The Beacon
Student Newspaper of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts North Adams, Mass.
For more content, visit online at: Beacon.MCLA.edu Volume 78 ◆ Issue 12
Th u r s d ay, A p r i l 2 4 , 2 0 1 4
Marathon Monday!
BGLAD now QSU Members of BGLAD have changed the club’s title to Queer Student Union, a more inclusive title for its members
Photo by Richard LaRocque/The Beacon
From left, QSU Secretary Ollie Freda, President Andrew McNamara, and Treasurer Mackenzie McCarthy fought for the club’s new title.
By Alexander Moore Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Agnella Gross
At center, Meb Keflezighi, 38, leads a group of runners. Keflizighi took first place in this year’s Boston Marathon with a time of 2:08:37.
MCLA celebrates student research By Nick Swanson Staff Writer
Students presented their final projects at the College’s annual Undergraduate Research Conference (URC), explaining the work they had done this semester. “It’s pleasing to see everybody come together, especially on a day with no classes, to hear various topics, support each other, and learn new things,” Elizabeth Pitroff, student URC volunteer, said. Victoria Welch, alumnus, was the speaker at the keynote luncheon. “My number one triumph when I got to a big school like Walter Reed was how much more prepared I was for tests,” Welch continued. “The tests changed to A-B-C-D, when at MCLA I was always used to short answer and long response.” She is a graduate of the College from the class of 2009. After graduating, Welch attended Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on an honors internship program where she finished first of the 2012 class. “[At the College] there is such
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a tight-knit community,” Welch said. “I liked it a lot because everyone was so interested in helping one another, like when I was in the Bio club.” More than 80 students gave presentations in the form of posters, oral presentations, performances to highlight their findings, or research paper that give significant details toward their field of study. Poster presenters filled Venable Gym to display 30 illustrations portraying what they learned throughout their project. Senior Devon O’Dowd created a poster that focused on the complications of the United Nations (UN) overfishing regulations. She traveled to the North American Model United Nations in Toronto, Canada for in-depth research on UN overfishing policies. “I discovered it’s nearly impossible to regulate overfishing,” O’Dowd continued. “But if more people in the UN concentrate on methods to better aquaculture than we could potentially save a lot of fish and marine life.” “The conference gives the whole
The Queer Student Union (QSU) received the right to change their name from BGLAD on Monday, April 7. “We wanted a more inclusive group name that would represent us as a whole,” President of QSU Andrew McNamara said. “We were really trying to look for singular word phrases that could fit in the place of BGLAD that would represent the LGBTQ community without leaving anyone out.” According to McNamara, the
QSU, continued on page 4
Berkshire county still without medical marijuana dispensary By Gabriel Kogel Senior News Editor
Photo by Andrew Ricketts/The Beacon
Sophomore Deven Philbrick presented at this year’s Undergraduate Research Conference. campus an exposure to new people,” Pitroff said. “There is always such an array of subjects and you know it’s special because everyone has such an interest in the projects they’ve worked on all semester.” “By receiving a liberal arts
URC, continued on page 4
A medical marijuana dispensary, located at 26 Roberts Drive in North Adams, would have been North Adams’ (and the Berkshires’) only medical marijuana dispensary, had it been approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) Jan 31. According to North Adams City Councilman Wayne Wilkinson, Total Health and Wellness Inc., the company seeking to open the dispensary, never came before the planning board to seek zoning permission. “They were in phase 2 of the application process, but in the end the company wasn’t approved by the state, ” Wilkinson said. Chairman of the North Adams Planning Board, Michael Leary,
Celebrating sustainability
Senior art show opens
Softball team sweeps four games
The Environuts hold events for Earth Week.
“Elemental Connections” goes on display tonight at 5 p.m.
The Trailblazers take down Fitchburg and Mass. Maritime.
Arts & Entertainment, page 6
Sports, page 9
News, page 3
biggest obstacle in changing the club’s name was getting people to understand why the group wanted to use the word “queer” as an umbrella term. “We didn’t face many adverse reactions, but we mostly had people who had no experience surrounding the word queer, so they didn’t really understand why we were choosing to use that,” McNamara explained. Another issue was the fact that the word queer was, and still sometimes is, used as a derogatory
confirmed that the state decided not to grant approval to any dispensary in Berkshire County. “The [dispensary] issue will not be coming before the board in the foreseeable future,” he said in an email message. According to the DPH website, out of the 100 phase 2 applicants, only 20 were chosen for the verification phase. The inspection phase is currently underway, and the approved dispensaries are slated to open sometime this summer. According to Mike Vogt, president of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), the medicinal marijuana law, called Question 3, states that every county is required to have at least one dispensary by 2015.
DISPENSARY, continued on page 4 News Arts & Entertainment Sports Campus Opinion Local Events Photo Essay
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Campus News
Thursday, April24, 2014
Weekend Weather Forecast from Weather.com
Today, April 24
Windy High: 56° Low: 30° Precip. Chance: 0%
Friday, April 25
SGA Spring Election Results A total of 453 ballots were cast in the SGA elections last week, with six disqualified ballots. Current SGA President Jake Powers said the presidential race came down to a difference of five votes. “The Elections Committee and I recounted the ballots three times,” he said. Winners will be sworn in at the SGA meeting on April 28, 7 p.m. in Murdock 218. Official results and numbers are listed outside the SGA Office, Campus Center 316. Anyone who has questions about the outcome may contact John “Jake” Powers via First Class.
Official results of the 2014 Spring elections for SGA: President: Brendan Peltier Executive Vice President: Alexandra Kadell Coordinating Vice President: Ama Adwetewa-Badu Student Trustee: Alyson Stolz
Partly Cloud High: 64° Low: 41° Precip. Chance: 10%
Saturday, April 26
Senators At-Large: Nicholas Hernigle Colby Harvish Samantha Beaton Timothy P. Williams Kelsey McGoniglle Evan Pirnie Geraldine Rios Student Resident Seat: Rhea Werner 2015 Class Senate Representatives: Danielle Bloh 2016 Class Senate Representatives: Ama Adwetewa-Badu Christopher Cozzaglio 2017 Class Senate Representatives: Shelby Gauthier Bridget Forson
Showers High: 64° Low: 46° Precip. Chance: 40%
Sunday, April 27
Beacon.MCLA.edu
By Jess Gamari Managing Editor
Two voting records were broken during the recent SGA election. President Jake Powers, in charge of the elections committee, said 376 voters came out to the poll on the first day, the most voters to ever come out on the first day of voting. This election also had the most voters overall in the 104 years SGA has existed, with 453 votes cast. Six ballots were disqualified for inappropriate candidates in the Photo by Jess Gamari/The Beacon write-in section (names such From left, Alexandra Kadel, Brendan Peltier and Ama as Beyoncé, Bill Gates, etc.) or Adwetewa-Badu have been elected as EVP, President and CVP. votes for multiple candidates when the ballot called for one job is to listen to every single The elected candidates are choice. one of them and fix as many is- already looking forward to next “Even if the disqualified bal- sues as possible,” he said. He is year. lots were to come into question grateful for the students who “Students have already it would not change the outcome helped create and wear election reached out to me in regards of the election, it just would have pins, hang posters and spread to things they would like to see brought each presidential candi- the word about his ticket’s ac- changed, or implemented in a date up by two votes,” Powers complishments. different way, and I have already said. Alexandra Kadel and Ama taken the initiative to figure out The presidential election Adwetwa-Badu ran Peltier’s their concerns and accommocame down to a difference of ticket as executive vice president date the student body,” Peltier five votes. Junior Brendan Pel- and coordinating vice president, said. tier is excited about his ticket’s respectively. Kadel is excited to start workvictory, saying it would not have “Throughout all the hard ing on planning for the Sam been possible without everyone work and stress of campaigning, Gomez race, as well as getting who voted. it is really rewarding to see how class councils more involved in “Winning by only five votes putting your all into something SGA and being a representative means that there are over 200 can have a positive outcome,” of SGA and the student body. students who have different Kadel said. “Winning by five “I really appreciate the effort ideas and views than I do on votes really shows how each and that people put in to get out and where SGA should go, and my every vote truly counts.” vote,” she said.
