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Volume 81 ◆ Issue 1
Th u r s d ay, S e p t e m b e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 5
Anxiety rises over campus safety Search for new president By Makayla-Courtney McGeeney and Nick Swanson
Sheriff ’s department, and State Troopers have been ordered to patrol areas surrounding the college more prominently. He urged students to call public Co-Editors-in-Chief safety if they witnessed anything out of the ordinary. The latest safety alert blasted Outlook emails around Anonymous calls are acceptable. The number to call noon on Friday. One non-campus community is (413)-662-5100. member was attacked by three individuals early Gillian McRitchie is a sophomore living in Berkshire Towers and typically walks back to her residence Friday morning, according to the safety alert. MCLA Public Safety offers a free escort service if with more than one person at night. a campus community member feels uncomfortable “I think Public Safety is doing a good job on walking alone on campus. Senior Daella Exinor lives keeping the campus safe. They can only do so much” she said. “The alerts made me more aware of my in the townhouses, but isn’t aware of this amenity. ” “Parties could have I think the assaults are scary surroundings. Holbrook said finding ways to something to do with and people need to be limit the attraction of unwanted it because people hear nuisances will take multiple about them through more cautious. steps. word of mouth,” she said. “The safety starts with you A community meeting Senior Daella Exinor all (students),” Colonno said. addressing off campus “Use situational awareness to residents met later on Friday with interim public safety director Lieutenant Daniel determine if you think something isn’t right; don’t Colonno, Officer Laura Lefebvre, and the new vice second guess yourself make the (emergency) call.” A major repercussion to come if incidents persist president of student affairs, Catherine Holbrook. Suggestions were made to students about taking could be a collective shut-down of all parties to responsibility for being aware of surroundings and lessen the social attractions suspected to be causing the recent violence, according to Colonno. He said if listening to the gut feeling. In seven weeks, three or four alerts were dispersed. individuals are then found participating in unlawful Labor Day weekend events launched the series behavior, arrests will be made. Looking into the future, two emergency blue lights with a gang jump, robbery, and a fight, according to Colonno. Neighbors, landlords, and a resident will be installed on the back side of Bowman Hall assistant are amongst the people to report these and another near Blackinton and the Feigenbaum Center for Science, but still closer to the Boardman incidents. Colonno said police officials are collecting apartments. Also, The Guardian system and app will information through a ‘manpower intensive be launched, according to Colonno. endeavor.’ Officers from Clarksburg Police, the
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continues with new firm By Nicholas Swanson
Co-Editor-In-Chief Preparations to gather a number of potential candidates is underway in the restarted search for the next MCLA President. Korn-Ferry (KF) is the new search firm hired as opposed to the previous firm. KF is in the process of collecting information to build a pool of candidates whom of which they will suggest to the Board of Trustees and search committee. Search firm representatives will visit campus again to gain more information from faculty, staff, and students on Sept. 24, according to Bernadette Alden director of marketing and communication. Members from the firm met with members on the search college’s search committee in the first weeks of this semester where they discussed what type of president would be ideal for the college. Last semester, Dr. Greg Summers withdrew shortly after being selected by the Board of Trustees and search committee to be the twelfth MCLA college president; therefore, a second search needs to be conducted.
The client adviser from KF who is working on the search has over 20 years of experience in the field, according to Interim President James Clemmer. The next president could be someone internally (from MCLA) or it could be someone externally, he added. “If you were to hire a CEO (corporate executive officer) of a company or head of marketing, or manufacturing, Korn-Ferry would be someone you could turn to,” Clemmer said. “They have a worldwide reputation for finding talented people,” he said. Candidates will individually visit campus through November and a final decision is predicted to be made by December. When the new president will start may vary depending on the person selected, according to Alden. “The cost of both searches is being very well managed from a fiscal standpoint,” Clemmer said. Vice president of academic affairs Cynthia Brown returned to her position after serving as Interim President for several months. Clemmer agreed to UPDATE, continued on page 2
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Interim President Clemmer yearns to help with students’ success By Nick Swanson Co-Editor-in-Chief
James Clemmer, 86’ alumnus accepted the position of MCLA Interim President in August. A private Q&A session was arranged to learn his plans and ideas for the college while in this temporary important role. Q&A session “I have a few ideas. Number one, I think our story here is so great,” Clemmer explained, “What MCLA does is provide a public liberal arts education to people.” He added that every year we get 400-500 new examples of that truth leaving here in May. “Our graduates leave, and people [can] see how bright MCLA students are and how they contribute to the world,” Clemmer said. “What I would like to do is tell that story through our students.” Q: What skills did you acquire as an MCLA student and how did you apply them within your career? “I joined a couple of different clubs here at MCLA, but the Rugby club was the one I spent the most time with,” he said.
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Clemmer spoke with gratification. “I was voted to become the captain and president by the folks on the team, which taught me leadership at a young age. Even though you [may not be] 100 percent ready, you still accept that responsibility and figure it out,” he continued. He explained that one does not have to run a multi-national corporation to have that leadership role. “You can do whatever you want in life, but it’s how you proactively step up and take a little more responsibility; at MCLA, I learned that,” he said. Clemmer has overall 25 years of professional business expertise and has additionally served as chair of the Fiscal Affairs Committee on the Board of Trustees. Clemmer retired earlier this year from being President of Medical Supplies at Covidien PLC, which is a $2.1 billion global business. Q: With 25 years of business experience, what state do you believe MCLA’s financial status is currently in? “Running a multibillion dollar global business, I got a good insight as to how a company works,” he
said. “I had manufacturing plants and employees all over the world. For the last four years I was chair of the fiscal affairs committee, and we really did a good job of running the campus on a lean budget,” he said. “State appropriations have not gone up but the college has done a very good job of managing the amount they do receive from the state.” Clemmer added with certainty that “the college is in a sound fiscal standpoint” from his perspective. “I was prepared well in my outside world experience to help here,” he explained. “Whether it’s from the state, students, or donors, I love to see any new dollars that come into the school go toward scholarship programs, financial aid programs, or capital projects like the Feigenbaum Center.” Q: What inspired you to be the Interim President? “At the point when my colleagues first asked me to lead the college, I said ‘I don’t know how to exactly run a college,’” Clemmer said. “But I have a passion to give the students what I had in life, which is really just opportunity when you boil it down to the simplest.” He said MCLA was the
foundation of opportunity that gave him the confidence to follow his own path. President Mary Grant also had a strong influence that inspired Clemmer throughout his experience at MCLA. President Grant sought out Clemmer after graduation to be on the Alumni Board, then, in years following, asked him to be on the Board of Trustees. “From that I’ve been blessed, and if I can give that opportunity back or help create it for others, if I can be the conduit to help keep it alive, that’s inspiring for me,” Clemmer said. Q: What type of person would you like to see as the 12th MCLA President? The Board of Trustees has two main focuses, which are enrollment and graduation rates, according to Clemmer. He said these are areas MCLA must stay healthy with. He suggests the next college president should dig deeper in those topics to find ways of potentially bettering them. “We want to keep recruiting new students every year, as well as keep retention of our current students to make sure those who continue here can pursue their
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Interim President James Clemmer has stepped in for former Interim President Brown. academic goals and graduate,” he said. “Enrollment and graduation rates are two things that directly affect students. I care most about students right now and those are things we can do,” he continued, “We want them to graduate and have the benefit of an MCLA diploma as part of their academic background.”
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2KF search firm
Campus News
Thursday, September 17, 2015
to find new presidential candidate
UPDATE, continued from page 2 fulfill the duties as interim college president until a new selection is made. “The benefit now with MCLA is that it has raised stature in the world and more people know about it, I think we will have a great pool of candidates and whoever is selected will be the right person to lead this institution,” Clemmer said. “I’ve committed to the trustees, and to the students, I’ll serve until someone is fully ready to take the helm,” he said.
