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Subway to remove all antibiotics from meat by 2025 By Joseph Carew Staff Writer
Subway, the fast food restaurant franchise with the most stores in the America (110 countries and territories), according to 247wallst.com, has promised to purchase and utilize antibiotic-free-only meat in its United States restaurants by 2025. This news comes as MASSPIRG, along with other major public interest groups like the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), had been stepping up their pressure on the worldwide chain to make the switch. “We just got the biggest fish,” said Mitchell Chapman, the Campaign Coordinator for MCLA’s MASSPIRG campaign. “[And] with Subway, their plan [starts in] a matter of months,” The Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group, or MASSPIRG, is a non-profit organization that uses grassroots organizing, among other strategies, to influence and alter public policy. The plan Subway has announced will be enacted over an extended time period. Not until 2025 will a pork or beefonly sandwich be completely free of antibiotics. For those who prefer poultry at Subway, however, chicken will be antibiotic free by the close of 2016, and Turkey will follow suit in the following two years. Antibiotics are widely used to assist in defeating infections within humans, and the more often antibiotics are used, the less effective they can be in treatment, as infections gradually develop immunities to these drugs. This can lead to common diseases suddenly becoming exceptionally difficult to stop, thus leading to more illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, “two million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics [each year], and at least 23,000 people die each year as a direct result of
these infections.” “[This is a] better commitment than any other chain,” Michael Basmajian, MASSPIRG Campus Organizer for MCLA said. The College’s own division of MASSPIRG staged a celebration outside of the campus center’s Subway, along with the North Adams franchise, and took to social media to express their gratitude to the chain’s change of heart. Their event was one of dozens across the state all coordinated by MASSPIRG. Along with other large advocacy groups, MASSPIRG had gathered around 270,000 Photo from Michael Basmajian signatures petitioning Members of MASSPIRG stand in front of the campus Subway last Thursday Subway to make this celebrating the Day of Action in which the company decided to go completely change. antibiotic free by 2025. Campus Organizer president of Subway’s Independent Purchasing Cooperative Basmajian, along with Chapman and Grassroots (IPC) in a press release on Oct. 20. “A change like this will Coordinator John Kelly, were all in high spirits as students take some time, particularly since the supply of beef raised had their pictures taken in front of the cardboard signature without antibiotics in the U.S. is extremely limited and sub sandwich they used as part of their campaign. cattle take significantly longer to raise. But we are working “[It’s] so great,” sophomore Mackenzie Cutler said. “I’m diligently with our suppliers to make it happen.” so happy about it.” “It feels great to know that I was a part of something that “Today’s consumer is ever more mindful of what they was national,” Kelly said when asked about the success of are eating, and we’ve been making changes to address what the campaign. they are looking for,” Dennis Clabby said, executive vice
Andrew Vadnais to present on three Center for Innovation ideas Sustainable Earth, Sustainable Design and Sustainable Community to be topic of discussion on Wednesday By Harmony Birch Managing Editor
Christopher Kilfoyle attended MCLA in the 1970’s, the decade that brought Earth day, PBS, Roe Vs. Wade, a lower voting age, and wider public understanding of climate change as talk of the world’s first “energy crisis” took place. It was in the seventies that Kilfoyle met Professor Lawrence Vadnais and his wife Elizabeth (Betty). Professor Vandais was an Environmental Science professor at MCLA. It was their influence on Kilfoyle that encouraged him to work at Berkshire Photovoltaic Services (BPVS), a solar energy company. Kilfoyle, along with several other alumni, started a lecture series dedicated to the Vandais’s and the field of Environmental science. In 1975, Vandais helped open the Center for Resourceful Living, according to Kilfoyle. Students participated in activities like bee keeping, gardening, jam making, and milking cows “At that time, there were a lot of farmers in the Berkshires,” Kilfoy said. “Farmers were brought in as auxiliary professors to teach us hippies, if you will, how to farm.”
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Andrew Vadnais to speak on sustainability The College will host its tenth speaker for the Vadnais lecture, Andrew Vadnais, Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Murdock room 218. Andrew is the Vadnais’s son. He works at South Kent School, an all-boys boarding school where he has incorporated environmental living and sustainability into the curriculum. In the past, the lecture series has hosted notable figures like Noble Prize winner Dean Cycon, founder of Dean’s Beans, and Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Kolbert, a writer and journalist who teaches at Williams College. Andrew described the upcoming lecture as being “nerve wracking.” “It’s a great honor to do this,” Andrew said. “Their [his parent’s] influence is everywhere, especially with the science curriculum.” Andrew’s Center for Innovation curriculum is built upon three idea portals: Sustainable Earth, Sustainable Design, and Sustainable Community. Sustainable Earth teaches that every human is related and sacredly connected to the earth through specialized programming. Sustainable design is about
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creating new and innovative, resource argue that the old model isn’t working to saving, designs. Sustainable community better create a more sustainable world. provides more context for the first two “We don’t want our kids to think the spheres, and draws students back to how same old way that created these problems,” sustainability impacts the world. Students spend the first half of their days taking average high school classes. After lunch, there is a transition to the Center of Innovation, and they spend time brainstorming and learning about the environment. At the Center of Innovation students participate in problem solving, such as how to heat up the school’s green house without fossil fuels, or how to clean their atrophic lake without further mucking things up. “Our kids are going to have to go out and change things,” Andrew said. The initiative is aimed to help teach new generations how to combat climate change and live effectively. “High school is supposed to train students for the world they’re going into, but you can’t do Photo from MCLA website that when the world is vanishing,” Andrew Vadnais will present Wednesday as the Andrew said. tenth speaker for the lecture series. Andrew and his colleagues
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“The Walking Dead” rips out the audience’s heart
Clubs and organizations gear up for Halloween
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Campus News
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Ad hoc committee supports open source textbooks
Week of 10/18 - 10/24 Public Safety responded to 111 total calls
Sunday, Oct. 18
◆ 1:25 a.m. – Public Safety responded to a call regarding a disturbance on Montana Street. No further action was required.
◆ 3:04 a.m. – Public Safety responded to a call regarding a potential alcohol offense in Berkshire Towers. A detailed report was filed but no further action was required.
Monday, Oct. 19
◆ 11:20 p.m. – Public Safety conducted a registration check on Blackinton Street. A detailed report was filed but no further action was required.
Tuesday, Oct. 20
◆ 8:14 p.m. – Public Safety responded to a suspicious activity call near the Freel library. The officers were provided with information pertaining to the activity but no suspect was found. A further report was not needed.
Wednesday, Oct. 21
◆ 11:00 a.m. – Public Safety
responded to a call regarding a medical transport from the Wellness Center. The call was completed successfully.
◆ 6:39 p.m. – Public Safety responded to a call regarding the need for medical assistance in Hoosac Hall. The call was completed successfully.
