Student Newspaper of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts North Adams, Mass.
The Beacon
For more content, visit online at: Beacon.MCLA.edu Volume 79 ◆ Issue 8
Th u r s d ay, N o v e m b e r 6 , 2 0 1 4
Veterans take advantage 12th Annual of connections through Harlequin Revue resource center
See page 6 for story
The VRC works with Solider On and other organnizations to enhance veterans career By Isabel McKenzie Staff Writer
A student hurrying to class in Venable Hall might not spare a glance at Room 309. But behind this door, a former storage space has been transformed into the Veterans Resource Center (VRC) which opened last spring. The space has created a way for veterans on campus to find and support one another. “How many times do you [want to] do something on campus, and everyone says yes?” said Theresa O’Bryant, the interim vice president of Student Affairs, who spearheaded the effort to open the VRC last April. With an original budget of zero dollars, the campus community came together to open the VRC and make it what it is today. President Mary Grant and her husband donated a flat screen television that hangs on the wall of the VRC, while the American Legion Post 152 of Williamstown gave a framed world map on which veterans can pin where they have served. Everything in the room was either donated or found in storage space at the college. The VRC establishes connections between student veterans, along with providing academic and financial resources to support veterans in the completion of their degrees. The VRC hosts monthly meetings to connect veterans with CSSE, Financial Aid, and the Registrar’s office, and to determine what else the veterans might need. ”Going through education and going
through college experience as a cohort is the primary motivation for having a center where they can find each other,” O’Bryant said. The veteran students who use the VRC are of different ages and branches of service. Children of veterans on benefits also use the VRC. “The population existed before,” Director of Student Development Celia Norcross said. “Now, when we give them the space in which they can make these connections, is when they become powerful, when they become engaged, when they become an entity on campus. Rather than just a student or a vet, separate, now they’re a student veteran. They combine and it makes them more powerful.” O’Bryant said some veterans were meeting up and going to hockey games together outside the realm of the VRC. “If not for the VRC, the vets who do things together wouldn’t have found each other and wouldn’t be going to games together,” she said. For the future of the VRC and its efforts, O’Bryant said they will do more of the same. “Whatever we do has to contribute to the veteran’s interest,” she said. Norcross also said there is exciting potential growth for these efforts. A small budget has been provided for the VRC as of this year, and connections have been made with a local Soldier On organization, which is committed to ending veteran homelessness. Norcross added that more resources can develop from connections such as these.
Beacon File Photo
A veteran student cuts the ribbon on the opening of the Veteran Resource Center in the spring.
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News
Photo by Osakpolo Igiede/The Beacon
Senior Courtney McLaren dances in the 2014 Musical Theatre’s Harlequin Revue.
3 presidential candidates to be chosen by February By Nick Swanson Senior News Editor
The presidential search committee is continuing to find potential candidates and consider nominations for the next president of MCLA “There’s multiple ways the candidate pool is being formed and created,” Mary Ellen Olenyk, director of Human Resources, said. Members on the presidential search committee include students, employees, faculty, members of the board of trustees, and alumni. “The way the process works is, the search committee will review the qualified candidates and come up with a semi finalist list, and until that point it is confidential,” Olenyk said. The recruitment process will happen through November and December. According to Olenyk, the committee will then present 3-5 finalists from the list to the MCLA Board of Trustees in February. The members of the committee created a profile on the presidential search page on the MCLA website last Friday, which lists characteristics the committee is searching for in a new college president. The Leadership Qualities and Capabilities section says the President will be a visionary leader and an effective and skilled administrator who demonstrates success and potential at building high-performing teams,
developing and sustaining the relationships necessary for advocacy and fundraising, and telling the MCLA story with passion, energy, and enthusiasm. Nancy Martin, a partner at Archer-Martin Associates was hired to work with focus groups. Olenyk said information found from speaking during meetings with the focus groups helped develop the profile. Several students on the committee had an opportunity to sit with Martin. “They’re there to represent the student voice, that’s why we have different people on the search committee, so they can speak for students, and then faculty that will represent faculty,” Olenyk said. She said because MCLA is such an integral part of the Berkshire community and North Adams it is important to hear from many different groups. Olenyk also said the next opportunity the campus community will have to get more involved is when the finalists come to the MCLA campus and host public interviews in mid-February. “The final candidate has to be approved by the Board of Higher Education, and the final decision is planned for mid-March,” Olenyk said. The position for college president is currently being advertised on Chronicle of Higher Ed, Inside Higher Ed, Higher Ed Jobs, as well as Diverse Issues in Higher Ed.
Arts & Entertainment
Sports
Charlie Baker takes the role of Mass. Governor
“Water & Earth” exhibit on display at Gallery 51
Men’s soccer advances to MASCAC Semi-finals
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News Arts & Entertainment Sports Campus Opinion Local Events Photo Essay
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Campus News
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Weekend Weather
Grant thanks students at SGA and this is about our collective future, whoever comes and works with (SGA) you will be fortunate,” President Grant said. “Every step of the way, your leadership will make a difference on how these turn out.”
Thursday, November 6
Williams College collaborative
By Nick Swanson Senior News Editor
Rain High: 50° Low: 39° Prec. Chance: 90%
Friday, November 7
PM Rain/Snow High: 41° Low: 27° Prec. Chance: 40%
President Mary Grant addressed the SGA to show appreciation for their work during her years at the college. “It has been a privilege to work with so many great students who take up the leadership responsibility,” Grant said. “To put yourself out there to run for office shows you put time into making a difference, not only just for the current class but the future class.” “Thank you to student leaders here at MCLA, I will always remain connected to MCLA as a graduate of this institution,” President Grant said. President Grant encouraged SGA to meet the candidates in the upcoming presidential search. “You are an impressive group
Partly Cloudy High: 43° Low: 36° Prec. Chance: 0%
Sunday, November 9
The week of 10/26-11/1
◆ 1:31 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a medical call at the Amsler Campus Center. The subject was transported to the hospital.
Tuesday, October 28 ◆ 9:21 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a call for a medical transport at the MountainOne Wellness Center. The subject was transported to the hospital.
◆ 7:32 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a call to jump start a broken down vehicle at Gallery 51. The call was completed.
◆ 11:38 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a call for a medical transport at the MountainOne Wellness Center. The subject was transported via taxi.
◆ 9:36 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a call regarding a vehicle lockout at the Ashland Street Parking Lot. Services were rendered.
◆ 12:26 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a call regarding suspicious activity on Montana Street. The call was investigated.
Monday, October 27
◆ 5:51 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a weapons offense at the Amsler Campus Center. Christopher LaFrance of 743 Simonds Rd. was arrested for charges of disturbing the peace, resisting arrest, carrying a firearm on school grounds, carrying a licensed firearm while intoxicated, carrying a large capacity feeding device, and violating the open container ordinance.
◆ 9:33 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a call regarding vandalism at The Freel Library. A report was filed. ◆ 1:41 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a 911-hang-up call at the Amsler Campus Center. No action was required.
Cloudy High: 44° Low: 30° Prec. Chance: 20%
According to SGA President Brendan Peltier, members of SGA are being shuttled to Williams College in Williamstown; there they will see how their college council works in comparison to MCLA. The two institutions will also give each other feedback on other subjects, such as having a statue of their mascot put somewhere on campus. “Williams was looking for cow like we are looking for mountain lion, so together we are trying to find the same ceramic animal maker,” Peltier said. Peltier said Williams is new to the (ceramic) searching process, but this shows something can already come from the relationship with Williams College. He said the colleges will also share their stipulations on how their spring concerts are organized.
Pledge against sexual assault According to Peltier, President Obama started a campaign called ‘Its On Us,’ a platform for individuals to make a pledge that takes a stand against sexual assault. Peltier plans to team up with the Susan B. Anthony Women’s Center to find the best way to complete the pledge. “This is a valuable program to spread awareness,” Peltier said. According to itsonus.org, the pledge is a personal commitment to help keep women and men safe from sexual assault. It is a promise not to be a bystander to the problem, but to be part of the solution. Others can take the pledge individually at www.itsonus.org Possibility of new student voting system Peltier presented to SGA the idea to buy a program that will update their voting system. According to Peltier, through this system clubs and organizations can hold their elections or polling online under a code system. SGA Senator at-large Colby
Harvish suggested searching for a freeware program instead of spending money on a new program. “Student votes are mostly confidential already, there could be a way to hold voting over an email box and then we can just use our A number, something we all know,” Harvish said. STAGE initiative Students Taking Action for Gender Equality (STAGE) will present their new initiative for possible funding from the SGA supplemental budget. The club asked for $275 dollars to fund food during their leadership auction on Nov. 22. According to SGA treasurer Nicholas Hernigle, the money will go to the Elizabeth Freeman center in North Adams. Hernigle said this is a new program that did not claim this money last year, which is why their budget does not support it. He explained the budget finance committee already approved the request, now SGA must in order for it to be passed. STAGE will fully present their initiative at the next meeting.