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Class Council 2015
President- Elizabeth Doughty Vice President-(No candidate) Secretary-Rhea Werner Treasurer- Evan Pirnie
2016
President- Kelsey McGonigle Vice President-Adam Umarov Secretary-Nicholas Hernigle Treasurer- Alison Gilbert
2017
President- Devante Rosa Vice President-(No candidate) Secretary-Timothy Williams Treasurer- Shelby Gauthier
Partly Cloudy High: 58° Low: 36° Precip. Chance: 0%
MassPIRG Referendum: 338 Yes 111 No MassPIRG will maintain its affiliation with the College.
Two runners up will get $25 Walmart Gift Cards!
Campus News
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Beacon.MCLA.edu
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Public service jobs offer student loan forgiveness By Yvonne Camacho Staff Writer
Photo by Gabriel Kogel/The Beacon
Environuts members (back from left) Court Smith, Josh Reynolds, Evan Pirnie, (front from left) Emily Cox, Matthew Roberts, Jonathan Saloio and Liam Fitzgerald sold pansies to kick off Earth Week.
Club promotes sustainable practices for Earth Week By Gabriel Kogel Senior News Editor
The Environuts sold three trays of pansies on Earth Day to kick off a week of environmentally friendly events. “We want students to keep the natural world in mind all year round, that’s the idea behind selling the pansies. We depend on plants to survive, but they depend on us too,” Environuts President Josh Reynolds said. The College greenhouse-raised pansies garnered $43 for the Environuts non-profit partners, the Berkshire Natural Resources Council. The tentative plan to visit Washington DC for the final protest of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline on Saturday has been cancelled. Instead, the group will hike in Tannery Falls in Savoy. “[The DC trip] wasn’t in the cards, due to logistics and a number of other factors,” Reynolds said. This evening, the Environuts will screen “Chasing Ice” at 7:30 p.m. in Murdock 218. Tomorrow, they plan to clear an invasive plant called “garlic mustard weed” from the Trustees Reserve in Southern Vermont. For more information, and to get involved, visit the Environuts Facebook page or email Reynolds on FirstClass. The Environuts were started in 2010 with the goal of promoting green living and sustainability on campus. Reynolds, a sophomore majoring in environmental studies, always envisioned being part of the solution to climate change and ecological pollution. “I want students to understand, what you
do has an ecological impact,” he said. “When you need to get around town, take public transportation, walk or bike. Do whatever you can to reduce your carbon footprint.” For Environuts Vice-President Emily Cox, a deep concern for animals and nature has always been a part of her life. “I’m a tree-hugger and I always have been,” she said. The Environuts have been pushing for more recycling bins in dorms and around campus buildings. “We encourage students to recycle as much as possible, but also think about ways to create less waste in the first place,” Cox said. Plastic water bottles are a problem, since they don’t decompose over time. When the plastic end up in the oceans, animals like fish and birds eat it and become sick and die, according to Cox. “Reusable water bottles are a great way to reduce waste,” she said. “There are a number of purified water fountains on campus now. Filling a water bottle can save you money and benefit the environment.” Freshman Liam Fitzgerald, a member of the Environuts, enjoys working alongside other students who value nature. “I’d like to be a member of [Environuts] e-board and be more active in the community in the future,” he said. According to Fitzgerald, global warming is becoming a big issue, even on campus. “We need to reduce our use of fossil fuels, because of carbon emissions,” he said. “Reduce, reuse and recycle is what it’s all about.”
MCLA Day of Remembrance Tuesday, April 29 - 4 p.m. Academic Quad Please join us as we celebrate the lives and contributions of loved ones who have been lost by the MCLA Community
2nd Annual
If you would like to submit the name of a loved one to be read and remembered, please email Heidi Riello heidi.riello@mcla.edu
Senior Charlene Corleto is counting down the days until graduation: 23 remain. With graduation on the horizon, she is also thinking about the number of days until she has to start repaying her student loans. “I’m aware of how much I owe, but I have a feeling not many people talk about their financial situations and therefore miss out on a lot of information, like programs that could help them out,” Corleto said. Total loan forgiveness may sound too good to be true. But, for those looking to go into the public service sector, it may be a very viable option. “Students are focused on their studies, activities, sports, [loan repayment] sometimes goes by the wayside because you’re not starting to repay until after graduation,” said Director of Financial Aid Elizabeth Petri. Those intending to forgo a career in serving their community may want to consider the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) first. According to a report by The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, more than 25 percent of America’s workforce (roughly 33 million people) is eligible for public service student loan forgiveness. After 10 years of working in public service and making 120 monthly loan payments (on the standard, income-based, income-contingent, or Pay As You Earn repayment plan), this program absolves graduates of their remaining qualifying federal loans. Graduates that qualify for an income-based loan repayment plan will make payments that are less than the amount required on the standard 10 year plan and have the potential of paying zero dollars a month. However, plans like these stretch out over 25 years, which accrues more interest. Created in 2007, this program was meant to incentivize students to enter into public service jobs while making it feasible to manage their accumulated student loan debt. “It’s a great program. [Public Service] has always been an issue because of the pay. There usually aren’t high paying jobs. This is a way to get more people into public service,” Petri said. The PSLF program may not be the best option for everyone. Graduates who opt for the standard 10-year repayment plan will find that there is no debt to be forgiven. So, it’s best to couple this program with an income-based payment plan. Students with lesser amounts of debt may want to consider other options if they do not qualify for reduced repayment plans. For Erin Lee, a psychology major with a minor in social work, the program was an additional benefit that her future employer advertised. “My job offers it as an alternative incentive because it doesn’t pay for my master’s,”
Lee said. “I think the program could be better. If you don’t have a lot of debt because you chose to go to MCLA or a state school, then it isn’t as helpful as it is for those who went to an expensive school.” As stated on the Federal Student Aid Information Center website, to be eligible for the PSLF program applicants must not be in default on the loans for which forgiveness is requested and must be employed by a public service organization when making each of the required 120 loan payments, at the time they apply for loan forgiveness, and at the time the remaining balance on their eligible loans is forgiven. Government organizations, not-for-profits, tax-exempt organizations, or private, not-for-profit organizations that provide public services such as public education, law enforcement, military service, and library services qualify for the PSLF program. Potential Changes to Program As it stands, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program forgives the remaining balance on qualifying loans after 120 payments, regardless of the amount. But, in the 2015 budget proposed by the Obama administration, there will be a cap of $57,500 placed on the amount of debt that can be forgiven after 10 years of service. For those who have less than that amount, the program will remain the same. However, for those who have incurred more than $57,500, loan repayments will be extended to 25 years. Vernon Cross, psychology major, whose loans breach the proposed 2015 budget cap, is skeptical about participating in a program that requires a 25-year commitment. “I’m 25 now, so that’s a long time. I could probably pay the loans off by then with a higher paying job. If I loved the job and could live comfortably with the help of this program, then I’d absolutely use it,” Cross said. According to a Federal Student Aid Information Center representative, it is still unclear how the $57,500 cap would affect present participants of the program. “It’s not entirely relevant to us [the College], if you think about interest accruing on a larger amount, I don’t think it’ll reach $57,500, but you never know the circumstances,” Petri said. Students graduate from the College with an approximate average debt of $27,000, according to the financial aid office. The adjustment to the program hopes to counteract tuition hikes, as well as promote cost-conscious decisions and money accountability among students. “I understand the reasons behind the cuts, money is tight, but they are making it difficult for students who need it,” Petri said. For more information on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, visit its website at studentaid.ed.gov.
