Spring 17 Issue 7

INSIDE Women’s Day rally

Volume 84, Issue 7

ESTaBLISHED 1979

MCLA’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER March 23, 2017

Page 11

SNL comedian to headline SAC's Spring Comedy Show

By Jon Hoel Co-Managing Editor The Student Activity Council (SAC) annual spring event has been a standard of not only MCLA’s spring term, but for most colleges for many years. It’s a taxing time for students, with finals, graduation and summer work looming.

It’s also been an important springboard over the years for both bands and comedians, helping them grow from the college circuit to the mainstay.

Pete Davidson, 23, is a Brooklynbased comedian and current member of Saturday Night Live and will be bringing his New York Citybrand comedy to the Berkshires.

He will join the likes of R&B singer Kehlani, YouTube star Watsky, Ska-Punk band Reel Big Fish, and other recent performers as

SAC spring guests.

Davidson, who grew up on Staten Island is known for his often dark humor which often deals with his father, who was in the New York Fire Department, and died during the Sept 11 terrorist attacks.

Davidson’s came up in the New York stand-up scene, but got his break with MTV, with appearances on “Guy Code” and “Nick Cannon’s Wild N’ Out”. Shortly thereafter, he joined the cast of SNL in 2014 where he has remained since then.

He’s been very open and public about his struggle with addiction.

Earlier this month, he announced he was sober for the first time in eight years. Davidson’s probably best known for his well-received bits as a participant on Comedy Central’s Roast series. He was a roaster for both their roast of pop star Justin Bieber and for the roast

of the actor Rob Lowe. He will also be starring in the remake of the controversial 1974 film “Going Places” alongside Susan Sarandon and writer/director of the film John Turturro. The film will also act as a quasi-sequel to the cult-classic movie “The Big Lebowski” directed by the Cohen brothers.

The spring comedian event will take place on April 17. Tickets will be available April 3-7 and again April 10-14. Tickets are $5 for students, $7 for guests of students and faculty/staff and alumni.

Junior to host backup Spring Concert PHOTO FROM DEADLINE.COM in Sullivan Lounge, see Page 6 Peter Davidson will perform in place of a traditional

Spring Concert.

SPRING IS AFLOAT

SGA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Kaitlin Wright first to announce candidacy

By Nick Tardive @Nick_Tardive Senior News Editor

PHOTO BY DOMONIQUE ACKLEY — PHOTO EDITOR

After a rough start, Spring has finally come. To see a photo gallery of the greenery, flip to the photo essay on page 12.

Students continue to debate armament Glock 22s were first put on the hips of Public Safety officers in 2013 as mandate from the College’s Board of Trustees. Now, four years later, a majority of campus members who took the Beacon’s poll support keeping the officers armed.

90 percent of students and 70 percent of faculty opposed the notion in 2012, and protested the idea of armed officers in the campus Quad, The Beacon reported at the time. Yet, The Board of Trustees still voted in full confidence.

The Beacon conducted a non-scientific survey before spring break, which revealed 100 out of 175 takers support Public Safety having lethal weapons (57.14 percent).

“I don’t think they should disarm,” President of SGA Tim Williams said.

“I know a lot of people don’t like that argument, but there have been a lot of school shootings and we have to be cautious.”

Williams added that although he respects the North Adams Police Department (NAPD), he felt it’s safer for Public Safety to be armed on account of NAPD being several minutes away

WRIGHT, Page 4

BEACON POLL

FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF ARMING CAMPUS SAFETY

By Reagan Smith Staff Writer

Nomination papers for student government elections were made available Tuesday, with Junior Kaitlin Wright being the first to formally announce a campaign for the SGA presidency.

Wright, president of Debate Club, vice president of the Political Science Club and chairwoman of MCLA’s College Republicans, does not have formal experience in the College’s student government body, but has a political science background Wright and has been heavily involved in the campus community. Also announced were Wright’s executive and coordinating vice presidents, current Senate Secretary Rebecca Godbout and Stefanie Nieves - both of whom are familiar with the inner-workings of the SGA. “I have seen the work that President [Tim] Williams’ administration has done and while it has certainly been a tough year, I commend them for their achievements,” Wright said. “Tim is one of my close

from the College.

Some students favor the opposing argument. Student Senator AJ Cote felt that disarming officers would be a way to unite Public Safety and the student body, making the campus more peaceful.