Weekend Weather
Thursday, September 17
Sunny High: 83° Low: 55° Prec. Chance: 0%
Friday, September 18
Beacon.MCLA.edu
SGA discusses campus safety and guidelines with VP of Student Affairs By Harmony Birch Managing Editor
Elections Nomination Forms to be elected for SGA are due Tuesday. Open positions include two Senate at large seats; three special Senate representative seats: one Greek, one Commuter, and one resident; Five class representative seats: two for the class of ‘16, one for class of ‘17, and two for class of ‘19; and six Class Council seats. The classes of ‘17, ‘18, and ‘19 are looking for a treasurer and the class of ‘19 is looking for a class President, Vice President, and Secretary. Elections will be held on October 6 and 7, and senators will be sworn in on October 14. To pick up a nomination form, stop by the Student Government Office in the Amsler Campus Center, Room 317. Vice President of Student Affairs Addresses Campus Safety Vice president of student affairs Catherine Holbrook shared with SGA the administration’s plans for addressing Campus Safety. She explained that the majority of Campus Safety concerns occurred off campus by people who do not live in the city of North Adams. “It’s people coming to the area that have no business here,” she said. The non-community members
are attracted to what Holbrook referred to as “large social gatherings.” She advised students to keep their activities offline, and to only invite people they know to gatherings. She explained that underage drinking and drugs, while not something the administration and public safety condone, is not the primary concern. Even if students are attending or throwing parties and are inebriated, they should call public safety if they find themselves in an unsafe situation. Holbrook added in comparison: “You may be asked to talk to someone about alcohol education, but that’s not the same as jurisdiction.” The administration has already invited residents of Blackinton Street to talk about safety measures and will be pushing the same sort of education in residence areas. “We want you to have fun,” Holbrook said, then added, “legally.” MCLA will increase safety by adding lighting and blue light boxes on and around campus. Holbrook asked SGA to form a list of students who would take a walk with her around campus to see where lighting should be added from a student perspective. To participate in this walk, contact SGA president Alexandra Kadell. In addition to adding lighting, Holbrook stated that both cam-
pus and North Adams police are ramping up their patrols, and that MCLA is working to hire more campus security staff. The Campus Police Escort service is also being extended to other North Adams areas, depending upon the situation and staff availability. Next week MCLA hopes to put a new app to use that would make accessing campus police by phone easier, and would allow students to “partner or buddy” with one another when walking home. “Is that enough?” Holbrook asked. “It’s never enough, but right now we’re not even at full staffing.” Interim President outlines his goals for MCLA The Board of Trustees would like to have a new President selected by December. In the meantime, Interim President James Clemmer doesn’t want to mess with the way MCLA operates, but does want to help a few campus goals come to fruition. “I’d like to keep my role in scope and see that MCLA is running to the best of its ability,” Clemmer said. During his time as Interim President, Clemmer wants to work toward increasing enrollment, retaining students, and producing higher graduation rates. Student Trustee Nick Hernigle, who works with the Board of Trustees, stated that enrollment is
a larger college goal. Last Thursday was the first Board of Trustees meeting. “Enrollment was a huge issue that we talked about, “Hernigle said. “We are hoping to create new strategies and ideas for enrollment, which we have seen go down.” Hernigle will also have meetings every other week with Clemmer about issues on campus. Students who are aware of issues should contact Hernigle. MassPirg $9 waveable fee up for vote in the spring Michael Basmajian, the MassPirg campus organizer, spoke on behalf of Masspirg. Masspirg is a statewide initiative, student directed and funded group. They are funded by a $9 waivable fee that goes out in student billing. Every two years, SGA votes on whether to keep or discontinue the fee. Sophmore Avery Woodbury is the MCLA chapter chair. “This semester is really cool because unprecedented at MCLA we have a large volunteer group,” Woodbury said. “We have over 30 volunteers.” MassPirg are throwing a launch party today at 5 p.m. State Senator Gale Candaras will be in attendance to talk to students about what sorts of issues they feel affect them.
SGA nominations currently being accepted to fill remaining seats SGA positions are still available to students that are interested.Nomination papers are due Monday, Sept. 21 and are available in the Amsler Campus Center room 317.
Positions Available: Senate at Large (2) Greek Seat Commuter Seat Resident Seat
Class of 2016 - 2 Representatives Class of 2017 - 1 Representative Class of 2019 - 2 Representatives 2017 Class Counil – Treasurer 2018 Class Council – Treasurer 2019 Class Council – President/ Vice President/Secretary/Treasurer
Campus Police Logs
The week of 9/6-9/13
Sunny High: 83° Low: 54° Prec. Chance: 0%
Saturday, September 19
Sunday, September 6 ◆ 1:21 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a disturbance on Montana Street. No action was required. ◆ 6:27 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a medical call at Hoosac Hall. The person was transported. ◆ 8:17 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a suspicious activity call from Berkshire Towers. The call was completed. Monday, September 7
Sunny High: 81° Low: 57° Prec. Chance: 0%
◆ 1:08 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a call to jump start a vehicle on Montana Street. Services were rendered.
Tuesday, September 8
◆ 11: 34 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a medical call at the Wellness Center. The person was transported to the hospital. ◆ 2:50 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a suspicious activity call on Montana Street. Services were rendered. Wednesday, September 9 ◆ 8:16 p.m. - Public Safety responded citizen assist call on Ashland Street. Services were rendered. Thursday, September 10 ◆ 2:00 p.m. Public Safety responded to a disturbance call in the Quad. The call was investigated. ◆ 3:36 p.m. - Public Safety
responded to a a suspicious activity call in lot 3 of the Flagg Townhouses. Serives were rendered.
responded to a suspicious activity call at the Flagg Townhouse Complex. The call was investigated.
◆ 4:26 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a call to jump start a vehicle on Montana Street. The call was completed.
◆ 11:28 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a motor vehicle stop in the Hoosac Hall parking lot. No action was required.
Friday, September 11 ◆ 1:05 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a disturbance call at the Flagg Townhouse Complex. The call was referred to an outside agency. Saturday, September 12 ◆ 12:13 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a vehicle lockout call. Services were rendered. ◆ 2:43 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a distuabnce call. No action was required. ◆ 7:11 a.m. - Public Safety
◆ 5:17 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a medical call at the Campus Police Ofiice. The call was completed. Sunday, September 13 ◆ 10:16 p.m. - Public Safety responded to an escort call in the Ashland Street parking lot. The person was transported. ◆ 10:18 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a trouble alarm at the Amsler Campus Center. No action was required.
Campus News
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Stakenas leaves MCLA a Students dedicated to service through community engagement better place after 15 years By Makayla-Courtney McGeeney
200 items donated in supplies drive
Photo by Idalis Foster/The Beacon
Junior Julie Cascarano donates to School Supplies Drive.
By Matthew Hotaling
Staff Writer The MCLA Center for Service and Citizenship concluded its annual school supply drive collecting close to 200 items to be donated and distributed to local elementary school students in need. “The drive was a big success,” Christopher Hantman, community engagement organizer for the
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Center for Service, said. “We really like to have this drive at the very beginning of the semester to show incoming students how important service is here at MCLA.” There are many options for those looking to give back to the community around MCLA. The Center for Service helps coordinate almost a dozen programs. There are numerous options, such as Write Stuff, where MCLA students tutor 5th-7th graders from the community to develop writing skills, or H.A.L.F. Times, which engages local youth in how to live a healthy life style. There is a type of service for everyone. “Many of our programs are student founded and run by students,” Spencer Moser, director of the Center for Service, said. “Because the students run most of the programs, it makes them much more sustainable.” Service isn’t just about giving back and feeling good; it can also help play a major role in future employment opportunities. According to Moser, the Center for Service is frequently told by employers that solid volunteer work can be as important on a resume as good grades or an internship. “It shows that the student is committed to something,” Moser said. “It shows that they know how to coordinate and manage events. It shows they are a team player, that they can adapt, and in a lot of ways it shows that they can function in a more traditional work environment.” For those interested in giving back to the community, contact Christopher Hantman at Christopher. Hantman@mcla.edu or visit the office of the Center for Service in Campus Center 307.
Co-Editor-In-Chief
Retiring after 15 years sounds great when Dr. James Stakenas, vice president of administration and finance, and his wife, Paula Cardinal, former English/Communications professor, are in good health and plan to embark on new opportunities in life. Photo by Tiearra Henson “The college is in a James Stakenas is excited to have more good spot with expect- time to spend with his grandchild. ing a new president, and there is new energy and received from his father. new ideas. I’m satisfied with the “Just knowing there was a differgood work that’s been done un- ence made by my effort and that der my leadership. I’m excited,” my employees know their work is he said. appreciated contributes to a betFriends, colleagues and Stak- ter working and learning environenas’ family gathered on Monday ment,” he said. in Murdock Hall for a farewell reAfter a long list of renovations ception. Fellow band members at- and upgrades to several buildtended, prepped to sing “For He’s ings on campus, Stakenas’ fifa Jolly Good Fellow.” teen years of service consisted “It’s not easy to make the com- of $90,000,000 worth of mainplex seem simple, but Jim was tenance and revamps, the most able to do that for me and my col- memorable being the creation leagues,” Interim President James of the Amsler Campus Center Clemmer said. Marketplace. Before the MarketStakenas is positive that he’ll place was established, stairwells depart MCLA with the satisfacSTAKENAS, tion of leaving somewhere better continued on page 4 than he found it, advice he had
New physics professor Ward plans to develop research program
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Physics Professor Kebra Ward is one of many new faculty and staff to join MCLA this fall.
