor Anthony Gengarelly. “In the creation of her art, Jessica’s disability has become an ability,” Gengarelly said. The book chronicles the life, struggles, and work of Jessica Park, a nationally-esteemed artist with autism, born in North Adams and raised in Williamstown, who received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from MCLA in 2003. “A World Transformed: The Art of Jessica Park” was written by Gengarelly, edited by Education Professor Dale Fink, and contains illustrations by Danielle Christensen, a 2011 graduate. It won this year’s Faculty Lecture Award. Gengarelly’s initial interest in Park formed upon her receiving the honorary degree, so he chose to curate Park’s work for his museum studies class in the spring of 2004. “We always integrate an exhibition into the class, so we decided to take on Jessica Park,” Gengarelly said. This led to a visit to her home in Williamstown, where he viewed her art, hanging on the walls of the house, and met Park and her family. This began not only the inception of the eight year-long Jessica Park Project, but also a learning experience for Gengarelly. His previous studies in art history had focused on 19th and early 20th century artists. “Jessica’s art is a fascinating subject and has gotten me interested in other artists on the edge of society who have come to art through unusual experiences and avenues of expression,” Gengarelly said.
Gengarelly was drawn to the unique characteristics of Park’s work, which consist of multicolored images that alter the natural order of things. Many of her paintings are rainbow-colored depictions of actual houses, buildings, and structures such as the Flatiron Building and the Brooklyn Bridge. Park also includes quirky details that captivate her, such as stickers on windows and loose nails. She paints all of her buildings with a starry night sky backdrop, despite painting the subjects in the daylight. The book contains a variety of her recent work, as well as work from her childhood,. Her progression is demonstrated from drawing stick figures with crayons, to creating vivid, complex architectural images. Gengarelly has published another book about Park, “Exploring Nirvana: The Art of Jessica Park,” which was released in 2008 by the College, and has sold about 1,200 copies. The book has been requested nationwide and throughout Europe, he said. Though he is pleased by the number of people interested in “Exploring Nirvana: The Art of Jessica Park,” Gengarelly said that he would like to find a larger audience for “A World Transformed: The Art of Jessica Park” in order to spread Park’s work. “For many people who are confronting the challenges of autism, Jessica Park is hope,” Gengarelly added. Over the past several years Gengarelly has raised over $30,000 for the Jessica Park Project to publish books on and create exhibitions of her work, including a traveling show that toured the Northeast and Midwest from 2009 through 2010. The exhibition, “The Art and Life of Jessica Park,” opened at MCLA Gallery 51 in May 2008. “The College has always recognized Jessica’s talents,” Gengarelly said, adding that he is very grateful to Park and her family. “A World Transformed: The Art of Jessica Park” is scheduled for publication in the summer of 2013.
Photos by Kalya Degnan/ Beacon staff
Above, Professor Gengarelly with a sample of ‘A World Transformed: The Art of Jessica Park.’ At right, artist Jessica Park, of Williamstown, is the subject of two books about her life.
Irish actor Conor Lovett performs at Church Street Center By Shannen Adamites A&E Writer
Photo by Takeya Lee/Beacon staff
Lovett preforms “Moby Dick” on Oct. 4.