“I think that arming our campus

ARMAMENT, Page 3

Public Safety Director Daniel Colonno talks about armed public safety, see Page 3

UNused meal plans, food dissatisfaction

By Mitchell Chapman @mitchapman Editor-in-Chief Over spring break, The Beacon conducted a non-scientific poll asking students where they eat, how much of their meal plan they use, their satisfaction with ARAMARK and the efforts thus far of the SGA’s Food Committee.

Of a sample size of 111, 75 survey takers expressed dissatisfaction with ARAMARK as MCLA’s food service provider, with 19 being impartial and only 17 expressing satisfaction with the company.

“Everything about MCLA’s food is terrible,” one

MEAL POLL, Page 4

2

March 23, 2017

CAMPUS NEWS

SGA: Strategic Planning, Club Budgets and Public Safety

By Hannah Snell Staff Writer Catherine Holbrook, vice president of Student Affairs and Cynthia Brown, vice president of Academic Affairs made one of the first of many presentations of the Supportive and Inclusive Community survey results at Monday’s SGA meeting.

Across all student identities, students felt the most unsafe and unwelcome in the North Adams community, compared to other areas on campus, the survey found.

Coordinating Vice President Samantha Giffen asked Holbrook and Brown whether or not the College had any plans to work with the North Adams community.

Holbrook responded that there may be plans in the future for President Birge to possibly speak with Mayor Alcombright to work together with the College.

The survey also found a significant discrepancy between how safe

and accepted students who identify as non-binary feel compared to their counterparts who do not identify as non-binary.

For example, 79 percent of male and 79 percent of female students reported feeling welcome on campus, while only 44 percent of non-binary students felt welcome on campus.

Only 38 percent of non-binary student felt physically safe on campus.

Holbrook also noted the discrepancy between what black students and students of color reported compared to white students.

When asked if they feel welcome at MCLA, 82 percent of white students reported “yes,” while 66 percent of students of color and 58 percent of black students reported the same.

There are plans to have more focus groups, discussions and surveys in the near future. According to Holbrook after asked by senior Sychiah Johnson, there are plans to include student organizations, such as ALANA, Queer Student Union, Susan B. Anthony Women’s Center and the Black Student Union, in these conversations.

Tomorrow, there will be a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force meeting with new Chief Diversity Office Dr. William Lewis

at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Murdock 218.

Sen. Declan Nolan asked Holbrook how the College would engage students in these focus groups when they may already feel uncomfortable speaking about such issues.

One solution that Holbook suggested was appointing faculty members, for example, that students would feel more comfortable talking to than administration could potentially lead this focus groups.

The entire Senate was present at Monday’s SGA meeting, with the exception of President Tim Williams, whom Executive Vice President Shannon Esposito intermittently substituted for.

Sen. La’Juan Allen also proposed to make an amendment to the SGA Constitution that would abolish the requirement for campus police services at campus events that run past 11 p.m. and until 2 a.m. The money that goes into funding these services, he said, should instead go directly to the clubs.

Allen stressed that it is important that this motion is passed in order to “get students out of their dorms” on weekends.

Director of Student Development Celia Norcross suggested letting individual clubs decide whether they want services at

Comey admits FBI investigating Trump’s Russia ties, no Obama wiretapping

By Nick Tardive Senior News Editor FBI Director James Comey acknowledged a broken institutional precedent when he publicly confirmed that his department was investigating ties between President Trump’s campaign and Russian meddling in the election.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with the Russian government in effecting the outcome of this past election.

“I have been authorized by the Department of Justice to confirm that the FBI, as part of our counterintelligence mission, is investigating the Russian government’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election and that includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia’s efforts,” Comey told the House committee in charge of the investigation.

“As with any counterintelligence investigation, this will also include an assessment of whether any crimes were committed.”

The U.S Intelligence Committee released a “declassified version of a highly classified assessment” that concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin had authorized a campaign to interfere with the 2016 election in an effort to elect Donald Trump to

CAMPUS POLICE LOGS 3/13-3/18

Mon. Mar. 13 6:26p.m. – Warned subject involved in suspicious activity at the Church Street Center. Refer to incident: 17-97-OF in Public Safety log.

11:29p.m. – Completed a building check at 72 Porter Street due to suspicious activity.

Tue. Mar. 14 6:59p.m. –Investigated suspicious activity on Blackinton Street.