Campus Police Logs Sunday, October 26
Saturday, November 8
Beacon.MCLA.edu
◆ 6:55 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a fire alarm at the Flagg Townhouse Apartment Complex Parking Lot. The fire was extinguished.
Wednesday, October 29 ◆ 7:54 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a call regarding
suspicious activity at the Flagg Townhouse Apartment Complex Parking Lot. The call was investigated. Thursday, October 30 ◆ 1:36 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a motor vehicle accident on Montana Street. Services were rendered. ◆ 1:38 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a call regarding suspicious activity at Murdock Hall. No action was required. ◆ 2:46 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a call to jump start a broken down vehicle at the Ashland Street Parking Lot. Services were rendered. ◆ 6:20 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a medical call at the Berkshire Towers Complex. The subject was transported via taxi. ◆ 9:41 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a call regarding a vehicle lockout at the Berkshire Towers Complex Parking Lot. Services were rendered. ◆ 11:06 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a call regarding suspicious activity at the
Ashland Street Parking Lot. The subject was gone upon arrival. Friday, October 31 ◆ 1:58 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a call regarding suspicious activity at the Flagg Townhouse Apartment Complex near A and B blocks. The call was investigated. ◆ 5:45 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a call regarding suspicious activity at the Amsler Campus Center. The subject was issued a warning. ◆ 11:19 p.m. - Public Safety stopped a motor vehicle at the corner of Montana Street and Hoosac Street. The subject was issued a warning. Friday, October 31 ◆ 2:30 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a call regarding trespassing at Venable Hall. No action was required. ◆ 3:40 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a call requesting a medical transport at the Berkshire Towers Complex. The subject was transported to the hospital.
News
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Republicans move into the Senate
Beacon.MCLA.edu
The results are in...
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By Caitlin O’Neill Staff Writer
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Photo from the Boston Globe
Charlie Baker wins Massachusetts governor with 1,040,682 votes in favor.
Charlie Baker elected governor Voters decided to elect Baker, kill the Bottle Bill and keep casinos alive By Caitlin O’Neill Staff Writer
Charlie Baker is governor, the Bottle Bill is dead, and casinos are here to stay in Massachusetts as the results of Tuesday’s midterm elections. The race for governor was neck-and-neck throughout the day, and for a while it looked as though Martha Coakley was pulling ahead. Baker won in the end, however, with 48.45 of votes to Coakley’s 46.60 percent. According to Boston.com, approximately 34 percent of those registered voted in Boston, and statistics were similar across the state. On a national level, only around 13 percent of people aged 18 to 29 voted in this year’s election. Students and faculty were asked their thoughts on the results of
the gubernatorial race. “I stayed up until after 2am waiting for all of the Senate elections,” senior Brendan Peltier said. “Being a moderate Democrat, I wanted to see Baker win,” he added. “He is a truly partisan candidate.” “Baker has spent this campaign trying to depict himself as more moderate than in his last electoral debut,” junior Lucas McDiarmid said. “Here in Massachusetts, voter trends appear to show that we prefer a democratic legislature with a conservative executive.” For ballot questions, he expansion of the Bottle Bill was shot down by a 73.4 percent “No” vote, which struck many students as surprising. “There was a lot of hope around campus, if not a sense of certainty, that it would pass,” McDiarmid observed. Over the summer, a Boston
Globe poll showed approximately 62 percent of voters supported the expansion, but campaigns from opponents of the bill effectively changed minds. Casinos and related forms of gambling will remain legal in Massachusetts, with a 60 percent vote in favor of keeping them, which will allow new casinos to be built in the state. “The bottle bill and casino defeat were due in large part to the role of money,” political science professor Robert Bence said. He added that systematic polling will have to take place before we can be certain of voters’ intentions, however. The contest was close by comparison, but voters chose to repeal the law linking the gas tax to inflation by 52 percent. Question 4 got a “yes” vote, by approximately 60 percent.
The Independent candidates for governor had predictably small percentages, but United Independent candidate Evan Falchuck received 3.31 percent, which was a small victory. Three percent is the state threshold for making a party official, so United Independent can now hold primary elections and field legislative candidates, according to boston.com. The Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate seats remain Democratic, though the national majority in these areas went to the Republican party. “With elections over and the referendums decided, it is time, as a Commonwealth, to move forward,” McDiarmid said. “We have our governor, and we need to pull together to work for the best interests of the people of Massachusetts.”
Faculty approve three-year contract Contract includes 3.5 percent raise and smoother tenure, promotion process By Idalis Foster Staff Writer
Faculty from the state university of Massachusetts voted on the ratification of a contract, which will include a 3.5 percent increase in the salaries of day contracts. It will also have improvements to the tenure and post tenure review process, and allow faculty to go through one evaluation for both tenure and promotion at once. The ratification was voted on at each of the nine colleges in the state system, with 92 percent of faculty in favor of the changes. The contract will take effect immediately and be in place for the next three years. “There usually are faculty bargainers from some of the different state universities who come together with representatives of the administration, like the college presidents and vice presidents,” said Sumi Colligan, president of the MCLA Association. “They negotiate and whatever they come up with is the contract: a mutual agreement between faculty and the administration.” The MCLA Association is the faculty union on campus and is a local chapter of the Massachusetts State College Association (MSCA), the statewide faculty union. MSCA informs
the local chapters of any faculty news at their colleges through emails, newsletters, and open meetings. According to Colligan, MCLA has had bargainers at these negotiations in the past, but for the negotiations surrounding this ratification, the MCLA Association had no representative. Previously, combing through the faculty files during post-tenure has rested on the shoulders of the vice president, leading to one of the biggest changes in the ratification.
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The state legislature helps come up with the funding to help pay peoples’ raises. We’re hopeful; it hasn’t happened yet, but we’re very hopeful that they will honor the contract and come up with the money.
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The Republican Party took the Senate and House majority in Tuesday’s midterm elections. “Everybody saw this coming,” MCLA senior Brendan Peltier said in observation, “but some people, including me, were hoping it did not happen. All I can do is hope that the Republicans try to work with President Obama to work through partisan issues.” According to political science professor Robert Bence, while more research and polling will need to be done to have any certainty about voter intentions and actions, there are a number of factors that could be contributing to the Republican majority this election. “Most of the Republican candidates have moved to the ideological middle, escaping the extremist label they have had, so possibly independent voters felt more comfortable voting for them,” Bence said. He also said votes could be influenced by the money candidates spent on their campaigns, the highest amount ever for midterm elections. Another important factor is voter turnout. Many demographics that typically lean democratic, such as young voters, single women, and ethnic minorities, had a very poor turnout this election season. According to an NBC news article, only 13 percent of voters were between the ages of 18 and 29 this Tuesday. 21 percent were single women, 12 percent African-American, and Latino voters made up only 8 percent. Considering the overlap between all of these categories, the Democratic voters made up a very small percentage of the total electorate. What does this new regime mean for the country? According to Bence, that is difficult to predict, but the Republican control will likely contribute to the existing “gridlock” in Washington. “Republicans may at least appear to be more moderate and cooperative, since they will be preparing to try to win the presidency in 2016. Turnout is much higher in presidential elections, so Republicans have to be careful not to alienate the independents who voted for them this year,” Bence noted.
Sumi Colligan, president of the MCLA Association
“Now, the vice presidents can share the work with deans,” said Colligan. “[They] can assume some shared responsibility to read the files.” Since Cindy Brown, vice president of aca-
demic affairs, is becoming interim president this year, she can no longer read these files, which means Dean Monica Joslin will read those files by herself. The implementation of the contract also relies on the state legislature’s ability to help fulfill it. “The state legislature helps come up with the funding to help pay peoples’ raises,” Colligan said. “We’re hopeful; it hasn’t happened yet, but we’re very hopeful that they will honor the contract and come up with the money.” The issue of salary raises for faculty is on the mind of not just Colligan, but many faculty members, including Professor of Environmental Science Elena Traister. “There seems to be a bit of political maneuvering going on at the moment, which is putting those raises in jeopardy,” said Traister. “I am optimistic that the issues will be sorted out and all parties will respect the intent of the ratified contract so the faculty will be able to receive those raises.” Traister also added that she was “pleasantly surprised” upon learning about the raises in the new contract and was grateful for the union representatives both on campus and at the state level.