The stage bore only an antique table and a wash of blue light until Conor Lovett, the Berkshire Cultural Resource Center director, took to the stage as he performed a one-man rendition of Herman Melville’s novel, “Moby Dick,” put on by MCLA Presents! Lovett, an internationally renowned Irish actor, is no stranger to MCLA. Two years ago, he performed another one-man show of Samuel Beckett’s short story, “First Love.” He was also here last year, despite the late October snowstorm threatening to cancel the event. According to Jonathan Secor, the show became an intimate experience as the smaller sized audience got to sit on stage during the performance. The opening sequence of Lovett’s performance was simplistic yet creative. A dramatic instrumental played as a spotlight illuminated the desk before transitioning to a cooler backlight. Silence and anticipation fell upon the audience as it waited for Lovett’s entrance. Through the left aisle of Church Street Center, he made his way to the stage and stood solemnly, holding an intense gaze at the table in the center. Lovett’s introduction as Ishmael, the wandering sailor, charmed the audience with dry humor and wit,
providing the occasional snicker or chuckle. Although his entrance was strong and serious, he spoke casually, throwing in whale-related puns here and there, and even referencing a few current events for a more modern relation. He communicated his story naturally, while incorporating drawn out pauses, comical tangents, and stutters, which made some parts of the narrative aspect seem anecdotal. The table served as a grounding point. Often he sat upon it or leaned against it as he transitioned into a different part of the story. This proved to be a wise choice, as pacing or using many hand gestures may have been distracting. One particular example of him taking on several different roles at once was when he expressed his concern to the landlord about sleeping next to the harpooner, Queequeg, at an inn before embarking to Nantucket. The audience chuckled with amusement whenever he switched his voice from Ishmael’s to the landlord’s. Lovett provided vivid character descriptions, and took on the characters’ body language and vocal qualities while jumping back and forth between them. About a quarter way through the performance, the softer, blueish hue changed to full stage lights as Lovett began to describe Ishmael’s adventure at sea. As more characters were introduced and the plot began to unfold, Lovett
portrayed rounds of dialogue and indicated a variety of actions without any sort of accompaniment or props. Whenever the crew encountered the whale, it felt as though the stage was full of life, commotion, and chaos, when in reality, only the table and Lovett himself were present. The closing bit, where he described Captain Ahab’s demise and returning from being stranded at sea, concluded his performance on a reflective and melancholic note, resulting in a period of dead silence from the audience. Lovett demonstrated his skill by differentiating each of the characters, even if one drastically contrasted against another. Exchanged dialogue flowed as naturally as his narratives, and his pantomiming methods, which sometimes have a tendency to be awkward and overused, were seamless and used at only the most fitting moments. Lovett’s performance was dramatic and compelling, but not overexaggerated or farce-like. Never was there a dull moment, for his voice, body language, and facial expressions enhanced his raw emotions and kept the audience listening to his tale. MCLA Presents!’s next performance will take place at Church Street Center on Oct. 30, featuring Haitian musician and political activist, Bélo, put on in part by MCLA’s Multicultural Center, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and MCLA’s Office of Academic Affairs’ Diversity Task Force.
Arts & Entertainment
Thursday, October 11, 2012
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Paul Miranda: A plethora of talents By Aya Lanzoni A&E Writer
Tano Holmes A&E Editor
Mass MoCA: under-utilized by MCLA students? As I was wandering the beautifully vivid halls of Mass MoCA last weekend, I found many exhibits and art pieces quite stunning. However, the most shocking thing was the lack of MCLA students in the throngs of museum-goers. I only saw two othe students during my entire visit. While there were probably many more, I did hear people speaking Japanese, French and German as I meandered through, leading me to believe that Mass MoCA is drawing visitors from around the world, while those on its doorstep aren’t compelled to enter. Mass MoCA is an unbelievable resource to us at the College and is only a two minute drive down the road. The museum has helped MCLA students get a foot in the door of the world of art through curating galleries, offering internships and jobs, or by presenting student art, such as the annual Dance Co. shows. It has been a safe haven of art that is sometimes misunderstood or under appreciated. But that is exactly the kind of art that makes one think about it’s message or the idea that the artist was trying to convey. Additionally, the museum has been an impetus for change in North Adams, inspiring and bringing in the artists who have filled over 30 art galleries in North Adams with spectacular works of art– and, by extension, help the overall economy and culture of our immediate environment. And yet as I walked through Invisible Cities, the skyline of wicker baskets towering over me, I wondered why this place, so full of creativity, mystery, and intuitiveness is so under utilized by those who live the closest and have free access. I frequently return to the calming, thought-provoking, or stimulating exhibits of Mass MoCA because they always offer something different. Not only because most exhibits rotate on a regular basis, but also because that difference can be introspective, in how you interpret someone’s art work or maybe just how that piece makes you feel.
