Fall 2013 - Issue 10

The Beacon

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

For more content, visit online at: Beacon.MCLA.edu Volume 77 ◆ Issue 10

Th u r s d ay, N o v e m b e r 2 1 , 2 0 1 3

Life lessons in preservation

Pie for Pines

By Nick Arena

Managing Editor

Photo courtesy of Richard LaRocque

Steve Olson puts a pie in the face of Pi Upsilon Pi president Keehan Saxton.

Last week, students could pie the faces of members of the ΠΥΠ fraternity or a member of the ΒΛ sorority for the “Pie a Greek” fundraiser.

Each pie cost 1$, and proceeds benefited the Inter Greek Council.

Students, faculty, and other community members sat rapt as they listened to the woman whose own environmental work helped save the Nashua River on Tuesday, Nov. 19.

Environmentalist Marion Stoddart gave her advice on how to start a successful environmental movement as part of the Elizabeth and Lawrence Vadnais Environmental Issues Lecture Series.

“There’s so many similarities between the Nashua River and your river, the Hoosic River,” Stoddart said when she took the microphone.

The event began with a little bit of history about Stoddart with the documentary “The Work of 1,000,” which highlighted the difficulties she faced during the

process of trying to clean up a river so polluted that its color changed every day depending on what color paper was being produced at a nearby factory.

“One person can do the work of 1,000,” Stoddart said in the documentary as she talked about the radio program that got her inspired to start working.

Stoddart offered a list of lessons for everyone, like always understanding the importance of vision, whether they are working on the Hoosic River Revival project or not. With every life lesson she gave, she repeatedly stated that she had the utmost confidence that the Hoosic River Revival project would succeed, if only for the fact that so many people have stepped up to support it.

STODDART, continued on page 3

To see more photos of the “Pie a Greek” fundraiser, scan the QR code below, or check out Beacon.MCLA.edu

Photo from the NashuaRiverWatershed.org

The Nashua River in the 1960s and 1980s. According to activist Marion Stoddart, the color of the polluted river would change daily depending on paper mill productions.

Photo courtesy of Richard LaRocque

Peter Scattareggia is covered in cool whip by his friend Juliana Correia.

“A generation who understands human needs” Andrew Young spoke last Wednesday as part of the 3rd annual Michael S. and Kitty Dukakis Public Policy Lecture series

By Gabriel Kogel Staff Writer

Ambassador Andrew Young, a lifelong public servant, said people must overcome “the fear of death and the love of money,” addressing a need for visionary leadership to steward the economic and technological potential of today’s world.

“Keep on struggling,” Young said, when asked what young

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people should do when struggling with their faith. “Just keep struggling. You don’t have to have all the answers, just enough to make it to the next morning.” “[What is needed are] a generation of thoughtful people who understand enough about human needs, technology and economics. [That] is the challenge for a university like this,” he said.

Over his long career, Young has worn many hats. Beginning

as an ordained minister, he has served as a U.S. senator, mayor of Atlanta, Ga., and ambassador to the United Nations. Young is also one of the last surviving members of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s inner circle. He spoke about the struggle to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1964, which granted African-Americans unrestricted access to the polls.

“King and I went to President Johnson, and he said, ‘I can’t

introduce this legislation. I’m not as powerful as you think.’ So when I spoke to King afterward, and asked him what we should do, he said, ‘I think we need to get the president more power,’” Young recounted.

History Professor Francis Jones-Sneed said that King is, figuratively, smiling down today at the lifetime of good work his friend has accomplished.

“Young understood what he had

Christine Condaris addresses SGA

FPA student gives back to children

Basketball takes a win

Professor talks about time management for busy students.

Senior Brittney Gerber volunteers in Williamstown.

The women’s team takes Green Mountain College by 62 points.

Arts & Entertainment, page 6

Sports, page 8

News, page 2

to do in life, and he did it, without fear,” Jones-Sneed said.

On race relations, Young said progress has come through protest and legislation, but cultural racism is still a problem.

At the same time, he suggested the media has a tendency to exaggerate the racial aspect of controversies. As an example,

YOUNG, continued on page 3

News Arts & Entertainment Sports Campus Opinion Local Events Photo Essay

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Campus News

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Weekend Weather Thursday, November 21

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Committee to look at time management issues

By Ryan Flynn

Senior News Editor

Monday, Nov. 18

Partly Cloudy High: 46° Low: 32° Precip. Chance: 0%

Friday, November 22

Cloudy High: 47° Low: 35° Precip. Chance: 20%

Saturday, November 23

All College Committee Senator Stephan Rochefort reported that fine and performing arts department Prof. Christine Condaris said students who are extremely involved in clubs and other campus organizations tend to struggle in school, due to time management. The All College Committee (ACC) therefore made a motion to charge the Student Affairs Committee with the issue. President Jake Powers said some of these students, such as club executive-board members, feel that campus involvement is more important than grades.

Education practicum requirements changed Rochefort said that the ACC voted to change requirements to take practicum courses for infant, toddler, and kindergarten education majors in order to strengthen the program. The issue has now been passed on to President Mary Grant ARAMARK Updates ARAMARK made new ad-

Photo by Kayla Degnan/The Beacon

Senate Chair Taylor Krowitz and President Jake Powers speak to members of the senate. ditions to the late night grill menu including pizza and cheesestuffed pretzels as well as jalapeno poppers, and is still open to more ideas for options from students.

Parliamentarian Alexandra Kadell reported that the cafeteria will be closed on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Nov. 26 for Thanksgiving break. The Campus Store and Subway will be closed at 11 p.m.

The Cafeteria will be open again on Sunday Dec. 1 for dinner only.

This year, students are offered the opportunity to stay on campus for Thanksgiving break, but students agreeing to stay on campus during that time will have to provide and cook their own food.

Senator Chris Cozzaglio pointed

out that this is a concern, due to the fact that Hoosac Hall’s kitchen is gluten free, which makes cooking several foods difficult. Cozzaglio said another concern is the fact that some students may be obligated to stay on campus, due to on-campus jobs necessary while there are still students living on campus.

Club and Member of the Week Update Due to awaiting an exact amount for alumni donations, SGA’s Club and Member of the Week Awards have currently been postponed, but e-mails will be sent out to club members with details for nomina-

tions and the selection process in the near future, according to Hannah Sterrs.

SGA Van After meeting with the Student Transportation Council, President Powers announced that he is seriously looking into the possibility of purchasing a mini-van for SGA as opposed to a standard school van. Drivers would still need to be van certified, but Powers and other members agreed that a mini-van would be more fuel-efficient. SGA would have first priority on van-usage, but the vehicle would be available to all clubs.

Campus Police Logs The week of 11/10-11/16

Few snow showers High: 39° Low: 21° Precip. Chance: 30%

Sunday, November 24

Sunday, November 10 ◆ 12:28 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a call about vandalism on Ashland Street.

The report was investigated. ◆ 8:21 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a call about an animal issue on Montana Street. The incident was referred to an outside agency.

Monday, November 11

Partly cloudy/wind High: 27° Low: 15° Precip. Chance: 10%

◆ 5:27 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a supervisory alarm at the Flagg Townhouse Complex. The call was completed.

Tuesday, November 12 ◆ 9:43 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a call to assist a citizen in the Townhouse area. Services were rendered. ◆ 3:15 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a call to jumpstart a vehicle in the Townhouse Parking Lot. Services were rendered.

Wednesday, November 13 ◆ 8:12 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a medical call at Flagg Townhouse Apartment 71. The subject was transported to the hospital.

Thursday, November 14 ◆ 9:19 a.m. - Public Safety re-

sponded to a drug offense at Flagg Townhouse Apartment 89. The call was completed. ◆ 5:12 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a call about an unwanted guest in Venable Hall. The subject received a warning.

Friday, November 15 ◆ 10:04 a.m. - Public Safety

responded to a weapons offense at Flagg Townhouse Apartment 88. A report was filed.

Saturday, November 16 ◆ 10:06 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a call about suspicious activity in The Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation. The building was checked and secured.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT… Sponsored by Health Services

The lifespan of a tastebud is ten days.

Campus News

Thursday, November 21, 2013

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Invest in technology Activist gives life advice STODDART, continued from page 1

Photo by Gabriel Kogel/The Beacon

Ambassador Andrew Young spoke on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at the Church Street Center Auditorium.

YOUNG, continued from page 1 cultural racism is still a problem.

At the same time, he suggested the media has a tendency to exaggerate the racial aspect of controversies. As an example, Young spoke about the fatal shooting of 17-year-old AfricanAmerican Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman, who was acquitted of murder charges.

“We want to turn [everything] into a race problem. I see Trayvon Martin as a martyr of our time, but he’s a martyr not of racial reasons, but for the gun culture.

The fact that people think they need guns to be men–that’s a tragedy,” Young said.

