Issue 7 spring '16

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Beacon@MCLA.Edu 413-662-5535 Mark Hopkins Room 111

Volume 82 ◆ Issue 7

Th u r s d ay, M a r c h 2 4 , 2 0 1 6 News

Water contamination hits Hoosick Falls Page 3

A&E

NeXXus will open for Spring Concert Page 6

Sports

Baseball starts season in Florida

RPS offers gender neutral housing Meets long-time student demands for housing policy revisions

By Idalis Foster News Editor

Gender neutral rooms for all, affinity groups in Berkshire Towers, and a floor for returning students in Hoosac Hall. These are just a few of the big changes made

by Residential Programming Services (RPS) for the 2016-2017 housing process.

Five-person townhouses will now be four-person townhouses, with triples now becoming premium doubles, and one of the five-person house double rooms will become a premium single. According to Dianne Manning, director of RPS, these efforts were all made to increase the opportunities and comfort of students in their houses.

“A lot of students like to live in premium singles and in smaller groups, so there was an opportunity to allow people to do

Page 10

Op-Ed

Page 4

Campus Life

Going to Ireland for spring break Page 8

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Conner Noblit plays Mr. MacAfee in Harlequin Musical theatre club’s production of Bye Bye Birdie. Bye Bye Birdie premieres Friday and Saturday in the Church St. Social hall. Flip to page 12 for a photo essay.

The importance of finding your voice

By Harmony Birch

Hogan case threatens First Amendment

both of those things,” Manning said. “It kind of broadens the options for students, I think.

There are some students who have a hard time forming a larger group as well, which this will help.”

In the past few years, gender neutral rooms have slowly become a privilege extended to include lower class years. This year the opportunity will be available to all students regardless of class year, but there is some fine print at the end of the e-mail advising couples against living together, although it is allowed.

Residence Area Affinity Groups (RAAGs) are also being added to Berkshire Towers, which allows students to form groups with a common interest and live together. Similar to the themed floors in Hoosac Hall

When Rogovoy started his career as a journalist he described Co-Editor-in-Chief himself as being a generalist. Now he specializes in subjects like Seth Rogovoy is well known to the contemporary rock music, Bob Berkshires. He’s seen the rise and fall Dylan, and Jewish culture. He’s a of publications like “The Advocate” freelancer who works around the and “Berkshire Living,” and became a clock, but he never bored or gets county household working with “The tired of juggling so many roles, he Berkshire Eagle.” Today he makes simply does what he loves. his living freelancing for a number Rogovoy described himself as of publications and through his own lucky, being a person who gets paid website, “The Rogovoy Report.” to do something they are passionate Rogovoy was this semester’s about.

Part of him thinks he just Hardman Journalist in Residence. stumbled in to his current career, He’s thin and spry despite his another part knows he worked long gray beard. His clothing is loose and hard to be where he is now. with a Soho charm, you can tell “Over the time the more you the guy was “hipster” before it was persist at something it seems to cool. He never set out to be a writer, work out, ” Rogovoy said. editor, award-winning critic, book His advice to aspiring writers is author, radio commentator, lecturer, to be persistent, and to read. teacher, cultural programmer, “Be a reader, a voracious marketing consultant, talent buyer’s carnivorous reader, ” Rogovoy agent, record producer, theatrical said, adding that writers should producer, artist manager, or amateur consume all sorts of material even photographer and musician. All he if it’s outside their working genre. ever wanted was to be a writer.

“And if you don’t read all that “For me the unifying factor of Photo by Agnella Cross/The Beacon stuff, and you don’t read a lot of everything, the basic skeleton, or Seth Rogovoy talked about his life and journey in journalism it, and you don’t read the best of it, grain, or heart is writing,” he said. and his passion for writing. then how can you possibly be good Rogovoy knew he wanted to be a at writing?”

Rogovoy asked. writer at eight or ten years old, even to become editor-in-chief. Still, he never His other big piece of advice, after you’ve then knowing he was good at it. Writing considered becoming a journalist. read every book in the library, “write and seemed to run in the family. Growing up, Rogovoy attended Williams College. He write and write. ” Rogovoy was enthralled with the work of I.L. studied history rather than writing, and wrote Rogovoy pointed out that he was fortunate Peretz, a famous Yiddish author, playwright, for the paper only once. After college he came enough to grow up in a family with two papers and ancestor of Rogovoy. back to the Berkshires to pursue creative a day, “The New York Times” and “Newsday.”

Growing up he realized that he could do writing, and found himself a day job at The He was reading “The New York Times” before well in school with minimal effort simply Advocate. the age of ten.

The best publication for any because he knew how to write.

Rogovoy attributes his success to passion. writer to read is “The New Yorker,” according In high school he wrote about rock music “You need to be passionate to be any kind of to Rogovoy. for the school newspaper, and later went on writer,” Rogovoy said.

2

News

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Beyond the beacon Compiled by Idalis Foster

Senior News Editor Sourced from Tribune News Service Brussels attacked by ISIS, 34 killed in horrific explosions In three explosions, 34 people were killed and dozens more injured at an airport and a major subway station in Belgium. The attacks, which occurred on Tuesday, were caused by the Islamic State and thought to be tied to the recent arrest of Salah Abdeslam, the only surviving terrorist involved in the attacks in Paris this past November.

Belgian federal police are looking for the man who is suspected in the airport bombing which killed 14 of the victims.

Three Mormon missionaries from Utah were killed in the attacks.

Candidates from both sides expressed their condolences to those who lost loved

ones in flooded remarks support time.

the attacks. News of the attacks Twitter and Facebook, spurring from all around the world in for Belgium through this tragic

ECS reducing pollution by recycling tech gadgets The Silicon Valley has been pumping out technology from computers and phones to fax machines and printers. But what happens to all of these gadgets when they’re disposed of?

According to Jeff Hunts, manager of the CalRecycle electronic waste recycling program, this is way more complicated than recycling a can or bottle. Jim Taggart, chief executive of Valley-based ECS Refining, explained in detail how a gadget may have 25 different types of material which have to be separated out and, if it is cathode ray glass for example, sent to countries like

Mexico and India to be converted.

Companies like Taggart’s and Hunts’ are working to eliminate the massive amounts of e-waste that are ending up in landfills and could have dangerous materials.

Depending on the state, consumers may be the ones who have to figure out where to recycle their old or unused technology while in another state the consumer could just bring their technology back to where they bought it.

Summit asks corporations for investments to solve water issues With the Western states in a drought and places like Flint, Michigan dealing with drinking water that is contaminated, issues like water supplies have become a hot topic recently. However, investment in both short and long-term solutions have been absent from said discussions.

In a summit on Tuesday, the White

House met with corporations to try to gather money for research to come up with solutions for the long-term issues regarding water due to climate change and other challenges. So far, GE promised to invest $500 million to go towards water filtration and recyclung, to be used over the next decade, while Ultra Capital will invest $1.5 billion “in decentralized ‘water management solutions’.”

Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Calif. argued that investing in our water infrastructure needed to be a focus as well as conserving, capturing and recycling water. A few of the solutions that were brought up during the summit were establishing a new water center at the California Institute of Technology’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Los Angeles committing to capture 12 billion gallons more of storm water each year by 2025, and three universities in Southern California creating a consortium to work on ocean desalination.

New IT director excited Bryanna Bradley seeks to for challenges ahead connect dance and society

By Joseph Carew

Staff Writer/Columnist On the bottom floor of Murdock Hall, just outside of a corner office, there’s a new sign that reads: Ian Bergeron, director of Information Technology (IT). It will have been 14 years this August since he began his career with MCLA as a help desk manager.

“It doesn’t seem like that long,” Bergeron said. “I have to tell you, it really doesn’t. But then again, when we started here this building was…completely different.”

Bergeron came into his current field at a time when gaining Internet access for students was the major responsibility of the department. Workers would manually install network cards in the computers of enrolled students to get them online.

“They were literally taking student computers apart in their dorm rooms, putting them together and getting them on the Internet,” Bergeron said.

Since then, IT has become responsible for the telephone networks, security systems and a myriad of other things that would have been improbable more than a decade ago.

Having grown up in southern Vermont, Bergeron looked for a school not too far from his family and found MCLA. After earning a degree in computer science at the College, his career in IT began in a local school district. Bergeron returned to MCLA when he noticed a job as the help desk manager had become available.

Since taking that position, Bergeron has been witness to dramatic changes in the responsibilities of the department he now leads.