Paul Miranda plopped himself on to the library bench, the sun reflecting in his black-rimmed glasses. He wore his light black jacket and red sweatpants, with his school bag adorned on his back. Miranda, a senior, is an English/Communications major with a concentration in writing. He specifically likes to write poetry, though fiction finds its way into his writing on occasion. “A lot of my inspiration comes from John Keats, William Blake, and the Beats [Generation]. I like that the Beats broke the rules,” he said with a laugh. Miranda, a native from Boston, is an active member of Residential Programs & Services (RPS), Dance Company, and the more recent Cape Verdean Student Alliance. He also helps to support ALANA by DJing at some of their parties. Education is a first priority Not only does Miranda have a personal love for poetry, but education is one of his top priorities. “Education’s really important to me. My mom always hammered it into our heads,” he said. “Unfortunately, she never really got the chance because she was so busy providing for us. I’m incredibly proud of her for all of her hard work.” With a 3.6 GPA and a member
“Education’s really important to me. My mom always hammered it into our heads,” - Paul Miranda of both Alpha Lambda Delta and Lambda Iota Tau, as well as nominated for Alpha Chi, Miranda has
made the Dean’s List almost every semester since he came to the College. A few years ago, Miranda was a part of the Ronald E. McNair trio program. The program pays participants to research topics for eight weeks for future docoral studies, he said. Miranda wrote a 20-page thesis on Cape Verdean literature, a lot of it dealing with the poetry from the Islands. Miranda also writes as a reporter for the Mosaic, IEP/IESS’s newsletter. Since his freshman year, he has been writing profiles of IEP students who have been excelling at MCLA “It [the Mosaic] is a great way to keep alumnae and parents attached and feel connected,” he said. Involvement on campus On top of his many classes here at the College, Miranda is a Resident Advisor (RA) in Berkshire Towers. “I was an RA my sophomore year as well, so I feel like I have a good advantage to being an RA because I know generally what to expect,” he said. “The staff is supportive and the kids are great. I think I’m managing it well!” Miranda is a part of the Campus Conversations on Race (CCOR) as a facilitator. He has traveled to Boston a few times to help spread awareness and host meetings with other facilitators to discuss important topics. Miranda is also a founding member of what the College now calls the Allegrettos, formerly called the Hoosings, which started three years ago. With a musically inclined background, he has been involved in singing and playing gospel music on the piano for about five or six years. With his unique musical background, Miranda is also wellknown for his dancing talents. During high school, Miranda was a part of a krump and freestyle group called Royal Fam. Unfortunately, he had to stop due to physical setbacks upon entering college. Miranda specializes in krumping
What is going on around town? On Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m., Mill City Productions will be presenting Title of show, a musical at Heritage State Park, Building 4. On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., artist Fay O’Meary will be visitng Gallery 51 to teach a free class on experimental animation. On Saturday starting at 8 p.m. Mass MoCA will be hosting “Nerd Nite,” a comedy presentation that deals with issues of technology and sex among other things. $10 for students. On Wednesday, Hardman Lecturer Howard Kurtz will speak at Church Street Center at 7 p.m. about the reliability of media sources.
Photo by Dennise Carranza/Beacon staff
Miranda is a poet, dancer, residence advisor and all around great sudent. and hip-hop after working with Dance Company for three years, and Nexxus his freshman year. “Going from freestyle to choreography was a hard transition,” he said. “I was so used to doing what I wanted and just feeling the beat that it was difficult to memorize moves at first.” After taking a hip-hop class in Rhode Island, where a member of
America’s Best Dance Crew performed, Miranda warmed up to Dance Company. “I like that it can be a place for somebody to come and dance and be a part of something bigger,” he said with a smile. In the future, Miranda hopes to get his PhD in poetry and study Cape Verdean literature once he graduates from MCLA.
Fancy Yourself a Comedian? This week auditions will take place for the opening act for Comedy Stop’s Halloween show. Contact Brycen Waters via FirstClass for more details. The show is put on by the Student Activities Council (SAC).
Corrections:
In the Thursday, Oct. 4 edition in the picture on page 9, Gallery 51 was mislabeled as the PRESS Gallery. In the Thursday, Oct. 4 edition on page 7, two songs were misnamed: “Wildwood Flower” and “It Ain’t Me Babe.”
