November 16, 2017 Vol. 85 Issue 9

T hu r s day , N ov e mb e r 16, 2017

Volume 85

Issue 9

PUBLIC POLICY LECTURE

Jeffrey Toobin: Inside the Supreme Court

BY COREY MITCHELLLABRIE STAFF WRITER

MCLA will be hosting Jeffrey Toobin as its newest speaker for the 7th Annual Michael S. and Kitty Dukakis Public Policy Lecture.

“There’s a lot of interest right now in electoral politics and, presently, making sense of the Trump presidency which in many ways is a unique electoral outcome,” said David Cupery, assistant professor of MCLA’s department of political science and public policy.

The name of Toobin’s talk is, “Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court” and will take place at Church Street Center on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.

“Jeffrey Toobin is one of the noted experts on the Supreme Court and a lot of the different concerns or interests in what the Trump presidency’s uniqueness have with potential legal outcomes,” said Cupery.

Toobin has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1993 as well as being a chief legal analyst for CNN,

photo by Gage Skidmore on Flickr.com

Jeffrey Toobin will be presenting the 7th Annual Michael S. and Kitty Dukakis Public Policy Lecture on Nov. 16. His speech, “Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court,” is free and will be at 7 p.m. in the Church Street Center. who he’s been with since 2002.

He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1986 while being an editor for the

Harvard Law Review. He’s also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and was an Associate Counsel in the Office of Independent Counsel

Lawrence E. Walsh.

Toobin will come to MCLA as the third installment of the series’ push to bring speakers forth who can aid

the community in making sense of America’s current political situation.

“Last fall we had Cokie Roberts, who spoke about electoral politics leading up to the election,” said Cupery.

“Then this spring we had former Governor Jane Swift, who tried to help us make sense of the possible realignment, direction and different divisions of the Republican Party.”

During Toobin’s talk, ears will be focused heavily not only on the workings of the Supreme Court, but also on the subject of new members.

“We had a bit of controversy last year where Obama’s nominee for the court was never discussed by the Republican-controlled Congress,” Cupery said. “They refused to hear it. So Trump was able to name a nominee, a privilege that would have otherwise gone to Obama.”

“So now, there’s a couple of supreme court justices who are aging, they could step down for health reasons, and Trump could have the potential to reshape the court. We wanted somebody who was

Toobin page 4

TEDx NORTH ADAMS

Senator Hinds among 11 speakers chosen

BY HANNAH SNELL STAFF WRITER

Eleven speakers out of 60 applicants were chosen to speak at the first TEDx North Adams Talk on Jan. 27 including Senator Adam Hinds, Amanda Brinkman of Small Business Revolution, NYC-based magician David Feng and gold medalist swimmer Samantha Arsenault Livingstone, according to the Nov. 6 announcement.

The theme of the talk will be “Ideas Worth Spreading,” which is the general, overall concept of TED. According to TEDx organizer and North Adams City Councilor Benjamin Lamb, one idea worth spreading is to “just breathe.”

“To me, ideas worth spreading are those nuggets, energies and opportunities that both activate the small communities we live in, and offer up inspiration and dream realization to a greater global audience,” said Lamb.

While the location for the event is still to be determined, City Councilor and TEDx co-organizer Keifer Gammell told the Berkshire Eagle that, “the group is looking for a venue downtown.”

“The goal is to not have another event series hosted at [MCLA or MASS MoCA],” Gammell told Berkshire Eagle.

Lamb reported that he also hopes to expand beyond MCLA and MASS MoCA for a venue, and that an official announcement will be made once a venue is solidified.

“I do agree we need to think beyond MCLA and MASS MoCA though,” Lamb said. “Mostly because those two incredible anchors tend to be the places where everything happens. We want to inject the same energy that a MoCA or MCLA event gets directly into the heart of the city.”

However, while he is interested in looking at other venues in the city, Lamb said that he hopes there can be collaboration with the College and MASS MoCA for the event.

“We do hope to collaborate with both of them to bring this dream to reality, and both have been incredibly supportive of the endeavor in different capacities,” said Lamb.

Lamb first thought of the idea to host a TEDx Talk in North Adams two years ago, but it was unable to come

to fruition at the time. However, back in May, Lamb and Geeg Wiles submitted an application to TED and found out two weeks later that it had been accepted.

According to one speaker, Olympic Gold Medalist, public speaker and coach Samantha Arsenault Livingstone, some ideas worth spreading are “passion, authenticity, connection and hope.”

“One of my goals is to plant the seeds for reflection,” said Livingstone. “To help others challenge narratives that aren’t grounded in reality so they can step into a life that is fully their own and live their dream.”

Livingstone, herself a public speaker, has been a fan of TED and TEDx Talks for a while. However, she reported that a turning point was when she listened to Brene Brown’s TED Talk, entitled “The Power of Vulnerability.”

“Her words cracked me wide open.

I’ve been speaking for the past 17 years - for 14 of those years I was sharing my story - my truths - but not all of them. I was buried under the armor of perfection,” Livingstone said.

Livingstone reported that while her speeches share similar underlying stories and themes, no speech is ever quite the same. In addition, she

TEDx page 2

CAMPUSNEWS

2

Nov. 16, 2017 Vol. 85 Issue 9

SGA approves $31,320 in budget requests

BY JOSEPH CAREW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Student Activities Council’s (SAC) supplemental budget request for $30,320 was approved by a majority vote in the senate after roughly an hour and a half of deliberation and debate. This request was fulfilled by moving $10,000 from the operating budget and $15,000 from the reserve account to the supplemental budget. The remaining $5,320 came directly from the supplemental budget.

The Budget Finance Committee for SGA recommended $15,000 be approved for SAC and motions were made to approve this figure, as well as $20,000 and even $25,000 at one point. Concerns were circulated about a precedent

being set through this approval of funds as well as the dangers of pulling too much money from the reserve account but the SGA settled on funding the full requested amount.

The Fashion Club’s request was also approved at this week’s meeting, totaling $1,000. Fashion Club requested $1,810 to aid in their upcoming fashion show scheduled for Dec. 7 and 8 as well as to aid other projects but was granted a little more than half to immediately aid in their show and suggested to return with a more detailed breakdown for the rest of the request.

It should be noted that both SAC and the Fashion Club received budget cuts at the end of last year.

SGA has three budgets to work with in circumstances such as these. The supplemental budget, which totaled $15,050 before this meeting, is to be used by clubs for emergency funding and special requests according to the slideshow at this meeting.

The operational budget (totaled $36,188.66 before this meeting) includes funds for co-sponsorships, Midnight Madness, class budgets and the Sam Gomez race, among other things. The third budget, the reserve account (totaling $420,742 before the meeting) can be used to help the annual budget process and is typically saved for emergencies.

The results of these approved requests leaves the supplemental budget at

$8,730, the operating budget at $26,188.66, and the reserve fund at $405,742 if all figures shown at the meeting were accurate.

SGA announced a new parliamentarian. Freshman Dean Little was sworn in by President Giffen and took a seat among the eboard of the student government. Any questions about the appointment should be directed to members of the SGA. The Dad club was officially recognized and approved by SGA. The club does not have a budget but will be co-sponsoring events with other clubs on campus throughout the semester. Discussed before its constitution was unanimously approved was the viability of the club and the

current level of attendance at their meetings/events.

The Student Government Association meets every Monday at 7 p.m. in Murdock 218. All meetings are free and open to students.

The author of this article is currently in a relationship with SAC president, Shannon Esposito.

TEDx from page 1 reported that her biggest challenge at the event may be timing, as generally TED Talks are 18 minutes or less, according to ted.com.

“One of the pulls of perfection is feeling the need to do all the things - and in my case, pay forward all I’ve learned. And, I know that’s not reality. So, I’ll prepare and plan and do all I can to pour into this talk and then on January 27, I’ll trust the process,” Livingstone said.

Livingstone, a Massachusetts native originally from Peabody, currently resides in the Berkshires where she is raising her daughters.