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Campus News
Thursday, April 24, 2014
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Club name changed Semester’s Green Living Seminars conclude tonight
QSU, to the community,” Kadell said. continued from page 1 “That wasn’t saying the club itself
By Makayla-Courtney McGeeney Staff Writer
The last Green Living Seminar will be held tonight at 5:30 p.m. in Murdock 218, with talks by four local farmers. A round table discussion titled “Success, Opportunities and Challenges in Farming in the Berkshires.” The lecture is free and open to the campus and community. Environmental Science Professor Elena Traister is looking forward to the speakers and what words they have to offer from their personal experiences. “The ultimate goal is to reach out to educate students, faculty and community members on the food systems in New England,” she said. “The course touches on a number of things including increasing student’s knowledge on edible plants in North Adams and
helping develop projects that benefit Berkshire County.” Every spring semester, the course is offered where the class brainstorms themes, the current one being the bigger picture of sustainable food systems. Don Zasada of Caretaker Farm, Sharon Wyrrick of Many Forks Farm, Topher Sabot of Cricket Creek Farm and Russell Moody of the Giving Garden will be speaking tonight. According to Traister, the Giving Garden was established at the Pittsfield Church of Christ in 2012, has grown to 1.8 acres and has harvested 8,000 pounds of produce so far, solely by volunteers. The Giving Garden donates the produce to the Western Mass. Food Bank and then to local food pantries and soup kitchens. Caretaker Farm, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Cricket Creek Farm, a grass-
based dairy farm, is located in Williamstown. Many Forks Farm is a small, organic practiced vegetable farm in Clarksburg. “There used to be a strong local food system,” Traister said, “but that isn’t the case anymore because of industrialization. The infrastructure is lost and traditional farms are scattered.” Enrollment in the course is offered for two credits and meets once a week for lecture and discussion. Students take on service learning projects related to the current theme by contributing to their own learning outcome. “Group projects can sometimes be challenging for students and it may take multiple times to get that outcome,” she said. A project underway is a guided walk on May 1 at 4:30 p.m. around the campus and town to point out fruit trees and advice on when to harvest them.
term. “A lot of people had only heard of queer as a derogatory term or had personally experienced it as derogatory,” McNamara said. McNamara said it was hard to come to the conclusion to use the word queer, due to fear of minimalizing people’s negative experiences with the word. Parliamentarian of SGA Alexandra Kadell said her committee was at first concerned with the change from BGLAD to QSU. “Some students were vocalizing the fact that it may be insulting to individuals on campus,” Kadell said. “But we were able to meet with QSU; they were able to express the reasons why they wanted the name change.” Both Kadell and McNamara said the name change was also due to the first constitution of the club. “The problem occurred when their purpose didn’t seem open
wasn’t letting people in.” McNamara said the club wanted a constitution that catered to all students regardless of sexual orientation. “We wanted our constitution to reflect that any student, for any reason, is welcome to the club,” McNamara said. “It was really hard to have our constitution accurately effect that we cater to heterosexual students as well.” Secretary of QSU Ollie Freda was very pleased with the name change. “I feel more affirmed as a person because now I feel included within the club’s title,” Freda said. “I feel more comfortable.” McNamara said that, regardless of the name, there is often some kind of stigma attached to an LGBTQ club. “At this point, we might as well be called something we like,” McNamara said.
URC showcases student work No med. marijuana URC, continued from page 1 basis of her interactive poster is horrible things were taking place,” education I was able to converse with people from all other majors,” Welch said. “Then when going further into my career, talking to patients and other people with different backgrounds, gave me a step-up above my other colleagues.” The URC itinerary states, the poster ‘Hybrid Poetics’ takes a critical look at academia by showing influence through dialogue between a student’s personal life, works that he or she studies and the classroom environment. “My poster project is comparably different because everyone gets to be a part of it,” junior Nikki Kratounis said. According to Kratounis, the
non-traditional and traditional works of literature. Kratounis said that it all comes together by using logic meaning, when someone writes a response to one of the quotes a technical and analytical study can therefore provide information on that persons thoughts or actions. Students that wrote research papers each had a designated time to present at the front of a classroom either on the second or third floor in Murdock Hall. Junior Hayley Cooper presented her paper titled ‘Atrocities of King Leopold II in the Congo Free State. “The main question that drove my paper was to uncover the reason to why King Leopold II stayed in power when such
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Cooper said. According to URC itinerary, Leopold II maintained power for so long because he employed explorers who shared his same love for money and violence, was a genius in covering up what was really happening in his colony, and the need for rubber. Cooper says Leopold II even set up new buildings to make it appear that he was doing good things for the Congo Free State, but it was just a cover up. According to Cooper, Leopold II was able to use his charm in order to manipulate others level of intelligence to get what he wanted. The URC takes place once per year and all students are encouraged to attend.
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in Berkshire County
Photo from MCT Campus
Medical marijuana samples from a dispensary in Sacramento, Calif.
DISPENSARY, profit experience,” Vogt said. continued from page 1 “Julia Germaine has years of
Berkshire county is one of three other counties without a dispensary so far, along with Franklin, Dukes and Nantucket. At least four applicants rejected by the DPH have filed lawsuits claiming the scoring process was “arbitrary and flawed,” according to an article on wbur.org. Prospect Lake Inc., located in Great Barrington, filed the most recent lawsuit. The lawsuit claims that although Prospect Lake’s application was almost identical to one submitted by an approved dispensary, their application was scored below the passing threshold for no discernable reason. “We feel that virtually identical sections that were almost verbatim copies between groups were scored completely differently,” Prospect Lake CEO Michael Marino said in the wbur article. Another applicant denied approval, Manna Wellness, was to be located in Pittsfield. According to Vogt, a friend of Nial DeMana of Manna Wellness, they were denied approval despite the extensive experience DeMana’s wife has running non-profit organizations. “The DPH is looking for non-
experience, yet [Manna Wellness] scored low in this category, and across the state we’re seeing similar stories.” Vogt said much of the problem comes from medical marijuana’s negative reputation as the “devil’s lettuce.” However, it is possible to extract the active substances from the cannabis plant. An added benefit is that the isolated chemicals are more difficult to abuse, Vogt said. “Authorities are worried about drug diversion,” he said, referring to patients selling their legally prescribed medication on the black market. “So focusing on non-flower ways of distributing makes a lot of sense going forward. With technological extraction and processing, it will become easier for patients to get the compounds they need from the plant.” Vogt suggested the term ‘medicinal marijuana’ be changed to ‘medical cannabis.’ The term cannabis has less far less stigma, and that may be a first step in changing perceptions about the substance. “Cannabis is a highly beneficial treatment for many diseases people are suffering from,” Vogt said.
Nation news
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Nation
MCT Campus
KANSAS CITY--A 27-year-old Kansas City area man has been charged in the recent series of highways shootings, Jackson County prosecutors said Friday. Mohammed Whitaker, of Grandview, Mo. was charged with 18 felony counts related to 9 incidents. Charges included shooting into a motor vehicle and hitting a victim. More charges may be added, prosecutors said. -The Kansas City Star Memorial for MIT Police Officer Sean Collier The MIT community mourned Collier’s death at a ceremony at the school in Cambridge. Cambridge Mayor David P. Maher said the intersection near where Collier was sitting in his police cruiser when he was shot would be named Sean Collier Square as a memorial. -Los Angeles Times
World Earthquake in Mexico City MEXICO CITY--A powerful earthquake shook a wide area of Mexico on Friday, terrifying residents and sending many fleeing into the streets. There were no initial reports of injuries and only minor damage in the capital, though information from elsewhere in central Mexico was still coming in. -Los Angeles Times 12 Nepali climbers were killed from avalanche NEPAL--Authorities called off the rescue operation for survivors after 12 Nepali climbing guides were killed in an avalanche on Mount Everest Friday, as bad weather closed in. The Tourism Ministry said the search would resume Saturday for four climbers who were still missing. -dpa
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South Korea arrests captain of ferry that sank
Nation and World Briefs
Man charged with highway shootings
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SEOUL, South Korea Captain Lee Jun Seok was arrested early Saturday as investigators examine the actions of the crew of the ferry that capsized and sank this week off the southwest coast of South Korea. Accused of breaches of the seaman’s code including giving the helm of the ship to a 26-year-old third mate, Lee, 69, was taken into custody after South Korean state prosecutors sought an arrest warrant. Lee is under investigation for being among the first people to abandon ship Wednesday while passengers were still in danger. Authorities confirmed 28 deaths by late Friday, with 268 passengers, mostly schoolchildren, still missing, Yonhap News Agency reported. Some of the 179 people rescued in the mishap have said that passengers were told by loudspeaker not to move, even as the ship was beginning to capsize. According to maritime experts, precious time was lost through the late evacuation of the ship. Rescuers continued to search for the missing. “It seems like bodies have begun to spill out of the sunken ship due to current shifts,” Yonhap quoted an official as saying. All bodies recovered were found in the sea near the Sewol ferry, not retrieved from the wreck.