Young downplayed the racial aspect of the bullying allegations of African-American NFL player Jonathan Martin against his white teammate, Richie Incognito.

“Here you got a bullying controversy between one [man] who weighs 340 pounds, and the other who weighs 375 pounds.

I mean, that’s not race; there’s something else going on there,” he said.

Young said he found it significant that the NFL was investigating the allegations.

Speaking on his role as mayor of Atlanta, Ga., Young said he was able to “make the city part of the global economy.” He said that the

ability to see a need, along with the willingness to invest and the necessary technology, has the potential to solve all the world’s problems.

“We used our airport to generate wealth by inviting [foreign businesses] to bring their jobs and their ideas. We said very bluntly, if you’re going to be in business in the 21st century, you’ve got to be in the American market. Our airport can get you to 80 percent of the U.S. market in two hours.

And they bought it,” he said.

Young suggested that the greatest opportunity for worldwide economic growth could come from investment in Africa, since “six or seven of the top ten fastest growing economies are in continental Africa.”

“There’s no place you can dig a hole [in Africa] without coming up with something valuable. We can put the whole world back to work,” he said.

President Mary Grant said she appreciated the wisdom of experience apparent in Young’s speech.

“It’s important to remind all of us that the work is never done, but it’s also not impossible,” Grant said. “We’re losing this generation of warriors, so to hear his message about getting up every day and doing better today than we did yesterday is very powerful.”

Stoddart’s vistion was to restore the Nashua River for the sake of having a beautiful river that both people and wildlife could healthily enjoy. More important than understanding your vision, she says, is being able to commit to it.

“Not just for the short term, but for your whole life,” she said as she reminded the audience that she is still working on the Nashua River to this day. “We now have protected about 174 miles.”

She added that it is better for a job to require constant work.

“The job is never done,” she said. “That’s good. If the job were

“You do not need to be super smart or super anything, you just need to be super committed,” -Marion Stoddart

done what would we do? We’d just be bored.”

Other lessons she said she learned were to be passionate about what you do. It will it show in the work, and the more passionate a person is, she says the better they feel about everything they have done.

When it comes to changing things like the environment, always be surrounded with positive people who want to see a positive change, too.

“We had continuing support,” Stoddart said about the Nashua River clean up. “You never know where your help is going to come from.”

Intelligence does not make the movement, she says, people do - not that it is unimportant for people to educate themselves on the issues that they are facing.

“You do not need to be super smart or super anything, you just need to be super committed,” she said.

Some students at the event were inspired by Stoddart’s message and her level of dedication to

Photo by Amy Modesti/The Beacon

Marion Stoddart poses for a photo following her lecture.

Image still from the “Work of 1,000” film

Stoddart, center, gives the Mayor a sample of the water from the Nashua River in a bottle. everything she has done.

“I thought it was really good,” Senior Andrea Binder said. “It was inspiring and motivational. I [was inspired by] how she was so committed to [her work] and how she is still committed to it.”

Sophomore Joshua Reynolds enjoyed Stoddart’s advice, especially when she responded to the question about how she has faced difficulty throughout her years of activism.

“She’s very inspiring, I love

how much energy and passion she has,” Reynolds said. “It was a really good experience. I think my favorite thing was when she said she loves when people tell her no.”

Stoddart finished her lecture with how much the Nashua River has changed since the day she started the project by recalling the first time she finally got to swim in it.

“It was a spiritual experience,” she said. “It was amazing. It was like the river had a life of its own.”

Congressman pleads guilty to cocaine possesion MCT Campus Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., pled guilty in a soft voice Wednesday to one count of cocaine possession and was sentenced to one year of supervised probation.

Busted following an undercover sting outside a Washington, D.C. restaurant on Oct. 29, the conservative freshman lawmaker acknowledged that he is an addict and pledged to enter a residential treatment program near his hometown of Naples, Fla. The 37-year-old ``tea party’’ favorite said he has already begun out-patient counseling in Washington, D.C., though the exact nature of his addiction was not specified during the 25-minute court hearing Wednesday morning.

“I apologize for what I’ve done,” Radel said in a packed courtroom.

“I think in life I’ve hit a bottom where I need help, and I have aggressively sought that help.”

District of Columbia Superior Court Senior Judge Robert Tignor, after hearing a Justice Department prosecutor lay out the facts behind Radel’s arrest, accepted the congressman’s guilty plea and imposed the probation with what he described as light monitoring. Tignor also ordered Radel to pay $250 into a victim’s compensation fund.

Radel potentially faced a sentence of 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Dressed in a dark suit and accompanied by two defense attorneys, Radel stood throughout the hearing held in a

third-floor courtroom. He spoke only when spoken to by the judge or his attorneys and delivered his apology prior to being sentenced.

He exited the courthouse without answering questions from the pursuing reporters.

“I am so sorry to be here,” Radel told Tignor during the court session. “I know I have let my country down, my constituents down and, most importantly, my wife and two-year-old daughter ... down.”

According to a summary presented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nihar Mohanty, “confidential informant” sources sometime during this fall tipped off investigators that Radel had “on several occasions purchased, possessed and used cocaine.”

Federal investigators then

organized a sting.

“The agents learned that the defendant would purchase cocaine for his personal use and also, on occasion, share it with others,” Mihanty said.

At about 10 p.m. on Oct. 29, Mihanty said, an undercover investigator and an “acquaintance” of Radel met with the congressman at a restaurant in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Radel said that he had cocaine back at his apartment and the undercover officer then offered to sell Radel more of the drug, Mihanty said.

Radel agreed.

The undercover officer and Radel then adjourned to a car outside the restaurant, where Radel handed over $260 and the undercover officer handed over 3.5 grams of

cocaine. When Radel exited the car, federal officers approached and he dropped the cocaine to the street, Mihanty said. The congressman then admitted he had purchased the drug and agreed that officers could come back to his apartment, where he showed them an additional vial of cocaine.

Tignor asked Radel whether he believed he was, in fact, purchasing cocaine.

“Yes,” Radel said, “that’s what I expected.”

Defense attorney David Schertler, in his own presentation, assured the judge that Radel “has been a productive, law-abiding citizen his entire life” and declared that “he has been very successful in his hometown of Naples, Fla.”

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Thursday, November 21, 2013

Explosions in Iranian embassy Dozens killed in Beirut suicide blasts MCT Campus

Two suicide attacks in rapid succession devastated the Iranian embassy and surrounding areas in southern Beirut Tuesday morning, killing tens of people and throwing an already tense Lebanon into further disarray as more violence apparently linked to the civil war in neighboring Syria hit the capital.

A shadowy al-Qaida-styled group, the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, claimed responsibility in a statement that cannot be verified, but the Lebanese organization said attacks on Hezbollah and Iran would continue until both withdraw their military support for the embattled Syrian regime.

Witnesses and the Lebanese Army described the first attacker as riding a motorcycle packed with a small explosive charge that targeted the Iranian Embassy’s heavy external security, followed a few moments later by a much larger bomb that targeted the building itself.

“There was an explosion then after a bit, another much larger explosion,” said Mahmoud Abbas, who sells coffee from a pushcart near the embassy, which sits in an affluent area of southern Beirut that is home to luxury apartments and embassies in an area widely considered under the control of the Shiite militant group Hezbollah.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said at least 23 bodies had been recovered and that a search for additional victims continued.

Local media said that at least 200 people were wounded in blast. Initial reports that Iran’s cultural attache had been killed were later retracted as the Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon, Ghazanfar Rokn Abadi, announced that Sheikh Ibrahim al Ansari had suffered severe head wounds but had survived.

At least two Iranian and several Hezbollah security personnel died in Tuesday’s attacks.

The explosion reinforced a widespread belief among Lebanon’s strongly pro-Hezbollah Shiite population that it would remain a target of jihadist groups that have flooded Syria in an effort to expel Hezbollah’s key ally, President Bashar al Assad. A series of two other car bombs and several rocket attacks on the area over the summer led to extreme security measures by Hezbollah, which has security autonomy from the Lebanese government.

“They are not Muslims, they are animals,” said Miriam, a local resident, as she went to find her children at a nearby school. “They will never stop attacking us.”

“The embassy isn’t in the (security zone),” said a harried Hezbollah security official in a brief phone call after the blast.

“Embassies have to be open, they’re very hard to protect.”

Holiday shopping season offers new opportunites for job hunters MCT Campus

The all-important holiday shopping season is something of a gift to job hunters. Employers in the retail, online, warehouse and shipping worlds are hiring.

These may not be career or target jobs. They’re unlikely to be full time with benefits. But the jobs can be a foot in the door for new or long-term job hunters who need income and something to fill a blank spot on their resumes.

Job hunters who’ve been collecting unemployment and delaying searches until after the holidays should re-think their strategies. If nothing else, be motivated by the likelihood that extended jobless assistance programs will end.