“I think it’s amazing for North Adams - and all of Berkshire County,” Livingstone said. “It’s a powerful opportunity to bring people together so we can experience our shared hu-

manity - and plant seeds for growth.” “[I’m] Looking forward to meeting the other speakers - and hearing their stories,” Livingstone added.

Catie Hogan, another one of the 11 speakers, is a financial planner and founder of Hogan Financial Planning LLC. At the core of her business is to help women and young professionals. In addition, Hogan is the author of “The Millennial’s Guide to Getting Your S*** Together: Semi-Serious Essays on Money, Career and Relationships.” She also runs her own blog and podcast, “Get it Together.”

According to Hogan, some ideas she thinks are worth spreading are learning how to understand and accept differences.

“Because I’m a millennial financial planner, of course I advocate for fi-

nancial literacy because I know how desperately needed it is in America,” Hogan said. “But. . .With the world we live in, I believe we need to spread ideas that help us understand one another. One reason this country is so divided is because we fear what we don’t understand or accept what’s different.”

Hogan, who was born and raised in North Adams, is looking forward to visiting her hometown and hopes the event will attract visitors to the city.

“I think North Adams was chosen because new ideas are what’s driving the evolution of the community from a struggling mill town to a cultural hub. North Adams encompasses the spirit of TED,” Hogan said.

“North Adams has gone through such an evolution over time, and has

so many great stories, ideas and opportunities to share with the world.

Our collective story is incredible, and the individuals that compose that landscape are just as amazing,” Lamb said. “What better way to showcase to both locals and the world some of this fantastic wisdom we have in our back yard?”

Corrections Nick Bassett’s name was incorrectly written twice in last week’s issue. We regret the errors.

MCLA Campus Safety Police Log 11/02/17-11-08/17

BY ERICKA DELISLE SPECIAL TO THE BEACON Thursday, November 2nd, 2017 •12:15 p.m.-Campus Safety responded to a phone call of a motor vehicle accident. The proper report was filed.

Refer to Incident 17-23-AC. • 3:06 p.m. and 4:52 p.m. -Campus Safety completed two follow-up investigations. It was not specified if these investigations were related.

• 5:23 p.m. -Campus Safety responded to a phone call of an individual needing access to a room/building.

The call was completed.

Friday, November 3rd, 2017 • 5:06 a.m.-Campus Safety responded to a possible suspicious activity.

The activity was investigated. No report was filed.

• 5:32 p.m. -Campus Safety responded to a parking issue. There was no report filed or ticket issued for the enforcement incident. The activity was completed.

Saturday November 4th, 2017 • 6:01 a.m.-Campus Safety responded to a call to assist a citizen. Their services were rendered.

• 9:41 p.m. -Campus Safety responded to a report of suspicious activity.

The activity was investigated. There are no further reports filed on this investigation.

• 11:24 p.m. -Campus Safety responded to a report of a safety hazard. The report was initiated, and it was informational only.

• 11:57 p.m. -Campus Safety responded to an anonymous tip through the Rave Guardian app. The tip was for an alarm going off on campus. No action was required for this tip.

Sunday, November 5th, 2017 • 2:16 a.m.-Campus Safety initiated a motor vehicle stop. A verbal warning was issued to the driver.

• 5:53 p.m. -Campus Safety responded to a report of a juvenile problem.

The problem was investigated, and the juvenile in question was given a warning.

• 10:35 p.m. -Campus Safety responded to a report of an alarm going off on campus. The alarm was investigated, and it was found to be set off accidentally. Refer to Incident 17-419-OF. Monday, November 6th, 2017 • 9:16 a.m.-Campus Safety responded to a phone call of an individual needing medical transportation. The individual in question was referred to

an outside agency.

• 1:24 p.m. -Campus Safety assisted in helping a civilian, when he walked into the Department of Public Safety building, located at 277 Ashland Street. The civilian was locked out of their vehicle. Campus Safety’s services were rendered.

Tuesday, November 7th, 2017 • 1:08 p.m. -Campus Safety responded to a medical call. The individual in question was transported to the hospital. Refer to Incident 17-420-OF. • 2:00 p.m. -Campus Safety responded to a call requesting for medical transportation. The individual was referred to an outside agency.

• 5:00 p.m. -Campus Safety recieved an anonymous 911 tip through the Rave Guardian app. A report was filed on the tip. Refer to Incident 17421-OF. • 5:14 p.m. -Campus Safety responded to a phone call of an individual requesting general transport. The call was completed.

• 10:23 p.m. -Campus Safety received a phone call requesting an officer escort. The individual in question was escorted, and the call was completed.

• 10:41 p.m.-Campus Safety initiat-

image from pixabay

ed a medical call. Their services were rendered. Refer to Incident 17-422OF. Wednesday, November 8th, 2017 • 1:16 a.m.-Campus Safety received a tip from an individual who walked into their building. The individual reported suspicious activity. The activity was investigated. Refer to Incident 17-423-OF. • 9:03 a.m.-Campus Safety responded to a 911 call. A report was filed for the call. Refer to Incident 17-424-OF. • 7:44 p.m. -Campus Safety responded to an emergency call from one of the elevators on campus. The emergency call was unfounded.

NATIONALNEWS

Nov. 16, 2017 Vol. 85 Issue 9

3

TEXAS TRAGEDY

In Texas, good guy with a gun took on bad guy with a gun, feeding both sides of gun control debate

BY MATT PEARCE, JOHN SAVAGE AND NINA AGRAWAL LOS ANGELES TIMES

(TNS) SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas _ The killer wore a bulletproof vest and a face mask with a white skull on it.

Devin Kelley had a history of domestic violence on his military record that should have barred him from owning guns, but he was armed with a 5.56-mm Ruger semiautomatic rifle that he was allowed to buy because of a bureaucratic error by the U.S. Air Force.

By contrast, his adversary, Stephen Willeford, was barefoot.

Willeford was at home Sunday in Sutherland Springs when his daughter first heard the shooting next door at the First Baptist Church, and he went over to see what was happening. He had friends inside.

A former National Rifle Association instructor, Willeford took with him the AR-15-style assault rifle that he keeps in a safe.

photo from MCT Campus

A man walks past the front of the First Baptist Church where a gunman opened fire on a Sunday service and killed at least 26 people in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. (Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman/TNS) What happened next was a scenario nearly unheard of in mass shootings, but one often suggested by those in favor of a well-armed citizenry: An armed bystander got in a shootout with a mass killer, and chased him out of town.

Two of Willeford’s shots apparently hit Kelley, one

in the leg, and one in the torso. The gunman dropped his gun and fled the scene in an SUV. Willeford had been brave enough, and he had been skilled enough. But he had not quite been fast enough.

Back at the church, Kelley had already killed 26 people and wounded 20 more, in-

cluding many children, in the fifth-deadliest shooting in modern American history.

On Monday, as more details about the shooting became clear, the gunman and the Good Samaritan seemed to increasingly represent the two poles of the nation’s political debate over gun

control and gun ownership.

On one end of the political spectrum, Willeford seems to embody the NRA’s axiom that “the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun” _ the argument that the best defense against mass shootings is a better-armed and better-trained civilian populace, ready to defend itself, anywhere, at a moment’s notice.

“This is going to happen again,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, told Fox News. “All I can say is in Texas at least we have the opportunity to have concealed carry,” including in churches, and he suggested “at least arming some of the parishioners so they can respond to something like this.”

On the opposite side of the spectrum, Kelley seemed to represent liberal criticisms of the nation’s easy access to weapons. He had a record of domestic violence but was allowed to buy four guns between 2014 and 2017, including the high-velocity

Tragedy page 4

MICHAEL S. AND KITT Y DUK AKIS PUBLIC POLICY LECTURE

JEFFREY TOOBIN INSIDE THE SECRET WORLD OF THE SUPREME COURT CNN Senior Analyst and Best Selling Author

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017 7 P.M. MCLA CHURCH STREET CENTER, ELEANOR FURST ROBERTS AUDITORIUM

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. The Public Policy Lecture Series is made possible through the generosity of the Ruth Proud Charitable Trust.