“My take on the department is that we have grown over the past ten years to become more essential,” Bergeron said. “So the job itself has changed, [along] with the expectation of this department, and I’m looking forward to that challenge.”

Bergeron will be filling the role left vacant by former Director Peter Allmaker, who recently retired.

Bergeron’s passion for technology

is something he shares with his predecessor. Both men have affection for their field and, in Bergeron’s case, this plays out in his solutions that fit the institution.

“This is a hobby and a profession.

I think this stuff is really cool, and I look forward to pushing that kind of technology when I get to work,” Bergeron said. “I read something new and I just can’t wait to implement it.

I can’t wait to find a way to make that work here.”

Bergeron enjoys the work he does for the College, from controlling the system that operates the door locks throughout campus to manipulating the temperature in Mark Hopkins. The IT department’s reach is wide, but he is excited about the responsibility that comes with the new title.

Employing homegrown solutions is something Bergeron wants to continue in order to improve the lives of students and faculty.

“That kind of inventiveness is something I want to carry forward,” Bergeron said. “I’m looking forward to helping the department build more inventive solutions.”

By Emily Gabert Staff Writer

Express, connect, create. If there’s three words that could be described as junior Bryanna Bradley’s motto, those would be it.

“I feel [like] expression is the essence of human nature,” stated Bradley. “I think my human nature is to express, connect and create.”

Bradley is an English/communications major with a concentration in broadcast media. Outside of the classroom, Bradley is a dedicated dancer, and is active in discussing social issues. She is also president of Dance Company and a member of the program Campus Conversations on Race (CCOR).

Bradley likes the way art and social issues connect. She finds that it is very important for humans to be able to express themselves in some form of art, whether it’s dancing or artwork, using times of protest during the Civil Rights movement as an example.

“Bryanna continues to be a passionate leader and role model within our CCOR team of co-facilitators,” said Thomas Alexander, coordinator of the Multicultural Center.

“She has contributed to our focuses on the arts and social justice as we identify ways to help people connect and reduce prejudice in

Cellist Jeffrey Zeigler (of Kronos Quartet), steel pan player Andy Akiho, poet Roger Bonair-Agard, and drummer Sean Dixon team up for an extraordinary exploration of identity and sense of place.

Music + Spoken Word: Work-in-Progress

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ourselves and others.”

Bradley expresses an interest in one day researching the connection between society, social issues and dance, possibly presenting the intersection of these topics at the Undergraduate Research Conference. Bradley also hopes to find a way for her career and interests to overlap.

With senior year on the horizon, Bradley is unsure of what is to come. She hopes to land an internship with WNYC, a non profit radio station, in New York City during the summer.

She is also hoping to perform a dance reading with poet Danielle Georges, who recently did a poetry reading at Gallery 51.

When she was here, Georges offered Bradley a dancing role – something she believed wouldn’t have been possible if she was not at MCLA. “After the [first] reading, we were just talking back and forth and she asked if I wanted to be in her poetry reading and dance,” Bradley said. “I feel like these opportunities wouldn’t have happened if I was somewhere else.”

Besides being involved with Dance Company and CCOR, Bradley also hosts two radio shows on WJJW. She said that she loves

Bryanna Bradley, Continued on page 3

Campus News

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Beacon.MCLA.edu

3

Water contamination hits Hoosick Falls

By Torin Gannon Staff Writer

Flint, Michigan has made headlines in recent months because of it’s water contamination crisis, but what many people aren’t aware of is that something similar has been happening closer to home.

The town of Hoosick Falls, NY, a town many students call home, is also dealing with contaminated water.

According to environmental studies professor Elena Traister, the situation came to light when a resident became suspicious of the drinking water after his father died from kidney cancer. He sent a sample of the water to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who found that it contained high levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).

Traister says that PFOA is an

emerging contaminant, which means it has yet to be determined how much PFOA is dangerous for human consumption.

“Ultimately it has been decided that the water supply, the water that is being treated and sent to residents of Hoosick Falls, has levels of PFOA that are too high,” Traister said.

PFOA does pose serious health risks to people. According to Traister, it can cause problems with development and reproduction, and cancer.org said PFOA is also a suspected carcinogen. Exposure has been linked to testicular, kidney, thyroid and possibly several other forms of cancer.

Because of the threat of contamination, residents are strongly advised to avoid consuming the town water. Residents are being provided free bottles of water that they must use for drinking,

for incoming freshmen, RPS CHANGES, these will allow returning Continued from page 1

students to have more focus on a particular topic and even work with staff or faculty to create programming.

“We’re hoping that somebody will say, ‘Yeah I have all these friends and we have the same hobby...We all like to write, or we all like anime.’ They might say [they] want to share a suite or floor,” Manning said. “This is an idea for current students who know their classmates and know their similar interest groups. It gives them an opportunity to say, ‘This is our theme for our community and this is how I’m going to promote that theme.’”

Hoosac Hall has traditionally been designated as housing for freshmen, but due to the amount of students returning to the dorm, this has changed. While freshmen will still be the primary residents in Hoosac, upperclassmen will now have their own floor just for them.

Students like junior Virvioly Valdez, who currently lives in Hoosac Hall, see the appeal of this designation for upperclassmen who prefer the corridor style living area.

“I think having a floor for returning students is a great idea,” Valdez said. “Being surrounded by other students who are used to being in a dorm and who understand the rules will make it a better living environment for all. I think it will definitely attract more upperclassmen to Hoosac.”

In regards to the townhouses, the switch to four person groups and gender neutral rooms was made to resolve issues students had in the past with forming a group of people to live with.

Sophomore Clare O’Connor, a resident adviser in the Flagg Townhouses, has already heard positive reactions from her residents, including one who mentioned that the four person arrangement is much more flexible and conserves space.

“I think these changes are a huge step in the right direction,” O’Connor said. “[The arrangements] are more flexible, especially with gender neutral housing. [It] will allow students who take advantage of that to hopefully feel safer and more accepted on

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brushing teeth and cooking.

“Not using the water has been difficult. We have been living off of bottled water for months now and just using that for everything,” Samantha Kipp, a Hoosick Falls resident and MCLA student, said. “I’m not living it day to day, but all of my family is and it’s not easy to live out of bottles.”

The EPA states that using the water for bathing is safe, as inhalation and skin contact of PFOA contaminated water is not a significant contamination.

So far, PFOA has proved resilient in attempts at cleaning the water.

“It’s a really stable chemical, so it sticks around in the environment for a real long time,” Traister said. “The nature of its damage to people and wildlife is that it doesn’t go away.”

It is believed the contamination

originated from the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics plant, which was using PFOA to make Teflon and other products. Somehow the chemical (either through dumping or leaking) got into the groundwater.

“Groundwater contamination is really hard to clean up because it’s underground, and those contaminants move around with the groundwater,” Traister said.

Saint-Gobain is currently working with the EPA Superfund, a program designed to help clean up sites contaminated by pollutants, to help provide water to Hoosick Falls residents, and to help clean up the contamination.

Activated carbon filtration will be added to the water treatment system, with the goal that eventually any PFOA will soon be undetectable.

In the meantime, residents will

our campus.”

Just over spring break, the Flagg Townhouses received the addition of an outdoor message board to promote RPS events that are open to townhouse residents. It currently displays the returning student housing assignment process for those who may not have checked their e-mails for the guidelines and forms.

The deadline for all housing assignment materials is April 7 by 4 p.m., and the forms must be signed by Student Accounts before they are turned in. Townhouse groups need to hand in all forms together for assurance that they match up with one another.

Manning emphasized that if students have any questions it is vital to ask RPS rather than relying on other students, who may not know all aspects of the process. For all requirements and the full outline of the process go to http://www.mcla. edu/Student_Life/campushousing/returningstudents/ .

still suffer the consequences of the contaminated water.

“It sucks, but we make it work,” senior Aaron Perkins said, regarding his family who’s living in Hoosick Falls.

For Samantha Kipp, frustrations are running high.

“Something needs to be done about it, and soon,” Kipp said.

“People aren’t taking it seriously enough because they aren’t living through it.”

Thankfully, MCLA residents have nothing to fear. Traister stressed that our water is perfectly safe because we get it from a reservoir, which is not near any development that could contaminate it.

For more information about what’s going on in Hoosick Falls, go to https://www.epa.gov/ny/ hoosick-falls-water-contamination.

the comfort of BRYANNA BRADLEY, knowing somebody Continued from page 2

is out there listening, even if it is just one person.