By Torin Gannon
Staff Writer This semester the Physics De-
partment welcomes new associate professor, Dr. Kebra Ward, who was hired to replace Dr. Carl Wolf, who retired last year. “We are thrilled that Kebra decided to join our department,” Dr. Emily Maher, chairperson of the Physics Department said. “Not only does Kebra bring a great talent for teaching, she also has an excellent research program based in optics.” Ward shares in this enthusiasm. She decided to take the job here when she saw how dedicated the faculty was to teaching and the school was to developing the science department. One of her big plans for the science department includes the
development of a research program based in optics. She is currently working with the school to purchase a laser to conduct optics experiments. The laboratory will be housed on the second floor of the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation. According to Optics4kids.org, optics is the branch of physics describing how light behaves and interacts with matter. If Dr. Ward is successful in developing the program, this would be a major addition to the department as there are no optics research courses currently offered. “I’m looking forward to setting stuff up that gets the students involved,” she said on the develop-
ment of this research program. Ward received her undergraduate degree in Astronomy at the University of Southern California. After completing her degree, she joined the Peace Corps. While with the corps, she was sent to Mozambique to teach high school biology. “It was amazing,” she remarked on her time there. “That’s where I realized I wanted to be a teacher.” After ending her time with the Peace Corps, Ward attended Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. There she started working in optics, experimenting with lasers being fired into different crystals. Dr. Ward said her shift from astronomy to physics has to do with
the similarity to the two studies. In her short time here, she is already quite enamored with North Adams. She noted a time when her neighbor mowed her lawn for her and her husband the day after they moved in. “People go out of their way to be really helpful,” she said. “It’s really great here and I love it.” Ward’s other interests include food and cooking, and expressed a great appreciation for the local farmers market. She said she and her husband are planning on starting their own garden. She is also a self-professed karaoke enthusiast, and looks forward to testing out her skills at some nearby karaoke bars.
Bowman Hall makes a comeback with new technology By Joseph Carew Staff Writer
Photo by Liz Quirk/The Beacon
Students stop at the new Grab N’ Go in Bowman Hall on the bottom floor.
A dream eight years in the making came true last Thursday as Student Government Association (SGA) senior president Alexandra Kadell officially opened Bowman Hall with the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon. Bowman Hall, which was constructed in 1970 along with Eldridge Hall and the Freel Library, had been under construction for the previous two years as part of a multiyear campus master plan. “It was really terrific to watch it all come together like that,” said Chief Information Officer Curt King, one of the numerous integral individuals in the Bowman Hall project. Dr. James Stakenas, vice president of administration and finance called the opening of the building “a great success,” as the goal to open for fall classes was met.
The funds for the project came from the $54 million MCLA received in 2008 as part of a campus reinvigoration bond. Of the fund, $15 million was used to strip down Bowman Hall and modernize the structure through improved design and the implementation of advanced technology. Bowman Hall now holds 14 classrooms, four art studios, and the Department of Academic Affairs along with numerous faculty offices for the arts management, mathematics, computer science, and visual arts programs. With hardware and software labs for computer science and a computer graphics design lab, Bowman has become one of the most technologically advanced buildings on campus. “Bowman Hall, even though it’s different from the Science Building, [is just] as comBOWMAN continued on page 4
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Campus News
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Blazernet to replace MCLAnet By Idalis Foster
Senior News Editor As with every change on campus, there are often mixed reactions from students, but the most recent improvement in wireless service, Blazernet, is quickly becoming a favorable switch from mclanet. The network will eventually replace mclanet once additional wireless points are set up around campus to support the new network and help eliminate blind spots. The design actually began a year and a half ago, but was first rolled out this past spring. “The implementation began on the first of the year, as the new science building was designed with technology for it,” said Chief Information Officer Curt King. “It was set up in the residence halls the same year as the science building.” According to King, the only buildings left in need of the wireless points are classroom and administration buildings, which are being worked on currently. The project’s funding was on pause for a short time, but the last piece of funding was provided a month ago. “Wireless service today is like
a roof on a house,” said King. “Mclanet is an older network system and Blazernet is much easier to get onto since it has a lot more bandwidth.” The goal of Blazernet was not only to switch over smoothly to a newer, faster network but to be able to accommodate different types of devices. The average student uses 5 different devices that all connect to wireless networks, making the demand for internet as vital as King suggested with his house analogy. Although students were skeptical at first about the network and the promises of it working better than mclanet-g and even hotspot, some are changing their tune. One student, junior Jonah Philibert, was upset about his connection while using the internet for video games, but after speaking with IT has had a much better experience. “I’ve been meeting with Ian Bergeron, who set up Blazernet, about a specific issue I was having,” said Philibert. “The new network is much more intelligently designed, so while it is having some issues because it’s so new, they’ll be much easier to solve because [it] is better organized.”
He also mentioned that he was “extremely impressed with how helpful Ian was.” He advises any students having issues or with questions that cannot be resolved by the help desk to speak to Bergeron, as he was a great source for him in better understanding the network. Junior Kate Rowell had a worse experience with mclanet, which made it easier for her to accept the issues that have been arising with Blazernet. “I actually never could connect to mclanet, just hotspot, so this is an improvement for me,” said Rowell. “The connection is okay, though I can’t connect with my phone.” However, she went on to specify that friends of hers have had issues getting their laptops on the network. King explains that it is an ongoing process, but they will be able to identify the weak spots once it replaces mclanet fully. They are already working to extend the connection to outdoor spaces, so devices will be able to move from access point to access point without losing connection.
Colleagues highlight Stakenas’ many accomplishments at retirement reception
STAKENAS continued from page 3 led from the area outside Hoosac Hall and down into the Centennial Room. “We blew it right out, relocated the bookstore, and actually created a campus center,” he said. “Almost every department on campus has had to move and relocate, but my favorite is bringing them back to a better space.” Under Stakenas, a ten year master plan was completed with a revision in 2007, as well as the closing of a technology upgrade plan. He also said there has been a consistent balanced budget. “This is a strong institution and the next investment will come from new ideas based on a great foundation,” he said. Stakenas and his wife previously lived in the Pioneer Valley and fell in love with the Berkshires
and the importance of community when accepting his position. He has been a college administrator since 1980. “A community is a collection of people sharing a common goal. MCLA is a community in every sense of the word, thanks to Jim Stakenas,” Senator Ben Downing said at the reception. “He paid attention to detail and had a way of addressing challenges as they arose.” Some other projects include giving the Wellness Center a complete renovation in 2000 when Hoosac Bank purchased it, $1 million in energy improvements in 2001, the Murdock Hall renovation in 2004, and a $3 thousand energy upgrade in 2006. “My father would say, ‘everyone’s gotta eat.’ You have to eat and make work enjoyable. Work that’s important and shows that effort
matters,” he added. Additionally, the athletic fields received new turf, the Amsler Campus Center gymnasium welcomed new bleachers and flooring, a facilities building was built along with the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation, and the renovation of Bowman hall has been completed, along other various improvements. Stakenas noted that MCLA is the only state institution with a new facilities building after residing in a townhouse. Some future projects include renovating Venable Hall and Mark Hopkins, as well as building a new Public Safety building. “Jim was a force in the overall direction of the college. He has a love for this region that we call home,” Mayor Richard Alcombright said at the reception.
Beacon.MCLA.edu
New practicum to further student’s leadership skills Small class size dedicated to discussion By Idalis Foster
Senior News Editor “Success is based on a process or journey, not the destination.” This quote by M. Scott Peck sums up the Leadership Practicum taught by Celia Norcross, director of Student Development, which is probably why it is in bold capital letters on the course’s syllabus. The course, one of multiple practicums for the Leadership minor, is one credit, but teaches skills beneficial to all majors regardless of their involvement on or off campus. Through discussions, projects, reflections, and portfolio work, students gain a better understanding of the traits expected of a leader and how to find their individual styles of leadership. “The intent is to have student leaders come together and through discussion and presentations we see how student leaders make decisions today,” Norcross said. “We see both the solutions and challenges they are faced with.” Size is one of the important factors to the class due to its heavy emphasis on class discussions. Norcross said class activity can become difficult with groups larger than 12, the cap for the practicum. It is one of six classes needed to fulfill the leadership minor, but is open to any student. “Clubs and organizations are a great opportunity at MCLA,” said junior John Alex Hicks-Courant. “I was invited to take [the class]. I knew Celia was an incredible force of greatness on campus, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to link the two.” Topics discussed in the class include recruitment and retention, leadership styles, public relations, and differentiating the leadership roles as they stand in profit
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or non-profits as well as private or public. Norcross tries to accommodate the class to the choices of the students as well, starting with a list of topics but allowing wiggle room for students to discuss topics they are having challenges dealing with as leaders. “I think discussing recruitment and retention helped a lot, and the discussions about incentives were fantastic,” said Hicks-Courant. “Also, I learned that humans are most productive during daylight hours! Cognitively productive, I mean, not necessarily creatively or artistically productive.” Hicks-Courant is not a leadership minor, but an Education and English major with a psychology minor. He credits the class with helping him to understand “how to make a club’s efforts and activities as fruitful as possible.” “The class has helped me learn more about student development because I get to speak to more students than I can during my nine-to-five,” said Norcross. She went on to mention that eventually a technology piece will most likely be morphed into the course due to its ongoing growth and presence with students. However, the older, more consistent topics are ones she will keep around, such as stress indicators and different people being different leaders. The course currently meets Mondays from 5-5:50 p.m. and does not have any prerequisites. The leadership minor only requires 18 credits and crosses into other majors for electives. “It’s really helpful for them to see what it is we need done,” said Norcross. “The challenges and troubles addressed help educate student leaders by teaching them about themselves as leaders.”
