Multicultural Overnight Program seeks hosts Program looks to provide incoming freshmen with authentic college experience
‘So-so script’ coupled with ‘fantastic’ actors
Two-sport star balances school and athletics
Columnist Jessie Wright reviews the latest Main Stage production, ‘What’s a Great Bard’
Senior Rick Massey plays both baseball and soccer for MCLA while also juggling academics
NEWS, page 3
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, page 6
Student Newspaper of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts North Adams, Mass.
SPORTS, page 9
The Beacon
SGA President weighs in on club budget process Todd Foy comments on budget cuts and encourages students to support the SGA OPINION, page 12
Volume 75 Issue 6 Thursday march 8, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
SGA approves club budgets, community meeting to follow
Photo by Ed Damon/Beacon staff
Treasurer Peter Swain adresses the SGA at its February 27 meeting concerning club budgets.
By Ed Damon Editor in Chief
An email exchange following Student Government Association passing 2012-2013 club budgets, involving students and faculty, sparked the creation of a community meeting following spring break. Senior Mike Testa, representing the Society of Physics Students at Monday’s SGA meeting, questioned why the club received less than twenty percent of its requested budget. Treasurer Peter Swain agreed the recommended amount for the club was on the lower end, saying some clubs did have 95 percent of its budget request cut. One of the biggest cuts made was from a trip to a New York City museum. The $210 the club received, Testa said, would barely cover gas. But Swain reminded him that if clubs take school vans, they don’t need to pay for gas. Swain said one hundred dollars for a van driver was allotted, along with enough admit 10 people. After the meeting, Testa sent an email with the subject “Motion to Declare Shenanigans on Final Fiscal Budget 2012-2013” to club
eboards, SGA members, and club advisors. In it, Testa expressed concern that Swain, Rugby Club founder, had a conflict of interest, calling the 88 percent of its requested budget to be “less than just.” Swain fielded questions from students regarding why certain things were cut from requests. Trip meals were one area the BFC cut. Swain said if they had to allocate less funds for something, meal money was one place it would be ok. “It was one of the places that we felt if we had to allocate less funds for something, we thought it would be ok,” Swain said. He added clubs could get together to bring food on trips. “Everybody’s going to have to learn to be more frugal, and to spend the money they’re receiving better.” “A lot of the questions coming out now should have come up during the budget process,” Foy said. Foy said he would veto a vote by the Senate to examine each club’s budget as a whole, saying that would be “a complete revocation” of Swain and the BFC’s work. Foy advised clubs to come forward next year to request supplemental money to cover small
IN THIS ISSUE News
2-5
Op-Ed
12-13
A&E
6-8
Science & World
14
Sports
9-11
Comic & Games
15
Photo Essay
16
Campus Comment 12
amounts. With discussion time dwindling, Foy called a five minute recess, during which he met with Treasurer Swain, Advisor Craig, and Advisor Norcross. Following this, Foy explained how Parliamentary Procedure required them to continue. A motion was on the table to pass the budget could not be made again. “If the Senate votes down this motion, what we’ll be forced to do is go club by club,” Foy said, advising the Senate to pass the budget as a whole. “I know it’s not fair to everybody, I know it hasn’t been an easy budget semester, but it’s going to get better. I know as clubs we can start working together more and get things done cooperatively.” In response to the email exchange, Treasurer Swain has organized a community meeting for all clubs. The meeting will take place on Thursday March 22 at 7 p.m. in Murdock 218. “We feel that the majority of clubs were not given an ample amount of time to express their concerns and comments during the allocation meeting and wish for them to be able to do so,” Swain wrote. “Although SGA has already approved the budget requests there is certainly much more that we can do to help.” During the meeting, SGA will explain the budget process, allow clubs to ask questions they still have, and talk about how clubs can make do with less money. Swain said he would’ve liked to speak with people directly, rather than having the mass email exchange. “A lot of emails were sent around, but I didn’t receive any of them,” he said, adding that it wasn’t constructive. Swain said he hopes students will attend the meeting to express their thoughts out in the open. SGA’s budget totaled $390 thousand, with $244,800 allotted among the 43 clubs, $115,200 to the operating budget, and $20,000 in reserve.
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Iraqi activist talks role of women in war
Photo by Will Casey/Beacon staff
Zainab Salbi speaks with a small audience during a press conference prior to her lecture on Tuesday.
By Andrew Roiter Managing Editor
“In all these journeys, It’s constantly surprising to me what I continue to learn from people I’m there to serve,” author and founder of Women for Women Zainab Salbi said Tuesday night in the Eleanor Furst Roberts auditorium. Salib is an Iraqi activist who came to MCLA as this semester’s Public Policy Lecturer to talk about the role of women in war and the global discourse on the subject. She said that when people discuss war they usually talk about the fighting and the politics. “But that’s not the full story of war,” Salbi said. People need to not just have the frontline discussion, she added, but the backline discussion. Salbi spoke in front of a nearly packed Church Street Center about her experiences in Iraq, Bosnia, Sudan, the Congo and other war-torn countries and regions. She talked about how each person she met taught her something new, and eventually she began asking people what they defined as war and as peace. She was used to getting the concrete answers of war means fighting or war means death. But the answers she got surprised her. One woman told her that war meant wondering if her relatives
were going to die, others said hunger, and anger. And when she asked them what peace meant she got expected answers which were antithetical to the war synonyms. They said, having food, and happiness. But what one woman said stuck out to Salib. “’Peace means toenails’” she said. One woman told Salbi that when there is war she has to constantly move, which caused her toenails to fall off. When there is peace she could stay in one place long enough for her toenails to grow in. She stressed that as a society we need to change the course of discussion about war. That society should be more concerned with the work of fixing infrastructure after the fighting than it is currently. She explained that women are the barometer for societal change. When the people are going to be oppressed, it is usually the women who are oppressed first. When societies progress it usually begins with women gaining more rights of being treated better. Women for Women is an organization focused on supporting women who live in war-torn areas. The organization accepts donations and volunteers. For more information about Women for Women go to http://www.womenforwomen.org/.
2
News
Thursday, MArch 8, 2012
Hoosac Harvest educates community
SGA in Brief
–President Todd Foy informed the Senate of Senator Dan Saunders’s resignation. Saunders cited having problems commuting to meetings and other conflicts. –Public Relations Chair Kate Moore told the Senate a SGA suggestion box is now at the Campus Center Marketplace’s Info Booth. –Class of 2012 President Hawa Umarova said Senior Days events are almost finalized. Following spring break, time capsule work will be completed and the class of 2012 will hold a Krispy Kreme Donut fundraiser. –Lizzy Mullen, 2013 president, reminded everyone about the Coffeehouse and Open-Mic night tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. in Sullivan Lounge. The event will feature talent of the Writer’s Guild, Photography Club, and Chamber Ensemble Society. Mullen said a philanthropy project is planned for after spring break. The junior class will be knitting squares for blankets that will be sent to underprivileged children. –Senator Brendan Peltier of the Residential Programs and Services Committee said the housing assignment process will be the same as last year. Upcoming discussion topics will include noise, guest passes, courtesy hours, RA rounds, and two unmarked parking spots in front of Hoosac. –Senator Jacob Fennel briefed the Senate on Campus Police Advisory Committee’s (CPAC) first meeting. The committee discussed visiting other campuses with armed campus police, and holding more events like “safety walks.” MCLA Campus Police won’t be armed for at least six months, Fennel said. –Student Trustee Jaynelle Bellemore met with other state university student trustees last Friday. Discussion included the role of the student trustee and common issues across campuses. A presentation gave students information on tuition and housing compared to private schools. –Advisor Jennifer Craig announced nomination papers for next year’s SGA are available Monday, March 19 and are due Monday, April 2. Papers can be picked up at the SGA office, Campus Center third floor. –The Senate ratified the Cape Verdean Student Alliance constitution. Senator Brendan Peltier cautioned the Senate to think carefully before passing the club, citing the club’s similarity to other clubs on campus and cuts made to budgets. “We’re not talking about budgets,” Parlimatarian Natasha Dalton said. “We’re supposed to focus on this constitution, and we should be encouraging more clubs to form on campus, and not worry about what financial things may or may not occur in the future.”
Group emphasizes local produce at event to raise awareness about local farming and small food producers of the northern Berkshires set up stands to present their goods.
“Hoosac Harvest envisions a world where everyone has access to locally grown, sustainably produced food.” – Sandra Thomas
Photo by Aaron Crawford/ Beacon staff
Annie “Sunshine” Rodgers showcases her homemade bagels at the Grass Gallery.
By Holly Johnston Staff Writer
The Berkshires has a lot to offer when it comes to good food, and a group called Hoosac Harvest is here to spread the word. “Hoosac Harvest envisions a world where everyone has access to locally-grown, sustainablyproduced food,” Sandra Thomas, a member of the group said.
According to the Hoosac Harvest website, they believe in food security for all members of the community, and in the value of local food, farmers, and farmland to its health. On Feb. 16, Hoosac Harvest held an event called “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” at the Grass Gallery on Main St. in North Adams. Farmers
“We thought it would be a great time to get the community and the farmers together,” Thomas said. Local vegetables, honey, meat, eggs, cheese, fruit, and bread were displayed to the public. Those who attended could learn more about local agriculture, as well as enjoy the free samples. Cricket Creek was one of the many farms present at the event. “We are a grass-based dairy farm. We sell raw milk, make artisan cheese, butter, and we have a bakery. In our farm store we also sell products from other local farmers,” Jamie Ott the baker at Cricket Creek said.