Campus News
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Freshman plans to start new student film club
Life under a microscope
Biology major enjoys exploring cultures through campus clubs
Chapman’s interest in animation sparks effort to create films
By Nicholas Swanson Senior News Editor
By Juanita Doss
Elizabeth Diaz has a mind for microbiology and a passion for sharing different cultures with the campus community. Diaz plans to graduate next year with a degree in biology, and then attend graduate school to earn a doctorate in microbiology. She is specifically interested in the study of pathogens and microorganisms within microbiology. “I find life under a microscope very interesting,” Diaz said. “I’ve had lab classes but I feel the most interesting ones are going to be from now on, where I can learn more about microbiology.” Diaz said in the future, she would like to work in a hospital or lab analyzing blood and exploring different experiments. For now, she plans to apply for an internship with Ann Billetz, chair of the biology department. “Anatomy and physiology also interest me because we get to explore the body. Even though it’s through a cat, it’s very interesting to be able to dissect them by separating their veins, arteries, and different organs,” she said. When she’s not in the lab, Diaz is active in various multicultural organizations on campus. She is currently treasurer of the Latin American Society (LAS) and a member of the Black Student Union (BSU), Cape Verdian Student Alliance (CVSA), and the ALANA Club Council. As LAS treasurer, Diaz controls many plans for events and allocates the necessary funds for each of them. She ran for the position after helping organize the biggest event for LAS last semester, “All Around the World.”
Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Diaz
Junior Elizabeth Diaz plans to attend graduate school and continue her commitment to culture on campus. “I enjoy working for LAS and in the lab,” Diaz said. “In LAS we plan events, and then we make them happen. It’s like the same thing in lab; you learn what you need and then put it into practice.” According to Diaz, since the club has members from many different countries, they can learn a lot more about different parts of the world. The overall goal of LAS is to make activities that allow people to learn about different cultures. During the “All Around the World” event, there were people representing numerous countries. Some created informative posters about their country, while others performed or brought food from their culture. There was also a lecture about LAS and the reason for the event, according to Diaz. She helped the last e-board with
centerpieces, schedule programs, and food, and helped to set up the entire event. She said she enjoys tasks such as getting registration forms, setting up rooms, organizing the bus schedule, and other event planning. “Teamwork is most important, because if the work falls only on one person it’s very stressful, so it is important for all of the e-board members to work together for events to happen,” Diaz said. So far Diaz has organized the LAS Welcome Back BBQ, and the ALANA potluck during Fall Family Weekend. Planning for this year’s “All Around the World” event starts in December. ALANA will also be involved in the upcoming Clark Conference. “Through these events, other people have the opportunity to see and learn how we motivate the club,” Diaz said.
Freshman Mitchell Chapman always had a passion for film. He now hopes to share that with other MCLA students by creating a film club. “I want to create a place where people can make films together and post it on the club’s YouTube channel,” Chapman said. During his high school career, Chapman created his own stop motion film, which he posted on Cinema Block, a website for editorial programming. Chapman was inspired to create and upload films online by film critic Doug Walker. While creating his film, Chapman played as the director, voice actor, photographer, and animator. With the start of his new club, he wouldn’t have to be responsible for all the roles.
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I want to create a place where people can make films together. Mitchell Chapman, film club founder
“We will have a traditional e-board, but also an elective board who will focus on what genre of film we should focus on, or whether to post it on YouTube or sell,” Chapman said. According to the club’s constitution, the elected board would be a sub-group of the main E-board.
michael s. and K it t y duK aKis public policy lec ture
JOSE ANTONIO VARGAS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13
7:00 PM
mcla church street center eleanor Furst roberts auditorium A Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Jose Antonio Vargas’ personal journey contends with some of the most fascinating stories he’s covered, living a double life since he was 16 years old. Today Vargas runs Define American, a non-profit organization that seeks to elevate the conversation around immigration.
Free and open to the public. Made possible through the generosity of the Ruth Proud Charitable Trust.
m a ssa c h u set t s college oF li beral art s
375 Church Street, North Adams, MA 413 662 5391 mcla.edu
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The aspect of film Chapman is most focused on is animation. He rarely focused on the lighting until he realized that it plays an important role. When he received his refund check he didn’t buy clothes; he bought professional lights to continue his passion. Chapman would like the first event Film Club hosts to be a movie night where students
Photo by Agnella Gross/The Beacon
Mitchell Chapman ‘18, plans to build an elective board for a new film club on campus where students could view and create films together. would watch and analyze a film. According to Chapman, the club doesn’t need too much money. Instead, he will use the resources that MCLA offers students, such as the TV studio. He also owns a professional camera.. If the club is approved, Chapman will advertise it by posting flyers around campus and creating profiles on social media. Chapman is an English/ Communications major with a concentration in creative writing, though he is in the process of changing his concentration to film studies.
Visit our Web site to listen to a WJJW podcast of this week’s news. Beacon.MCLA.edu
U.S. & World News
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Nation and World Briefs Nation
Oklahoma’s abortion restriction on hold
The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday temporarily put on hold a state law restricting abortions while the issue is argued in a lower court. The unanimous action by the high court means that women in Oklahoma can continue to use the prescription drugs mifepristone and misoprostol, which induce abortion in the early weeks of pregnancy.
Scientists: fracking contributes to quakes
Evidence is growing that fracking for oil and gas is causing earthquakes that shake the heartland. States such as Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Ohio are being hit by earthquakes that appear linked to oil and gas activity. While the quakes are far more often tied to disposal of drilling waste, scientists also increasingly have started pointing to the fracking process itself.
Warm ocean brings odd species to West Coast
Hawaiian ono swimming off the California coast? Giant sunfish in Alaska? A sea turtle usually at home off the Galapagos Islands floating near San Francisco? Rare changes in wind patterns this fall have caused the Pacific Ocean to warm to historic levels, drawing in a bizarre menagerie of warm-water species.
World
WHO optimistic about world response to Ebola GENEVA — The World Health Organization has detected slowing in the number of reported new cases of Ebola infections in West Africa in recent days, leading its top official in charge of combating the outbreak to express cautious optimism Wednesday that health workers may be gaining a modicum of control over the disease. “It appears the trend is real. There may be a slowing of the epidemic there,” said Bruce Aylward, the WHO’s assistant director general.
Shiite holiday passes without pilgrim attacks
BAGHDAD — The new Iraqi government passed a major security test Tuesday as millions of Shiite Muslims marched in huge processions on one of their sect’s holiest days, unbloodied by the Sunni Muslim extremist attacks that have marred the commemorations in years past. The gatherings mourn the death of Hussein Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, in a battle more than 13 centuries ago at Karbala, that cemented the schism between Shiites and Sunnis.
Beacon.MCLA.edu
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Teen invents compact Braille printer Eighth grader’s creation could make Braille print more accessible, less expensive MCT Campus
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Last December, seventh-grader Shubham Banerjee asked his parents how blind people read. A Silicon Valley tech professional, dad Neil Banerjee told his son to “Google it.” So Shubham did, and with a few Internet searches he learned about Braille, the tactile writing system used by the blind, and Braille printers, which, to the 12-year-old’s shock, cost thousands of dollars. One school science fair victory, a few national accolades, $35,000 of his parents’ savings and a visit to the White House later, Shubham today is the founder of Palo Alto startup Braigo Labs, which aims to become the first purveyor of low-cost, compact Braille printers. And on Tuesday, Intel Capital announced it has invested in the teenager’s company, making Shubham the world’s youngest tech entrepreneur to receive venture capital funding. “It was curiosity,” explained Shubham, now 13 and an eighthgrader at Champion School in San Jose. “I’m always thinking up something. If you think it can
be done, then it can probably be done.” What started as a home-built Lego project for a science fair has morphed into a family-run startup. The seed funding from Intel will allow the Santa Clara family to hire engineers and product designers, allowing Shubham to return his focus to school and easing the financial burden on the Banerjee family; Neil was contemplating dipping into his 401(k) before Intel made its offer. Intel declined to disclose the amount. The investment also earns Shubham a place in history. He is two years younger than British entrepreneur Nick D’Aloisio, who was previously the world’s youngest VC-backed tech entrepreneur when he received an investment for his startup Summly, a news reading app. Organizations for the visually impaired say an affordable Braille printer could give blind people better access to literature and news and improve Braille literacy rates, which hover at about 8.5 percent among the 60,000 blind school children in the country, according to the American Printing House for the Blind.
