Issue 7 - Spring 2014

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

The Beacon

For more content, visit online at: Beacon.MCLA.edu Volume 78 ◆ Issue 7

Th u r s d ay, M a r c h 2 0 , 2 0 1 4

20 years of journalism experience Senior days events

and trips announced

By Gabriel Kogel Senior News Editor

Kevin Moran, vice president of news for New England Newspapers Inc., visited college from Monday through Wednesday as this year’s Hardman Journalist in Residence.

Moran gave a speech entitled: “The Future of News: What’s in it for you?” yesterday, and took questions afterward.

“We need our community to be engaged, and we need to engage the community,” Moran said. “It’s your newspaper.

It’s your news and hopefully we obtain good value for our readers to a point where advertisers want to get onboard.”

Moran oversees operations at the Berkshire Eagle, Bennington Banner, Brattleboro Reformer, Manchester Journal and the Berkshires Week. He grew up in Adams and graduated Hoosac Valley High School and the University of New Hampshire.

“I was an English major with a concentration in creative writing and poetry,” Moran said.

During college, Moran wrote a few articles for his college newspaper, but never considered a career in journalism. After college, Moran took a job selling cars but found working on commission “very scary.”

“I didn’t have a focus on what I wanted to do for a career,” Moran said. “I failed miserably as a car salesman, couldn’t sell anything

Nearing the end of the academic year, the College plans for a send off for this year’s graduating seniors.

By Makayla-Courtney McGeeney Staff Writer

Photo by Gabriel Kogel/ The Beacon

Kevin Moran has worked at various positions and locations in the news field for the last 20 years. to save my life.”

Luckily for Moran, he had a friend working as a sports reporter for the North Adams Transcript, who told him to interview for a job as a staff writer.

“I interviewed with the Editor in Chief at the time, David Nahan,” Moran said. “He was really tough, asked me to name all the members of the Supreme Court. I could only get two or three.”

That evening he determined to find out the names of all the Supreme Court Justices. After landing the job, Moran found his first two weeks as a general

assignment reporter for the Town of Adams terrifying.

“By the third week, I realized what the whole idea of journalism was,” Moran said. “I love local stuff, I really care about my community, and I found it a privilege to share with them what I learned.”

Over his career, Moran has served as managing editor of the Berkshire Eagle, Editor of the North Adams Transcript and the Brattleboro Reformer, and the news editor of the York Dispatch/

MORAN, continued on page 2

The week after final exams, graduating seniors have the ability to celebrate their success and say goodbye with a variety of activities, trips, gifts, and class bonding, which will end with commencement on Saturday, May 17.

Packages for senior days will be sold starting March 31 through April 18, which include an events package for $80, a gift package for $45 and a yearbook package for $15. The events package takes care of all events and gifts. The gift package includes a cup, t-shirt, donation and a yearbook.

Resident students who plan to stay on campus during the senior days must purchase the events package to be guaranteed housing. Same rates also apply for commuter students. Previously students have been able to purchase the event package at $60 during the first week of selling only.

“I like to view it as a reflection of how far we’ve come,” Class of 2014 President, Jake Powers said.

Senior days will be held from

May 13 through May 17 and consist of food provided each day, a day trip to Mohegan Sun Casino or Lake George, a senior banquet, and a dance party.

Powers stated that a Google document will be sent out to the class via email within the next few weeks discussing a poetry submission and thoughts about voting on a faculty or staff member of the year.

He also suggested that the class of 2014 join their exclusive Facebook group in order to keep up-to-date on package information and potential schedule changes for senior days.

The class of 2014 officers plan to direct their donation toward Freel library in purchasing new furniture for the bottom level.

Powers is a member of the Library Advisor Committee.

“There used to be a storage space across from the children’s literature room,” he said. “But now half the book selection is there with just a few old tables and chairs.”

Coordinator of Student Activities, Jennifer Craig, has

SENIOR, continued on page 3

Center for Science is moving with the wind

By Gabriel Kogel Senior News Editor

Photo by Gabriel Kogel/The Beacon

The wind turbine has finally been placed on the top of the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation during spring break.

twitter.com/ MCLA_Beacon facebook.com/ MCLABeacon

The Feigenbaum Science Center received its long awaited wind turbine during spring break.

The vertically rotating windmill was installed last Wednesday and Thursday. It stands 40 feet above the ground and, wind permitting, constantly generates 2.4 kilowatts of electricity, according to Director of Facilities Management, Charles Kimberling.

“It was hoisted up and set on its mount by crane,” said Kimberling.

“We could have done it two weeks ago, but we figured it was safer to wait until most students were away on break.”

The wind-powered generator was put on hold when its original manufacturer abruptly went out of business, last year. After that, the search was on for a

Student activist engages the campus

“Tricks of the Trade” concludes

The softball team competes in Florida

Junior Brian Fitzpatrick fights for social and political equality.

Arts management students learn about the creative economy.

The Trailblazers walk away with a 3-7 score.

Arts & Entertainment, page 6

Sports, page 9

News, page 3

company that could manufacture one compatible with the already installed base. Finally, a Chinese company was hired to custom make a suitable turbine, Kimberling said.

“The sub-contractor hired to handle the installation was Collins Electric Company,” he said. “The process was further delayed as Collins had some difficulty dealing with the turbine manufacturer, due to language barriers.”

According to James Stakenas, vice president of Administration and Finance, the installation process went smoothly and was videotaped by Brandon Pender, Alumni Relations Coordinator.

“The administrators have assigned their kids the project of figuring out how many light bulbs can be powered by the turbine,” Stakenas said.

News Arts & Entertainment Sports Campus Opinion Local Events Photo Essay

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Campus News

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Weekend SGA discusses funding for Rock the Block 2.0 Weather

By Jess Gamari

Forecast from Weather.com

Today, March 20

Mostly Cloudy High: 45° Low: 26° Precip. Chance: 20%

Friday, March 21

Partly Cloudy High: 40° Low: 24° Precip. Chance: 0%

Saturday, March 22

Rain/Snow High: 48° Low: 24° Precip. Chance: 80%

Sunday, March 23

Partly Cloudy High: 34° Low: 14° Precip. Chance: 0%

Managing Editor

Two students in the performing arts management class approached the Student Government Association (SGA) on Monday night to request money for the Rock the Block 2.0 event which will take place later this spring. The class puts on a show at the end of each year that is curated, produced and presented by the students themselves, according to SGA Coordinating Vice President Hannah Sterrs.

“It’s really a way for us to bridge the gap between the MCLA students and the Berkshire County community and to come together and bond over our mutual home,” Sterrs said.

Students Cassandra Garcia and Cecilia Wright requested funding for a student stage for student performers and lighting and production costs. The stage will showcase an SGA banner as well.

The performing arts management class held a smaller gathering in the quad last year, and the original Rock the Block event was last held in 2012. Main Street in North Adams is closed for an entire day of music, performances and interaction between students and the community in a street

fair setting. In the past, the Rock the Block event had over 1,000 attendees.

The budget finance committee plans to meet and discuss the request further before an amount will be announced.

Reserve fund to potentially go toward rental vans SGA is looking to spend the remaining money in the reserve fund before the end of the semester.

After attending a student transportation meeting, Senate chair Taylor Krowitz suggested SGA use the money toward leasing vans. “We can lease vans for $1,000 and change a month and we can do it on a month by month basis,” he said. “This means that if we wanted to rent out vans during high activity months for athletics or something like that …, we wouldn’t have to pay for maintenance or gas.”

More updates and other suggestions for spending will be discussed next Monday.

Nature of higher education discussions to begin There will be a series of community conversations on campus to discuss the changing nature of higher education,

discussion about the sophomore experience on March 21 at 3 p.m. in Sullivan lounge. Vice President Brendan Peltier said that although there is a lot of support offered to the freshman students, there seems to be a “drop-off ” in the transition from the first to the second year. The discussion outcomes will be compiled on April 4 and sent out to review on April 11.

Photo by Jess Gamari/The Beacon

Coordinating Vice President Hannah Sterrs explains the logistics of Rock the Block 2.0 at Monday’s meeting. politics and policy, according to President Jake Powers. The first meeting will be March 31 at 3 p.m. in Murdock 218.

Sophomore year experience to be improved The student affairs committee is looking to improve the transition from freshman to sophomore year. There will be a

Scholarship applications now available Scholarship applications are now available online and in the SGA office in the Campus Center. Students can also access the summary of available awards and applications in the Announcements for Students folder on first class. Advisor Jenn Craig encouraged students to apply for awards and scholarships, noting that each scholarship needs its own application.