“The farm store has been around for four and a half years now. It is slowly growing. It started off with raw milk and added other departments,” Ott continued. “Several restaurants in the area use our products. Wild Oats Market also sells our cheese,” Ott said. Wild Oats Market, also present at the event, is a grocery store in Williamstown which sells much of the local produce from the Berkshires. Robyn Riley, store manager of Wild Oats said, “One thing that is very central to Wild Oats Market is selling locally-sourced foods. As a small locally-independent market we have access to it in a way that a lot of the other markets would have a hard time with.” “We have a large local produce and cheese department and we sell local meats,” she said. “The co-op has been around since 1982. We are actually celebrating our 30th anniversary this year. The celebration will be on March 9,” said Riley. “It is an Open house event at Wild Oats from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come. Department managers will be sampling items from their departments,” she said. “The grocery manager will be sampling beer and wine. Our chef, Greg, will be cooking and serving hors d’oeuvres. Come around, it will be a good time,” Riley said.
Suspicious activity around Townhouses and other highlights from the Campus Police logs Sunday 2/26 1:08 a.m. – Public safety responded to an alcohol offense in Berkshire Towers. Subject transported to the hospital. 7:18 a.m. – Public safety transported a person to the hospital from Hoosac Hall. 8:02 a.m. – Public safety responded to a
report of vandalism at the Flagg Townhouse complex. A report was filed. 8:52 p.m. – Public safety responded to a report of suspicious activity in the Townhouse parking lot 1. Suspect could not be located. Monday 2/27 2:18 p.m. – Public safety responded to a
report of disturbing the peace at the Ashland St. lot. Peace was restored. 3:20 p.m. – Public safety responded to a report of suspicious activity in the Beta House on Blackinton St. Report was filed. Tuesday 2/28 3:20 p.m. – Public safety responded to a report of larceny at the
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Church Street Center. A report was filed. Thursday 3/1 2:21 a.m. – Public safety assisted another agency at the Flagg Townhouse complex. Friday 3/2 12:12 a.m. – Public safety transported a person to the hospital from Berkshire Towers.
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5:27 p.m. – Public safety responded to a report of harassment on campus. A report was filed. 8:53 p.m. – Public safety responded to a report of suspicious activity in the Townhouse complex. Suspect could not be located.
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News
Thursday, March 8, 2012
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3
Hosts wanted for Multicultural Overnight Program Program seeks to provide accepted students with authentic college experience. By Skyla Seamans Staff Writer
The Admissions Department is seeking diverse and driven students who will act as hosts during the Multicultural Overnight Program on Mar. 23 and Apr. 19. The program is intended for accepted students who are serious about attending the College in the fall, according to Michelle Williamson, Assistant Director of Multicultural Outreach and Recruitment. “Hosts will provide potential students with an authentic college experience,” Williamson said. “Students will participate in Accepted Students Day and there will be a variety of fun and interactive events on campus to show students who we are as a community.” She said the purpose of the program is to recruit high school students from city areas, such as Boston and New York City, who have diverse backgrounds in order to provide them with a better understanding of college life at MCLA. The program has also led to a multicultural expansion within the College. “We want to get students acclimated with the College and to truly show them that they are already valued members of the MCLA community,” Williamson said. “Student hosts will take the lead in this.” The program is divided into two nights; one dedicated to New York and Connecticut residents and the other to Massachusetts residents. Transportation will be provided for students on both occasions. On Mar. 23, students from New York City, Albany,
N.Y., and Hartford, Conn. will join the MCLA community. On Apr. 19, students from Boston, Worcester, and Springfield, Mass. will take part in the program. Natasha Robinson, Admissions Counselor and College Access Coordinator for Multi-Cultural Recruitment, has been working with Williamson to plan the program for the class of 2016. “We are encouraging students to participate as hosts in order to get involved and give back to their community,” Robinson said. “We are looking for hosts who are diverse in every way, not just in racial or ethnic diversity. Hosts will be able to share their experiences at MCLA along with their interests in order to help accepted students find their place here.” She also said that hosts must be residents of Hoosac Hall or Berkshire Towers in order to participate in the program. The host training day for the New York event is on Wednesday, Mar. 21 and the training day for the Massachusetts event is on Wednesday, Apr. 4. Both trainings will take place at 8:30 p.m. in Campus Center 324B. The purpose of the trainings is to give students a better idea of what to expect from the program, including what resources are available for students, paperwork that needs to be completed, and answers to any questions they have about the program. Michael Obasohan, Student Development Event Scheduler, has been planning the program with the Admissions Department. “My involvement,” he said, “is
Cooking Corner by Marissa Zelazo Two ways to Cheesecake Heaven
This week I’ll be taking a bit of a break from my healthy recipes and will share two of my favorite guilty pleasures. Both cheesecakes – one bake and one no bake. Cheesecakes can cost up to $40 if bought at the store or
even $6 for a small slice at a restaurant, but these recipes won’t cost more than $5 and can be made in very little time. Both make 8 servings each, or if you’re me, 3 servings by myself in the middle of the night.
Photo by Carly Samach/Beacon staff
Michael Obasohan, Student Development Event Scheduler, hopes to get more students involved in the Multicultural Overnight Program. to add the student life aspect to the overnight. I am planning a student panel, where high school students can ask questions about MCLA to upperclassmen.” Obasohan said he is also organizing other activities for students. The first group of the program will attend Harlequin’s performance of “Little Shop of Horrors” on Mar. 23 and there will be a mixer with current students held in Sullivan Lounge immediately following the show.
No-bake recipe Filling Ingredients: 12 oz. cream cheese, softened 1 cup confectioners’ sugar 8 oz. Cool Whip or any frozen whipped topping (store brands are always cheaper) Directions: Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth, then fold in whipped topping. Spoon into a graham cracker crust and top with canned cherry pie filling, pineapple chunks, chocolate chips, etc. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
For the second program session, Obasohan is planning to have a guest poet visit the campus and topossibly end the day with a movie night. However, there is currently no finalized itinerary for the second night. “My plan is to get more MCLA students involved in the Multicultural Overnight Program,” he said. “I want them to help the high school students know what MCLA is all about. I’m also working with the ALANA club
Traditional Crust: Combine 1 cup of graham cracker crumbs, 3 tablespoons of sugar, and a 1/4 cup of melted butter in a pan and bake at 350°F for 10 minutes. Filling Ingredients: 24 oz. cream cheese, softened 3/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 eggs 1/4 cup lemon juice (optional) Directions: Beat all ingredients with an electric mixer until well blended. Bake at 450°F for 10 minutes, then continue baking for 30 minutes at 250°F. Spread or plop cherry pie filling or fruit over top.
to get them involved as well.” He said he wants the program to provide accepted students with a realistic portrayal of the College. “I would feel I accomplished my goal if just one student says they took something away from this program,” he said. Students who are interested in a host position or have questions about the program can contact Michelle Williamson or Michael Obasohan via FirstClass.
Do you have an idea for something that should be in The Beacon? Let us know! The Beacon is always looking for contributions. Send us an email at MCLA Beacon Mailbox, or Beacon@MCLA. edu
News 4 Clubs unite to stop assault Thursday, march 8, 2012
By Amy Cubello Staff Writer
The Sexual Assault Awareness Committee is looking for clubs and groups of students to help with their new campaign. The new poster campaign will include everyone with the main focus being on males to “stepup” against assault. Heidi Riello, the new Director of Counseling Services since August, started the poster campaign in hopes to reach out to the MCLA community. She says the poster campaign will “shift the focus from sexual assault on just women.” The campaign will allow students and faculty to be photographed in a normal setting, whether it be playing a video or walking in the quad, and underneath will have the caption “______ Steps Up!”
The committee already sent out emails to clubs asking if they would like to join the campaign by being photographed candidly. Three clubs have already reached out and express interest. These clubs are SGA, Nexxus and Pines. The posters will circulate campus to inform the MCLA community about sexual assault. Don’t be discouraged if you are not in a club. Anybody can get involved. Since April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the committee wants to start putting posters up. Along with the poster campaign, there are two other campaigns being talked about in the committee. In September of the Fall Semester, there will be a theater production about acquaintance rape. Riello, alongside Matt Boilatt of Athletics and Amanda Beckwith, Athletics, are starting an MVP pro-
gram. MVP, Mentor Violence Prevention, focuses on bystander intervention prevention. With informing women on what they can do to minimize the risk of being sexually assaulted, MVP will inform males and others who are put into a position where they should intervene in a situation that could be harmful. Not only does MVP advise the MCLA community about sexual assault but also assaults based on gender and other discriminatory circumstances. The program will start with training RA’s, two or three students from each athletic team and the IFC (Interfraternity Council). If you want to learn more about the Sexual Assault Awareness Committee or to find out more information on the ongoing campaigns, email Heidi Riello.
theonlinebeacon.com
Community Service Spotlight
Cariddi comes to campus By Amy Cubello Staff Writer
State Representative for the North Adams area, Gail Cariddi, came to the College to talk to the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG) Intern class on how the College and MASSPIRG can best impact our legislation and reach out to elected officials. MASSPIRG is a statewide, student-directed, non-profit, nonpartisan organization, which conducts research, education and
service, and takes action on environmental, consumer, energy, and hunger relief issues. Currently, MASSPIRG is trying to improve the community in areas such as hunger and homelessness, energy efficiency and much more. Among many other campaigns, the organization is trying to have North Adams be plastic bag-free. Emily Borden is the MASSPIRG campus organizer. “MASSPIRG has a ton of great work going on this semester, mostly around hunger and homelessness, teaching kids and home-
owners about energy efficiency, increasing and improving public transit options across Massachusetts, and protecting students’ access to affordable higher education,” Borden said. On Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m., MASSPIRG holds its “Core Meeting.” According to Borden, this is where the group discusses all campaign updates and ongoing projects. Here are a variety of other meetings open to those interested in getting more involved with MASSPIRG:
Mondays
6pm – 7pm
Bowman Hall, TBD
Intern Class
Tuesdays
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Bowman 203
Energy Service Corps
Wednesdays
7 pm – 7:30 pm
Achievement Lounge, Campus
Hunger & Homelessness Group
Thursdays
7 pm – 7:30 pm
Bowman C-store
Textbooks/Higher Ed Group
Attention MCLA Clubs! Want to gather interest and bring in more members? Looking to spread the word for an upcoming event?
