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 9
Th u r s d ay, A p r i l 3 , 2 0 1 4
Cell towers collapse in Florida
Photo by Jess Gamari/The Beacon
Verizon employees work on constructing a temporary tower on the Western Summit on Florida Mountain.
By Jess Gamari Managing Editor
The temporary cell tower in the MCLA Public Safety parking lot was removed yesterday afternoon after AT&T Wireless confirmed the temporary tower on Florida Mountain was providing adequate signal strength needed for operation, according to Charles Kimberling of maintenance and facilities at the College. The College reached out to AT&T Wireless to set up the temporary cell on wheels (COW) to compensate for the loss of service North Adams has been experiencing since
March 30 due to the collapsed towers on the Western summit of Florida Mountain. High winds and heavy rain throughout Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday are the alleged causes of the collapse, according to an emergency message released from North Adams Department of Public Safety. About 13,500 community members within range of the tower were without cell and internet service for about 11 hours, according to the Associated Press. Since the collapse, a temporary tower from Verizon was erected later on Sunday and was operational
by the end of Monday. Temporary towers will remain in place until the towers can be restored completely. Although it’s unclear how long this process will take, Kimberling estimates it could take months. The process will begin with the demolition of the old tower and an assessment of what new equipment will be needed for the new towers. In an official statement from Mayor Alcombright, “Both towers were completely destroyed and the systems being put in place right now are temporary solutions,” he said. “Once full service is restored, engineering and other work will begin to facilitate a permanent fix.” The two towers, which stood 150 and 165 feet tall were about 25 and 50 years old, according to Channel 22 news. The towers provided cell phone services for Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T. Because emergency communication signals for fire and police departments were also destroyed, the North Adams Department of Public Safety encouraged residents to contact the station via corded land lines, email, or their Facebook page. Radio stations WUPE-FM 100.1 and FM translator W266AW, which rebroadcasts “UMASS Amherst News-Talk-Jazz WFCR”, were also knocked off the air. Reconstruction for the towers is expected to begin as the warmer weather becomes stable, since the foundation for the towers need to be supported in the ground.
Photo by Jess Gamari/The Beacon
The temporary tower was set to be operational as of Monday evening.
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BMC looks to reopen NARH emergency By Nick Arena and Jess Gamari
Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor The doors of North Adams Regional Hospital (NARH) closed on Friday, but the Berkshire County community and state and local legislators are working toward a solution to the lack of medical service in the immediate area. Governor Deval Patrick spoke at the College Tuesday morning regarding the issue. “The expectation is that there will be a medical facility in North Adams, although it may be in a diminished form,” Patrick said. “For the emergency department to be reopened, it has to be approved by the state [Department of Public Health] and at the federal level. We’re doing what we can to expedite that at the state level which I do have some control
Photos by Amy Modesti/The Beacon
Governor Deval Patrick spoke on Monday alongside State Representative Gailanne Cariddi, State Senator Benjamin Downing and Mayor RIchard Alcombright.
Science Center vandalized By Nick Arena Editor-in-Chief
posters in the center. Charon added that security at the center is currently being evaluated. “MCLA is currently reviewing security measures and access to the building as means of deterring similar behaviors in the future,” he said. “No decisions affecting building hours for the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation have been made at this time.” The incident is currently being investigated by the Office of Public Safety. “Anyone who has information regarding this incident should contact the MCLA Campus Police business line at (413) 6625284. Community members who provide information can do so anonymously,” Charon said.
A number of articles of furniture and fixtures in the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation were reported as vandalized on Monday. “The vandalism was reported to Campus Police on Monday, March 31, 2014 at 11:09 a.m.,” Director of Public Safety Joseph Charon said in an email. “It is uncertain, at this time, when the incident actually occurred.” On the third floor of the center, multiple chairs were slashed and the bathroom trash cans were dented along with other damage. “There was extensive damage done to furniture, white boards and bathroom fixtures,” Charon said. According to Karen Claramunt, adminsitrative assistant at the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation, this is the third incidence of vandalism in the center since it has opened. The first incident involved a white board being damaged and the Photo by Nick Arena/The Beacon second involved Multiple pieces of furniture were vandalized tampering with in the Feigenbaum Center.
Working for equality on campus
SAC announces Spring Concert
Baseball drops a doubleheader
Junior Carissa Sacherski looks to enter into education
Reel Big Fish will perform on April 21
The Trailblazers fall to Worcester State
Arts & Entertainment, page 6
Sports, page 8
News, page 3
NARH, continued on page 2
News Arts & Entertainment Sports Campus Opinion Local Events Photo Essay
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Campus News
Thursday, April 3, 2014
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Weekend Taskforce seeks student input on smoking policy Weather Forecast from Weather.com
Today, April 3 By Jess Gamari Managing Editor
Partly Cloudy High: 51° Low: 30° Precip. Chance: 10%
Friday, April 4
Mostly Cloudy High: 47° Low: 38° Precip. Chance: 10%
Saturday, April 5
Mostly Cloudy High: 50° Low: 35° Precip. Chance: 10%
Sunday, April 6
The college plans to revisit the smoking policy on campus, according to President Jake Powers. He has met with Vice President of Student Affairs Charlotte Degen and taskforce meetings are scheduled Fridays at noon. “President Degen is looking for students who do and don’t smoke,” advisor Jennifer Craig said. “She knows that there is a population on campus, she just wants to make sure that we’re looking at everybody’s opinion. So if you are a smoker, please don’t think this is a committee looking to get you off campus. It’s not. It’s really to help the campus find the best possible situation for everyone.” Any student interested in joining the taskforce should email Powers on first class.
Hospital closing initiates community support
Following the closing of North Adams Regional Hospital, the College is mobilizing its effort to support the community, according to Powers. “We’re working with regional employment boards to have a full response and future details will be shared when we gather them. Community outreach is going on to support the North Adams Regional Hospital employees who have lost their jobs. Health Services offered extended hours last weekend and are scheduled to offer the extended hours this weekend as well, from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. according to Powers.
Senior Days packages on sale Senior Days packages are now on sale for graduating seniors. Students who purchase their package this week will save $20. Packages sold after this week will be $80. The package includes a shirt, cup, yearbook, day trip to either Mohegan Sun Casino or Northampton, a donation to the class gift to benefit the Freel Library, a dance party, Tiki Tuesday, and the Senior Banquet. Seniors who wish to stay on campus during this week must purchase the Events package.
Ground breaking for Sam Gomez volleyball court delayed
Due to cold weather, the construction for the volleyball court near Windsor Lake has been delayed until the ground unthaws, said Vice President Brendan Peltier. The court construction is funded from the 36 Annual Sam Gomez 5K. Originally, the town had planned to break ground in the beginning of April, but Peltier remains optimistic the court can be finished by the end of the
academic school year.
County. The exceptional work accomplished by these remarkable individuals mirrors the expectations we have for the Class of 2014, whose energy, enthusiasm and achievements we also will celebrate.” Desmond was appointed by Gov. Deval Patrick in September 2008 to the Board of Higher Education, and in December 2008, the Governor appointed him to serve as chair of that Board. A Fulbright scholar, Desmond served from 2002 to 2009 as executive vice president of the Trefler Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to improving educational opportunities and success for Boston’s urban youth. Berle is a lifelong ecologist and farmer. She is dedicated to land conservation in the region, particularly the preservation of
historic homes and view sheds at cultural institutions. She has established conservation easements on 850 acres in Monument Valley and on Monument Mountain in the Southern Berkshires. Christopher, who retired in 2007, is the former president and chief operating officer for Legacy Banks. In 1993, he became the chief executive officer of the former Lenox Savings Bank, and in 1995 he was instrumental in forming The Trust Company of the Berkshires as a joint venture with the former City Savings Bank. Conforti has been the director of The Clark since 1994. Under Conforti’s leadership, the Clark has expanded its collections as well as its special exhibition and research and academic programs.
Nomination papers available Nomination papers are available for students interested in running for student government positions as well as class officer positions. These papers will be due April 8 and can be found in Diane Collins office in the Campus Center.