SGA nomination papers available next week Elections for the SGA cabinet are coming up. Nomination papers will be available March 25 in Diane Collins office. Papers are due April 8 and if needed a primary election will be held April 10. Final elections will be held April 16 and 17.

Dropping the power lines on Blackinton Street

By Gabriel Kogel Senior News Editor

National Grid will remove four of the five utility poles that stand in front of the Feigenbaum Science Center and the president’s office on Blackinton Street.

During the construction of the Feigenbaum Science Center, National Grid’s electrical power lines were rerouted to a newly installed pole standing in front of the president’s office.

The current then travels across the street into a pole that directs it underground. With the electrical work completed, only the remaining utility wires need to be diverted before the poles can be removed, according to Vice President of Administration and Finance James Stakenas.

“It was always part of the plan that during the project we’d like these [poles] removed,’” Stakenas explained. “Aesthetically, it allows a clear view of the science building, and for safety, it lets a hook and ladder fire truck do its

thing without power lines in the way.”

The utility wires are owned by Verizon, Time Warner Cable and the North Adams Fire Department, and they have not provided a date for removal, according to Director of Facilities Management Charles Kimberling. “[National Grid has] contacted all other utilities, who understand the need to reroute their wires,” Kimberling wrote in an email.

Even if the utility wires were not an issue, National Grid will still need to wait for the ground to thaw. That could be “as soon as a couple of weeks,” Kimberling said.

Stakenas said the project was not a first step in closing Blackinton Street to vehicular traffic, as has been rumored, although that is a long-term goal.

“We have no immediate plan of closing the street to traffic,” Stakenas said. “There’s no way to accommodate the large trucks that will Photo by Nick Arena/The Beacon need to park behind Bowman for the renovaNational Grid employees work on lowering tion, or make deliveries to the library, but we the power lines on Blackinton Street. haven’t given up on it.

Hardman Journalist in Residence inspires potential journalists about the future of print journalism MORAN, efforts at the Berkshire Eagle to continued from page 1 apply Project Unbolt, an effort to

Sunday News in Pennsylvania.

He said the key to his success in the industry is his enthusiasm for news and interest in learning everything he can about operating a newspaper.

“Because I love the work so much, I wanted to learn the entire scope of a newspaper,” Moran said.

“How the pages were assembled, how the press ran, the process of composing a news page. I love all the variety of aspects that go into producing a newspaper.”

Currently, Moran is leading

reimagine the workflow, culture and structure of the newsroom to prioritize digital journalism.

Project Unbolt came from an observation made by Digital First Media CEO John Paton that newsroom operations are print oriented, with the digital component “bolted on.”

“We’re working on reconfiguring the process to create a digital first newsroom,” Moran said. “We can no longer have a workflow that is print oriented. We need to think about

mobile, as more and more of our online traffic is being consumed on mobile devices.”

In addition to focusing on digital news consumption, Moran is focused on maintaining the standards of fair and accurate reporting readers have always relied on. He is known for his motto, “better to be right second, than get it first and be wrong.”

“Our intent is not to erode the foundations of our credibility,” Moran said. “You don’t want to become sloppier. [We’ll continue] to be accurate and ethical and shine light on dark places.”

Corrections In the March 6 issue, the Photo Essay on page 12 should have been titled IGC/SSDP/Spires Open Mic. Mike Vogt should have been credited as president of Students for Sensible Drug Policy and Chris Tate should have been credited as president of the InterGreek Council.

3 Student fights for a more democratic campus Campus News

Thursday, March 20, 2014

By Alexander Moore Staff Writer

It’s Black Friday, and Walmart is crowded with shoppers looking for savings. Outside the store, a group, the OUR Walmart Coalition (Organization United for Respect), is protesting in hopes of raising respect for Walmart workers. Among the protesters is a student named Brian Fitzpatrick. When police officers come to break up the protest, Fitzpatrick, along with other protestors, runs into the store and hand out literature and pamphlets, before being asked to leave by security officers.

Fitzpatrick is a passionate student and a founding member of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

“I identify as a communist; my intellectual understanding of history that comes from school and my personal reading kind of informed my decision to help found this group,” Fitzpatrick said.

Photo by Kayla Degnan/The Beacon

Junior Brian Fitzpatrick is a founding member of Students for a Democratic Society.

“There’s a strong, large group of people on campus who are interested in activism and seeing the world becoming a better place.”

Fitzpatrick said he believes

that part of communism, and of socialism, which Fitzpatrick also supports, is organizing people who want to make the world a better place. He said he felt he couldn’t subscribe to the ideas of socialism and not act on them.

Fitzpatrick’s ideas regarding socialism are what prompted him to help start SDS. “I consider myself a founding and acting member, but I don’t consider myself a leader of SDS,” he said.

Fitzpatrick explained that he was raised as a libertarian. He came across a book titled “A People’s History of the World,” which changed his ideas of what freedom is.

“That book exploded my understanding of what human freedom actually is,” Fitzpatrick said.

“I previously understood freedom as freedom from the state and freedom from authority.”

From “A People’s History of the World,” Fitzpatrick said he

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learned that economic structures can be just as restrictive to freedom as the people enforcing authority on society.

Fitzpatrick said he wants a better option for government which will promote conditions to produce equality.

“If I am looking at any segment of a society, the way that I would judge whether a workplace is functioning closer or further away from my ideal is to check off whether it is more communistic or less,” Fitzpatrick said. “In a perfect communist workplace, everyone would have equal decision making, there would be no leader, and all the decisions would be balanced.”

Christopher Johnson, a friend of Fitzpatrick’s for three years, said Fitzpatrick takes everyone’s interest level into account and has a positive quality when discussing his beliefs and ideas.

“He maintains his passion for the political and the artistic by

STEM manager given education chair award

By Chunyu “Judy” Leng Staff Writer

Upon entering the office of Professor Christopher Himes, a big picture of a pika hangs on the wall. The small mammal in the photo has short limbs, rounded ears, and no tail.

Two framed certificates hang on the wall as well. One of them is his “Excellence in Teaching Award” issued in 2008, and the other is his diploma from The University of Washington. Although Himes is a certified educator, he will always identify as a student full of curiosity who will never stop exploring the scientific world and raising questions.

Himes was recently named to be the Evelyn H. and Arlindo Jorge Endowed Chair in the Education Apartment. He began teaching at the college in 2007 and joined the education department at the beginning of the spring semester.

“Chris Himes is a wonderful person, a thoughtful academic, and an excellent teacher,” Educa-

tion professor Dana Rapp said.

“He brings unique and critical perspectives about the field of science and the teaching of science to MCLA. I enjoy every opportunity I get to converse with Chris about schooling, politics and so on.”

Since 2011, Himes has been the manager of the College’s STEM program. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts Boston, and his Ph.D. from the University of Washington, majoring in biology in both undergraduate and graduate school. He also served post-doctoral fellowships at Williams College and the University of New Mexico. Himes mostly teaches courses in the sciences but he has recently taken over the course, “Teaching of math and science.”

“My teaching methods are dependent on the courses and the students, but generally speaking, it has to be student-centered and inquiry-based,” Himes said. “I guide them how to think about science rather than tell them what

to think about science.”

Himes designed several courses while in graduate school, including a course that could help students master efficient study skills as well as give advice on how to be a top student. He says students need to do research and look for references and resources themselves. He encourages students to be persistent when faced with difficult challenges because it is the only way to succeed.

“Well, I think baseball is really hard I just can’t do it, but I am fascinated about science all the time,” Himes said. “People always say science is for smart people, but I say anyone can do science as long as you have persistent interest and passion about it. It is only a matter of perspective. If science is really only for smart people, how am I smart enough to do science but can’t handle baseball?”

While in an out of the classroom, Himes makes it his priority to help students find passion in learning about the sciences by making the study hands on and approachable.

having this indestructible optimism which makes for some of the easiest and most human conversation I’ve had with any of the thinkers on campus,” Johnson said.

“I hope to help organize whatever community I’m a part of in the future, and I’m learning at MCLA how to talk to people in a way that accommodates their interest and level of knowledge,” Fitzpatrick wrote in an email interview.

Philosophy professor Matthew Silliman, advisor to SDS, said he appreciates Fitzpatrick’s serious and reasonable manner of handling things.

“You need people who have ideas and are committed to them and want to get them talked about,” Silliman said. “He’s a real mover and shaker that way.”

Silliman said he wishes the college had more students who were eager and energetic to educate the campus community.