Rescue ships and cranes were moved into place as the hull finally disappeared beneath the waves around noon local time, the report said. Divers accessed the inside of the submerged ship for the first time, battling strong currents and water as cold as 12 degrees, Yonhap said. Underwater visibility was as low as about 8 inches, according to China’s official Xinhua news agency. Rescuers were pumping oxygen into the boat to help potential survivors breathe and restore some buoyancy, Yonhap quoted coast guard officials as saying. Cranes were preparing to either lift the vessel, currently lying in about 110 feet of water, or move it to weaker currents where it would be easier to access. “We are reviewing the options very carefully, as the salvage operations may hurt survivors trapped inside,” a coast guard officer was quoted as saying. The Sewol sank while traveling from Incheon near the capital, Seoul, to the southern resort island of Jeju. Investigators were reportedly looking into the possibility that the ship’s cargo shifted, causing the capsize. The ferry carried vehicles and shipping containers in addition to passengers. Police and prosecutors have raided the offices of Chonghaejin Marine Co, which owns the ship, for information.
MCT Campus Photo
Map of South Korea locating where a ferry, traveling from Incheon in the north to the southern island of Jeju, capsized. There were 475 passengers and crew on the vessel, including 325 students and 15 teachers from Danwon High School in Anson, near Seoul. The school’s 52-year-old vice principal was found hanged from a tree in an apparent suicide on the nearby island of Jindo, after being rescued from the ship, Yonhap said, giving his name only as Kang. U.S. President Barack Obama expressed his “deepest condolences to the Republic of Korea and the families of all those who have seen their loved ones lost” in the ferry sinking.
Warming up to the future with Nest thermostat MCT Campus During cold spells, Andy Law likes to keep his San Jose, Calif., house warm and toasty, which used to be a problem whenever the 29-year-old Yahoo mobile app designer traveled out of town. He’d sometimes forget to turn down the thermostat and run up a nasty heating bill by the time he returned. But he hasn’t had to worry about that since buying one of Google’s Nest thermostats. Typically selling for $249, the device “learns” its users’ daily heating and cooling preferences, including when they’re away. Then it mimics those temperature variations on its own, which was just what Law was looking for. In fact, companies are developing a wide array of smart devices from refrigerators to coffee pots that will tailor their functions to what they learn about their users’ needs. It’s all part of
the so-called Internet of Things. But many of these gadgets are still on the drawing board, so the Nest thermostat provides an intriguing example of what is fast coming down the road. Officials at Google Inc., which bought Palo Alto, Calif.-based Nest Labs for $3.2 billion earlier this year, say the gadget’s proprietary algorithms and sensors give it the brainpower to understand what its owners want. “The first three to four days is when it’s most eager to learn,” said Maxime Veron, director of product marketing for Nest. “It’s going to start looking for patterns. It gathers data, temperature and the time it was set. Also occupancy, whether someone was home or not, and it crunches this information.” After four days, Nest learns enough about its human user to keep the house as hot or cold as the person generally prefers at
MCT Campus Photo
Electricity providers are promoting the thermostats as a way for consumers to control costs and as a way for the companies to prevent blackouts. different times during the day. detect when the user has left the The temperature can still be ad- house, and if it knows from expejusted manually or with a smart- rience that no one else lives there, phone, but by then, the device has Nest will automatically adjust the learned a schedule and is slow to temperature to whatever the person previously has indicated they modify it. One feature that will click in prefer when they’re gone. During the winter on weekdays, about a week after Nest starts learning is its “Auto-Away” func- for example, Nest might lower the tion, which automatically adjusts temperature several degrees from the thermostat to reduce the heat- 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., because it knows ing or air conditioning when no the homeowner usually is at work one is there. Nest motion sensors then.
US drone strikes came despite Yemen’s hopes to limit them
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MCT Campus SANAA, Yemen--A series of U.S. government drone strikes in Yemen over recent days has brought into sharp relief divisions among the country’s rulers over how to rein in a program that they’ve long supported. Only last week, a top Yemeni military official told McClatchy the government had placed the drone program “under review” in hopes of persuading the United States to limit strikes. The most recent strikes one Saturday morning in the central province of al-Bayda that hit a vehicle carrying more than a dozen suspected militants from al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, another roughly 24 hours later in the reputed AQAP stronghold of al-Mahfad in the southern province of Abyan and a third Monday that killed three in Shabwah province show that such a re-
view has yet to limit the attacks. Yemen’s government has long assented to the strikes _ privately, in the case of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, but openly under the country’s current leader, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who took power in February 2012. “We’ve told the Americans that they’ve been going about things the wrong way,” the high-ranking Yemeni military official said last week, speaking only on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic. “When it comes to the current drone policy, there have been too many mistakes.” The first American drone strike in Yemen is thought to have occurred in November 2002, killing senior al-Qaida leader Qa’id Sinan al-Harithi and five other suspected militants, including American citizen Kemal Darwish. The strikes continued to oc-
MCT Campus Photo
Map locating areas where suspected al-Qaida militants have been killed by drone strikes over the past three days. cur sporadically until late 2011, when they increased. According to estimates published by the New America Foundation, a Washington-based research center, there were at least 47 U.S. drone strikes in Yemen in 2012, and at least 25 the following year.
6
Arts & Entertainment
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Senior art show opens tonight
Art students and professors prepare for Elemental Connections, this year’s senior gallery showing By Jenna O’Connor
Arts & Entertainment Writer Opening tonight at 5:00 p.m., the seventh annual senior art show Elemental Connections at Gallery 51 holds promising pieces of art made by nine graduating seniors, who were awarded the 2014 Berkshire Art Association Fellowship. The show will be on display until May 25. The exhibition will include a plethora of artwork and mediums, including drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, book arts and digital illustration, among many others. According to the school website, Elemental Connection focuses on combining ideas, showcasing how each artist portrays connecting elements throughout their body of work. It is a manifestation of metaphors and conceptualizations
to entice reflection and provoke thought within the audience. Each of these themes are further explored as the artists express their individual elements across varied subject matter, conveying literal, figurative and metaphorical connections within their bodies of work. “This is the start for me as an artist. I am learning how to present myself as an artist and how to make it in the art world,” senior Aria Hatfield, one of the nine students in the exhibition, said. “This is an intense course, but by far has really helped me see what it is that I need to do. It has really helped me to continue to build and practice my visual art making skills as well as gain friendships and an art community in North Adams. I know a lot of the art majors here and it is fun and easy to bounce ideas off each other. I also like how I get a well-rounded educa-
tion here with a lot of encouragement and support for being an art major.” Working closely with the professors, the students were able to create their pieces of art for the exhibition with hard work, determination, and perseverance. “Laura, Greg, and Melanie [the art professors] have impacted my life in so many ways I don’t even know where to start,” senior Georgia Costigan, another student in the exhibition, said. “They have taught me so much while I was here and I couldn’t thank them enough for all they have done for me. They not only taught me how to become a successful artist, but a positive and determined person as well. This is by far the greatest way to end my last year at MCLA. It shows how much we have accomplished as artists and how much we’ve grown as students and people.”