About 1.3 million workers who now get federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation checks will lose them in the week before New Year’s unless Congress reauthorizes the program. And don’t count on that.

There is substantial research showing the imbalance of skills and experience between many job hunters and the jobs that employers are trying to fill. That’s a long-term problem solved

World News

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Doctor in Mexico fights drug gangs MCT Campus Dr. Jose Manuel Mireles dons a white lab coat and attends to patients at a clinic during the day. But during off hours, he has a second calling: chief of a ragtag band of armed vigilantes who are trying to keep gangsters out of the small city of Tepalcatepec.

After living a decade in Modesto, Calif., Mireles, 55, returned to this corner of Mexico’s Michoacan state in 2007, bringing his family with him.

His return was not easy. Drugtrafficking gangsters marauded across the land, and his hometown had grown unrecognizably violent.

“We used to have seven or eight executions every week,” Mireles said, and nearly every business and ranch was paying extortion fees to the dominant drugtrafficking crime gang, known as the Knights Templar.

So on Feb. 24, Mireles and a cabal of other disgruntled citizens took up arms, set up sandbag bunkers at the four entrances to the city and hung banners that said the Knights Templar gangsters would face the armed wrath of residents if they entered city limits.

“For eight months now, we’ve had no murders, no extortions, no rapes, no turf taxes, nothing,” Mireles said.

Mireles is now famous in these parts, known simply as “the doctor,” instantly recognizable with his shock of wavy graying hair, a bushy moustache, moviestar good looks and deep, resonant voice.

Mireles said his self-defense group, part of a network of armed citizen groups that over the past weekend captured the seventh of Michoacan’s 113 townships, wasn’t looking for war with the Knights Templar. Rather, the groups just want to keep the gang away.

Mireles said Article 10 of Mexico’s Constitution permitted citizens to carry weapons “for their protection and legitimate

www.modbee.com

Dr. Jose Manuel, head of his local self defense group, is known to the locals as “The Doctor.” defense,” even though some of the assault rifles the self-defense groups carry are restricted to use by police and soldiers.

Since local police operate in tandem with organized crime, and state law agents are often in collusion as well, Mireles said the group had no option.

“It is a legitimate and legal movement,” he said. “We are not criminals. What we need is justice. We need to restore the rule of law to Michoacan.”

On a recent day, Mireles let a journalist accompany him to meetings with leaders of other municipal self-defense groups.

While Mireles himself didn’t seem to carry a gun, many escorts carried weapons in a caravan of some 10 pickups and SUVs that sped along with blinking flashers.

Some didn’t have license plates.

But all carried placards on doors saying they were part of the selfdefense forces.

The caravan sailed quickly through army checkpoints, indicating military tolerance, if not support, for the citizen groups.

Mireles couldn’t work in his profession when he took his family to the United States because his Mexican medical certificate isn’t valid there. So he took odd jobs, everything from breaking rocks

to canning boneless chicken, making auto rims to harvesting almonds.

In his free time, he and a daughter volunteered as translators for the Modesto branch of the American Red Cross, later translating first aid booklets and other Red Cross materials for the Michoacan migrants in the region.

In 2007, Mireles brought his family back home, partly so that his eldest son, Jose Mireles Valencia, who’s now 26, could attend medical school, as well.

The threats are real, he said, and lots of corruption in the city has been exposed. When the self-defense group started up, Mireles said, he discovered that 124 police officers were on city payrolls, when in reality only 22 officers were employed. The rest was featherbedding, profits raked off by corrupt officials. The city’s mayor, Guillermo Valencia, fled and hasn’t returned.

Mireles said his experience in California had showed him that good government was possible in his homeland.

“I learned that you live better if you have better elected officials.

In the United States, the police are honest, the tax system is not corrupt. Here, it is all crap,” he said.

Stubborness a likely factor in elderly couples death MCT Campus

MCT Campus Photo

Black Friday shoppers bombard stores the day after Thanksgiving. mostly by education and training _ a huge barrier for low-wage and out-of-work people who can’t figure out a way to afford, much less obtain, it.

The U.S. economy has a job market imbalance. The national ratio of unemployed workers to posted job openings is about three to one. Employers can’t find the quality of worker they need, and job hunters can’t find a suitable job for them.

The day after a tornado tore apart the rural home of elderly siblings Joe and Frances Hoy, killing both of them, a relative wondered if stubbornness played a factor in one of the deaths.

“My grandma always said, ‘Oh, just let that darned tornado take me; I’m just going to sit right here in this chair,’ “ Frances Hoy’s granddaughter Amy Tippin said Monday. “She was one of them stubborn ones.”

The EF4 tornado that struck Washington County, Ill., killing the Hoys, bore winds up to 190 miles per hour and touched down shortly after noon CST on Sunday, the National Weather Service said.

Tippin’s mobile home, which sat next door to the Hoy residence, was obliterated. However, Tippin, her sons Devon and Dylan, and her ex-husband, Frank Tippin, who was visiting when the storm

struck, all survived.

Their home was among a dozen in the area that were destroyed or heavily damaged. They included all four houses on a block of North Main Street in New Minden, Ill., about a mile east of the Hoy residence. None of the New Minden residents were injured.

Across the street from the homes on North Main, the steeple and 3,000-pound church bell of St. John Lutheran Church lay on opposite sides of the structure, built in 1863. The twister also gouged a massive hole in the church roof and destroyed its organ.

Joe Hoy, 80, and Frances Hoy, 78, had a basement in their centuryold home. Whether either tried to make it downstairs before the tornado struck is unknown.

Joe Hoy was found dead about 100 yards east of the house.

Frances Hoy was found injured but conscious in the rubble; she died about an hour later at

Washington County Hospital.

Tippin said Frances Hoy was conscious and speaking after the storm.

“I was holding her in my arms and her face was bleeding,” Tippin said. “She was saying, ‘Get me out of here!’ I thought she was going to make it.”

Tippin said doctors told her Frances Hoy died of respiratory failure.

With no basement of their own to go to, Amy Tippin, 39, Devon, 16, and Dylan, 14, had run barefoot to a narrow creek about 60 yards behind their home as the storm bore down.

There, they hunkered in cold, knee-deep water until the twister passed.

Frank Tippin tried to ride out the storm in the bathtub of the single-wide trailer. The twister tossed him about 50 feet into a field, breaking his ankle; he was treated and released from a hospital.

World News

Thursday, November 21, 2013

National and World News Briefs NATION

Deadly storms spawned more than 80 tornadoes in Midwest CHICAGO The scale of Sunday’s deadly storms became clearer this morning: Six people dead in Illinois, hundreds of homes flattened and splintered, 81 tornadoes sighted through the Midwest, 358 reports of damaging winds, 40 reports of large hail.

Hardest hit was Washington, a town of 15,000 people east of Peoria hit by an EF-4 tornado packing winds of 170 to 190 mph. Officials were still trying to determine the extent of injuries Sunday evening, but at least one death was reported and nearly 80 people injured.

-Chicago Tribune

Beacon.MCLA.edu

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Sony PlayStation 4 sells 1 million units in 24 hours MCT Campus LOS ANGELES Just last week, the Conference Board, which tracks consumer confidence, offered a gloomy forecast for the coming year.

Apparently, gamers neglected to check out the key economic indicators before rushing stores to buy the $400 PlayStation 4.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. said it sold 1 million of its new video game consoles within the first 24 hours of the device becoming available on Nov. 15.

“Sales remain very strong in North America, and we expect continued enthusiasm as we launch the PlayStation 4 in Europe and Latin America on Nov. 29,” Andrew House, presi-

WORLD

Family of 8 stabbed to death in Juarez MEXICO CITY For the second time in two months, the Mexican border city of Juarez is reeling from a harrowing massacre, the victims this time a religious family of eight, including three children, whose bound, lifeless bodies were found with multiple stab wounds, according to state officials and local media reports.

The victims, discovered Sunday, include two girls, ages 4 and 6; a 7-year-old boy; three women, ages 25, 30 and 60; and two men, ages 30 and 40, according to the Chihuahua prosecutor’s office. As of Monday, no suspects had been detained. -Los Angeles Times Mystery gunman sows panic in Paris PARIS A manhunt was underway in Paris on Monday for a gunman who opened fire at the offices of a national newspaper, seriously injuring one person. The same gunman is also suspected of a later shooting outside the headquarters of a major bank.

The attacker first surfaced at the offices of the left-wing Liberation daily, in the central Republique district, where he burst into the reception and opened fire twice with a hunting rifle, hitting a photographer’s assistant in the chest and abdomen.

No-one was injured in that incident.

dent and group chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment, said in a statement.