Commencement keynote speaker announced The College will celebrate its 115th Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 17, beginning at 11 a.m., in the Amsler Campus Center Gymnasium. This year’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Charles F. Desmond, chair of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education, educator, and community and civic leader, who will receive an honorary Doctor of Public Service. Also receiving honorary degrees this year will be Lila Berle, a dedicated land conservationist, who will receive an honorary Doctor of Humanities; Michael Christopher ’73, former president and chief operating officer for Legacy Banks, who will receive an honorary Doctor of Public Service; and Michael Conforti, director of the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, who will
receive an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts. In recognition of their awards, the honorary degree recipients will have books placed in MCLA’s Freel Library in their names. President Mary K. Grant said she is pleased to recognize the achievements of these remarkable individuals, all of whom eagerly anticipate being part of this year’s celebration. “We look forward to hearing from Dr. Charles Desmond, who has dedicated his career to ensuring that Massachusetts’ youth have access to a college education. We are honored to have him with us, along with Lila Berle, Michael Christopher and Michael Conforti,” Grant said. “This year’s honorees each have made so many important contributions to the Commonwealth and to Berkshire
State works to get NARH up and running NARH, continued from page 1
Mostly Sunny High: 40° Low: 30° Precip. Chance: 0%
Photo by Jess Gamari/The Beacon
President Jake Powers talks about Senior Days packages at Monday’s meeting, which are on sale this week only.
over.” A statement released by Berkshire Medical Center (BMC) on Friday detailed the process that is currently underway to make NARH into a BMC satellite facility. “BMC must first receive from the state Department of Public Health(DPH) authority to operate a “satellite emergency facility” under the Berkshire Medical Center license,” according to the statement. “The multi-part application process has been initiated and once the application has been completed the Department of Public Health has stated it will
be given an expedited review. The timeline for completing that process is not clear at this time. BMC will remain engaged with the state DPH to keep the process on track.” The statement continued that BMC leadership and clinical staff are evaluating what equipment and resources will be required to get the hospital up and running again. “BMC reiterated today that it intends to engage NARH staff to reopen and run the emergency services,” according to the statement. “For BMC, engaging the NARH staff to reopen and run the emergency department will ensure the smoothest possible reopening and service.”
An article in the Berkshire Eagle on Wednesday also reported that 75 of NARH’s former employees were rehired. According to Elizabeth Manns, a clerk IV in the Mailroom and Copy Center, ambulances are transporting patients to BMC and three blood drawing stations have been setup in the North Adams, Adams, and Williamstown area for cases like people with diabetes that require testing. She added that local petitions have changed to encompass bringing back more than just emergency services to the hospital. “The petition has been updated to bring us back to a full service hospital in North Adams not just the emergency clinic,” Manns said.
3 Student fights for equality and education Campus News
Thursday, April 3, 2014
By Makayla-Courtney McGeeney Staff Writer
Ever since junior Carrisa Sacherski got involved with the Susan B. Anthony Women’s Center freshman year, her devotion to promoting gender equality has only gotten stronger. She is a junior double majoring in English and education, and she intends to teach high school after college. Sacherski became treasurer of Students Taking Action for Gender Equality (STAGE) as a sophomore. She currently holds an internship in the Women’s Center and serves on STAGE’s executive board (e-board) as president. “She is the spark that ignites conversation,” said Women’s Center advisor Amanda Beckwith. “Carrisa is able to talk to anyone and adapt to whatever crowd she enters. It’s nice to see that in this time and age; it’s certainly a skill she acquired quickly.” Beckwith met Sacherski during her summer interview process with the College’s Individual Enrichment Program (IEP). “When I was a kid, my parents would say that I could walk into a room with 400 people and leave with 300 friends,” Sacherski said. “I get to meet humans and they tell me their stories and what they want to see—they confide in me.
Photo by Kayla Degnan/The Beacon
Junior Carissa Sacherski is a dedicated member of STAGE and the Women’s Center. It’s so cool that these people are willing to talk to me.” According to STAGE’s treasurer Alison Gilbert, Sacherski is dedicated and hardworking in her job at the Women’s Center. “When Amanda was out of the center on leave, Carrisa was there to take over before a staff coordinator was appointed,” Gilbert said. “It was wicked cool; she’s very responsible.” Beckwith said Sacherski has helped the Women’s Center grow tremendously since she became active. She is knowledgeable about the center’s history and has helped plan and execute collaborative events, such as the Smart
Start workshop, a seminar helping graduates deal with employment and wage gaps. Sacherski was also a part of the International Women’s Day event which took place in the Amsler Campus Center, where students had their photos taken with signs showing various feminist and gender egalitarian phrases. “Carrisa is passionate and strives for equality for all,” Beckwith said. “She is a modern feminist and considers all people and all angles.” Sacherski’s interest in feminism and human rights isn’t a new quality – she grew up working for Girls Inc., a nonprofit organization teaching substance abuse prevention and sex education. She worked at its summer camp and loved it so much she refused to leave at the end of the season. “I wanted to fight and talk about gender equity, and that came at a young age to me,” she said. “I’ve always been in environments of female empowerment.” Sacherski said that her advocacy and work have been opening up to other communities, genders, and sexual orientations, not just the feminist community or women’s rights. She wants to learn more about something that isn’t always black and white. “STAGE started out as a feminist club, and not everyone identi-
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fied with that,” she said. Once Sacherski became treasurer of STAGE, she brainstormed over the summer about how to change the group for the better, making it more inclusive and active on campus. This year, STAGE hosted its annual Sextival event and plans to extend its traditional body positive picnic into a week-long affair with an open mic night, trending hashtag for the College, workshops, and the concluding traditional picnic. Under Sacherski’s leadership, STAGE has reached out to other campus clubs. The Queer Student Union (QSU, formerly known as B-GLAD) and STAGE work closely together in meetings and events. Sacherski described the eboards as “best friends.” She has also been a part of a pilot year for Women’s Center Wednesdays (WCW), which are small discussions taking place over coffee every week at 4 p.m. in the center. Beckwith arranged the weekly occasion to broaden attendee’s knowledge on other branches of gender equality, and how feminism can affect more people than just women. “Feminism isn’t just caring about women, it cares about everything around you and being aware of everything around you,” Sacherski said. “The talks are re-
Panel unravels issues in Crimea By Alexander Moore Staff Writer
Robin Picard, a community development volunter with the Peace Corps who was recently evacuated from the Ukraine, said the crisis in Crimea is more complex than it appears. In a lecture hosted by politcal science and public policy professors Petra Hejnova, Ben Taylor and Robert Bence, alongside Picard, the economic, historical and political state of Ukraine and Crimea were unraveled. “Think about the geography and politics and how that impacts what’s going on today. Also, think about the economy. There’s always an economic perspective. Think about the historical information you are given tonight and how that impacts the culture,” Picard said. “How do you understand a crisis when it all of the sudden erupts?” According to Picard, Ukraine has only been independent since 1991. She said it has always been under the rule of other countries. She said the country was tasked to begin from scratch when they became independent. According to Bence and Picard, Ukraine has a long standing connection to Europe, but especially to Russia. “People move back and forth all the time for trade, jobs and family,” Picard said. Much of Ukraine is populated with russian peoples and their culture.
According to the United Human Rights Council, Russia carried out a forced famine in Ukraine in order to oppress the Ukrainian people in the 1930s. “After the famine in Ukraine, Russia sent in Russians to re-populate the land,” Picard said. “You now have a mix of Ukrainian people and Russian people who have been living on Ukrainian soil.” Picard said some people speak the Russian language, exhibit Russian ethnic behaviors, but are living on Ukrainian land. She said she believes that it is hard for these people to divide up their home culture and the place they live in now. Picard said, culture aside, the Ukrainian people want peace, but if they have to take on Russia in order to have peace, that is what they’ll do. Since being evacuated, she’s kept in touch with individuals she worked with in Ukraine via Skype. Beneath the complexities, she said she’s struck by the message they all have in common: They say they just want a bright future for their children, one with a good economy, peace and human rights. “People do want to run their own country,” Picard said. “They want their own freedom.” To get there, she said the historical complexity of Ukraine and Russia cannot be overlooked. Bence offered insight on frequent devastation to the Ukrainian people and their farms at
ally good and really small sometimes, but they’re my favorite because those are the more intimate conversations.” In high school, Sacherski participated in theater and the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (MCJROTC), a full credit class requiring Marine Corps style physical training, as well as wearing a uniform every Wednesday, for four years. She received the highest medal in the MCJROTC program and a scholar award. “My theatre director thought it was funny, because I rushed into rehearsal still in my uniform,” she said. When she grew up, Sacherski thought about being a mortician, a sex therapist, or a counselor helping families who have lost loved ones. She and her family spend time working with veterans, partially because her father is a retired Vietnam veteran in the Marine Corps. “I know I’m strange, but I’m wellrounded,” she said. “I love working with veterans, but sex positivity is my favorite learning area.” When Sacherski isn’t striving to become a teacher, helping others understand serious issues, or making her e-board members crack a smile during meetings, she can be found glued to Netflix, intently watching Breaking Bad.