By Harmony Birch Managing Editor
Open source textbooks was a hot-button issue at the Student Government Association (SGA) meeting last Monday. The SGA has been mulling over the issue since last spring when they started an ad hoc committee to conduct research on it. Open source text books are open educational resources (OER). OER’s have open copyright licenses that can be shared, contributed, edited freely according to Senator Tim Williams and former Senator Colby Harvish, who were asked to give a presentation about open source textbooks to the student senate (full disclosure: Harmony is president of Students for a Democratic Society, which has been advocating for open source textbooks). The report was done by Williams and Harvish. They emphasized that it was SGA sponsored and had no affiliation with MassPIRG (who is doing their own open source textbook campaign on campus). However, the presentation did pull numbers from Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) data, which the national organization MassPIRG is affiliated with. The presenters also emphasized that SGA should not feel responsible for the implementation of this campaign, should they choose to support it. The ad hoc group from last semester has been looking for an SGA referendum or resolution. President Alexandra Kadell stated that she has only seen one resolution passed since her time in SGA. The goal of the presentation was to get SGA to formally support open source textbooks so that the school will start to incentivize them. “No one can mandate professors on what they use in the classroom,” Harvish said. “No one’s
trying to mandate professors, but we can educate, train, and incentivize them.” The best way to get an open source textbook is through the internet, according to Williams. The books are published usually online for free or for a low cost print version. Books can also generally be downloaded through a PDF or Word document that can be edited by students or professors. Open Source textbooks are written by professors and then undergo a peer review process. It uses a similar, but not exact, model to Wikipedia in that anyone can edit the text books, but only peer reviewed content is published. The presentation found that open source textbooks break the “one size fits all” mode of traditional textbooks because they can be edited however professors see fit. They can also include multimedia within the textbook. “I’m a political science major,” said Williams. “I love seeing who the president was during the time that a text book was published.” He segued into another selling point, that open source textbooks are often updated more frequently than traditional textbooks. One of the concern’s the presentation found in regards to open source textbooks was that publishers would end up losing money due to free books, and that there would be less competition in the textbook market that incentivise publishers to create higher quality texts. Another was that campus bookstores would lose out on money but, according to Williams, most of college bookstore profits are gained from college merchandise rather than texts. When Harvish spoke to Marilyn Billings, the scholarly communication and special initiatives librarian at UMASS Amherst who is a part of their open Education initiative, a faculty incentive program that encourages low cost or free texts for students. She stated that most college bookstore contracts are not broken and that some bookstore companies have even supported and provided open source printed copies. Open source textbooks were not started until 2010 and are still in their infancy. Foreign language tend to have more copyright issues than English-language textbooks, thus some foreign-lan-
guage professors tend to be wary about using them. Professors would have to know copyright law fully if they were going to write a textbooks in foreign language, Billings stated in her conversation with Harvish. Some professors were concerned that students may choose an open source version of their assigned textbooks, despite that assigned textbook being the best text for the class. Lastly one major concern was how MCLA, as a small public college, would be able to fund incentives for professors to create open source materials. The report stated that textbook prices have gone up 812% since 1978, past the rate of inflation which has gone up 250%. MCLA recommends budgeting $1,200 for text and supplies each school year. The report found that to be 79.8% wages Massachusetts students earn in the summer. Data taken from PIRG stated that 65% of students report not buying textbooks and that 95% of students reported that they were afraid to not buy a textbook. Umass Amherst reported a total savings of $70,000 a semester and claimed that faculty and student responses have been positive. In order to be an open source textbook the text must be fully accessible to all students. At an Academic Affairs committee meeting where the same presentation was shown, Gerol Petrozula claimed that open source tends to be easier for students because they have easier access to them. People with learning difficulties may find open source easier for computer programs to convert to their needs because many (though not all) open source textbooks have html option, according to Williams. Petrezola also stated, however, that open source texts are made from different databases and programs and therefore have different tools accompanying them. The presenters stated that a common critique of open source is that they tend to be more viable for lower level classes and more geared toward STEM disciplines because their texts tend to be more expensive. A few of the colleges already supporting open source are Perdue University, Westfield state, and University of Connecticut.
Last March the ad hoc committee conducted a survey that asked over 30 students whether or not they would support open source textbooks. The responses were generally positive. After the presentation, the senate debated whether or not they should be acting now. Many senators were concerned that they could not accurately represent the student voice because they felt that many students may not actually understand what pen source textbooks are and the full range of concerns associated with them. Eventually it was agreed that Gerol Petrezula would be called in for the next senate meeting and that senators would try to go out and educate the student population before asking their opinion. New Senate Chair chosen A new Senate Chair was chosen on Monday. Three senators ran. Senior Allison Gilbert was chosen. Mary Ellen Olenyk from Human Resources was called in to discuss student employment and the smoking policy. Minimum wage will be going up in January. Student jobs are currently priced at $9, $9.50, and $10 based off of their job descriptions and what human resources determines sound most difficult. “I don’t know yet, in terms of financial constraints, what that means [for student employees] but we are firmly reviewing it,” Olenyk said. She reported that the smoking policy that was updated in Spring 2014 had been generally successful in that less people smoked in non-smoking designated areas. The task force however has been stalled since Mary Grant left and will reconvene again soon. Lastly, Olenyk urged the senate to take up a new campaign regarding Title Nine, an initiative that states that everyone should be held responsible for preventing sexual assault. “This is a great initiative, just like other initiatives that are sure to be going through SGA,” President Kadell said after the senate started to brainstorm ways to campaign in favor of Title Nine. “I think you guys should go back to the student body, research it, and see if they support it, and then that we can vote on it.”
Halloweekend Weather
Thursday, Oct. 22
◆ 5:48 p.m. – Public Safety responded to a call regarding an individual experiencing a vehicle lockout. The officer provided services to help the subject.
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Thursday, October 29
Friday, October 30
Saturday, October 31
Sunday, November 1
Scattered Showers High: 63° Low: 40° Precip. Chance: 100%
Partly Cloudy High: 49° Low: 30° Precip. Chance: 10%
Partly Cloudy High: 52° Low: 36° Precip. Chance: 10%
Scattered Showers High: 56° Low: 44° Precip. Chance: 60%
Friday, Oct. 23
◆ 11:43 a.m. – Public Safety responded to a call regarding a medical emergency in the Wellness Center. The individual was successfully transported to the hospital.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
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3
“The Walking Dead’s” favorite bodies pile up as the Grim Reaper gets grimmer Tribune News Service
By Mary McNamara Caution, major spoilers ahead if you haven’t seen Sunday’s episode of “The Walking Dead.” Glenn is dead, and once again viewers gasp and wonder: “How much more of this can we take?” Indeed, “The Walking Dead” has become the story of two bands of post-apocalypse survivors: its fictional characters and its audience. On Sunday night, swaying on top of a dumpster surrounded by Walkers, Nicholas (Michael Traynor) looked out at the grasping hands, the ravenous mouths and gave up. Turning to Glenn (Steven Yeun), who had been working so hard to help Nicholas find redemption, he apologized and then shot himself in the head. But it was an act of murder as well as suicide: His falling body took Glenn into a sea of rotting predators where he died, screaming. Glenn, who has been with us since the beginning. Glenn, the scrappy supply runner with the baseball cap, who saved Rick (Andrew Lincoln) in Atlanta and has been by his side (pretty much) ever since. Glenn, so shy when they arrived at Hershel’s farm but courageous enough to fall in love. Glenn, whom we have watched mature from a twitchy man-boy into a loving husband and friend, whose love affair with Maggie (Lauren Cohan) was often the only bright spot amid carnage and despair. So now we, the audience, face the same bleak realization that sent Nicholas over the edge: Death is everywhere, loss is inevitable. Do we have what it takes to push on anyway? To invest in plans and communities that will falter and fail, to embrace characters who will be killed, sometimes for no good reason except to remind us that the universe is a brutal place? Can we, the audience, survive AMC’s zombie apocalypse?