Colin Sebastian of Baird Research has projected that the PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s forthcoming Xbox One system, which is to go on sale Friday, will sell a total of 5 million units before the end of the year.

Both game systems are vying for the attention of game aficionados, who are among the first to buy the newest consoles. Sony has positioned the newest iteration of its PlayStation as “built for gamers,” whereas Microsoft is describing its system as an entertainment hub that does more than just play games.

Sony’s lineup of games at launch includes “Killzone: Shadow Fall,” “Knack” and “Assas-

Photo from US.playstation.com

Sony positions the PlayStation 4 is “built for gamers.” sin’s Creed IV Black Flag.” It also offers access to entertainment options that include Sony’s own Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited services, as well as Amazon Instant Video, Netflix and Hulu Plus.

U.S. offers $1 million to stop wildlife trafficking MCT Campus

A day before federal wildlife officials are set to send a message to poachers by destroying 6 tons of ivory, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced a $1 million reward program to combat the illegal wildlife trafficking trade.

The United States is prepared to pay up to $1 million for information leading to the dismantling of the Laos-based Xaysavang Network, considered one of the world’s most prolific organized crime groups trafficking wildlife, Kerry said.

The group has affiliates in Africa and Asia,, where skyrocketing demand for ivory and rhino horns in Vietnam and China have spawned a resurgence in illicit wildlife trafficking.

The gang has been linked to several major seizures of illegal wildlife products, including elephant ivory and rhino horns, as well as other endangered species animals, according to U.S. State Department officials.

“The involvement of sophisticated transnational criminal organizations in wildlife trafficking perpetuates corruption, threatens

the rule of law and border security in fragile regions, and destabilizes communities that depend on wildlife for biodiversity and ecotourism,” Kerry said. “Profits from wildlife trafficking, estimated at $8 to $10 billion per year, fund other illicit activities such as narcotics, arms and human trafficking.”

Poachers have become smarter, and better equipped as they span the African savannah in search of the trophies.

The U.S. also hopes to encourage other countries such as Kenya, which has close to 100 tons of ivory currently under lock and key, to follow suit. Twice in recent history Kenya has burned ivory. But the destruction of ivory remains controversial, even as conservation groups such as the African Wildlife Foundation join in urging countries to do so.

The United States is the second-largest consumer of illegally trafficked wildlife products, said Robert Dreher, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources. For instance, Miami, with its proximity to Latin America, has been considered a busy port for entry of wildlife such as venom-

Photo from worldwildlife.org

The United States is the second-largest consumer of illegally trafficked wildlife products. ous reptiles, exotic birds, even tigers, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The legislation governing the newly announced rewards program is the Department of State Rewards Program Update and Technical Corrections Act of 2012. It was one of the last legislations sponsored by Kerry as a senator. It was signed by Obama and became law Jan. 15, while Kerry awaited confirmation.

MAVEN spacecraft to study Mars

MAVEN studies solar erosion in the Martian atmosphere with instruments that can pluck ions and electrons from the solar wind, analyze energetic particles from the sun, and examine magnetic fields.

MCT Campus

LOS ANGELES Four billion years ago, rivers and lakes dotted the surface of Mars, their waters reflecting puffy clouds drifting in a blue sky, scientist believe.

Now, it’s a dry, rusty rock that’s subject to fierce sandstorms, withering blasts of radiation and freezing temperatures that have frozen carbon dioxide to the planet’s poles.

That’s the question NASA seeks to answer with the scheduled launch Monday of the MAVEN spacecraft.

But long ago, it may have been thick enough

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to host a life-friendly, even Earth-like, environment. Previous missions, from rovers to orbiters, have tried to see into Mars’ past by examining the Red Planet’s surface. “If we want to understand Mars as a system, we need to include the role of the upper atmosphere,” he said.

Earth is flanked by two alternative worlds.

On the side closer to the Sun is Venus, a planet with too much atmosphere, boiling away under thick layers of carbon dioxide. On the other side lies Mars, a planet with too little air shielding its cold, dead deserts.

“We think all three of those planets, when

they formed, were not all that different,” said Steven Lee, curator of planetary science at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Life arose on Earth because it’s a “Goldilocks” case, protected by just the right amount of air.

Scientists have identified craters that they think were once filled with lakes, along with clay minerals that must have been formed by exposure to water.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if, for many tens of millions of years, Mars was a pretty friendly place with natural water, wind, waves and rain,” said Paul Mahaffy, an atmospheric scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

6

Arts & Entertainment

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Gerber believes hard work is the key

By Hannah Sterrs Staff Writer

Life Inside a Box

By Shannen Adamites

Arts and Entertainment Editor

T

his summer, I worked at Barrington Stage Company, an awardwinning theater in downtown Pittsfield, right off the main street. I was going to spend the next three months or so practically living inside a tiny glass box, handing out tickets, taking orders over the phone, and working with various kinds of patrons for about eight hours a day.

This, my friends, is intern life.

With free housing only a block away from the theater and some really awesome fellow co-workers, I could not resist.

Within a few weeks, the summer season opener, “On the Town,” got a rave review in the New York Times, which resulted in a huge influx of sales from people across the U.S. and even overseas. Most matinees and evening shows were nearly or completely sold out, and the phones never stopped ringing.

I’m not a fan of the “classic musical” genre–I like crazy plots, believable characters, and a touch of controversy. But this rendition was one of the most fun plays I’ve seen in a while.

The energy from the audience and the cast was enough to penetrate the tiny glass box I sat in, and any time a patron called about the show, I wanted to tell them to get over here right now so they can experience it for themselves.

This show might end up on Broadway in the near future.

Keep your eyes peeled, Leonard Bernstein fans.

Along with this, I was also in charge of managing the box office over at the St. Germain Stage, a small, black box-style theater used to show new works.

Here, I saw “Southern Comfort,” a new musical with a folk-inspired score about transgender and gender identity issues in the Deep South. It was compelling, heart wrenching, and one of the most important pieces of art I’ve ever had the pleasure of viewing.

Some days were tougher than others, and sometimes the patrons could be grueling, but any negativity that crossed my mind was immediately shattered by the fact that I was living and breathing art, and that immersion was enough to make me realize this was what I wanted to do for a career.

If you have the opportunity to take on an internship in the arts, go for it. Even if you don’t see yourself working box office for the rest of your life, you might just realize your true passion at the end of the day.

Beacon.MCLA.edu

“Life is what you make of it,” said Brittney Gerber, who will graduate in May 2014 with a Fine and Performing Arts degree.

Hailing from Ghent, N.Y., Gerber has a booming voice, fiery red hair, and a concentration in theatre. However, she originally intended to major in music and education.

During her initial college search, Gerber looked for schools with notable voice conservatories. A large part of her life has been dedicated to the art of singing.

“I can remember singing into my giant plastic microphone around age four in front of my grandparents’ garage,” Gerber said. “I began singing in a controlled environment in the fourth grade when my [elementary] school offered choir.”

Since then, Brittney has taken vocal classes in jazz and opera, as well as private vocal lessons through the College.

Gerber has also served alongside senior Melody Rolph as codirector for the Allegrettos, the College’s a capella group. Last year, under the direction of Gerber and junior Ben Balon, the Allegrettos competed in the International Competition of Collegiate A Capella, where they placed fourth out of ten in the semi-finals.

“Working with Brittney has

been great. We work well together,” Rolph said. “We both have different styles of arranging and directing, but bringing both of these styles together helps us take care of everything we need to get done.”

Although her passion for singing remains, Gerber switched to a theatre concentration her freshman year..

“I switched to theatre quite simply because I couldn’t stay away,” she said.

Gerber joined the Harlequin and Yorick performances clubs upon her fall 2010 entrance to the College and has been an active member ever since. She became involved in theatre, however, long before coming to college. After acting in “Guys and Dolls (Jr.)” in the fifth grade, she began to realize how much she liked theatre.

Gerber volunteers weekly at the Williamstown Youth Center teaching theatre, using her experiences from throughout high school and college to teach children about theatre for one hour every week. The children, under the direction of Gerber and four other student teachers, learn about improvisation, movement, and more.

The kids Gerber instructs “go to the program because they can’t go home right after school finishes, for varying reasons,” she said.

Gerber also has a paying job with Williams College as an event assistant. However, “[the

Photo by Sam Thomson/The Beacon

Gerber shares her passion for music and theater with the kids she teaches at the Williamstown Youth Center.

Youth Center] is the job that really matters to me,” she explained.

Gerber said she is unsure of what exactly she would like to do upon graduation. She is currently working on a repertoire of classical pieces to use in auditions for graduate-level opera programs.

“My future isn’t clearly defined, but it definitely has a general shape,” Gerber said. “I truly love teaching kids. But at the heart of it, I am a performer.”

Alumnus Jonathan Kinney, who performed with Gerber in the Allegrettos and the FPA department, believes that Gerber’s ambition will make her go very

far in life.