“She is an eloquent speaker who works well with others,” said Sychiah Johnson, a member of CCOR. “She listens and never shuts down ideas; [she] helps build them up.”

One of the ways Bradley has thought about crossing her two interests is via the radio. A radio show on the National Public Radio (NPR) has been in the back of her mind, but she is still unsure if she will have to drop one of her interests for a certain career path.

“No matter if you’re a lawyer or artist or chemist, you have to express [yourself],” said Bradley, “and give something back to the world.”

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4

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Opinion & Editorial

Beacon.MCLA.edu

The Beacon

Editorial

Hogan puts Gawker in a chokehold

If you’re like some of us on the be considered libelous if it were Wrestling Federation and it’s Beacon Staff, you’ve likely been published about Joe Schmoe, owner Vince McMahon, about ignoring anything to do with Hulk wouldn’t pose nearly as much as a McMahon’s role in distributing Hogan—especially something as threat to Barack Obama. steroids and other performance disturbing as a Hulk Hogan sex tape—unfortunately this matter is more important than most tabloid scandals and presents new regulations and first amendment issues.

Last Friday, a Florida jury awarded Hogan a $115 million privacy suit against Gawker.

On Monday, an additional $25 million was awarded to Hogan for punitive damages.

Gawker.com, a celebrity tabloid blog, published a sex tape filmed about a decade ago, according to the “New York Times,” of Hogan and his ex-best friend’s wife, Heather Clem.

Photo from Youtube The video stills had already been published elsewhere in the The infamous wrestler Hulk Hogan recently sued celebrity depths of the internet and were tabloid website Gawker for releasing a decade-old sex tape. sent to Gawker by an anonymous source in 2012.

Gawker argued that they enhancing drugs to his talents.

Though both Hogan and his published the tape because it was Hogan testified against McMahon friend Todd Clem, publicly newsworthy information about in exchange for immunity, but admitted to and had knowledge of a public figure. Hogan’s attorney his memory famously went blank the affair, Hogan sued Todd Clem argued that the tape was not while testifying and McMahon in 2012, claiming he was not newsworthy, that it was posted was acquitted of all charges. aware that he was being filmed. only for financial gain, and that Hogan’s performance on the stand Todd Clem asserted that Hogan it caused Hogan emotional stress has been criticized by writers and was not aware of the tape, and and harm. We here at The Beacon wrestlers alike, as numerous other paid him $5,000. think Hogan’s arguments are likely talents have come out in the past Gawker’s publishing of the sex true, but shouldn’t necessarily and admitted that Hogan was tape was in typical tabloid fashion. hold up in a court of law. lying during his trial. In addition, They weren’t particularly polite.

This is far from Hogan’s first Hogan has garnered a reputation The first amendment gives more interaction with the judicial within the professional wrestling liberties to journalists writing system. In 1994 Hogan was industry as a notorious con artist about public figures than it does involved in a federal trial involving who stretches the truth and will the average citizen. What might his former employer, the World do almost anything to satisfy his

ego.

Gawker, as a publication, is vile, as most tabloids are. They shouldn’t have published the tape, it wasn’t particular newsworthy, but when you’re defining what is, things can get dangerous.

Is the Hillary Clinton email scandal newsworthy? What about the BT evacuation? When the government is allowed to determine what is newsworthy, they’re debilitating the Press’s purpose as the fourth estate.

They aren’t allowing the press to deliver information that could be unflattering.

Who determines what the general public should have a right to know?

There are many problems within the media industry.

There are many cases in which it makes sense to deliver checks on the media, they aren’t always particularly careful about sensitive information, sometimes they distort the truth, and sometimes they aren’t sensitive enough when pursuing a story.

That being said, delivering checks on the media could be more dangerous than any of that.

There are times when the media needs to be insensitive and needs to publish taboo information, produce better journalists, teach them ethics, and taken checks on media influences like corporations. The press should have an independent voice.

What would you change about campus?

The Beacon is published Thursdays during the academic year and is distributed free to the College’s community. The Beacon is funded by the Student Government Association, the English/Communications department, and ad revenues. Single copies are free, additional copies may be purchased at 50 cents each.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Editorial Board Co-Editors in Chief Gionna Nourse Harmony Birch Sports Editor Jesse Collings A&E Editor Mitchell Chapman Copy Chief Brittany Gallacher Photography Editor Agnella Gross

Emily Gabert Torin Gannon Joseph Carew Jonathan Hoel Paige Pomerantz Tyler Bacon Isabel McKenzie Matt Aceto*

I would improve the theatre itself and the department. There are only two theatre teachers, and the theatre department is not provided with what it needs.

Brittany Nicholson, ‘16

I think a common area that is bigger would provide a wider area for students to come together.

Molly Lefleur, ‘16

Senior News Editor Idalis Foster Buisness Manager Sam Slocombe

Staff Staff Writers

I would make the campus more animal-friendly.

Sebastián Conrad ‘17

Co-Web Editors Jake Mendel* Matt Aceto*

Photographers and Videographers Elizabeth Quirk Domonique Ackley Shunquell Dennis Dan Wohler Natalia Reyes

Cartoonist

Caitlin O’Neill*

Ad Representatives Adam Sams Jeff Orgeat Copy Editors Caitlin O’Neill* Lauren Levite Jake Mendel*

Advisers

Jenifer Augur Shawn McIntosh

*Holds more than one position

Online at: Beacon.MCLA.edu

Facebook.com/MCLABeacon Twitter.com/TheBeacon_MCLA

I would change the BT suites into apartments with kitchens so that a whole building was not sharing one kitchen.

Sean Pease, ‘16

I would improve the College by providing more food-related events on campus.

Ian Cappeli, ‘18

I would change the Science Center so it had a rehydration station.

Mike Friedman, ‘17

Photos by Domonique Ackley

Opinion&Editorial

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Four affordable music festivals that students should go to

Matt Aceto Web Editor

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Now that spring break is over, music festival season is officially underway. Two of America’s biggest festivals took place while we were on vacation. Thousands of young people flocked to Miami to celebrate the Ultra Music Festival, while others traveled to Austin, Texas for the South

by Southwest music and film festival. Still to come are dozens of festivals across the country, though many are too expensive for college students to attend.

I’ve rounded up four festivals college students can afford this year without breaking the bank.

Shaky

Beats Festival

Music

Joseph carew Staff Writer/Columnist

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Sp n i

One in the morning Eastern Standard Time. Five red lights go out and 22 cars erupt into motion. A Scuderia Ferrari cuts between two Mercedes and steals the lead in the first corner, marking the first pass of the first race of the 2016 Formula 1 season.

Formula One (F1) is the highest level of open-wheeled racing series sanctioned by the goliath that is the Fédération Internationale de I’Automobile (International Automobile Federation).

Those who participate in the Grand Prix can score points for themselves and their car’s constructors by placing within the top ten.

All teams that score points receive money at the close of the season. This means that one point can be the difference between nothing and hundreds of thousands of dollars.

You should care. You don’t

Euphoria Music Festival

Euphoria is a four-day outdoor extravaganza taking place in Austin, Texas. The festival offers campgrounds with tents to stay in overnight, as well as afternoon yoga classes for all attendees. Juicy J and Lil Dicky are among the artists scheduled to perform at Euphoria. The festival runs from April 7-10, with single-day tickets going for $64 each, plus fees. 3-day general admission tickets are also available for $169, plus fees.

Pitchfork Music Festival

From July 15-17, some of the most underrated names in music will perform at the Pitchfork Festival in Chicago.

Jeremih, Mick Jenkins, and BJ The Chicago Kid are scheduled to take the stage in Union Park.

Unlike Lollapalooza, another music festival in Chicago, ticket prices for the Pitchfork Festival are about half as expensive.

Single-day tickets are currently on sale for $65 each, with a 3-day pass going for $165.

If I could only choose one festival to attend this summer, it would absolutely be Essence.

The festival is held inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, the same stadium which hosted Super Bowl XLVII in 2013. 3-day ticket packages start at $130, a bargain considering the major lineup of Dej Loaf, Kendrick Lamar, Kehlani, and others. The festival runs from June 30 to July 3.

For students looking to spend more money, there’s also the Governers Ball Music Festival in Randall’s Island Park, New York City coming up June 3-5. Single-day ticket prices for that start at $105, plus fees.

No matter which festival you may attend, be sure to party responsibly and stay hydrated.