Northampton indie bands to headline at The Parlor Cafe By Shannen Adamites
Arts & Entertainment Editor This Saturday, the Parlor café brings three highly distinctive Western Mass. Bands to perform a free show at 8:00 p.m. The show features the artful, Northampton-based, electropop duo, Home Body, as well as Northampton’s And the Kids, an indie band with a unique shimmering sound. Opening for them will be North Adams’s own garage-punk act, Hill Haints. And the Kids features Hannah Mohan, Rebecca Lasaporano, and Megan Miller. Their eclectic blend of acoustic instruments, such as glockenspiels, bells and ukuleles, combined with synth has lead them to describe themselves as, “accessible unconscious existential indie glitter popsicle crisis music,” according to their website. Having toured throughout the east coast, from the sidewalks of Northampton to renowned clubs in Boston and New York City, And the Kids will bring a sparkling musical sensation to the Berkshires. “I find them reminiscent of Arcade Fire’s debut EP and Funeral, Hannah is a great vocalist and the band harmonizes well,” Ed McCormick of Hill Haints said. Home Body provides a bit of a contrast against the sunny sounds of And the Kids. Eric Hnatow and Haley Morgan mix dark synth and bass with dynamic, soul-
ful melodies resulting in what they call “new-wavy-electronica’pop’calyptic-shimmer-core that’s down to earth, vivid and visceral.” “They sort of remind me of Bjorks solo career,” McCormick said. They also incorporate an element of performance art, combining eccentric, interpretive dancing and an emotive light show, giving their set a simultaneously retro and futuristic feel. “Morgan has an awesome stage presence filling each song with real emotion during their performances,” McCormick said. Hill Haints returns to the Parlor featuring McCormick on guitar and vocals, Peter Celentano on bass, and Caleb Miner on drums. Their dark and viceral sounds remenicent of old-school punk and early new wave acts packs a punch. With their fast and furious guitar and bass riffs and powerful drumming and lyricism, Hill Haints’s energy will certainly get the crowd revved up for the remainder of the performance.
Photo by Amy Modesti/The Beacon
Senior art major Kayleigh Brand shows off her work.
Queer Student Union
DRAG DANCE UNDER THE SEA
Tomorrow Venable Gym 8:00 p.m. *Drag attire not required
Intergreek Council
Variety Show Tonight, 7:00 p.m. Church St. Center Come show off your talent!
And The Kids, Home Body, and Hill Haints The Parlor Cafe Photo from andthekidsmusic.com
8:00 p.m. Free admission!
Northampton based And the Kids is scheduled to perform Saturday night with Home Body and Hill Haints
Photo by Richard LaRoque/The Beacon
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Arts & Entertainment
Beacon.MCLA.edu
7
Renowneed poet to be SAC features night of groovy ska and upbeat punk celebrated at MoCA Spring Concert headliners Reel Big Fish perform a refreshing and exciting set
Photo by Jenna O’Connor/The Beacon
Reel Big Fish, armed with their guitars and brass section, perform in Venable Gym Monday night.
By Jenna O’Connor
Arts & Entertainment Writer Reel Big Fish took the stage Monday night for the Student Activities Council (SAC) Spring Concert, with a great turnout. Keeping the mood fun and carefree, the two opening bands, Llama Tsunami, and Threat Level Burgundy, set up the ska-punk theme of the night by playing their ballads, which led to the audience dancing and singing along. “Llama Tsunami killed it with that disco song!” freshman Chris Reimer said. Well-choreographed and practiced, Llama Tsunami and Threat Level Burgundy possessed the stage and the audience, and were able to amp up the crowd to their fast-paced and eclectic music, preparing everyone for Reel Big Fish. “I was excited SAC brought in
an artist of another genre than the last few years,” senior Mike Vogt said. “It was an upbeat and electrifying show. It seemed a lot of kids were dancing their hearts out and enjoying themselves.” As the night progressed, the crowd grew larger and larger anticipating Reel Big Fish to take the stage—and when they did, they had a grand entrance to the Star Wars theme song, making the audience even more thrilled. “It was the most remarkable Monday night I’ve ever had at this school,” sophomore Sean Kelleher said. The dancing and moshing infected the crowd as Reel Big Fish played their set, and soon, everyone seemed to be having a blast. “It was a nice, cleansing dose of punk,” junior Kevin Hill-Williams said. “We needed that—I needed that.” With their bright colors, punny jokes and their wide-ranging and
hypnotizing music, the ska bands of the night dominated Venable Gym. “Unfortunately, I arrived late and missed the first opener, but Threat Level Burgundy was cool. They got everyone in a good dancing mood, and it carried over well to Reel Big Fish,” senior Christopher Hantman said. “Everyone was dancing, and having a great time. Reel Big Fish also played all their classics like ‘Beer’, ‘My Girlfriend has a Girlfriend Now,’ ‘Sellout’, and a bunch more. I wish more people took advantage of such a talented band for such a good price.” “It was the greatest live show I’ve ever seen,” sophomore Travis Smith said. The adrenaline from dancing and the loud music was palpable in the gym, and the good vibes were practically visible as the show grew to a close.
By Raanan Sarid-Segal
Arts & Entertainment Writer The poetry of Agha Shahid Ali will be read aloud today at 6 p.m. The reading will be held at Mass MOCA, in Izhar Patkin’s exhibit “The Wandering Veil.” This reading is intended not only to showcase the work of Shahid Ali, but also to explore its connections to the art of Patkin, who has based several of his pieces on specific poems of Ali’s. The art itself will surround the audience at the show, as the pieces consist of large silk paintings, hung on the walls of structures within which a person can stand. “There will be a couple of different readers who will read the poems of Shahid,” Jodi Joseph, Director of Communications at Mass MoCA said. “The poet’s brother will be here to read some of the work, and this is a huge honor. The artist, Izhar, will also be there.” Patkin, has been using the poetry of Agha Shahid Ali as inspiration for his work for years. His “Veil” paintings are a synthesis of his feelings of Ali’s poetry, translated into visual form. “Poetry doesn’t only live on the page or in the classroom,” English Professor Zack Finch said. “Sometimes it thrives through the interactions between people and different forms, like the relationship with the visual that this show will have.” Finch went on to say that Ali’s
poetry is interesting for how it relates non-political poetry and the politics of Kashmir. “This poetry is written from the perspective of an exile, which in itself is not political, but it gains power from the context,” he said. “The politics of the pieces are very palpable,” Joseph said. “The show is a combination of the work of an Israeli-born artist and a Kashmiri-American poet, so there is an element of being an exile that they have in common. I think that is what attracted them to each other.” According to Finch, the event is both a celebration of Ali’s greater body of work and a celebration of the ghazal. “Ali helped popularize ghazals in English,” Finch said, “and the form has really caught on. A ghazal is a highly structured poetic form that is composed of couplets that rhyme and build around a refrain.” “Shahid’s poems are sensational,” Joseph said. “They are beautiful, and lovely, and full of metaphor. The work is extremely edifying but also very approachable. It should be very exciting for any college student.” “I don’t really know what to expect of the show,” Finch said. “That is fun and I think students will have fun too.” Tickets for the show will be free to members and $7 to non-members. They are available through the Mass MOCA box office from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Poetry of Agha Shahid Ali Mass MoCA’s “Wandering Veil” Exhibit (Building 5) 6:00 p.m. Free for members, $7 for non-members
Angels in America TheatreLab’s spring production of Tony Kushner’s award winning play continues tonight through Saturday Photos by Shannen Adamites
Callen Gardener (left) and Jimmy Dunn (right) perform a heartbreaking scene that emphasizes the play’s themes of love and loss.
Clarissa Henebury as the Angel, and Jimmy Dunn conclude the play with a dramatic ending. To learn more about the process behind this show, a panel discussion will be held in Venable Theater at 11:30 a.m., before the 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday.
8
Sports
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Fair territory
That’s not a sport! By Jesse Collings Sports Editor
A classic debate between sports fans is what activities are actually considered sports and what are not. Some activities, like basketball, football, volleyball and soccer are pretty much undisputedly considered sports, while others, like cheerleading, stock car racing and golf are hotly debated on whether or not they are in fact, “sports” or not. Something that I find to be a common confusion amongst people is that if something requires athleticism, it should be considered a sport. Cheerleading, for instance, requires a lot of athletic skill, therefore, it is a sport. That logic doesn’t agree with me, because a lot of activities that would never be considered sports also require a lot of athleticism. Ballet takes a lot of athletic skill, but few would argue that it is actually a sport. I draw a fine line between sports and athletic activities. If the event is decided on something beyond the athlete’s control (like judges scoring the contest) then it shouldn’t really be considered a sport. If two gymnasts did the exact same routine in a competition, chances are the judges are going to decide that one of them did the routine better, even if they completely mimicked each other. Compare that to say a basketball game, where if two teams scored the same amount of points, the teams don’t rush over to a judges table to find out which team scored their points better, they play overtime to fully determine an outright winner. The essence of sport is competing against a rival, and in “sports” that involve judges, that competition is nullified. Now, I don’t think anybody would doubt that something like gymnastics doesn’t involve a lot of athleticism, but that doesn’t automatically make it a sport. The same logic applies to figure skating, skateboarding and any other event that is based on judges discretion. On the other hand, something like bowling would be considered a sport, even if it probably doesn’t involve as much athletic skill as gymnastics. Bowling is a game where athletic skill is involved, and the result of the competition is clearly defined: Whoever knocks over the most pins wins. Even if it doesn’t involve as much athleticism as other nonsports, it still does a better job of capturing the direct competition between a rival involving athletic skill, making it a sport.