Certainly we, like Rick and his band, have undergone enormous transformation. Just a few years ago, the increasing death rate of regular characters on television in general and “The Walking Dead” in particular sent up howls of protests and sermons of soulsearching. What was wrong with television writers these days that they were so willing to kill their children? How was the audience supposed to feel safe when anyone _ Matthew on “Downton Abbey,” Will on “The Good Wife,” never mind half the cast of “Game of Thrones,” could go at any time? But the deaths continued, and now we are a nation changed. Photo from comingsoon.net Television has embraced the epic, and epics of any sort invariably In season six, episode three of AMC’s The Walking Dead, walkers take Nicholas and Glenn’s life leaving the audience in ruins. have a high body count. Our current infatuation with aspect of the story became clear. apocalyptic visions only increases the bloody toll; not even Yet like the ranks of both the living and the dead on heroes, not even children are safe. the show, the audience remains large and determined; On “The Walking Dead,” however, death is part of the newcomers replace those who leave. immersive experience. The writers make regular sacrifices So we will mourn Glenn, we will ache for Maggie, we of beloved characters, in part to keep its monsters scary fear for any character who isn’t Rick or Daryl (Norman but also to stay true to its conceit: Just as our ancestors Reedus). were, and people around the world are, continually struck Is Michonne (Danai Gurira) safe? Is Carol (Melissa down by natural predators, invading armies, oppressive McBride)? governments and disease, so are those living in the world Probably not, and neither are we. It would be nice to feel of “The Walking Dead.” that progress is being made, but on “The Walking Dead,” So which viewers will survive this latest round? survival is progress and the minute anyone feels truly safe, My daughter bailed after Tyreese was killed; others the show is over. jumped out way earlier than that when the whack-a-mole
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Meet the presidential candidates! November 4 and 5 November 9 and 10 November 12 and 13 November 16 and 17 November 18 and 19 Times and location to follow. For more information contact Mary Ellen Olenyk.
Campus News 4 Beth Piantoni teaches fitness for all ages Thursday, October 29, 2015
By Nick Tardive Features Writer
Beth Piantoni’s personal fitness class considers community to be as much of a focal point as general physical training. Piantoni describes a very positive and supportive energy in her class, without unnecessarily pushing anyone to reach the same level beyond their ability. Beth says workouts are built around personalization, instead of trying to meet certain standards set by her or others. Her class, located in the MCLA Dance Complex, attracts a wide age range, from those in their 20s to 65 year-olds, according to Piantoni. The personal trainer believes that her class is accessible to just about anybody with a desire to improve their health or physical fitness. “It’s all over,” Piantoni said, discussing the ages for those attendees, “which is great because it helps people feel that anyone is welcome and that we’re all just sharing the goal of getting fit.” Piantoni now works for the Neighborhood for Health at Berkshire Medical Center North, which she calls a “multi-disciplined” team that focuses on decreasing readmissions in the hospital. Although she has thought about becoming a physical therapist, that would involve going back to school, which is not in her plans right now. Currently, her schedule is quite busy, and although she only teaches classes in the Dance Complex on Mondays and Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.,
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the importance of that class is not lost on Piantoni. Despite the fact that her personal fitness class meets on campus, however, Beth doesn’t find many MCLA students attending the class. After five years of personal fitness training in the Campus Center, Beth Piantoni is still trying to devise a plan to turn that around. “My goal would be for students to take the class and get credits for it,” Piantoni said, standing just outside of the Dance Complex as a group of students pile out at the end of her class. The smell of chlorine from the pool a floor below fills the air, overpowering the senses. The class costs $150 for one eight-week session, but Piantoni explains that she is completely willing to halve that cost for any student willing to attend and offer a payment plan so students don’t have to pay $75 up front. Even then, most students don’t seem to know that the class exists, like Cat Oxx, ’18, who was skeptical of paying up front for a class at the College. “There are just so many options on campus,” Kat explained, sounding almost nervous. “There’s Aikido, intramurals, Phys. Ed classes…” Although Kat does admit the special offer for students would “increase [student] interest,” the price tag is not worth it when the school offers free methods for exercising, a line of thought mirrored by both Henry Ayles, ’18, and Deven Philbrick, ’16. When initially approached, Ayles was disinterested in the class’s initial price of
$150, although he softened a bit when told about Beth’s proposed student discount. “[For} me personally, it would [probably] scare me off, unless I get help from my parents,” Ayles explained, “A lot of students are tight on money. But I do think a reduced price will increase student interest.” The word Philbrick uses to describe Beth’s price cut was “manageable.” Students interested in Beth’s class will be able to pay off $75 much more easily, especially with a payment plan available. “I don’t have any money,” Photo by Liz Quirk/The Beacon Philbrick stated flat out. Piantoni wants students to have a shared goal of Philbrick explains that his getting fit through taking her class. job on campus pays only so often, and when it does, his training,” Piantoni said. “I loved the feeling paycheck is very small because the school of being strong and I wanted other people gives him so few hours in a week. to feel that way too.” Due to that, as well as the many other The perpetuation by the media of what expenses that “being a College student a healthy body looks like is part of what entails,” he doesn’t see many students drives Piantoni to offer her class to anyone signing up. who wants to take it. “I’ve sent flyers to the faculty to put up,” While she isn’t trying to make people Piantoni explains with a shrug. “I think it meet those standards, she believes people might be two things: a lack of advertising might feel better about themselves if they and money. Students don’t have a lot of do take the class. disposable income.” “I think that body image and selfPiantoni got her start at Everyday esteem can be tough for young adults,” she Health, where she worked for 10 years said. “It’s an issue.” while getting a personal trainer certification Piantoni’s current class session ends through the company. today, with the next one beginning on “I started really getting into strength Monday, Nov. 2.
Mohawk Bar shows off stylish renovations By Gionna Nourse Features Editor
The Mohawk Tavern is a staple in North Adams and has been for decades. It has undergone a full makeover since its closing in 2013 and, as of September, is open and ready for the next generation. The Mohawk is just one component of the redevelopment of the whole entire block. David Moresi, Owner of Moresi and Associates Real Estate, purchased the building in 2013. The Mohawk Tavern was started in 1935 by Moresi’s grandfather. Originally it opened on West Main Street and then moved to the site of St. Anthony’s church.
Photo by Liz Quirk/The Beacon
The Mohawk Bar ‘s entrance sets the scene for the 1930s decor, part of the renovation.
“When urban renewal came through, they tore down a lot of places, one of them being where the tavern was,” Moresi said. “Following this, my father and grandfather purchased the building. The Mohawk is presently in on Marshall Street.” Moresi’s family operation of the Mohawk continued at that location until it was sold to a family friend in 1970. The Mohawk continued to be in operation for 33 years, until the owner could no longer handle the responsibility. “It was getting to be too much for the owner to handle, so it went into foreclosure,” Moresi said. Moresi’s company went to the auction and won the bid for the building. Much excitement within the Moresi family company followed. “The Mohawk has a phenomenal location across from Mass MoCA, and is a beautifullooking building,” he said. When Moresi and Associates bought the building, they had full intent to keep to Mohawk Tavern running. However, Moresi himself didn’t want to be in the tavern business, and although he owns the building and the name, he leases the tavern itself out to Alexander “Sandy” Smith, who also owns Gramercy Bistro, and Scott Harris. Moresi and Associates is just finishing up their renovation of the building, which totaled over $1 million. “Everything is new: the electricity, the plumbing, the heating, and the restrooms,” Moresi said. The Mohawk tavern only had one restroom, so they built brand new male and female restrooms featuring a 1930s art deco theme. “The building itself is going for the art deco look,” Moresi said. A lot of the fixtures and elements have been restored, including original light fixtures and woodwork. “We don’t want this 2015 feel and motif to it. [Instead] we are really trying to capture an old feel to it.” The next venture to be launched in the building is a new Italian restaurant called Grazie, scheduled to open in late November. Moresi himself will partially own the restaurant, joined by another North Adams native, Matt Tatro, who will act as the chef, owner, and operator. “We are still renovating that space right now, but it is going to be well worth the wait,” Moresi said. The Mohawk Tavern and Grazie will be interconnected inside, with Grazie’s kitchen offering a special “bar menu” for Mohwak patrons. “The really cool thing is, if you are out to dinner at
Grazie and you want to go shoot a couple games of pool or have a few drinks, you can just walk right through to the Mohawk,” Moresi said. An interesting new feature Moresi’s team has added is a suction tube to put orders through from behind the bar at Mohawk to Grazie’s kitchen. “You can order food at the bar, and they will bring it around to you from the other side,” Moresi said. “Being born and raised here, we are trying to re-create the phenomenal Italian restaurants that used to be around,” Moresi said. He aims to draw in locals and college students because the tourists will “come by default,” as he puts it. “We are really looking to create a great, comfortable place for locals,” Moresi said. “We are trying to create an intimate, warm space.” “It’s an evening out now, you can grab a couple friends, go out to the restaurant, then go to the Mohawk, shoot some pool and hang out,” Moresi said.