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Bowman project possible via $54 million bond BOWMAN continued from page 3 plicated,” said Stakenas. Also among the physical differences of the layout, new projectors have been implemented which allow the screen produced to be manipulated by touch. Several classrooms have also had a special coating placed on a wall that acts in the same manner as a traditional whiteboard. A re-imagined, renovated lobby and façade have changed for the eyes while faculty and students alike can feel a new air conditioning system and heat recovery system in place, which is “identical to the heat recovery system in the Science building,” according to Stakenas. The PRESS Gallery has been moved from 49 Main St. to the third floor of the building while an updated ARAMARK café rests
on the lower, main level. As with Murdock some years before, Bowman Hall’s recyclable, compostable, and reusable, but obsolete pieces were separated out during the deconstruction of the building. This allowed the entire project to maintain a greener theme. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification was a requirement for this project. LEED is a global green building rating system that works to make projects similar to Bowman Hall as ecologically friendly and efficient as possible. Site design, indoor environmental quality, and the efficient use of energy, materials, and water are all factors in determining green building credentials. The Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM), a state
partner in the project, was represented by Commissioner Carol Gladstone. DCAMM was integral to the process of renovating Bowman Hall, as it is the section of the State government that deals with facilities management and major public building construction. Others who attended the ribbon cutting ceremony included Senator Benjamin Downing, Mayor Richard Alcombright, and Interim President James Clemmer. Numerous members of the board of trustees and MCLA Alumni were also present at the event. The building was designed by architect James Lawrence Jr. and is named for Grover C. Bowman, who was president of North Adams State Teachers College from 1937 to 1955.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
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Senior soccer star strives to be a police officer following internship
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Ryan Baker worked with the Pittsfield Police this summer witnessing a rise in criminal activity
Photo by Liz Quirk/The Beacon
Senior Ryan Baker reflects on his internship with Pittsfield Police Department.
By Gionna Nourse
Features Editor Ryan Baker ’16 is mostly known for triumphs throughout his soccer career as number 23. What many people don’t know is his life behind the jersey. Baker is a sociology major with a minor in criminal justice who just completed a summer internship with the Pittsfield Police Department (PPD). His advisor originally told him about different internship opportunities, and he took it upon himself to look online and apply for the one PPD
was offering. Upon acceptance, he received a scholarship through the state to help pay for his expenses over the summer. He worked as an assistant, directly under Captain Patrick Barry, Detective Bureau Commander of PPD, experiencing all facets of police work. “It was truly a well-rounded experience,” Baker said. “We spent time doing administrative work, patrolling and dispatching, as well as working with the anti-crime and drug units.” In addition, Baker was introduced to safety procedures and had to wear a bullet-proof vest during patrol. Baker is currently part of a recruiting process to become an officer locally. If chosen, he will go on to complete training at one of the four police academies in Massachusetts. He hopes to graduate in December and plans on continuing his education in criminal justice, attending graduate school at either The University of Massachusetts in Lowell or Dartmouth. Pittsfield saw some substantial criminal activity this summer. According to The Berkshire Eagle, one man was killed and four others were wounded in a shooting which took place in a vacant lot on Linden Street on the night of July 4. This was the first of two reported shootings in the neighborhood, just hours apart. On the afternoon of July 5, police also were investigating another reported shooting in the vicinity of Robbins Avenue, about a block from the first crime scene. The next shooting took place in Pittsfield less than a month later, on July 31. According to the Berkshire Eagle, an 18-year-old city man was found dead following a sus-
pected gang-related shooting on Tyler Street that afternoon. A second victim was placed in intensive care, where he ended up surviving after hours of surgery. As a Pittsfield native, the events that took place there over the summer hit Baker hard. Although he wasn’t present when the initial crime scene procedures were conducted, he was a part of the ongoing investigations in the following weeks. “[Following the shootings], detectives were constantly working; they were making phone calls and they were out in the field,” he said. The detectives took Baker to the scene of each shooting once they were no longer considered “active” crimescenes. Upon arrival, the police took Baker through a stepby-step reenactment of what they believe took place.” “They explained how they came to their conclusion, told me what weapons were used, and took me through investigation techniques,” Baker said. “Since there were limited witness statements, the police were only able to base their conclusions off of evidence, [but I still] learned some great investigation methods.” As Baker began to reflect on the shootings and their impact, he said, “It is a little frustrating that people have to resort to bringing violence so close to home, but what was encouraging about it was the community’s response.” Following the shootings, Pittsfield held events such as ‘A Walk for Peace’ and a candlelit vigil. Baker also says that the police have responded very well to these incidents, and he has even heard of extra
state and local police being moved in to the surrounding areas, where they are much needed. “We have a great police department in Pittsfield, and I couldn’t be more thankful for getting that experience,” he said. This experience has taught Baker a lot, but has also elevated his excitement for becoming a police officer, enabling him to give back to and protect any community he serves. “Overall, my internship was an incredible learning experience,” he said. “I usually hear that interns only do things like make copies and pick up coffee, but I was able to [experience] a lot of hands-on learning, and the people that I worked with were incredible.” One of the most valuable lessons Baker learned was how to mentally deal with tragic situations one might come across as a police officer. “I talked to a lot of officers and detectives about how to handle the stress of the job, and I got a lot of great advice,” he said. “For me that is big, because it is a stressful job and environment to work in, which is something people don’t usually talk about.” Although Baker plans to attend graduate school over a hundred miles away, he says becoming an officer in Pittsfield is a definite possibility afterwards. “I’d love to stay in Pittsfield, it would be nice to be able to work in the community I grew up in, he said. “Giving back to that community is very important to me.”
Segala: study abroad in Shanghai and Barcelona worth the cost The number of students studying internationally is growing exponentially each year Features Writer
Troy Segala’s eyes are round, almost bulging out of his head while talking about his year abroad. As he searches for the perfect words to express himself, his eyes dart across the room. It is obvious how passionate he is about his time spent studying in Shanghai and Barcelona. A year studying business in Shanghai can run a student anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000 a semester. While Segala understands the added cost, meaning more debt in the future, he cannot help but accept it as the only downside to studying abroad. Studying in Asian countries can run students anywhere from $5,000-$9,000 a semester, whereas studying in Europe can be anywhere from $14,000-$18,000. The most expensive countries to study abroad in are Australia and New Zealand, which could in the $18,000-$24,000 range. “The extra cost was worth the extra experience,” Segala states succinctly. “It’s like going to a movie theater and not buying the popcorn. If you want the full experience, you buy the popcorn.” Unfortunately, the price tag can be too high for many who want to gain experience much like Troy. Still, the amount of students studying internationally continues to grow exponentially each year. From 2004 to 2014, there was an increase in over 1,000 students who chose to study abroad. Between 2013 and 2014, the number jumped from 1,250 to 1,422 people studying internationally.
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It is clear which semester had the bigger impact on Segala; his time in Shanghai is what he uses as references and examples when talking about the study abroad process. Although he admits the overall “quality of life” is much lower in China than in the Berkshires, his time spent in a city of 24 million people made him appreciate what he calls the “bigger picture.”
No matter what major you study, you will not only gain life experience, but cultural competence. Troy Segala
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By Nick Tardive
International students were housed in Gubei, or “Old North,” on a campus around the size of Bowman Hall. Besides their Mandarin class, all professors taught in English. Students explore the tall buildings and beautiful, crazed nightlife of the city of Shanghai for themselves. “Exploring Shanghai gives off the feeling that you’re five years in the future,” Segala said. After spending the Fall ‘14 semester in Shanghai, taking business classes and promoting for Chinese night clubs with his friend Cristian Sanchez, Troy opted for a change of pace and studied in Barcelona, Spain during the Spring ‘15 semester. The difference between the two is jarring: Whereas Shanghai is new and innovative, Barcelona represents the old guard. It touts beautifully old architecture, views of the sea, heavy emphasis on art and culture, and
Photo Courtesy of Troy Segala
Segala enjoys Barcelona on an artistic seat during his study abroad trip. very “open” individuals. Segala believes there aren’t enough scholarships or grants available to give everyone the option to go abroad. He suggests offering “initiative-based” scholarships, considering candidates based on merit, not financial status. “If you’re going to study abroad,” Troy says, “you obviously have the merit.” According to the Ashton Darrett, director of Study Abroad Services and CSSE Staff Assistant, scholarships should be more readily available for everyone trying to earn an international education. “People are beginning to understand the
importance of international education,” Darrett says. He also stipulates that while the students understand, the donors paying scholarship money do not. While he agrees with Segala that going abroad makes for a more well-rounded student, Darrett stresses the need for students to understand whether or not paying the money to study internationally is feasible in their economic situation. “Do I think it’s a great experience, and anyone who has the desire to should do it? I do. [However] I also agree with living within your means,” Darrett said.