Events planned for senior days

SENIOR, continued from page 1

Beacon Archives

Professor Christopher Himes teaches classes in the sciences as well as in the education department. He has taught at the College since 2007.

“Professor Himes is a very interesting and a hard working supervisor,” said biology major Christiana Ampofo. “As a supervisor, he brings entertainment to work which makes working in STEM enjoyable.”

been a part of senior days for about five years now, but said that the tradition was going long before that.

“It brings everyone together to have some class unity,” she said.

“Not everyone attends the events, but in the past, students have shown much excitement.”

The evening before commencement, family and friends of seniors are invited to attend the senior banquet dinner where a memorial slideshow will be presented in the Campus Center Gym. “The Advancement Office is also involved during that week,” said Craig. “At that time, seniors are set to enter the alumni world.”

Until then, Powers mentioned that the class will be hosting their third annual Cancer Candy event, where students non-perishable food items in trade for candy, toward the end of the semester.

The proceeds from the event will go to the Berkshire Food Project.

Administration and Finance office has new director

By Nick Swanson Staff Writer

Thomas Bernard, the new director of business affairs in Administration and Finance, is settling into his position with support from his team. Drawing on his past experience at the College, he has held the position since January.

“A big piece of what I’m doing while working with the team is being in a learning mode myself, because I’m coming into a whole new division of work,” Bernard said.

He noted that working in the Advancement office and President’s office helped prepare him for his current job. Bernard was originally the director of corporate, foundation, and government relations, and

then the executive assistant to the president.

He is a part of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, which holds meetings organizing people to address problems within the community with the resources available. According to Bernard, the community day of service is one program they have put forth.

He has also been on the North Adams Chamber of Commerce for two years.

The Chamber of Commerce serves several businesses in the area with different budgeting needs.

Bernard gained his current position following the retirement of Gerald Demarais, alumni, who worked for 40 years as treasurer of the College.

The Administration and Finance department is presently undergoing a reor-

ganization process that evaluates and finds improvements in the way the department operates.

“We knew that we had to take a team approach,” Bernard said. “[Gerald] was in a particular role for a long time; when that kind of change happens, you need to look at the deep experience he had within the institution and the web of relationships he made.”

According to Bernard, the reorganization process is an opportunity for the team to look at each specific job, and then assign the jobs to different people in the business office.

“The process gives us a chance, after a major player retires, to look at things differently and ask each other questions about our work: ‘Are we doing things as efficiently as we can?’” said James Stakenas, vice president of Administration and Finance.

According to Stakenas, this semester he, Bernard, and other staff members will meet with each department and discuss the specifics of their individual budgets.

This gives the whole team a firsthand insight on how the specifics of the budget process work.

“Working with people closely in my professional network, I bring that experience and that perspective into the work that I am doing and into being able to work with people and build those relationships and continue my learning of this new role,” Bernard said.

“Running a college is a complicated operation, but the more people that understand its complexities, the better we can serve our students, faculty, and staff, which is our primary concern,” Stakenas said.

Campus News 4 Journalist Kevin Moran talks the future of journalism in Q&A session at the college Thursday, March 20, 2014

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Will print journalism survive in today’s digital age? MCLA’s Hardman Journalist in Residence answers questions about the fate of the newspaper.

By Idalis Foster

Special to The Beacon With the shift of audiences to digital news, the future of print journalism is rumored to be in jeopardy. However, in his lecture on Wednesday, Kevin Moran, vice president of New England Newspapers Inc. and Adams native, had an optimistic view of the outlook for print journalism as well as journalism as a whole.

In his lecture “The Future of News: What’s In It for You?” Moran spoke about the transition between platforms of journalism today, from print to online and the qualities which need to be held constant. He said the Berkshire Eagle has had to work with the ever-increasing use of digital news platforms, and is balancing it along with the print edition.

The biggest change in focusing more on digital news, according to Moran, has been journalists engaging more with their audiences and creating a more welcoming environment online for readers to give feedback. This has led to

a surge in the masses of people journalists are able to reach over the years.

As an example of how much time people are spending on online news at the Eagle, Moran recounted a live blog that was written by a reporter covering a triple murder trial of a Hell’s Angels member that lasted 18 days.

According to Moran the readers spent approximately 26,000 hours collectively viewing Andrew Amelinckx’s live blog. “[He] didn’t use a pen and paper or a notebook to cover the trial, he used his live blog,” Moran said.

While Moran did emphasize that there is a transition from focusing on print to focusing on digital news, he also did not want the audience to think that the two mediums oppose each other, and said the two need the same basic skill of knowing how to write a good story. He later discussed various news websites that started as online publications are now publishing into the print format and that this shift to digital is just

lending to the diversity of jobs in journalism.

Moran expanded on the essentials to journalism, whether it be digital or print as being able to “uphold the first amendment, you need to shine light in dark places, you need to question authority, follow the money, you need to be curious.” He encouraged future journalists in the audience especially to “write for your readers, not Photo by Amy Modesti/The Beacon your sources.” He Kevin Moran, (left), standing next to English major Imara Renaud-Krutolis at stressed the impor- the end of Moran’s presentation,”The Future of News:What’s in it For You?”, tance of a journalist’ Wednesday role in giving voice to the public who are not in power With this piece of advice, he In the last words of the lecture, and need to be given a voice to get also reminded the audience to Moran restated his positive outthat power. spell names correctly, correct look for print journalism.

“Don’t rush at the expense of their mistakes and let everyone “I expect it will be around for a accuracy. If you’re going to be in know, and learn both how to tell long time,” he said. “In the meana rush, be in a rush to get things a good story and how to tell it time, we in the newsroom, we’re right,” he said. across multiple platforms. not waiting around to find out.”

National news

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Nation and World Briefs

Nation 2 killed in crash of news helicopter SEATTLE--A veteran Seattle photojournalist and a pilot were killed Tuesday morning when a KOMO-TV helicopter crashed onto a street just south of the Space Needle. A driver whose car was struck was critically injured when his car exploded in a fireball.

-The Seattle Times Man attempted first degree murder CHICAGO--A man suspected in the murder of his wife in Georgia has been charged in the nearly nine-hour standoff on Lake Shore Drive.

Joseph Felton, 44, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery/use of a deadly weapon and aggravated fleeing of police going 21 mph over the speed limit.

-Chicago Tribune

World Search for missing Malyasia Airlines flight continues BEIJING--The search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight expanded to 2.24 million square nautical miles, officials said Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur.

The officials said they would be searching along two corridors identified by satellites as possible locations for the Boeing 777, which vanished March 8 on its way to Beijing.

-The Los Angeles Times 13 people killed in hotel MOGADISHU--At least 13 people were killed in an attack by radical Islamist group al-Shabab on a hotel in the north of Somalia used by Somali and African Union troops, an AU military spokesman said Tuesday. Somali military officials put the death toll at 21.

-dpa

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5

Russia signs treaty to annex Crimea region MCT Campus SIMFEROPOL, Crimea -- Russian President Vladimir Putin defied Western warnings and signed a treaty to annex Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula Tuesday, while accusing the United States and its allies of going too far in luring post-Soviet nations away from Moscow.

Putin signed the accord with Crimea’s new Moscow-backed leaders, appropriating the region and its vital naval port of Sevastopol less than two days after voters backed secession from Ukraine in a widely criticized referendum. The treaty, which is expected to be ratified by Russia’s parliament and Constitutional Court, was signed in a solemn atmosphere in the Kremlin’s lavish St. George’s Hall.

Shortly before, Putin gave a fiery televised speech often interrupted by applause from jubilant lawmakers, government officials and other dignitaries.

While continuing to deny that the deployment of thousands of Russian troops in Crimea constituted an armed invasion, Putin reiterated his claim that Ukraine in recent weeks came under the rule of fascists and “Russophobes” based in Kiev, the capital.

Putin justified the takeover of Crimea as fulfilling Russia’s “historic legacy.” Crimea “should be part of a strong and stable sovereignty, which today can only be Russian,” he said, stating that Kiev “isn’t in control of anything.”

Ukraine’s interim president, Oleksandr Tur-

chynov, vowed that Kiev would never accept Russia’s seizure of Crimea.

“The Ukrainian people and the entire civilized world will never recognize the annexation of Ukrainian land,” Turchynov said, according to the UNIAN news agency.