MCT Campus photo
Shubham Banerjee assembles the Braille printer he built out of Legos in his San Jose, Calif., home. The Lego printer acted as a prototype for the end product. “There is absolutely a need,” said Gary Mudd, spokesman for the Printing House for the Blind. “In a business situation, that equipment is purchased by the company that employs you. People who want their own, though, just get to pay for it. Being blind is sometimes very expensive.” Braille printers start at about $2,000 for personal use and go up to at least $10,000 for schools and businesses. Braigo plans to sell its printer for around $350. In five to 10 years, Shubham will
be in college, with Braigo perhaps a distant memory. But whether or not the company survives, the experience is almost certainly something his parents will long hold onto. “He would stay up until 2 a.m., and I would be like, ‘Give it up Shubham, just give it up,” said Malini Banerjee. “He would keep building and breaking things and I would get so discouraged, asking, ‘Why is he wasting his time?’ But now I tell every mom, ‘Believe
Mexican students’ disappearance draws scrutiny Bill Maher to speak MCT Campus
COCULA, Mexico —More than a month after 43 student teachers went missing, a frantic search unfolds in the hills of western Mexico’s Guerrero state. By some counts, more than three dozen potential grave sites have been searched. Some have yielded bodies. All have added to anguish. Yet no grave has relinquished a body identified as one of the missing students. The pressure is building on President Enrique Pena Nieto to either obtain results or risk having his presidency permanently identified with unpunished violence rather than the economic growth he envisioned with his slogan “Mexico on the move.” The clamor has overwhelmed talk of Mexico’s welcome of foreign investment in the oil industry or the rapid expansion of its automotive sector. The attention on a hilly garbage dump near this dusty agricultural town exemplifies the growing anger. For days, forensic experts combed the ground, searching for any sign of hidden bodies. They’d been led there, according to Mexico’s attorney general, Jesus Murillo Karam, by interrogating the latest of 56 people arrested in the case, including a number of municipal police from Iguala and Cocula. “I don’t remember an investigation with so many members involved,” Murillo Karam said Tuesday in Acapulco. “It is an inquiry with thousands of investigators.” On Wednesday night, Pena Nieto finally met with missing students’ relatives for the first time
since the night of Sept. 26, when municipal police in Iguala in league with the United Warriors gang rounded up the students and turned them over to gunmen. Three busloads of relatives arrived at the ornate presidential residence, Los Pinos. After a meeting more than four hours long, the relatives refused to leave unless Pena Nieto signed a statement they provided. He demurred, and it was two more hours before the relatives agreed to leave.
MCT Campus photo
A makeshift altar on the charred esplanade of Iguala City Hall in Mexico. Finally, after 9 p.m., Pena Nieto appeared on television and said he’d agreed on a number of points with the relatives, including setting up a commission to provide better information about search efforts and to offer renewed support for the 17 rural teachers colleges in Mexico, which the relatives have said they fear the government wants to close. “The government is by their side, it supports them and joins in their outrage and consternation that these events have caused not only among the families but also in Mexican society,” Pena Nieto said.
He noted the “great impatience” to find the missing students. That impatience — along with deep distrust of federal government search efforts — is readily apparent among parents of the missing and on the ground in Guerrero state. “It’s been more than 30 days of suffering, of hell, of insomnia, of not eating, for the family members of the 43,” said Felipe de la Cruz Sandoval, a missing student’s father. “With all the power of the state, they still can’t find our boys.” “Everyone blames each other. No one wants to assume responsibility,” said Napoleon Hernandez, a 45-year-old leader of some 300 self-appointed citizen police who flocked to Iguala from Guerrero’s coast to hunt for mass graves. Hernandez said his activists had located 26 separate grave sites. The Attorney General’s Office says it has found 11 grave sites, including the garbage dump, and has recovered 38 bodies — none of them belonging to the missing students. Iguala’s city hall is a charred hulk, burned by rampaging protesters last week. The city’s mayor, his wife and the city public security chief have all gone underground to avoid criminal charges. Protesters also have torched the headquarters of the state government in the capital of Chilpancingo. The owner of an Iguala radio station, Sergio Fajardo Carrillo, belittled the federal search, saying few in Iguala have faith in a hunt organized in Mexico City. “I don’t believe in it. No one does,” Fajardo said. “We’re asking them just to show results. It’s the clamor of the people.”
at UC Berkeley
Despite petitions, Maher says he will still deliver commencement speech MCT Campus
After a weeklong debate over free speech and campus climate, political satirist Bill Maher said he intends to deliver a December commencement address at the University of California, Berkeley despite controversy surrounding his invitation. Some students sought to have his invitation rescinded because of his on-air remarks last month that they allege denigrated Muslims. Citing free speech rights, UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas B. Dirks insisted the speech go on as planned. Maher delivered a lengthy riff about it on Friday’s show, explaining that he was delighted to accept the invitation to speak at the midyear commencement Dec. 20. “I’m happy to because although I never attended Berkeley, I was very aware of their place in the American debate on the far left,” he said. “They invited me because it was the 50th anniversary of something that is legendary on that campus, the Berkeley Free Speech Movement,” he said, referring to influential student protests against rules that limited on-campus activism. “I guess they don’t teach irony in college anymore.” A student organization that helps choose commencement speakers voted to rescind the invitation. Its leaders said this was not because of Maher’s views, but because the debate would harm the celebratory nature of the graduation event.
MCT Campus is a news and image service for college and high school newspapers. MCT stories are selected and edited by Beacon staff for quality and relevance to MCLA students.
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Thursday, November 6, 2014
Arts & Entertainment
Beacon.MCLA.edu
A night of song and dance
Photo by Osakpolo Iglede/The Beacon
Cast members potray the Greek goddess statues in the song “Zero to Hero” from the animated Disney movie “Hercules” during the twelfth annual Revue.
Harlequin celebrates musical theatre at Revue Review by Rachel Fitterman
Arts & Entertainment Editor Harlequin brought an energetic night of song and dance to their twelfth annual Revue on Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1. Performances ranged from touching to triumphant, and many had the audiences out of their seats and hollering. Noticeable standouts included “It’s A Hard-Knock Life” from popular musical “Annie,” directed by sophomore Erin D’Entremont. The large ensemble cast filled the stage with energy and believably turned college students into New York City orphans, complete with spot-on accents and lively actions. A healthy dose of comedy helped keep the performance entertaining and upbeat, while the song itself was executed with precision and liveliness. “Zero to Hero,” directed by senior Ben Baylon, was also a knockout, with hugely talented vocalists in the cast and a performance that was a great tribute to its origins, the Disney movie “Hercules.” Sophomore Philip Shedd won the audience over with his cameo as the shy demigod, though “Zero to Hero” had kept the crowd’s attention from beginning to end, closing off Act One with jubilancy. Co-president Mickaelle Ol-
ivier shone with her senior solo, a witty and powerful number titled “Random Black Girl,” from the musical “Homemade Fusion.” Olivier proved both her phenomenal voice and stage presence, presenting the song with ease and confidence. The Revue featured a number of these senior solos, chosen by the performers, and most held themes of self-discovery, slight nostalgia and proving oneself to the world. Cory Flood sang his hopes of following his dreams in “Santa Fe” from “Newsies,” while Courtney McLaren expressed her love of performance with the classic piece “Music and the Mirror” from “A Chorus Line.” Greg Wilson chose the sharp, biting and hysterically truthful “The Bad Years,” about the woes of being a twenty-something. Especially heartwarming was the duet between McLaren and junior Crysta Chevrie, as they sang “For Good,” a song on the importance of friendship from the Broadway hit “Wicked.” Large ensemble pieces were common as well, ranging from dramatic to comic. “Le Duel,” from, “Romeo et Juliet” directed by Flood, filled the stage with action and suspense. McLaren’s direction of “Good Morning” from the classic movie “Singing in the Rain” added tap dancing to the standard mix. “When You’re an
Addams,” from “The Addams Family,” directed by Rebecca Szcyzygiel, sharply contrasted other performances with its morbid fun, featuring the ubiquitous fingersnapping and dark humor. The closing piece, “Positive” from “Legally Blonde,” directed by junior Zachary Page, brought on a highpitched crowd of sorority girls to console a scorned Elle Woods. Humor was also important to keeping many of the numbers alive. “Die, Vampire, Die” from the recent one-act musical “[title of show]” and directed by senior Lynn McEnaney, held the most profanities of the night, but delivered them with grace as well as humor, and allowed the performance to remain funny and uplifting. Junior Benjamin Hoyt shared the same enthusiasm for his title character in “His Name is Lancelot,” directed by senior Julianne Cimaomo, which delivered all the innuendo and belly laughs that a song from “Spamalot” should have. Most notably, “Together Again,” a duet from “Young Frankenstein” by juniors Page and Szcczygiel, hilariously reunited scientist and humpbacked assistant in an animated performance. Szczygiel excelled as Igor, making the audience laugh countless times as she whirled around the stage with huge energy through a piece that effortlessly captured the spirit of the Revue.