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Professor Robert Bence spoke about the tension between Russia and The Ukraine. the hands of war. World War II, he said, dealt a traumatic blow to Ukraine. At the time, “Russains believed that the Ukrainians were in support of the Nazis,” he said. After the war, the disputed territory of Crimea was given to Ukraine, Bence said it never broke away from the USSR. The present-day Crimea crisis has an economic perspective Bence argues should not be ignored. “Economics and gas is fairly important here,” Bence said. Picard suggested Ukraine may have more oil than the Middle East. According to the Oil and Gas Financial Journal (OGFJ), Ukraine and parts of Europe are heavily dependent on gas from
Russia. Russia also uses Ukraine as a channel to provide gas to parts of Europe. About 80 percent of gas from Russia is moved through Ukraine. OGFJ also stated that if gas conflicts arrise, it is unlikely that any other sources would fulfill Europe’s energy requirements. “If we were to do something, we want to think very carefully about it. I think diplomacy is the rule, but we have to go in humbly,” Bence said. Taylor said it is highly unlikely the United States will get involved militarily because Ukraine is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). “If a NATO state is attacked, that’s a different ball game,” Taylor said.
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Campus News
Thursday, April 3, 2014
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SSDP presents: Winning the war on drugs By Makayla-Courtney McGeeney Staff Writer
Shaleen Title, Esq., an activist to end the war on drugs, spoke on Thursday, March 27 as a guest of the Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) in the Feigenbaum Science Center lecture hall. Title served as a consultant and spokesperson for the Colorado Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, which legalized marijuana in 2012. “Soon, we’ll have the majority on our side,” she said. “We’re just winning, period.” Title first decided to become an activist when she heard a speaker once say that “one in three African American males will go to prison during their lifetime.” She spoke to the guest afterward to correct him, asking if the statistic was one in 30, but when the original was right, Title said that’s when she decided to change it. She spoke about how the audience is graduating at a perfect time because right now, jobs are being made in a time of change. “The fact is that 55 percent of people support legalization of
marijuana and 68 percent say they are more likely to go to the polls if legalizing marijuana is on the ballot,” she said. “The Federal Government is making it easier for state legal operators to operate, and they’re pushing for shorter mandatory minimum drug sentences.” Title said that Colorado is expected to bring in $1 billion from the newly acquired marijuana business and $100 million in tax revenue. She couldn’t grasp why the rest of the nation wouldn’t want to follow this movement. “Drug prohibition needs to end,” she said. “It doesn’t work and it will not work.” She asked the audience what came to mind when she said alcohol prohibition and replies sounded ‘speakeasy,’ and ‘drinking anyway.’ Regardless of how much money is put toward prohibition, it still leads to trouble and ineffective policies. It also puts drug and alcohol addiction in a darker light. Much of Title’s message reflected ways to help regulate marijuana and professional tips for students looking for a career involving drug policy reform. Such tips include ten lessons on how to
become more marketable and use social network platforms to an advantage. 1. Always use winning rhetoric 2. This is just like any other job a. Know your stuff b. Stay humble: people will remember you for your actions and ways you handle situations 3. Being marketable and qualified 4. Self-promote frequently 5. Take advantage of student perks: conventions, networking and education 6. Key to success is diversity 7. Be open to change 8. Convincing takes persuasion, persuasion is based on emotion 9. Get to know local officials President of SSDP Mike Vogt primarily chose Title to speak because of her recognition, recent work and awards. “She offers a unique experience,” he said. “I like how she did little things to help the bigger picture like working behind a desk, making phone calls, etc.” Title attended law school at the University Of Illinois College Of Law in 2008 and said that when
she held meetings and talks for her own SSDP group, no one attended. Once the ball started rolling in legalizing marijuana was when people started lining up at the door of Title’s meetings taking notes and asking her questions. “I learned a lot about Amendment 64 that was passed in Colorado,” SSDP Event Coordinator Kristina Alexander said. “It was also cool of her to present professional business tips that pertain to those who want a job in the drug policy industry.” Title stressed that diversity is a major characteristic in the change on the drug war. “Diversity will take this movement to the next level,” she said. “It’s how we’re going to win. There will be a ripple effect that will grow into a national level.” She said that she believes that persuasion is based on emotion rather than facts and statistics, which haven’t convinced people at all from her experiences. Title’s last lesson was a quote from Buckminster Fuller, “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the old model obsolete.”
Colorado Recreational Weed Sales •According to the Huffington Post, licensed dispensaries have already generated a total of more than $14 million and $2 million in tax revenue •Clear revenue patterns are expected to develop by April to help plan for the future •There are 59 businesses around Colorado •A 10 percent sales tax was approved last November along with a 15 percent excise tax •$600 million is projected to come from just recreational sales in the next fiscal year •The first week of sales was robust in the state. With only 37 dispensaries open at the time, they collectively brought in roughly $5 million in total sales. •The state will collect about $134 million in taxes and fees Information from Huffingtonpost.com
NASA Astronauts Perform at “STEAM: A Space Odyssey” By Gabriel Kogel Staff Writer
Retrieving payloads with a robot arm while hurtling around the globe at 17,500 miles per hour demands many skills, being able to play “Big Yellow Taxi” is not one of them. But on Thursday, Astronauts Catherine “Cady” Coleman and Daniel Burbank showed that science and artistic expression go hand in hand. Bryan McKay of One Giant Leap Foundation, a non-profit organization working to promote science and math education to students as well as inform people about space exploration, made the event possible. He is also the parent of an MCLA student. “This is where one guy makes a difference,” Coleman said. “So for anyone who’s thinking of doing something, and thinking it might not work, think again. Bryan made [this] happen, and he’s a real person, with real dreams and everyone else can do that, too.” In addition to “Big Yellow Taxi,” they also played “Every Morning,” and “Oh Susanna.” Burbank played his guitar and sang while Coleman accompanied with her flute. A bass player and a flutist from the College joined them as well. The event was called “STEAM: A Space Odyssey.” The term ‘STEAM,’ adds ‘Art’ to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The addition represents the inspiration art provides to scientific endeavors, such as the space program. “A lot of the experiences we have living in space are very human experiences to the core,” Burbank said during the performance. “And one of the challenges we have is to be out in public and try to describe in words what it’s like to be out in space.” The duo followed their performance with an extraterrestrial slide show featuring images from their time aboard the International Space Station (ISS). With tensions between the United States and Russia at
their highest since the end of the cold war, Burbank spoke about the camaraderie of the international crew. “There’s a lot that the space station program could teach the governments around the world,” he said during the presentation. “This is a purely-peaceful, egalitarian effort that a lot of countries have thrown their lot in.” One purpose of the space station is to perform experiments meant to improve pharmaceuticals. Also, the study of crystal formation in zero gravity is aiding semiconductor design for use in computers, according to Coleman. The space station allows astronauts to grapple with the problems humans face while living in space for long periods. Resolving these issues are key to planning a manned mission to Mars. “Unfortunately, we’re not ready to send people to Mars,” Coleman said during the presentation. “Zero gravity is magical, but unfortunately it’s not good for our physiology. We lose bone and muscle up there ten times faster than a woman down here who’s seventy years old and is living with osteoporosis. So what she loses in a year, I’d lose in a month.” Despite this, the space station crew has been able to reduce bone loss to almost zero using a device called an Advanced Resistance Exercise Device (ARED). The machine simulates weight training in zero gravity, allowing astronauts to maintain musculoskeletal strength, according to Burbank. “We thought [bone loss] was a showstopper for deep space, for going to Mars,” he said. “But now, folks are coming down with so little bone loss, it’s dropped way down the list of possible threats.” Coleman and Burbank spoke highly of the partnerships between the space program and private companies. “NASA is taking all the things that we know how to do, such as taking supplies and people up and down, and transferring
Photos by Gabriel Kogel/The Beacon
Above, NASA Astronauts Daniel Burbank and Catherine “Cady” Coleman perform at the Feigenbaum Center atrium. Below, Coleman and Burbank present a plaque featuring a montage of space images to Cynthia Brown, vice president of Academic Affairs.
them to our commercial partners,” Coleman said during the presentation. In addition to SpaceX and Orbital Sciences, General Motors has teamed up with NASA to create RoboNaut, a dexterous humanoid robot considered the seventh crew member of the Soyuz, according to Cole-
man. “He’s got his own twitter account, his own Facebook page,” Coleman said during the presentation. “It really is a neat partnership between GM and NASA, looking at how we can have human beings and robots working together in space.”