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Thursday, September 17, 2015
Arts & Entertainment
Beacon.MCLA.edu
The Parlor offers a variety of events and quality food By Jarred Clapp A&E Writer
Upon walking into the Parlor Café’s front door, nearly every sense is stimulated. Live music emanates from the back, multi colored ambient lights cover the walls, and the scent of a mixture of coffee, craft beer, and freshly cooked food wafts from the bar. The Parlor, located just off-campus by the Flagg Townhouses on 303 Ashland St. has something to offer for just about everybody. Every Friday the Parlor hosts an open mic night, welcoming students, graduates, and community members to come share their music, poetry and performance with each other. A collaboration between the café’s owner, Jason Morin, and North Adams-based Common Folk Artist Collective, open mics are some of the Parlor’s most attended events. Other events scheduled at the Parlor include FreshGrass performers “The Littlest Birds” playing a preview show on Wednesday, Sept. 16 before they perform at Mass MoCA’s Bluegrass festival, which runs from September 18 to 20. On October 3 there is an album release party for Izzy Heltai, also featuring Chris Hantman and Luke Tobin. Since its opening in 2012, Morin
and his partner, Elizabeth, have provided a haven of food and creativity for students and locals alike. With a menu offering a vast array of food and beverages for breakfast and lunches, including vegetarian and gluten free options. Their coffee and tea menu is equally as extensive, with hot and cold beverages for those with a sweet tooth and those in need of a caffeine-induced pick me up. “We’re concerned primarily with serving quality food, and we also want to keep it affordable,” Morin says. “Open mic has been the focal point of culture here.” Under the café’s previous ownership it was called the Elf Parlor and also featured open mic performances. Morin attended these events before purchasing the establishment and made sure to continue the tradition. MCLA senior and education major, Alex Hicks-Courant has been visiting the parlor since his freshman year and says his favorite part of the Café and open mics are the “dope performances” and that the Parlor features the “sickest live music and spoken word in the area.” Freshman Dawn Adams visited the Parlor for the first time during last Friday’s open mic. “I came to watch some of my friends perform and I really enjoy it,” Adams says. “I really like the
A&E Writer
There’s something pink in the window display at Gallery 51. A cage-like metal form covered in ribbon, from which springs protrude on all sides. It’s vaguely intestinal. Some kind of disassembled box spring bed frame? A pile of trash wrapped in cloth? Above it, in a simple black font, are the words “Eat me alive so that I may see you from the inside.” Inside the gallery, sculptures rise from the floor like demented fountains built from foam, silk, and cheap plastic appurtenances. The walls are lined with stark ink drawings, supersaturated video stills, and collages reminiscent of medical dictionaries. “Do you think North Adams is ready for all this?” Jenny Gaylord muses, a local, as she looks around the room. Ambient music pours from a wall-mounted television. On the screen, a creature with a reflective mask lies in a pond while a woman with a straw hat wordlessly stuffs multicolored viscera into its transparent onesie. It’s all the work of three artists: Maggie Nowinski, Alicia Renadette, and Torsten Zenas Burns. The three artists, all from Central Mass, are billed equally. Each provides their own piece of a vivid and bizarre puzzle: Renadette’s sculptures, Nowinski’s drawings, and Burns’ film. The film is a good place to start. All three of the artists appear; sitting, dancing, and performing surgeries on one another, and other activities that seem both alien and deliberate. Most of the footage was taken with a shaky handheld camera. The tripod appears occasionally, mostly as a prop in scenes that feature rubber masks spewing smoke into an idyllic New England landscape. Burns has a knack for overlaying multiple video tracks to create a fractured, kaleidoscopic depiction of what was already ludicrous. One particularly alluring scene focuses on
‘No Escape’ Review By Mitchell Chapman A&E Editor
Photo by Jarred Clapp/The Beacon
Adam and Luke Tobin play guitar during one of The Parlor’s staple open mics. vibe, and will definitely be return- sense of community here,” says ing, maybe even performing.” one of the performers, an out-ofDuring the musical perfor- towner called James. “Do you feel mances patrons chatter amongst it?” themselves, especially the 21 and The audience replies with enthuup crowd at the bar, but as soon siastic agreement. as a poet takes the floor there is The Parlor is open Monday only silence, with the exception through Thursday from 7:30a.m. of scattered snaps in approval of to 10p.m., Thursday and Friday particularly impressive verses or from 7:30 to 11:30, Saturday 9:30 stanzas. There is a sense of com- to 11:30, and is closed on Sunmunity within the Parlor that is days. Open mics start at 8:00pm noticeable upon your first visit. every Friday and run for roughly “I’m bowled over by the absolute an hour and a half.
Gallery 51 hosts exotic exhibition By Chris Riemer
In Theaters...
two of the artists in a bathtub, spilling shaving cream onto pink and green plastic toys and rubbing them against their torsos like some sacred ritual while a gentle synthesizer trips along in the distance. After spending enough time in front of the screen, the other pieces in the exhibition can be viewed properly as parts of a central message. The shrine-like clusters of repurposed material and the blown-up microscopic creatures on the wall are contextualized and given life. Ibrahim Wanu, a student who works at the gallery, sums up the feeling: “You start off confused, but then you get comfortable when you realize what’s going on. Then, you get uncomfortable for knowing what’s going on.” Nowinski’s ink prints use little color, but have their own brand of peculiarity. Like science class slides of zooplankton and other microorganisms, the images urge viewers to study them anatomically rather than artistically. On the back wall, a complexly layered lightbox reveals that the artist can do more than impeccable linework: Nowinski is an accomplished installation artist and a studio arts teacher. The sculptures scattered around the floor
bring to mind some kind of living sacrifice. Built from rubber gloves, bubble wrap, yarn, beads, wicker, Christmas lights, textile swatches, and other strange miscellanea, Renadette’s pieces breathe and bleed like the twisted organic entities in Burns’ video. To better understand everything, the artists have filled coffee-table books with images from the film, their lives, and the internet. Within are contained hints of their message and their inspiration. A photo of a glass frog’s intestines showing through its translucent skin calls to mind the see-through suits that appear often in the film. Those looking for a less self-conscious and abrasive examination of shared experience will be better off in Gallery 51’s neighboring space, Press, which is currently featuring printmaking machinery, although student artwork is on display at all times. “Eat me alive so that I may see you from the inside” opened on August 27, and will remain at Gallery 51 until Nov. 1. During the DownStreet Art festival on Sept. 24, the gallery will host a book launch and a screening of another of Burns’ videos, which will feature the other two artists.
When is a movie just a movie? Despite being a very competent thriller, John Erik Dowdle’s “No Escape” has come under some recent heat for its political incorrectness and one-dimensional storyline. The premise is thoroughly ridiculous, as is a staple of movies of this genre. Jack Dwyer (Owen Wilson) is trapped in an unnamed Southeast Asian country during the midst of a public revolt much like the French revolution. Instead of rich aristocrats hitting the chopping block, foreigners are dying (something that is not all that uncommon in certain parts of the world, but to nowhere near this extent). Indeed, just like in the French Revolution, the source of the violence comes from tough economic conditions superimposed on the populace by others. That does not by any means make the actions of the revolutionaries just. The core of this movie has to do with solving legitimate concerns with illegitimate methods (extreme violence). Dowdle also goes to several extremes to dehumanize the revolutionaries, such as having them display a deep and passionate racism toward all foreigners, exemplified by how far they will go to kill our heroes. For this type of tale, it works. In a survival thriller, the main characters are not supposed to know what’s going on, are not supposed to be able to negotiate with the major threat, which in turn should not be limited by the restrains of real life in terms of power. This creates a sense of urgency, as both the viewer and main characters have to be alert every step of the way just to survive. However, this works best with a faceless monster than an entire country of people. The revolutionaries are savage, they are bloodthirsty, and they will do anything they can to kill Wilson’s character and his children. Even when they have him within death’s grasp, that is not enough, going so far as to force his little girl (Sterling Jerins) to shoot her father (though this is unsuccessful). The sad thing is that “No Escape” works as a movie. It kept me engaged the whole time, had a nice organic flow, and made me generally care about Owen Wilson’s character, Lake Bell (Annie Dwyer), and their children. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of anyone else, in particular the hordes and hordes of unnamed revolutionaries.