11:12p.m. – Investigated suspicious activity in the Facilities Bui8lding Lot. Wed. Mar. 15 10:46a.m. – Filed report on a fire alarm in the Amsler Campus Center. Refer to incident: 17-99-OF in Public Safety log.

10:56a.m. – No action required for a 911 hang-up call from Mark Hopkins Hall.

11:09a.m. – No action required for a 911

be president. Comey, in his hearings, stood by the report. He claimed that the Russian government wished to “hurt our democracy.”

Another Trump administration scandal that Comey fanned the flames of was the accusations Trump made on Mar 4, when he took to Twitter to accuse President Obama of wiretapping his phones during the “very sacred election process.”

“With respect to the president’s tweets about alleged wiretapping directed at him by the prior administration, I have no information that supports those tweets and we have looked carefully inside the FBI,” Comey said in the hearing on Capitol Hill. “The Department of Justice has asked me to share with you that the answer is the same for the Department of Justice and all its components. The department has no information that supports those tweets.”

Mike Rogers, Director of the National Security Agency, denied allegations by the president that Obama asked British spy agencies to survey the Trump campaign in a House investigative hearing of his own.

When asked by Rep. Adam Schiff (DCalif.) if he had asked Britain’s equivalent to the NSA to spy on Trump on behalf of Obama or anyone in his administration, Rogers replied that he had not and would never.

“I have seen nothing on the NSA said that we engaged in such activity, nor that anyone ever asked us to engage in such activity,” Rogers said.

hang-up call from Eldridge Hall.

6:55p.m. – Closed case on an unwanted guest in Venable Hall.

Thur. Mar. 16 Completed five building checks due to weather related issues on campus.

Fri. Mar. 17 Completed six building checks due to unsecure premises on campus.

9:38p.m. – Could not locate suspicious activity reported in the Amsler Campus Center.

Sat. Mar. 18 6:01p.m. – Filed report on unwanted guest(s) in the Amsler Campus Center. Refer to incident: 17-101-OF in Public Safety log.

9:41p.m. – Filed report on a supervisory alarm in Hoosac Hall. Refer to incident: 17-102-OF in Public Safety log.

these events.

Treasurer Kayla LaVoice said that such legislation may be “unfair because clubs that budgeted for the services would be getting extra money.”

The Senate voted to pass the motion after Sen. Avery Woodbury made the first motion to move the vote to the next meeting.

Several SGA-funded clubs requested amendments to their budgets. A motion was approved to give $600 to African Student Association (ASA). The money was requested to help fund the ASA’s event on Friday night.

Meanwhile, the Anime Club got their request approved to decrease their budget from $900 to $400.

Zach Benjamin, president of the Fashion Student Organization (FSO), proposed a budget increase, emphasizing the struggle of clothing individual models with $13. He proposed that the FSO receive $585 from the supplemental budget for clothing as early as possible. This would allow the club to dress each model for $17.

Shannon Esposito then gave a briefing of highlights from Food Committee, which she is the president of. Esposito shared ways in which ARAMARK is incorporat-

ing the committee’s suggestions, such as new additions to the Trailblazer Cafe and a pop-up taco bar in response for a request for more Mexican food.

Another sub-committee of SGA that is currently under consideration is the Public Safety committee, which would connect Public Safety with students.

Esposito emphasized that in order for these committees and the focus groups to be most successful, student participation outside of SGA members must increase. She urged SGA members to encourage their friends and constituents to become more involved in these committees and discussions.

“Everybody’s voice is valued on this campus in terms of these issues,” she said.

With the recent availability of election papers for next year’s SGA positions, possibilities for the position of president have been looming.

CVP Giffen denied to comment on whether or not she is running for president next year, as she is still considering her options. Thus far, junior Kaitlin Wright has been the first and only student to officially announce a presidential campaign.

BWN SPOTLIGHT

Barclay visits MCLA

PHOTO BY BEACON WEB NEWS

Hardman Journalist-in-Residence Dolores Barclay, an adjunct professor at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, talks with Maggie Allen in the Beacon newsroom about her March 22nd lecture on fake news. For more on the latest BWN episode, including the second BWN en Espanol that reviews the Korean Garden restaurant, check out the Beacon's Youtube page.

FINANCIAL AID ANNOUNCEMENT MCLA SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 17-18 WILL BE AVAILABLE MARCH 16TH!!