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Features
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Houghton Mansion hosts horror this Halloween
By Gionna Nourse
T
Features Editor
he Houghton Mansion, a 19th century structure on Church Street, holds a haunting and mysterious tale. There have been reports of hearing doors slam and footsteps that belong to no one. According to the book Apparitions Paranormal Ghost Hunting 101 by Marc Mason, “in many ghost sightings, witnesses report feeling a cold spot. This could be caused by the fact that light does not reflect correctly off of most ghosts, which also gives them a dark form. The theory is that ghosts absorb both light and heat energy, causing the general area around that ghost to be several degrees cooler.” A private interview was held at the Houghton Masnsion in one of the resident’s rooms, where they said many abnormal experiences have occurred. Although the room was heated, a chilling sensation was felt during the interview, which is said to be a sign of possible paranormal activity. On an early summer evening in 1914, the Houghton family set off on a leisurely trip to Vermont. “With [chauffeur] John Widders at the wheel, the car left the Houghton Mansion at 9 a.m.,” according to Houghton Mansion’s website. “[By] 9:30 it was in Pownal, VT, heading up what is now Oak Hill Rd. The road was under repair, and a team of horses was parked on the right hand side. Widders went around them on the left, at about 12 mph.” The car went down an embankment, and rolled over three times before stopping. Everyone except Mary Houghton was thrown out of the car. The men all escaped with minor injuries. Mrs. Hutton, a family friend, was killed almost instantly, when the car rolled over her. Mary Houghton was badly hurt and died of her injuries a few hours later at the North Adams Hospital. “The morning after the accident, Mr. Widders immediately went down to the basement of the barn he lived in behind the property, and shot himself in the head with a horse pistol,” David Merrick, Worshipful Master of the Greylock-Lafayette Masonic Lodge, said. “Ten days later, Mr. Houghton slipped into a coma and passed away here in the house.” “Mr. Houghton died on the 11th of the month,” according to houghtonmansionghosttours.com. Current landowners Rick and Terry Revett, along with David and Doug Merrick, believe Mary, Mr. Widders, Mr. Houghton, and a small child named Laura are spirits “present” at the property, while others cannot be confirmed. Revett and Merrick say they have experienced actual apparitions of those in the Houghton family on multiple occasions.
Laura, who was Mr. Houghton’s first daughter, passed away at the age of three at a property in Stamford, VT. “We haven’t been able to document a child passing away on the property. However, she may have followed the Houghton family here, and we mostly experience activity from her in the basement and on the first floor,” Merrick said. Patrons are encouraged to experience these apparitions for themselves by attending ghost-hunting tours, held for $5 a person every Sunday night from 7-9 p.m. Tours are held from late September to early November. In addition, the mansion will
hold a special tour tonight at 7 p.m. They will also be open on Halloween night to hand out candy to local trick-or-treaters, conduct a building tour, and leave the mansion to a group of private investigators. A group of four can rent the mansion for the night by booking in advance, for $90 per person. They are already booked well into next year, according to Revett. The tours and private bookings act as a fundraiser for the mansion, now known as the Masonic Temple. Currently, the mansion is home to the local Masons, who bought the property in 1926.
Photto by Isabel McKenzie/The Beacon
A tour group gathers in Mary’s room,a room said to have frequent ghostly encounters. Tour guides turn off the lights and activate electro-magnetic field (EMF) detectors to test for the presence of ghost. (top)Outside view of the Houghton Mansion.
Have a haunting good time at the Houghton Mansion! 172 Church St. North Adams, MA 01247
Tours:Tonight from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31 from 7-9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1 from 7-9 p.m.
“Freemasonry (often simplified to “Masonry”) enhances and strengthens the character of the individual man by providing opportunities for fellowship, charity, education, and leadership based on the three ancient Masonic tenets: Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth,” according to the Mass. Free Masonry’s website. Members of the masonry hold weekly meetings, occasional spaghetti dinners, and pancake breakfasts in the lodge building. They decided to do away with the formal garden the mansion acquired and use that space to construct their lodge. Former Masons are said to haunt the property as well. “We believe there are Masons coming back to have meetings because we get a lot of activity in the lodge room,” Merrick said. “One snowy night, I heard a door slam, followed by loud footsteps walking down the hall,” veteran mason Bob Waltermier said. “I searched, but there was no one there, or any footprints in the snow.” At first, the Masons didn’t think much of what they were experiencing, but the apparitions became more apparent to others throughout the years. “I have seen shadows out of the corner of my eye and heard voices,” Merrick said. “I’ve seen shadows and been touched a couple of times on the back of my head,” Revett said. “I’ve heard footsteps and doors closing, and seen doors open and close on their own. I’ve actually heard singing in Mary’s room, once.” “I was very scared at the beginning of the tour, when we started off in the basement,” participant Caitlyn Cross said. “After a little exploring, I started to feel more comfortable and had a bunch of fun. Overall, it was one of my favorite experiences!” The popular SyFy channel and paranormal investigation show “Ghost Hunters” visited the mansion on Aug. 1, 2014 for the 100th anniversary of the accident. Based on the episode, they picked up what sounded like a male voice saying “it was me,” when asked if he had made a specific noise. They also heard footsteps they could not explain and doors slamming. Despite the evidence they found, ghost hunters disproved allegations such as shadow figures on the ceiling in the lodge room, and foot prints on the floor of a freshly mopped kitchen. According to Jason Hawes and his team of investigators, the shadows were a result of car headlights reflecting off of the ceiling, and the footprints were due to the oil on the bottom of the custodian’s shoes. For more information on the Houghton Mansion, please visit w w w. h ou g hton m ans i ong h o s ttou rs . com, or www.facebook.com/ HoughtonMansionGhostTours .
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Arts & Entertainment
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Students’ spirits rise as Halloween appr By Chris Riemer A & E Writer
The fog is rolling in. The daily climate varies between unseasonably warm and numbingly cold, prompting elaborately mismatched multilayered outfits. Winter approaches in North Adams. Luckily, your fellow students and community members have some events planned that will get your mind off schoolwork for a little while, and focus you on something much less frightening: death and the afterlife. SAC will be holding a series of events leading up to Halloween that will hopefully provide a much-needed reprieve from the gloom and malaise of the steadily approaching cold weather, and from the steadily approaching termination of the class withdrawal period. In the Marketplace from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, grab a midday dessert from SAC’s Spooky Sundae table. Tomorrow night is the 13 Nights at Jiminy event, which will feature various haunted events, and on Halloween itself, there’s a costume party in Venable Gym at 8 p.m. Students have been hard at work decorating their living spaces in preparation for the holiday. Jade Tarris, ’17, from Townhouse 72, constructed her own haunted living room, complete with bats, spiders, severed body parts, and a motion-activated skeleton, whom her house has dubbed Donald Trump. Her love of Halloween developed while working at Six Flags’ annual event Fright Fest. “I started working at Fright Fest and loved the gore,” she said wistfully. “There was a lot of gore.”
Photo by Chris Riemer/The Beacon
Halloween decorations can be seen on campus and in town, with a plethora of events scheduled for the annual holiday.