Formula One is back

have to, but I’m telling you that you should. This racing series is the pinnacle of the open wheel world and of automotive engineering.

Not to mention that it’s a worldwide sensation.

Formula1.com estimates over 400 million unique television viewers this year with a further two million people attending the races and affiliated events.

This year the United States will be hosting a Grand Prix (as they have in the far past and the previous few seasons) in Texas and will have a team to represent it there. This American team, the Haas F1 team, has started the season scoring points and looks to be a strong middle-of-thepack contender for this year.

Eleven teams typically running two drivers will be competing on five continents in 21 countries from March to November this year. The

vehicles they drive around, some of the world’s most famous circuits, are propelled by a 1.6 liter V6 turbo engine coupled to an electric power unit making it a hybrid.

The 900 brake horse power coming out of that power unit and engine propels the drivers to speeds in excess of 220 mph. And the data being recorded by the hundreds of sensors inside the cars is streamed at 128 gigabytes per second.

To give a more understandable comparison, “the 2015 Infiniti Red Bull RB11 Formula One race car jets 0 to 60 in only 1.7 seconds, and perhaps even more impressive can reach 190 mph in under ten seconds,” according to zeroto60times.com. Most of the cars in the student lots at the College would take well over six seconds to see 60 mph and couldn’t hit 190

5

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ho t e e w es

Hom

Essence Music Festival

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Taking place in downtown Atlanta, the Shaky Beats Music Festival will feature performances from Nas, ASAP Ferg, Tory Lanez, and artists from all genres. Along with live music, there will be free water stations and food trucks for when you get hungry. Photo booths and cell phone charging stations will also be on site. The

festival runs from May 20-22, with single-day tickets currently on sale for under $100 each. An advanced general admission 3-day ticket can be purchased for $162.

Beacon.MCLA.edu

if they were in a plane flying that exact speed.

Fine, enough with the stats. Formula One shows those who watch it what is possible when it comes to automobiles. There has been an argument made that the technology introduced and innovated there would eventually find its way into the consumer market. Please note that this is usually used in order to justify the billions of dollars it takes for Formula One to exist and operate and the hundreds of gallons of fuel utilized by each team each year. Please also note that this doesn’t take away all the truth in the original argument. Even if some of the technology utilized there never reaches consumers (we may never need brakes capable of handling 1200º centigrade) it still can inspire designers and automakers to continuously improve.

By Isabel McKenzie Columnist This past week, our apartment here at Patterson Court experienced what every college student dreads: inspections.

The on-site housing company for the Disney College Program is the Lincoln Property Company, and they perform inspections every month. These inspections make me miss MCLA RPS inspections. For two weeks, my roommate group chat goes haywire with questions about the dishes, trash, and vacuuming.

Inspections are completely random each time, so we never know when the inspector will walk into our apartment during the two week period. Some inspectors are harder to please than others, and one piece of trash in any of our cans can be the difference between pass and fail. It all goes back to Disney’s expectation of good show and efficiency, and here at the college program, it goes beyond daily tasks at our roles and taken back home with us. Needless to say, my roommates and I passed, and received a prize for our cleanliness.

There are four housing complexes that participants can choose to live in. It is not required to live in housing during the program, and some people choose to live off site in apartments. In my opinion, it’s way easier to live in DCP housing, albeit a little bit more expensive. All of the amenities are included; AC, water, furniture, lights, security, as well as on site fitness centers and pools.

I live in Patterson, the newest of the four complexes, and I love it. There are three bedrooms, each with their own bathroom which is a luxury. Chatham is known for holding a lot of the housing events, the Commons have washer and dryers in their apartments, and Vista Way… well Vista is known for being the most lively and nocturnal of all the housing complexes, as well as the oldest with a learning center. Registering for housing was like the Hunger Games, but I feel blessed to have been placed in my top choice with my chosen roommates.

“Through the Disney College Program, I will document my experience so you can follow along. Join me as I “earn my ears“ with none other than Mickey Mouse here in Orlando, Florida.”

6

Arts & Entertainment

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Beacon.MCLA.edu

neXXus steps up

to open spring concert Photo by Shunquell Dennis

The step team practices for an upcoming performance. NeXXus does about five performances a year, and are in very high demand. They started in 2008.

By Paige Pomerantz A & E Writer

MCLA’s step team, NeXXus, will be opening for spring concert headliner Kehlani amongst other campus performances.

“We are super excited and honored to open for Kehlani,” junior Tim G. Williams said. “We have done various campus and community events, but have never had the opportunity to open for someone as big as her before.”

Step is a historical, percussive dance that uses a person’s entire body as an instrument. A combination of intense footwork, clapping and spoken word produces complex rhythms and beats.

It originated from a unique combination of military closer-order and exhibition

drills, and African foot dances.

“NeXXus is a club that uses step to not only entertain and compete at various events, but to also help bring school spirit to MCLA,” President Jonathan Chery, ‘17, said.

Being a very popular group on campus, NeXXus has to turn down some requests due to their full plates. They do about five performances a semester.

This semester, some things they plan on doing besides the spring concert include their second annual end-of-the-year show, teaching a step routine at the Wellness Fair, and possibly a “Teach Our Campus How to Step” event and more.

According to Chery, there is no better feeling than “killing it” at a performance after putting so much time and effort into learning the routines at practices, except

for one: the inseparable, familial bond that forms between the members.

“You can say that we’re just like one big family,” Chery said.

The rest of the team agrees.

“Each year we get a new group of freshmen and it’s like an addition to the family,” Williams said.

For freshman Cheyenne Vanbramber, NeXXus is a place where she receives support and care. After being on a step team for 10 years prior to enrolling at MCLA, she knew she wanted to continue with the art form.

Both Chery and Williams knew that they had to join NeXXus after seeing a performance at an accepted students day.

Chery was also on a team in middle school and wanted to pick it back up.

“I told my mom that when I became a

freshman I was joining and then that was it,” Williams said.

For the most part, the choreography is a team effort, but at times adviser Michael Obasohan will teach NeXXus a few steps at practice.

They formed in 2008 and, unlike most step teams, are unaffiliated with any fraternities or sororities. Historically black Greek organizations would celebrate the crossing over into sister or brotherhood with a step performance incorporated into their traditional chants.

When searching for a name, the word “nexus” stuck out to them, meaning “a connected group or series,” which led them to being called NeXXus. With the spring concert only weeks away, members continue to practice in hopes of bringing something fresh to MCLA.

A Curious Mitchell Chapman

A & E Editor

“Captain America: Civil War” Case of gives Marvel a chance to renew their lineup E D R U M R

Because of their high production values, blockbuster budgets, and balance of humour and drama, there is still a lot of mileage in the superhero movie, and if anything Marvel has deep pockets to keep the genre alive a decade or two even if the next “Avengers” tanks.

However, its yearly sequels have taken a toll on viewers; people aren’t as excited to come out and see Tony Stark or Thor save the world as they were three years ago. This demands that Marvel changes the formula up a bit, and every “Phase Two” movie has done that, but not to the level where people were as excited to see “Avengers: Age of Ultron” as they were the original “Avengers” (if that excitement is indeed possible to replicate). Even from

DC there have been attempts to shake up the formula, as the standard “Man of Steel” sequel has gone from a versus movie with “Batman,” to the movie that is supposed to kick-start DC’s own cinematic universe.

Cue “Captain America: Civil War.” Unlike Stark, or Thor, Captain America remains as popular as ever, partially because of the character, and the quality of his films. “The First Avenger” is a decent, standard film, in line with the rest of Marvel’s “Phase One” lineup. “The Winter Soldier,” however, is comparable with Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight.” “Captain America 3” is the perfect stage from which to renew the MCU, as it is a trusted brand with a character

viewers love to see. Add to this the contemporary hit of the “Civil War” storyline in the comics, and you have a formula that can’t lose.

The “Civil War” comic storyline infamously killed off beloved characters, one star-spangled hero in particular, and many fans are anxious to see if the film follows the same story arc.

Nobody likes to see their favorite characters go, but like it or not, this is very good for Marvel, as it has made “Civil War” a mustsee film that I predict will eclipse “Age of Ultron” in the box office, and more importantly gives them a chance to switch the focus from the tried and true franchises of Stark, Rogers, and Thor to Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Spider-

man, and Ant Man. “Civil War” gives these characters a chance to prove their mettle, that they can inherent the mantle their predecessors have laid out for them. There are no more “Iron Man” or “Captain America” sequels planned after “Civil War,” so this film could be a perfect opportunity for them to go out with a bang.