A high-profile senior analyst for CNN and staff writer for The New Yorker, Jeffrey Toobin is one of the country’s most esteemed experts on politics, media and the law. Toobin has provided analysis on some of the most provocative and important events of our time. The author of critically acclaimed best sellers, Toobin delved into the historical, political and personal inner workings of the Supreme Court and its justices in his books.

Toobin’s latest best-selling book, American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst, was released to considerable acclaim in August 2016. Toobin allows readers to peek into the past – right into one of the most insane eras of American history.

MASSACHU S E T T S C OL L E GE OF L I B E R AL ART S 375 Church Street, North Adams, MA 413 662 5224 MCLA.EDU

NATIONALNEWS

4

Nov. 16, 2017 Vol. 85 Issue 9

SENATE

Tech startups fight to change how stock options are taxed

By Jim Puzzanghera Los Angeles Times (TNS) WASHINGTON _ Senate Republicans call their tax bill business-friendly, but technology startups are fuming over a provision that would make a major change to how stock options are taxed.

A key tool for startups to attract employees, stock options are currently taxed when they are cashed in. The Senate Republican tax bill announced last week would tax the options on the date they vest, meaning when the employee is allowed to begin cashing them in.

The difference is significant because employees often hold on to their options, hopefully until those options’ value rises with the growth of the company. Under the proposed change, employees

could face large tax bills before they realize the income from cashing in the stock options to pay them.

The change would produce about $13.4 billion in additional federal tax revenue over the next decade, according to an analysis by the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation.

“This shift would have profound negative consequences for technology startups by, among other things, undermining their ability to compete with large incumbents,” said a letter from Engine, an advocacy group for technology startups, that was sent Tuesday to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah.

“Startups do not have the ability to compete with larger firms based upon cash compensation,” said the letter, signed by about 540 tech

companies, startup executives and venture capitalists, most of them from California.

The National Venture Capital Association said on Twitter that it was “working hard to remove the provision” from the Senate bill, which Hatch’s committee is considering this week.

Venture capitalist Fred Wilson said the stock option change “has profound implications for those who work in tech companies and equally profound implications for the competitiveness of the U.S. tech sector.”

“What this would mean is every month, when your equity compensation vests a little bit, you will owe taxes on it even though you can’t do anything with that equity compensation,” Wilson wrote in a blog post.

“You can’t spend it, you

can’t save it, you can’t invest it. Because you don’t have it yet,” he said.

The dispute highlighted the difficulty of enacting major tax legislation as companies and interest groups often balk at changes aimed at them, such as the loss of tax breaks.

A similar stock option tax

change was in the original version of the House Republican tax bill. But the provision was removed last week when the House Ways and Means Committee approved an amendment with several changes offered by the panel’s chairman, Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas.

Toobin from page 1 a sharp political mind in the known Washington, but also somebody who could shed light on this particular angle of the process,” he said.

Over the course of his career, Toobin has written several books. One in particular about the O.J. Simpson case, called “The Run of His Life,” was adapted into a televised series that won 22 Emmy awards.

Toobin himself won an

Emmy over his news coverage of a case involving Elián González and his family who were seeking asylum from their native country of Cuba.

“He’s going to talk about something that’s relevant to all of us, whether we know it or not. It’s free, a great opportunity and doesn’t take much of your time,” Cupery said.

Tragedy from page 3 semiautomatic rifle he used to kill his victims.

Kelley, who served in the Air Force but was kicked out for violent behavior, seems to have fallen between the cracks of the nation’s backgroundcheck system due to a clerical error.

“It is simply too easy for dangerous people to buy guns, and strengthening our background check system is a critical step in stopping them,” Kris Brown, the co-president of the Brady Campaign gun control group, said in a statement.

“All Americans should be asking our leaders, how is it that a man who was court-martialed for domestic abuse and later discharged from the military was able to purchase these guns?”

Brown said.

In 2012, Kelley was court-martialed for reportedly cracking his young stepson’s skull and assaulting his wife. He was convicted and sentenced to a year of confinement at the Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar near San Diego before receiving a bad conduct discharge in 2014.

“This guy should not have been al-

lowed to buy a gun,” said Rachel VanLandingham, a retired judge advocate for the U.S. Air Force who is now a professor at Southwestern Law School, citing federal law.

VanLandingham said that normally when an investigation is opened for a serious offense on an Air Force base, an entry is made into an FBI database.

After the results of a court martial are published, she said, those investigators are supposed to enter the disposition into the database _ which, in this case, would have barred Kelley from buying a gun.

“I don’t know where the breakdown happened,” she said. “That’s the million-dollar question.”

In a statement, the Air Force confirmed that Kelley’s conviction was not entered into the FBI’s National Crime Information Center database as it should have been.

The branch’s top officials ordered an internal review to be led by the inspectors general of the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Defense Department that will also examine whether other cases have also been misreported.

That oversight meant it was ultimately up to Willeford, who lived next to the First Baptist Church, to be the first one to face down a dangerous gunman.

After Willeford’s shot struck Kelley, “He got into his vehicle, and he fired another couple rounds through his side window,” Willeford told a local television station. That’s when Willeford flagged down a nearby pickup truck driver, Johnnie Langendorff, 27, and the pair started chasing the gunman.

They sped after Kelley, reaching 95 mph on the two-lane county roads surrounding Sutherland Springs before Kelley drove his SUV off the road.

“We got within just a few feet of him and then he just drove off the road,” Langendorff said in an interview.

The two men waited on the road, Willeford’s gun aimed at Kelley’s vehicle. The SUV and its driver didn’t move.

Five minutes later, dozens of law enforcement officials descended on the scene. Kelley was dead. Before he crashed, he had used his cellphone “to notify his father that he had been shot and that he didn’t think he was going

to make it,” Freeman Martin, regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. “Subsequently, he shot himself.”

While most of the shocked residents of the closely-knit, deeply religious and largely pro-gun community were in no mood to discuss the politics of gun rights after Sunday’s events, they seemed to agree agreed on one thing: Langendorff and Willeford were heroes, and they represented the best of Sutherland Springs.

Langendorff, who on Monday was wearing a cross on a chain around his neck, a pearl snap shirt and a cowboy hat, was matter-of-fact about how it had all gone down.

“I just did what I had to do,” he said.

“I don’t feel like a hero. I just did what most people around here would do.” ___ (Staff writer Pearce reported from Los Angeles, special correspondent Savage from Sutherland Springs, and staff writer Agrawal from New York.

Staff writer David Cloud contributed from Washington.)

Weekend Weather Thursday, November 16

Friday, November 17

Saturday, November 18

Sunday, November 19

Mainly cloudy; rain High: 48° Low: 29° Precip. Chance: 63%

Mostly sunny; windy High: 39° Low: 20° Precip. Chance: 0%

Periods of rain High: 46° Low: 41° Precip. Chance: 66%

Chance of snow High: 43° Low: 26° Precip. Chance: 35% Images from WikimediaCommons

FEATURES

5

THEATRE MAJOR MITCHELL MCCAULEY

“I couldn’t imagine my life without theatre”

BY MEGHAN COOK FEATURES WRITER The bright lights shining down, the quiet murmur of the expectant audience, the squeak and whoosh of the curtains being drawn open, the rush of adrenaline. Having the ability to squash down fears of stage-fright.

Being a part of a theatre production is not an easy thing to do. But, for Mitchell McCauley, it is the thing that changed his world.

“I was in Harlequin’s production of ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ my freshman year as Conrad Birdie,” said McCauley. This was the beginning of his career here at MCLA, but his life in theatre started well before.

“I’ve been doing theatre technically since middle school, [although] I did do all the talent shows in elementary school,” McCauley explained. “I was Corny Collins in my middle school’s production of ‘Hairspray’ and that set me on this path.”

Attending Taconic High School, he broadened his interests to Shakespeare and participated in Fall Fest.

Shakespeare and Company’s Fall Festival includes 10 Berkshire County high schools performing different Shakespeare plays and coming together to put on each show. Through Fall Fest McCauley found not only an interest in Shakespeare, but a basis for much of his acting techniques.