APPLY ON-LINE AT MCLA.AWARDSPRING.COM LOG IN WITH YOU’RE A# AND PASSWORD. DEADLINE IS MIDNIGHT, APRIL 3RD!!! ******************************************* THINKING ABOUT TAKING SUMMER CLASSES? STOP BY THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE FOR INFORMATION ON SUMMER FINANCIAL AID *************************** SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Apply on-line at Scholarships.com Free scholarship search!

CAMPUS NEWS

March 23, 2017

EMERGENCY FUND

3

Emergency fund used to prevent possible gaps in student education

By Hannah Snell Staff Writer The Charlotte Degen Emergency Fund has been helping MCLA students in need of financial assistance in emergency situations since 2014 by engaging faculty and staff, Student Affairs and Financial Aid. Students in an emergency situation where they do not have the financial means necessary can access the fund by reaching out to a staff or faculty member who will then refer them to Associate Dean of Students Theresa O’Bryant.

O’Bryant would be in contact with Financial Aid. If the student has an amount of unmet need, they qualify to receive assistance via the emergency fund. “[The fund is] Essentially for emergency situations that are interfering with somebody’s ability to participate in their education,” O’Bryant said.

Hypothetical situations O’Bryant mentioned which would qualify for funding in-

clude a house fire in which a student’s books and school supplies were burned or if a student broke their glasses and could not afford another pair. However, it is not meant to help a student pay for their tuition.

Staff and faculty members, including professors and staff at Financial Aid and the Center for Student Success and Engagement (CSSE), are informed of the fund and are expected to refer students who reach out to them to receive help in such situations.

“Those are the points where students would be connecting with people saying they are having a personal challenge that they are trying to address, a death in the family, they don’t have money for a bus ticket, things like that,” O’Bryant said. “So all of those employee groups know about this and would refer a student to talk to me about it.”

However, O’Bryant explains this may not mean a student’s financial aid needs are the only factor that determine their qualification to receive funding.

“If you’re a student whose financial aid might say this student doesn’t have a financial need or they never even applied for financial assistance, then what I would do is I would get you in that process to get you apply for financial aid to see what the need is,” O’Bryant said. “That takes a little bit more time, but that’s a good process to engage.”

The fund is still relatively new, as it was established by former MCLA President Mary Grant when Charlotte F. Degen, former vice president of Student Affairs and the fund’s namesake. It is funded by donor contributions through the Office of Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations.

“She [Degen] was always personally and professionally invested in equity for students in terms of them being able to access their education and educational opportunity and doing that well,” O’Bryant said. “I think that President Grant thought that it was fitting that we have a fund that did these types of things because it

would be consistent with what a thoughtful and caring community should do and to name it after Charlotte Degen was a nice idea.”

O’Bryant describes her role within the fund as being a “checks and balances system” where staff at financial aid determines a student’s amount of unmet need and qualification and she works directly with students.

Director of Financial Aid Elizabeth Petri describes her role in the fund as checking financial aid resources and the student’s individual information to see what may be available.

“The solution sometimes is as simple as being able to disburse a financial aid source a little earlier than scheduled,” Petri said.

When there is a request that cannot be met through the Financial Aid office, O’Bryant will contact the Foundation with the request for funding, according to Petri.

SGA Sen. La’Juan Allen addressed student inquiries and concerns at a previous SGA meeting by mentioning that he had re-

PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR DANIEL COLONNO

Armament and public safety

By Mitchell Chapman @mitchapman Editor-in-Chief Five years ago, 67 percent of students and 90 percent of faculty were against arming public safety. Two weeks ago, based on a sample size of 175, The Beacon found that is no longer the case.

“I’m not surprised,” Public Safety Director Daniel Colonno said. “[We] must protect the lives of the community, from even the deadliest active shooters.”

Colonno noted that lethal is only one option, with non lethal means being essential to the role of an officer. Without firearms, in the event of an active shooter, MCLA Public Safety officers would be unable to assist with or deal with the situation, having to lock down with students. Colonno also noted that virtually all of the colleges in the Massachusetts public college system have armed their public safety officers or are in the process of arming, with MassART and MassBay Community College the two public colleges yet to have armed pubic safety.

Though Colonno was not working under Public Safety in 2013 when the campus first armed campus police, he points to a 2008 recommendation developed by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education titled “Campus Violence Prevention and Response: Best Practices for Massachusetts Higher Education,” which was developed as a result of past shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois College. The report acknowledged that the risk of serious violence on a college campus is “remarkably low,” but acknowledges that serious violence “can be devastating and long-lasting.”