2/5 stars Photo by Jay Tocco/The Beacon
The exhibition focuses on the bizarre, combining organic imagery with that of the fantastical.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Arts & Entertainment
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FreshGrass returns to MoCA By Mitchell Chapman
A&E Editor Bluegrass and roots music returns to Mass MoCA on Sept. 18-20 as part of the fourth annual FreshGrass festival. The North Adams-based event boasts a large line up of faces old and new, including country pioneer Dwight Yoakam and the Del McCourey Band. Using the museum as a backdrop, the festival offers a unique combination of country music by weaving performances with established artists in between a competition of unsigned talent. Many FreshGrass winners go on to success, such as inaugural winner Cricket Tell the Weather, who has toured the Northeast and has just released their premiere album. “The audience—which has grown by a factor of ten since our first festival in 2011—loves what they find when they get here,” Mass MoCA Director Joseph Thompson said. “Berkshire County in its early fall splendor is reason enough to make the trek.” Other activities planned for the weekend are contests, workshops, and jam sessions, where the musicians play amongst the crowd. The festival also includes children’s programming and camping. Admission to MASS MoCA’s
FreshGrass 2014 opens to a large crowd. Last year had the largest lineup of any FreshGrass festival.
galleries is included with a festival pass. The music competition for the titular FreshGrass award includes 19 finalists competing under the band, duo, banjo, and fiddle categories before a live panel led by Grammy-winning musician Allison Brown. On the line is $250,000 in cash prizes, free recording sessions at Compass Records, and a performance spot at next year’s festival. According to their submission form, artists are selected based on their “compositional originality, instrumental and vocal skills, and stage presence.”
Photos Courtesy of Freshgrass.com
Country pioneer Dwight Yoakam and FreshGrass regulars the Del McCourey band are to open the festival.
Aside from great music, FreshGrass also holds many volunteer opportunities for MCLA students, such as sophomore Dakota Jones and senior Kristina Alexander. “It was rewarding to be part of a music festival that brought artists from all over to the community I live in,” Jones said. “This is a great event in the Berkshires that people should be a part of, to listen to new music, have great food, and meet new people,” Alexander, who is coordinating the FreshGround campsite, said. “The festival itself helps the economic nature of North Adams, creates a spike in tourism and brings new cultural performances to the town of North Adams.” Alexander’s volunteer experience is being documented through the blog https://kristinafreshgroundintern.wordpress.com, and has exclusive insight into many of the behind-the-scenes aspects of the festival. Three day festival passes are available for $99 for adults (or $115 if purchased at the door), $89 for students, $46 for kids 7-16, and are free for children under six. Single day passes are also available at a reduced price. For an updated list of ticket prices, visit http://freshgrass.
Photo from Freshgrass.com
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This is a great event in the Berkshires that people should be a part of. Kristina Alexander
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com/get-tickets/ or call the box office at 413-662-2111. Additional information will also be available on the festival’s website, FreshGrass.com, their facebook page “FreshGrass Festival,” or by contacting info@freshgrass.com. Festival tickets are general admission, and the festival will be held rain or shine. Museum members receive a 10% discount on full-price tickets. The winner of the FreshGrass Award will be announced on the festival main stage in the afternoon on Sunday, September 20.
‘Phoenix’ tells tale of twisted love and deception Sundance hit comes to North Adams through a limited release
the Nazi party have pretty much been covered to death. Because of this, when a piece uses WWII as a backdrop rather than the subject matter, it wears the coat of innovation. Christian Petzold’s “Phoenix” is one such film, providing a very accurate account of what it was like to live in Europe during that time period while providing an intricately-carved narrative. Meet Nelly Lenz (Nina Hoss), a Holocaust survivor Photo from IFC Films who has her face reChristian Petzold’s “Phoenix” film based on constructed after beWWII matters. ing liberated from a concentration camp. Helping her adjust is Lene Winter By Mitchell Chapman (Nina Kunzendorf), a friend from A&E Editor before the war who is wary of her husband, Johnny (Ronald ZehNazis are bad. Through several rfeld), whom she suspects sold history lessons and countless bi- Nelly out to the Nazis. opics, the atrocities performed by The first thing you’ll notice about
the piece is Petzold’s mastery of composition. Not only do the colors pop in a realistic way, but the spacial placement of everything almost resembles a Kubrick film. The first third of the movie, where Nelly is bandaged, could’ve very well been a short film unto its own in the way in which it communicates her struggle, at times relying on more emotions than logic. Unfortunately, the rest of the film does not mesh well with this first third. It seems out of place, as the tone dramatically changes to almost lighthearted. Perhaps this is fair, as Nelly did just emerge from the horror of war (her “ashes”), only to rise anew with a new face and a new life (like a phoenix). Still, I think the unevenness of tone is a valid criticism, thought the remaining thirds more than make up for any awkward transitional segments. In a week seeing the release of an M. Night Shyamalan horror movie, “Phoenix” provides a twist even the “Sixth Sense” director couldn’t have predicted. Out of respect for the movie and its director, I will try to leave this review spoiler free. That being said, the twist is certainly unexpected
if only for the sheer improbability of it actually happening in real life. It’s as if the film was based off of a novel or something (which it Photo from IFC Films is)! Nelly and Johnny embrace in a moment of false Needless love. to say the ous bits and all. film is reliant on the awkward yet “Phoenix” is a quality piece of natural chemistry between Nelly cinema that I’d recommend to all and Johnny. The true brilliance fans of film. Though the first third of the piece comes from how has pacing issues, the rest of the complicated their relationship is. film conveys an experience you Given the interesting backdrop, won’t soon forget. Catch it while natural dialogue, complicated sit- you can. “Phoenix” is currently uation, and small cast, “Phoenix” on a limited release through Sunhas the workings of a great stage dance Selects. play. Petzold went to great lengths to make sure each scene felt organic, as if the viewer was watching real life. This both helps and hurts the piece, as atmosphere is executed quite well while some of the advantages of cutting are abandoned. In other words, it’s very much like real life, extrane-
4/5 stars
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Thursday, September 17, 2015
Sports
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Volleyball winners of five straight Transfer Allison Clark leads Trailblazers to five straight victories and an early lead in the MASCAC
Photo by Kasey Conklin/The Beacon
Junior Allison Clark delivers a spike during a game against Mount Holyoke College. Clark leads all of the MASCAC with 109 kills and is tied with teammate Angelica Perfido for third in digs with 100.
By Jesse Collings Sports Editor
MCLA swept all three sets on Tuesday night against conference foe Westfield State for their fifth straight victory, bringing their record to 6-3 overall and 1-0 in the MASCAC. MCLA battled the Owls in Westfield and were able to narrowly take the first three sets for
the 3-0 victory. The first set went well into overtime, with the Trailblazers eventually taking the set 29-27. MCLA would take the second set 25-20, before taking the clinching third set 28-26 to down Westfield. Westfield dropped to 2-6 overall and 0-1 in the MASCAC. Junior transfer Allison Clark led the way for MCLA with 12 kills, 7 digs and 2 blocked shots. Senior
Courtney Parent and freshman Beatrice Lechler combined for 29 assists and sophomore Chanielle Enomoto added 13 digs. Westfield was led by Kendyl Haney who had 10 kills, and by Courtney Ryan who led all players with 24 assists on the day. The Trailblazers are arguably as hot as they have ever been in program history, having won five straight matches, the last four of
which have been 3-0 shut outs. After starting off the season 1-2, MCLA has reeled off consecutive victories over Pittsburgh-Greensburg, Mount Holyoke, Castleton State, Green Mountain College and now Westfield State. The Trailblazers feature a veteran team that includes Parent, who led the team in assists and was third in digs a year ago. The team also features a lanky front-line led by Juniors Rachel Mills and Sam Anderson who were first and second on the team in kills in 2014. Enomoto has been the top defensive player for MCLA so far and is second in the MASCAC in digs with 153. Sophomores Margaret Allen, Rebecca Godbout and Brianne O’Rourke are back after promising freshmen seasons. The team has so far been anchored by Clark, a transfer from San Jose, CA. Clark leads the MASCAC in kills with 109 and is third in digs. Clark talked to The Beacon about making the transition to MCLA. “I knew that coming from California would be a tremendous change in aspects of volleyball and everyday life but this team as a whole has allowed me the opportunities to establish myself and contribute quickly, on and off the court with the help of their contagious, positive, and loving support I have been blessed with a smooth transition into my volleyball life here,” Clark said. “I just love this game and want to be the best I can be and that alone is
a contribution to myself and the ones around me that push me in the same ways.” Clark chose to come to MCLA because she wanted to experience different weather, as well as to have a healthy separation between her family and loved ones. “I took one of the biggest leaps of my life coming to visit on my recruiting trip last year after Coach Beckwith contacted me months earlier. Once I reached MCLA campus I fell in love. I knew from the moment I got here that it was the right thing to do. So I took a leap and I am so glad I did.” Clark credits her teammates for making the adjustment easier. “There honestly haven’t really been any difficult adjustments playing at MCLA. It has been one of the smoothest transitions of my life. I owe that to the people I surround myself which is mostly those seventeen beautiful women on my team!” The team is coached by Amanda Beckwith who is in her eighth season. Beckwith led MCLA to a 15-14 record last season and qualified for the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament for the first time in school history. The volleyball program has a record of 61-85 over the last five seasons. MCLA hosts Elms tonight at 7 pm and hosts a doubleheader on Saturday. MCLA will play Becker College at 11 am and will then play Green Mountain at 3 pm.