“When Brittney sees something she wants, she will do everything she can to achieve her goals,” Kinney said. He described Gerber as “determined.”

Rolph expressed similar sentiments.

“In the time I have known Brittney, she has succeeded at many different things,” she said.

“Even when things don’t go as planned, she is always able to find a way to work through or accept it.”

Gerber has one piece of advice for her fellow students. “If you want something, go get it,” she said. “No one is going to hand you success on a silver platter.”

College announces new Gallery 51 manager Gallery 51 has announced that local artist Julia Morgan-Leamon is the gallery’s new manager. An adjunct art teacher for Williams College and IS183, Morgan-Leamon is working with students on the gallery’s next show, “99 and NINE: We are Mused,” to open on Thursday, Dec. 5.

“I’m jumping right in with the ‘99 cents’ show and am already getting to know about 30 different artists to bring that together, MorganLeamon said.

“I’m really interested in helping the students who work here to feel a sense of ownership and get excited about the work that we’re showing so they can transmit their enthusiasm to the public. Right now, the students are helping install the show with the theme of the ‘muse,’” Morgan-Leamon said.

In the gallery, nine students are creating larger-than-life silhouettes of themselves to be displayed throughout the exhibition. “People find inspiration in different places; these will stand-in for our muses, who will be present at the show,” Morgan-Leamon explained.

During the exhibition, the students will be present to help gallery visitors and answer any questions they may have at this annual, affordable art show and exhibit, which will feature artwork in a range of styles and mediums from nearly 30 local and national artists. All pieces are priced to sell from 99 cents to $99.99.

Morgan-Leamon is both a painter who works primarily with watercolor and oil, and a video artist with experience in experimental and installation work. She also has created documentary videos, as well as a series for public television called “Conversations in the Studio,” where she interviewed a number of local artists who have exhibited their work in Gallery 51.

According to Morgan-Leamon, “I’ve been involved in the arts in a number of ways, from youth and museum education to teaching, to being an artist myself and leading art trips overseas. A piece that I felt I’d been missing is working with artists in the community and helping to curate shows and bring together interesting concepts in exhibitions.”

At Gallery 51, she plans to expand the range of artists from throughout the region and New England to exhibit their work in the gallery.

An opening reception will be held on Thursday, Dec. 5, 5-7 p.m., for “99 and NINE: We are Mused.” The show will be open every day through the end of December.

FPA Main Stage’s ‘Twelfth Night’ continues through Saturday!

Nov. 21 - 8 p.m.

Nov. 22 - 8 p.m.

Nov. 23 - 2 p.m., with a symopsium discussing Shakespeare in performance at 12:30 p.m.

Venable Theater

Tickets $10 general, $5 faculty/staff, free for students

Reserve at boxoffice@mcla.edu or call 413-662-5123

7 Live orchestra performs to classic silent film Thursday, November 21, 2013

Arts & Entertainment

Mass MoCA’s showing of ‘The Yellow Ticket,’ with its score performed by a live orchestra, brilliantly enhanced the message of the film.

Review by Ryan Flynn Senior News Editor

“The Yellow Ticket” was a refreshing opportunity to watch a classic silent movie while listening to a well-crafted and powerful score that syncs perfectly with the culture, time, and message of the movie.

A new score by violinist Alicia Svigals proves that music can, in fact, speak louder than words. Played alongside pianist Marylin Lerner, the duo’s music complements the film perfectly through all of its most unsettling twists and turns.

Released in 1918, and featuring a powerful and emotional performance by star Pola Negri, “The Yellow Ticket” is the story of a young Jewish girl named Leah, who takes the identity

of her tutor’s deceased sister in order to attend medical school in St. Petersburg. Set on following her dream, she is pushed to obtain a yellow ticket, which was the identification document for prostitutes, but also the only way for Jewish woman to live within the confines of the city. Considered ahead of its time, the film criticizes the anti-Semitism in Tsarist Russia and is ultimately the tale of a girl succeeding against the face of oppression. The film has several sudden twists, and ends in a proper and oddly satisfyingly manner.

The film itself is an impressive piece of art for its time considering the plot and social commentary. Negri, a film icon at the time, does an outstanding job of effectively portraying a

range of emotions and conveying Leah’s innocence, a driving force in the character’s appeal.

Svigals’ new and original score paired with the film is a worthwhile experience, especially live. Her violin, alongside Lerner’s piano, does not only add to the emotional impact in each scene, the score also matches the time and culture of when and where the film was made. The ensemble delivers a concrete sense of authenticity throughout the show. It sounds as though Svigals and the director worked together face-toface on the project.

In a world where technology such as I-MAX, 3-D, and special effects are only becoming more present in the film industry, it may be hard to sit down and watch a silent film. Yet, this thoughtful score provides something modern technology cannot: it enhances and evokes the emotion and message of the movie. Svigals’ hushed but

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Photo by Amy Modesti/The Beacon

Visitors had an opportunity to view the film and live performance by Klezmatics co-founder Alicia Svigals. frantic use of her violin during rapid transitions and dramatic

scenes could make just about anyone jump up from their seat.

‘Only God Forgives’ is Local artists learn the “Tricks of the Trade” Photos by Amy Modesti gruesomly atmospheric

Review by Raanan Sarid-Segal Arts and Entertainment Writer As no interesting films were released last week, it seems appropriate to look back on the year and pick out a movie deserving of a revisit.

Given its recent release on Netflix and home video, the much maligned “Only God Forgives” is a prime target.

“Only God Forgives” comes from director Nicholas Winding Refn, whose previous films include the surprise hit “Drive,” the “Pusher” trilogy, and the bizarre epic “Valhalla Rising.” “Drive” was his mainstream breakthrough, yet is the least emblematic of his overall style and work. It includes all the signature aspects of a Refn film–most notably, a thematic deconstruction of the romanticized idea of violence, crime, and the silent male protagonist.

Masculinity is always the target of severe subtextual criticism in Refn’s work.

Even by his standards, however, “Only God Forgives” is harsh. The cinematography is beautiful, featuring lush colors and scenes in frames within frames, but the subject matter is very dark. The film eagerly delves into Freudian territory in its presentation of the protagonist Julian, played by Ryan Gosling, and his uncomfortably Oedipal thought processes.

The film is about as subtle as a brick with these themes, but they remain interesting enough to sustain the film throughout–if you can handle the extreme gore on display, not to mention the language unleashed upon the characters by Kristin Scott Thomas as Julian’s mother.

Much of the criticism leveled at this film claims it is an exercise in style over substance. This fails to appreciate a certain aspect of the movie that redeems any possible flaws generated by the relatively light narrative.

Photo from IMPawards.com

In the wake of “Drive,” many people adopted the general look and feel of the driver from that movie as a signifier of masculinity, an image of the romanticized masculine ideal that the film was subtly poking holes in. “Only God Forgives” feels like a slap in the face to any person who did such a thing, or who discovered Refn through “Drive” and felt that they understood who he is as a director.

One could also level the criticism that by adopting a Freudian understanding of psychology, the film is oversimplifying human psychology, making for an overly psychologically simplistic film. However, the film does not present Julian as some representation of who we secretly are, nor as a person we would like to be.

He is a morally weak and physically unimposing figure, who serves to be beaten repeatedly throughout the movie. He has a slimy presence and seems no less heinous than his pedophile brother, whose murder of an underage girl starts the plot going.

I understand why many people hate “Only God Forgives.” Its content is ugly, and the film never hesitates to show the audience inventive gore.

But it shrouds its fairly simple story with such atmosphere and style that I could not help but love it.

Above left: Music Technology, TV Production, and Performing Arts Management teacher at Drury High School, Jamie Choquette, speaks about the process of recording music.

Above right: Sound engineer at the Northern Track Recording Studiio, musician, and comedian, Colby Dix, speaks to students and the artist community.

Below: Artistic professionals from left, rofessor and Director of PRESS Gallery, Melanie Mowinski, Professor at Drury High School, Jamie Choquette, Archivist at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Norton Owen, and head Photographer of KJK Photography Studio, Kevin Kennefick

8

Sports

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Chris’ Corner Kick

Trailblazers dominate 79-17 James Hunter Sports Writer

Chris Oxholm Sports Editor

Brady vs. Manning Megabowl You don’t need to be a sports critic–you don’t even need to be regular sports fan–to know that a Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning showdown means business.

This Sunday, two quarterback titans go at it for the 14th time. As of now Brady has a 9-4 advantage over the previous 13 games. The last game they played was last year, when the Patriots defeated the Broncos 31-21.

Although Brady’s past argues for a victory in his favor on Sunday, the performance of both teams this season is pointing to a close game.