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Campus Comment
Thursday, October 11, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
What do you miss the most being away from home ? “The main reason why I miss home is because I do not have the opportunity to be with my twoyear-old baby sister as much.”
“I definitely miss my dog, not to mention home-cooking. It’s also good to see my parents, though more oft than not after a couple days home I’m eager to get back on campus.”
- Alex Mukendi, 2012
-Corban von Ouhl, 2013
“I miss my mom’s cooking, my friends and family, also just being at home. I miss going to my favorite stores and restaurants.”
“I miss the bright lights, fresh air, home cooked meals, and clubs. I miss living the fast life and seeing my family when I wake up & when I go to sleep.”
- Desiree Grant, 2015
- India Prevost, 2014
The Beacon 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. Contact information: News desk number: 413-662-5535 Business number: 413-662-5404 E-mail: Beacon@mcla.edu Web site: www.theonlinebeacon.com Office: Mark Hopkins Hall, room 111 Mission Statement The Beacon strives to provide timely and accurate news of campus and local events. Editorials Policy Unsigned editorials that appear on these pages reflect the views of The Beacon’s editorial board. Signed columns and commentaries that appear on these pages reflect the views of the writers. Letters Policy The Beacon welcomes Letters to the Editor. Deadline is noon on Mondays for that week’s newspaper. Letters should be kept to 500 words or less and are subject to editing for grammar and content. The Beacon will not publish anonymous or libelous letters.
“The thing I missed most are my giant dolls on my bed. Winnie the Pooh and his best friend jumping Tigger.”
“I miss my granny who knit new woolen sweaters for me every year when winter comes.”
- Yang Liu, International student
- Yuan Tian, International student
Compiled by Siyun Wu/Beacon staff
Big gaps in Romney’s health care plans Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) _ Mitt Romney says he supports some health care reforms, such as helping people with pre-existing conditions. But there’s a huge catch to the GOP candidate’s plan: You’d basically have to be covered already to be protected. If you had a significant break in your coverage, an insurer still could delve into your medical history, looking for anything _ from a bad back to high blood pressure _ that could foreshadow future claims. They’d be able to turn you down. That’s a contrast to President Barack Obama’s health care law, which guarantees that people in poor health can get comprehensive coverage at the same rates everybody else pays, and provides government subsidies to help low- to middle-income households pay premiums. Starting Jan. 1, 2014, an insurer “may not impose any pre-existing condition exclusion,’’ the law says. Romney mentioned his preexisting conditions plan during last week’s presidential debate. “I do have a plan that deals with people with pre-existing condi-
tions,’’ he said. His campaign has not spelled out details other than it would help people who have maintained continuous coverage. That would involve making incremental changes to insurance laws and regulations, and may or may not whittle down the number of uninsured, 49 million nationally. “It will solve some of the problems,’’ said health economist Gail Wilensky, a longtime adviser to Republicans. “It won’t solve the problem of people having gone for a long time without health insurance.’’ That’s because many people aren’t able to keep up continuous coverage. Losing health insurance is often connected to major life upheavals like job loss or divorce that drain household budgets. More than 70 percent of the uninsured have been without coverage for a year or longer, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Obama’s answer _ it’s the law of the land unless repealed _ is more like hitting the reset button. About 30 million uninsured people would gain coverage as the U.S. moves closer to other economically advanced countries that provide health care for all citizens.
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Fun & Games
Thursday, October 11, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
11
Liberal Students React to Presidential Debate
Cartoon by Jackie Coughlin
Big Cats
Weekly Horoscopes Aries: March 21-April 19
T N D N Y O U Y W L H E I I Y F S K F N J S Y D H Your romantic side is out in force today, so make sure that you’re T S W K F Z W T F G T L O V M Z I B A H C W R K Q
showing your sweetie how you feel – or looking out for your next sweetie, if you happen to be single. Either way, it’s fun!
J C S I Z L O K K P G L N X U T A E A M U V L B K Taurus: April 20-May 20 V I Y P C C F H M K J U V P Q D P T T S C R X P A
You and a friend or colleague are locking horns today – but there are no winners this round. You may not like hearing that, but it’s time to step back and accept that you just can’t get your way every time.