Vice President Joe Biden, on a mission to reassure Eastern European NATO members that the Western alliance will protect them from any Russian aggression, warned that Russia will face increasingly painful sanctions if Putin continues to pursue the “dark path” of violating the territorial integrity of a sovereign neighbor. The United States and the European Union on Monday imposed sanctions such as asset freezes and visa bans on some Russian and Ukrainian officials, but Western options appear limited.

“The world has seen through Russia’s actions and has rejected the flawed logic,” Biden said at his meeting in Poland with leaders of Russia’s former communist allies who have been unnerved by what many consider the Kremlin’s brazen land grab.

NATO, in seeking to contain the Ukraine crisis, has deployed surveillance aircraft to Ukraine and the alliance’s Eastern European members to demonstrate resolve in preventing further intrusions by Moscow.

Putin boasted in his speech that Russia had recovered Crimea “without a shot fired” and credited the careful actions of local selfdefense forces _ Moscow’s description of the Russian troops that have deployed by the

MCT Campus Photo

One day after Crimeans overwhelmingly voted to join Russia in a referendum the United States and the European Union denounced as illegitimate. thousands throughout Crimea.

A confrontation Tuesday between Russian and Ukrainian forces, however, turned deadly when Russian snipers reportedly opened fire in the center of Simferopol, the Crimean capital. A Ukrainian soldier died and two others were injured, which led the Ukrainian Defense Ministry to order its service members to fire back if attacked, UNIAN reported. Russia’s Itar-Tass agency said one member of the local self-defense forces was killed and two wounded in the clash.

Putin chastised the West for what he suggested was an orchestrated campaign to undermine Russia’s strategic interests since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

Possible slowdown in smartphone sales’ growth MCT Campus

The smartphone business has generated staggering wealth for companies such as Apple Inc. and triggered a recent scramble

by Hewlett-Packard Co. and Intel Corp. to try for a piece of the action.

But it now looks like its best days may be behind it, a troubling trend for companies that have hitched their fortunes to the smartphone juggernaut.

Although smartphones remain wildly popular, their sales about $338 billion last year are growing at a slower pace and their prices are dropping fast, making it harder to wring a profit from them.

That comes at the worst possible time for Intel, HP and other tech companies whose businesses heavily depend upon the personal computer. With PC sales dwindling, they’ve been urgently seeking ways to tap into the smart-

phone boom, but some analysts think they may be too late. Even mighty Apple is considered at risk because it gets the vast majority of its revenue from the iPhone.

“It’s a huge problem for Apple” and “too little, too late” for HP, which recently introduced two smartphones to help compensate for its sluggish PC sales, said Bill Whyman of the International Strategy and Investment Group.

For months, he has been predicting what he calls the “end of the great smartphone boom.”

“By the time they gain meaningful traction” in the phones, said Mark Li, an analyst for Bernstein Research, “the market might have become so mature and low-margin that it isn’t worth entering.”

Smartphones have been around in various forms since the 1990s, but their popularity soared with Apple’s iPhone launch in January 2007.

Today, about 55 percent of adults

MCT Campus Photo

As another batch of smartphones starts hitting the market, retailers including Best Buy in Dallas, Texas, are offering consumers deals to trade in their phones for updated devices. in the U.S. own a smartphone, compared with 37 percent in China, 21 percent in Mexico and 11 percent in Indonesia, according to Pew Research Center. That still leaves plenty of opportunity for sales, but the breakneck rate of purchases appears to be slowing.

While global smartphone sales in 2013 were up by 39 percent over 2012, they’re expected to

grow only about 19 percent this year, 8 percent in 2017 and 6 percent in 2018, International Data Corp. reported in February.

The trend also could prove worrisome for Samsung, the world’s biggest smartphone seller, and for Google Inc., whose Android operating system is used by most smartphones. Facing slowed demand for its PCs.

Unearthing a fossil haven in California MCT Campus

LOS ANGELES--Seventy feet below Wilshire Boulevard, catercorner from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s streetlamp installation, fresh air roaring from giant ventilation pipes dulled the sickly sweet smell of petroleum.

Amid the clatter of jackhammers and the whine of a mini-excavator, paleontologist 5 O’Clock $5 Nachos!!! Kim Scott scouted the tarry muck for relics from a long-buried beach. She had plenty of choices.

Weekend entertainment Major construction on the highly anticiDine-In and Take-Out menu online. pated Westside subway extension won’t beGift Certificates & Discount Programs gin until next year, but an exploratory shaft Available dug at the corner of Ogden Drive to assess soil conditions for future stations and tunwww.TheParlorCafe.com nels has burped up a bonanza of prehistoric fb.com/TheParlorCafe swag. Officials had anticipated encounter(413) 346-4279 ing a substantial cache: The dig is near the

La Brea Tar Pits and features a sandy matrix with naturally occurring asphalt a fossil haven.

Paleontologists have recovered mollusks, asphalt-saturated sand dollars, pieces of driftwood and Monterey cypress cones.

For Scott, the most exciting finds have been a rock embedded with what appears to be part of a sea lion’s mouth (perhaps 2 million years old) and a non-fossilized 10-foot limb from a digger pine tree that would look right at home today in Central California woodlands.

The former Rancho La Brea area of Hancock Park and environs indeed features one of the world’s premier paleontological troves. Over the millenniums, petroleum from once massive underground oil fields oozed to the surface, forming bogs that trapped and killed unwary animals and then preserved their skeletons.

MCT Campus Photo

Fossilized mussel shells unearthed while construction crews dig a 70-foot exploratory shaft.

Although the area is protected, LACMA years ago was granted dispensation to build an underground garage to replace an old May Co. parking structure. In 2009, the Page announced the discovery three years earlier of the largest known cache of fossils from the last ice age.

6

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Arts & Entertainment

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Tricks of the Trade series concludes The final installment of Tricks of the Trade discussed the creative economy, and how to make the most of it.

By Jenna O’Connor

Arts & Entertainment Writer The final installment of the Tricks of the Trade seminars focused on the creative economy.

“Tricks of the Trade provides arts management students with a glimpse of their future career paths, which is very exciting,” sophomore Kathleen Sansone said.

As a part of the Berkshire Cultural Resource Center (BCRC) in partnership with Berkshire Creative, and the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, the seminar included five experts within the arts and arts management field to provoke and discuss the creative economy, as well as the positive and negative aspects of the topic at hand.

Blair Benjamin, of the Assets for Artists & MASS MoCA, Hope Sullivan, the executive director of IS183, Diane Pearlman, the executive director of Berkshire Film & Media Collaborative, Christine Condaris, Music Professor and chair of the Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) Department, and mediator Lisa Donovan, Arts Management Professor, all spoke openly about the creative economy, as well as answered questions

from attendees.

“The definition of creativity has changed,” Pearlman said. “The ability to create something out of nothing and have an entrepreneurial lens is crucial in this creative economy.”

Creative economy, or the range of economic activities, are concerned with the generation or exploitation of knowledge and information as referred to by the creative industries Having to provide more seating for the larger than expected crowd, Gallery 51 was filled with interested students, teachers, interns, and community members itching to discuss how to improve the creative economy and how to make it work for everyone’s best interest. .

Like other economic sectors, it’s essential that proper workforce development and training is provided for creative economy practitioners, whether they are artists, arts managers, creative businesses, or solo practitioners, as the events Facebook page stated.

“I really enjoyed it [the seminar]. A few people in the audience seemed like semi panelists because of how good their questions were,” juniors Ryan Walters

Photo by Amy Modesti/The Beacon

From left, Hope Sullivan, Professor Christine Condaris, Lisa Donovan, Blair Benjamin, and Diane Pearlman spoke to students and the arts community in at the Tricks of the Trade Seminar Series. said. “Listening to someone from Pittsfield talking to someone from North Adams, I learned that the grass really is always greener on

the other side.”

He continued, “Both thought the other place was getting all the attention and had it all going right

for them. There will always be problems that you need to push through, and you’ll always have both good and bad days.”

Mass MoCA announces FreshGrass 2014 lineup FreshGrass, MASS MoCA’s annual festival of bluegrass and roots music, features a host of well-known, much-loved artists, along with FreshGrass discoveries, in its return to the museum campus in North Adams, Massachusetts, on September 1921, 2014.

This year’s lineup is the deepest yet, including The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Railroad Earth, Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn,Sam Bush, The Infamous Stringdusters, David Grisman Sextet, The Gibson Brothers, Alison Brown, and Valerie June. More acts will be announced later in the spring.

Last year’s FreshGrass Award recipient, Cricket Tell the Weather, will take the stage for a full set.