Marvel can’t sell the sameold, same-old to us forever. Its cinematic universe needs new blood coursing through its veins, and the new franchises it’s trying to establish in “Phase Three” is just that. The beauty of Marvel possibly killing off or exiling “Phase One” Avengers is that at any given point, the films can bring them back, yet it provokes

the same reaction from fans had they been killed off for good. The “Infinity War” event is coming up for the MCU in 2018-19, and if you know anything about Infinity Stones, you’ll know that they serve as a convenient plot device to make anything Marvel wants to see happen in its universe happen, including bringing characters back from the dead.

Playing Now

Go to www. theonlinebeacon.com to see our reviews of “10 Cloverfield Lane” and “The Divergent Series: Allegiant.”

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Arts & Entertainment

MASS MoCA: “The Man in the Empty Space” an experiment in abstract art in Nonas’s exhibition, however, for me, it failed to leave a noticeable impact.

Negative space can be used in This doesn’t mean wonderful ways. The Gestalt principles his work should outlines many of these, and Richard be condemned, or Nonas’s “The Man in the Empty Space” dismissed; it’s just not almost abides by several. as easily accessible Nonas’s exhibition heavily relies on the when compared to possibility of multiple interpretations.

Mass MoCA’s other For many, the central wooden exhibitions, which are structure in the exhibition resembles often full of color and train tracks, not so different than the creative applications ones a casual onlooker can see behind of traditional The Parlor Café. The materials he uses materials that work in in this show are very appropriate for a way that pleases the North Adams, primarily speaking eye. Nonas’s materials to the town’s industrial past (as if its are purposefully location inside a former Mill building unremarkable--thick was not enough), though everything Photo by Mitchell Chapman/The Beacon has been repurposed to form abstract Richard Nonas’s exhibition is made from materials, such as steel, that steel plates, granite curbstones, railroad art. pay tribute to North Adams’s industrial history. ties--they are all There is a fine line between having relatively common no canvas; instead, it tries to focus on what multiple interpretations that are well-defined and a piece of art that confuses is not there through Nonas’s “reduced, terse in Western Mass. because of our history of you as to what it is. “The Man in the Empty vocabulary” that Mass MoCA describes on industry.

His abstract minimalism isn’t for everyone, Space” walks this fine line, as the only thing their website. Reduction and simplicity have truly definable is the central sculpture of train their value, but Nonas uses simplicity almost especially in a museum filled with complex tracks, and even that is not definitive. Because to the point of complexity, making his work works. Perhaps an outsider, who is unfamiliar with the materials used, could get some Nonas does not properly close off the negative not very accessible to the average viewer.

Mass MoCA is the United States’s largest enjoyment out of that, but for me, the space in his work, no sculpture completely resembles something the audience can relate collection of contemporary art, and with that commentary put on display here wasn’t strong to, and as a result, a great deal of interpretative comes modern experiments like “The Man enough to keep my interest for long, and the in the Empty Space.” Sometimes they pay off, genre of art that these pieces belong to seem charity is necessary to enjoy his work.

It is hard to imagine that Building 5 was and are able to connect to a large audience a bit too niche to demand such a large space. once the site of beautifully painted tents, that that MoCA has more than the capacity to Still, it is great to see MoCA diversifying challenged how we, as an audience, defined accommodate. Sometimes they fall flat. I bet their catalog of exhibits, as few places have canvas. “The Man in the Empty Space” has there is some hidden meaning and commentary the amount of freedom a contemporary art museum does.

By Mitchell Chapman

Beacon.MCLA.edu

7

Upcoming A&E Events

A & E Editor

In Case You Missed It...

Documentary: Amin Palangi’s “Love Marriage in Kabul” challenges Afghani cultural norms

By Jonathan Hoel

“Love Marriage in Kabul” tells two distinct but intertwining narratives. One is the story of a young Afghani orphan named Abdul, who seeks to marry the girl of his dreams, Fatemeh,. The other is of Mahboba Rawi, a Mother Teresa-esque figure, and founder of the Mahboba’s Promise, a charity organization.

Mahboba comes from Australia to Afghanistan to help young Abdul try to marry Fatemeh. The idea of a ‘love marriage’ or, marrying for love, may seem unremarkable to our western minds, but consider the complexity of someone as low of class as an orphan attempting to marry into a higher caste.

Fatemeh’s father, NikMohammad is somewhat the antagonist of the film, refusing to marry his daughter without am unreasonably costly dowry; even so, it’s hard not to empathize with his position as well. Given Afghani culture, if he marries away his daughter, no one can care for his family.

These complicated, dynamic back-and-forths between Mahboba and Nik-Mohammad make up the majority of the film’s most intense moments, with some escalating to feeling like the Picture from www.LoveMarriageKabul.com marriage can never possibly take “Love Marriage in Kabul” follows Mahboba Rawi, place.

The film is not so much an Afghan-Australian woman, as she tries to create a marriage based off of love in Kabul, Afghanistan, entirely about the outcome of this marriage, as it is a love which goes against tradition.

A & E Writer On March 10, MASS MoCA held a screening in their Club B10, of Amin Palangi’s heartfelt documentary “Love Marriage in Kabul”, followed by a Q&A segment with the director.

letter to Mahboba and the work she does in Afghanistan through her foundation. It highlights Hope House Orphanage, where Abdul lives, and does a superb job reflecting the intense poverty of life in the lowest class of a very poor country.

One of the film’s most interesting insights is its decision to not focus on the war, the terror attacks taking place constantly from ISIL and the Taliban. The film does not depict any violence at all, focusing on the love story entirely, a bold move.

“I wanted to tell this story because we’ve seen enough of the war,” Palingi said after the screening. “I didn’t feel the need to showcase what we’ve already seen through the media, with the war constantly in the background.”

This works really well for the film. Palingi’s decision to omit the violence is an impressive and daring feat that completely pays off.

It leaves a strong impression—to try and contradict the idea of the Afghani people as helpless, a disparaging “other” to the Eurocentric mind.

This is a narrative that goes pretty far back to Joseph Conrad and beyond. Only ever seeing Afghani citizens as helpless and begging for a white savior is dishonest and indeed, racist.

What Palingi does here is quite the opposite.

“I want to challenge stereotypes,” said Palingi. “While they’re unavoidable, I want the audience to focus on the other things.”

“Love Marriage in Kabul” is a diaphanous and touching documentary, a portrayal of love that should not be missed.

Tonight Jon Minstrelin with Sebastian Conrad A traditional cafe performance.

Parlor Cafe, 5 p.m.

Tomorrow

Directed by the Harlequin Executive Board When rock and roll singer Conrad Birdie comes to small-town America to kiss one lucky fan before going off into the army, he leaves the residents of Sweet Apple forever changed.

Church St. Center Social Hall Friday at 8 p.m.

Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. $1 for students, $5 general admission

Craft-a-Palooza Opportunity for students to sell their artwork Hosted by Crafting Club Forms due at 5 p.m.

Saturday M is Black Enough Work-in-progress program of spoken word and music

MASS MoCA Hunter Center, 8 p.m. $8 for students, $12 advance, $18 day of

Sunday “The Dark Knight” and “Man of Steel” Movie Showings Sullivan Lounge, 1 p.m.

Back-to-back screenings in preparation for “Batman v.

Superman.”

8

Campus Life

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Beacon.MCLA.edu

SGA Highlights

By Emily Gabert Staffwriter

Nomination

• SGA nomination papers are now available for students to pick up in the SGA Office on the

• • •

• •

•

third floor of the Campus Center. Nomination forms are for next school year; all positions are open for students to run for. Slips must be turned into the SGA by April 1 at 4:45 p.m.

Those with questions should contact President Allie Kadell or Advisor Jenn Craig.

Nomination papers for SGA’s E-board for next school year were also handed out to the Student Senate. Advisor Craig told the Senate that nomination papers are due by April 1.

Property Committee The Property Committee is asking for clubs to submit paperwork stating everything that they have bought in the past year, which should be turned into them by April 2.

Dance Company Budget Dance Company spoke with the Budget Finance Committee (BFC) about a budget request for the rest of the school year. The club is looking to get roughly $2,000, as they currently have about $3,970 left in their budget – totaling for $6,385. The club provided notice of what the funds would be going toward: costumes, raffle baskets and thank-you gifts. Most of the club’s money went toward their final performance at MASS MoCA. BFC came up with a sum of $1,100. The Student Senate will decide on whether to approve or deny this request at their next meeting.