‘Crimson Peak’ a visual delight, but lacks scares
“Resident Evil” hol
Survival horror is alive an
By Mitchell Chapman A & E Editor
By Torin Gannon Staff Writer
The first thing you should know about Crimson Peak is that it is far from the traditional horror film it has been advertised as. Crimson Peak is director Guillermo del Toro’s (Pacific Rim, Pan’s Labyrinth) loving tribute to the genre of Gothic Romance. The story follows young heiress Edith, played by Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland), who follows her new husband to his dilapidated home called Crimson Peak. Once there, she begins to get ghostly warnings that something sinister is afoot. The film is a visual delight, as the cinematography, costume, and set design are all a feast for the eyes. The acting is also top-notch, with Tom Hiddleston (Thor, The Avengers) and Jessica Chastain (Interstellar, Zero Dark Thirty) standing out as the sinister siblings Thomas & Lucille Sharpe. Unfortunately, the positive notes stop at that. The plot is fairly unoriginal, and exposition is frequently doled out in bunches, leaving the viewer very little to learn for themselves. Scares are also few and far between, and are never powerful enough to instill a lasting sense of fear or tension. Wasikowska and Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy) are both criminally underutilized. Wasikowska’s leading lady showed promise at the start, but by the second act her character became a bit stagnant and served little more purpose than simply moving the plot along. Thankfully, the conclusion is incredibly satisfying. It was filled with the excitement and tension that the rest of the film was unfortunately lacking. It seems the film’s greatest crime was that it was only okay when it could’ve been great. In conclusion, Crimson peak is an admirable effort, dripping with atmosphere and rounded
Despite her any on-cam ing up as a w She’s not t campus for t “I’m goin Dawn Adam costume. I’ll Naturally, th “Honestly Dead Snow, Hoel, ’17, sa Some stu ing the holi spending Sa “I’m runni try race on tough race. my body’s n “I haven excited for K to Mass Mo He did have of the holid things are ta said. “It’s slo changing of Individua to swing by tour, either t 7 p.m., but i
Photo from Universal Pictures
out by a talented cast, but unfortunately falls flat in a few areas. Fans of Guillermo del Toro’s work, and those open to something a little different will probably enjoy Crimson Peak. Those looking for more traditional Halloween frights should probably look elsewhere.
When a game is over 10 years old, it is understandable for it to show its age. “Resident Evil” only does this in the graphical department – the lack of 1080p visuals might leave some gamers aghast, but the game’s 480p resolution on the GameCube does the job for me. For a game that prides itself on realism, one might think that the graphical leap would leave “Rezzie 1” in the dust, but this is a case where the graphics never really made the game. The visual style is amazing and there are good zombies (just the right amount of creepy and threatening), with the soundtrack doing much of the work to create a proper atmospheric and interactive experience. That is the key word when describing “Resident Evil”: interactive. It utilizes what many gamers refer to as “tank controls,” which severely limit your mobility. This can get frustrating at times. It is not easy at all to change directions, which is key when running away from or killing zombies. Like any true survival horror, your resources are limited, so first-time players will most likely waste ammo and die numerous times while they pick up the control scheme. It doesn’t get any easier once you’ve got the controls down. You are not meant to fight every enemy, and evasion isn’t the easiest thing (step too close to a zombie and you will activate an attack animation), though a skilled player equipped with a walkthrough can get to the game’s ending with only mild annoyance. Speaking of which, unless you’ve already played “Rezzie 1,” I don’t recommend playing this game without help. This is what we in the industry call a “Nintendo Power” game, in the sense that it is almost impossible to beat without a strategy guide. A few basic things are covered in the game’s leaflet, such as the inkwell saving system, but simply not enough is explained for players to have a fighting chance at beating the game on their own. Generally, a lot of the most valuable information to be found online is info that would be covered in the game’s tutorial or stashed away under some menu entry, and can be alternately be found within the game through trial and error. As much as I originally groaned at the
One of the fir
prospect of tan enemies, it all ad feeling of helples since the next do drain your maga the next onslaug the power; the g the Spencer Man It is the first g legitimately scar that has Nemes you from room graphical flaws, for me. Despite g a personality all
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Arts & Entertainment
Beacon.MCLA.edu
7
roaches
enthusiasm, Tarris won’t be able to attend mpus events. “I’m going to Mexico and dresswitch,” she said. the only one who has chosen to depart from the weekend. ng to a friend’s Halloween party back home,” ms, ’19, said. “I’m just gonna wing it with the l show up with something.” here are those that will use the time for R&R. y, I’m probably just gonna stay home, watch w, and... think about Dead Snow,” Jonathan aid. udents won’t be relaxing quite as much duriday weekend. Aunna Shamlian, ‘17, will be aturday with her cross country team. ing the MASCAC championship cross counHalloween,” she said. “I’m excited. It’s just a Perhaps I’ll go trick or treating afterwards if not in complete shreds.” n’t thought much about Halloween, I’m too Keys Open Doors,” Devin Snell, ‘17, referring oCA’s Twin Peaks event on October 30, said. e some thoughts on the larger implications day. “Halloween is morally unjustified as all ainted by our past colonialist misdeeds,” Snell owly been watered down by capitalism. The the seasons mirrors the seasons of our lives.” als interested in the supernatural might want the local Houghton Mansion for a $5 ghost today or on Halloween itself. The tours are at it’s recommended that you arrive early.
Photo by Jarred Clapp/The Beacon
The cast poses by seniority. The Revue has over 20 numbers, with a variety of freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors cast.
Harlequin’s annual Musical Revue premieres Friday, ends Halloween By Jarred Clapp A & E Writer
One of the most impressive feats of MCLA’s Harlequin Musical Theatre club is its entirely student run production team. The most prominent example of their self-sufficiency is their annual Revue performance. This year’s Revue features 21 melodic numbers from a variety of different musicals, movies and TV shows, which will be directed by several of Harlequin’s club members. “This is my first year directing and I’m extremely excited,” Virvioly Valdez, MCLA junior and FPA theatre major, said. “It hasn’t been easy but our cast has done really well with everything we’ve thrown at them.” Valdez will be co-directing “There! Right There!” from Legally Blonde the Musical with fellow FPA major and Harlequin member
lds up remarkably well
nd well in this GameCube remake
Act 1
Revue Numbers List
1. Nicest Kids in Town (Hairspray) 2. When You’re Good to Momma (Chicago) 3. All I Wanna Do is Eat (Disenchanted) 4. Take Me or Leave Me (RENT) 5. Walk Through the Fire (Buffy) 6. My Party Dress (Henry & Mudge) 7. Dream a Little Harder (Twisted) 8. Just Around the Riverbend (Pocahontas) 9. Do the Necronomicon (Evil Dead) 10. Go the Distance (Hercules) 11. Greased Lightning (Grease)
Act 2
1. There! Right There! (Legally Blonde) 2. Guys & Dolls (Guys & Dolls) 3. Candy Store (Heathers) 4. A New Life (Jekyll & Hyde) 5. Rock Island (The Music Man) 6. Modern Major General (The Pirates of Penzance) 7. Freak Flag (Shrek the Musical) 8. Don’t Rain on My Parade (Funny Girl) 9. Baptize Me (Book of Mormon) 10. Thoroughly Modern Millie (Thoroughly Modern Millie)
A David Lynch fantasy, a Twin Peaks junky’s dream.