As such, the report recommended that all “sworn campus police officers should be

PHOTO BY MITCHELL CHAPMAN — EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Public Safety Director Daniel Colonno addressed concerns that arose from a Beacon poll, including student discomfort around armed police officers. armed and trained in the use of personal or specialized firearms.” In 2012, MCLA’s Board of Trustees took this to heart, voting 10 to 1 to arm campus safety, with the lone vote of “no” coming from the student trustee at the time.

“It’s logical,” Colonno said.

“Society dictates that we have to defend the lives of the campus community. We don’t want to go backwards by not accepting the recommendation.”

In June of 2016, the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education released another report, to see if the recommendations in 2008 were being carried out. The report concluded “we have seen progress towards implementation in almost every area,” including arming Massachusetts Public Safety

departments. In fact, the report lists public safety armaments as one of the “more prominent examples of progress,” listing firearms as “tools necessary to prepare for and respond to an active shooter incident.”

Regarding the 37 survey takers that felt uncomfortable around armed officers, Colonno acknowledged that there are a lot of factors. For instance, one survey taker said that they felt uncomfortable when they saw a campus police officer reach for their weapon.

“We have 40 lbs. of gear,” Colonno said. “It can be difficult to place your hands some place comfortable.”

Per allegations of profiling, Colonno admits that there is some confusion about what

profiling is, referring to an incident where a student alleged profiling over a request to see ID. “We ask to see people’s IDs all the time,” he said. “Asking for ID is not profiling.”

Background also comes into play.

“If you grew up from somewhere where you don’t trust the police, you’re not going to trust the police anywhere,” Colonno said. “I’ll say ‘trust me,’ and I want you to believe me, but the truth will be in my actions.”

As such, Colonno has been trying to build trust within the MCLA community by requiring officers to attend public events, to get to know members of the community.

“I want people to trust us and come to us,” Colonno said.

ceived assistance during his freshman year from what he called, “this vital fund...most students don’t know that this fund exists.”

Allen, who learned about the fund from a faculty member, suggested in order to draw awareness, the fund could be mentioned at orientation as a financial aid program available to students.

“Through our communications, whether that is during orientation or during a financial aid program, we advise students that if they are having financial difficulties while at college, to contact the Financial Aid Office,” Petri said. “We don’t talk about a particular fund as we have various funds that may come into play when trying to assist a student with an issue. The Charlotte Degen Fund is just one of them.”

Students who find themselves in an emergency situation and require financial assistance are encouraged to reach out to a trusted faculty or staff member, such as a professor, or to contact Financial Aid or O’Bryant directly.

ARMAMENT From Page 1

police only worsened the tension that we already have in this community, and increased distrust,” senior Katie Hickey said. “It’s unnecessary, and tasers should be adequate, if anything at all…I can’t think of the last time I heard about a violent interaction with campus police.”

Senior Sychiah Johnson said she felt it is unnecessary for public safety to have weapons, considering the size of our campus and the lack of violence.

“We’re really not a violent population. I know they’re supposed to be protecting us from the community and the larger population, but I don’t think North Adams community really poses that threat,” she said.

About 75 percent of four-year colleges that enroll more than 2,500 students have armed campus security, according to a 2012 Campus Law Enforcement survey done by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). More than 90 percent of campus law enforcement use nonlethal weapons, such as pepper spray or batons.

On Facebook, students expressed their discomfort with the weapons still being in place. Some also said they thought arming officers four years ago was not in the best interest of the MCLA community.

“We should go for more than helping appearances, we should allow any student to at least apply for the right to carry non-lethal means of self-protection,” Kevin Hill-Williams, senior, posted.

“Since you can never count on having someone else to protect you.”

Alexander Agnitti, junior, posted that, considering North Adams Police carry guns, Public Safety officers should not. SGA is open to hearing all student opinions, according to Williams. The more students who voice their concerns, the more of an impact they can make.

“I work for the students, not the other way around,” he added.

4

March 23, 2017

CAMPUS NEWS

SGA FOOD COMMITTEE

Finding solutions to food concerns

By Mitchell Chapman @mitchapman Editor-in-Chief This year, SGA has resurrected Food Committee, a sub-group meant to relay student concerns with ARAMARK, MCLA’s food service provider, spear-headed

by SGA executive vice president Shannon Esposito, who hopes to work with the company, rather than replace it.