Men’s soccer held to 0-0 draw in CIAO Classic
Photo by Kasey Conklin/The Beacon
MCLA senior Tyler Vona works his way around a UMASS-Dartmouth defender on Saturday. ties for both teams. derson came out a couple of steps By Tyler Bacon The first scoring chance came to shut off the angle and forced Sports Writer when MCLA’s Edward Boateng the shot to go wide of the goal. Senior Sean Kenney had a good The MCLA Men’s Soccer team received a pass on the left side earned a hard-fought 0-0 tie in of the box. His shot was saved by scoring chance in the second half double overtime against Worces- WPI goalie, Jordan Finzel. This when he beat the WPI defense ter Polytechnic Institute on Sun- was the first of many quality saves and was one-on-one with the goalie when Finzel made another day. The tie helped WPI earn first by Finzel on the afternoon. WPI responded with an attack tough save to preserve the tie. place in the 2015 CIAO Classic of their own. WPI’s Frank CilibAnderson had a nice game in Championship. Even though neither team could erto dribbled the ball down the net. Late in regulation, a deflected put a goal on the board, there left side of the field and took a ball found the foot of WPI’s Brenwere plenty of scoring opportuni- shot. MCLA’s goalie Kamron An- dan Nemes from about 10 yards
away. He took a shot and Anderson made a nice diving save to send the game into overtime. In overtime, both teams had a couple of chances to end the game but the ball would not find the back of the net. Both goalies were outstanding in net with Finzel having eight saves and Anderson having seven saves. Senior Ryan Baker thinks the tournament was a great learning experience for the team moving forward. “I think the tournament was a great learning experience for us moving forward,” Baker said. “We found where our mistakes came from on Saturday and made the appropriate adjustments for Sunday and really executed well.” The Trailblazers played the first game of the CIAO Classic Championship against University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and lost by a score of 3-1 on Saturday. The Blazers got on the board early as Anthony Basile knocked in a header from the cross of Tyler Vona. Vona had a chance to make it 2-0 early on but a nice save by the Corsair goalie, Luis Carranza, to keep the game at 1-0. The Corsair’s would score two goals of their own within five minutes of each other to make the score 2-1. UMD put the game away on a penalty kick in the 84th minute
after a controversial hand-ball. MCLA finished the weekend with a record of 0-2-2 but Basile still thinks the tournament does not reflect how good they team is or how they could be later this season. “This year our competition has increased from previous year making us play to our full potential which we haven’t really shown what we are made of just yet,” Basile said. “Our record does not show how hard we work as a team, it simply shows a couple mistakes that are completely fixable. It has been a great learning experience and we all are excited to show what we are capable of.” Junior Dylan Pereira has confidence that MCLA can beat any team they play this year. “We need to find that final piece of our puzzle,” Pereira said. ”We are so good that no matter who we play, we can beat them, but we need to work together as a team and give 150 percent every game and every practice.” The Blazers are in action again on Saturday when they host their first MASCAC opponent of the season, Bridgewater State at 1 p.m. The Bears knocked MCLA out of the MASCAC Tournament last season, defeating the Trailblazers 4-1 in the MASCAC Semi-Finals. The Bears are currently 3-1 on the season.
Sports
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Women’s soccer still looking for offense By Jesse Collings Sports Editor
The Women’s soccer team picked up a victory in its opening game of the season, but has since lost their last three games to bring their record to 1-3 so far in 2015. The Trailblazers got an early goal from junior striker Natalie Caney against Regis College on September 1, and junior keeper Kat Daly and the MCLA defense shut-out Regis for the 1-0 victory. Caney’s goal came in the 5th minute and is recognized by the NCAA as the first official goal of the Division III soccer season. Since then scoring has been an issue for the Trailblazers, as they have been shut-out in their last three games. MCLA dropped home games to Skidmore College and Elms College by identical scores of 1-0, before falling to Smith College on Saturday, September 12 by a score of 2-0. Smith opened the game with a quick goal, as Smith freshman Pamela Larkin scored off of a corner kick in the sixth minute to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead. Smith would add to that lead in the 27th minute off of a long strike from junior Innis Hitt. Goalkeeper Camryn Biasin and the Pioneer defense kept MCLA off the board to secure the win for Smith. Daly finished the game with 7 saves on 9 shots on goal. The Trailblazers are looking to improved on last season’s record
of 5-12-1, which included a mark of 2-5 in conference play. MCLA finished 6th in MASCAC last season and were knocked out in the first round of the MASCAC Tournament last season by Fitchburg State. MCLA features a veteran lineup and returns a majority of their offensive firepower from last season. Caney struggled last season to find the net, scoring only twice in 2014 after finding the net 17 times in her freshmen season in route to being named MASCAC Rookie of the Year in 2013. Junior midfielder Jackie Dwyer was the team’s leading scorer in 2014, tallying 4 goals, is back and should control the center of the field for the Trailblazers. Sophomore Brittany Whitford is looking to build on a promising freshman season where she displayed potential as an offensive force in limited action. Senior back Alexi Anderson was one of the team’s top performers last season, which was her first Photo from MCLA Athletics year as a part of the Trailblazers. Junior striker Natalie Caney has scored the lone goal on the Anderson played all over the field season for MCLA. last season for MCLA, beginning the season as a defender but second in the MASCAC in total career victory as coach of the eventually moving up to the top saves and second in save percent- Trailblazers, as she currently has of the formation and adding an age. The Trailblazer defense leads 96 career wins. MCLA has a reoffensive punch for MCLA, scor- the MASCAC in total defense, cord of 37-46-8 over the last five ing three goals and assisting on having allowed only 4 goals so far seasons. this season. The Trailblazers played Castleanother. Th e Trailblazers are led by ton State on Wednesday and Daly played in 17 games last head coach Deb Raber who is in will open MASCAC this Saturseason as a sophomore and will her 15th season. Th e three-time day against Bridgewater State in again see a majority of the work in MASCAC Coach of the Year winBridgewater. Bridgewater State is net for MCLA. Daly is currently ner is looking to earn her 100th 1-3 heading into the match.
Women’s tennis sharp heading into conference play
Photo by Isabel McKenzie/The Beacon
Sophomore Emily Deaso follows through on a serve during the tennis team’s match against St. Joseph on Saturday. winning their first three contests. By Jesse Collings MCLA opened the season on SepSports Editor tember 3 with an 8-1 road victory The Women’s tennis team is off at Bay Path University. The team to a 3-2 start in 2015 and are look- followed that victory up with two ing to build on last season’s team more, defeating Sage College 7-2 that went 7-7 and qualified for the in their home opener on SeptemNorthern Athletic Conference ber 5 and picking up another road victory on September 7, defeating playoffs. MCLA got off to a fast start, Becker College, 7-2.
The Trailblazers were dealt their first loss of the season last Friday, falling to Worcester State on the road, 7-2. Sophomores Emily Deaso and Mariza Sfakianki earned the points for MCLA. Deaso defeated Worcester States Megan Shepard in the number two singles slot by the score of 6-0, 6-4. Sfakianki defeated Nathalie Khafaga 6-3, 7-5 in the number third singles slot. MCLA dropped a home game to the University of St. Joseph last Saturday, falling to the Blue Jays, 8-1. Sfakianaki picked up the lone point for the Trailblazers, defeating St. Joseph’s Sakinah Abdulsalam in a gritty third singles slot matchup, 2-6, 6-2, 10-7. Deaso nearly came away with a point in the number one singles competition, but ultimately dropped the matchup to Rebecca Mauri, 6-7, 7-6, 10-4. Freshman Taylor Turner and Junior Shelby Gauthier also nearly picked up a point in doubles play, falling to the St. Joseph duo of Abdulsalam and Ashley Savino, 9-8 in the number two doubles slot. The Trailblazers return many of their key players from last season’s squad that was led by an impressive class of freshmen. Deaso and Sfakianki are back to stabilize the top seeded matches. “The biggest reason why the team has been able to find success early in the season is because we have several returners who helped the team make the playoffs last year,” Sfakianki said. Turner has seen some time in
the number one singles slot early in the season and has picked up victories in singles and doubles play in the matches against Bay Path and Becker. Juniors Gauthier and Rebecca Waterhouse, along with senior Kylie Dumas, add an experienced edge to the Trailblazers. Deaso talked about the team’s expectations for this season. “All of us worked hard in the off season which helped us focus on specific skills during our preseason and we continue to grow as team now during the season,” Deaso said. “The team’s expectations I think are to try our best, be confident and play to the best of our abilities and hope that all of our hard work pays off.” MCLA is led by head coach Holly McGovern who is in her fourth season as coach of the Women’s tennis program. After going 4-18 over her first two seasons, McGovern went 7-7 with a record of 4-2 in NAC play last season and was named the NAC Coach of the Year. “The team’s expectations this season are to qualify for the playoffs, try our best during practices, play as hard as we can during the matches, and work all together as one team,” Sfakianaki said. The Trailblazers opened up NAC play on Wednesday at Lyndon State and will continue this weekend as they host Green Mountain College on Friday beginning at 3:30 pm. The team will continue NAC play on Tuesday when they travel north to Vermont to play the Castleton State Spartans.