Did you know that The Beacon offers you a
Free Ad!
That’s right! Each semester, your club or organization is eligible to run one free advertisement in The Beacon newspaper! For more information, contact Dylan Glaser on FirstClass
Christopher Hantman Year of graduation: 2014 Hometown: Franklin, Massachusetts Major: English Communications Creative Writing What is your community service project? Coordinator of the Write Stuff after school program with Christopher Tate. A program designed to acclimate local youth to the idea of continuing their education while participating in different activies on campus and writing creatively about their experiences.
What inspires you to get involved?: The moments of genuine happiness, gratitude, and intellectual growth that occur throughout the semester and is quite apparent in a number of the students, vollunteers/ mentors, and us coordinators as well. How did you get involved with your project: As an English major I searched for ways to get involved that were related to my major. The Write Stuff just clicked and I have fallen in love with the program since I started it in the Fall of 2010.
Do you know someone that should be featured in the Community Service Spotlight? Then contact us at: Beacon@mcla.edu
News
Thursday, march 8, 2012
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Taking the Alternative Route Six students gear up for Alternative Spring Break at David School in Kentucky By Jess Gamari Staff Writer
Instead of spending spring break at home on the couch in front of the TV, why not travel to somewhere you have never been? That is what the six students who have signed up for the annual Community Service and Cultural Immersion Alternative Spring Break trip are doing. This year, they will travel to Kentucky to assist 30 students at the David School. “The mission of the David School is to provide a comprehensive educational program for Appalachian youth and adults who have limited financial resources and the potential to succeed in a nontraditional setting,” reads the David School Mission Statement on their website. “We will achieve our mission by creating a nurturing school environment that offers all students, through individualized attention, the opportunity to experience success and to serve their community.” The school was built in 1974, and has since enrolled “close to 2,000 dropouts and youth who are at high risk of dropping out.” School services are provided for preschoolers, at-risk teens, and adults who are either illiterate or in need of GED instruction. Spencer Moser, Coordinator of the Center for Service and Citizenship in Student Affairs, has been organizing the Alternative Spring Break trip since he came to MCLA seven years ago. The trip is run out of his office, and is not SGA-funded. Each year, he begins planning for the trip in early September and looks for opportunities for students to safely explore foreign regions and learn about cultural exchange. This year, he wanted to offer not only a community service trip closer to home, but also a place students may not have been before. In the past, students have traveled to the Navajo Nation Indian reservations, Mexico, the Gulf Coast, and, for the past three years, Belize. They have planted trees, restored homes after natural disasters, and helped citizens with their daily chores. While at the David School, volunteers will help students with homework, work on lesson plans, shadow teachers, prepare meals, and mentor students. Each evening, there will be a reflection discussion in which staff will talk about how they perceive America and the world. They will discuss what their land means to them, the impact of the coal industry, their roots in religion, and the stereotypes they face. Moser encourages all volunteers to do cultural research to have a better cultural understanding of the new environment. One resource Moser recommends is Creeker: a Woman’s Journey, an autobiography by Linda Scott DeRosier. “The writing style is just lovely, it’s like she’s speaking to you the whole time,” Moser said. “It el-
Photo Courtesy of Katelyn Abbot
Back Row: Sam Boyden, Cassandra McMartin, Korinna Dennehy, Spener Moser Front Row: Martha Pratt, Nicolas Mendez, Katelyn Abbot evated my whole educational awareness of the area. It’s about her goin.g into the rest of the world with stereotypes she faces, and strict gender roles.” Moser said most women did not gain an identity in society until they were married and had kids. “There’s so much embedded in this rich, prideful book about growing up in eastern Kentucky.” Moser and the volunteers will leave for Kentucky this Saturday, March 10 and will return late in the night on Sunday, March 18. Senior Nico Mendez has been on the past two trips to Belize, and his experiences have been lifechanging. “My biggest passion is volunteering,” Mendez said. “I talked with Spencer about my interest in joining the Peace Corps, and he suggested I travel on the Alternative Spring Break to get my feet wet.” Mendez plans to apply to the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps following his graduation this May. While in Belize, Mendez and other volunteers helped the community restore their land after Hurricane Richard. He helped plant 250 fruit trees in four days using a pick axe, explored Mayan temples, canoed, looked at Mayan pottery and went to the zoo. He found it interesting to see families who lived without electricity and bathed in the rivers, something very different from American culture. “It’s cool to see how they live so minimally but they’re comfortable with what they have,” Mendez said. “It makes you real-
ize what you take for granted.” “I’ve been lucky enough to go on the past two trips. I felt more invested in the second trip, like I was able to contribute more. It was great to have these once in a life time experiences, and then be able to do them again,” he added. One of the biggest aspects of preparing for the Alternative Spring Break trip is the teambuilding of the group. The six students have met each week since returning from winter break. “The group is a cross-section of different grades, majors, and extracurricular interests,” Moser said. The volunteers may not know each other or cross paths on a normal school day, but trips like these are all about building team work and relying on each other.” “We’re all learning the lay of the land in a new environment and culture,” Moser said. “We need to have a trusting environment, and feel comfortable relying on each other.” Freshman Martha Pratt is excited for the upcoming trip. “I came to MCLA knowing about these Alternative Spring Break trips, so when I saw the flyer for the trip in the cafeteria, I did not even have to think twice about wanting to sign up,” she said. “I am looking forward to meeting new people the most. There are going to be other schools from across the country there and I hope to become closer to the students from MCLA I’m going with as well.” Other colleges visiting the David School include Norte Dame,
University of Kentucky, and St. Ambrosia. There will be a total of 48 volunteers. Pratt plans on going hiking at a natural bridge and possibly going to see the birthplace of “Appalachia’s most beloved daughter”, Loretta Lynn. According to Moser, students from past trips have said it is one of the most profound and impactful experiences of their time here at MCLA. It helped them widen how they see the world and it re-energized them to do well academically.
“While on the trip, there’s lots happening, and you don’t realize your full experience until you look back and see what you gained,” Mendez said. Moser said the goal of the Alternative Spring Break is to contribute to being a local citizen, but also to give students the chance to experience for themselves how the world really is, beyond stereotypes and preconceived ideas. “It is the ultimate way to widen vision. It’s a way of refitting our own shoes by being in someone else’s shoes,” Moser said.
A&E 6 “Bard” a mixed bag of great acting, weak script Thursday, March 8, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
Photo by Jessie Wright/Beacon Staff
Cory Flood, Tyler Prendergast, Lauren Feeney, and Lynn McEnaney during an audition for “The Murdered Guitar”, the play-within-a-play in “What’s a Great Bard?”
Review by Jessie Wright
Copy Chief “Once theatre’s in your blood, it’s there for life,” one character quipped in last week’s Fine and Performing Arts production of “What’s a Great Bard? (REDUX)”. “Just like malaria,” another character shot back. Written and directed by Professor D.J. Jenkins, “Bard” is the slapstick tale of a terrible script (“The Murdered Guitar”), terrible actors, terrible set pieces, and the long-suffering, washed-up director who tries, and fails, to keep it all together. The strength of “Bard” lay not in the writing, but in the cast. The actors were absolutely fantastic, and rose to the challenge of taking a so-so script and making it work.
Sam Cournyn, as director Walter Masters, was a particular delight to watch. At times, Cournyn seemed to transcend the alcoholfueled, seething rage of his character into a red-faced, aneurismal, oh-god-why-me? fury all his own. A fine example of Method acting if I’ve ever seen one. Tyler Prendergast gave a solid, uproarious performance as leading man Joe Bob, a fairly mildmannered actor who by the end of the third act has descended into a sort of madness, exemplified by the wild-eyed, grinning Prendergast. While not his most subtle performance, it was certainly one of the most entertaining. Although, I’m still not sure why he was thrusting like a horny metronome every time Joe Bob
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was in-character… Did I miss an explanation within the dialogue? Lynn McEnaney shone as Mabel, the actress who always gets cast as a maid. In the first act, Mabel decides to make her character Irish. The accent McEnaney came up with was astoundingly, wonderfully ludicrous, and only got worse as the play went on, incorporating not only Irish inflections, but Scottish, English, Swedish, German, and Chinese accents as well. McEnaney is a breath of fresh air. She possesses a quiet, yet commanding, grace (even when shouting in ridiculous accents) and has none of the bombastic egocentricity which is so common in theatre. I would keep an eye on this freshman; she shows real promise.