Photo by Gabriel Kogel/The Beacon
Junior outfielder Mike Mancivalano attemps to drop a bunt on an incoming pitch.
Baseball vanquished over long weekend By Kelsey Marini Sports Writer
The baseball team suffered four losses this weekend against MASCAC rivals, Fitchburg State and Mass. Maritime. These losses push the Trailblazers back to a lopsided record of 3-20 and they are currently 1-11 in conference. The team could not keep their leads in either game against rival Fitchburg State Friday, April 18. The Trailblazers suffered a 6-2 loss in the first game and a 4-3 nail-biting loss in the second. On April 21, the Trailblazers were swept by Mass. Maritime by being shut out in the first game 4-0 then lost 7-2 in the second game. In the first game, the Trailblazers brought in two runs in the first inning to grab the lead against the Falcons. Jered Gersch nabbed the first run while Rory Slattery hit a single that brought in Chase Preite. But the Trailblazers fell short of making any more runs throughout the game. Mike Mancivalano was able to shut out Fitchburg until the fifth inning. The Falcons were able to come back with two runs to tie up the game. Mancivalano relief, Eamonn Andre allowed
Fitchburg to gain four more runs in the final inning. The Falcons were able to shut down the Trailblazers from making any comeback. “We pitched well as a team,” senior Sean Coyle said. “Offensively we did good things, but we couldn’t keep it going throughout the game.” The men were able to get another head start in the second game, once again driving in two runs to put them ahead 2-0. Preite was able to slam a double which brought in Mike Sullivan and Garret Alibozek. Robert Jutras would leave Fitchburg scoreless until the third inning. With the bases loaded the Falcons were able to sacrifice a pop fly to bring in one run. MCLA would be able to counteract with another run in the fifth with Alon Willing scoring to help the Trailblazers lead 3-1. But the Falcons were able to out hit the Trailblazers in the sixth, putting them ahead 4-3. MCLA had their chances to turn the game around in their favor, but failed to bring in any more runs. The Trailblazers took a hard loss with the final score being 4-3. “Jumping on our opponent early gave us great momentum to move forward,” said
Coyle, “we just couldn’t keep it going.” History was made in the first game by Mass. Maritime sophomore Kevin Kwedor threw the first perfect game in Maritime history. Kwedor was able to retired all 21 batters he faced, striking out six. Maritime’s defense was too strong for the Trailblazers, while on offense they were able to gain four runs. The men lost 4-0 In the second game, the Trailblazers were able to gain two runs, one in the third inning and one in the fourth. But Maritime was a force to be reckoned with, getting the first run of the game in the first inning. They followed with three runs in the third and three more in the fourth. The Trailblazers would fight to try to make a comeback but the game was already determined. Mass. Maritime would go on to win 7-2. “I hope [the first years] take this season as a sign of how hard you need to work in order to be successful,” said Coyle when asked what he hopes the first years on the team get out of this season. After suffering a tough loss on the road, the men are back home this weekend as they host Bridgewater State in a double header.
Tennis falls to Lyndon State, 8-1 By Jesse Collings Sports Editor
The tennis team dropped a match at home to visiting Lyndon State on Saturday, dropping the match 8-1. The loss put MCLA at 3-6 on the season, and they finish NAC play with a 1-5 record. With the victory, Lyndon State improved to 5-4 on the season and 3-1 in conference play. In doubles competition, Lyndon jumped out to an early 3-0 lead by sweeping all three matches. The closest MCLA came to scoring a point was in number one doubles, with the team of freshman Rob Wabshinak of junior Taylor Krowitz putting up a fight against Lyndon State’s Trevor Updike and John Corey, although ultimatley dropping the game, 8-6. In singles play, Wabshinak earned the Trailblazer’s lone point, defeating Corey in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. For Wabshinak, it was business as usual, as the freshman has adjusted well to playing in the number one singles slot. “Playing number one singles as a freshman has been an amazing experience and really a dream come true. I have had so much fun playing every match and cannot wait until the start of next season,” Wabshinak said.
Photo by Kayla Degnan/The Beacon
Richard LaRoqcue returns a shot while his partner Ray Yelle backs him up.
Krowitz particiapted in the most thrilling match of the day, as he faced off against Updike in number two singles. Updike took the first set 6-1, but Krowitz bounced back, taking the second set 6-2 to force a third and deciding set between the two. In the third set, Updike edged out Krowitz 6-4 to escape with the narrow victory. Junior Richard LaRocque and Andrea Binder also played competivley in singles play, but ended up dropping their respective matches. The team will close out their season on Friday against Green Mountain College. After finishing just 1-9 last season, the team has shown a lot of improvement under first year head coach Trevor Grimshaw. “I am very happy with how our season is progressing so far and we really have come together as a team,” Wabshinak said. “The beginning was a bit shakey but with the help of coach Trevor Grimshaw the team has shown great improvement and we can now only get better.” The team was originally supposed to play it’s final game on Wednesday, but weather has pushed the game back to Friday. The game will be played at the Bennington Sports Center and will begin at 5 p.m.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Sports
Beacon.MCLA.edu
9
Scores Baseball Friday, April 18 Fitchburg State 6, MCLA 2 Fitchburg State 4, MCLA 3 Monday, April 21 Mass. Maritime 4, MCLA 0 Mass. Maritime 7, MCLA 2 Tuesday, April 22nd MCLA vs Skidmore Cancelled Softball Friday, April 18 MCLA 1, Fitchburg State 0 MCLA 2, Fitchburg State 0 Monday, April 21 MCLA 14, Mass. Maritime 0 MCLA 11, Mass. Maritime 2 Men’s Tennis Saturday, April 19 Lyndon State 8, MCLA 1
Schedules Photo from MCLA Athletics
MCLA sophomore infielder Darien Sullivan attempts a drag bunt while eyeing an open first base.
Softball sweeps conference opponents By James Hunter Sports Writer
It was a good weekend for the Trailblazers, sweeping both Massachusetts Maritime Academy along with Fitchburg State University in seperate double-headers. “I am proud of my team this weekend. We did what we needed to do,” freshman Sierra Bailey mentioned. Playing in Pittsfield for their game against Fitchburg, the Trailblazers still made it feel like home, winning 1-0 in the first game and 2-0 in the second game. MCLA not only improves their record but also moves into third place in the MASCAC standings as they come closer to the end of the season along with playoffs as well. “This sweep gives our team more motivation because we now have the confidence in ourselves and know that if we play the way we are capable then we can win every game,” Pitcher Rachel Quackenbush said. Both Rachel Quackenbush and Amanda Meczywor had excellent pitching performances giving up only five hits for the Falcons. Quackenbush started the first game recording 11 strikeouts in a complete game two-hitter. Meczywor was just as good in the second game as she struck out two in six shut-out innings, with Quackenbush coming in for the save in the final inning. “I think that my performances have helped the team this season because they have the confidence in me so that helps me to perform better,” Quackenbush said on her pitching this year. “Also, they know that I will go out and pitch my best and if we can score a couple runs early we can assure ourselves of a win. We work well together as a team and I have confidence in the rest of this season.” In game one, it was Michaela DiNicola who touched home plate first in the third inning
scoring when Meczywor smacked a hit a single to left field. The only run of the game was scored by DiNicola, and it was all the Trailblazers needed to take the win. To start game two the Traiblazers scored in the bottom of the first inning and then again in the third to earn the sweep, 2-0 for the evening. Meczywor earned her first win of the season while Quackenbush evened her record at 7-7.