5 TravelStudents Courses: Around the world in 7 days visited China, England, and the American South during spring break Campus news
Thursday, April 3, 2014
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Stories by Jenna O’Connor/Staff Writer
Business In and With China Supervised by Education Professor Daniel (Dana) Rapp, eight students embarked on a journey well over 14 hours to China to visit the cities of Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai. Throughout the course of this trip, the students were exposed to the Forbidden City, the Beijing Olympics site (Bird’s Nest), a jade factory, The Great Wall, the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, and many other beautiful and cultural spots within the cities. “The trip was mind-blowing for me, my 12 year old son, and the students,” Rapp said. “We were exposed to a society with stark differences to our own, yet with striking similarities.” Exploring the cities of China, the students stumbled upon different markets with every sort of food, souvenirs, and even enjoyed a little bit of the nightlife. “I didn’t let myself be affected by jet-lag,” sophomore Cristian Sanchez said. “I was in China! I wanted to experience everything while I was there, and get the most out of the trip as possible.” The students not only went sightseeing, but they were
Photo courtesy of Cristian Sanchez
Photo courtesy of Heron Rapp
Students visited a number of historical landmarks as well as international business locations.
The Great Wall of China was one of the many stops students made on the trip.
also exposed to the international business models of working with China. “Ben Kahn [Business Administration professor] taught us that in order to be in business, we have to know how to do business with China,” Sanchez said. “It was really great to be immersed in the actual setting learning how it all works. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone within the Business Administration study or anyone who’s
interested in going.” While switching planes to board another flight to a different city, a student accidently left their passport on the previous plane. This mishap caused the student to pay out of pocket for one whole flight, and a new passport—since the Chinese Airports couldn’t recognize the passport ID number with the China Tour Itinerary ID.
Bus Tour of Civil Rights Sites in the American South
Arts of Medieval & Renaissance Britain
Photo from the MCLA Civil Rights Facebook group
Photo courtesy of Rosanne Denhard
Students pose after taking a tea break in York during their trip through England. The trip to England led and arranged by English Professor Rosanne Denhard is a full-semester interdisciplinary course that incorporates travel and exploring medieval and Renaissance British literature, history, and culture through on-site experiential learning and research. With 15 students enrolled, the course is a stimulating trip that allows the students to experience England, as well as research what they’ve been learning in the professor’s class. “For me, my favorite part of the travel always comes from knowing that this kind of learning will be positively life-changing for some of our students when they have the opportunity to interact ‘live’ and on-site with the historical past and the present of Great Britain’s artistic and cultural legacy,” Denhard said. “Some students gain confidence that takes them to all sorts of next steps, including graduate school in Britain. Among many of the popular sites visited on the trip, the most recurring favorites are The Globe Theatre, the Poets’ Corner, and The National Portrait Gallery. “Professor Denhard, and the school offered me an experience that without them, I would have never been able to go to England,” sophomore Lucille Germain said. “I absolutely love the museums,” junior Rhea Werner said. “The whole trip was a very rewarding experience.” Unlike the cold, unhappy weather here in North Adams, the weather, according to Denhard and the students, was absolutely beautiful the entire time, without a single drop of rain—which is unheard of for England. On the journey back home, everyone was displeased to find out that their flight was cancelled
Photo courtesy of Beth Davis
Big Ben was one of the many sightseeing opportunities for students on the England trip. from Philadelphia, to Boston. This inconvenience necessitated an overnight stay in PA., at no cost to the students. U.S. Airways provided free hotel rooms and transportation, as well as meal vouchers. The next morning on the flight, the students were very surprised to see President Mary Grant on the same exact plane, heading home to North Adams. “I hope that the students learned about themselves and the wider world and begin to shape an understanding of themselves as scholar-travelers,” Denhard said. “Since this is a course that is far more than a ‘trip,’ the learning is complex and each class group is different.” Working on researching and putting together individual final projects, certain students are to present at this year’s Undergraduate Research Conference on Thursday April 17, 2014, sharing their vast knowledge learned from traveling to England, as well as what’s learned here on campus.
Students visited a number of historical sights important to the Civil Rights Movement. Ten students travelled within our own country to the South in order to re-live the history of the Civil Rights Movement. Led by History Professor Frances Jones-Sneed, the students were able to “stand where it all happened” and experience the passion, real stories, and the power behind the movement. “The trip was great!” Sneed said. “I enjoyed seeing the enthusiasm of the students as they stepped back into history and experienced some of the things that people did in the 1960s.” Some highlights of the trip include seeing the Martin Luther King Center, the Freedom Rides Museum, The Rosa Parks Mu-
seum, and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, among many other incredibly historical sites. The problems that occurred on this trip were strictly mechanical. The bus had some problems twice that delayed the trip, resulting in not being able to see all of the planned sites for the tour. “Through it all, the students were troopers and went with the moment!” Sneed said. “I think that the most important thing [the students] learned is that you can read history in a textbook, but there is nothing like being in the places where history happened and talk to the people who made that history,” Sneed said.
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Thursday, April 3, 2014
Arts & Entertainment
Beacon.MCLA.edu
SAC announces spring concert World renowned ska band, Reel Big Fish, will perform on campus April 21 By Jenna O’Connor
Arts & Entertainment Writer On Saturday night, the Student Activities Council (SAC) hosted a release party to announce the anticipated name of the band to perform on April 21: Reel Big Fish. “Reel Big Fish was one of the legions of Southern California ska-punk bands to edge into the mainstream following the mid-’90s success of No Doubt and Sublime,” the band’s website states. “Like most of their peers, the band was distinguished by their hyperkinetic stage shows, juvenile humor, ironic covers of new wave pop songs, and metallic shards of ska. The group cultivated an underground following that broke into the mainstream in summer 1997, when their single “Sell Out” became a modern rock radio and MTV favorite.” Ska is a type of music that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, combining elements of calypso, American jazz, rhythm and blues, and Caribbean Mento, known for
Photo by Andrew Rickets/The Beacon
Students rejoice over the announcement of Reel Big Fish performing at the College at SAC’s spring concert release party. its blaring horns, and fast-paced said. “I’m excited that we’re going SAC trivia, each of which certain to draw a new crowd of different lucky students had the chance to punk-meets-dancehall beats. “Personally, I am excited for students that we may not have win a free ticket for the perforthem to come because it’s going reached in years past.” mance. to be a way different show than The SAC release party included “The release party was reit has been the past two years,” various games such as corn hole, ally fun, and I thought that it SAC Vice President, Tess Favini, musical chairs, Simon Says, and was a great way to get everyone
Yorick’s “Pericles” sails off to Mill City Productions this weekend By Raanan Sarid-Segal
Arts & Enteratinment Writer “Pericles, Prince of Tyre” opens tonight at Mill City Productions in Heritage State Park, next to the Freight Yard Pub. “Pericles, Prince of Tyre” is one of William Shakespeare’s least discussed plays, and much of the conversation about the play itself centers on the question of whether or not William Shakespeare was the sole author of the play. These questions have done little to deter people of this time from embracing the play, including the director, junior Kelli Furney. “I saw it when we went to Fall Festival [of Shakespeare in Lenox, Mass. at Shakespeare and Company] last year,” said Furney. “One of the high schools did a production and my first thought was ‘I want to direct this.’” The play functions as a story of growth through travel and suffering. It is the sort of story that people like Joseph Campbell salivated over in formulating their notions of how a traditional heroic arc is structured. Furney, who is directing a complete play for the first time, says she is challenging herself to put on a very classical production of the play, which contains a huge cast and a variety of settings. “So much happens in it, because it’s an episodic play.” she said. “There is incest, pirates, brothels, all sorts of stuff. It is all about the spectacle and I really wanted to showcase that.” Being an episodic play required
the crew find many ways to show that locations had changed without huge delays between scenes. This necessitated some tricks which the cast hopes will clarify the events of the play for the audience. “There was a lot of work with the lighting scheme for the show,” said junior Jake Bonenfant. who will be playing the titular role of Pericles. “Each place Pericles visits will be dominated by a color, to tell the audience where the characters are and thus keep them from being confused by the cast changing characters. It will be clear due to the color of the costumes that the characters are from a particular part of the story.” The play in question contains a cast of 52 characters, which proved to be a challenge to the cast, which was made up of around 20 individuals. This choice to tackle such a huge play with such a limited cast necessitated the use of double casting roles, at the very least. “When Kelli first proposed the show, she had already planned out how to manage the cast and which characters could be double cast,” said Bonenfant. “So it was not a problem. Everything was already figured out.” The show continues tomorrow and Saturday at 8:00 p.m., with a matinee at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are free for students, $2 for nonMCLA students and faculty, and $5 for general admission. Seating is limited. Reserve at yorick@ mcla.edu.