Smoking Policy Senator Tim Williams brought up questions about the current smoking policy on campus.

With the departure of the recent Human Resources (HR) employee, Williams was unsure if the position had been filled, and what, if any, updates would be occurring with the policy.

Craig said that there is a new HR representative on campus and mentioned speaking with President Kadell to contact them regarding the smoking policy and any other concerns.

Dianne Collins Scholarship

• The Dianne Collins Scholarship that was founded in the former SGA Office Secretary’s

honor is now available. Applications are due April 4. Students in the Senate were encouraged to apply for the scholarship, along with those involved in clubs and other organizations.

Students journal at an Irish beach.

Photo by Agnella Gross/The Beacon

I’m allergic to potatoes; spring break in Ireland

By Agnella Gross Photo Editor

Visiting Ireland always seemed like a dream to me, sparked by tales of my grandparents’ childhood and a longing to travel.

That dream became a reality this semester, as 15 other students and I set off to visit Ireland for spring break. The hours spent learning about the history and various places to visit left me believing I was prepared for my arrival there, but I was quickly proven wrong.

I learned I was allergic to potatoes a few months before leaving for the trip. I was reminded I chose the wrong place to visit, since potatoes are incredibly popular in Ireland.

Allergies aside, the country was better than the photos and books made it seem.

Dublin was our first destination. I fell in love with it the moment I got a glimpse of the city from the airport. We arrived at 5 a.m. that morning. My wishes of having slept on the plane and buying coffee before leaving were replaced with newly found

excitement. There was so much to see and do, and not enough time to do everything. Four days in Dublin were spent between tours of the city and getting to wander.

The most notable parts of the time spent there were Trinity College, Kilmainhem Jail, and seeing a concert.

Going to Trinity College and seeing the Book of Kells had been at the top of my to-do list since sophomore year of high school. I am happy to say that can now be checked off since it was one of the first stops on the trip. Surprisingly, I favored Trinity’s library over the book itself. The library was breathtaking, housing hundreds of books and manuscripts in one long hallway. Its design made the room seem as though the rows and rows of bookshelves never ended.

Kilmainhem Jail was fascinating and eerie. Many people lost their lives there so it gave me an odd feeling. The timing of my visit there made the whole thing rather interesting. This year marks the one hundredth anniversary of the Easter Uprising. I stood in the

location where 15 men who took part in it were executed.

The next part of our nine-day tour of Ireland was a stop in the town of Kilkenny. I celebrated Saint Patrick’s Day there and got to tour a gorgeous castle and cathedral. Saint Canice’s Cathedral has numerous stained glass windows. I spent most of the tour thinking about the amount of detail each window had.

Belfast, Northern Ireland was the last stop on the trip. I went in not knowing what to expect because the city was a warzone over a decade ago. The city was gorgeous and people were going about their daily lives. Murals and memorials make sure the Troubles were not forgotten.

The last day of the trip will always be my favorite since the sun was shining and I was given the chance to explore the Giant’s Causeway. Volcanic activity created hexagonal columns that stood out from the ground. There are mountains on one side and an ocean on the other so the view was magnificent.

Photo by Domonique Ackley/The Beacon

Amanda Schuler sits in the spot once occupied by the beloved Diane Collins, poised and ready for her newest adventure at MCLA.

Stepping in to Diane’s shoes

By Harmony Birch Co-Editor-in-Chief

Amanda Schuler likes the color purple. On her desk, on the third floor of the campus center, in the long held office of Diane Collins, sits a vase of purple flowers that match her purple cardigan.

Schuler started her post as SGA office manager two weeks ago. She is warm, welcoming, and excited. She knows she has big shoes to fill. The SGA office looks almost identical to when it belonged to Collins. There are three plants scattered about— though Schuler insists she’s anything but a green thumb. She pointed to a plant sitting on the floor by the window.

“I inherited Buddy from Miss Diane Collins—that was a little guy from when she was here and the students named him Buddy,” Schuler said.

Schuler isn’t new to the College.

She’s an alum from the class of 2012 and graduated with a degree in administration and finance.

“As a student this position was so impactful to my life and going out on the world afterwards,” Schuler said.

During her time at MCLA she worked closely with Collins as treasurer and later co-president of Dance Company. She described Collins as a role model to her.

As a student she tried to spend a lot of time in the Student Development offices.

“As a student the first year or two I did work study, got my feet wet in a couple of clubs, I always knew that this area—Student Development—was student life, it was kind of the place to be.”

As an undergrad Schuler worked a lot with her current supervisor Celia Norcross. She knew Norcross from Orientation

and approached her about work study jobs.

“You can get a close relationship with her in no time because she’s so open,” Schuler said. “She really helped me figure out what I want to do and to get involved.”

Schuler worked in the Student Development office as an undergrad under Norcross.

During her senior internship as a business management intern, she helped plan events for students like an Easter egg hunt and Wet Feet Week—the experience is still listed on her resume. Schuler attributes much of her career success to Norcross.

“She’s one of those supportive role models that a lot of students know and who’s touched everyone’s lives at least once from what she’s done in student development,” Schuler said.

“And all her supportive staff is amazing.”

After college, Schuler was able to stay at MCLA as an orientation leader and Student Development assistant over the summer until she found another position as the American Core Vista program at Berkshire Community. There she helped students align classroom and community service experience to a community service position. She used both Collins and Norcross as job references.

In 2014 Schuler came back to campus to work in the Administration and Finance office where she handled all budget requests for the college.

While Schuler liked her job, she felt as though she was missing the student aspect. She wanted to be able to communicate with and advise them. She wanted to someday leave the same impact on a student that Collins had on her.

Campus Life

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Green Living

9

Improving wildlife connectivity; reducing roadkill

By Torin Gannon Staff Writer

Massachusetts is the 8th most forested state in the country, is covered in over 75,000 miles of roadway, and has around 1,000,000 roadkill incidents everyday, according to Elia DelMolino.

DelMolino, program manager for the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT), came to MCLA to talk about this very issue for the recent installment of the Green Living Seminar. His talk, titled “Reducing Human Impacts on Habitat Connectivity,” focused on what BEAT is doing to handle roadkill issues and what needs to be done to make lasting change.

The issue facing terrestrial wildlife (frogs, turtles, deer, racoons, etc.), is that their habitats are often interrupted by our various roadways, so when they attempt to cross, they face serious danger from road traffic. BEAT has been putting people on the job to try and amend this problem.

BEAT has people they call “wildlife trackers” (some of whom were in the audience) who go out to monitor stretches of road, such as Route 12, to collect data about the whats, wheres, and whens about animals crossing the road, and animals being hit. In some instances, BEAT members will actually physically assist wildlife in crossing the road.

The data they collect goes to various transportation, conservation, and planning organizations in order to make change to the infrastructure. Creating connective infrastructure, such as wildlife overpasses, can create great positive change for animals.

DelMolino’s ultimate goal is to create a “Linkage-zone” through Western Mass. This zone will be a pathway for animals to safely make their way around Berkshire county.

DelMolino said that getting people involved is one of their most important goals.

“We do a variety of things, but they’re all related to you guys and how we can get you guys involved in the environment,” DelMolino said. “BEAT is all about working with you to protect the environment for wildlife.”

You can learn more about BEAT’s history, goals, and how to get involved at their website, Beatnews.org.

Photo by Emily Gabert/The Beacon

“One of our steps is called salute and when we do that step, we usually salute our own squad, but for the president’s performance, we decided to salute the president to welcome him to MCLA.” - Cheyenne VanBramer, ‘19

College welcomes new president

By Emily Gabert Staff Writer

Students and faculty gathered in the Campus Center for the reception of the College’s 12th president, James “Jaimie” Birge.

Students helped welcome the new president with performances by the Harlequin Musical Theatre club, the Allegrettos and the Nexxus Step Team.

Harlequin performed two pieces from their upcoming musical “Bye Bye Birdie,” which will premiere at the Church Street Center on March 25 and 26. Danielle DeLamater and Braxton Vittori sang “An English Teacher,” followed by “One Boy.” “As a candidate, I did my research about the institution,” Birge said, “and I can’t believe the amount of talent [students have].”

The Nexxus performers had a high energy that radiated from every stepper, and the Allegrettos sang “Let it Be,” with freshman Dirk Jones leading the group by voice.