“The opportunities given to me by the program, not just in acting but in scenic construction, clowning, dance and stage combat have followed me throughout my experience,” McCauley explained. “I capped off my senior year as Sir Toby Belch in ‘Twelfth Night’.” This crash course in Shakespeare was the ideal segue into participating in MCLA’s club Yorick.

McCauley is a multi-dimensional figure within the MCLA theatre community. He is not only an actor, but a lighting engineer, a public relations

Photo provided

Theatre major Mitchell McCauley in the FPA’s production of “Our Country’s Good.” McCauley is an actor, lighting engineer, public relations head and an assistant director. He is the former vice president of the Harlequin Musical Theatre Club. head, previously a vice-president to Harlequin’s e-board, and currently an assistant director. For the upcoming production of “Tartuffe”, which is being directed by Laura Standley, McCauley is both in the show and assistant directing with Danielle DeLamater, another notable student figure in the theatre community.

“This is my first time assistant directing and so far I’m loving it,” McCauley said. “Working with Laura and Danielle is really broadening my horizons and I feel like I’m learning so much.”

According to McCauley, he has been a part of various productions throughout his career at MCLA, and all of them had a different impression and effect on him.

“In ‘Noises Off’, we all had this fun and playful energy, the show was based around a play going wrong so

everything was quick, sharp and witty,” McCauley explained. “But then you look at a play like ‘Our Country’s Good’ which has more serious undertones and the energy and feeling of the show was completely different.”

According to McCauley, this is why it would be too difficult to choose a favorite production he has been a part of; the shows are all unique and the varying themes and actors give very different meanings to them.

“When you watch theatre, it’s live and real and makes you think because there are real people in front of you this meaningful and thought provoking story,” McCauley explained.

“That’s what I love about it.”

McCauley’s passion for theatre is evident in his performances, and in the manner in which he speaks about it.

“Theatre is one of the most raw

forms of human connection we can find these days,” McCauley said. “It isn’t just made to entertain, it’s cultural, it deals with current events, it puts new ideas in your heads by giving them to you in new ways.”

McCauley’s theatre career at MCLA is not yet coming to a close, and with more semesters left and chances to become involved in more productions he is as ready as ever to tackle the new experiences that come with each show.

“I want people to know that it’s okay to go to the theatre and that it’s okay to like theatre – it’s made for everyone,” McCauley said. “I honestly couldn’t imagine my life without theatre, it changed my life completely.”

Get tickets to FPA’s upcoming “Tartuffe” to see McCauley’s work as an actor and assistant director during its run December 1-10.

Meet SGA Senator Shon Loftus: A fresh face on campus

BY MITCHELL CHAPMAN FEATURES EDITOR Choices come early for college freshmen. For Senate Secretary and Class of 2021 Rep. Shon Loftus, he made a choice early on between Emerson College in Boston, where he would have studied journalism, and MCLA, where he is pursuing a degree in political science.

“Because of the costs, and other factors, I chose MCLA,” Loftus said. “It was also a lot closer to where I lived.”

And even though he is committed to his political science major and positions with SGA, Loftus still would like to pursue journalism, though his main focus is on SGA. “SGA is the right place for me because it does address important issues on campus,” he said.

“My positions specifically are very busy, especially senate sec-

retary, but I’m glad that I get to participate in this decision making.”

Some of the important issues Loftus is interested in helping to solve are racism on campus and sexual assaults. Regarding racism, he points to the recent appearances of swastikas on desks in the Freel Library, and admits that while some SGA senators are in favor of increased security, Loftus looks to reforming the education system. To prevent oncampus sexual assaults, Loftus advocates for setting up more campus blue lights – devices set up at strategic places around campus where students can go to instantly contact the police.

“One senator mentioned introducing more courses in the FYE for freshmen on race and diversity, so I support that measure,” he said. “Of course that does not mean that SGA has the power to introduce that – it’s more on

Photo by Mitchell Chapman Features Editor

Though he is a first semester freshman, Shon Loftus already holds two positions on SGA. the administration level. But what we can do is to encourage the administration to introduce those new courses.”

Specifically within SGA, Loftus admits that there is a lot to

be done, from filling vacant seats to increasing voter participation – of which he admits online voting has helped – to solving student government’s large turnover rate.

“SGA is a big commitment, so I can understand the big turnover rate,” he said. Loftus himself had to step down from the class of 2021 presidency, as he felt he could not do the job in addition to holding a senate seat. Loftus plans to run for his senate seat again next semester, but beyond that, he said he will have to “see what 2018 brings me.” One of his major goals for college is to see if he should remain in the political field or pursue the field of journalism.

Of his graduating class and the student population of MCLA, Loftus admits that a lot of people either do not understand how SGA works or do not

know what SGA is, which he attributes as being a public relations issue.

“I think it is a PR issue,” he said. “SGA does have a presence on social media, but no one likes the Facebook page and no one follows it. I think we have a problem with vacant seats, with a high turnover rate, with low participation in general, and I think that’s a PR issue.”

Furthermore, he admits that many students do not know or understand the power SGA holds on campus.

“That’s part of the reason why I got involved in SGA, because I knew it was a powerful force on campus,” he said. “I don’t think students know or understand how powerful it is. We, the students, do have the power to regulate budgets for all the clubs, we have a voice over the food in the café, we have a say in the curriculum, and it goes on and on.”

6

Arts & Entertainment

Harlequin Revue to celebrate 15 years

BY NORA HONES A&E WRITER

The Harlequin’s Annual Revue is just around the corner and its co-presidents couldn’t be more excited about it.

The Harlequin Annual Revue is a selection of songs from different musical theatre shows put on by the Harlequin Musical Theatre Club.

“At the beginning of the year, upperclassmen can propose to direct shows,” co-president Maxwell Teplansky explained.

“Anybody who is a sophomore, junior, or senior has a chance to direct any piece they want. We have an audition process where people from the club come, but everyone gets into the show and can be in up to four pieces.”

Juniors and seniors can do solos by themselves, while sophomores and freshmen can be parts of groups or duets.

There are 10 senior solos this year, nine group numbers and around 60 people participating in total.

“Technically one [of the group

numbers] is a surprise,” copresident Nicole Hastry hinted at. “You’ll have to come to the show to see it.” This year marks the 15th Annual Revue which is hinted at behind their reasoning for the surprise to celebrate.

The show takes place on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Church Street Center in the auditorium.

There are 26 numbers total in the show and it should run for about two hours. Admission is completely free, however donations are encouraged and will go towards kids involved in theater, particularly Barrington Stage Company: KidsAct! “Every year is a reflection of who is in the club. So every year it’s kind of different based on the songs we choose, what people are interested in and what musicals are popular right now,” said Teplansky when talking about how this year is different from other years. “We have a lot of cheese pieces this year.”

Hastry explained that their ‘cheesy’ pieces range from “High School Musical” numbers

photo from Harlequin’s Facebook

Musicals such as “Rock of Ages,” “Heathers,” and “Hairspray” will be featured. including “Stick to the Status Quo,” to “Big Fun” from “Heathers: The Musical.” Other ‘cheesy’ pieces include: “New Girl in Town” from “Hairspray,” “Officer Krupke” from “West Side Story” and “One Normal Night” from “The Addams Family.” All the pieces are high energy and should be a lot of fun according to both co-presidents.

The whole show is put together all in seven-to-eight weeks from auditions during the second or third week of school.

The show is actually a couple more weeks than they usually have which is a relief to both presidents. Normally, the show is put on during the last week of October.

“There’s going to be men in

heels, you don’t want to miss it,” said Hastry.

Students looking to get involved can either message Ariella Lafontant who is the secretary of the club to get added to the email list, message their Facebook page, “Harlequin Musical Theatre Club,” or reach out to Hastry or Teplansky directly.

Upcoming Events: Nov. 16:

Public Policy Lecture: Jeffrey Toobin Church Street Center 7 p.m.

Nov. 17:

Movie Night: Tangerine Sullivan Lounge 7 p.m.

photo by Melanie Sciaba

Robbins performing at WJJW’s The Sound last fall semester in Sullivan Lounge.