pumped about finding out what band is coming to campus,” musical chairs winner, sophomore Rebeccah Szczygiel, said. “I can’t wait for the concert! It’s going to be awesome.” With Reel Big Fish coming, like Favini said, it will definitely draw a different, and perhaps larger crowd. Normally, students vote to have more pop-punk bands come to campus for the spring concert. However, with the ska-punk band performing, it’s going to make for a sensational and fun evening for everyone involved. “I’m really excited for them to come since we usually have poppunk bands,” SAC Secretary, Sam O’Brien, said. “Branching from that genre is refreshing.” Reel Big Fish continues to tour non-stop, playing over 250 shows a year to thousands of loyal fans all over the world, gaining more and more underground popularity as the ska scene continues to flourish, the band’s website stated. Tickets will be on sale in the marketplace for $5 for students.
Upcoming events! Pericles, Prince of Tyre Tonight - Saturday
8:00 p.m. Matinee on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Mill City Productions
Allegrettos Concert
Tomorrow and Saturday 8:00 p.m. Church Street Center Auditorium
The Pigeoning
Photos by Shannen Adamites/The Beacon
Above: Jake Bonenfant (Pericles) and Sean Mahoney (Helicanus) converse in a scene in Act V. Below: Amanda Olsen (Gower) recites a lengthy monlogue.
April 14 8:00 p.m. Puppet Lab - 107 Main
YES DEER + Spoken word open mic The Parlor Cafe 8:00 p.m.
Angels in America
Venable Theatre April 15, 16, and 17 8:00 p.m. April 23, 24, 25, and 26 8:00 p.m. Matinee on April 26 2:00 p.m. Symposium on April 26 11:30 a.m.
Arts & Entertainment
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Contemplations of a former art student
Beacon.MCLA.edu
7
Dance Co. exhibits sophisticated variety Review by Rachel Fitterman
Arts & Entertainment Writer
By Shannen Adamites
Arts & Entertainment Editor
In the defense of art criticism...
I
t can be argued that any form of art, from composition, to creative writing to performance, is not completley finished, even after the work has been published, debuted, or exhibited. There is always room for improvement, even when the artist or mentor deems it worthy of being released to the public. That’s where journalists come into play. Many professional theaters offer preview weekends, where audiences and press associates can view the performance before its official press opening. Ideally, the directors, cast, and creative team would get immediate audience feedback before reviews start pouring in, and no matter how great a show might be, for every positive review, there is bound to be someone who wasn’t as impressed. But a negative review is not the worst thing to fear -- in fact, many people will disregard a negative review if the performance, album, or artist is one that many people trust. It is ultimately up to the individual to decide whether or not they enjoy the art, and smart patrons might take the journalist’s perspective into consideration, but still prefer to find out for themselves. Having worked in a professional theater, I can safely say, that patrons who have had pleasant experiences at that theater in the past will come back and continue to support it, regardless as to what the reviews say. Not every professional journalist is an artist, either, and some have no idea what goes on during the rehearsal or pre-production process, but all possess the enthusiasm and respect to the creative process in mind while they evaluate their experience. Criticism, while it needs to be written or spoken with respect, should also be handled with respect as well. If there’s anything that my involvment with performance, art, and journalism has taught me, it’s that not everything will appeal to everyone. Someone might be an expert in one area, and someone else might not be familiar with it at all. Most importantly, everyone will have a different experience with whatever medium the artist uses. It is the artist’s repsonsibility to at least take the point of view of an outsider into consideration, not explicitly reject it.
Dance Company brought wisdom and action to its annual spring performance at Mass MoCA on March 28 and 29. The show featured story-based dances, like Lily Urquhart’s “All the Angels and Saints,” a piece that depicted a royal family attacked by a rebel army. Dancers fought and galloped in armor, protecting Deanna Boucher, a damsel in distress, whose sad fate was exhibited with shadowy light as she was covered by a red blanket. Though pirates are not usually associated with ballet, the show opener, “Hoist the Colors,” interweaved lighthearted silent acting and full pirate costumes with dramatic, seamless choreography. With everything from sword fights to Dance Company co-president Alexa Hebard and treasurer Deanna Boucher’s solo of seemingly endless pirouettes, the dance proved to be a delightful mix. Shadea Blyther and Giovani Dulcio’s “Love or Lust” brought huge energy to the show, a riveting hip-hop dance with a plotline based upon Michael Jackson’s song “Remember the Time,” featuring both Jackson’s song as well as “Drunk in Love” by Beyoncé and “Karaoke” by Drake. The piece lit up slow-tempo songs with loud and purposeful choreography, including duets from both Blyther and Dulcio. Impressed “oohs” from the audience came with Peter Allen’s perfectly executed backflip in the middle of the dance, indicative of the liveliness the piece exuded. Additionally, Brandon Roy’s unusual concept in “Awakening of the Birds,” centered on the plot of the movie “Pokemon 2000: The Power of One,” sprung to life in a visually appealing, cinematic dance. Each group of “birds” wore loose fabric wings, creating a striking image with any slight movement. Close to the end, the three groups gathered together in
Photo by Shannen Adamites/The Beacon
Emily Dessingue strikes a pose with her dance partner in a modern-inspired number by Bryanna Bradley, featuring the song “Retrograde” by James Blake. almost many-headed-beast formation, eerily flapping from one side to the next to Clint Mansell’s haunting “Requiem for a Dream.” Softer pieces peppered the performance, such as Colleen Regal and Jackie Kelly’s dance to the popular song “Say Something” by Great Big World. This ethereal showcase’s soft light and ballet basis evoked the heartbreak of the song’s message, all the while demonstrating the performers’ talent with jétés and pirouettes. Contrasted with this was Jay Tocco’s “Bottles In the Air,” choreographed by Tocco to his own song of the same name. The dance featured Tocco and an all-female ensemble in a risqué but well executed dance, reminiscent of a music video. Tocco’s solos and the work of the backup dancers were sharp and professional, accompanying the beat drops of the autotuned, dance-pop song extremely well.
Joseph Goncalves and Marieange Anodjo’s “A Little Taste of Africa” also stood out as a cultured and impressive piece, which sampled various African dances and showcased the talent of both its choreographers as well as the ensemble as a whole. Other dances touched on powerful themes, such as Bryanna Bradley’s “Retrograde.” Proceeded by a performance by Nexxus, the all-female ensemble danced in black and white outfits with sharp, strong movements that stood out against the low-lit pink backdrop. The final moments of the dance finished off in silhouette, leaving the audience with a fierce image. Emily Dessingue’s “Obstacles” had a similar effort, closing the show with its theme of the overwhelming power of life’s small obstacles. The elegant, meaningful piece pitted dancers in white against dancers in black t-shirts emblazed with their fears: ru-
mors, outcast, image, and selfdoubt. Though it ended with the obstacles creeping back up on their opposition, the overall message was inspiring. The heartwarming piece “Follow the Sun,” choreographed by Alexa Hebard, focused less on technical dance aspects and more on the playful, positive nature of the piece. Hebard introduced it with a touching speech in American Sign Language, reflecting on her past years at the College and her dreams for the future. The huge ensemble clapped, danced, and swung their arms around each other to Evermore’s song “Follow the Sun” while constantly smiling. At the end, each dancer removed their black hoodie to reveal a colorful shirt underneath which, across the 23 dancers, spelled the inspirational advice “Live your life, follow the sun!”
Photo by Shannen Adamites/The Beacon
Photo by Shannen Adamites/The Beacon
Katie Kelly happily leads a group of dancers in Joseph Gonclaves’s and Marie-ange Anodjo’s “Taste of Africa.”
Princess Deanna Bouche wishes her guards, Alexa Hebard and Lily Urquhart, luck, in Urquhart’s “All the Saints and Angels.”