The Pats currently hold a record of 7-3, while the Broncos are at 9-1. One of those nine victories was earned Monday over the previously undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. The Patriots have experienced a few ugly wins and losses this season, dropping games to the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets. Most recently, the team fell 24-20 to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

The Broncos, however, have yet again been powerhousing through another season. How could they not? Not only do they have the arm of Manning, but they’ve also recently acquired the (some would argue: stolen) legs of Wes Welker, a former Patriot.

Over the season, the Welker Manning combo has proved almost unstoppable.

The Indianapolis Colts have been the only team to defeat Manning and the Broncos so far. And of any team, it seems an appropriate loss, from a poetic point of view.

Manning had left the Colts to seek more money in Denver in in 2012. He ditched his long-term team and the place he achieved his one and only Super Bowl ring.

The Broncos have a better record than the Patriots right now, but the Pats did defeat Manning and the Broncos last year. Last season, the teams had fairly even records: the Broncos finished 13-3, one game better than the Patriots 124.

Brady has been improving the Pats team play as the weeks have gone by, beating his average completion of 63 percent on Sunday when he threw 73 percent against Carolina.

With Rob Gronkowski back in his grove in New England, it’s going to be an epic match of Manning and Welker vs. Brady and Gronk.

Sunday’s Broncos vs. Patriots has the prime time slot at 8:30 p.m. on NBC.

Beacon.MCLA.edu

This past weekend the women’s basketball team traveled to Keene, N. H., where they came up short to Endicott College in their season opener, 80-57.

The Trailblazers struggled to find their rhythm, only scoring twenty points in the first half. But shooting 33 percent from field with 17 turnovers, the Trailblazers kept pushing through.

“As a team, we need to work on our shot selection and knowing our teammates on the court,” Captain Danielle Scolpino said. “Since there are a lot of new players, it is going to take some time to know each other’s strengths,” Despite the loss, the womens’ basketball team got good contribution from a few new comers. Freshman Courtney McLaughlin played 17 minutes and scored eight points off the bench along with three rebounds and three steals.

Freshman Brayleigh Hanlon, who was awarded MASCAC Rookie of the Week, played extremely well in 19 minutes, scoring a team-high 14 points, shooting 5-9 from the field, along with her three rebounds.

“I went out there with the

thought of ‘leave everything on the court today’ and I tried to do just that,” Hanlon said. “As a team player you have to want it all just not for yourself but for your team as well. Also I wanted to show how I could be a helping factor for my team.”

Endicott shot a tremendous 64 percent in the opening half, which gave the trailblazers a tough match-up.

“It would have been great to open up with a win,” Scolpino said. “But we learned from the loss and won the next game based off the day before.”

The Trailblazers breezed through Green Mountain College in the consolation game on Saturday, winning 79-17 and improving to 1-1.

“Green Mountain could have gone a couple ways,” said Kaite Chenevert. “We could have played down to their level and had a rocky game. Instead, we came out running and the ball rotation was phenomenal.”

Dominating from the tip off, the Trailblazers allowed only nine points in the first half and outscored Green Mountain 48-8 in the second half. Trailblazer Courtney Durvivage stepped it up this game, coming off the bench with 12 points and nine rebounds in just 19 minutes.

“It is difficult to learn something from competing against a less competitive t e a m , ” Chenevert said.

“But I think our team as a whole learned that anyone on our bench can contribute to our success. It is not going to be a season of relying on just a starting five.

We have some real offensive and deffensive threats coming off of our bench as well,” MCLA forced MCLA Athletics 40 turnovers, MASCAC Rookie of the Week Brayleigh Hanlon. while keeping Green Mountain to a whopping 16 percent and continue to learn every single shooting night. McLaughlin day. As a team, we have the heart started, and added seven steals on and dedication to succeed day in the defensive side. and day out.”

“Having won the last game we The women’s basketball team will played, it is important for us to open up at home for the season continue up this ladder,” Scolpino opener against Western New said. “We can’t stop there and England College, Thursday, Nov. we still have a lot to work on as 21 at 6 p.m. a team. We will be working hard

Cross Country crosses season finish line Jesse Collings

meet. They were led by junior Monica Conlin, who paced the Trailblazers with a time of 27:27.

The cross country program Conlin was followed by fellow finished both its men’s and junior Claire Simmons, who women’s season Saturday, Nov. completed the course in 28:23.

16 at the New England Regional The overall individual winner was senior Kaleigh Kenny of Williams College. Kenny led the pack with a time of 21:02. She was followed by junior Hannah Zydanowicz of Roger Williams University and junior Elaine McVay of MIT. In team competition, Williams took first place, averaging 21:30.

Middlebury College placed second, averaging 21:39.

Middlebury was followed by MIT, Tufts University and Brandeis University to round out the top five. Bridgewater State was the top-finishing MASCAC college at the competition, placing 28th at the Championships, averaging 24:43.

The members of the men’s team competed as individuals in its final meet of the season.

Senior Anthony Cancilla led the Trailblazers in his final collegiate race, posting a time of 28:16.

Junior Peter Mayotte finished Photo by Jess Gamari/The Beacon close behind Cancilla, crossing Peter Mayotte working his way the line in 29:11. Sophomore toward the finish chute.

Travis Smith finished third, in 30:45.

Championships.

“The trail was very dusty in the The meet was held in Portland, beginning, then slippery towards Maine, and included more than the middle,” Mayotte said after the 50 colleges and universities race. “To be completely honest, competing in both men’s and though, I’m pretty satisfied with women’s races. my final race of the season.”

It was a difficult outing for the Connecticut College senior women’s team, as they finished Michael LeDuc won the individual last out of the 53 teams at the men’s Championship, posting a Sports Writer

Photo by Abbey O’Brien

Monica Conlin, Claire Simmons, Martha Pratt, Brittany Galipeau, Jess Gamari, Katie Johnson and Haley Amenta after finishing the race in Maine on Saturday, Nov. 16. time of 24:21. Williams College junior Colin Cotton finished a close three seconds behind LeDuc at 24:24. Senior Chris Lee, also of Williams College, finished third overall with a time of 24:41.

Having completed his career at MCLA, Cancilla reflected positively on the final race and his nine years as a cross country runner.

“As the race went on–I had two miles left–and I was thinking about my entire competitive running career and thought ‘this is it’. I started running cross country in eighth grade. I put everything into gear and cranked out a good few miles,” Cancilla said.

“When there were about 200 meters left,” Cancilla added. “I started flying by people. When I was about 50 feet away, I saw a kid’s shadow, like he was trying to make a move. I put everything into those last few steps and beat him to the line. It was the perfect

Photo by Jess Gamari/The Beacon

Men’s lead runner Anthony Concilla after his last season. way to end my running in the blue and gold short shorts.”

Sports

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Beacon.MCLA.edu

9

Men’s Basketball start at 2-1 Scores Jesse Collings Sports Wrtier

The Men’s Basketball team opened the season to a good start, going 2-1 during their opening week.

The men traveled to Lynn to play Fisher College on Tuesday, coming out with a 100-86 victory.

The Trailblazers were led by junior Jeremic Bennett, who scored 21 points and added 5 rebounds.

Bennett was supported by senior Ruben DelRosario who also had 21 points on 7 for 11 shooting and led the team with 5 assists.

Sophomore Paul Maurice had 16 points and junior Kraig Page had a double-double with 11 points and a team-high ten rebounds.

Freshman Kyle Holmes led Fisher with 18 points, and junior Ira Haywood had 17 points, but it was not enough to stop MCLA. The Trailblazers were down at half-time, 44-39, but came out firing on all cylinders after halftime, outscoring Fisher 61-42 in the second period to take the victory. Fisher fell to 3-4 on the season.

The Blazers opened the season on Friday, as they headed to Wesleyan University in Connecticut for a tip-off tournament. MCLA dropped their first game to Dickinson College, 91-55.

Dickinson was led by senior guard Adam Honig who scored a game-high 22 points. Junior Gerry Wixted, a preseason AllAmerican, added 18 points for

Dickinson. The Trailblazers were led by senior John Jones, who topped the team with 16 points and eleven rebounds.

Dickinson bullied the Blazers with their size, outrebounding the Trailblazers 46-36, and holding MCLA to just 30 percent shooting from the floor. Senior forward Ray Viches talked about matching up against larger teams after the game.

“We have to use our speed and athleticism,” Viches said. “We have to play up-tempo, press a lot and try and get easy baskets on

offense.”

The Trailblazers earned their first victory of season on Saturday, defeating Coast Guard in the third-place game in the Wesleyan tip-off tournament. MCLA pulled out an exciting game, topping Coast Guard, 57-56.

Jones led the team with 18 points, and DelRosario added 11, but it was the Trailblazer defense that dominated Coast Guard, holding them to just 30 percent shooting for the game. Coast

Guard was led by junior Avierre Conner, who scored a team-high 14 points.