This Is: Eric Robbins

BY BRIANNA LAMB A&E WRITER

Eric Robbins, a junior at MCLA, is a local musician who describes his sound as best fitting in with the indie singer-songwriter genre or in a coffee house.

“I think I’ve always just had an affinity for it,” said Robbins, describing his first band in the first grade where he sang about dinosaurs and pretended to play guitar.

In the fourth grade, when Robbins became more serious about his music, he began playing cello. Guitar and songwriting followed a few years later, around his freshman year of high school.

Now, the musician has a four-song EP called ‘A Better Place’ and two other singles, one of which Robbins

released a few weeks ago.

Robbins lists many inspirations including his family, friends and teachers.

“But the songs really do just come from something within me,” Robbins said.

“It’s sort of like I pull out the worst and best things that I’ve experienced and make them into music.”

Robbins has played shows for WJJW where he enjoyed performing with other local musicians. He has also played a show at Clark Art. “Oftentimes it’s hard to stay motivated. I get writer’s block a lot. But when I talk to one of my professors, like Michael Dilthey or Jeff Link, and I have a good conversation, I get inspired,” Robbins said. “Listening to other good music also does the trick.”

Robbins is hoping to

release his album “Never Give Up” this year. It is a culmination of his work over the past few years.

“I’ve put so much into it and I’m really proud of it so far,” Robbins said.

In addition to this, Robbins also has another album already written, which has a different style.

He plans to work on it right after the release of “Never Give Up.” “My big goal is to have people listen to my music and enjoy it. I’m confident in it and I think that if people listen to it and give it a chance they will really enjoy it,” Robbins said.

Along with having a Facebook page, Robbins’ music can be found on YouTube, Spotify, Google Play, and iTunes.

Harlequin Annual Revue Church Street Center 7 p.m.

Nov. 18:

Harlequin Annual Revue Church Street Center 1 & 7 p.m.

SAC Lip Sync Battle Sullivan Lounge 8 p.m.

Nov. 29:

Global Film Series: Fire at Sea Murdock 218 6:30 p.m.

Makerspace Bowman 201 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 30:

99 Cent Affordable Art Show Gallery 51 5 p.m.

photo from Pixabay

Arts & Entertainment

How art, politics, and activism collide

BY BRIANNA LAMB A&E WRITER

A panel discussion was held this past Thursday entitled, “We the People: Art + Activist + Political Causes,” featuring letterpress printer Amos Kennedy Jr., poet Holly Wren Spaulding, and PROOF founder Leora Kahn.

The talk focused on the power art has to empower and change, especially in the current political and social climate.

Facing an audience consisting of an equal number of students and professors, all from varying majors, the three panelists introduced themselves, with Professor Melanie Mowinski acting as moderator.

Amos Kennedy Jr. decided he needed a change in pace at the age of 40 and left his middle class life to follow his own artistic dream of letterpress printing, wanting his own voice to be heard instead of following the cookie-cutter model of the American Dream.

Holly Wren Spaulding was born to artistic parents who decided to leave the city and get back to the land, embracing the counter-culture of the 1970s. Spaulding counted this experience as an important model, leading to her not being afraid to try to figure out how to do things and help people find their inner power. She left a job at a college to follow her

photo by Brianna Lamb

From left to right: Melanie Mowinski, Holly Wren Spaulding, Leora Kahn, and Amos Kennedy. dream of being a poet.

Leora Kahn was a photo editor who became frustrated with the lack of meaningful content her company saw.

Kahn went back to school and used her skill of photo editing to bring about social change, creating photo and text exhibitions.

The first question was directed at the audience: are you an activist?

Kennedy pointed out that everyone is an activist in their own life, for whatever they believe in.

“It’s all about the degree of activism you allow into your life,” said Kennedy.

The next topic – what makes

art political – was also opened up to the audience, with many answers given: it provokes and engages, deals with contemporary sociopolitical issues, doesn’t want to be mistaken for anything else, speaks to the distribution of power and takes a stand, to name a few.

Kahn made a point that art in activism is very much culture-based with a focus on intent, while Kennedy stated his view that everything was on a continuum and was politically linked in some way.

The panelists then shared some personal inspirations for their own art and activism.

Spaulding shared various

she said, “and help support local farms.”

Sara Potvin, a North Adams native who has been the market manager since March, gave insight on why the market was moved indoors during the colder months.

“The indoor market began last winter,” said Potvin. “I wasn’t a part of the market at the time, but the idea is to have a year-round market for the community.”

Potvin explained how many of the farmers that participate in the market(s) have much less available in the winter months.

However, some of the farmers have greenhouses where they are able to grow produce year-round and raise cows, pigs and chickens in order to sell meat and eggs. Bakers also produce year-round.

“As the weather will be getting colder and the snow will be coming soon, no one really wants to stand outside to sell or shop, so an indoor market makes the

most sense,” said Potvin.

Last year was the first time the winter markets began, and after positive feedback, the market committee decided to bring it back. Potvin explained that because there’s less traffic in the winter months than in the summer, it’s only held once a month.

“Many of the markets will be very similar, with a few changes in vendors here and there. I am, however, working on a collaboration with Makers’ Mill for the December market. I don’t have any confirmed details to share on that yet, but it is something I’m really excited about and hope that it all works out,” said Potvin.

Each of the indoor markets will have a handful of vendors, as well as live music from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The next Farmers Market is on Dec. 2 at The Green.

For more information, call 413-664-6190, or email tourism@northadams-ma. gov.

North Adams farmers market begins a new season

BY EMMA MONAHAN A&E EDITOR

A farmers’ market is a staple in almost every town. Usually held during the spring and summer (and even sometimes fall) months, these markets are a great place to get local and fresh produce, homemade treats, and handmade soaps.

MCLA students can go downtown all year round to the North Adams Farmers Market, going against the normative and running during the colder months for the second year in a row.

Nov. 2 was the first day of the indoor market, located at The Green on 87 Main St. Among the vendors were Square Roots Farm, Many Forks Farm, and the Clarksburg Bread Co. Jamie Ott, owner of Clarksburg Bread Co., has enjoyed participating in the farmers market for the past four years.

“It’s a good way to bring the community together,”

images of the text-based art of Jenny Holzer, Robert Montgomery, and Thomas A. Clark, using such methods as text on marquees, fire poems, and text placed in public spaces.

“By doing this, the person becomes aware of their environment and it can create a healing space that is hard to come by in modern society,” said Spaulding.

Spaulding also mentioned the group The Illuminator, with whom she sometimes collaborates to create projected walls of text on buildings such as the Brooklyn Public Library.

Kahn’s inspiration came from the Syrian artist Kevork Mourad, specifically a piece depicting a destroyed city and citizens, and untouched buildings layered in the back.

On the same topic, Kahn described her goal of PROOF, the photo and testimonial based exhibition project she founded. In one instance, Kahn interviewed women in Colombia who had been sexually assaulted and wanted to share their stories.

This empowered these women to interview more people, ultimately giving them the tools to help others and to change attitudes and policy.

Kahn also made it clear that although her work could be considered art, it is distinguished as an

7

educational exhibit and not an art exhibit.

Kennedy’s further response to accessibility was linked to his decision to go into his current profession as a letterpress printer.

“The black voice had been absent, and I wanted to find it in creating this art,” said Kennedy. “I wanted to be a defiance. Here I am.”

Kennedy told his audience the story of Joanne Robertson, the woman behind the bus boycotts. After Parks’ defiant stand, Robertson went to a duplicating room and made copies and flyers calling for a bus boycott. Kennedy wanted to keep this history alive, using text as well as background imagery.

“Life is layered. Why shouldn’t my life be layered?”

Kennedy said.

Lastly, the panel accepted audience questions, one of which asked for advice for students wishing to pursue art.

The consensus among the panelists was that it was not an easy path and it is not an overnight success.

The three artists did give this piece of advice, however: do not forsake your art. You have to know why it matters to you and why you want to pursue it. Cultivate art no matter what you do and believe that it will make a difference.

photo by N.A. Farmers Market

The North Adams Farmers Market is open every first Saturday of the month. Vendors include farm stands, baked goods, homemade soaps and creams, and many more items.