8
Sports
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Fair territory
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Tennis splits weekend matches By Kaleigh Anderson
The win came as a big relief to the team, which had lost it’s first two matches of the season. Back Rob Wabshinak earned a pair of points out in September, the Trailblazers of the top singles and doubles slot, helping hosted their lone autumn match lead MCLA past Johnson State 6-3 on Sunday. of the season, falling to Western With the win, the Trailblazers improved to 1-2 New England, 9-0. After a long lay off , MCLA conon the season, while Johnson fell to 1-5 overtinued it’s season earlier this week all. Wabshinak set the tone in winning the top against Green Mountain College. singles match in straight sets 6-1, 6-4 over The Green Mountain tennis team Cole Hennessy. He then paired with Taylor earned its first victory of the year, Krowitz in the top doubles slot to earn a hard- defeating MCLA 9-0. Green Mountain got off to a fought win, 8-5, over the duo of Hennessy and dominant start sweeping all six Cory Chase. “I thought that both of our matches went of the singles matches. Krowitz well,” Krowitz said. “It was nice to get back on had the most competitive match, the court and compete. It was a great team ef- but he ended up falling to Green fort, and getting the first win of the season was Mountain sophmore Nate Berner-Tobin, 6-2, 7-5. crucial.” Photo from MCLA Athletics MCLA didn’t fare much better Jeffrey Mason and Christian Sanchez also Freshman Rob Washinak earned a point in both the top earned a pair of points. Both won in the third during doubles competition, losdoubles, and top singles matches, which the way to and fourth singles matches in straight sets. ing all three sets to Green MounMCLA’s first victory of the season. They then joined forces to defeat Alex Pakatar tain, who improved to 1-3 on the and Zach Baughn 8-3 in number two doubles. year. The team of Wabshinak MCLA will continue NAC action next SaturMCLA swept the doubles matches as Ray and Krowitz came the closest to victory, but in day, when they host Thomas College at 1pm. Yelle and Richard LaRocque also won 8-3 over the end lost to the team of Connor Braden and They will then play at home Sunday against Berner-Tobin, 8-6. Alex Harcourt and Kyle Keppler. Castleton State College. Sports Writer
Death to replay
By Jesse Collings Sports Editor
Instant replay has become one of the biggest features in sports over the last decade. Fans have complained about subpar refereeing since the inception of organized sport, but over the last several years, technology has been gradually instituted into aiding the officials to make their decisions much more accurate. Nearly every major sport, from football, basketball, and soccer to Major League Baseball has instituted instant replay to help the referees review certain calls in the game. The goal is to remove human error from deciding contests, but the fact is that replay has become an incredible burden upon the viewing audience. Let’s take basketball, for instance. A foul is called at half court after a player steals the ball from his opponent and, while racing across the court, is grabbed by his opponent. It seems fairly simple, but was the foul a clear path foul? Instead of just determining this using basic judgment when making the call, the referees will gather around a monitor and watch the play over and over again to make sure the call is right. Watching the game on television, the viewer is treated to roughly 25 viewings of the otherwise mundane play, as the commentators kill time. It is not uncommon for these reviews to take several minutes, all while the viewers, the fans, and the players are just waiting around for the action to start up again. Nationally televised sporting events are already full of stoppages in play. From relentless advertisements to extended halftime shows, a large percentage of the time spent watching sports is spent not watching sports at all. The addition of instant replay, while helpful to establishing the sincerity of the game, is just another hurdle the viewer has to deal with while trying to watch a sports. Instant replay is an extremely useful tool, and sports should strive to use technology to its fullest in order to sustain the most honorable outcomes possible. However, the current method for using instant replay, full of long interruptions in play while officials review generally uninspiring plays, is clunky and inefficient. Instead of watching exciting and athletic play, the viewer is stuck watching a bunch of old guys huddled around a monitor. Replay is great, but all sports leagues should make it a priority to use it in the most efficient way possible.
MCLA to celebrate Division III Week MCLA will join other Division III schools across the country in celebrating the value of Division III collegiate athletics. The week will begin on Sunday, April 6th and run through Sunday, April 13th. The NCAA celebrates Division III week as an opportunity for all individuals associated to observe and celebrate the impact of athletics and of student-athletes on the campus and surrounding community. On Sunday, MCLA will host the Special Olympics T.R.A.I.N. event. On Monday, the college will be celebrating school spirit, with prizes being awarded to the best dressed, and on Tuesday, the school will be celebrating the impacts that coaches, staff, faculty and administrators have on school athletics. On Wednesday, the school will be celebrating staff mentorship and athlete academic achievement. Thursday is National Student Athlete Day, and will feature a student-athlete open house from noon to 1PM. Friday is being recognized as Trailblazer Day, and will consist of cake being served and a fun photo booth taking place in the Marketplace at noon. The final event scheduled for the week is a Community Clean Up, set to take place on Saturday, from 11:30 PM to 1 PM.
UConn bounces back into Final Four MCT Campus
Connecticut is no stranger to the NCAA Final Four. The Huskies earned their fifth berth since 1999. But this team, the seventh-seed from the American Athletic Conference, which a year ago was banned from postseason play because of poor academic performance, wasn’t supposed to make it to Arlington. Not with a young, first-time head coach in his second season named Kevin Ollie. Not after a 33-point loss to Louisville to end the regular season and being swept 3-0 by Louisville and 2-0 by SMU, which wasn’t even selected for the NCAA tournament. The Huskies (30-8) got here by beating three of the top four seeds in the East Regional, including a 60-54 win over Michigan State on Sunday in the East Regional final. “These kids are loyal,” said Ollie, who was named interim head coach when Jim Calhoun abruptly announced his retirement in September 2012. “I believe in them. They believe in us. They also believe in what UConn is all about, what they can be successful in if they go through this program.” Ollie’s interim tag was lifted after the team went 20-10 his first season, a season cut short by NCAA penalties for poor academic performance. Several Huskies bolted for clearer skies, but three sophomores, including guard
Shabazz Napier, stayed. “I am so happy for Coach Ollie,” said UConn forward Tyler Olander, who chose to stay along with Niels Giffey and Napier. “He took a job with a team that had nothing to play for last year, but he did not look at it that way. His theme last year was to build for this year. He would tell us to plant seeds for the future. It has paid off and I am happy for him.” Ollie, 41, who played for 11 teams in 13 seasons in the NBA, including his rookie season for the Dallas Mavericks in 1997, said the oneyear postseason banned helped the team bond. “I thought they did a remarkable job last year, people saying they weren’t playing for anything, but they were playing for everything,” he said. “People saying we were banned, but we weren’t banned from caring for each other, loving each other, making each other better, challenging each other. That’s what they did. They learned a life lesson.” And they’ve been channeling all of that angst from a season ago into a gutsy tournament run. Napier, an All-American point guard, leads the team with 18.1 points and 4.9 assists a game entering the Huskies’ NCAA national semifinal game at 5:09 p.m. Saturday against No. 1-ranked and No. 1-seed Florida (36-2). The Gators have won 30 consecutive games. Their last loss? A 65-64 loss at UConn on Dec. 2 in which Napier scored the last six points for the Huskies in the final 34 seconds, including
the winning jumper as time expired. Napier, like Kemba Walker, who led UConn to its third NCAA title in 2011 at Houston’s Reliant Stadium, has been the decisive star during the Huskies’ run, averaging more than 20 points a game. Napier was a freshman reserve on that team, playing 27 minutes in the championship win against Butler. Napier, Olander and Giffey are the first UConn players to make it to two Final Fours. It’s an outcome Napier even thought was farfetched, especially after the tumultuous seasons since the ‘11 title. “Tyler always pulled me and Niels to the side and said he wants us to be the first players (at UConn) to get to two Final Fours,” Napier said. “At the time I just (thought) that’s going to be real hard. And for it to be right here, for us to have the opportunity to play in the Final Four, it’s a special feeling.” Ollie has leaned on his former coach and mentor Calhoun, who pushed for his former player to take over the reins two years ago. “He’s a special person in my life,” Ollie said. “When all those people doubted Connecticut, the direction it was going, I know he never wavered, we never wavered. We never blinked. We knew this program was still alive and this program wasn’t going anywhere. We were going to hurt last year, but we were still going to be there and be relevant and we were going to play for what was on the front of our chests.”