The Blazers had a terrible firsthalf, only scoring 13 points and trailing at the half, 29-13. In the second half, the Trailblazers rallied around Jones and the team fought back to make the score 5349.

Junior forward Todd Hunt converted a three-point play to cut the lead to one, and after a Coast Guard free throw, DelRosario converted a three-point play of his own to give MCLA a 56-53 lead.

DelRosario nailed another free-throw to extend the lead to four, but Coast Guard got a free-throw and then a putback lay-in to make the game 57-56.

With just two seconds remaining, MCLA turned the ball over on the in-bounds pass, giving Coast Guard a chance to win it. A desperation shot while the buzzer sounded missed and MCLA earned its first win of the season.

Head coach Jamie Morrison addressed the team’s offensive struggles after the tournament.

“I think we try to help combat that by increasing our defensive pressure, which can lead to easy baskets and we have to do a much

better job offensive rebounding,” Morrison said. “We we’re poor in that area over the weekend and that too can lead to a lot of put backs and open looks as the defense scrambles to get back in position. We did some of that in the second half against Coast Guard and it paid dividends.

I don’t think we are in panic mode over it, we had some good shooters have a bad weekend, but we have a lot of confidence in their ability and they will bounce back.”

After a successful run last year with an unfortunate ending the Blazer boys are back at it again this season.

With 2013 Coach of the Year, Morrison, 2013 Rookie of the Year, Maurice, and 2013 All MASCAC First team guard, Jones, the Blazers already have a mean look at the enemies face with the Coach and two players on their side.

The Trailblazers made it all the way to the MASCAC finals last year only to fall to underdog Fitchburg, who didn’t even complete the season with a winning record.

This past week now starts the Trailblazers off at a 2-1 record and have yet to step foot in MASCAC play. MASCAC games don’t begin for MCLA until January 9th when they travel to Bridgewater.

MCLA will travel to New York to play New York University on Saturday, before going to Nichols College on Tuesday.

Miami Dolphins can’t play nice MCT Campus

The Dolphins can’t even get through the current, invasive investigation without news of yet another one popping up.

The NFL Players Association has launched its own inquiry into the team’s bullying scandal, according to multiple news outlets. The effort will be led by Richard Smith, who captained the union’s look into the New Orleans Saints’ bounty saga.

Smith plans to explore team management’s role in the alleged abuse, USA Today reported.

Efforts to reach the NFLPA for comment Tuesday were not successful. The Dolphins declined comment.

By the time Smith comes to town, Dolphins players will be well-versed in speaking to attorneys about their internal workings.

They have spent the past two days talking to NFL investigator Ted Wells, who has peppered players with an exhaustive line of questioning.

Wells’ interviews have been so detailed that one player who has been through the process likened the experience to being on the true-crime reality TV show The First 48.

So while most Dolphins players haven’t seen much of Wells since he arrived Monday, they have sure felt his presence.

The music in the locker room was turned down Tuesday. Crude language has been sanitized. And for those who haven’t yet been called for a sit-down, there has been an unease not seen since cut-down day.

Wells, tasked with investigating Jonathan Martin’s allegations of workplace harassment, has been tucked away in Dolphins headquarters since Monday, summoning key players, coaches and staff who might have pertinent information.

Instead of cycling through the entire roster, Wells has focused mostly on the Dolphins offensive line, which is where the alleged abuse occurred.

Players questioned have no advance warning. Instead, they’ve been tapped on the shoulder and essentially been told to go the principal’s office.

“I’m not too excited about it,” said lineman Sam Brenner, who hadn’t yet been interviewed as of midafternoon Tuesday. “They say be yourself and be honest.”

Wells, a respected New Yorkbased attorney, has much to sift through a pile that grows larger by the day.

The National Football Post reported Tuesday that Richie Incognito’s alleged boorish behavior was not limited to his teammates.

Incognito and at least one other player “mocked the ethnic background of a team staff member and made crude jokes about the staff member’s wife,” the report stated.

Furthermore, the behavior reportedly occurred in front of other members of the Dolphins’ staff but was not curtailed.

Incognito remains indefinitely suspended, one of three starting Dolphins offensive linemen currently unavailable to the team.

Martin, obviously, is another.

The third is Mike Pouncey, who missed practice Tuesday as he continues to recover from the health issues that kept him out of Sunday’s game against San Diego.

NFL.com reported Tuesday that doctors are mulling removing Pouncey’s gallbladder, but hope to avoid it with medication.

It is unknown if Pouncey will be well enough to play this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

If not, Nate Garner would likely again get the start at center.

Brenner started at guard with both Pouncey and Incognito missing.

Garner only got 15-20 practice

snaps at center in the week leading up the Chargers game, and didn’t learn that he’d be starting at that position until Sunday morning.

“I don’t think I’m the best at any position, but the fact that I can play all of them keep me around,” Garner said.

The Dolphins would have more flexibility to deal with their depth issues on the line if they didn’t waste a roster spot on Martin, who has shown no signs of returning to the team.

The Dolphins could conceivably put Martin on the non-football injury list and not pay him a dime, but haven’t yet and won’t this week possibly out of fear of a lawsuit.

He will not only earn $35,733 this week to not play, but also leave the Dolphins with 52 active players for as long as he remains in limbo.

Dolphins coach Joe Philbin wouldn’t say why Martin remains on the active roster _ as opposed to putting him on the NFL list, which they could do and still pay him his full salary.

“We’ve got 46 guys (who can play in a game), and we’ll have 46 guys ready to go on Sunday,” Philbin said.

The man responsible for making it all work offensive line coach Jim Turner is also a subject of Wells’

Nov 15, 2013 Women’s Basketball @ Endicott, L 80-57 Men’s Basketball @ Dickinson, L 91-55

Nov 16, 2013 Women’s Cross Country 53rd at Southern Maine NCAA New England Regionals Women’s Basketball @ Green Mountain, W 79-17 Men’s Basketball @ Coast Guard, W 57-56 Nov 19, 2013 Men’s Basketball @ Fisher 100-86

Standings

Men’s Basketball Framingham St. Westfield St. MCLA Salem St. Bridgewater St. Worcester St. Fitchburg St.

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

Women’s Basketball Fitchburg St. Framingham St. Salem St. Westfield St. MCLA Worcester St. Bridgewater St.

2-0 2-1 2-1 2-1 1-1 2-2 0-1

Schedules Nov 21, 2013 Women’s Basketball Western New Eng. 6:00 p.m.

Nov 23, 2013 Women’s Basketball at Daniel Webster 1:00 p.m.

Men’s Basketball at New York U. 2:00 p.m.

Nov 26, 2013 Women’s Basketball at Becker 6:00 p.m.

Men’s Basketball at Nichols 6:00 p.m. investigation. ESPN reported Sunday that Turner is a person of interest based on his using loud, insulting and profane language with the players.

Philbin said Turner has done a “good job” in his capacity with the Dolphins.

“He’s actually been pretty good and humorous and made O-line meetings pretty fun,” tackle Bryant McKinnie said. “I felt like I was back in college.”

Added receiver Brian Hartline: “Anyone that’s in the locker room and knows what O-line coaches are made of, you wouldn’t want a tentative, shy O-line coach.”

10

Opinion

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Do you have a Thanksgiving tradition?

“We take 10,000 family pictures.”

“I go home, meet up with my family, and go to Connecticut.”

-Ben Hoyt, 2016

–Christopher Tate, 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: beacon.mcla.edu Office: Mark Hopkins Hall, room 111 Mission Statement The Beacon strives to provide timely and accurate news of campus and local events.

“My Thanksgiving traditions are pretty standard. I go to Maryland, eat a Thanksgiving dinner, and watch the football game.”

“I go up to Maine and visit my grandmother’s house.”

–Haley Smith, 2017

–Michaela Anthony, 2017

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.

“I watch at least one Christmas movie.”

–Stacy Fisher, 2014

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

“The day before Thanksgiving we bake 15 pies. Then the day of, we eat dinner, play a game of football, and then eat the pies.”

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

Submissions should be dropped off at the office by Monday at noon or e-mailed to Beacon@mcla.edu.

–Taylor Krowitz, 2015

Advertising Policy The Beacon reserves the right not to publish any advertisement it deems to be libelous, false. or in bad taste.

Editorial Board

Photos compiled by Sam Thomson

Economics by McDonald’s

By Nick Arena

Managing Editor The holidays can be a stressful time for everyone. People need to buy presents, cook large and often expensive meals, and, worst of all, cope with hoards of relatives buzzing around them like a colony of angry hornets.

Naturally, a great deal of this stress revolves around having the money to support yourself for the holidays. Gifts cost money, food costs money, even keeping your house comfortable for all of the relatives costs money: that last one hits as soon as you open your mailbox to those lovely utilities bills.