Already a major presence on the festival scene, FreshGrass sharpens its focus this year on the best in traditional and progressive bluegrass, also surveying innovative music at the edges of the genre.

“A bluegrass weekend that spans The Gibson Brothers to Sam Amidon, The Carolina Chocolate Drops to Rodney Crowell... That’s our kind of festival, positioned just on the cusp of New England’s fall foliage season,” says MASS MoCA Director, Joseph Thompson.

Three days of concerts and pop-up performances in the museum’s indoor galleries, stages, and outdoor concert courtyards; music clinics organized by instrument; and insider presentations by players in the bluegrass music trade, as well as a bounty of Berkshire fresh food and spirits, are planned for the weekend festival.

The contest, workshops, and camping will all be expanding this year, as will

Photo by Shannen Adamites/Arst & Entertainment Editor

The Deadly Gentlemen headlined the first night of FreshGrass 2013. demonstrations and children’s programming.

Admission to MASS MoCA’s is included in the price of festival admission.

Festival passes are available for $87 for adults, $77 for students, $43 for kids 7-16, and are free for children 6 and under.

Festival passes increase to full price with the final lineup announcement in the late spring. Museum members receive a 10% discount on full-price tickets.

Single-day tickets may be offered closer to the event. FreshGrass details will be updated on the festival website, FreshGrass. com, and on Facebook at FreshGrass Festival. FreshGrass tickets are general admission, and the festival will be held rain or shine.

Harlequin Musical Theater Club presents

Avenue Q March 19, 20, 21, 22 8:00 p.m.

Venable Theater

$1 for all tickets

Reserve at harlequintickets@gmail.com

Arts & Entertainment

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Circus Amok’s Jennifer Miller to perform

Beacon.MCLA.edu

7

Allegrettos participate in international competition

By Nick Arena Editor-in-Chief

Circus Amok’s Jennifer Miller will bring her gender stereotype challenging performance art back to MCLA. Miller will perform at 7 p.m. in Sullivan Lounge on Monday.

According to Anthroplogy Professor Sumi Colligan, Miller will perform a number of circus acts – possibly including a fire-eating act – and a new dance performance she has created for the event.

In the past, Miller has performed as the “Bearded Lady” in places like Coney Island, but in a manner that challenges conventional gender stereotypes, Colligan added.

“She both performed the role and at the same time spoke back to the audience to challenge the way they thought about what they were seeing,” Colligan said.

Miller has been performing for over 20 years and has won a number of awards including a “Bessie” which is a New York Dance and Performance Award, according to the Circus Amok website.

“I think we still live in a society with really rigid gender stereotypes despite the fact that many students think that we live in an era where we’re not governed by these stereotypes,” Colligan said.

“I think [Miller] as a person and what she performs really challenges students to think differently about their gender based assumptions.”

While Miller’s image may appear as shocking to some, Colligan believes that this can be very educational for the audience.

“In soem ways I think that she makes people feel uncomfortable, but in a productive way,” she said.

“I think this discomfort can be intellectually productive.”

The event is free and open to the public.

The ‘Grettos perform at the International Championship of Collegiate A Capella for the second year in a row.

The Allegrettos, the College’s a capella singing group, recently competed at the quarterfinals of the International Championship of Collegiate A Capella (ICCA) in Hartford, Conn.

Although the group did not move on to semifinals, director Brittney Gerber was not disappointed with the Grettos’ performance.

“This year, we were in a different style theatre that wasn’t so forgiving, and drained out any sound that wasn’t mic’d. I think this had a huge impact on our scores, as the audience and judges couldn’t really hear all the intricate parts of our arrangements. It was a lot like singing in a gym,” Gerber said.

The Grettos performed three songs: “Chicago” by Sufjan Stevens, arranged by co-director Melody Rolph, Gerber’s arrangment of “A Little Part Never Killed Nobody” by Fergie, and the finale, a “Gretto-fied” version of “Pom-

peii” by Bastille.

“I think we brought a great mix of voices and showed our versatility as a group by presenting three very different styles of contemporary music,” Gerber said.

The Allegrettos are divided into two groups, a capella and gospel.

Only the a capella section competed in the ICCA, but those who were not competing went along to cheer on their friends and teammates.

“Watching other members of the Allegrettos perform felt rewarding. After watching multiple rehearsals and seeing the progress leading up to those 12 minutes at ICCA, it really made me excited for them,” said sophomore Amanda McField.

This is the second year the Allegrettos have competed. Having attended the quarterfinals as spectators in their early years, the e-board decided last year to take the leap and enter the Grettos in the competition.

“Groups apply from all over to compete and only the best of the

best get in, so last year, when we found out we were in, it was an amazing feeling and made us step up our game in every way,” Gerber said.

Featuring choreography in addition to vocals is not uncommon in the ICCA, challenging the Grettos to rehearse more frequently and vigorously than before. This included late night and weekend rehearsals, as well as rehearsals to practice using microphones.

“Last year, we were thrown into a lot of things including using mics, so we definitely wanted to be as prepared as possible [this time,]” said Gerber. “We realized we needed to makeover our performance look as well, and went shopping for ICCA-specific outfits for everyone,” she added.

But overall, the group aimed to play up their strengths.

“We know we’re loud, have great soloists, and need minimal choreography,” Gerber said.

Despite their venue setbacks, Gerber emphasized the positive aspects of the competition.

“We had a great time performing and interacting with all the other groups. We can learn a lot from each other, and it’s always awesome to hear and see other great singers. Contrary to belief, performers want to see other great performers, because we like a good show just as much as anyone else, and it inspires us to become better,” she said.

For Gerber, this connection is what drives her.

“My favorite part of the Allegrettos is all the relationships you build with other group members.

You get to know an extremely diverse array of people, in all different majors and walks of life,” she said.

McField agreed. “The Allegrettos are a family. We sing together, enjoy each other’s company, and work hard at what we do,” she said.

The Allegrettos will be performing their ICCA set, as well as other pieces, at their annual concert on April 4 and 5 at 8 p.m. in the Church Street Center.

undeniably a hard watch. It approaches being a horror movie at times, filling every moment on screen with such misery and pain as to make a person instinctively recoil.

The story is based on the real case of the man Solomon Northup, played incredibly well by Chiwetel Ejiofor. Solomon was a free black man living in Saratoga, N.Y. who was kidnapped and sold as a slave in the South, where he was forced to work for 12 years before eventually escaping.

The movie follows his life as he tries to navigate the complex power dynamics his situation entails.

It shows that slavery is the most perfectly evil system ever devised, because everyone involved helps

maintain the illusion that what is going on is perfectly natural. Solomon cannot tell anyone that he is free nor show that he is educated as proof, because that would lead to his death. If he could mail a letter home then he could probably get someone to help him, but if he were caught he would be killed.

The tension is almost unbearable at times because the most simple of slips, like appearing as if he can read, could lead to his death.

This all-encompassing look at the system of slavery pulls one of the most devious tricks that a movie has managed extremely well. It tricks you into thinking of some of the slavers as better than others, then reminds you that they are still profiting off of one

of the U.S.’s greatest evils. Solomon spends most of the movie as a slave, being “owned” by Edward Epps, played by Michael Fassbender, a man so hideously evil that he manages to make just about every other person involved in the perpetuation of slavery seem downright cuddly.

His violence is interspersed with bizarre moments of mania, and this, as well as his lecherous and uncomfortable desire for Patsey, played by Lupita Nyong’o, makes him a terrifying presence.

But an aspect of the movie which elevates it beyond simplistic miserabilism is just how beautiful a film it is. Not in the way where the beauty of the images distracts from the content,

but rather in a way which makes the painful moments hurt that much more because we are constantly reminded of the incredible landscapes which surround the characters. Tragedy hurts much more when a person has positive memories to contrast it to.

The film is buoyed by its incredible supporting cast, as almost all the roles are filled by great and notable character actors. From Michael K. Williams to Paul Dano, from Paul Giamatti to Sarah Paulson, the movie is packed with memorable faces, all backing up Chiwetel Ejiofor’s incredible central role. It is an overwhelming performance to match this towering achievement of a film.

By Rachel Fitterman

Arts & Entertainment Writer

‘12 Years a Slave’ truly earns its Oscar

By Raanan Sarid-Segal

Arts & Entertainment Writer 2013 was an incredible year in film. A number of truly great movies were released, some of which were nominated for the Oscars this year. While there were some snubs, including “Inside Llewyn Davis,” “Stories We Tell,” “Leviathan,” “Stoker,” and “The Wolf of Wall Street,” it is hard to argue with most of the winners (with the notable exception of “Dallas Buyers Club”) – especially this year’s “Best Picture” winner, “12 Years a Slave,” directed by Steve McQueen.