N M C U E J H V A H R R W J G K E O G A D O L E D Gemini: May 21-June 21
Your big brain is helping you to see things for what they really are, so
O N F L M E W H T J G Z Q B G E Y R P F P Q O U N pay attention! Your ideas are as good as ever, too, so you may find a D B O W Z O P O N D F M R M H T C S D Z F X V N D K T D E X K U X A I Q S N C U P O I K V I P D V O M F F Y H H R F O T L D Z F T U A A V K B A M F R P Y Z B Q I O I X C E C W L V U K C Y C S B S M U T Z N X N Y L V I N O J A A F C A A V A V L X G U M U O C K I K K J G P E K S Q O H K W K T C C V L
way to leap ahead of the competition quickly.
Cancer: June 22-July22 Go big or go home! You need to tackle things in a big way today, and that could mean that you are seen as being extravagant. As long as it’s not a boss with budget worries, who cares? Leo: July 23-Aug. 22 You rack up an impressive achievement today – you may find that your energy helps you overcome a barrier that you thought was insurmountable. Make sure to take your victory lap when all is said and done. Virgo: Aug. 23-Sept. 22
J M I X T O Q R E O A F S H Q K J C E V V E I H I You have got to be more careful with your coworkers – it’s essential W C L V Y I C R Y Q R I T W U I V P L I A C W M Q
that you are not seen as being an obstacle to progress! This is just as true if you’re looking for work. Be as flexible as you can.
F H N O B K T B J Z D A K R Y V L K O B T J R J S Libra: Sept. 23-Oct. 22 V Y I B N A W A G B M L E E Z H V H W Y Q O K B W F S A C W J G N L U T F N G R P A N T H E R X J Y L T T O F U Q K P Q N Q P I X R A G U O C D E L P D A N V A K D Q G P G G I T O B O F T T M D O M E B C U R N J F X C B D O X I A Q A L Q X X J D H K U B O E X Z Y B T A C P O O T S P T Z Z S X G E Y
You need to meet new people today – which is as easy as can be, fortunately! Your great social energy should help you make new friends and intensify your pre-existing relationships. Scorpio: Oct. 23-Nov. 21 You are facing a problem that seems bigger than anything you’ve seen in quite a while. That doesn’t mean it’s time to give up – you just have to make sure that you’re ready to move quickly! Sagittarius: Nov. 22-Dec. 21 The travel bug is back for another bite, so get ready to get restless! Your great energy might help you take off on a spontaneous road trip – or maybe you are planning something more legendary.
Q O M A J U O S W A N O I L Y O K H T Q W Y X W H Capricorn: Dec. 22-Jan. 19 P B T Y M E V T X Z W B V A C S C U D T S M R E V
You are not having the easiest time of it today – but you persevere anyway, because you always do. That’s a positive trait, and someone in power sees it and likes it. Keep up the good work!
O A U D V A I Z V H R X P K H J E E D D D S L I L Aquarius: Jan. 20-Feb. 18
You need to extend an olive branch today – peace is vital, but it
R M P U X Y A K Z Y H U F K K I V C K B Y Q D L T comes at a cost. You are surely going to have to give up something in order to bring everyone else back to the table.
Bobcat Mountain Lion Cheetah Ocelot
Cougar Panther Jaguar Puma
Leopard Lion Tiger Lynx
Pisces: Feb. 19-March 20 Keep an eye on your health today – are you feeling your best? If not, this is a great time to take positive steps to make a difference, from drinking juice in the morning to turning in a little earlier at night. Horoscopes courtesy of Yahoo.com
12
Photo Essay
Thursday, October 11, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
Vivid autumn foliage is a main attraction for the annual Columbus Day Ramble.
The Bascom Lodge serves lunch, coffee and hot coca to hikers of all ages.
The granite war memorial, built in 1933, is 92 feet tall.
The Ramble up Mt. Greylock
Photos By Jess Gamari
Sunday’s rain made the trail slippery for hikers.
Thousands of participants recieve certificates for reaching the top.
A cabin near the summit resides by a still lake.
People trek the mountain throughout the day.