Obviously, there is not enough space to critique the performance of each individual actor, but the whole ensemble was thoroughly enjoyable. Through the magic of over-thetop antics and hyperbole, “What’s a Great Bard?” showed just how eye-gougingly bad community theatre can be. In hearing this synopsis, however, those familiar with theatre might think of Michael Frayn’s “Noises Off!”, another play, written in 1982, that operates under the same theatre-productionin-shambles premise as “Bard”. Comparisons between the two are inevitable, and “Bard” is not quite as nuanced as its predecessor. At times the writing tried too hard to be funny, and many of
the jokes, particularly those in the first act, fell rather flat with the audience. The third act, however, was fairly hilarious, with enough visual and sound gags to distract from the fact that the dialogue (the climax from the play the characters were performing) was mostly unchanged from the previous scene. In “Bard”, there was not enough time spent on the characters as themselves, and too much time spent on them being in-character for the play they are putting on. It was difficult at times to distinguish between onstage and offstage personas, and as a result, it was hard for me to actually care about the characters aside from a severe case of the second-hand embarrassments.
Class of 2013 to host coffeehouse open mic
MCLA clubs will be showcased at the open mic night tonight at Today (Thursday) from 11a.m to 2p.m. 7 p.m. in Sullivan Lounge, where students are invited to perform and meet members from art and music related clubs.
Where:
The Campus Center Marketplace
Why: To get to know the staff, suggest stories, procure our hastily scribbled autographs, and grab some FREE coffee and donuts!
By Andrew Hodgson A&E Writer
The Class of 2013 will host its first Spring Coffee House program tonight at 7 p.m. in Sullivan Lounge. The event is meant to bring the campus together as well as help clubs increase their membership. Students interested in becoming involved can meet club members and talk about the ideals of the group to find their best fit. Clubs will be showcased with tables and sign-up sheets for students
throughout the event. Clubs are also invited to participate in the open mic event. Newer clubs participating in the event hoping to gain membership are Chamber Ensemble Society, Poetry Slam Club, Society of Music, and Photography Club. The event will place emphasis on exposing these newly-created groups to the wider student community. Refreshments for the event are being donated by Aramark, and the Residential Programs and Services staff is helping with dec-
orating Sullivan Lounge for the evening. The main event of the evening will be the open mic session. All art forms are welcome from poetry and song to interpretive dance. Clubs are welcome to both participate in the tabling part of the event, as well as perform something creative for the open mic. Any students interested in becoming more involved in the community, seeing the great new clubs on campus, or seeking to showcase their talents are welcome to attend.
A&E
Thursday, March 8, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
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WCMA showcases 1970s L.A. Chicano performance Williams College Museum of Art held its opening reception for Asco: Elite of the Obscure last weekend. Asco features paintings, photographs, mixed media, and costumes. By Nora Weiss A&E Writer
Williams College Museum of Art is free to visit, much like the artistic expression that lies inside. Saturday, Feb. 4 was the gallery opening of “Asco: Elite of the Obscure, A Retrospective” at the museum. Portrayed for upwards of a hundred people on the second floor of the collegiate museum, photographs, paintings, and mixed media littered the white walls. It’s all Chicano art, the passion of people of Mexican descent living in the United States. It was a term that started off as a derogatory statement, but united many people through self-expression and artistic outlet. “Asco” at Williams gives viewers a peek inside a world of frustration, destruction, and revolution. Asco is the Spanish word for “disgusting,” the ironic term dubbed for the group of Mexican artists in East Los Angeles in the 70s and 80s. Originating from Harry Gamboa, Jr., Gronk Willie Herron III, and Patssi Valdez, the artists put their lives as Hispanic men in America on
display, showed their struggles, their grievances, and their triumphs as they searched for success and happiness. Valdez’s media collage screamed in hot pinks, lime greens, and violent yellows with a terrified pair of eye protruding into sight (no pun intended). Valdez also shows his sensitive side with a large painting of a man and a woman mid-tango, the woman with a large sun hat and sunglasses covering her pale face, and the man with cold, distant eyes. Photographer Pasquale di Fabrizio makes his entrance into the gallery through cemetery photos. The only odd part about this photo is there is a man dressed as an envelope standing amidst the graves. When you walk in, try not to miss the mannequin wearing the artists’ Asco costume: a 1974 three-piece velvet suit, complete with 5-inch platform boots. Williams College Museum of art is free to the public. For directions, hours, and to follow the museum’s blog about upcoming and existing exhibits, go to wcma.williams.edu.
Photo by Nora Weiss/Beacon staff
Asco: Elite of the Obscure held its opening reception last weekend. The gallery, which contains photographs, paintings, mixed media and even costumes will run until July 29, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. More information can be found on the WCMA Web site.
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A&E
Thursday, March 8, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
Jennifer Miller, Are you a bearded lady, visits musician? Do you want Sullivan Lounge to spread the word about your music?
A&E Editor
On Monday night, Jennifer Miller, during her fifth visit to Everybody’s Irish MCLA, entertained students and faculty in Sullivan Lounge. St. Patricks Day The director of Circus Amok, a politically-minded New York- on Spring break is so close I can albased circus, mixed personal stories, read fan mail, and per- most graze it with my desperately outstretched fingers. It’s a whole formed circus acts. week of sleeping as late as my By Tano Holmes A&E Writer
The Beacon’s A&E Department wants to give you the chance to get yourself noticed on campus! Fill out the list below and send an email to either the Beacon Mailbox or Mary Redstone on FirstClass Name:
(Or name of Band)
Genre: Sounds Like: Years Active: Recorded Music Available:
(Such as EPs or full albums)
Where Your Music Can be Obtained: Upcoming Gigs:
You may also submit up to 150 words of additional info on you or your band as well as one or two color photos each no bigger than 2x3 inches.
Mary Redstone
Last Monday, Jennifer Miller, also known as the Bearded Lady, made her fifth exciting and eccentric visit to MCLA. Miller is a Professor of Theater at Pratt University as well as the director of Circus Amok, a politically-minded circus which is based in New York City. She started her performance with a poem, which she performed with a light in her hand. Half- way through the poem she broke the light bulb and promptly began to eat the glass. She made sure to ask the people in the audience to tap the glass to prove it was real, which they authenticated. As she finished the poem, she took a glass of water and swallowed the shards. She then started to talk about her life and how she came to be a director of a circus. She lived in New York for a while doing lesbian theater, as well as working as a bicycle messenger. She finally decided to do something new and fun, so she began to work for a sideshow in Coney Island as (in her own words) “a freak”. She was drawn to the darker side of the show business, and she described with her own dramatic flair some of the acts she worked with, like men who stabbed themselves with nails, sword- and snake-swallowers, and people who breathed fire. “It made me tough,” Miller said. “I really loved performing for such a diverse audience. They would always tell you how you feel.” Miller then went into her act that she used to perform at the side show. It was quite amusing how she described all the problems with shaving while playing with a machete which she dropped multiple times pretending to be drunk. After knocking over her microphone she pretended to fight with the tech guy who tried to help her. After making quite the display of intoxication, she proceeded to juggle machetes while running around and talking avidly to the audience. Following that segment, she read some of her fan mail as
monologues. They dealt with many of the difficult problems that appearance plays in contemporary society. She then discussed the issue of discrimination against cross-dressing people, and disabled people, when there were laws against being in public if you wore clothes not of your gender, or had disabilities that made one “unsightly or disgusting”. She exposed the irony of the law punishing and persecuting cross-dressers and the disabled, while the side show put them on display. Miller transitioned smoothly into an act where she was put into a straight jacket and wrapped
with chains, from which she tried to escape. She then began prancing around to “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor, and completely escaped before the song was finished. As the performance concluded, Miller showed a video of Circus Amok performing in New York in a street festival. The performance included a planted heckler who engaged in a debate over immigration. “I really liked it,” junior Colin Clement said. “She was way more engaging than I thought she would be.”
Photo by Marissa Zelazo
Jennifer Miller told stories while performing circus acts on Monday in Sullivan Lounge, including breaking out of a straight jacket and chains.
sleepy little heart desires, catching up on movies and TV shows I’ve missed out on, and delicious home-cooked meals. Oh, and St. Patrick’s Day. Yes, this is the first year I’ll be 21 during the infamous Irish holiday. However, not everyone can be so lucky. I remember being in age-induced agony last year when I was just 20 and actually in Boston for the parade. Surrounded by loud drunks first thing in the morning only rubbed my hinderance in my face. But not this year. I will be home, not in Boston, but I will be celebrating with people I love in a local bar with my friend’s band playing in the background. For those under the legal drinking age, there are still plenty of things to do. The Parade in South Boston is the second largest St. Patty’s Day parade in the United States. Rather than occuring on the holiday itself, it will begin on Sunday, Mar. 18 at 1 p.m. The parade starts on West Broadway, makes a full loop, and ends on Dorchester Avenue. If you’re around the South Shore, Abington will also be holding its own parade, as will Scituate. If you live on the Cape, the official Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on Saturday, Mar. 10. at 11 a.m. The parade starts at School Street and Route 28 in West Dennis and ends two miles later at Route 28 and Forest Road. On the other side of the state, Holyoke will be having its 10K St Patrick’s Day Road Race on Mar. 17. Registration for the race is still open and can be found at runholyoke.com. If you are in the middle of the state, Worcester is holding its parade on Mar. 11, beginning on Park Avenue. More information can be found on stpatsparade. com. If you can’t make it to the parades but still want to do something festive, the city of Boston has an Irish Heritage Trail through Downtown Boston and Back Bay. An interactive map can be found on irishheritagetrail. com/boston. But of course, if you’re over 21 there are so many more doors open to you - literally. Massvacation.com/irish has a list of every official event in the state, including bars and pubs with drink specials on the holiday. If you do decide to drink your sorrows away on St. Patty’s Day, please be responsible. Get a designated driver and all that jazz. However, if you want to get one of those big, green, foam hats with the buckle on the front I can’t really stop you.