“To prepare for the MASCAC we need to continue to work hard at practice and go into every game with confidence knowing that we have the potential to win,” Quackenbush mentioned. “I think that winning our last four games has defiantly gave us the boost we needed. Coming out and sweeping Fitchburg was huge for us,” sophomore Samantha Boyle said. Another sweep came against Mass. Maritime, 14-0 in game one for the Trailblazers and 11-2 in game two improved their record to 1014, 6-4 MASCAC. “We are third in the conference right now. If we get the wins on Wednesday against Westfield, we can be second in the conference, that is our goal right now,” Bailey said. In game one against the Buccaneers, the Trailblazers went on an early 2-0 lead in the
first inning before scoring four straight runs in the second, fourth and fifth innings. Meczywor stepped up again, this time with the bat driving in three runs along with teammate Shelbi Clary. Samantha Boyle had two of the Trailblazers eight hits. Meczywor scattered four hits and struck out five to earn her second win on the season. “We knew we needed to win our last games. I think our biggest win this season at this point in time will be Westfield. We just need to focus on winning these games on Wednesday so we can be 8-4 going into Bridgewater,” Boyle said. Another blowout for the Trailblazers followed, as they were able to send 17 batters to the plate recording a total of 13 hits to go along with a pair of walks and five batters getting on base from being hit by a pitch. Samantha Barbarotta had two hits on the night for the Trailblazers and drove in three runs. Mass. Maritime scored only two runs in the fourth inning on two RBI singles from Crystal Sherman and Ashley Michalski. The Buccaneers fall to 0-16 on the season and 0-10 MASACAC. “We have to take one game at a time. Our biggest competition is Bridgewater but we are focused right now on beating Westfield State this Wednesday to place us in second,” Bailey said. The focus now is to beat Westfield State on Wednesday and when they host Bridgewater where they face their competition from last years’ championship game “To prepare for the MASCAC we need to continue to work hard at practice and go into every game with confidence knowing that we have the potential to win,” Quackenbush mentioned. The Trailblazers will play another doubleheader on Wednesday against Westfield State at 2:30 p.m. and on Saturday against their arch rival; Bridgewater State, starting at 1 p.m.
Baseball Thursday, April 24 MCLA vs Southern Vermont 4 p.m. Saturday, April 26 MCLA vs Bridgewater State 1 p.m. MCLA vs Bridgewater State 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 28 MCLA vs Springfield College 3:30 p.m. Softball Wednesday, April 23rd MCLA vs Westfield State 2:30 p.m. MCLA vs Westfield State 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 26 MCLA vs Bridgewater State 1 p.m. MCLA vs Bridgewater State 3 p.m. Monday, April 28 MCLA @ Williams College 3:30 p.m. MCLA @ Williams College 5:30 p.m. Tennis Friday, April 25 MCLA vs Green Mountain 5 p.m.
10
Opinion
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Beacon.MCLA.edu
“If there was one thing you could change to improve the The Beacon school, what would it be?” “I wish that the food in the POD wasn’t so expensive.”
“I’d bring the Hockey team back.”
-Shannon Lindlau, 2017
-Steve Olson, 2017
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. Editorials Policy Unsigned editorials that appear on these pages reflect the views of The Beacon’s editorial board.
“I’d like to see a Men’s Track team and Men’s Lacrosse. Just more sports in general.”
“I wish that the POD was still called the C-Store.” -Hannah Sterrs, 2014
-Tyshawn McGee, 2014
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.
“We should get a cook-to-order grill that’s open during the day.”
“I’d like to see advising improved.”
-Nile Rozie, 2015
-Stephanie Giardina, 2015
Letters must be signed by the writer and include a phone number. Letters may be dropped off at the office or e-mailed to Beacon@mcla.edu. Contributions Policy The Beacon accepts stories, photos, and opinion pieces for publication. Submissions should be dropped off at the office by Monday at noon or e-mailed to Beacon@mcla.edu. Advertising Policy The Beacon reserves the right not to publish any advertisement it deems to be libelous, false. or in bad taste.
Editorial Board
Photos compiled by Richard LaRocque
In my humble opinion...
Guns, guns, guns By Nick Arena Editor-in-Chief
A bill passed in Georgia yesterday has made it possible for people to carry guns in more places than previously allowed. These areas include bars and, even better, airports! Nothing bad ever came from someone bringing a gun into an airport, right? At least the bill will not allow them to bring the guns past the security terminals. Maybe it’s just the fact that I like to keep myself prepared for the worst possible scenario, but has anyone else thought that maybe bringing a gun into a situation that involves alcohol might be a problem? Speaking as someone who has been in a bar fight before, I can say that I was particularly grateful for the fact that the person swinging at me was not armed.
More importantly, has no one considered what could happen if a group of angry people with guns decides to enter an airport? I don’t think the stipulations stating that you can’t take a gun past the terminal is really going to stop someone who could outgun security. What makes it worse is that, according to The Christian Science Monitor, the bill was initially supposed to remove all anti-gun zones from colleges and universities, because guns have never affected anyone in a school setting, naturally. This whole Second Ammendment argument is starting to get a little out of hand. I understand that we have the right to bear arms, but regulation is important. Groups like the National Rifle Association will argue the fact that well handled guns don’t make situations any more dangerous. That’s all well and good, but not everyone who holds a gun is handling it properly, or with the best intentions. Also, how exactly do these regulations inconvenience people? Is it going to be that big of a deal if you leave your rifle in the car when you walk into the airport to pick someone up? If Al Qaeda stormed the airport guns blazing do you seriously expect me to believe a civilian is going to have the wherewithall to react? No, I don’t believe that is the case. It isn’t an inconvenience, and your average joe isn’t that well trained. People like the NRA just love to whine about their rights.
“I’m a lot of fun at parties, I swear!”
Sweet dreams By Jess Gamari Managing Editor
Alas, it is the end of April. Only two weeks of classes remain in the semester and yet the to-do lists keep growing. Papers, projects, portfolios, part time jobs, and possible parties pile on. It’s hard to get through stressful days on little sleep, but it’s even harder to get through them when sleep is anything but restful. Nightmares are your brains way of dissecting and revisiting parts of your day and routines with unnatural twists and fears. Nightmares are worse than bad dreams, often waking us in the middle of the night in fits of panic and terror. Children who have less experience with the world are more likely to have nightmares, assuming that as we grow older, we face our fears and are able to cope with stressors more efficiently. However, nightmares occur throughout one’s life.
Editor-in-Chief Nick Arena
Nightmares can be triggered by traumatic events, such as war or embarrassing monumental events. Everyday stressors and anxieties can creep into our dreams and make them turn for the worst. According to Heath Central’s website, scientists have found physical aggression has been the most frequently reported theme in nightmares, often resulting in the dreamer to wake up. The word nightmare can be broken down into “night” and “mare.” As most dreams occur at in the evening, the “night” portion of the word makes sense. “Mare” often refers to horses, but in Old English, the word “mare” means “a demon that suffocates one in their sleep,” according to Top Ten Interesting Word Origins webpage. “Bad dreams often made people feel like they were being suffocated in their sleep, so mare was attached to night to form the modern word,” it said. As we approach the end of the semester, try to get enough sleep for productive days. Avoid spicy foods and food in high fat content or caffeine. Not only will you have trouble falling asleep in the first place, but your mind remains active with the sugar intake. Those of us celebrating our achievements at the close of our college career should avoid excess amounts of alcohol. Depressants and narcotics don’t mix well with dreams. Above all, get to bed early. Nothing good happens after 2 a.m.