SPORTS

8

Nov. 16, 2017 Vol. 85 Issue 9

Mele Enomoto: Dominant on Defense

BY BRADY GEROW SPORTS EDITOR Defensives specialists, or liberos, are some of the most important players when it comes to winning in college volleyball. Without one, a defense can fall to shambles.

The MCLA Trailblazers have luckily had the pleasure of having a player like Mele Enomoto on the roster for four years, being the team’s libero for three of those.

A libero is a defensive specialist position in indoor volleyball.

The libero remains in the game at all times and is the only player that is not limited by the regular rules of rotation.

Enomoto came to MCLA as a setter, but became the libero during her sophomore year.

“My freshman year I was actually recruited as a setter...so I was setting a lot more than I was playing defense,” said Enomoto.

“When the libero position opened up, I ended up dropping a setting row, and decided I wanted to be the libero.”

Enomoto recorded 216 assists in her first year at MCLA, an impressive number as a freshman setter. Enomoto found her true calling the next season, when moving to the libero position. Enomoto recorded 467 digs her first year at the position, second most in the MASCAC that year.

Putting that into perspective, Enomoto had one of her best years overall this season and recorded 414, the fourth most in the MASCAC. Enomoto had a career year while collecting a few accolades along the way.

In the team’s match against school rival Williams College on Sept. 20, Enomoto

photo by MCLA Athletics

MCLA senior Mele Enomoto bumping a ball in a match earlier this year. This was Enomoto’s last season as a Trailblazer, finishing her career with 1,276 digs as well as averaging 3.54 digs per set in her four years at MCLA. recorded her 1,000th career dig as a collegiate athlete and finished the year with 1276 digs, a milestone not many have achieved.

“I really haven’t had an accomplishment like that (yet) so for me its selfrewarding,” Enomoto stated.

“Being the libero all three years and doing that lets me look back and say to myself ‘Wow, I did that?’”

Enomoto was also awarded a selection on the All-MASCAC 2nd Team for her stellar season (first and only selection as a college athlete). Enomoto ranked first in conference matches played with seven. Enomoto also did considerably well in all of her league matches this year having the second most digs in conference play in the MASCAC with 132, as well as having the third most digs per set while in MASCAC play with 5.28.

photo by MCLA Athletics

Enomoto pictured again bumping a ball in a game earlier this year. Enomoto was the Trailblazers libero for three of her four years at MCLA. Enomoto also placed top five in both those categories

overall with 414 digs on the year being the fourth best in

the conference overall, and 4.36 digs per set also being the fourth best overall.

Enomoto saw her only bump in the road during her junior season when she suffered a hip injury about half way through her junior season that sidelined her for about three weeks.

Enomoto missed a large chunk of that season, but the team was led by fellow star Allison Clark, who was a senior at the time herself.

Clark broke the school record for kills that year, and set the single season record for kills at MCLA with 470 the year prior.

“When you know you’re backed up by a teammate offensively is great,” Enomoto stated on her experience of playing with Clark. “As defense, you’re there to support them, but knowing you have a teammate that can back you up on offense when you can’t do that was great.”

Enomoto leaves some big shoes to fill as she heads toward her graduation from MCLA and her departure from MCLA volleyball, but she has left her mark on the program as well as the history books.

“Hard work pays off,” Enomoto stated. “If you have passion for the game, you’re gonna go so far.”

Enomoto finished her career with 1,276 digs placing her in the 1,000 club in the MCLA history books, as well as a 3.54 digs per set on her career. Enomoto leaves a big gap in the lineup with her departure, but the program will look for its next Mele Enomoto looking to step up and claim the very important libero position, just as Enomoto did her sophomore year.

Cross Country finishes season at NCAA New England Regional Race

BY JEFFREY MAYOTTE SPORTS WRITER The MCLA Cross Country women’s and men’s teams went up to Southern Maine University to compete in the NCAA New England regional championships.

The Trailblazer’s competed against 56 colleges for a chance to determine endurance, strength, and determination.

The men finished in 38th place in the 8,000 meter race while the women’s team ended in 55th for the 6,000 meter race.

In first place coming across the finished line was Plymouth State runner Sam Brunette for the men with a time of 25:22.

In first place, coming off the boat from the Coast Guard, was Kaithlyn Mooney for the women’s race with a time of 20:22.

Cross Country scoring is like golf. The first five runners from

each team to cross the finish line receive the points that correspond to their place. The first place runner receives one point, the second place runner two, and so on. The team receiving the lowest score wins.

The sixth and seventh runners on a team, although they don’t receive a score, can also be important, in that they can “displace” scoring runners from the other team. MIT men’s and women’s teams claimed the regional titles. MIT men secured places 3,12,16,22, and 28 in order to defeat heavy competitors Amherst and Williams to secure their trip to the NCAA National Championship meet. The MIT women scored in the order of 7,8,10,16, and 17 to secure their spot in the NCAA National Championship meet.

The Trailblazers were led

by Jeremiah Jones. Jones

photo by MCLA Athletics

MCLA juniors Corey Powers (left) and Breanna Castor (right) ran in the NCAA New England Regional race with the MCLA Cross Country teams last Saturday. The men placed 36th and the women 55th. combed through the track in 28:54 which placed him 176 in the meet. In second for MCLA, Christopher Gamble crossed the line in 208 with a time of

29:24. In third place, Senior Avery Woodbury scored for the Trailblazers at 230 with a time of 29:49. Finishing strong and exhausted, Corey Powers,

Owen Fitzgerald, Theodore Jones, and Paul Davila were the other Trailblazers to complete the race.

In the women’s 5k race, MCLA was lead by Julie Gambill and placed overall 266 with a time of 25:34 to lead the team. In second place for the Trailblazers, Senior Kaitlin Wright came in at 379 with a time of 31:35. For third place Jordan DeGaetano finished 387 crossing the finish line at 34:36. Coming around the corner and not far were Breanna Castor, and Hunter Schrade.

Men and women’s Cross Country will be back next fall with new members and new expectations to tackle the other 56 colleges for the 2018 NCAA National Championships. Until then, no matter the rain or snow, cold or hot, the training never stops.

Nov. 16, 2017 Vol. 85 Issue 9

SPORTS

Vancouver Canucks edge Kings, 3-2

BY CURTIS ZUPKE LOS ANGELES TIMES WIRE SERVICE Win or lose, the Los Angeles Kings were still going to possess first place in the Pacific Division after Tuesday. They were the third-highest scoring team in the Western Conference and the talk of the NHL to start the season.

They still needed change.

That was underscored by a 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks at Staples Center that represented their third straight loss, but beforehand the Kings traded Michael Cammalleri to the Edmonton Oilers for Jussi

Jokinen in a swap of veteran forwards.

Kings general manager Rob Blake wants regularity from a bottom-six forward group that has seen a rotation of prospects, coupled with the misfire reunion with Cammalleri.

Blake acquired Jokinen in a transaction that came together “fairly quickly” over the past couple of days.

“He’s been a very reliable player over his career and I think that would bring a little stability to our lineup,” Blake said.

Top to bottom, the Kings lacked stability when they squandered a 2-0 lead

courtesy of Anze Kopitar, who achieved a career-high nine-game point streak with a tap-in power-play goal at 3:14 of the first period.

Tanner Pearson’s steepangle shot made it through Vancouver goalie Anders Nilsson 23 seconds into the game.

But the Kings find themselves 0-3 on this home stand, and Alec Martinez summed it up tidily after the announced crowd of 18,230 fans filed out.

“We just stopped playing our game,” Martinez said.

“They didn’t.”

The Canucks were sparked by Henrik Sedin’s

shot off Nick Shore, and got power-play goals by Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi, against the Kings’ topranked penalty kill. It could have been a steeper climb if not for Jonathan Quick’s denial of Brandon Sutter on a second-period penalty shot, awarded when Sutter was slashed on a break to the net.

“We just need to look at ourselves,” Pearson said.

“We all know the way we can play. We’ve done it in spurts.