“12 Years a Slave” is somewhat hard to sell people on, as it is

8

Sports

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Fair territory

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Baseball starts season in Florida

By Kelsey Marini Sports Writer

Let the madness begin

By Jesse Collings Sports Editor

Every single season during the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament, upsets have lower-seeded teams from tiny conferences besting traditional powerhouses from the largest conferences in the nation.

The upsets appear solely random, as it is hard to predict which tiny private school will defeat some huge public power. However, there are several similarities that many underdog winners had in common, making it easier to predict which schools will pull of the upsets.

The first sign is for veteran heavy squads that have a lot of experience, especially if they have been to the NCAA tournament before.

Since small schools generally lack the talent that accelerates quickly into the NBA, the cores of their teams are filled with seniors and juniors, giving them an edge over powerful basketball factories that specialize in teams led by freshmen and sophomores.

In addition, the NCAA Tournament supplies certain hurdles for small college teams that they would normally not face during traditional conference play.

They play in larger arenas and in front of national television audiences. That is why teams that have played in the tournament recently have an advantage over the schools that just being thrown right into the fire. Harvard University fits a lot of those criteria, as they are a veteran-heavy squad that will be making a return trip and even won a game during the tournament last season.

Another sign of a potential Cinderella team is the possession of a star player that transcends the traditional standards of a small college. Sure, we all know who Stephon Curry is now, but before he reached the NBA, he was just a skinny guard from Davidson College that led the underdog Wildcats to the Elite Eight. This season, be on the lookout for Providence’s Bryce Cotton, who leads the 11th seeded Friars with 21.4 points per game, the 9th most in the nation.

The NCAA Tournament is often quoted as being the most unpredictable event in sports. Every year a team crawls out of the woodwork and stuns the country.

While certain parameters can be set up by research, the complete uniqueness of the NCAA Tournament restricts any form of direct predictability from occurring, which is why it is perfect.

The Trailblazers have returned from their spring training with a record of 2-6 to start off their season.

MCLA traveled to Florida during spring break to play against five teams. The men battled through many close games, going into extra innings twice.

Right away, the men faced a tough loss in their opening game against Eastern Mennonite. The Trailblazers gave up 3 runs in the first three innings, but they soon bounced back as Derek Lescarbeau lead the team with a double and scored off of Chase Preite’s RBI single. MCLA was able to bring in two more runs in the fourth inning. Nate Alibozek kept Photo by Richard LaRocque/The Beacon the game scoreless until Senior Cody Weaver at batting practice before heading to Florida. Weaver scored six runs for MCLA the eighth inning, when during the trip and allowed only one run over 8 1/3 innings pitched for the Trailblazers. the Mennonites scored to key in my mind; it allows a team to grow and gained nine RBIs, driving in four runs in the tie the game. In the ninth inning, Eastern handle adversity,” Andre said.

Rhode Island College win.

Mennonite scored again to win 6-5.

The Trailblazers’ only other win was against Andre was named Co-Rookie of the Week.

The Trailblazers gained a win in their double Rhode Island College. Mike Mancivalano He clinched his first win of the season header against Becker College. Preite, along pitched six solid innings to earn his first win of and helped the Trailblazers gain their first with Rory Slattery, brought in a run in the the season. Although Rhode Island outscored comeback win of the season. Andre pitched fifth inning. Eamonn Andre relieved starting the Trailblazers in the final three innings 7-0, three scoreless innings, struck out a pair, and pitcher Matt Clark in the fifth inning to the game was already decided and MCLA won 13-8. allowed just three hits in his first collegiate start the Trailblazers’ rally. Andre left Becker MCLA lost the next two double headers appearance. scoreless, while MCLA was able to score three against SUNY-Canton and SUNYIT. Their The men are now moving forward and more runs in the seventh to win 5-4. losses gave the Trailblazers the final record of looking for a win in their first game back “We have a ton of potential and it’s showing 2-6 to wrap up their spring training. from training. They will face Clark University off right before us,” Andre said. “Our wins have “As a team, our record doesn’t show how tomorrow at Clark. been led by great hitting and key pitching.” good we actually played in Florida,” Benoit “I feel the team will continue to grow and be Game two stopped the men short of any said. “We were in every game we played, and successful,” Preite said, “as long as everyone winning streak. Becker took control of the lost some tough games in the late innings.” stays focused and works hard to better game, earning 5 runs in the first inning against During the week, two Trailblazers earned ourselves every day.” starting pitcher Tyler Benoit. Becker was MASCAC mentions. Preite was named The Trailblazers are hoping to gain more relentless, shutting out MCLA to a final score MASCAC Player of the Week. Preite earned wins before facing their first MASCAC game of 12-0. a .500 batting average to start the season and on March 29 against Worcester State.

“The losses we have gone through have been

Number one Gators still have work to do MCT Campus A close call against Kentucky could be just what the Florida Gators needed.

Coach Billy Donovan’s senior-led team has remained remarkably grounded during its 26game winning streak and ascension to No. 1 in the national rankings.

But the expectations and distractions have been nothing compared with what is ahead during the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s the biggest stage in college basketball,” senior point guard Scottie Wilbekin said.

And the Gators _ the No. 1 overall seed in the Big Dance _ are the belle of the ball.

Florida opens NCAA Tournament play at 4:10 p.m. Thursday in Orlando’s Amway Center against the winner of Tuesday’s first-round game between Albany (18-4) and Mount St. Mary’s (16-16).

The game is sure to be a warm-up for the Gators (32-2). But once Florida advances to the round of 32 against the Pittsburgh-Colorado winner and beyond, Sunday’s 61-60 victory in the SEC Tournament title game against Kentucky could come in handy.

The Gators nearly coughed up a 15-point lead due to shaky free-throw shooting, questionable shot selection and defensive gaffes by the team’s young reserves. When UF returns to the court on Tuesday after a well-earned rest Monday, it will have plenty to focus on while waiting to learn Thursday’s opponent.

The Gators missed 10 of 17 free throws against Kentucky, including the front ends of two one-and-one situations in the final 25 seconds. The Gators finished the SEC Tournament 27 of 54 and shot 66.6 percent from the foul line this season.

“We’ve got to do a better job there,” Donovan said.

Offensive execution is another area that needs attention.

As the Wildcats erased the Gators’ lead during the final 11 minutes, UF suffered a scoreless stretch of nearly five minutes. Donovan said fatigue was a factor. The Gators won closes games against Missouri and Tennessee to reach the final, while Kentucky coasted by LSU and Georgia.

Donovan said leading scorer Casey Prather sat out the final minute because he was “gassed.” Prather is an excellent slasher, yet missed two jump shots and committed a turnover during the final 10 minutes.

Wilbekin came up short on a pair of 3-pointers during the scoring drought, but he did make a critical layup with 5:05 remaining to give UF a 59-53 lead. He ended up playing 38 minutes after averaging 29.8 in the previous four games.

“You really have no choice,” Donovan said.

“You’re in a championship game.”

Four fouls by freshman point guard Kasey Hill limited him to 16 minutes.

Defensive lapses by sophomore Devon Walker limited him to seven minutes. Mean-

while, 6-foot-11 freshman Chris Walker made the most of his three minutes against Kentucky (five points, two rebounds) but has not earned Donovan’s trust as a defender in critical situations.

Of Hill and the two Walkers, Donovan said, “Their defensive discipline, their defensive intensity, how hard they compete and play, would be an area that continually needs to be raised.”

Donovan, who was named SEC coach of the year Monday by The Associated Press, does not have to worry about his four seniors’ intensity level after three consecutive losses in the Elite Eight.

Wilbekin, who was named SEC player of the year by AP, and his teammates know exactly what needs their attention on and off the court.

“It doesn’t matter what your ranking is or how much hype you have or who picked who to win,” Wilbekin said. “It’s going to be determined by the players and the coaches on the floor.”

Wilbekin and Prather were named first-team All-SEC by AP, while center Patric Young was named second team. ... Donovan earned a $50,000 bonus for the top-ranked Gators finishing in the top 10 in Monday’s final AP top 25 poll and $25,000 for coach of the year honors. He now has earned $187,500 in bonuses this season, including $37,500 for UF making the NCAA Tournament.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Sports

Softball competes in Florida Tournament

By James Hunter

MCLA to 1-4 in the tournament.