SPIRES holds Fall Foliage Contest By Christopher Johnson Arts & Entertainment Writer
Faculty adviser Zack Finch and co-editor Ama Bemma Adwetewa-Badu of SPIRES show great enthusiasm for the ongoing second Fall Foliage Contest. After members of SPIRES select the best works anonymously, the first place work will be published in the magazine in the spring, with cash prizes for placing. According to Finch, the contest is meant to encourage students to submit in the fall instead of waiting or missing the deadline. He also noted that students’ work will be published online and he thinks that learning the process of submitting work is an important opportunity for aspiring writers. “A contest winner simply needs to have a piece that is well crafted and interesting,” Adwetewa-Badu said. “We just look for the best work. Sometimes the pieces are funny, artsy, dark or creative. It comes down to one simple thing: Every piece just needs to do an amazing job at whatever it is trying to do.” “We had an amazing turnout for last year’s contest,” Adwetewa-Badu said. “I can’t recall the exact numbers, but I do know that we spent quite a few meetings voting over some amazing pieces.” Finch noted that this is a good opportunity and strongly encourages “creative writing students to finish and polish their
strongest pieces.” “I feel that the contest gives students the opportunity to showcase their work,” Adwetewa-Badu said. “It’s a great opportunity for SPIRES to advertise itself, it gives the new staff a taste of what the magazine process for the spring is like. I hope that many students will submit their prose, poetry, or art. I also hope that we’ll see a continuation of the great work that we saw from last year.” “What most club members, including myself, do,” Adwetewa-Badu said on the process of working in SPIRES and with work submitted by students, “is look over each piece, discuss it and then vote as a group on whether or not it gets accepted, tables, or gets put into the magazine. It’s a pretty fun process. All names are removed from the works so that we can look at each piece objectively. It’s a great way to hone some editing, critique, and magazine skills.” At the end of the fall semester, there is a celebratory event where students who submitted work can read their poetry, even if they did not win. Finch described it as a “fun, culminating event.” The date for this event is still pending. The deadline is Friday, November 21. The three categories include prose, poetry, and art. Students can submit through spires.mcla.edu.
Arts & Entertainment
Thursday, November 6, 2014
DON’T MISS
MCLA Presents!
Craig Harris and the
Dartmouth Barbary Coast Big Band
Beacon.MCLA.edu
7
G51 exhibit explores human-nature relationship By Rachel Fitterman
Arts & Entertainment Editor The new Gallery 51 exhibit “Water & Earth: Protecting Fragile Ecosystems” presents an interesting commentary on the preservation of the environment. From handmade and nature-found materials to recycling everyday objects, the pieces featured in this exhibit reinvent the definition of natural and eco-friendly. Sarah Sutro’s “Restless Landscape #4” is painted with natural ink, and it shows in its earth colors and simplicity. The large dots of the artwork look almost like thumbprints, overlapping each other the way leaves or pinecones might on the ground in fall. “Waterveil #2” has a flowing, waterfall effect, with the same simple colors and natural effect. Both these pieces are combined in “Time and Tumult #1-3,” which give an earthy take on modern art, with loose lines and a smooth, soft finish.
“Life Interrelated” is one of the most eye-catching pieces: a wall of mounted white ceramic plants and stones, three panels across, catching the eye with its air of calm serenity and simplicity. Jaeok Lee’s sculptures of succulents, lotuses, and moss-covered stones are almost angelic in their appearance. They bring out the beauty of the natural life by being more than an image of it and capturing the essence and feeling of how it is to be amongst nature. In “More Than Enough,” Nancy Cohen crafts mixed media sculptures that pointedly remind the viewer of seaweed tangles washed up on the beach of the blank wall behind it. The collision of glass, metal and beads into something beautiful recall the way the ocean presses broken bottles into sea glass—a point not lost in this piece, which emphasizes the impact of human interaction with the ocean and water sources. Similarly, Linda Stillman comments
on the rising sea levels with “Rising Seas/Strandine,” a border of darkly painted coffee filters hung high above eye level at the back of the Gallery. The dirty appearance of the filters, placed in soft waves, hauntingly predicts how the ocean will look in the future. The theme of natural materials used as painting cools returns in “Field” by Tania Love, which uses milk paint, an all-natural and chemical-free alternative to acrylic and oil paints. “Field,” in contrast to its name, presents a wood of bare trees. The image is thin and light, serene but empty, recalling early winter and a sense of desolation. Perhaps the most striking of the “Water & Earth” is “Plastic Bags and Green Door,” a small hut-like sculpture made of just that. It is interesting to watch how the artist turns something as unnatural and ugly as plastic bags into a material so soft-looking that it resembles feathers or fur, simultaneously
commenting on how to blend manmade inventions with the natural world. Krisanna Baker also plays with this concept in “Erosion Patterns,” made with “salt snow” staples rusted into the paper, an obvious representation of fragility. The paper itself is peeling off around the staples in many places, and the copper-colored rust stains give the piece the appearance of crying, almost asking when the entire world will seem this eroded, lifeless and full of metal. More two-dimensional pieces, such as Katherine Porter’s “Wood” and “Navigation,” as well as Alka Mather’s “Treasure” and “Shifting Terrains,” reinforced the notions of fusing manmade materials and natural landscapes with texturized paints and surfaces, as well as represent the difficulties of navigating that dichotomy. The exhibit runs through Nov. 27. Gallery 51 is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
A tribute to the music of progessive jazz artist Sun Ra
Saturday, Nov. 8 7:30 p.m. Church Street Center Photo by Rachel Fitterman/The Beacon
Free for MCLA students Sun Ra was a musician, philosopher, poet, composer, keyboardist, arranger and catalyst. Craig Harris performed the with Sun Ra Arkestra for three years and has gone on to perform with some of progressive jazz’ most important figures.
Call (413) 663-5204
to reserve a ticket
“Plastic Bags and Green Door,” left, and “More Than Enough” appear at the new Gallery 51 exhibit “Water & Earth.”
‘Nightcrawler’ chills and thrills Review by Nicole L’Etoile Arts & Entertainment Writer
The newly released film “Nightcrawler” is, put simply, wildly intense and chilling. The film has all the good elements of a drama or thriller, including suspense, character development, and jump scares. This film focuses on Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), a man living in LA who is desperate for a job and stumbles across crime journalism, listening in on a police scanner and filming crime scenes in great detail to sell them for top dollar. Along the way, he slowly ceases being an observer and becomes a participant in the crimes he films, moving things around to present them in a way that will earn him more money and a better reputation. The film is the debut of director Dan Gilroy, and the audience will be begging for more like this.
“Nightcrawler” has comic relief at times, but it always snaps the audience back to the thrilling, chilling, and overall exciting feeling of the film. However, the film does leave a lot of loose ends. The first act contains many events that the audience assumes will be revisited later on. In the film’s last act, the plot twist takes up so much time that there is none left to go back and explain things that were left open. As a whole, the movie leaves a lot for the audience to wonder about, such as the possibility of a sequel to explain all of the unresolved plot points. This film can easily be related to the real world, and the events are feasible. Louis can be perceived as mentally unstable and manipulative, and he is able to get everything that he wants throughout the film, but not without cost. Louis is willing to sacrifice not only people around him, but integ-
rity and any code of ethics as well, both in journalism and simply as a human. It is easy to believe he has no feelings at all; he just cares about the money he gets from selling his overly graphic footage. We don’t know much about our protagonist and his past, other than that he is a thief and not afraid to admit it. He is shameless in everything he does, including filming these horrible crimes and accidents and selling them for a lot of money after gathering the footage unethically. The audience gets to know a few other characters in the film decently, but the director really delves inside the mind of Louis more than anyone else, showing his instability, lack of emotion, and honesty. “Nightcrawler” will thrill and chill any audience member, and it was fitting that it was released on Halloween. The film shows what bad journalism can be, and gives
Photo courtesy of Bold Films
Jake Gyllenhaal stars in ‘Nightcrawler,’ which follows one man’s downward spiral within crime journalism. the audience an idea of how difficult it can be to succeed in the business while remaining ethical.