Snacks and refreshments were provided by ARAMARK while students mingled and introduced themselves to President Birge.

“I performed twice and it was great,” said Ella Lafontant, a member of both Harlequin and the Allegrettos. “He [Birge] seemed to enjoy it.”

President Birge spoke about his background and family life at the event. Birge’s wife, Lisa, and his daughter are both in New Hampshire right now, so his daughter can finish her senior year of high school.

Birge now resides in North Adams.

The new president also said that he is not new to Massachusetts, having attended Westfield State University for his Bachelor’s degree.

Call for Papers!

14th Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Research Conference (MCLA URC) The Conference will take place April 21, 2016, on the MCLA campus.

The Undergraduate Research Council is soliciting 100-word abstracts for presentations: papers, posters, creative writing, visual artwork and performance.

Deadline: March 25, 2016

We Accept BlAzerBucks!

15% off order with student ID OR Large 1-topping for $10.70 (mention code 10)

(413) 664-6279 117 Main Street North Adams, MA 01247 offers cannot be combined

10

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Sports

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Baseball starts season in Florida

By Jesse Collings Sports Editor

The baseball team got their season underway over spring break by traveling to Florida and facing off against teams from around the country. The trip comprised nine games in eight days, during which the Trailblazers went 3-6.

“I thought we hit the ball pretty well, we didn’t show much rust in that department,” head coach Mike Gladu said about the Florida trip. “We need to improve on aggressiveness on the bases and going after fly balls. Also we need to get better at holding runners on and throwing out would be base stealers.”

The Trailblazers opened their season up on Friday, March 11 with a double-header against SUNY-Poly in Auburndale, FL. In the opening game the Trailblazers rallied back from three runs down in the sixth inning to tie the game at three runs apiece. In extra innings, SUNY-Poly pushed the winning run across in the eighth inning to win the game 4-3.

MCLA would exact their revenge in the next game, as they scored four runs in the second inning and five in the third. Freshman Frank Rickus allowed one hit and struck out five in 3 2/3 innings to earn a victory in his first career appearance for the Trailblazers.

On Saturday, March 12 MCLA was thrashed by FDU-Florham, as the Devils scored 14 runs on 11 hits and the Trailblazer bats were quieted by a Devil’s pitching staff that allowed only four hits and no runs, leading to a 14-0 FDUFlorham route.

On Monday, March 14 MCLA would split a pair of games against Becker College. The Traiblazers

Trailblazers go 3-6 during annual spring break trip to Florida ing tabbed as the Player of the Week.

“Honestly I’m a bit surprised about it because I thought there were people who did better than me. But I’m pretty happy and thankful that I got it.”

The Hawks would take the second game, defeating MCLA 7-4 thanks to a big fourth inning that saw four different Hawks cross home plate and a strong pitching performance

by Michael Iacovelli, who allowed zero earned runs in four innings of work.

The Trailblazers would have a difficult next few games, beginning with a 19-4 loss on We d n e s d a y , March 16 to Dickinson ColPhoto from MCLA Athletics lege that saw Senior Robert Jutras led the team in innings pitched and strikeouts during their Dickinson playtrip to Florida. ers Ryan Dolan and Stephen jumped all over Becker pitching, Becker 14-5.

Sakowicz combine for 10 RBIs. Nolan, who is currently hitting scoring seven runs in the second The Trailblazers would then drop and were led by sophomore Liam .286 and is currently fourth in the a double-header on Thursday to Nolan, who had a career day at MASCAC in RBIs was named the Colby-Sawyer.

The Chargers won the plate driving in seven runs for MASCAC Player of the Week on MCLA as the Trailblazers crushed Monday. Nolan talked about be- the first game by banging out 15 hits to roll over MCLA 12-4. The

second game was much closer, as MCLA and the Chargers were deadlocked at 8-8 in the sixth inning when Colby-Sawyer scored what proved to be the winning run in the bottom of the inning on an error.

MCLA closed out their trip on a positive note, defeating Utica College 6-4 on Friday. Utica was limited offensively thanks to senior Robert Jutras, who had his best outing of the season throwing 4 1/3 innings and allowing only one run. Freshman Joe Dimassimo drove in two runs to guide the offense.

Coach Mike Gladu was satisfied with the defensive effort that the team gave during the trip, but is looking for a more aggressive mentality as the team resumes play up north.

“I think are defense played well and when are pitchers pitched to contact we were able to compete.

I would expect to see a more aggressive team that puts pressure on our opponents’ defense.”

Senior Nate Gutmann currently leads the team with a .529 batting average in 17 at-bats.

Sophomore Billy Pulasky leads the team in hits with 14 and Nolan tops the Trailblazers in RBI’s with 12. Jutras leads the team in most pitching categories, including innings pitched and strikeouts while also 6-12 from the plate in limited action.

The Trailblazers had a game against Lasell College postponed due to inclement weather on Tuesday and will are off until Saturday when they travel to Eastern Nazarene to play in a double-header.

Next Thursday the Trailblazers are set to host their first game of the season against Southern Vermont College, with the first pitch set for 3:30 p.m.

Upsets leave brackets everywhere reeling

By Tyler Bacon

Sports Columnist The odds of picking a perfect NCAA basketball tournament bracket is reportedly 1 in 9.2 quintillion. The first two rounds of March Madness is always full of upsets and this year was no different.

Opening weekend goes from Thursday afternoon until Sunday night. That’s 48 games in the first four days, which is always filled with upsets and drama. Your bracket either makes it through the weekend perfect or it doesn’t.

Every year there is one midmajor school that upsets a large favorite and shows everyone just

how good they are. This year it was the 15th-seed Middle Tennessee State.

Middle Tennessee State finished second in the regular season in Conference USA with a record of 21-9 and a conference record of 13-5. In the conference tournament, they went on to beat Old Dominion to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

They were selected to face heavily favored Michigan State Spartans in the first round. Middle Tennessee State went on to pull off the upset. Of the 13 million brackets submitted to ESPN, only 2.2 percent had Michigan State losing in the first round. Michigan State was picked by 22.3 percent of people to win the whole tournament, which is second only to Kansas at 25.0 percent.

Middle Tennessee State jumped out to a quick 15-2 lead and was 6-6 from the field, including 3-3 from three point range. They held on for the close 90-81 win. Their second leading scorer on the season, Reggie Upshaw, finished the game with 21 points and all of the

starters scored in double figures.

They went on to the round of 32 and lost to Syracuse 75-50.

Middle Tennessee State was the one school that single-handedly destroyed everyone’s hopes of a perfect bracket on Friday. This is the reason why we love the NCAA Tournament.

To add to the madness of Friday, Northern Iowa added a half court at the buzzer to give 11th-seeded Northern Iowa the win over the 6th-seeded Texas.

Texas tied the score, on a layup, with 2.7 seconds remaining in the game. Matt Bohannon found Paul Jesperson who took a couple of dribbles and banked in a shot from half court to win the game.

There is always going to be upsets in the NCAA Tournament but picking them tends to be the hard part. It’s always fun to think about how cool it would be to have a perfect bracket but reality is that some team is going to crush those dreams. It certainly makes the 1 in 14 million odds to win the lottery seem like an attainable goal.

Photo from MCLA Athletics

Reggie Upshaw Jr. and Middle Tennessee State busted brackers everywhere when they upset Michigan State.

Sports

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Beacon.MCLA.edu

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Softball hits rough patch down south

By Jesse Collings

After strong start, Trailblazers drop final five games in Florida

Sports Editor

The softball team began the defense of their MASCAC Championship in Florida over spring break, going 4-6 despite some strong pitching performances and excellent defense.

“The players started to develop as a team. We had offensive highlights from our freshmen and upperclassmen and our pitching staff did a great job,” head coach Jamie Trudeau said. “We put many players in different positions and we have a very versatile team. I am looking to forward to seeing our defense getting sharper as well as our offense taking control and getting those runs across in key situations.”

MCLA opened their season on Saturday, March 12 against UMASS-Boston in Clermont, FL. The Trailblazers and UMASSBoston were engaged in a tremendous pitcher’s duel between MCLA’s Rachel Quackenbush and the Beacon’s Annie Thomas.

Both pitchers shut-out their opponents through seven innings, but it was Thomas who cracked first, allowing MCLA freshman Katelyn Berghela on a wild pitch, giving MCLA a 1-0 lead in the top of the eighth, which was all Quackenbush needed to finish off the Beacon’s. Quackenbush finished the game with a completegame shutout, allowing only two hits and striking out nine batters.