Sports
Thursday, March 8, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
9
Indoor soccer winter session heads into home stretch The indoor soccer league boasted over 40 participants when it concluded on March 6
By Ariana Tourangeau Staff Writer
With over 40 students participating, the Indoor Soccer League is one of the most popular sports within the Intramural program here at MCLA. Attracting mainly soccer players, the league is a friendly competition that gives players, and anyone else interested, a chance to play the sport for fun outside of the regular season. “Indoor Soccer has historically been one of the strongest sports for Intramurals. Intramurals has been running indoor soccer since the early 90’s when I was a student at MCLA,” Director of Intramural’s and head coach of Men’s Soccer Adam Hildabrand said
“Out of all three sports, soccer has the most interest and the biggest crowd,” said D’Annunzio. The Intramural Program (IMS) is a program filled with a variety of activities which gives students, faculty and staff members a chance to take a break from academics and have fun and make new friends. Intramurals helps students to develop qualities of leadership, cooperation, self-reliance, fitness and a sense of
Photo by Will Casey/Beacon Staff
The indoor soccer league plays in the Venable Gym and is largely filled with off-season soccer players. fair play all while having fun. All games are held in Venable Gym. The program is also assisted by student supervisors John Ripepi, Ryan Shewchuck, Olivia McMul-
len and Gary D’Annunzio. Senior and soccer player Gary D’Annunzio has been a part of Intramurals as an active participant since his freshman year and a su-
pervisor for the last two years. “Out of all three [Intramural] sports, soccer has the most interest and the biggest crowd. There are six teams and the games are
exciting,” D’Annunzio said. “But we also have various sports that touches all interests of students.” SOCCER CONTINUED ON PG. 10
Rick Massey juggles school and sports Cheshire native balances classwork with both soccer and baseball teams
By Kayla Koumjian Sports Writer
Being a student athlete is a time consuming commitment. It is hard enough for students to manage time between their sport and school. For senior Ricky Massey, it is twice as demanding, because he plays both soccer and baseball. Massey plays both outfield and also supports the team as a lefthanded pitcher. In his freshman year with the soccer team, Massey played in 16 games, starting in eight. He scored three goals and nabbed six points for the whole season. Last semester, Massey finished his fourth season playing soccer for the College and he is now beginning his final season playing baseball. Massey’s decision to go to MCLA was influenced by the prospect of playing both sports he loved. “The opportunity to play both soccer and baseball was a huge decision maker for me. The chance to play two sports I love,” Massey explained. He also chose MCLA because of the close proximity to home and
the campus atmosphere. “The environment around the school had also helped me choose along with how close it is to my home. I have the luxury of going home when I choose,” Massey said.
“I started off playing tee ball in Adams,” described Massey. “I also started playing youth soccer in Adams as well.” Massey is from Cheshire, Mass. and attended Hoosac Valley High School until he transferred to St. Joseph Catholic High School halfway through freshman year. Soccer and baseball have always been Massey’s passions. He first started playing when he was six years old. “I started off playing tee ball in Adams,” described Massey. “I also started playing youth soccer in Adams as well.” Last semester, Massey finished his final season on the Men’s Soccer team. During his four years,
Massey played in 49 games and started in 34 of those games. This semester, Massey is starting his last season on the Baseball team. Massey is a starting pitcher and outfielder. In the 2011 season, Massey played in 22 games and hit for a .161 average. Massey played and started in every game. He only had four errors the entire season. He scored nine runs off of ten hits throughout the season. In that same season, Massey threw for an earned run average (ERA) of 9.00. This season, Massey is headed into a season in which he is one of only three seniors, with the vast majority of the team being made up of underclassmen. The baseball team struggled last season, only going 8-22 for the season. The coming season will be an interesting moment in the development of the team, as it provides a chance for a fresh start. Massey is very excited for this coming baseball season. “I honestly think our baseball team has made some great strides since the end of last season,” he said. MASSEY CONTINUED ON PG. 11
Photo courtesy of Ian Grey/Ian Grey Photography
Massey began his sports career with tee ball in Adams, Mass.
Sports 10 Intramural badminton wraps up Session III Thursday, March 8, 2012
By Brendan Foley Sports Editor
The Intramural badminton program met for another round of play in Venable Gym on March 5. Moments before the matches began, a visitor would never have guessed that the court would soon be host to shuttlecocks and nets. The basketball courts were filled with scrimmaging players, while the racquet-wielding badminton participants filed in slowly and took practice swings. The court was cleared off and the nets were carried out and untangled. Two teams set up on either side of each net and began taking practice volleys for warm up. Around them, stragglers from the basketball shooter took free throws and dribbled around the flying shuttlecocks and waving racquets. As the games began, two volunteers stood at the ends of each net to keep score and referee the matches. There was an imbalance, with nine players to only two courts. Sophomore Mary Ferrara stood off to the side, reserving herself as a substitute in case one of the other players needed a break. Ferrara learned about the badminton league through First Class where she read about the program
under the student announcements banner. Having already played a little badminton in high school she was interested in continuing at the College. Describing her first experience with the game, Ferrara broke from her story to marvel at the on-court antics, as one male player performed a mid-court split. “I like that it’s relaxing, but competitive. I just play it ‘cause (sic) I have good hand-eye coordination,” Ferrara said. Ferrara has enjoyed her time playing badminton, but felt that the Intramural program could have handled the organizational aspects better. “I think it could be a little more
“It’s pretty fun. You get to meet new people. I didn’t expect this many people to do it,” Ferrara said. well-organized than it is,” she said. She expressed the wish that if email and other online resources were used to their full potential, then there would be better communication of schedules and whether or not teams were going to show up for scheduled matches.
theonlinebeacon.com
Despite this, Ferrara was enthusiastic both about badminton and the program as a whole. She described plans to sign up for the Kan Jam program that will be starting soon. Shorty before taking the court to sub in, Ferrara commented positively on the experience. “It’s pretty fun. You get to meet new people. I didn’t expect this many people to do it,” Ferrara said. Some of the other team’s playing had brought their own cheering section who filled the rafters of Venable with laughing cries of “DEFENSE!” and applause at each serve and volley. After a successful return, one player even broke from his court to high five classmates in the front row of the bleachers. Sophomore Sebastian Waldron echoed many of Ferrara’s criticisms and compliments. Waldron heard about badminton from a friend and decided to sign-up. He was largely ignorant of badminton before joining up. “It’s fun to get involved,” Waldron said, “and to have something to do.” Waldron agreed with Ferrara that things could have been more organized and the athletes better informed. On the court, Ferrara missed a serve, but her opponents simply waved it away, announcing that it
Photo courtesy of Abbeydalesportsclub.co.uk
Intramurals badminton was played in the Venable Gym in the last meeting of the third session. did not count and allowed Ferrara to swing again. The games concluded, the winner being determined as the winner of the best of three games, the winning team being the first to reach 15 points. With the official games over, Intramural supervisor Ryan Shewchuck told the assembled crowd that he would stay behind a little longer than he had been asked to allow them to continue to use the nets for friendly games. Shewchuck was recruited to the Intramural effort by head coach of Men’s Soccer Adam Hildabrand,
who Shewchuck met when he played for the Trailblazers. Shewchuck is one of four supervisors who devote their time to sending out emails, keeping time and refereeing games and getting the games set up. Shewchuck is not just a supervisor; he also participates in as many of the programs as he can. He named Kan Jam as his personal favorite Intramural activity. The third session of Intramurals will conclude this week with the finals of the indoor soccer league. The fourth and final session will begin shortly after spring break.
Indoor soccer hosts Monday night semi-finals SOCCER, CONTINUED FROM PG. 9
D’Annunzio is the highest goal scorer for the regular season with 24 goals. Junior Joe Mecca is behind him with 23 goals, with junior Ben Souza in third with 22. Brianna Dandurant is the fouth highest goal scorer with 19 goals. D’Annunzio’s team also finished the regular season in first place. Their luck would not hold up in the semi-finals. On Monday, March 5, the indoor soccer semi-finals started with D’Annunzio’s team “The Moes” squared off against “Captain Morgan and the Rum Runners” in the first round. “Captain Morgan and the Rum Runners” took the win and will go to the finals. In the second round of the semifinals “Israel Madrid” played “Heavies.” “Heavies” emerged victorious and will go on to face “Captain Morgan and the Rum Runners” in the finals. The Intramural program offers a variety of sports, including: basketball, wiffle ball, kickball, floor hockey, ping-pong, dodgeball, indoor soccer, nerf football, ultimate Frisbee, Frisbee golf, flag football, inner tube water polo, volleyball, arena football and softball. The current session in progress is Session III and it consists of badminton, indoor soccer and ping-pong. The next session will be offering kan-jam, volleyball and 4-on-4
Photo by Will Casey/Beacon Staff
The Intramural indoor soccer league held its semi-final games on Monday night in the Venable Gym. basketball. The Intramural Program also hosts events aside from the activities. “The IM department is hosting an indoor soccer tournament in the Campus Center on March 25 at 11 a.m.,” D’Annunzio said. They will also be hosting a dodgeball tournament on Apr. 1.
Some of the special events Intramurals hosts are Sunday bowling at Greylock Bowl, Monday’s at the Range – batting cages, mini golf, and driving range and the annual white water rafting trip on the Deerfield River. The on-going activities students can participate in are swim team workouts at the Campus Center
pool, open gym time at Venable Gym and fitness sessions. All hours for these activities can be found on bulletin boards at the respective areas. To sign up for Intramurals, there are notices and sign up sheets around campus available for use. The Intramural department tables from time to time, so stu-
dents can get their sheets and fill them out that same day. The sign up sheets can be given to any of the student supervisors Students can go online to www. imleagues.com/mcla to create an account and register a team. Online, students are able to view the schedule and standings for the leagues.