“Food Committee was just started up again this semester after a semester off,” she said. “The reason why I became the head and driving force to start this

committee up again was I had heard time and time again ‘ARAMARK sucks.’”

Esposito noticed student dissatisfaction towards ARAMARK, but realized that there was no platform for students to comfortably voice there concerns. As such, she revived the committee with the purpose of communicating to ARAMARK student concerns while communicating to students concerns and information the company has. Food Committee meetings are open to anyone who wants to attend.

“My first goal for this committee was to take anything that was pressing from the fall semester

MEAL POLL

and get that handled before starting new business,” Esposito said.

“Now that this is done I have started reaching out to different avenues to see if there are any questions, comments, ideas, issues or concerns that I may relay back to the committee. The greatest avenue was Facebook in the class pages. I received already so many ideas and comments, and have been able to answer questions to educate people on ARAMARK.” At SGA meetings, Esposito has reiterated the importance of working with what the College has, rather than starting from scratch with a new food service

provider, which might result in the same staff working for the school but under a different name with different policies. Food Committee is SGA’s primary way of doing that.

“After the meetings, that night at SGA I report back with any answers I received on questions, comments, ideas, issues or concerns,” she said. “Then I report on what is new with ARAMARK such as upcoming pop up events or specials. Lastly I ask if any senators or gallery members have any ideas or concerns. I typically get about four items to bring back to the ARAMARK representatives which are answered after our next

meeting.”

Esposito usually meets with a representative from: Overall ARAMARK affairs, retail, catering and the head chef of the cafeteria, Chef Tony Fiorentino.

Food Committee meetings are every other Monday at 3:30 p.m. in the Centennial Room located in the Amsler Campus Center.

For any ideas, questions or issues about ARAMARK or Food Committee, contact Shannon Esposito at Se4137@mcla.edu. Students are also encouraged to voice their concerns at SGA meetings, which take place every Monday at 9 p.m. in Murdock 218, or through ARARAMARK directly.

Picking apart THE RESULTS

From Page 1

survey taker wrote. “The food was one of the main reasons why I will be transferring out of MCLA because night after night of getting sick and the lack of healthy options as well as the frequency of under cooked meat made it impossible to consume anything in the cafeteria without an upset stomach. My recommendations are to get rid of ARAMARK permanently and hire chefs who know how to cook meat so that it is not burnt to a crisp or raw and bloody.”

As such, an overwhelming majority of 92 survey takers thought that MCLA should seek another food service provider, in direct opposition to the institution’s plans to renew ARAMARK’s contract.

“Honesty, do not renew the contract with ARAMARK,” another survey taker wrote. “There are hardly any type of varieties on a consistent basis and the food that they make is just not good at all. I’ve also had a friend that found a maggot in their food once from ARAMARK. I believe as a school that is getting a lot of money from students should provide a better food provider than ARAMARK.” When asked about SGA’s Food Committee, a recently revived sub-group meant to relay student concerns with ARAMARK, a stable majority of survey takers did not know that there was a Food Committee (61) with 17 being dissatisfied with the group’s efforts thus far, 21 being impartial and 12 being satisfied.

The majority of students who took the survey ate primarily on campus (83), with the cafeteria located in the Amsler Campus Center being where they ate the most (59), with the Provisions on Demand (P.O.D.) convenience store coming in second (22) and Subway coming in third (16).

54 Percent

OF STUDENTS EAT MOSTLY IN THE CAFETERIA

75 Percent 82 Percent

OF STUDENTS EAT MOSTLY ON CAMPUS

OF STUDENTS THINK THAT MCLA SHOULD NOT RENEW ARAMARK’S CONTRACT

75 Percent

OF STUDENTS ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH ARAMARK

55 Percent

OF STUDENTS DO NOT KNOW THERE IS A FOOD COMMITTEE

To see a document containing the complete short answer responses, go to theonlinebeacon.com GRAPHICS BY MITCHELL CHAPMAN

WRIGHT From Page 1

friends and I have the upmost respect for him, however, there are far too many students that are currently unhappy with the way this school is.

Not only do I want to ensure that every student’s concern is heard, I want to go one step further. Rather than just come up with a plan, I want to implement that plan.”

In a statement made to The Beacon, Wright said that her platform would be focused on matters of public safety, ARAMARK and issues of inclusiveness on campus. She point-

ed to concerns about campus police racially profiling members of the campus community, and suggested strengthening relations between officers and students. On top of that, Wright called for a more transparent public safety department.