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Scores Men’s Soccer Saturday, September 12 MCLA vs UMASS-Dartmouth 3-1, L Sunday, September 13 MCLA vs WPI 0-0, 2 OT Women’s Soccer Saturday, September 12 MCLA @ Smith College 2-0, L Women’s Tennis Friday, September 11 MCLA @ Worcester State 7-2, L Saturday, September 12 MCLA vs St. Joseph 8-1, L Golf Saturday, September 12 & Sunday, September 13 MCLA @ Williams College Invitational 19th Men’s Cross Country Saturday, September 12 MCLA @ Castleton State Invitational 3rd Women’s Cross Country Saturday, September 12 MCLA @ Castleton State Invitational 6th Volleyball Saturday, September 12 MCLA @ Castleton State 3-0 ,W MCLA vs Green Mountain @ Castleton State 3-0, W Tuesday, September 15 MCLA @ Westfield State 3-0, W
Schedules Thursday, September 17 Volleyball MCLA vs Elms 7 pm Friday, September 18 Women’s Tennis MCLA vs Green Mountain 3:30 pm Saturday, September 18 Men’s Soccer MCLA vs Bridgewater State 1 pm Women’s Soccer MCLA @ Bridgewater State 4 pm
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Opinion
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Beacon.MCLA.edu
What’s your favorite part about the new Bowman Hall? “I like how cool it is! It’s cool, comfortable...it feels like I want to learn something.” -Luke O’Brien, 2019
“I haven’t really been in it yet.” -Gwen Plante, 2019
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Editorial
Students are also trying to play a role in maintaining safety. They have been checking MCLA ID’s at off campus parties, but they can’t always control what happens nearby.
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The Beacon believes a campus wide meeting will improve communication amongst everyone in the communinty.
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cort service is not always reliable, and have experienced a delay in the time it takes a public safety officer to arrive. From students’ perspective, it appears that crime is rising, and although bad things can happen anywhere, it seems more pressing now because MCLA is a small campus. We are such a small community that there is a greater chance of someone we know being hurt. This can make some people more paranoid than if they were walking around a big city. It is important students attend a meeting like this so we show a united front. An increased police presence may seem comforting, but we get mixed messages when Public Safety says they will be targeting parties and social gatherings off campus. North Adams Police, however, say they are focusing solely on catching the “outside element” and ask for the students’ help in identifying unwelcomed guests. This is another reason why a campus-wide meeting would be beneficial. Increased police personnel will monitor the area closely, including officers from various departments nearby, according to North Adams Police. On Friday night two state trooper cars were parked in the overflow lot next to Public Safety until about 3 a.m. Students have seen more police cars along Blackinton Street and Montana Street.
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Who’s responsible for our safety? The most recent campus safety notice released on Friday morning told us that a non-MCLA student was attacked by three individuals. According to the crime and safety alert, the assault is one of several incidents that occurred over the past few weeks. Later on Friday, a community meeting for off-campus students was held in the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation with Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Catherine Holbrook, Interim Director of Public Safety Daniel Colonno, and Officer Laura Lefebvre. Colonno said at the meeting that students should practice situational awareness by not looking down at a cell phone while walking, not using headphones, and to always walk with a buddy, especially at night. For students off campus, walking by the townhouses and toward Public Safety is a better route than down Blackinton Street. Public Safety offers a free escort service to students who feel uncomfortable walking on campus. However, some students say they aren’t aware of the escort service, such as Senior Josh Farland. “I got the safety notice and it surprises me to think that stuff is happening here. It seems like a really quaint town,” Farland said. As a townhouse resident, Farland feels safe and comfortable walking back to his room at any point. Other students say that the es-
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.
Other steps students can take to be safer, aside from public safety escorts, include a digital alternative to feel safe while walking home at night. According to Business Insider, a new smart phone app called The Companion allows users to be virtually walked home via GPS by a friend or family member. The app detects changes in movements and will ask the user if they are ok if they fall, are pushed, start running, change their path, or have their headphones yanked out of the phone. The user must press a button within fifteen seconds on the app to confirm their status. If the button is not pressed, an alarm system is activated on the phone to scare criminals away and allows for the option to call the police. It is important for students to look out for each other and
spread information about these apps, about people who may be likely to cause trouble, and to offer to walk each other home in large groups. We can also make plans with friends before we go out for the evening. Although it is not easy to predict when a crime will be committed, there are steps students can take to feel safe both on and off campus, and we hope the law enforcement community can work with us closely.
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Editorial Board Co-Editors in Chief Makayla-Courtney McGeeney Nicholas Swanson Co-Web Editors Jake Mendel Matt Aceto
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Thursday, September 17, 2015
Check it Out!
Upcoming events on campus
Today, Sept. 17
President’s Ice Cream Social Academic Quad 2-4 p.m. Constitution Day Lecture Murdock Conference Reception Room 218 4-7 p.m. MassPirg Kickoff Meeting Amsler Campus Center Sullivan Lounge 5-6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 18
Honors Opening Gathering Murdock Hall Conference Reception Room 218 3:30-5:30 p.m. Departure Meeting for Study Abroad Sullivan Lounge 4-5 p.m. Night of Asia Venable Gym 5-7 p.m.
Announcements, Events, & Opinion
Beacon.MCLA.edu
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MCLA to Moderate Mayoral Debate in October
MCLA, in cooperation with the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, will host a general election debate for this year’s contested race for mayor of North Adams on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. in the MCLA Church Street Center’s Eleanor Furst Roberts Auditorium. This event is free and open to the public. This year’s candidates, Mayor Richard Alcombright, former Mayor John Barrett III and Eric Rudd, an artist and real estate developer, face off in a primary election on September 22, 2015. The top two vote-getters in the primary will move to the general election, and will participate in the debate. The debate is being organized and run by an upper-level political science class on state and local politics. The class is taught by Dr. J. Benjamin Taylor, an as-
sistant professor of political science at MCLA. Taylor said the debate is important because it is about the future of North Adams at a pivotal time. “According to media reports and public statements by elected officials and community leaders, North Adams seems to be reaching a critical mass of arts, recreation, education and innovation investment that could put the city at the center of the creative economy for the foreseeable future,” he said. In addition, the event will benefit the MCLA students who will host and organize it, Taylor said, because it directly connects the academic literature in state and local politics to the practical realities of campaigning for office and governing.
“It also provides students with a chance to hone their research, writing and public speaking skills,” Taylor continued. “While the candidates will be the focus of the event, the preparation that goes into an event like this is immense, and will be a good proxy for students as they begin to transition their thinking from class-based to career and skill-based.” He added, “MCLA students are excellent, and they can use this event as a way to showcase their skills and ability for the wider community in an effort to provide a community service.” In addition to seating in the auditorium, the social hall with a video feed also will be available for overflow.
Intramurals to kick off Monday with cornhole, dodgeball and doctor, doctor The Intramural (IM) Department is ready to start the year with two new exciting sports for students and a student favorite. The IM Department will host these sports in Venable Gym each starting at 8 pm on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Monday night will be Bag-O, Tuesday night will be a student favorite, Dodgeball, and Wednesday night will be Doctor, Doctor. Doctor, Doctor is a game mixed up of freeze tag and captures the flag.
The object is to tag all of the opposing team’s members, but the “doctor”on a team can save the tagged teammates. The “doctor” can also be tagged when they come out of the safe zone, so watch out doctors! Besides trying new sports in the first session, the IM Department has started some new initiatives, like statistic tracking for each sport, posting team standings on different media formats, awarding an overall MVP for each sport,
and increasing their social media presence. If you are interested in signing up for any one of the three sports stop by Adam Hildabrand’s office on the third floor of the campus center, stop by at our table in the market place, or email your roster and the captain’s cell phone number to A.Hildabrand@mcla.edu by September 18th!
Saturday, Sept. 19 Allegrettos Auditions Church Street Center Auditorium 2-5 p.m. SAC Bingo Venable Gym 8-9:30 p.m.
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Thursday, September 17, 2015
Photo Essay
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Students stand outside of the newly renovated Bowman Hall in between classes.
Welcome Back! Junior Bryanna Bradley and senior Alexandra Kadell help move freshmen into Hoosac Hall as a part of Helping Hands.
Photos by Liz Quirk
Members of the men’s soccer team prepare to move freshmen into Berkshire Towers
Interim President James Clemmer greets students while they check in at Hoosac Hall on move-in day.
English/Communications Professor David Langston prepares for a lecture in Bowman Hall during the first week of classes.