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Thursday, November 6, 2014
Sports
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Men’s soccer advances to semi finals Volleyball battles with By Tyler Bacon
the opening minutes of the second half when sophomore Edward Boateng curved a corner kick inside the far post in the 54th minute. The Rams had a chance to tie the game in 71st minute. Junior Cory Cardiero sent a long cross to CJ Alimonti in the box. Alimonti got a shot off, but Robinson came up with the big save. The Blazers added an insurance goal in the 75th minute to extend
1 in the MASCAC. The Blazers finish the regular season with a Sports Writer record of 6-7-3 and 2-2-3 in conference play. The MCLA Trailblazers scored The single goal of the game oca pair of second half goals to decurred when Michael Rouette feat Framingham State Univercollected a corner kick from Rob sity Rams 2-0 in the quarterfinals Robbs and scored for his second of the MASCAC Men’s Soccer goal of the season. Championship Tournament. Playing in a downpour and With the victory, the Blazers strong, gusty winds, neither team improve to 7-7-3 on the year and was strong offensively as the Blazadvance to the semifinal round of ers held a 12-6 shot advantage. the Men’s Soccer Championships. Cohen made six saves to MCLA will travel to earn the shutout for the Bucs. Bridgewater State UniMatt Robinson allowed the versity tomorrow night lone goal and stopped a pair at 7 p.m. The Rams see of shots. their season come to an Coach Adam Hildabrand end with a record 5-12did not think the final score 1. reflected how the game was Both teams had their played. chances early in the first “I thought we performed half as both offenses well, ” Hildabrand said. “The were firing on all cylinscore line did not reflect the ders. MCLA Sophomore game. ” Anthony Basile fired a Senior Mitchell Candelet shot from the top of the thinks they dominated the box, but it hit the post gameplay after starting in a just five minutes into the 1-0 hole. game. Two minutes later, “I think as a team we played Basile had a breakaway, Photo by Kasey Conklin very well. We started the but his shot sailed just Nolan Burke switches fields for the attack. game very slow but then setwide of the post. tled down and played soccer,” The Rams best chance the lead to 2-0. Sophomore RoCandelet. “We dominated the to score came down the stretch meo Grey dribbled the ball down play of the game once we were in the first half with just over ten minutes remaining, when fresh- the right side and sent a cross down 1-0. It was a test for us and showed that we can battle.” man Jamie Plowman received a through the box The Massachusetts Maritime “I think as a team we played pass in the box and took a shot Academy men’s soccer team very well. We started the game that hit the far post and bounced scored in the fifth minute and very slow but then settled down toward the goal line. MCLA keeper Joe Cohen preserved the and played soccer,” Candelet said. keeper Matt Robinson was able to lead as the Buccaneers defeated “We dominated the play of the pounce on the loose ball before it the Trailblazers 1-0. With the game once we were down 1-0. It could roll over the goal line, sendwin, MMA wraps up its regular was a test for us and showed that ing the game to halftime scoreless. season at 7-7-2 overall and 4-2we can battle. ” The Blazers grabbed the lead in
Bridgewater State By Jesse Collings
nihilated the Blazers in the second set, trumping them 25-5. The Bears sealed the victory in the The Volleyball team traveled to third set, defeating MCLA 25-15 Bridgewater State on Saturday to win. MCLA was led by sophomore to compete in their final regular game of the season. Bridgewater Sam Anderson, who had 9 kills, won a hotly contested first set, and junior Courtney Parent, who and then rolled over the Trail- added 15 assists. The biggest difference between blazers in the next two sets to win the two teams the game 3-0. was on the deMCLA finfensive end. ished the regBridgewater ular season produced 60 with a record digs on the of 15-12 overday, while all, and 2-4 MCLA could in conference only muster play, while 16. BridgeBridgewater water had 4.5 finished 17blocks on the 18 overall and day, while the 3-3 in conferBlazers didn’t ence play. have a single The game one all game. was of parThe teams ticular imclashed again portance on Wednesbecause it day in the decided who first round of would get the the MASCAC #4 seed in the Photo by Jesse Collings/The Beacon tournament. MASCAC tournament. Sophomore Rachel Mills rises up for Bridgewater comes into With the vic- the kill. the game tory, Bridgewater ensured it would get to host not only fresh off the victory on the playoff match between the Saturday, but also having won three of their last four matchups. two teams on Wednesday. Bridgewater opened the match MCLA is trending the other way, with a gritty victory in the first having lost four of their last six set, beating MCLA 25-21. Using matches. For the result of that that momentum, Bridgewater an- matchup, visit The Beacon online. Sports Editor
Brady leads NFL midseason awards By Jesse Collings Sports Editor
With the NFL season just a little bit over halfway complete, it is time for me to hand out my midseason awards. MVP: Tom Brady Quite simply, nobody has done more with less this season. A slew of good quarterbacks – Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, Phillip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers, and Ben Roethlisberger – have all had very good seasons, but none have been as good as Brady, considering the lack of talent around him. Brady has been blessed with the return of a healthy Rob Gronkowski, but he has turned Brandon LaFell (who never caught more than 50 passes in a season) and Julian Edelman (a 7th round draft pick and former collegiate Quarterback) into a feared wide receiving combination. In addition, Brady has had to deal with the loss of his top running back (Stephen Ridley) and a makeshift offensive line. At 7-2, the Patriots have the inside track for the number one seed in the AFC, and it’s thanks to their veteran QB. Runners Up: Peyton Manning, DeMarco Murray, Andrew Luck
Offensive Player of the Year: DeMarco Murray Tom Brady might be the Most Valuable Player, but the league’s best offensive player is Murray. A common refrain of today’s NFL is that the running back position doesn’t really matter, that a backfield-by-committee is the most effective and cost-efficient way to achieve success on the ground. That might be true for 25 of the NFL’s teams, but for a few franchises, like Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, and Seattle, having a true workhorse back is the key to their success. Murray has carried the Cowboys’ offensive, leading the league in rushing attempts, yards, and touchdowns. Murray also has 255 total touches this season, nearly 60 more than the next closest player. Runners Up: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Arian Foster Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt The most destructive player in the NFL, Watt has proven to be nearly unblockable, and a relentless pass rusher so far this season. Watt is fourth in the league in sacks, but unlike other elite pass rushers like Justin Houston and Von Miller, Watt has an incredible
impact when he isn’t even close to the quarterback. Watt can defend the run, and his ability to deflect passes and make plays with the football forces quarterbacks to account for him no matter where he is lined up. No single player does a better job sealing off part of the field. Runners Up: Justin Houston, Patrick Peterson, Perrish Cox
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Zach Martin Strange to see an offensive guard here, but considering the numbers that Martin has helped Murray produce, it shouldn’t be that shocking. Martin was a left tackle at Notre Dame, but after being drafted by the Cowboys in the first round, he won the starting right guard job and has paved the way for Murray and the rest of the elite Dallas offensive line. Martin’s skill as both a pass protector and a road-grader has had as big of an impact on the Cowboys’ success as anyone, and he beats out Buffalo playmaker Sammie Watkins for this award. Runners Up: Sammie Watkins, Kelvin Benjamin, Teddy Bridgewater Defensive Rookie of the Year:
C.J. Mosley The latest Alabama linebacker to make an impact in the NFL, Mosley has held down the center of the Baltimore Ravens’ defense and filled the void that Ray Lewis left upon his retirement two seasons ago. Despite his rookie status, Mosley has led a revived defense in Baltimore, and should be a staple of their defense for the next decade. Runners Up: Kyle Fuller, Khalil Mack, Anthony Barr Coach of the Year: Bruce Arians Despite injuries doing a great deal of damage to his defense, Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians has steered his ship masterfully and has Arizona with the best record in football. The sum of the team’s parts does not equal the level of success this team has had, and that credit goes to the head coach. Arizona is 7-1 and two games in front of Seattle in a difficult NFC West division, and with Arians calling the shots, they are in as good of a spot as anyone to take home field advantage for the playoffs. Runners Up: Bill Belichick, Jason Garrett, Chip Kelly
All-NFL Team Offense QB: Tom Brady-Patriots RB: DeMarco Murray-Cowboys RB: Arian Foster-Texans WR: Antonio Brown-Steelers WR: Demariyus Thomas- Broncos WR: Jordy Nelson-Packers TE:Rob Gronkowski-Patriots T: Joe Thomas-Browns T: Tyron Smith-Cowboys G: Marshal Yanda-Ravens G: Zach Martin-Cowboys C: Travis Frederick-Cowboys Defense DE: J.J. Watt-Texans DE: Ziggy Ansah-Lions DT: Gerald McCoy-Bucs DT: Marcel Dareus-Bills OLB: Von Miller-Broncos OLB: Justin Houston-Chiefs ILB: Luke Kuechly-Panthers ILB: Larry Foote- Cardinals CB: Patrick Peterson-Cardinals CB: Perrish Cox-49ers CB: Vontae Davis-Colts S: Earl Thomas-Seahawks S: Harrison Smith-Vikings Specialists K: Dan Bailey-Cowboys P: Pat McAfee-Colts KR: Devin Hester-Falcons ST: Matthew Slater-Patriots
Sports
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Beacon.MCLA.edu
9
Scores Volleyball
Saturday, November 1st MCLA @ Bridgewater State 0-3 Women’s Soccer Saturday, November 1st MCLA vs Mass. Maritime 1-0 Tuesday, November 4th MCLA @ Framingham St. 0-1 Men’s Soccer Saturday, November 1st MCLA @ Mass. Maritime 0-1
Photo by Jesse Collings/The Beacon
MCLA senior Justine Cozza watches as her cross causes chaos in the Massachusetts Maritime box on Saturday. MCLA would get a seond half goal to earn the victory, 1-0.