Film with Live Music Photo from Capcom
rst visuals that greets you in the game is a fearsome zombie hungry for human flesh.
nk controls and almost un-killable dds up to what this game is about. A ssness is almost unavoidable, especially oor you open could be your last, or you azine, leaving yourself defenseless for ght. In “Resident Evil,” you do not have goal of the game is to simply get out of nsion alive. game in a while that has had me red, and this isn’t even the “Rezzie” sis in it (a giant brute who follows to room in “Rezzie 2”). Despite the what the GameCube had was enough going for realism, “Resident Evil” has its own. From its sound design, to its
Breana Gladu. This will be the thirteenth year in a row Harlequin Musical Theatre club will have invited its ensemble to direct their own numbers, often the first opportunity that the students have had to direct their own pieces. “I think the Revue is such a fun show,” Erin D’Entremont, junior year FPA theatre major, said. “There’s always wonderful music and everyone seems to have a great time.” The ensemble will be held in the Church Street Center on Oct. 30 and 31. Admission is free and there will be bags of candy for sale, profits of which will be donated to the Barrington Stage Company kids act, Harlequin’s annual philanthropy. “The Revue is a good opportunity for people to get their feet wet with directing,” junior Zach Page, Arts Management major said. “Come out and see it!”
unique art style, to its hilariously awkward dialogue, it remains a timeless classic that I recommend anybody to pick up in the spirit of Halloween.
―
Keys Open Doors
The Hidden Life of Laura Palmer featuring dark dance-pop band A Place Both Wonderful and Strange
Friday, October 30, 8pm HUNTER CENTER $12 STUDENTS | $18 ADVANCE | $25 DAY OF | $35 PREFERRED
TICKETS: massmoca.org or 413.662.2111 87 Marshall Street, North Adams, Mass.
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Sports
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Beacon.MCLA.edu
M. Soccer rolling towards playoffs By Tyler Bacon Sports Writer
The MCLA Men’s Soccer team won their second game in a row on Tuesday evening as they defeated Albertus Magnus 2-0. With the win, the Trailblazers improve to 5-8-2 on the season. The Trailblazers got on the scoreboard in the 36th minute when Christopher Valente took a Christopher Shea pass and knocked it by the Albertus Magnus keeper to make it 1-0. The Trailblazers took the lead into the half. In the second half, MCLA added another goal to the scoreboard in the 74th minute when Tyler Vona took an Edward Boateng pass and found the back of the net to stop any thoughts of a comeback by Albertus Magnus. The defense and goalkeeper Kamron Anderson were strong, once again, by MCLA holding Albertus Magnus off the scoreboard. The Trailblazers celebrated Senior Day on Saturday as they hosted Fitchburg State in a crucial conference game. MCLA clinched a spot in the MASCAC playoffs after the win, and improved their conference record to 3-3 on the season.
Prior to kickoff, the Blazers honored the four seniors playing in their last home game. Those who were honored include: Edgar Asamoah, Ryan Baker, Sean Kenney, and Tyler Vona. “Senior Day meant a lot to me. Soccer has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Baker said. “I was proud that our team was able to pull off a big win on our potential last game at Shewcraft Field.” Fitchburg State attempted to spoil Senior Day when they scored first in the 27th minute of the game. MCLA got on the board early in the second half when Baker scored on a header. MCLA took a free kick and the ball bounced off of the Fitchburg State keeper’s hands. Baker found the loose ball and headed it into the back of the net to tie the game at one. As the game was looking like it was headed to overtime, with six minutes left, Dylan Pereira received a through ball by Anthony Basile and beat the Fitchburg State keeper to the ball to knock home the eventual game winner. Pereira celebrated his goal by taking a selfie with some of his teammates on the sideline. The defense was led by the
Photo by Kasey Conklin/The Beacon
Junior striker Dylan Pereira holds off two Fitchburg defenders while taking on another during the game Saturday. strong and consistent play by Jes- road Saturday against Framing- Framingham State, Mass. Marise Moore. Anderson was strong ham State. The game begins at time and Worcester State are all in net stopping eight shots. noon and will have a huge effect tied in the MASCAC with records MCLA’s next game is on the on playoff seeding, as MCLA, of 3-3 in conference play.
Volleyball set for huge MASCAC finale against Bridgewater By Jesse Collings Sports Editor
The MCLA volleyball team has its eyes set on the top seed in the MASCAC tournament, but to do so the Trailblazers will have to get past the Bears of Bridgewater State. “Our Bridgewater match is Senior Day and will determine our final standing of the season,” head coach Amanda Beckwith said. “When we win, then we will win the conference regular season. This is what the team has been working towards all year.” MCLA will enter the game with a record of 20-9 on the season, with a record of 4-1 in the MASCAC. Bridgewater State is 12-18 overall and has a record of 2-3 in the MASCAC. With the win MCLA can guarantee home court advantage throughout the MASCAC playoffs. If MCLA were to drop the match, Framingham State could leapfrog the Trailblazers for the top seed in the conference. MCLA was beaten twice last season by Bridgewater State, dropping a match in the regular season to the Bears 3-0, and falling to Bridgewater in the first round of the MASCAC playoffs by the same score. Beckwith is not looking to the past however, pointing out that this is a different MCLA team with a different outlook.
21
MCLA’s previous record for most wins in a season was 15, but MCLA has 21 wins already this season.
“Honestly, the past is the past and this is a great team that is capable of anything. All we need to do is go out and execute our game plan and keep our energy up,” Beckwith said. The Trailblazers had an opportunity to clinch the top playoff spot last Thursday when they traveled to Worcester State, but were dropped by the Lancers who dealt MCLA their first MASCAC loss of 2015. The match was tightly contested the whole way, with MCLA taking the first set 25-19, only to see Worcester take the second set 25-20. MCLA would take the third set 25-23, but the Lancers avoided elimination in the fourth set 25-18. In the tiebreaking set, Worcester edged out the Trailblazers to take the set and the match, 15-11. Junior Allison Clark had a huge day for the Trailblazers, leading the team with 24 kills and 18 digs. Junior Rachel Mills added 11 kills and senior Courtney Parent had 23 assists. Worcester State got a huge performance from Jennifer Cabral who led all players with 28 kills, tying a school record and added 12 digs. Jamika Townsend had an incredible match setting the ball, finishing with 47 assists for the Lancers. “The loss to Worcester reminded us that energy is everything and volleyball is a momentum sport. We need to use our good energy and the energy
384
from senior day to help us rally for a win on Saturday,” Beckwith said. The Trailblazers split a pair of nonconference games over the weekend. MCLA dropped their opening match against Plymouth State, 3-0, but rallied back to win the second part of the trimatch, defeating the hosting Corsairs of UMASS-Dartmouth. The Trailblazers picked up an easy non-conference victory on Tuesday at home against SUNYCobleskill. The Trailblazers rolled over the overmatched Fighting Tigers for their 21st victory of the season. MCLA swept Cobleskill 3-0 and was led by Clark’s 12 kills and by Brittney Pihl’s 15 digs. The loss was Cobleskill’s (5-21) tenth straight loss, and their season Photo from MCLA Athletics is officially over Allison Clark leads the team with 384 kills on the season, a school record. after afalling to the Campus Center, and Beckwith is game. We have worked long Trailblazers. confident the team can succeed in and hard all season and I am MCLA will take on Bridgewater the postseason. excited for the next few weeks of State at 1 p.m. in the Amsler “I just want to see our ‘A’ postseason.”
Volleyball By The Numbers
Kills on the season for Allison Clark, the previous record for most kills was 258.
400
Digs on the season for sophomore Chanielle Enomoto.
14
Out of MCLA’s 21 wins, 14 of them have been shut-outs by the score of 3-0.
796
Combined assists between senior Courtney Parent and freshman Beatrice Lechler.
Sports
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Fair Territory
10. Washington WizardsJohn Wall has made strides each year in the league and Otto Porter Jr. is coming into the potential that made him the number three overall pick 2013 draft. 11. Miami HeatThe Heat have an all-star starting lineup, but can they remain healthy enough to utilize them all at once?