Sports Editor Jesse Collings
Managing Editor Jess Gamari Photography Editor
A&E Editor Shannen Adamites
Kayla Degnan Web Editor Michael Dahlroth
Copy Chief Avery Finnivan Advertising Manager Darcie Sosa
Senior News Editor Gabriel Kogel
Staff Staff Writers
Photographers
Kaleigh Anderson Rachel Fitterman
Richard LaRocque Amy Modesti Andrew Ricketts
James Hunter Chunyu “Judy” Leng Kelsey Marini Makayla-Courtney McGeeney Alexander Moore Jenna O’Connor
Design Team
Shannen Adamites* Nick Arena* Raanan Sarid-Segal Jess Gamari* Nick Swanson Nicole Ngoon Jesse Collings* Copy Editors Yvonne Camacho Rominda DeBarros Nicole L’Etoile Marc Latour
Advisers
Jenifer Augur Gillian Jones Jim Niedbalski
*Holds more than one position
Online at: Beacon.MCLA.edu Facebook.com/MCLABeacon Twitter.com/MCLA_Beacon
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Bigger than biceps
Liquid frenemy By Makayla-Courtney McGeeney Staff Writer
It’s a crutch, a stress reliever, part of a routine and almost always on the grocery list. Coffee, or rather the caffeine it contains, is a major dietary component for some college students, and it’s difficult to think about living without it. Caffeine consumption may lead to physical addiction, but doesn’t necessarily cause harm or threaten health the way some addictive drugs do. Going without some form of caffeine for too long if you regularly consume it can lead to withdrawal effects, including anxiety, headaches, crankiness, and fatigue. At the same time, caffeine can also ignite such symptoms with too much consumption. In order to stay healthy, you should consider altering the way in which you consume caffeine. A soda every day will not keep the doctor away. Cut back on caffeine with sugar and work your way toward black
Opinion & Announcements coffee. It’s hard, and I haven’t accomplished it yet, but if caffeine is an addiction you plan on keeping, try to make it somewhat beneficial. Caffeine is also a main ingredient in many energy drinks, which may not be addictive in themselves, but they are high in sugar and carbohydrates. It may seem like a Red Bull or Amp right before a study session will keep you awake, but after an hour or so it’s likely your body will slowly shut down, along with your brain. A combination of sugars and caffeine helps give you a short-term bolt of energy. That’s why Five Hour Energy shots are much worse than a regular dose of caffeine, because instead of one regular cup of coffee in the morning, it’s two days’ worth of caffeine in two gulps. The solution to balancing energy levels without crashing is either to avoid developing a caffeine addiction or to rely on other sources for a boost. An example of the latter would be to drink water every day, generally around eight 8 oz. glasses, or 1.9 liters. Keeping a water bottle with you everyday makes it much easier. If you’re the type of person who enjoys the taste of coffee without the jolt, experiment with different teas that are much lower in caffeine than coffee, or try decaffeinated coffee. Drinking two cups of green tea each day will keep you awake without the caffeine-sugar combo. It also boosts metabolism and may even lower your risk of cancer, according to a Harvard health article. Snack of the week: Hummus with anything is a wonderful source of protein and comes in a variety of flavors. It can be eaten with vegetables, pita chips, pretzels, or anything else you can dip. If you have access to chickpeas, hummus can be easy to make with a food processor and a selection of herbs and spices.
Under the bodhi tree
Seeing things as they really are By Gabriel Kogel Senior News Editor
Over the course of this semester I’ve promoted meditation in this column, and I’d like to explain why. It’s my belief that a global community of meditators can solve many of the worst problems we face. Problems such as climate change, mass extinction, warfare, and starvation often boil down to the ignorant, greedy, and frightened actions undertaken by a few very powerful people. People in this group – let’s call them “one percent” of the population – are afraid of losing the extreme wealth and influence they’ve accumulated, and they’re eager to use any means at their disposal to maintain control of territories, industries, controlled populations, etc. It’s no mistake that our culture fosters divisions between people and estranges us from the natural world; it’s been designed to have just such an effect. The greatest threat to the one-percent club is a population of energized and in-
Beacon.MCLA.edu
formed citizens coming together to make progress. One of my favorite quotes, by cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead, says to “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” What does meditation provide in the way of solutions? The most well known form of meditation, called vipassana, translates as “to see things as they really are.” Imagine waking up to find out you’ve been imprisoned inside a fake reality, a simulation à la the Matrix. In myriad ways, we’ve all been indoctrinated to believe false concepts about ourselves and each other. Vipassana is a way to loosen the grip of false concepts, and see how things really are. Once we see how intimately interconnected we all are, the grip of hostility and fearfulness loosens. After all, we’re all riding the same spaceship earth together, and we experience the same sensations of pain and joy. In addition, vipassana creates the conditions that allow us to extend compassion in widening circles. This allows us to see the world through the eyes of others. Imagine defusing hostility by meeting it with acceptance and forgiveness, rather than the “fire with fire” approach that merely fans the flames of enmity. It’s my greatest wish that everyone reading these words takes the time to practice mindfulness. It’s more than just personally freeing; it can make you feel more at ease and happy to be alive. Even better, looking inward has the potential to change your perceptions in a revolutionary way. And can’t we all use a little change? Namaste.
Tell us about your club! The Beacon wants to help promote your club! We will print one free advertisement per semester. Send us an email on first class! Also, keep us updated on any events you may be hosting! “OFF CAMPUS STUDENT HOUSING”: 10 Miner Street, North Adams A 1/2 mile North from MCLA Available Sept through May $1,600 per month for: 4 BEDROOMS, FURNISHED, UTILITIES INCLUDED, including wash-dryer Apt has an upper/lower floor: Includes TWO kitchens & TWO bathrooms. (Also available only in June for $600) To see photos: tenminor.yolasite.com Please contact Henry with hjgates@comcast.net
FINANCIAL AID ANNOUNCEMENTS ATTENTION GRADUATING SENIORS!! IF YOU BORROWED STUDENT LOANS WHILE ATTENDING MCLA, YOU MUST COMPLETE YOUR EXIT COUNSELING. Thursday, April 24th 10:00 AM or 6:00 PM IF YOU HAVE NOT ATTENDED A MEETING AND CANNOT MAKE THE TIMES LISTED ABOVE, CONTACT THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE 662-5219 OR finaid@mcla.edu.
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Check it out! Upcoming events on and off campus!
Today, April 24
Green Living Seminar Murdock Conference Reception Room 218 4:30 -6:30 p.m. Movie Night Murdock Fitzpatrick Room 7:30 - 9 p.m. Creating Equality Series Murdock Conference Reception Room 218 6:45 -9 p.m. IGC Variety Show Church Street Center Auditorium 6:30 -10 p.m. Loan Exit Meetings Amsler Campus Center CC324A and CC324B 10-11 a.m. 6 -7 p.m. Spring Cleaning with Career Services Amsler Campus Center Marketplace 11:30 a.m. -2 p.m. Gallery 51: Fresh! 5 p.m. Seniors exhibit their thesis work, the culmination of their capstone course, and Senior Art Project.
Friday, April 25 Drag Dance Venable Gym 8-11:30 p.m. Service Learning Workshop Murdock Conference Room 202 3-5 p.m. Order of Omega Honor Society Science Center Atrium 3-4 p.m. Career Conversations Science Center 2nd Floor Mezzanine 4 -5:30 p.m. Creative Cram Murdock Conference Reception Room 218 6- 10 p.m. United Cerebral Palsy Amsler Campus Center Pool 1:30 -2:30 p.m. WMST 201 Student Poster Presentations Amsler Campus Center Sullivan Lounge 1-2 p.m.
Saturday, April 26 Farewell BBQ Campus Center Gym and Patio 3 -6 p.m. SAC Spring Fling Academic Quad (Rain: Venable Gym) 11-a.m. 3 p.m. Big Prize Bingo Venable Gym 8-10 p.m.
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Thursday, April 24, 2014
Photo Essay
Beacon.MCLA.edu
The Boston Marathon
The first wave of non-elite runners leave the starting line in Hopkinton at Monday’s 116th annual Boston Marathon.
Photos Courtesy of Agnella Gross
This group of elite women runners represent some of the 36,000 runners from 96 different countries around the globe.
Dick Hoyt, second from left, pushes his son Roy who has cerebral palsy, past a sign reading Team Hoyt, in their 32nd Boston Marathon.
Runners proceed on the route.
Photographers pack in the bed of a pickup to document the runners along the 26.2 mile course.