Sports
Thursday, March 8, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
Massey prepares for upcoming season MASSEY, CONTINUED FROM PG. 9
Brendan Foley Sports Editor
For most of my mature life as a follower of the Boston Red Sox, if I had to pick out a single player to be my favorite, it probably would have been Jason Varitek. Varitek, who recently announced his retirement from the game of baseball at age 39, served as the Boston Red Sox catcher for 15 years, wearing the captain’s C for his last seven seasons, one of only three captains in all of the MLB and only the third team captain in the entire history of the Red Sox (after Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice). What struck me most as a kid was that Varitek embodied many of the qualities that I most wanted out of the professional athletes (and heck, any public figure that I admired). He was talented, sure, but more importantly it was the manner in which he conducted himself. Jason Varitek wasn’t flashy or loud. He didn’t make the tabloids or get into screaming matches with people. He didn’t run around crazy looking for attention. No, he was a leader in the quiet sense. He was a guy who just showed up and did his job to the utmost of his abilities. He was a guy who supported his teammates, spending hours watching game footage to better know what balls to call and who to watch out for. He was the guy who made everyone else better around him through dedication and attitude. That changed in the last few seasons. Age gets the best of all of us, and Varitek’s play had not lived up to the needs of a major league baseball club. But even more than his conduct, one of the reasons why I’ll miss Varitek is that he is one of the very few athletes which Boston implicitly owns as a figure. So many of our heroes either come to us already well into their careers (like Schilling) or leave to go onto long careers with other teams that taints, or at the very least diminishes, their time with Boston (thanks Damon, Manny, Clemons, to many to mention). When I was a kid, no athelete quite said Boston the way that Ray Borque did. He simply WAS the Boston Bruins and the team was only ever complete with him there. And yet, Ray had to leave, had to go all the way to Colerado to get the Stanley Cup that had so eluded him during his time with the big bad Bruins. Varitek is part of a very, very small club. He never set foot on a Major League field wearing any colors but those of the Boston Red Sox, not in any of his thirteen seasons of professional play. So thank you for everything, Jason, the good times and the bad.
The baseball team is young this year, but Massey has a lot of confidence in his teammates and their abilities. “If we continue to work hard and put in the effort, there will be no stopping us, leading us to a great season,” Massey said. Teammates, such as senior Dan Gaines, believe Massey is a hard worker. “He works really hard at both his positions. It’s not easy to pitch and play outfield,” Gaines explained. “He’s a good teammate and good player. He’s always been a starter at both positions,” he added. The men’s team will be playing 10 games while in Florida during spring break. Their first game after break will be on Mar. 20, at 3 p.m. at Clark University. The team’s first home game will be March 21, at 3:30 p.m. against Norwich College.
Softball 3/9 vs. Rochester Inst. 11:00 a.m. 3/9 vs. MPI
1:00 p.m.
3/10 vs. Mitchell 11:00 a.m. 3/10 vs. Nichols 1:00 p.m. 3/11 vs. Potsdam 1:00 p.m. 3/11 vs. Stevens Institute 3:00 p.m. Baseball 3/9 vs. SUNY IT 3:00 p.m. 3/9 vs. SUNY IT 5:30 p.m. 3/11 vs. Lesley
10:00 a.m.
3/11 vs. Lesley
12:30 a.m.
3/13 vs. Hamilton 9:30 a.m.
Gaines added, “He’s a good teammate and a good player. He’s always been a starter at both positions.” After the baseball season ends, Massey will be graduating from MCLA in May, with a degree in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice. Massey will miss MCLA after he graduates.
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3/13 vs. Hamilton 12:00 p.m. Men’s Tennis 3/25 @ Anna Maria 9:30 a.m. 329 @ Becker
3 p.m.
Rick Massey hopes to pursue a career involved with Homeland Security when he gradautes from MCLA.
4/5 @ Clark
4 p.m.
“I will certainly miss the college life and all of my friends,” he explained. Massey is looking forward to
4/10 Western New England 4:00 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Ian Grey/Ian Grey Photography
graduating, though, and is eager to start a career in Homeland Security.
Cut out and fill out your own bracket! March Madness is right around the corner, so fill out your own game plan
Courtesy of Chiff.com
Your friendly neighborhood Beacon invites you to cut out this bracket and fill in your picks as the tournament rolls on!
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Opinion
Thursday, march 8, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
Campus Comment compiled by Serina Stimpson
What has been your favorite on campus activity this semester? I am going to Port St. Lucie in Florida to visit my great-grandfather. Ed Damon
-Shauna Dacus
-Ashley White
Editor in Chief Email is a wonderful thing, especially for a college campus. Students and faculty don’t need to worry about “memos” for anything besides something of an important or professional nature. But email has a downside. It’s become so easy to communicate back and forth that we as a society have started communicating oneon-one far less. Whether people are sending each other emails, commenting on Facebook statuses they disagree with, or flaming each other on 4Chan, something that exists in one-on-one interaction is lost. After Monday’s Student Government Association meeting, an email exchange took place with several students and faculty. The original email questioned the fairness of the Budget and Finance Committee’ s recommendations. Though students voiced their concerns at the meeting and emailed many students on the night of, it seens little was discussed in the seven day span between the previous SGA meeting. Much could have been done and many questions could have been answered during this time. Monday’s meeting showed that students perceive the issue in many different ways. More was brought up in that one meeting than could’ve been published in one article. The community meeting will serve as a forum to ask questions about the budget process and how the recommendations were created. It will also be a place for clubs to collaborate on ways to make do with less money. The clubs and students who have questions and concerns should attend this meeting. Not only to have their questions answered, but to contribute to what SGA wants to be a thoughtful and constructive conversation on how the budget process should be done in future years. Now more than ever, students should talk to their representatives, the names of whom are on the MCLA web site. The student body should remember The Beacon as another way to voice their opinions. As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, no letter was sent to The Beacon taking a position against the club budget recommendations. Letters to the editor should be in as soon as possible, as our paper goes to print on Wednesday afternoons. Hopefully, after a long restful spring break, students will be ready to engage in a constructive conversation.
I’m going home to relax and play with my dog.
I will be working full time at home and spending time with my family.
I am excited to go home and relax with my family. -Ray Viches
-Jake Powers
I am going to Tampa, Florida with my housemates.
I don’t have any immediate plans yet, but I’m excited not to have classes.
-Emily Dessingue
-Chris Oxholm I am going to my little brother’s basketball tournament and spending time at home. -Shawn Willis
Letters to the Editor
A Budget to Remember
Over the past month, SGA Treasurer Peter Swain and the Budget Finance Committee have reviewed the budget requests of over 40 clubs. They held meeting after meeting and meticulously formulated a budget that gives every club an equal shot at achieving its goals. In order to do this, Treasurer Swain indeed had to make some deep cuts to make up the shortfalls of a Student Activity Fee that no longer adequately funds our amazing show of student leadership and initiative. These cuts were not limited to clubs alone, as the SGA took a cut to its own operating budget for the first time in history. I know that many of you are upset with your budgets. This was evident at the SGA meeting this past Monday and in the scatter of comments and emails that have flown about campus in the past few days. Well, it may be shocking
to hear, but I am unhappy too These cuts were not easy to make and they are ones I hope we never have to make again. However, I do support Treasurer Swain and his budget to the fullest, as should you. It was completed with the upmost fairness and greatest consideration of all parties. Treasurer Swain deserves nothing but high marks and congratulations in this. In the end, the budget has been formulated and passed. This will not change. What can change, however, is the way in which we move forward. As always, I am disappointed and even hurt when I see students as well as faculty engaging in unprofessional and uneducated personal attacks on any particular person. What does this leave us with but the bitter taste of discontent and anger? None of this is productive and I hope that we have realized that now. As a student body we have gone through a lot this year and come out stronger, so let’s do it again. To that end, Treasurer Swain has organized a community meeting to be hosted on Thursday, Mar.
22, at 7 p.m. in Murdock 218 to allow us to discuss this together. Let this be a forum for education, information, and collaboration We can either stay mired in anger or rise to the challenge and grow closer as a community. I know the latter is very achievable and I cannot wait to rise to the occasion with you all once more. Enjoy your spring break and I will see you on Mar. 22.
Todd B. Foy, Jr. SGA President 2012
A Mile in their Shoes
After attending several SGA meetings in the past few weeks regarding the club budget process, I have a few thoughts I would like to share with the college community.
SGA does the best they can when giving each club a budget for the upcoming year. Because of the large number of clubs, and the even larger amount of money requested, every club had their requested amount of money lowered in order to accommodate for each club. Everyone involved has done an amazing job in this difficult process, and unfortunately have suffered some backlash for their decisions. I feel people who are attacking SGA and these decisions should possibly think more about what they say and think of new ways to raise money for their clubs. Every club was affected in this process, and my thought is that if there is an individual or group of students who are unhappy with the decision, they should be part of SGA and be proactive about their thoughts. Maybe a walk in their shoes would change their thoughts.