NBA Power 25 By Jesse Collings Sports Editor
With the NBA season tipping off Tuesday, here is a preliminary ranking of the top 25 teams in the league. 1. Golden State WarriorsThe defending world champs have retained all their core members from a year ago and looked poised to once again run through the West. 2. San Antonio SpursThe steadiest organization in the league landed the biggest fish in the free agent pool in LaMarcus Aldridge, and have set the organization up for the next several years as their original core heads towards retirement. 3. Clevleand CavaliersNo one questions this team’s talent level, but can they stay healthy? 4. Houston RocketsIf Ty Lawson can keep his head screwed on straight, Houston will have the talented playmaker they have always lacked next to James Harden. 5. Los Angeles ClippersThe Clippers have the talent to win a championship, but a crazy off-season and rumors of tension between the front-office and the coaching staff could sink their promising season. 6. Oklahoma City ThunderOklahoma City has two of the five best players in the league, but the question still lingers around the supporting cast being good enough to win a title. 7. Memphis GrizzliesMemphis has the most experienced starting five, but questions still remain surrounding the lack of outside shooting. 8. Atlanta HawksThe Hawks won 60 games last season and made the conference finals. They lost DeMarre Carroll in free agency, but the coaching staff is skilled enough to get the most out of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Thabo Sefalosha. 9. Chicago BullsExpectations are once again high for a team breaking in a new coach and relying on the league’s most fragile superstar to remain healthy. The return of Doug McDermott should help.
12. New Orleans PelicansAnthony Davis is an MVP candidate, but he needs bigger contributions from his teammates, especially Jrue Holiday. 13. Toronto RaptorsToronto lost do-it-all forward Amir Johnson, but point guard Kyle Lowry is in the best shape of his career. 14. Boston CelticsBrad Stevens arguably gets the most out of his talent of any coach in the NBA and Boston competes for 48 minutes. 15. Utah JazzUtah found something after trading Enes Kanter and their young core should take another step forward in 2015-2016. 16. Indiana PacersIndiana saw a significant roster shift, losing Roy Hibbert and David West, but All-NBA forward Paul George seems to have his bounce back. 17. Milwaukee BucksThings are looking up with the return of Jabari Parker and arrival of Greg Monroe. 18. Detroit PistonsWith Monroe out of town, expect a big season from center Andre Drummond. 19. Phoenix SunsPhoenix traded away malcontent Marcus Morris and will look to rebound from a lost season after winning 48 games in 2013. 20. Dallas MavericksLosing out on DeAndre Jordan crushes any championship dreams Dallas may have had. 21. Portland TrailblazersPortland will have to rebuild, but thankfully start with Damian Lillard as a building block. 22. Charlotte HornetsSteve Clifford will need to make the playoffs to keep his job. 23. Orlando MagicMagic added another young building block in Mario Hezonja, but will end the season still on the outside looking in of the playoffs. 24. Denver NuggetsDenver may have gotten the steal of the draft in Emmanuel Mudiay. 25. Sacramento KingsA farcical offseason as the Kings looking like a ticking time bomb of aggression.
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Women’s soccer earns critical tie at Fitchburg By Jesse Collings Sports Editor
MCLA earned a hard-fought draw with MASCAC foe Fitchburg State on Saturday. For the second consecutive game, junior Jackie Dwyer scored a crucial goal in the second half, this time tying the game at one goal apiece. Both teams would prevent the other from finding the back of the net after Dwyer’s goal, and the game ended as a 1-1 tie. Fitchburg got on the board in the first half, as junior defender Samantha Zina controlled a loose ball in front of the MCLA net and buried her first goal of the season in the 22nd minute of play. MCLA would threaten late in the first half, when junior Marisa Sprague hit a shot wide of the net. One minute later senior Darien Sullivan would go for goal, only to see her shot saved by Falcon keeper Morgan Steele. Fitchburg State had the first real opportunity of the second half, as Whitney Mansfield took aim at the Trailblazer goal in the 53rd minute, but junior keeper Katy Daly made the save for MCLA. The Trailblazers would earn their one goal of the day off of a counter attack in the 70th minute. After a header from Andrea Comeau was saved by Daly, MCLA sparked an attack that saw Fitchburg commit a foul. Off of the free kick, sophomore Allyson Ferrell found Dwyer, who headed the ball past Steele to tie the game. “Our team has been changing over the past few games to allow our team to have more goal scoring opportunities. With our team having more opportunities, we have been able to have more shots on goals and have been able to find the back of the net,” Dwyer said.
Fitchburg State would come right back and nearly regain the lead, as Abbey Norden rang a shot off of the Trailblazer goal post in the 73rd minute. The Trailblazers would put pressure on the Falcons in the 84th minute as senior Alexi Anderson put on a shot on goal that was knocked away by Steele, and the rebound was hit over the bar by Alison Davey. In overtime each team would remain scoreless off in a period that saw both teams playing physical defense. Sophomore Courtney Hayer would put the only shot on goal for either team, as the Trailblazer defender launched a shot in the 95th minute that was saved by Steele. The Trailblazers were narrowly edged on Tuesday in non-conference play at Rivier University, falling to the Raiders 1-0. MCLA currently stands in sixth place in the MASCAC, and a win on Saturday against conference rival Framingham State can clinch a playoff spot. The Trailblazers can qualify for the playoffs with a tie or a loss as well depending on how Fitchburg State does on Friday when they play Salem State. If Fitchburg State loses on Friday, MCLA can clinch the sixth and final playoff spot outright with a tie, but can also advance on a loss, depending on various conference tiebreakers. “It is a tough spot to be in, but with the way we have been playing, I have all the confidence in this team that we will pull through with a win,” senior back Paige Fairman said about the game Saturday. “All of us want to be in the tournament, so that alone is definitely a driving force behind Saturday’s game. For the seniors, there’s the added fire to win as it is our last season playing the game we love, with the people we have come to know as family.”
Intramurals
Team Baconater Wins Dodgeball! Team Baconater defeated Average Joe’s in the Dodgeball final to win their second consecutive championship. Congratulations to Tyler Bacon, Nico Colon, Myles Candelet, Austin Jones, Aaron Goldsmith, Rob Wabshinak, Mes Kerris, Jared Freeman and Liam Nolan of Team Baconater!
Baggo Champions Crowned! Myles Candelet and Austin LaFrance of Team Myles defeated the team of Jesse Moore and Kasey Conklin of Team Jasey in the finals of Baggo, 2 games to 1, to win the championship. Congratualations to Myles and Austin!
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Scores Men’s Soccer Saturday, Oct. 24 MCLA vs Fitchburg State 2-1, W Tuesday, Oct. 27 MCLA @ Albertus Magnus 2-0, W Women’s Soccer Saturday, Oct. 24 MCLA @ Fitchburg State 1-1, T-2 OT Tuesday, Oct. 27 MCLA @ Rivier 1-0, L Volleyball Thursday, Oct. 22 MCLA @ Worcester State 3-2, L Saturday, Oct. 24 MCLA vs Plymouth State @ UMASS-Dartmouth 3-0, L MCLA @ UMASS-Dartmouth 3-0, W Tuesday, Oct. 27 MCLA vs SUNY-Cobleskill 3-0, W Golf Sunday, Oct. 25 MCLA @ NEIGA Champ. 22nd
Schedules Saturday, Oct. 31 Cross Country MCLA @ MASCAC Champ. Women Start: 11 a.m. Men Start: Noon Men’s Soccer MCLA @ Framingham State Noon Women’s Soccer MCLA vs Framingham State Noon Volleyball MCLA vs Bridgewater State 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3 Men’s Soccer MCLA vs TBA Location TBA Women’s Soccer MCLA vs TBA Location TBA Wednesday, Nov. 4 Volleyball MCLA vs TBA Location TBA
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Opinion
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Beacon.MCLA.edu
“What is your favorite Halloween candy?”