Quackenbush improved to 2-1 on a win against Rockford.

After a week-long trip to Florida, MCLA only needed 8 innings for MCLA went 3-7 to finish a 10-game this 5-0 win against their opposchedule in the Sunshine State. nent.

“Since we are only playing 10 The Trailblazers’ offense took games down instead of 12 from last advantage of the errors made by year, our goal is to go 7-3 and just Rockford, scoring 5 runs on 2 win games and play as a team,” Caphits in the first two innings. That tain Amanda Meczywor said before was all Quackenbush needed to departing. “Although we are going capitalize on her second win of to Florida, we have to remember this the season. is a business trip and we are not here After a day off, MCLA was to goof off. This trip is 90 percent back in action against Eastern business and 10 percent vacation.”

Nazerene, falling 4-0. Meczywor On the trip to Florida, the Trailwas good on the hill for MCLA, blazers felt they were facing different allowing only two earned runs types of competition, which would over seven innings. However, be good for them in preparation for Eastern Nazerene’s Carissa Cicotheir regular season in Massachulini was even better, shutting out setts.

MCLA. “There will be a lot of Division MCLA had it’s most frustratIII schools and a few Division II ing loss of the tournament to St. schools as well. Of course there will Joseph’s College, falling in extra be teams down there that are better innings, 2-1. Both teams went than us and that we are better than scoreless until the 8th inning, as well,” Coach Mike Ameen said. when Darien Sulli scored on a “However, there will be a handful of fielder’s choice to give MCLA a teams that we match up with.”

1-0 leading. Unfortunatly, errors MCLA opened the tournament plauged MCLA in the bottom of against Olivet College, the Trailthe 8th and St. Joseph’s scored blazer’s bats fell silent as they were two runs and won. shut-down by Olivet pitcher MorMCLA started off the tourgan Stratton. Stratton allowed only naments final day with a bang, two hits for Olivet, and led Olivet to blowing out Ohio Wesleyan 10a 7-0 victory.

2. Abby Lucas and Sierra Bailey The Trailblazers followed that each drove in a pair of runs and Photo by Kayla Degnan/The Beacon game up with a tough loss to NewQuackenbush struck out seven to After a second place finish last season, spirits were high for the bury College. MCLA led 1-0 headlead the Trailblazers. soft ball team before they headed to Florida. ing into the bottom of the sixth inMCLA closed out the tournaning, but Newbury rallied to score ment with a tough loss to The Colthree runs and held on in the seventh inning ended up scoring on a single from Meczywor. lege of Wooster, falling 9-3. Wooster scored to claim victory over the Trailblazers.

In the fourth inning, the Trailblazers scored 7 runs in the first three innings, and MCLA MCLA opened the second day of tourna- again. Bailey reached first on a bunt and could not keep up the pace, finishing the tourment play with a 6-1 loss to Dominican Col- moved to second on another sacrifice bunt; nament with a difficult loss. lege. Dominican scored 5 runs in the first two later, she scored on a single from Shelbi Clary.

The Trailblazers finished 3-7 in Florida and innings and never looked back. Sarah Slouber Clary and Meczywor went 2-3 on the night will continue their season against Worcester was strong on the mound for Dominican, for the Trailblazers. Quackenbush remained State Saturday, March 29 at 12 pm. On March pitching a complete game, allowing only two 1-1 on the mound after this performance.

30th, they will host a doubleheader against hits and striking out seven batters.

MCLA then fell to Edgewood College, 4-2. Skidmore College, beggining at 1PM at the JoIn their first win against Elms College, Edgewood scored two runs in the third in- seph Zavattaro Athletic Complex. pitcher Rachel Quackenbush gave a dominant ning and two runs in the fourth to take a 4-0 “I believe that my team played 100 percent performance, breaking her single game record lead. Shelbi Clary scored a run in the fifth to their ability. We played each game very well, counting up 16 strikeouts. During her seven and Amanda Meczywor scored a run in the even though none of us have set positions yet,” innings, she gave up only 4 hits, one batter over sixth to claw MCLA back into the game. With infielder Sierra Bailey said. “Overall we had a the limit. Michaela DiNicola led the game off two out and runners on second and third in great time. We got to spend time on the beach with a single, and then moved to second with the seventh inning, Alexandra Romano flied and do some team bonding. I think we will a sacrifice bunt from Alex Romano. DiNicola out to right field to end the game, dropping have a good season this year.”

Sports Writer

Beacon.MCLA.edu

9

Scores Softball March 7th, 2014 Olivet 7, MCLA 2 Newbury 3, MCLA 1 March 8th, 2014 Dominican 6, MCLA 1 MCLA 2, Elms 1 March 9th, 2014 Edgewood 4, MCLA 2 MCLA 5, Rockford 0 March 11th, 2014 Eastern Nazerene 4, MCLA 0 St. Joseph’s 2, MCLA 1 March 12th, 2014 MCLA 10, Ohio Wesleyan 2 Wooster 9, MCLA 3 Baseball March 7th, 2014 East Mennonite 6, MCLA 5 March 8th, 2014 MCLA 5, Becker 4 Becker 12, MCLA 0 March 9th, 2014 MCLA 13, Rhode Island College 8 March 11th, 2014 SUNY-Canton 1, MCLA 0 SUNY-Canton 10, MCLA 7 March 13th, 2014 SUNYIT 6, MCLA 5 SUNYIT 9, MCLA 5

Schedules Baseball Friday, March 21st MCLA @ Clark University 3:30 PM Saturday, March 22nd MCLA vs Norwich University PPD MCLA vs Norwich University PPD Sunday, March 23rd MCLA @ Anna Maria College 12 PM MCLA @ Anna Maria College 2:30 PM Wendsday, March 26th MCLA @ Trinity College 3:30 PM

10

Opinion

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Beacon.MCLA.edu

“What is your opinion on the war on drugs?”

“If they legalize the marijuana, then a lot of crime would go down because a lot of it is based on selling and smoking. Plus if they legally treated marijuana like alcohol in respects of being twenty-one, then I think it wouldn’t be an issue whatsoever.”

“I don’t see anything wrong with marijuana being legalized as long as it’s for medicinal use.”

–Cassandra Goulette, 2016

The Beacon The Beacon is published Thursdays during the academic year and is distributed free to the College community. The Beacon is funded by the Student Government Association, the English/Communications department and from ad revenues.

Contact information: News desk number: 413-662-5535 Business number: 413-662-5404 E-mail: Beacon@mcla.edu Web site: beacon.mcla.edu Office: Mark Hopkins Hall, room 111 Mission Statement The Beacon strives to provide timely and accurate news of campus and local events.

– Anthony Cancilla, 2015 “I’m totally okay with it being legal and used for medicinal use and so many people use it anyway.”

“I think the war on drugs could be a good thing but needs to be more focused.”

– Lily Urquhart, 2014

–Ryan Walters, 2015

Editorials Policy Unsigned editorials that appear on these pages reflect the views of The Beacon’s editorial board.

Signed columns and commentaries that appear on these pages reflect the views of the writers.

Letters Policy The Beacon welcomes Letters to the Editor. Deadline is noon on Mondays for that week’s newspaper.

Letters should be kept to 500 words or less and are subject to editing for grammar and content. The Beacon will not publish anonymous or libelous letters.

“I think legalization of marijuana would be a good thing for the economy and may become legal anyway. I’m also skeptical because of the consequences that could happen.”

“I think it’s kind of overblown and costing a lot of people money and unfair jail time.”

–Travis Smith (Jarvis), 2016

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

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-Sebastian Waldron, 2014

Editorial Board

Photos compiled by Andrew Ricketts

Bigger than biceps

Editor-in-Chief Nick Arena

Taking on a new lifestyle of eating well and exercising doesn’t always have to be a dramatic change

in one’s life. There are plenty of things you can sneak into your daily routine without realizing that, slowly, you’re bettering your body and mind.

Some examples of this include taking the stairs in a building rather than the elevator, sitting and standing with good posture, choosing whole wheat breads and pasta, limiting soda intake, and drinking more water throughout the day.

It’s important to understand that carbohydrates are not a bad thing to have in your diet, because they provide you with energy.

However, avoid eating carbs later in the night and before bed, since your body doesn’t have enough time to use the energy by burning it off – instead, it will sit overnight and be stored as fat.

Another thing to remember is to listen to your body when it tells you that you’re full, because then you have set a limit for yourself

and will eventually adapt to smaller portion sizes. On the other end of the spectrum, know when you are hungry (as opposed to simply bored). One way to accomplish this is to plan your meals for the week and eat breakfast every day.