The Trailblazers would then play Clarkson University, who scored six runs in the fourth inning off of MCLA junior Katelyn Henault and held off the Trailblazers for a 7-6 victory.

On Sunday, March 13 the Trailblazers would pick up two victories in a double-header, defeating Endicott College in the first game and Lasell College in the second.

In the first game MCLA got two RBI’s each from senior Sierra Baily and Berghela and Quackenbush kept the Endicott offense in check as MCLA defeated the Gulls 7-3.

In the nightcap, MCLA got a

nice rebound performance from Henault, who allowed two runs in four innings of work and freshman Chelsea Coleman drove in three runs for the Traiblazers as they defeated Lasell 5-2.

After a day off, MCLA played Norwich University on Tuesday, March 15. Quackenbush turned out arguably the best pitching performance in school history, allowing only one hit and striking out 15 out of the 24 batters she faced and leading the Trailblazers a 5-0 victory over the Cadets.

The 15 strikeouts are the second highest total in school history, one shy of the 16 strikeouts that Quackenbush had in 2014. Coleman and senior Sam Boyle each drove in a pair of runs and senior Michaela DiNicola scored twice to give MCLA all of the offense they needed.

The Trailblazers were then faced with the tough task of playing Washington University, who is ranked 9th nationally. Washington jumped out to an early lead and quickly disposed of the Trailblazers 10-1 in a game that was stopped in the fifth inning due to the mercy rule. Washington banged out 13 hits during the contest and Maggie Clapp was solid on the mound, allowing only 4 hits in 5 innings as Washington improved to 16-4 on the season.

On Wednesday, March 16 the Trailblazers played another doubleheader. In the first game MCLA was bested by RutgersNewark, who pushed two runs across the plate to give the Scarlet Raiders a 5-1 lead in the sixth.

Following an RBI single by senior Jennifer Sicinski and runners on first and second, junior Alexandra Romano lined out to second, bringing the Trailblazers rally to an end and giving Rutgers-Newark a 5-2 victory.

MCLA would come up short in the second game in a wild contest against Ithaca College. Down 4-0 in the bottom of the sixth, MCLA exploded for six runs in the inning sparked by an RBI double by Berghela. The Bombers would re-

spond with two runs of their own in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 6 and send the game to extra innings.

Ithaca would overwhelm Henault in the eighth inning for six runs and MCLA was shut down in the bottom of the inning to give the Bombers the 12-6 victory.

M C L A wrapped up their trip on Friday, dropping both games of a double-header to end their trip at 4-6. In the first game MCLA played North Central College, and afPhoto from MCLA Athletics ter trailing 4-0 MCLA freshman Katilyn Berghela was named the MASCAC Rookie of the Week in in the bottom back-to-back weeks for her performance in Florida. of the sixth, MCLA scored be enough for the Gators to hand Fellow freshmen Coleman leads three runs to get within one of the MCLA their fifth straight defeat. the team with 7 RBIs while DiNiCardinals. However, North CenMCLA is currently being led by cola is hitting .395 and leads the tral was able to pick up an insur- Kaitlyn Berghela, who is hitting team with 15 hits. Quackenbush ance run in the top of the seventh .424 just 10 games into her col- leads the MASCAC in both and Andrea Starr shut-down the legiate career while also leading strikeouts and earned run average Trailblazers in the home half of the team in slugging percentage and is currently averaging more the seventh to pick up the 5-3 vic- and stolen bases. For the past two than a strikeout per inning for the tory. weeks, Berghela has been tabbed Trailblazers.

“We definitely have the abil- as the MASCAC Rookie of the The Trailblazers are off until ity to be an offensive threat. We Week for her performance. Ber- Wednesday, March 30 when they also demonstrated a great deal of ghela spoke about being given the travel to Rensselaer Polytechnic character versus our opponents,” award for a second consecutive Institute for a double-header.

Trudeau said. “There wasn’t a week on Monday.

“Florida was our starting point. game we didn’t fight back and “It was pretty exciting to be We learned how the little things have opportunities to win.” named MASCAC Rookie of the can creap up on us in a game,” In the final game of the trip, the Week, two weeks in a row,” Ber- Trudeau said. “For us going forMCLA offense was held to only ghela said. “I was happy with how ward its about tightening the five hits as Allegheny College we did in Florida and I know we screws and taking care of all the moved past the Trailblazers 4-1. can do even better when confer- little things defensively. We also Allegheny was able to score two ence play begins. I’m ready to see left many runners on base so we runs in the top of the second on how the rest of the season will will be working towards pushing a fielding error and that proved to play out.” those runs across in the future.”

pounded the MCLA net, outshooting the Trailblazers 30-15 on their way to a 21-5 victory.

Goucher got going early, scoring a goal just under thirty seconds into play as Jojo Franklin scored to give Goucher a 1-0 lead. After Franklin scored a second time, Jessica Borucki scored to give the Gophers a 3-0 lead. Sophomore Taylor Brewer would record the first MCLA goal of the season, scoring an unassisted shot with 27:14 to go in the first half. After a goal from Goucher’s Zoe Merz, MCLA sophomore Mackenzie Cutler would convert a free position shot to make it 4-2 Goucher.

The Gophers would however take control of the game from there, going on a 10-0 run that smothered the MCLA offense and blew the game wide open for

Goucher. Junior Natalie Caney would score with 2:11 to go in the half, but MCLA still trailed 14-3.

MCLA showed a sliver of life at the start of the second half as Cutler and Caney each scored early goals to make it 14-5, but Goucher would close on a 7-0 run to clinch the victory.

“It’s tough because we are playing teams that are having their seventh or eighth game of the season while we are just getting started,” Bartini said. “We were also limited due to injuries so our bench was very short. We need to figure out some ways to disrupt their momentum better, winning draws and preventing turnovers and avoiding getting in those ruts.”

Goucher was led by Borucki who had 4 goals and three assists,

Lacrosse starts season with pair of losses

By Jesse Collings Sports Editor

For the first time in program history, the lacrosse team headed south for a set of games over spring break. The Trailblazers traveled to Clermont, FL over the weekend to play a pair of games against non-conference rivals to start their second season.

“Going down to Florida to test ourselves is a really big deal and it gives us a chance to see what our team is going to be like,” head coach Maria Bartini said. “There are just some things that you can’t figure out in practice and to get onto the field this early in the season is important.”

MCLA opened their season last Thursday when they played Goucher College. The Gophers

and Goucher was much better clearing the ball than MCLA was, converting 10-13 opportunities while MCLA only went 6-14, giving Goucher a decisive defensive advantage.

On Sunday the Trailblazers played Eastern Connecticut State, falling to the Warriors 15-4. Much like the first game, the Trailblazers struggled on offense, getting out shot 27-9. The Warrior defense was tremendous in the first half, completing 7-10 clears and winning the ground ball differential 18-8. Eastern Connecticut limited MCLA to only two shots in the first half, with the lone goal being scored by Brewer. Eastern Connecticut had a tremendous first half on offense as well, scoring all 15 of their goals in the first period.

In the second half MCLA showed improvement on the defensive end. Not only did they shutout the Warriors, but they went 8-11 on clears and won the ground ball differential 12-8. The Trailblazers would get a goal each from Cutler, Caney and senior Tanelle Ciempa, but it was not nearly enough to worry Eastern Connecticut, who cruised to the 15-4 victory.“They tried to spread the ball around more in the second half, but we did a good job pressuring them across the field and we were able to get some good goal scoring opportunities out of that,” Bartini said.

The Trailblazers played Sage College on Wednesday and continue play this weekend when they host Mitchell College at 1 p.m.

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Thursday 24, March , 2016

Photo Essay

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Conrad Birdie (Mitchell McCauley, ‘19) is overwhelmed by fans when he arrives in town.

Ursula (Maggie Winslow ’18) and Kim (Alex Sasso ’18) share their feelings for Conrad Birdie.

Rosie (Danielle DeLamater ’18) leads a group of girls (Ella Lafontant ‘18, Joslyn Eaddy ‘18, and Rachel Grzelak ’19) in expressing their love of Conrad.

Harlequin Musical Theatre Club presents “Bye Bye Birdie” this Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $1 for students and $5 for general admission.

Photos by Domonique Ackley

Conrad Birdie salutes to his future in the military.

“The Telephone Hour” is an upbeat song that features the whole cast.