The Beacon 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.
Candy Corn -Chris Handschuh, 2016
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.
Reese’s -Dan Wohler, 2017
Skittles -Emily Deaso, 2018
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. 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 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.
Photos compiled by Jay Tocco
Health & Fitness Bigger than biceps Distraction at its best
By Makayla-Courtney McGeeney Co-Editor in Chief
As an English major, I can be found purchasing roughly 15 to 20 books a semester, all under $5. I don’t have labs or debates, I have discussions about novels. While I’m so thrilled to learn about Diaspora or Kafka (but really), I’d much rather write a paper or a more interactive assignment. I’d also much rather work out without the weight of novels in my schedule. So, last week I finished reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao while sweating on the elliptical. Some people run outside with music and some people run inside with a television for their scenery. If you don’t exercise without a distraction, it’s really easy to measure down the rest of the time you have left on a cardio machine before you say screw it and end early. I’ve been there and done that plenty of times. A half hour is fifteen minutes twice and if I walk for five minutes then that’s just ten minutes of running...twice. If you don’t have a distraction, intervals can help rid this nasty habit. Sprint for thirty seconds and jog or rest for thirty. I typically do this on a day I don’t have time for my usually forty-five minutes of cardio, so I squeeze in twenty and ten of that in the intervals. Surely you can’t read a book or follow a movie if
Editorial Board you’re focusing on not falling off the treadmill. I usually read on an Amazon Kindle because it’s easier and you don’t have to hold it, but for class I have actual books, so I only read on the elliptical or the bike. Reading is a perfect way to stay distracted because time flies when you’re engulfed in a story, especially if it’s a climactic one. While having a distraction may be necessary, it should only be during cardio. While strength training, you must focus on your form and placement in the exercise instead of what’s on the television. Unless you have crappy headphones, music is more background noise during strength training. I prefer a good genre that matches what I’m doing.
If you don’t exercise without a distraction, it’s really easy to measure down the rest of the time you have left on a cardio machine before you say screw it and end early. For cardio I listen to music similar to ODESZA, or old rap like Big Boi’s Shutterbug. Then I start using my fingers as if I’m drumming while I’m running. While lifting weights, I either tune into Rise Against or maybe some funky Dave Matthews Band, depending on my intensity level. Don’t get carried away with the music choice while working out. Plan ahead and make a playlist solely for running or whatever set of exercises you’ll encounter that day. There’s been times where I waste twenty minutes
trying to find the right playlist on 8tracks and then have to cut down time in other exercises if I’m pressed. Listening to music or reading in the gym is definitely beneficial to a more efficient workout. It can also be a stress reliever. You really connect with what you’re engaging in. That’s why it’s nice to have a music player separate from your phone so that you’re not constantly looking at it and texting. Even though that’s technically a distraction, it’s a negative one while working out. Use music and reading to keep you going, but leave your phone at home so you can actually finish the workout in peace.
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Co-Editors in Chief Makayla-Courtney McGeeney Nicholas Swanson Co-Web Editors Jake Mendel Matt Aceto
Sports Editor Jesse Collings A&E Editor Mitchell Chapman
Senior News Editor Idalis Foster Features Editor Gionna Nourse Buisness Manager Sam Stuhler
Copy Chief Brittany Gallacher Photography Editor Agnella Gross Managing Editor Harmony Birch
Staff Staff Writers
Photographers and Videographers
Jarred Clapp Chris Riemer Torin Gannon Joseph Carew Matt Hotaling Tyler Bacon Nick Tardive
Isabel McKenzie Tiearra Henson Elizabeth Quirk Jay Tocco
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Caitlin O’Neill*
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Announcements, Events, & Opinion
Thursday, October 29, 2015
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Upcoming events on campus
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Thursday, Oct. 29 SAC spooky sundaes Marketplace 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. S.T.A.G.E. Chocolate Pop Sale Marketplace 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Club and Organization Catering Open House Sullivan Lounge 12:30- 4 p.m.
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SSDP, Spires, SDS, and IGC Halloween Open Mic Science Center Room 121 7-9 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30 Mask Making and Hocus Pocus by Crafting Club and Asian American Union Sullivan Lounge 6:00 p.m. Harlequin Musical Revue Performance Church Street Center Auditorium 6-11 p.m. Spook Night Sullivan Lounge 6:30-9 p.m. Animeville Horror Campus Center 324A and B 7-10 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31 Volleyball Potluck Sullivan Lounge 2-5 p.m.
Harlequin Musical Revue Performance Church Street Center Auditorium 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. Halloween Costume Party Venable Gym 8 p.m.- 12 a.m. Monster Smash pre-party The Parlor Cafe 6 p.m. Monster Smash The Elks Lodge 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 4 Vandais Lecture Murdock 218 7 p.m.
Student struggles to find parking spots To the Editor: I think there is a huge issue on campus with parking. I am a commuter student, and there is barely any parking when I go to class. If a school is going to accept commuter students into their school, they should make sure there is enough parking to handle the amount of commuter students. There is a limited amount of parking reserved strictly for commuter students and when we try to get here on time for class we usually cannot find a parking spot. There is only two lots just for commuter students and two more that we share with faculty. One of the parking lots is only enough for about ten cars, and the other one is not paved it is just gravel. One of the lots that we have to share with faculty is only accessible up a hill, which, without four-wheel drive us almost impossible to get up in the winter time.
I do not think it is fair that because we chose not to live on campus or because we could not afford to live on campus we should have to struggle to find a parking spot and risk being late for class. I think that it is more important for commuter students to have parking spots than it is for the students that stay on campus because if we park in a spot that is not designated for us we get a ticket, and if we keep driving around waiting for a spot to open up than we will be late for class. I think that the school really needs to either expand the parking lots or create some new ones because at times parking is absolutely impossible. It would be nice to know that no matter what time we get to school during the day that there will always be enough parking for all of the commuter students. Sincerely, Allyson Dickhaus
FINANCIAL AID ANNOUNCEMENTS
1st annual pumpkin walk to kick off tonight Today!
1st Annual Pumpkin Walk Western Gateway Heritage State Park contactmillcity@gmail.com 5:30 – 8:30 PM Free This October, Mill City Productions will line the walkways of the Western Gateway Heritage State Park with jack-o-lanterns for three nights for the community’s viewing pleasure. This is a free event, in collaboration with Berkshire County Head Start. Want to get involved??? We need your pumpkins!! MCP is seeking donations of carved and/ or decorated pumpkins from individuals and organizations. Individuals interested in contributing jack-o-lanterns should email contactmillcity@gmail.com for more information. Help us make this an annual, FREE event for our community!
AVOID A HOLD ON YOUR SPRING REGISTRATION!! CHECK WITH THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE AND STUDENT ACCOUNTS TO MAKE SURE YOUR PAPERWORK IS COMPLETE. ***************** CHECK OUT THE WEEKLY SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY IN THE ‘STUDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS’ IN YOUR COLLEGE EMAIL!!
The Beacon wants to publish your work! Submit poetry, photos and short stories to the Beacon email!
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Thursday, October 29, 2015
Photo Essay
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Fall Day of Service Photos by Isabel McKenzie Students and citizens of North Adams work together to clean up MCLA and the surrounding community.
Shelby Gauthier adds an additional splash of color while cleaning up.
Dahlia Gallagher, Mike Friedman, Milena Cassamassima, Cedar Robideau, and Alex Hicks-Courant represent Students for Sensible Drug Policy. Katherine Langlois scoops up leaves and brush.
Harlequin members show off their matching hoodies.