In some games, we’ve done it the whole game. We’ve just got to do it for 60 minutes and not 10 minutes in the first period.”

Vontaze Burfict vs Josh Gordon: Varying paths of NFL discipline If you speak to the average NFL fan the postseason with the injury. Later and mention Vontaze Burfict, most that offseason, the NFL suspended people will immediately scowl at the Burfict for the first three games of the mention of his name. Few will begin upcoming regular season for repeated with citing his on the field violation of player safety rules. presence as much as they Flash forward just a little later will his off-field problems: and Burfict, once again, found his unnecessary violence, himself being suspended for an poor conduct history and illegal hit he made during the the many times he’s been preseason on Chiefs Fullback suspended or fined in his Anthony Sherman. This career. Most people will be Andrew suspension was initially set to surprised to learn that this cost Burfict five games, but was Baillargeon lowered to just three after he past Sunday was Burfict’s The Call first time ever being ejected appealed it. from a game. How could Coming to the world of someone like that have gone today, this past Sunday, so long without it happening before?

Burfict was flagged twice for Now, continuing in the same unsportsmanlike conduct in the dialogue as before, you mention the team’s loss to Tennessee. After the name Josh Gordon. Most people second flag, Burfict bumped an official will laugh at him, talk about how intentionally and was subsequently stupid he has been with his career ejected from the game. It didn’t end and how so much talent has gone to there, though, as Burfict proceeded to waste. However, others will tell you get animated with this official before they think he’s been punished much leaving the field, even getting himself too hard for his marijuana usage. into a skirmish with some heckling Why does someone get suspended Titans fans before being forced into for nearly three years of football for the locker room. smoking a bit of weed? That’s what Josh Gordon hasn’t been a saint you can expect people to ask you. throughout his career, so let’s have a Now, I’m no judge nor do I possess look at what he’s been punished for. a degree in criminal justice, but let’s He’s been punished three times, twice have a look at the journey of these two in the form of year-long suspensions, players and the paths they’ve gone for smoking weed. In 2014, he was down that have warranted punitive arrested for driving while impaired. action from the NFL. All in all, Burfict has been Having a look at Burfict: suspended for a grand total of six In 2013, he was fined a small games, fined for $80,000* and ejected sum of about $30,000 for hitting a from one game while Josh Gordon defenseless receiver and intentionally has been suspended for 44 games, striking an opponent in the groin. and by the time he’s eligible to return In 2014, Carolina Panthers Tight to the field in Week 13, that number End Greg Olsen accused Burfict of will have reached 47, assuming the intentionally trying to injure himself Browns allow Gordon to return to the and Quarterback Cam Newton by team. twisting their ankles at the end of While I do understand that Gordon multiple plays during their game. has been incredibly stupid in violating After investigating this claim, the NFL such a strictly enforced rule multiple fined Burfict $25,000 as punishment times in the face of a high-paying after finding Olsen’s claims to have professional football career, I also had merit. It would be just one year don’t understand how Vontaze later when Burfict would be fined Burfict’s punishments for arguably for doing this yet again, taking a much worse treachery come up so second $25,000 hit when Steelers miserably short compared to what Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger Gordon’s punishments have been. I’m accused him of the act. not necessarily advocating for the NFL In a crucial wild-card game in 2016, to loosen their drug policy, despite Burfict cost the Cincinnati Bengals the the fact they’ve already done that to a game - and their season - after he was minor degree. I’m advocating for the flagged for an illegal hit to the head on punishment against Vontaze Burfict to Wide Receiver Antonio Brown, a hit be a lot more severe. which forced Brown to miss the rest of Burfict has been punished time and

time again, and if we learned anything from this past Sunday, it’s that he doesn’t care. He’s going to continue to try to injure players. He almost went after a referee for doing their job with no indication that he won’t do it again.

The difference between Gordon and Burfict is that Gordon has spent a lot of time hurting himself and making his own life harder, while Burfict has tried, and unfortunately succeeded from time to time, in hurting and injuring players around the league.

While it would be inappropriate of me, or anyone else, to advocate for violence, I’m of the belief that if the NFL cannot impose stricter punishments (Suspension for an entire season? Larger fines?) than a mere few games, then teams around in the NFL should take matters into their own hands, even at the expense of a yellow flag. Burfict has gotten away with his bullying of many prominent players in the NFL for too long. When I played high school football, even looking back to Pop Warner football, if any player tried doing anywhere near what Burfict has been doing to us, we would have hit back, harder. There doesn’t need to be an injury, and nobody needs to hurt Burfict. What needs to happen is that, on one play, someone needs to give Burfict a “body check.”

Have you ever seen Troy Polamalu or Ed Reed in their prime? If you ever got on their bad side, you were going to get hit, hard, albeit legally and cleanly.

Not to the head or a vital area, just a straight up blow to the shoulder pads or another protected area that knocks Burfict down, hard.

Something’s got to be done about Burfict. Either the NFL has to enforce harder punishments, or the players of the offended teams have to take a stand for themselves. Given how drastically the NFL has dealt with Josh Gordon compared to Burfict, with Burfict doing significantly worse and more impactful things that injure people, I suspect it won’t be the NFL who ends up having the final say. *This was written at a time where an official punishment following this past Sunday’s game had not been issued.

Andrew Baillargeon is the host of The Call, a weekly program broadcasted by WJJW. Tune in on Sundays from 7-10 PM. Listeners can also tune in via 91.1 WJJW or our website, http:// www.mcla.edu/Student_Life/studentmedia/ wjjw/.

9

SCORE BOARD NFL Los Angeles Rams (33), Houston Texans (7) Jared Goff (Rams) 25-37, 355 YDS, 3 TD Pts, 7 Reb, 4 Ast, 3 Stl, 1 Blk

Tom Savage (Texans)

18-36, 221 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 3 Reb, 4 Ast, 2 Blk

NFL

New England Patriots (41), Denver Broncos (16)

Tom Brady (Pats) 25-34, 266 YDS, 3 TDts, 4 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl

Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos) 6 REC, 137 YDS 16 Pts, 7 Reb, 1 Stl

NBA

Boston Celtics (109), Brooklyn Nets (102)

Al Horford (Bos) 17 PTS, 11 REB, 3 AST 10-12. 100 yds, 0 TD

Allen Crabbe (Nets)

15 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST

NBA

Toronto Raptors (129), Houston Rockets (113)

DeMar DeRozan (Tor) 27 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST5 Pts, 5 Reb, 1 Ast, 2 Stl,

James Harden (Hou)

38 PTS, 6 REB, 11 AST Pts, 1 Reb, 1 Stl

NHL

Edmonton Oilers (8), Vegas Golden Knights (2)

Connor McDavid (Oilers)

Stl, 2 Blk

2 Goals, 1 Ast, 2 SOG

James Neal (Golden Knights) 1 Goal, 2 SOGPts, 3 Reb, 2

NHL Pittsburgh Penguins (5), Buffalo Sabres (4) Conor Sheary (Pitt) 2 Goal, 4 SOG Pts, 8 Ast, 2 Stl

Sam Reinhart (Buff) 1 Goal, 2 Ast, 4 SOG8 Pts, 22 Reb, 3 Ast

OPINION

10

Featured Photo

Nov. 16, 2017 Vol. 85 Issue 9

Comics Section

Sophomore Kimberly Granito captured this image of rain drops producing ripples in a puddle behind the Campus Center.

Are you a student with a passion for photography? If you would like to see your photo featured in a future issue of the Beacon, please email your submissions, along with a brief description, to our Photography Editor Ron Leja at rl2670@ mcla.edu

Comics from MCT Campus

The smoking policy: Is it the College’s place to take away this choice?

I think it is very important designated places for those to define the followon campus who choose ing before proceedto smoke in a way that ing with this column. does not affect their felThe vast majority of low students. These arcollege students at eas are outdoors, drasMCLA are adults. tically reducing the risk They are responsible Mitchell of second hand smoke. for their own actions.