Women’s soccer Miss. State sits atop falls in playoffs CFB power rankings to Framingham By Tyler Bacon Sports Writer
1. Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-0)
By Jesse Collings Sports Editor
The Women’s soccer team’s season came to an end on Tueday during the first round of the MASCAC playoffs, falling to Framingham State, 1-0. The Trailblazer’s season is over, while Framingham improved to 12-6 on the season and will travel to Westfield State on Friday to compete in the MASCAC semi-finals. Framingham scored their lone goal early, when senior Marisa Parent scored her 17th goal of the season in the 20th minute to give Framingham the one goal edge. Neither team would be able to score again for the rest of the game, as both defenses found their stride. Sophomore keeper Katy Daly was superb in net for MCLA, stopping five out of the six shots that came her way. The game reached its climax in a frantic final ten minutes, as MCLA raced to save it’s season while Framingham tried to put a nail in the Trailblazer’s coffin. Framingham appeared to have scored a backbreaking second goal, but it was waved off by the referee because of a handball violation. MCLA had one final crack at tying the game, but junior Alexi Anderson’s header was caught by Framingham keeper Sara Sullivan, clinching the victory for the Rams. Framingham controlled the ball for a majority of the game, and outshot the Trailblazers, 22-6. Framingham also earned eight corner kicks during the game, while MCLA failed to earn even
one. The team battled the elements as well as their opponents on Saturday, and earned a hard fought victory, defeating Massachusetts Maritime 1-0. The win secured a playoff spot for the Traiblazers, who finished the regular season with a record of 5-11-1 overall, and 2-5 in MASCAC play. The game was on a cold, raw day in North Adams. Both teams dealt with high winds and occasional showers throughout the contest. During the opening half, the teams remained locked at 0-0. On Senior day, MCLA got a boost from senior forward Janelle Stannard, who supplied consistent pressure down the right side of the field during the first half. Things really broke open for the Blazers in the second half, during which they outshot Maritime 23-0. MCLA tallied the first goal of the day when junior Alexi Anderson delivered her third goal of the season in the 50th minute. Anderson received a through ball from sophomore Nicole Zacchio and then used her speed to break away from the Maritime defense, beating keeper Katie Levesque to put MCLA in front. Defensively, MCLA had perhaps their strongest game of the season, allowing only three shots total, and sophomore keeper Katy Daly only had to make one save during the game. Sophomore midfielder Natalie Caney was a force all day for the Blazers, sweeping across the field and ensuring that MCLA.dominated the possession.
Mississippi State needed a long touchdown pass on a busted coverage and then a pair of late defensive stops to avoid the upset at home and remain unbeaten. The Bulldogs took control when Fred Ross caught a 69-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott with 13:21 left in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs then stuffed Arkansas on fourth-and-goal on one possession and got an interception from Will Redmond in the end zone with 15 seconds left to preserve the victory. 2. Florida State Seminoles (80) Florida State University pulled off another comeback, this one even more improbable than the others this season, rallying from a 21-0 deficit late in the second quarter to win its 24th straight game in what could be the Seminoles’ final regular-season hurdle. Jameis Winston shook off one of the worst starts of his career to finish with 401 passing yards and three touchdowns, each going for at least 35 yards. FSU had several lucky bounces, such as when Winston fumbled the exchange with running back Karlos Williams, yet Nick O’Leary fell on the loose ball in the end one for a touchdown with 33 seconds left in the first half. 3. Auburn Tigers (7-1) Auburn recovered a fumble in the end zone with 90 seconds left on what was almost a go-ahead touchdown for Ole Miss. Ole
Miss’ Laquon Treadwell broke his leg and lost control of the ball just before crossing the goal line, and Cassanova McKinzy fell on it to preserve a huge victory that kept Auburn in the playoff hunt and marked one of the few defensive stops in an otherwise offensedriven game. 4. Oregon Ducks (8-1) Oregon conquered its rival in convincing fashion, becoming the first team to score more than 30 points against Stanford in over two years. Marcus Mariota accounted for four touchdowns. Mariota has thrown a touchdown pass in all 35 games he’s started in college. Thomas Tyner added two rushing touchdowns, and Royce Freeman ran for 98 yards as the Ducks racked up 525 yards against a Stanford defense that came into the game allowing only 250.6 yards per game. Since losing 31-24 at home in early October to Arizona, Oregon has averaged 47.8 points during its four-game win streak. 5. Alabama Crimson Tide (71) Alabama took the week off ahead of its big showdown at LSU next Saturday. The Crimson Tide have won three straight games since their 23-17 loss at Ole Miss, but they currently sit sixth in the College Football Playoff rankings, They rank 15th in the country in total offense at 508.9 yards per game, led by Blake Sims’ 2,034 passing yards and 15 touchdowns and Amari Cooper’s 71 catches for 1,132 yards and nine touchdowns. Alabama hasn’t lost two regularseason games since 2010.
Tuesday, November 4th MCLA @ Framingham St. 2-0
Schedules Friday, November 7th Men’s Soccer MCLA @ Bridgewater State 7 p.m. Saturday, November 8th Cross Country MCLA @ ECAC Championships Saturday, November 15th Cross Country MCLA @ NCAA NE Regional Championships Men’s Basketball MCLA vs UMaine Fort-Kent 1 p.m. Women’s Basketball MCLA vs Daniel Webster 3 p.m. Thursday, November 20 Women’s Basketball MCLA @ Western New England 5:30 p.m. Friday, November 21 Men’s Basketball MCLA @ Castleton State 7 p.m. Saturday, November 22nd Women’s Basketball MCLA @ Fisher College Noon Monday, November 24th Women’s Basketball MCLA vs Becker 6 p.m. Tuesday, November 25th Men’s Basketball MCLA @ Williams 7 p.m.
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Opinion
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Beacon.MCLA.edu
The Beacon
Do you think it’s important to vote? “Yes – our generation complains too much. Voting does something about it.”
“Yes, because it’s one of the ways people have a voice.” –Harmony Birch, 2017
– Abby Torrey, 2016
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“I absolutely think voting is important. It establishes a voice for the younger people.”
“If people feel like they can make a change, yes. If not, no.”
– Hunter Long, 2018
Editorials Policy Unsigned editorials that appear on these pages reflect the views of The Beacon’s editorial board. Signed columns and commentaries that appear on these pages reflect the views of the writers.
–James Forgione, 2016
Letters Policy The Beacon welcomes Letters to the Editor. Deadline is noon on Mondays for that week’s newspaper.
“It’s important for a democracy but I’m not registered to vote since I was too young last time. It doesn’t really matter to me.”
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“Yeah. People should get their opinions out there.”
-Mari Renaud-Krutulis, 2017
– Tyler Ferris, 2016 Photos compiled by Agnella Gross
In my humble opinion...
Health & Fitness
Bigger than biceps
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Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Makayla-Courtney McGeeney
Run down and out of time By Makayla-Courtney McGeeney Editor-in-Chief
At this point in the semester, it’s common to find you either want to break down and forget about everything, or get angry and punch something. In addition, it’s growing colder by the day. There are rumors of snow showers, which only adds to the stress of a workload. As we approach the end of the semester, there are some things to keep in mind. Find time to prioritize and get your life together. Everyone needs a way to deal with anger and stress, and some ways to do that are to exercise, write, or talk it out. I’ve touched on stress relievers in the past, but many people don’t realize how frequently sickness stems from stress and anger. I’ve met plenty of people who are overwhelmed day after day with work, school, friends, and family. Personally, I’ve only gotten sick from colds or viruses, but maybe that’s because of my particular stress-relieving methods. During a busy semester it’s difficult to find time to exercise, apart from Saturday mornings when you really want to stay in bed all day. Usually when I can’t fit a workout in during the week, I’m snappy, but when I can work out at least three times a week, I’m a ray of sunshine. Think of exercise, in this circum-
stance, as meditation in motion. Plug in and tone out. Most tablets and smart phones also have Netflix apps, which is usually what I do while suffering through cardio. E-books are also great. While exercise can help relieve stress, it’s also important to avoid getting run down by it. Over the summer I was swamped with working and interning, so I hardly had time to exercise and was doing it late at night or early in the morning, and exhausted for the rest of the day. Listen to your body because depending on what you do to treat it, you could end up making it worse. Avoid getting sick by writing down exactly what is bothering you and what you think is causing your exhaustion. Once you analyze all of the reasons, organize a way to lessen the stress in each category. Maybe arrange to meet with your advisor or counselor to get a second opinion on time management. Also, a call home to mom never hurts. Being sick at college is the last thing any student wants to happen because even though you can stay in bed all day, there won’t be any catered soup and crackers from mom or dad at all hours; and who wants to miss all those parties? During a time of stress and chills, take care of your body before it affects your relationships and academic career.