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Sports
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Baseball drops double-header to Worcester By Kelsey Marini Sports Writer
The men’s baseball team could not grasp a win in their first conference double header of the season. Worcester State held the Trailblazers to only seven hits and one run. The win pushed Worcester State to a record of 6-8 overall and a 2-0 record in MASCAC play, while MCLA slipped to a 2-9 record overall and 0-2 in conference play. In the opening game, the Lancers gained a run in the second inning and two more runs in the third to gain a 3-0 lead. The Lancers would gain two more runs in the next two innings against pitcher Robert Jutras, who was relieved by Nate Alibozek in the bottom of the fifth. Although the Trailblazers left Worcester scoreless in the final inning, the game was already determined. Chase Preite and Nate Alibozek were able to get two hits off of Worcester pitcher Ben Libuda, but the Trailblazers could not bring in any runs. “Jutras and Alibozek did their jobs off the mound in the first game,” said Rory Slattery. “We just never strung enough hits together to do any damage.” In the second game Worcester came out strong, bringing in five runs against pitcher Mike Mancivalano in the first inning. Matt Clark was sent to the pitcher’s mound by the bottom of the second. He held the Lancers to one run and was relieved by Tyler Benoit
in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Trailblazers were able to earn one run in the final inning, but the game was lost. “We didn’t play all that well defensively and didn’t put up the runs to get away with it,” said Chase Preite. “This team has the ability to bounce back,” said Rory Slattery. “We will work on some things in practice to get back in rhythm and gain some confidence.” MCLA was unable to get a chance to bounce back, as their game against Southern Vermont was postponed on Tuesday. The Trailblazers have now had to deal with 6 postponed games so far this season. The men are now back to the drawing board to make sure they come out strong in their next conference game against Salem State. They are scheduled to play a doubleheader Saturday at Salem State, and will then continue with more road games next week. The team will travel to Union College on Tuesday and then to Trinity ColPhoto by Kayla Degnan/The Beacon lege on Wendsday in a make-up Mike Sullivan drove in the lone run for MCLA during game from March, 26th. their losses to Worcester State.
Waiting out the storm Softball must contend with fickle weather and poor field conditions as they wait for their season to resume. By James Hunter
Sports Writer The Trailblazers will resume their regular season on Thursday, after a long weekend of more practicing and less game-time. They will be away all weekend playing against Southern Vermont, Worcester State, and Salem State. “It’s hard on us having the games canceled,” sophomore Sierra Bailey said. “We play Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday!” It has been almost three weeks since the Trailblazers have played a game. In order to prepare for these upcoming games, the team has been practicing against each other and doing small scrimmages to get in shape. “We have been playing inner squad scrimmages, where we scrimmage against each other. We also have scrimmages against Williams College,” sophomore Sam Boyle said.
“We haven’t been able to get a practice outside since we went to Florida. It has become a mental challenge for the team. Playing outside on dirt is so much different from being in a gym.” On Friday, the Trailblazers will face their first Mass. State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) opponent, Worcester State. Last year in the first round of the MASCAC, they beat Worcester 1-0 and moved on to the finals.
“The Worcester State game will definitely be important for our team, seeing how it is our first MASCAC game and we know how tough they will be. It will be a good start for us when the tournament comes around,” Boyle said. With the struggle to get out on the playing fields, the Trailblazers have been forced to practice inside, limiting the game strategies they are able to improve. “We haven’t been able to get a practice outside yet since we went to Florida. It has become a mental challenge for the team. Playing outside on dirt is so much different from being in a gym,” Bailey said on the conditions of practice. “We have to work with what we are given.” With snow still on the ground followed by rain, the Trailblazers will have to be prepared to adjust to the playing fields at other schools. “Florida helped us get ready for the playing field. It has helped us with our fielding along with our footing on the dirt, as well as the grass,” Boyle said. “We hope to play more games on our own field this year than we did last year.” Being able to practice on the turf soccer field has been the adjustment the softball team has had to make because the softball field is still in horrible condition. However, this weekend playing on grass field for the first time since Florida, it should not take the Trailblazers too long to get adjusted to the playing field. It can’t get any worse than last year for the softball team. They were unable to play a single home game on the Ron Schrew-
craft playing field. “The team is excited to play our first game. We have our hearts set on winning every game. Our goal is to win the MASCAC championship but it begins with the first game we play,” Bailey said. “We are excited for our season to begin this week.” The Trailblazers regular season will begin today with a double-header at Southern Vermont at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
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Scores Baseball Saturday, March 29th Worcester State 5, MCLA 0 Worcester State 7, MCLA 1 Tuesday, April 1st MCLA @ Southern Vermont PPD Thursday, April 3rd MCLA vs Skidmore PPD Softball Sunday, March 30th MCLA vs Skidmore PPD MCLA vs Skidmore PPD Tueday April 1st MCLA @ Bay Path Cancelled MCLA @ Bay Path Cancelled Tennis Saturday, March 29th Green Mountain 9, MCLA 0 Sunday, March 30th MCLA 6, Johnson State 3
Schedules Thursday, April 3rd Softball MCLA @ Southern Vermont 3:30 PM MCLA @ Southern Vermont 5:30 PM Baseball MCLA vs Skidmore PPD Saturday, April 5th Softball MCLA @ Salem State 1 PM MCLA @ Salem State 3 PM Baseball MCLA @ Salem State 1 PM MCLA @ Salem State 3:30 PM Tennis MCLA vs Thomas 1 Pm Sunday, April 6th Tennnis MCLA vs Castleton State 1 PM Softball UMASS-Dartmouth @ MCLA Cancelled
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Opinion
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Beacon.MCLA.edu
“What do you like to do in the warm weather?” “I take walks downtown and go to a hippie-ish café to get lattes and drink them in the sun.”
“I like to do cartwheels, handstands and somersaults while barefoot.”
–Jayla Wingard, 2015
–Mike Vogt, 2014
The Beacon The Beacon is published Thursdays during the academic year and is distributed free to the College community. The Beacon is funded by the Student Government Association, the English/Communications department and from ad revenues. Contact information: News desk number: 413-662-5535 Business number: 413-662-5404 E-mail: Beacon@mcla.edu Web site: beacon.mcla.edu Office: Mark Hopkins Hall, room 111 Mission Statement The Beacon strives to provide timely and accurate news of campus and local events. Editorials Policy Unsigned editorials that appear on these pages reflect the views of The Beacon’s editorial board.
“I like to lay in the grass and make out shapes in the clouds.”
“I like to take pictures of North Adams coming back to life and I also like to go to Fish Pond.”
–Emily Murray, 2015
–Ben Mancino, 2014
“I like to jump in rain puddles and take pictures of flowers.”
“I like to jump off bridges, volunteer at cat shelters, find weird stuff at flea markets, rage at concerts, go to hot yoga, kayak and get lost in the woods.”
–Isaac Wood, 2017
–Katie Glaubitz, 2016
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 e-mailed to Beacon@mcla.edu. Contributions Policy The Beacon accepts stories, photos, and opinion pieces for publication. Submissions should be dropped off at the office by Monday at noon or e-mailed to Beacon@mcla.edu. Advertising Policy The Beacon reserves the right not to publish any advertisement it deems to be libelous, false. or in bad taste.
Editorial Board
Photos compiled by Kayla Degnan
Letter to the Editor:
Annoyed with A&E coverage As a senior Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) student, I’m not impressed with the way Arts & Entertainment is edited, especially when it is edited by some who don’t truly understand the world in which we are immersed in daily. Besides having false words put into my mouth for a comment I had “apparently” said in The Beacon about a recent show I worked on this spring, which not only made me sound incompetent as Assistant Director but also idiotic, I am not the only FPA student misquoted commenting on theatre or arts as a whole. As a bonus, my actors and fellow stage managers’ words were also falsified in some extent at that time, which is unacceptable. Can we possibly have someone who actually is a FPA major write these articles? Minus the obvious typos which can easily be changed, I am completely displeased and deeply unimpressed with some of the writing skills that should be college level, especially competence to write for The Beacon. We may not be the Wall Street Journal, but do some students actually want to be journalists? As a senior FPA major who is not fooled by blatant
and absurdist dialogue herself, but as a student disheartened by the treatment of the people who work diligently and passionately towards the goal of performing a show in front of a live audience, we do not like being mistreated. Providing performance and art for others may not be the hardest task in the world, but I assure you it is also not easy by a long-shot, either. Yet for the sake of your Arts and Entertainment section, for the clubs of Harlequin, Yorick, and Dance Company (which have also been reviewed on occasion, also poorly written might I add), take my words into consideration for the sake of the actors, performers, dancers, technical, and stage managerial people who actually enjoy doing performance for a living and have chosen to pursue this path as a ways to make genuine art and entertainment. Lily Urquhart Class of 2014 Editor’s Note: Any student is welcome to write for The Beacon. Applications are available now, refer to the ad on page 11.