What are people making minimum wage supposed to do to keep up with this barrage of expenditures? If you were to ask McDonald’s for advice on that one, they’d probably tell you to “Quit complaining.”

According to Thinkprogress. com, the international fast-food restaurant chain has published a bit of advice to their underpaid employees on how to make due this holiday season. One piece of that advice says that “stress hormones levels rise by 15 percent after 10 minutes of complaining.”

The company also took the liberty of putting together a mock budget for its employees about the best possible ways to spend their money and where to cut back.

For example, don’t bother heating your house, that’s not a necessary expense.

The mock budget includes spending $1,310 in total for housing expenses, vehicular expenses, insurance expenses, and utilities, with $750 set aside for outside spending.

According to Boston.com, the average cost for all apartments in Dorchester-the neighborhood with the lowest rent prices on their list of 16 different locationswas $1,519. Apparently, McDonald’s did not receive that memo.

I could ramble on for a while about the cost of insurance, the average utilities costs, and the fact that this mock budget blatantly leaves out food, clothing, and other necessities, but I think that the point is pretty clear that it has been a while since the higher-ups at McDonald’s have had to scrape by on minimum wage, assuming they ever had to.

They also suggest obtaining

a second job that will provide their employees with at least another $900 to put towards their expenditures.

This might be understandable if the budget was targeted toward their part-time employees who are pulling 20 hours a week.

Thought, some simple math will actually prove a second job is meant to supplement people who are already Photo from practicalmoneyskills.com working 40 hours a McDonald’s created this mock budget to week. advise its employees to spend wisely.

The people who really have to strugand like it. It’s Marx’s bourgeoisie gle during the holidays are people and proletariat at their finest. with bigger families to provide for.

While I stand by my statement Obviously money is an issue, but that I don’t think the higher ups at the corporation is also suggesting McDonald’s have worked as their that these people have an extra 20 employees do, I think they unhours a week that they can devote derstand exactly what their emto working. This strikes me as ployees are going through. They the opinion of someone who has are just choosing to believe that never had to balance taking care their employees are too stupid to of children and working excessive realize how badly they are being hours. screwed over.

The message that McDonald’s On a lighter note, Thinkis sending to its employees is very progress.com also reported that simple: they just do not care. This McDonald’s employees are beginis a perfect example of class strati- ning to stage protests demanding fication in the world today, where higher wages. I hope, for their the people at the top expect the sake, they can hit them where it people at the bottom to survive on hurts. the crumbs that fall from the table

Editor-in-Chief Jess Gamari Managing Editor Nick Arena Photography Editor

Sports Editor Christopher Oxholm

Kayla Degnan

A&E Editor Shannen Adamites

Web Editor Michael Dahlroth

Copy Chief Marc Latour

Senior News Editor Ryan Flynn

Staff Staff Writers

Jesse Collings Candice Crow James Hunter Gabriel Kogel* Raanan Sarid-Segal Hannah Sterrs Nick Swanson

Photographers

Emily Boughton Gabriel Kogel* Amy Modesti Sam Thomson Design Team

Shannen Adamites* Nick Arena* Jess Gamari* Nicole Ngoon

Copy Editors

Avery Finnivan Rachel Fitterman Advisers

Jenifer Augur Gillian Jones Jim Niedbalski

Videographers

Adam Larson Aloysius Street Advertising

Darcie Sosa

*Holds more than one position

Online at: Beacon.MCLA.edu

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Local Events

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Open house and “The Habit of Art” Check it out! to air at the Clark panel discussion The College will present the final Admissions Open House of the fall this Saturday, Nov. 23. The event is open to all prospective students who are interested in exploring admission to the undergraduate and graduate programs.

Registration for the open house begins at 10 a.m. in the Amsler Campus Center, followed by a welcome from President Mary K. Grant. Prospective students’ families also are invited to attend The program will include tours of the campus, a resource fair including representatives from academic and administrative departments, students and staff from student life, athletics and other departments and services.

Prospective students also can tour the newly opened, state-ofthe-art Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation, which offers students not only the lat-

est in technology, ‘green’ features and multiple creative spaces to enhance learning, and allows for hands-on discovery and innovative research, according to Denise Richardello, executive vice president.

The Office of Admission and the Office of Financial Aid will be available to help students navigate the procedures of applying for admission, as well as for financial aid.

This open house event also will include information on opportunities such as study abroad, internships, honors programs and undergraduate research.

Students who may be interested in enrolling for the spring term are encouraged to attend.

For more information on the MCLA open house, go to www. mcla.edu/visit or call the Office of Admission, 413-662-5410.

Renowned British playwright Alan Bennett’s The Habit of Art, an encore production of London’s National Theatre, airs at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18. To order tickets, visit clarkart.edu or call 413-458-0524.

The Daily Telegraph of London calls the play “another absolute cracker, often wonderfully and sometimes filthily funny, but also deeply and unexpectedly moving.”

Starring Richard Griffiths, Alex Jennings, and Frances de la Tour, The Habit of Art returns as part of the National Theatre’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations. Bennett’s “play within a play” was inspired by his time spent in the National Theatre’s rehearsal rooms.

The play centers around Benjamin Britten (Alex Jennings), sailing uncomfortably close to the wind with his new opera, Death in Venice. He seeks advice from his former collaborator and friend, W. H. Auden (Richard Griffiths).

During this imagined meeting, their first in twenty-five years, they are observed and interrupted by, among others, their future biographer and a young man from the local bus station.

The Habit of Art, as much about the theatre as it is about poetry or music, looks at the unsettling desires of two difficult men and at the ethics of biography.

Parking is limited ue to construction activity. Plan to arrive 20 minutes before the performance.

Attention clubs!

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY STEM Scholarships December 16, 2013 deadline www.asee.org/smart

Today, Nov. 21

Great American Smoke Out Info Amsler Campus Center 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Advice from Advisors Week Tabling Amsler Campus Center 11 a.m. -1 p.m.

Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Tabling Amsler Campus Center 11 a.m. -2 p.m.

SSDP/ IGC/ SPIRES Open Mic Night Amsler Campus Center 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 22

Class of 2014 Cans for Candy Amsler Campus Center 5- 7 p.m.

Miyazaki Movie Night Murdock Conference Reception Room 218 7-11 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 23

Also, keep us updated on club events! We want to cover you!

Email your press release and information on First Class to MCLA Beacon Mailbox, or message us on Facebook.

Have a great Thanksgiving break! *****************

Upcoming events on campus

Service Learning Workshop Murdock Conference Room 202 3 -5 p.m.

The Beacon wants to help promote your club!

We will print one free advertisement per semester.

FINANCIAL AID ANNOUNCEMENT It’s almost time to start applying for 2014-2015 financial aid!!!

More information coming soon!!

11

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Benefit Concert Church Street Center Auditorium 5- 10 p.m.

Fashion Student Organization Manicure Day Amsler Campus Center 3- 8 p.m.

Delta Mu Delta Induction Ceremony Church Street Center Social Hall 10:30 a.m.- 12 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 24

Hoosac Hall Root Beer Float Night Hoosac Hall Harbor 7 p.m.

Come recognize your fellow peers and have a root beer float or ice cream sundae while doing it!

Skate night

Tuesday, Nov. 26

The intramural department is sponsoring free skating at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Skating Rink.

Skate nights will be held on Tuesday nights, starting 9

Thursday, Nov. 28

p.m. All students are eligible with their Student ID. A van will be available to all students who need transportation. Its services will be available from 9 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. and will be located on Montana Street between the Townhouses and Campus Center. The van will also provide transportation back to campus after the event at 10:30 p.m.

The skate night will include music as well as concessions which will be available for purchase at the rink. For more details please contact Intramural Supervisor Drew Webster via FirstClass.

Thanksgiving Break Bus Trip to Boston Departs on Tuesday 5 p.m. and returns Sunday, Dec. 1 at 4 p.m.

Happy Thanksgiving!

No Classes Friday.

Classes will resume Monday, Dec. 2

Monday, Dec. 2

MCLA Puppet Fest! Dorme Branch Gallery 6 p.m.

Dorme is a piece exploring the darker side of sleep.

Wednesday, Dec. 4

Waffle Wednesday Townhouse Greenhouse 10 p.m.-11 p.m.

Last Waffle Wednesday of Fall Semester!

12

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Photo Essay

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Many tasty treats, including cupcakes, were served to guests of the celebration.

A night of dinner and dancing Cape Verdean Student Alliance (C.V.S.A. ) members share a dance in celebration of culture at Nos Cultura.

Photos by Emily Boughton

Members of C.V.S.A. perform a couples dance.

Venable Gym was packed on Nov. 16 with students and community members.

C.V.S.A. serves up traditional foods to a hungry crowd.

The night ended with one last dance performance.

Background image from www.djcraig.net