Why bother? By Nick Arena
Multimedia Editor Election season has come to a close with the Republican party walking away with the majority. According to the Associated Press, the GOP won 52 – 43 in the senate, 244 – 179 in the house and 31 – 16 in the gubernatorial race, sweeping a great deal of control from underneath the Democrats. As the Democrats rant and the Republicans rave, I’m just sitting here counting down the days until the next election, or maybe the one after that, when the Dems sweep the GOP. History has dictated this pattern, after all, from when the Democrats and the Whigs wrestled for control between 1837 and 1855, or when the Jacksonian Republicans and Adams Republican/Federalists, later just anti-Jacksonian senators, fought back and forth between 1823 and 1837. The articles are already starting to pour onto the Internet about what people like Charlie Baker are going to do wrong, or how he will fix the state. It’s the same situation as with Deval Patrick and, I’m sure, the same situation that will appear again once Baker leaves office. Everyone spends so much time ranting and raving about what their party does right and what the opposing party does wrong. Has anyone ever considered the fact that control of power seems to alternate between
parties on a regular basis, but things seldom get that much better? Why do we spend so much time campaigning and voting for people who abuse the power they are granted only to blame the opposition every time? Voting, for me, has become trying to choose the lesser of two evils, and that line is becoming harder and harder to distinguish with every passing election. We are still in the midst of an expensive and unnecessary war started by a Republican president, and are currently living under a Democratic president who has authorized drone strikes on American citizens. It’s really time for us to understand that our two party system is deeply flawed, and that by continuing to vote for it we continue to perpetuate its flaws and damage American life more and more. We have never been a country that has learned how to take the good that every political party has to offer - third party groups included - and mold them into one. Instead we feel the need to continue using the archaic partisan system that has dragged us through the mud election cycle after cycle. As George Carlin once said: “The terms limits ain’t going to do any good; you’re just going to wind up with a brand new bunch of selfish, ignorant Americans.” So I say we follow that great man’s example and stop voting. See where these politicians go from there.
Sports Editor Jesse Collings
Web Editor Jenna O’Connor
A&E Editor Rachel Fitterman
Senior News Editor Nick Swanson
Copy Chief Avery Finnivan Multimedia Editor
Design Editor Meg Gugarty
Nick Arena
Staff Staff Writers
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Isabel McKenzie Agnella Gross Idalis Foster Osakpolo Igiede* Juanita Doss Christopher Johnson Design Team
Nicole L’Etoile Tyler Bacon Copy Editors
Brittany Gallacher Caitlin O’Neill
Advertising
Ryan Robison Angel Baez Contributors
Osakpolo Igiede* Videographers
Kaleigh Anderson Cartoonist
Nikki Kratonis Advisers
Jenifer Augur Gillian Jones Jim Niedbalski
Aaron Crawford Kasey Conklin *Holds more than one position
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Events, Announcements & Horoscopes
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Horoscopes
Check it Out!
Upcoming events on campus
Today, Nov. 6 Student Reception for President CSI Atrium 4:30-6:30 p.m. College Against Cancer Sullivan Lounge 5-5:30 p.m. Book Club Meeting, CC 324B 6-7 p.m. History Society Meeting Venable 3 7-8 p.m. Intramural Sports 8-11:30 p.m. ALANA Club Council CC 324B 9:30-10:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 7 Service Dog Advocacy Meeting 3-5 p.m. SAC Meeting, CC 324A 6-8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 8
Leo (7/23-8/22): Now you will be consolidating things. It’s as if you’ve conceived of a product, created it, and are now finally ready to put it on the market.
Pisces (2/19-3/20): You will be meeting more people, and your encounters are likely to be more profound.
Virgo (8/23-9/23): You’ve used up a lot of your reserves recently and made it to this stage just in the nick of time.
Aries (3/21-4/19):You will probably go out less, introduce yourself to fewer new people, and be less prone to show off.
Libra (9/23-10/22): One stumbling block for you may be the impulse that you seem to have to blend in with others.
Taurus (4/20-5/20): You may have spent the past few weeks exploring new horizons, meeting new people, going out more frequently in the evening, or even making short trips away from home. But this is a moment to settle down.
Scorpio (10/23-11/21):You’re going to be able to measure the distance you’ve come, and above all, evaluate your power. Whatever you do, think big!
Gemini (5/21-6/20):In any case, you can expect another month devoted to sweeping the cobwebs out of your emotional universe in order to let in sunlight and promise. Cancer (6/21-7/22):You may find new friends or enjoy spending quality time with some old ones.
Christian Fellowship Saturday Night Chat, Sullivan Lounge 7-9 p.m.
Intramural Sports, Venable Gym 6-11:30 p.m. Good Vibes Yoga, Dance Complex 8-10 p.m.
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Thursday, November 6, 2014 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Feigenbaum Center for Science Atrium North Adams, Massachusetts
Want to read more? Scan the code to read on at Beacon.MCLA.edu
Sagittarius (11/22-12/21): You should try to mingle and get involved in a cause that’s bigger than you. Working with others is a necessary part of any job.
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Capricorn (12/22-1/19): You may be asking yourself philosophical questions, or perhaps you’re thinking of taking a long trip. Horoscopes.com
Join the Beacon
MCLA Presents! Margaret A. Hart ‘35, Church Street Center 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 9
Student Reception for President Mary K. Grant
Thursday November, 6
Aquarius (1/20-2/18): With today’s celestial energy, you want to be more spontaneous. The enterprising and reckless you has returned!
Beacon.MCLA.edu
staff ! Wanted: Advertising representatives & Photographers (with experience)
Man’s World Styling Salon
“The best option for an affordable haircut in the area.”
20 Marshall St. North Adams, Ma 01247 (413)-663-7741 Closed Wednesday
Monday- 8 am - 5 pm Tuesdays-8 am - 5 pm Thursday- 8 am - 5 pm Friday- 8 am - 5 pm
and Sundays
Saturday- 8 am - 3 pm
Klipper Kingz Barber Shop Hours: Mondays - Appointment only Tuesday - Friday: 10 am to 7 pm Saturdays- 9 am to 5 pm
14 Eagle Street North Adams, Ma. 01247 (413) 663-1979
All students with a college I.D. $10.00 HAIR CUTS
Special Offer for Do your
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Cash?
Strapped for ailable - Call for Details!
t Plan Av 60 Day Paymen
To celebrate 58 years of business $58.00 an hour for Labor* *MCLA Students, Faculty, and Employees only with ID
Ronnie’s Auto Sales and Service
has provided honest, reliable, affordable service since 1956.
Attention clubs!
The Beacon wants to help promote your club! We will print one free advertisement per semester.
Free diagnosis to prevent inspection sticker rejection Hot Coffee • Free Wifi • Cable TV If you need a ride, we’ll give you a free return trip back to campus Call Corey at 413-743-0715 ext 23 or visit us at ronniesadams.com to schedule an appointment.
AUTO SALES & SERVICE, INC.
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Open Monday – Friday 9:00-5:30 Saturday 9:00 – 12:30 (Later by appointment)
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Thursday, November 6, 2014
Photo Essay
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Midnight Madness Midnight Madness took to the Amsler Campus Center gym Monday, Oct. 27, to gear students up for the upcoming men’s and women’s basketball seasons. The campus rallied together in team spirit and enjoyed an evening full of fun and games. Photos by Osakpolo Igiede Senior Todd Hunt dunks a basketball.
Alyson Stolz, senior and student trustee, sinks a shot as Sophomore Devante Rosa watches.
Above, the sophomore class watches their peers play in a number of minute to win it games. Below, the Nexxus step team performs one of their routines during Midnight Madness.