The Beacon welcomes all letters to the editor.
Let us know your thoughts and concerns about campus and community events. Please include name and location. No anonymous submissions will be printed.
“I’m a lot of fun at parties, I swear!”
Southpaw Struggles By Jess Gamari Managing Editor
From can openers and punch bowl ladles to proper dining techniques and adjusting videogame set up, the struggle of being left handed in a predominantly right handed world is something about 15 percent of the nation faces every day. Each morning as I walk into class, I’m faced with the slim odds of finding where the lone lefty desk sits. But after 17 years of public education, I’ve learned to adapt my southpaw ways and quietly take my seat among my peers. Evolution and natural selection has produced individuals with speech and language control in the left hemisphere of the brain. Although the right-left brain link to personality traits theory was debunked in a previous column
Editor-in-Chief Nick Arena
of mine, it remains true that the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, and vice versa. Because the early humans were right handed, it strengthened their left side of the brain, allowing them to create forms of written and oral communication. In my immediate family of six, I am the only one who is left handed. None of my grandparents are left handed, although my mom can recall the days of nuns giving students a rap on the knuckles with a ruler to get them in the habit of using their right hands. This may be a reason so few left handed students graduated from this generation. But why the hostility toward a hand preferences? Aside from a rumored religious reference of the left hand being the devil’s hand (which is a column topic for another day) many parents encouraged their child to be right handed to adapt into the world easier. In some cultures, however, aspiring warriors are trained to be ambidextrous, meaning they are trained to be capable of using either hand to fight and defend. This principle holds true for athletes because it throws opponents off guard. Amid the everyday struggles of bumping elbows at the dinner table and pencil smudges in every class notebook, being left handed isn’t all bad. Sure playing Guitar Hero or Wii games takes some adjusting to the settings, but it’s something that makes me and my smudgy-handwritten essays unique.
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
Online at: Beacon.MCLA.edu Facebook.com/MCLABeacon Twitter.com/MCLA_Beacon
Opinion & Announcements
Thursday, April 3, 2014
College announces annual day of service The College and the North Adams Chamber of Commerce and the City of North Adams announce the 22nd Annual Community Day of Service will take place on Saturday, April 12. Registration will begin in the lower level of the MCLA Church Street Center at 9:30 a.m., to be followed by an official welcome and assignments to work teams and projects. For more than 20 years, MCLA and the local community have come together to clean up and improve our community. ~The scope and type of projects have evolved over the years, and the
number of people who come out for the day to make North Adams a better place to live has increased significantly. In this 22nd year, the focus will be on community health and wellness. With the support of Mass In Motion and Amanda Chilson, Mass in Motion project coordinator with the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, we will tackle projects along the City walking loop and tie a theme of wellness into the day’s activities. As the backbone of the effort, MCLA student volunteers – including individual volunteers,
5 O’Clock $5 Nachos!!! Weekend entertainment
Dine-In and Take-Out menu online. Gift Certificates & Discount Programs Available
www.TheParlorCafe.com fb.com/TheParlorCafe (413) 346-4279
members of clubs, groups or athletic teams – will join community volunteers, local leaders, and civic organizations to include: Art About Town, the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, Boy Scout Troop 88, Price Chopper, Big Y, Roger Eurbin and the Hillside Cemetery project and the Windsor Lake Commission. Also joining this year’s effort will be Mayor Richard Alcombright, State Rep. Gail Carridi, D-North Adams, Drury High School students, MCLA faculty and staff, North Adams’ city councilors, the City
of North Adams DPW, Allied Waste, North Adams Chamber of Commerce Board members, as well as individual members of the community. Although many of the teams will use their own transportation, some of the volunteers will be transported to work sites in vehicles provided by Dufor Bus, MCLA, North Adams Public Schools, BerkshireRides and the City of North Adams. To sign up to volunteer, contact Spencer Moser on first class or contact him by phone at (413) 662-5251. Walk-ins are welcome.
LIT induction Ceremony this Saturday On Saturday, 27 juniors and seniors will be inducted into the Lambda Iota Tau Gamma Epsilon Chapter. After being affiliated with the organization since 1981, the College is proud to be celebrating its 33 induction ceremony. Students who are majoring or minoring in English/Communications with a concentration in literature, writing, journalism, broadcast media, public relations and corporate communications or film studies. There are over 50 active chapters with an increasing membership of over 40,000 students. To become a member, students must be in the upper 35 percent of their graduat-
FINANCIAL AID ANNOUNCEMENT
ing class in cumulative grade point average, have attained least a full B average in at least
‘14-’15 MCLA SCHOLARSHIPS ARE NOW AVAILABLE! DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION AND BROCHURE AT www.mcla.edu/scholarships. Deadline is April 4 by 5 p.m. REMEMBER THAT YOU MUST COMPLETE AN APPLICATION FOR EACH SCHOLARSHIP THAT YOU APPLY FOR! ANY QUESTIONS? CONTACT THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE AT 662-5219 OR finaid@mcla.edu.
twelve semester credit hours, be enrolled in at least their fifth college semester, and have submitted an initiation paper representing their best work thus far in their college career. Several scholarships are awarded each year to qualifying members who wish to apply. Currently, Rosanne Denhard English/communications professor serves as the LIT Advisor while senior Jesse McMillan serves as the LIT Chapter President. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be provided in the Murdock Fitzpatrick room across the hall from Murdock 218 following the ceremony.
Do you want to join the Beacon? Fill out an application and apply for the Fall semester! Now accepting applications for: Advertising representatives Arts and Entertainment writers* Cartoonists Designers Copy Editors Columnists News Writers* Photographers Sports Writers* Videographers Web Editors Get credit and experience! Applications can be found outside the Beacon Newsroom, first floor of Mark Hopkins room 111. *Indicates a prerequisite: Must have taken Writing and Reporting the News I.
Beacon.MCLA.edu
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Check it out! Upcoming events on and off campus!
Today, April 3
NRHH Leadership Day Amsler Campus Center Marketplace 4:30 -7 p.m. Green Living Seminar Murdock Conference Reception Room 218 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Community Day of Service Amsler Campus Center Marketplace 1 -7 p.m. Tricks of the Trade: You and Your Art: Strategic Planning IS183, Stockbridge, MA 6 p.m.
Friday, April 4
The Black Hood Series Exhibition Amsler Campus Center Achievement Lounge 3-5 p.m. Minute to Win It & Trivia Amsler Campus Center CC324A and CC324B 4/4/2014 at 7:00 PM 8:00 PM MCLA Allegrettos A Capella Performance Church Street Center Auditorium 8-11 p.m. Community Day of Service Amsler Campus Center Marketplace 1-7 p.m. Brown Bag Lecture Series“Bombay-City Of Dream and City of Awakening from Dreams. Literary Imaginings of a Metropolis in Contemporary Anglophone Indian Fiction” Elderidge Hall 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 5
All Around the World Amsler Campus Center Gym 4 -8 p.m. Teach Our Campus How to Step Venable Gym noon- 4 p.m. Academic Achievement Brunch Campus Center Gym 11:45 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. Lambda Iota Tau Induction Ceremony Murdock Fitzpatrick Room 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Animal Adventures Venable Gym 8-10 p.m. Delta Mu Delta Induction Amsler Campus Center Sullivan Lounge 10-11:30 a.m. Academic Achievement Brunch Science Center Atrium 11:45 a.m.- 2 p.m.
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Photo Essay
Thursday, April 3, 2014
With each completed lap, walkers had their cards signed. The walking teams raised funds and awareness in the Campus Center Gym until 7 a.m.
Beacon.MCLA.edu
The dysFUNKrew Dance Crew showed off their moves as walkers and volunteers cheered them on.
Relay For Life Students Walk Non-Stop to Raise Money for Cancer Research Photos By Richard LaRocque
Sophomore Kristina Alexander gives a peace sign as she walks the gym loop.
Students created a sense of unity by stretching together to make this star at the Relay for Life, an event put on by Colleges Against Cancer.
Photo by Kayla Degnan/The Beacon
Sophomore Dan Villarroel, left, duked it out with junior Nino Rivera, right, on the inflatable jousting ring. The ring was one of many activities students participated in during Friday’s event.
The Allegrettos show their support for cancer research and awareness.