Jennifer Smaltz 2012
Opinion
Thursday, march 1, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
Rush Limbaugh bashes women’s rights, yet again Women’s reproductive rights are constantly under attack in the media, and I am fed up with it. Rush Limbaugh, conservative radio talk show host, made unacceptable comments last week which fueled more outrage. When Georgetown Law School student Sandra Fluke rallied for contraceptive funding as a requirement for all healthcare plans, Limbaugh called her a “slut” and a “prostitute” over the air. “What does it say about college co-ed Susan Fluke [sic] who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex—what does that make her?,” Limbaugh said last week during his talk show. “It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex. She’s having so much sex she can’t afford the contraception. She wants you and me and the taxpayers to pay her to have sex.” Seriously? Sandra (not Susan, Limbaugh) Fluke testified at an unofficial Democratic-sponsored hearing on Feb. 23 in order to stress the importance of reproductive healthcare for women. Her statement brought applause from the
Skyla Seamans Columnist
small group present, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Fluke said contraception can cost a woman more than 3,000 dollars during college. Fluke was supposed to be the Democratic witness at a Congressional hearing about the Obama administration’s contraception policy last month, but the Republican committee chair barred her from speaking while allowing a slew of men to testify about the policy instead. The report from the nonprofit Guttmacher Institute, which specializes in reproductive issues, states almost half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned and unintended. It is significantly cheaper to
provide men and women with education about and access to birth control methods than it is to raise a child. There are 28 states that already require birth control to be covered by insurance. But Limbaugh’s ignorance continued. “So Miss Fluke, and the rest of you Feminazis, here’s the deal,” he said. “If we are going to pay for your contraceptives, and thus pay for you to have sex, we want something for it. We want you to post the videos online so we can all watch.”
“It is significantly cheaper to provide men and women with education about and access to birth control methods than it is to raise a child.” U.S. Representative Caroline Maloney, a Democrat from New York, issued a statement soon after Limbaugh’s program to show her disgust. “His comments were as shocking as they were uninformed,” she said to the press. “It was disgraceful and debas-
ing. All because she was willing to stand up for a woman’s right to access reproductive health care.” This is revolting. Limbaugh’s words are his attempt to disrespect and silence women who speak up for their rights. But it is not going to work. “The millions of American women who have and will continue to speak out in support of women’s health care and access to contraception prove that we will not be silenced,” Fluke responded to the press. Pelosi demanded Limbaugh apologize after his rude comments. After much disapproval from Democrats and Republicans as well as several advertisers who withdrew from his program because of his words, he said sorry. In lieu of Limbaugh’s comments, the Obama Administration officially decided health insurance plans across the nation must cover birth control as preventative care for women, with no copays, which will allow tens of millions of women to gain coverage initially. This new requirement will go in effect on Jan. 1, 2013, in most cases. Win!
“The Wright Way”
An Open Letter to Limbaugh Dear Rush, You are, to put it nicely, a hypocritical, pill-popping blowhard. A few years back you were caught on your way to a solo vacation in the Dominican Republic with a bottle full of Viagra pills. That’s a lot of little blue pills for a solo vacation. Surely you couldn’t have had plans to sleep with anyone! Certainly not multiple people! Because you know what that would make you, right? But of COURSE Sandra Fluke is the one who’s a slut for having the gall to advocate birth control insurance coverage. You know what IS covered by medical insurance and taxpayer funds? I will give you a hint: you use it, and it rhymes with “Niagra”. See, right here I could make a reference to this quote you said in regards to Fluke: “If we are going to pay for your contraceptives, and thus pay for you to have sex, we want
voltingly sexist and derogatory comments toward Sandra Fluke, of course you reflected on what you did wrong, learned a very important lesson, and offered a heartfelt contrition to Fluke, right?
Jessie Wright Columnist
something for it. We want you to post the videos online so we can all watch.” I could propose you take your own suggestion… but let’s be honest with each other. None but your 4th wife and the most diehard of your conservative fanbase are going to want to see that debacle. And then when your advertisers started pulling out left and right because of your re-
“Good gravy, Limbaugh! You couldn’t sincerely apologize your way out of a wet paper bag.” “I don’t expect, and I know you don’t either, morality or intellectual honesty from the left,” you said. “This is the mistake I made: in fighting them on this issue last week, I became like them. Against my own instincts, against my own knowledge, against everything I know to be right and wrong, I descended to their level. I feel very badly about that.
Those two words were inappropriate. They were uncalled for. They distracted from the point I was trying to make, and I again sincerely apologize.” Good gravy, Limbaugh! You couldn’t sincerely apologize your way out of a wet paper bag. Great job of shifting the blame for your comments on your political enemies, instead of, you know, manning up and taking responsibility for the verbal sewage that seeps from your mouth. I wouldn’t be so bold as to wish harm upon you. That’s not my gig. But next time you require the help of one of those little blue pills you are so fond of… I hope it fails on you. Warmest regards, Jessie
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Pittsfield radio station dumps Limbaugh
Photo courtesy of KRMG.org
Conservative radio personality Rush Limbaugh made headlines after demanding to see a sex tape as compensation for “tax-funded” birth control.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (AP) _ Another radio station is dropping Rush Limbaugh’s talk show following the conservative host’s derisive comments about a law student advocating for coverage of birth control in the health care debate. Radio station 1420 AM WBEC in Pittsfield, Mass., said Tuesday it is no longer airing Limbaugh’s show and apologized to anyone who may have been offended by his remarks. Limbaugh called Georgetown student Sandra Fluke a “slut’’ and a “prostitute’’ last week after she urged lawmakers consider the importance of contraception coverage in national health care policy. Limbaugh apologized on his website Saturday and on the air on Monday but it was too little, too late for many. At least eight companies have pulled their advertisements and one other radio station has stopped airing the show.
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Thursday, march 8, 2012
World and Science
theonlinebeacon.com
Super Tuesday voters have their say in GOP race Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) – Mitt Romney is angling to solidify his front-runner status and Rick Santorum to keep it a two-man race as voters in 10 states put Super Tuesday’s imprint on the Republican presidential contest. Newt Gingrich just hopes to keep his struggling campaign alive with a strong showing in Georgia. “Good luck tonight,’’ President Barack Obama quipped during a White House news conference when asked if he had anything to say to Romney. “Really,’’ Obama added wryly as he tried to steal some of the spotlight from his GOP rivals on the biggest day yet in the Republican race. From coast to coast, voters were weighing in on which Republican should get the chance to challenge Obama in November. With Ohio looming large in the Super Tuesday lineup, textbook editor Heather Froelich outside Columbus gave her vote to Romney, saying: “He understands the economy.’’ Enthusiasm was in short supply among some of those casting ballots. Gingrich got a reluctant vote from Tricia Tetrault, in Edmond, Okla., where she explained her decision this way: “Ronald Reagan wasn’t available any more. What can I say?’’ Santorum got the support of contractor Matt Howells in suburban Cleveland, but Howells didn’t expect his ballot would
count for much. “I really don’t see a Republican winning the White House,’’ he said. With 419 delegates at stake around the country, Tuesday’s voting represents a sizable slice of the 1,144 needed to nail down the GOP nomination. Romney, who turned back Santorum in a close contest in Michigan last week, hoped to continue his winning trend. He has won four consecutive contests, including Saturday’s Washington caucuses. The GOP front-runner, trying to keep his focus on Obama, used a speech Tuesday before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee to argue he’d be more effective at containing Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Santorum and Gingrich, too, addressed the committee and faulted the president’s record on Iran and the Mideast. The president, for his part, put the power of incumbency on display with his first full news conference of the year. He announced a new program to address the housing crisis, part of his ongoing effort to show he’s working aggressively to help the economy recover. He also pushed back at GOP critics on oil and energy issues, saying there’s no way a president up for re-election would want gas prices to go up. He also argued that Democrats have a ``better story’’ than Republicans to tell female voters. And he castigated his GOP critics for talking about the possibility of war with Iran in
a casual way and accused them of “beating the drums of war.’’ “Those folks don’t have a lot of responsibilities,’’ Obama said. “They are not commander in chief.’’ Priorities USA Action, a super PAC backing the president, trained its criticism solely on Romney, issuing a “Super Tuesday memo’’ arguing that the front-runner’s “agenda for the wealthy’’ was hurting him with those who are not. After falling behind Santorum in Ohio last month, Romney closed the gap in recent days, with polls showing the race a dead heat on the eve of the primary. It’s a familiar trend for Romney, whose superior fundraising and turnout operation have helped him turn deficits in Florida and Michigan into triumphs. As the polls opened, a super PAC that supports Romney bought time for television commercials in Illinois and Louisiana, which hold primaries later in the month. The group had previously begun advertising in next week’s primary states of Mississippi and Alabama. Romney, a former venture capital executive, kept his campaign’s focus on the economy in a final sprint across Ohio, where he and Santorum are competing most fiercely. “Other people in this race have debated about the economy, they’ve read about the economy, they’ve talked about it in subcommittee hearings,’’ Romney said of his opponents. “But I’ve actually
Obama: Diplomacy can stop Iran from getting bomb Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama declared Tuesday that diplomacy can still resolve the crisis over Iran’s possible pursuit of nuclear weapons, and he accused his Republican critics of “beating the drums of war.’’ “Those folks don’t have a lot of responsibilities,’’ Obama said. “They are not commander in chief.’’ Tension with Iran, and Obama’s preference for restraint, dominated his first full news conference of the year, held on the same day that Republican candidates for his job were contesting primary elections and caucuses in 10 states. He called violence in Syria “heartbreaking’’ but showed no new willingness for military involvement in that Mideast country. On Syria, Obama said unilateral military action by the United States against the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad would be a mistake. He rejected a comparison to Libya, where the United States and allies did intervene last year.