Eating within the first hour of waking up can help boost your metabolism and set an accurate eating schedule for the day. Also, utilizing Sundays to pre-cook and plan out your meals for the week will help prevent overeating. Having nuts or granola bars on hand for healthy snacking during a busy day or while traveling is a good idea as well.

For college students, it’s easy to fall into a pattern of drinking and eating heavily, late at night, each weekend. Alcohol still contains calories, and so does Cheesy Bread. Instead of saving your cravings for the entire weekend, try to reduce alcohol and junk food consumption to just one day

a week.

Most personal trainers with whom I have worked with say that their diet is perfect Monday through Friday and their cheat day is either on Saturday or Sunday. Even as trainers, there are no limits to a cheat day. It’s your one day to gorge on anything, because the next day it’s back to normal and your body will snap back quickly, as long as you stay strict during the week.

Eating well can be difficult and even confusing at times, but when you dedicate just a little time to it, it can be enjoyable and completely worth it down the road.

Snack of the week: Sugar snap peas can be eaten steamed, with a meal, or paired with a cup of nuts to get in a small amount of protein and veggies. Some people only eat the peas and throw away the skin, but it’s good all together, as well.

In my humble opinion...

By Nicholas Arena

tv. The commercials for reality shows even disturb me.

When I talk to people I know who watch reality tv, or play excessive amounts of video games they always tell me the same thing. They do it to escape.

Why do we feel the need to escape from our own realities so badly? I understand that some people have gone through horrible things in their lives and I would never attempt to tell someone who has how to cope with it. But for those of us who have nothing but work or school to complain about, what is so wrong with enjoying your own life?

This obsession with the lives of these psuedo-celebrities and fictional characters doesn’t exactly work wonders when trying to “have a life outside of work.”

Going back to my statement about enjoying video games, I would never recommend that these things be completely removed from society, they can be quite fun, but they should be looked at like alcohol: a little bit is good, a lot is not.

Start practicing some moderation in your everyday life. Go outside, make connections, and enjoy your own reality rather than wasting it on some else’s.

It is the little things that count

By Makayla-Courtney McGeeney Staff Writer

Editor-in-Chief

Disconnected

Recently, Sony unveiled its plans to unleash “Project Morpheus,” another attempt to step into the world of virtual reality in video gaming.

I like video games as much as the next guy, and I am looking forward to seeing what Sony can do with this, but I do have to question when we might start focusing on our own realities again.

Everyday, when I watch a little bit of television, I have to flip through channels to avoid suffering through a second of “reality”

Sports Editor Jesse Collings

Managing Editor Jess Gamari Photography Editor

A&E Editor Shannen Adamites

Kayla Degnan Web Editor Michael Dahlroth

Copy Chief Avery Finnivan Advertising Manager Darcie Sosa

Senior News Editor Gabriel Kogel

Staff Staff Writers Kaleigh Anderson Rachel Fitterman

James Hunter Marc Latour Chunyu “Judy” Leng Kelsey Marini Makayla-Courtney McGeeney Alexander Moore Jenna O’Connor

Photographers Nathan Buchanan Richard LaRocque Amy Modesti Andrew Ricketts

Design Team

Shannen Adamites* Nick Arena* Jess Gamari* Raanan Sarid-Segal Nicole Ngoon Nick Swanson Copy Editors Yvonne Camacho Rominda DeBarros Nicole L’Etoile

Advisers

Jenifer Augur Gillian Jones Jim Niedbalski

*Holds more than one position

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Opinion & Announcements

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Beacon.MCLA.edu

NASA astronauts to perform “STEAM” National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronauts Catherine “Cady” Coleman, Ph.D., and Daniel C. Burbank will combine a musical performance with a presentation on living and working in space at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts’ (MCLA) Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation on Thursday, March 27, at 5:30 p.m.

This Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) event, “STEAM: A Space Odyssey,” is free and open to the public.

In addition to being astronauts with NASA, Coleman, a flutist who received an honorary Doctor of Science from MCLA in 2004, and Burbank, a guitarist, are amateur musicians who share

their talents with various astronaut-related, musical groups.

They have performed across the United States to inspire students through their music.

After their musical performance, Coleman and Burbank will give a presentation, to be followed by a question and answer session.

This presentation is made possible by Bryan McKay – the parent of an MCLA student – and One Giant Leap, a non-profit organization devoted to help students learn about space exploration and encourage them to pursue their studies in science and math. One Giant Leap also aims to educate the public about space exploration.

“This will be an exciting event,”

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said Monica Joslin, dean of academic affairs at MCLA. “Cady Coleman and Dan Burbank will be an inspiration to our students.

We are grateful to Bryan McKay of ‘One Giant Leap’ for bringing them to campus.”

Coleman has logged more than 4,330 hours in space aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia and the International Space Station.

She coached “Gravity” star Sandra Bullock during Expedition 27 on the Space Station about what it’s like to live in space, to help the actor prepare for her role in the film.

Coleman’s Space Shuttle training includes serving as a mission specialist on STS-73. She trained as a backup mission specialist for an injured crewmember on STS83, and was the lead mission spe-

Today, March 20 Recycling Fashion Show Venable Gym 7- 9 p.m.

Photo from NASA.gov

cialist on STS-93 for the deployment of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory.

On the Space Station, Coleman acted as the backup U.S. crewmember for Expeditions 19, 20 and 21 and served as a backup crewmember for Expeditions 24 and 25 as part of her training for Expeditions 26 and 27.

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All Around the World Amsler Campus Center Marketplace 10 a.m.- 7 p.m.

Community Day of Service Amsler Campus Center Marketplace 1-7 p.m.

Green Living Seminar Murdock Conference Reception Room 218 4:30 -6:30 p.m.

Inside the Outside: Artist talk Gallery 51 5 p.m.

Friday, March 21 The Coat Hanger Project Amsler Campus Center 324A + 324B 3/21/2014 at 6:00 PM 8:00 PM Sophomore Experience Open Meeting Murdock Conference Reception Room 218 3/21/2014 at 3:00 PM 4:00 PM

Saturday, March 22 Rumba!

Amsler Campus Center Sullivan Lounge 5- 7 p.m.

Movie Night Murdock Conference Reception Room 218 7-9 p.m.

African Appreciation Week Learn to Speak Twi Murdock Conference Room 302 7:30 -8:30 p.m.

Created Equal Freedom Riders Documentary Murdock Conference Reception Room 218 6:45 -9 p.m.

Community Day of Service Amsler Campus Center Marketplace 3/21/2014 at 1:00 PM 7:00 PM

The Beacon wants to help promote your club!

We will print one free advertisement per semester.

Friday March 21 Brown Bag Lecture Series: ”Deconstructing African American Autobiography: The Life of the Reverend Samuel Harrison” Elderidge Hall 3 p.m.

Check it out!

Upcoming events on and off campus!

Are you in a club?

Today, March 20

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Movie Night Amsler Campus Center Sullivan Lounge 6- 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 22 African Night Party Venable Gym 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.

African Night Venable Gym 7:30 -10:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 27 Gallery 51: Exchange 5 p.m.

Advanced Museum Studies students curated a visual art exhibition exploring exchange: the exchange of ideas, cultural motifs, critical political concerns, artistic influences, and social interactions.

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Photo Essay

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Bennington, VT based artists and married couple, Renee Bouchard, left, and Jamie Franklin stand next to their pieces, “Marriage” (top), and “In The Womb” (bottom).

Bennington, VT based artist, Renee Bouchard’s works, “Small New Universe” (left) and “Monk” (right), are currently on display in Gallery 51.

INSIDE THE OUSIDE:

Reconsidering Our Views About Art Photos by Amy Modesti This exhibit on display at MCLA Gallery 51 is on display through Sunday, March, 23.

It was organized by the Museum Studies Class of Fall 2013, with support of the Fine and Performing Arts Department.

A packed crowd of students, professors, and community members attended the opening reception of the exhibition show,”Inside the Outside:Reconsidering Our Views About Art” at MCLA Gallery 51 on Friday, February 27.

Internationally renowned artist and Williamstown resident Jessica Park signs a copy of her new book, “A World Transformed: The Art of Jessica Park,” written by Professor Emeritus Tony Gengarelly, for artist Michael McManmon.

On view in Gallery 51 are paintings by Jessica Park, Michael McManmon, and Renee Bouchard.

A selection of mixed media pieces made by Ilene Spiewak, an art therapist and teacher for the College Internship Program.