There are several Whether they succeed Chapman misconceptions behind or fail is entirely up Not on My this policy move that Watch to them, and no one highlight a great miselse. It is no one’s reunderstanding of the sponsibility to change College’s relationship their lives for the better but with students in general on their own. the administrative level. The It’s important to define first misconception being this because several of the that there is an assumed noCollege’s policies and atti- tion that by taking away the tudes towards students do designated smoking places, not reflect this. A prime and MCLA will become a 100 recent example of this way percent smoke-free campus. of thinking is the newly-un- This is simply not the case, veiled move to make MCLA as those who smoke often a 100 percent smoke-free cannot quit in a timely mancampus, by removing the ner or at all, even if they designated smoking areas by wanted to.

September 2018.

Even if they could, stuSuch areas function as dents will not change their

lives around on the bidding of Big Brother. Smoking will move to the dorms, clandestine in the night or just off campus, outside of the College’s jurisdiction.

A better term than 100 percent free is deregulation, and it is not the first time that the College has sought to pursue attempting to end something that administration does not like versus regulating it. This smoking policy has eerie echoes of the College’s attitude towards that of Greek Life in the ‘90s and early 2000s, where the de facto course of action seemed to be a move towards banning Greek organizations, rather than working with and regulating them. Some may also point to the alcohol policy, and while it often unjustly persecutes students who live on campus who are of drinking age, much of that is tied to

national and state attitudes and funding for on-campus housing for a public college.

However, the most harmful aspect of this way of thinking is where these authoritarian decisions portray the College itself, which is of a perceived moral institution, that goes well beyond its mission and function as an educational institution. In fact, it actively goes against it, for example, portraying 100 percent smoke free as a great moral standard and an accomplishment; a policy that does no more than push those to the side who either can’t quite or don’t want to.

There is no debate on the adverse health effects of smoking, but it is unfair to portray all smokers as bad, or to ignore the legitimate reasons why people choose to smoke, and furthermore, to deny them the choice to pursue that lifestyle.

And the notion of choice is important. Is it the place of a public institution to take away that choice from legal adults, who have the right to vote and serve and potentially die for their country if they so choose? Are legal adults not in control of their bodies?

This would be another matter had the substance in question been something outright illegal; there is nothing the institution could do to accommodate that.

But this policy does nothing but harass and exclude upstanding and contributing members of the College community who have a habit they either chose to pursue personally, or can’t control, and, under the maintenance of the outside smoking areas, negatively affects no one who doesn’t want to smoke.

Nov. 16, 2017 Vol. 85 Issue 9

OPINION

11

Ed Sheeran, grant me a one-on-one performance Ed Sheeran is someone what to write this week, who knows how to I realized I had make a girl feel loved. watched SheerHis music is either an’s new music sad, happy or hopevideo for his ful, so there’s literally song “Perfect,” a song for anyone. It’s off of his latest also hard to pinpoint album, “Divide.”

Emma an exact genre for Let me just him, but to save time Monahan say, the video we’ll say pop.

Arts & Emma was MAGICAL. No matter what Taking place kind of music you in a small ski like, we can all admit town, starring actress we’ve jammed out to a Zoey Deutch, the video is Sheeran tune. the perfect story of two Why am I talking about friends falling in love (cue this lyric genius though? the “awws”).

When trying to decide I think everyone can

agree that Ed Sheeran has made countless first dance at a wedding songs for the whole planet, and fans are probably wondering when his fourth album is coming out (aka me!).

Others may disagree. To me, Sheeran knows what he’s doing - he’s not stupid. Seeing him perform back in October in Boston was probably one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. It was simply him - no band, no backup singers. Just him, his guitar, and a loop pedal that created all of the magic.

For those who disagree?

Please explain why you don’t enjoy this beautiful man’s music, because I don’t think I’ll be able to fully understand.

The reason these types of songs are so popular is because they make people feel something. They’re the type of songs that many people can relate to, and make them understand what they’re feeling.

So thanks Ed, for making us feel that way, and maybe for making me shed a tear once in a while.

The Beacon is published Thursdays during the academic year and is distributed to the MCLA community.

The Beacon is funded by the Student Government Association, the English/ Communications department and ad revenue. Single copies are free and additional copies can be purchased at 50 cents each. If you wish to purchase additional copies, please contact a member of staff.

Contact News desk number: 413-662-5535 Business number: 413-662-5204 Email: beacon@mcla.edu Website: theonlinebeacon.com Office: Mark Hopkins Hall, room 111

Policies Letters: The Beacon welcomes Letters to the Editor and columns on issues of interest to the campus. Deadlines are 11:59 p.m. Sunday. Strive for 500 words or less.

Editorial: Unsigned editorials that appear in these pages reflect the views of The Beacon. Signed columns and commentary pieces reflect the views of their writers.

Contribution: The Beacon accepts stories, photos and opinion pieces. Submit to beacon@mcla.edu.

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

Photo by Emma Monahan

Executive Board

A panoramic photo of the Cheshire resevoir.

Editor-in-Chief Joseph Carew

Please don’t set your car on fire At a time when the seaEach season brings its sons are changing and own set of troubles with the parking ban is in ef- it. In the spring, you have fect, I thought it was wise to worry about the lowest to write about the oppo- point in a parking lot in site of driving. order to avoid obnoxThere are nuious puddles or merous ways to potential floodpark and everying. The summer one does so with forces you to face an incredible vapacked parkriety of talent. ing lots and the You have those lack of shade. It Joseph who just pick a isn’t necessarily random spot and overheating that Carew wind up taking WheelSpin is the problem, up two spots, and rather, getting in then you have the a car that could obsessive people easily cook a ten who pull in and out of pound turkey to perfecthe same spot trying to tion in about 12 minutes. calculate the distance beAutumn and winter tween them and the cars have their own set of to their left, right, front problems and complicaand back. tions when it comes to No matter where you parking, however. line up in the spectrum Leaf piles can spell the of people who park, there end of your car. It seems are seasonal adjustments like such a simple probthat have to be made. lem but I thought it time

for a reminder. A few days ago, there was a car that was parked in a position reminiscent of a hungry hippo attempting to fill itself with leaves.

Here’s the problem: before you park that car, there’s anywhere from four to eight explosions happening over and over again in the engine (depending on the amount of cylinders). These create an extreme amount of heat and, while your car helps cool things down a bit, parking a hot engine over a pile of leaves is asking for trouble, and should therefore be avoided. Or just rake the leaves. Either works.

The winter is a struggle wholly different though.

There are a few essential things a winter driver needs in their car in New England. I will always recommend access to a

shovel. The parking lots at MCLA specifically often pile up with snow and way too few people help others out. If you find yourself out there, clearing snow from behind and around your car, take the extra time and help out the cars next to you.

We are all a team when it comes to clearing snow, and some people don’t have shovels on-hand.

A lot of people tend to use a snow brush for the task of cleaning off their car. I have tried one of the foam brooms that have recently come on the scene and will never go back. They are incredible at pushing snow off cars in large clumps and make the job much less of a hassle. If you are dealing with ice though, a scraper is necessary.

Features Editor

A & E Editor

Mitchell Chapman

Emma Monahan

Copy Chief

Sports Editor

Nicholas Webb

Brady Gerow

Design Editor

Photo Editor

Adam Sams

Ron Leja

BWN Executive Producer Samantha Kniskern

Staff Audio Reporters Photographers Zachary Benjamin Matt Aceto

Samantha Giffen Alyssa Call

Copy Editors

A&E Writers

Lily Schuab Aryel Brosnan Mary Kate Lynch

Nora Hones Briana Lamb

Sports Writer

Staff Writers

Jeffrey Mayotte

Hannah Snell Corey Mitchell-Labrie Ericka Delisle

Features Writer Meghan Cook

Adviser

Shawn McIntosh

Columnist Andrew Baillargeon

Photographer Alyssa Call Photo Portfolio

Alyssa Call is a sophomore psychology major with a behavior analysis minor. She is a part of The Beacon and Environuts. She has other interests in music, adventuring, and martial arts, especially karate. Her favorite type of photography is black and white film, but digital is great too. Her favorite thing to photograph is the nature in her hometown in New York.