Syria, he said, is more complicated. Russia has blocked a U.N. Security Council resolution against Assad’s government, and Assad’s military is better equipped and more powerful than the Libyan force. Obama has resisted calls to get drawn into the turmoil in Syria to stop Assad’s bloody crackdown on protesters. More than 7,500 people have been killed there. The preferred U.S. strategy has been to use sanctions and international diplomatic isolation to pressure Assad into handing over power. Obama said his critics are forgetting the “cost of war’’ in their rush to punish Iran and defend Israel, which sees a nuclear Iran as a mortal threat in its Mideast neighborhood. Rhetoric on the right is “more about politics than about trying to solve a difficult problem,’’ Obama said at the White House. He said he is focused on “crippling sanctions’’ already imposed on Iran and on international pressure to keep that nation from developing a nuclear weapon. Obama said his private meetings with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week
carried the same message as his public pronouncements. And he implied that Israeli pressure for urgent action was not supported by the facts, saying that a decision was not necessary within the next weeks or months. He added that Iranians need to show how serious they are about resolving the crisis. He said there are steps the Iranians can take “that are verifiable’’ and will allow it to be “in compliance with international norms and mandates.’’ Obama said the furor in Afghanistan over the accidental burning of Qurans underscores the need for the U.S. to transition out of the war there. Obama emphasized that the U.S. still plans to end its combat role in Afghanistan by the end of 2014. The drawdown will be a central topic of discussion at the NATO meetings in Chicago in May. Obama said the recent accidental burning of Muslim Qurans by U.S. forces and the protests that followed underscore the challenges in Afghanistan and why the U.S. is reducing its combat role there. Thirty people died in the Quran protests, including six American troops.
been in it. I’ve worked in business and I understand what it takes to get a business successful and to thrive.’’ The New Englander in the race, Romney is expected to do well in the Vermont and Massachusetts primaries. He is also poised to win the Virginia primary. Besides Ohio, Santorum is competing most aggressively in primaries in Oklahoma and Tennessee, where the GOP’s conservative hue matches the strict social conservative’s evangelical appeal. He was leading narrowly in Tennessee, where polls showed Gingrich and Romney closing. Despite signs that Gingrich planned to remain in the race, Santorum urged voters in Ohio to see it as increasingly a two-candidate fight. “I’m excited that we’re here with the opportunity of winning states on Super Tuesday ... and, hopefully, eventually, having the opportunity to go one on one at the end of this thing and see where this race really falls out,’’ Santorum told supporters in Miamisville, Ohio. “And when we do, we’ll win.’’ Gingrich has won only one state _ the Jan. 21 South Carolina primary _ and was projected to win only Georgia out of the 10 states voting Tuesday. He began advertising in Tennessee on Monday, putting down just $35,000 for television time, a small purchase. Yet, Gingrich planned to campaign Tuesday in Alabama, which holds its primary March 13, even before the voting was finished
in Georgia. Ads for Gingrich were expected to begin airing in Alabama and Mississippi, which holds its primary on the same day, and he will visit both Southern states later in the week. He was then heading to Kansas, which holds its caucuses Saturday. Still, Gingrich tried to cast a likely win in Georgia as a sign of momentum, comparing it to Romney’s narrow win in his native Michigan over Santorum last week. At a breakfast meeting of a suburban Atlanta chamber of commerce, Gingrich criticized his rivals as mere managers, rather than leaders of the change he recommends. “The truth is I have opponents who are, in a normal period, adequate,’’ he told more than 100 in Gwinnett, Ga. “But they don’t have anything on the scale of change I just described to you.’’ At a polling place in Fayetteville, Ga., businessman Glenn Valencia sized up Gingrich as a hometown guy with great intellect but gave his vote nonetheless to Romney, saying Gingrich had ``a lot of baggage’’ and might not hold up well against Obama. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas was focusing on Tuesday’s caucuses in Alaska, Idaho and North Dakota. Despite the big chunk of votes being cast Tuesday, the race was expected to continue further into March because delegates are apportioned based on vote percentage and the candidates are focusing on different regions of the country.
Report: Minority students face harsher punishments Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) – More than 70 percent of students involved in school-related arrests or cases referred to law enforcement were Hispanic or African-American, according to an Education Department report that raises questions about whether students of all races are disciplined evenhandedly in America’s schools. Black students are more than three times as likely as their white peers to be suspended or expelled, according to an early snapshot of the report released to reporters. The findings come from a national collection of civil rights data from 2009-10 of more than 72,000 schools serving 85 percent of the nation. The Education Department said it would release more details Tuesday. “The sad fact is that minority students across America face much harsher discipline than non-minorities, even within the same school,’’ Education Secretary Arne Duncan told reporters. Duncan said some school officials might not have been aware of inconsistencies in how they handle discipline, and he hoped
the report would be an eye-opener. Raul Gonzalez, legislative director at the National Council of La Raza who taught school in New York, said “zero tolerance’’ policies in both schools and the court system disproportionately affect black and Hispanic kids. He said the policies have created a system that takes kids out of school and ultimately leads them into prison where they become hardened criminals. He said more moderate responses are needed in schools, and he hopes that the report will lead to a change in policies in schools and in state laws. “We’ve lost control of all judgment here, and it’s almost always a black kid or a Hispanic kid’’ affected, Gonzalez said. According to the Education Department’s report, 42 percent of the referrals to law enforcement involve black students and 29 percent involved Hispanics, while 35 percent of students involved in school-related arrests were black and 37 percent were Hispanic. Black students made up 18 percent of the students in the sample, but they were 35 percent of students suspended once and 39 percent of students expelled, the report said.
Thursday, march 8, 2012
This Week in MCLA History March 6, 1997 X-Tra Mart on Ashland Street was facing an ongoing petty theft problem of stolen signs and missing ashtrays. Clerks reported student damage costing 1,000 dollars. Most of the shoplifting occurred from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. With the addition of the four person law, where only four people allowed in the store at a time, the unusually high amount of shoplifting had a huge decrease.
For Fun
theonlinebeacon.com
Sudoku Fill in the empty cells, one number in each, so that each column, row, and region contains the numbers 1 through 9 exactly once.
March 9, 2001 This edition of the Beacon featured the discussion of keeping the “Mohawk” mascot. MCLA made an appearance on WNYT Channel 13 News to talk about racism. Student concerns as well as local interest flooded the Letters to the Editor section. SGA formed a subcommittee and planned to hold a discussion forum about whether the issue was strictly for the Athletic Department, or if it should be a campus-wide discussion. A Mohawk tribe in New York said their only offence was that the actual mascot was from the 17 or 18 century. The Athletic Department considered accepting creative ideas from students for a new mascot. March 4, 2010 A mysterious Facebook profile of a non-existent student created suspicion on campus. Students suspected “Abigail Elizabeth” may have been an alias of the administration, RPS, or campus police trying to gain access to student’s personal information. “Elizabeth” was listed as a junior from Adams Basin, N.Y. The creator added 458 friends in a short period of time, although she never responded to the wall posts or messages. The account was terminated shortly after.
Comic by Aurora Cooper
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Horoscopes
Aries: March 21-April 19 Your impulsive antics are the stuff of legend, and on a day like today, you can really show off! You may find that your people are in awe as you play, flirt and otherwise make life good fun. Taurus: April 20-May 20 Try your best to work together with your teammates and family members, even if they drive you a little crazy. You need to stay connected if you want to get anything done on a day like this! Gemini: May 21-June 21 This is not a day for serious business, so kick back, relax and keep conversations light and airy. Others may not take your side, but you can still find ways to do what you need to do. Cancer: June 22-July22 It’s time for that upgrade you’ve been dreaming about -- maybe a new gadget, maybe a new love interest. Let your ambitions take you where they will, as you can improve on almost anything now.
Courtesy of sudoku.au.com
To view this and other comics online, visit us at theonlinebeacon.com
Leo: July 23-August 22 You experience a moment of glory that makes you realize life really is an adventure. You should find that those around you get caught up in the excitement and may see you in a new light. Virgo: August 23-Sept. 22 You need to clear out your schedule today -- there’s just too much going on! See if you can get your colleagues or family members to take on some of your duties, or put them off for a few days. Libra: Sept. 23-Oct. 22 People are looking to you for guidance today, and you need to make sure that you’re taking them seriously. Your mental energy is perfect for offering advice and answering big questions. Scorpio: Oct. 23-Nov. 21 How much do you hate your job? That question may be a bit too much on your mind right now, but this career crisis could actually turn out to be a lucky break. Keep your eyes open! Sagittarius: Nov. 22-Dec. 21 You may find that your energy is boosting you in all the right ways today, covering up for your weaknesses and pushing you toward true excellence. Now is a great time to participate in competitions.
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Capricorn: Dec. 22-Jan. 19 People are naturally deceptive today, even when they have nothing to gain from it. All that means to you is that your natural skepticism should come in handy. Believe it when you see it! Aquarius: Jan. 20-Feb. 18 You need to compromise today -others need to see that you’ve got the group’s best interests at heart. You always do, but that doesn’t always come out in obvious ways. Make an offer! Pisces: Feb. 19-March 20 You get a strong dose of reality today -- just when you need it most! It may come as a surprising message from an old friend or a weird addition to your morning routine. Pay attention! Horoscopes courtesy of Yahoo.com
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Thursday, March 8, 2011
Photo Essay
Becky Clemons and Emily Dessingue warm up to begin the hip-hop dance workshop.
Dance Company finds their groove Workshops teach group many varieties of dance Photos by Carly Samach
Sara Giovine, Alyssa LaManna, and Desiree Brown dance at Tim Range’s workshop
Kayla Hollins performs at Church Street Center.