Regarding ARAMARK, Wright said the process for reducing the College’s meal plan - especially for students with special medical needs - was “tedious” and unnecessary.

Wright suggested the problem could be solved by “creating more, kind of” interchangeable options for the plan. With a wider freedom of options to choose from, Wright contended, students could help have a

“better dining experience” - whether that be the student getting more declining balance, or even signing up for more swipes in the cafeteria.

“Finally, inclusiveness,” Wright said. “Every member of the MCLA community needs to feel welcome.

Whether you’re a resident or commuter, whether you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, whether you are black, white or Hispanic. We will work to create a more inclusive environment for everyone.

In doing that, we hope to increase club memberships across the board, as well as raise event attendance numbers.”

Godbout confirmed her role as

Wright’s candidate for EVP. “Kaitlin has been serving on the e-board of two clubs that have had a lot of success this past year,” Godbout said, “She has also worked very hard and has formed a new club on campus, College Republicans. She has been driven to create a more inclusive environment at this school, and I believe SGA could use some fresh faces and real solutions to the concerns and issues our students have.”

Wright was the first to formally announce her president candidacy of SGA. Also expected to submit nomination papers are current Coordinating Vice President

Sam Giffen and Senator AJ Cote, who lost a special runoff election to President Tim Williams last spring after the two tied unexpectedly in the initial vote.

Williams explained that SGA Presidents often refrain from endorsing candidates, and that instead he would be focusing on making sure the election by-laws are followed by all candidates and doing his best to increase voter turnout.

“Whoever decides to run should go through a vigorous test to see if they are the best candidate to represent all the students,” he said.

FEATURES

DOMINQUE STEVENSON-POPE

Winner of the Second Trailblazer Cookoff

By Emily Gabert eg3887@mcla.edu Features Editor

Dominique Stevenson-Pope missed cooking, as cooking on a college budget can be tough, and space for it isn’t easily afforded on campus. When she found out about the Trailblazer Cookoff, she saw it as a chance to get back into her hobby.

Stevenson-Pope was named the winner of the second Trailblazer Cookoff contest on March 7, after three weeks of competing against other students. Three contestants were voted off each week, except for the final round, where she and Morrison Robblee competed head to head.

Participants were voted on flavor, presentation and by the way the ingredients were used in their dishes.

In the final round, StevensonPope and Robblee had to make a dish out of chicken breast, scallops, mangos, bananas and avocados.

“It wasn’t too hard to come up with ideas,” Stevenson-Pope explained. “I’ve eaten foods from around the world and I love cooking, so it was easy to come up with recipes.”

She said she liked what other contestants had made in each round as each of them looked and smelt good. Robblee’s dish he made for the final round was a meal that she loved, and would consider ordering if it were at a restaurant.

Before she considered coming to MCLA, Stevenson-Pope planned on going to culinary school in Rhode Island at Johnson and Wales University. She

had visited the campus and liked what she saw, but her plans changed when she was hit by a car a few years ago – she broke her left wrist and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee.

It took her a couple of months to recover from the accident, as she had to undergo multiple surgeries and go through physical therapy.

Becoming a teacher was her second career choice. She currently is a freshman studying history, with a double major in secondary education. Despite wanting to teach, Stevenson-Pope still hopes to cook on the side. She cooks to help her relax, and one day hopes to open a food cart or a food stall on the side.

She also found the cookoff also gave her a chance to become closer with ARAMARK workers.

Stevenson-Pope explained that she was always thankful for the work, that the workers do daily – as her step father has worked a job where he also gets overlooked for his work.

“My step father was a janitor when I was younger,” she said. “So I have always admired the work that the ARAMARK workers do for us, and I was happy to get to talk them more and make them proud.”

Stevenson-Pope’s friends were excited about her win, and her mother was proud.

Her advice for students looking to get into cooking is to research.

She advises people to look up new recipes and practice making it.

Time management is also important, she said.

Although Stevenson-Pope enjoys many different kinds of food, she said that tacos were her favorite.

Dominque Stevenson-Pope originally wanted to go to culinary school.

PHOTOS BY EMILY GABERT

DOWNTOWN NORTH ADAMS

N E W I n t i a t i v e L o o k s t o R e v i t a li z e E a g le S t ree t

By Ron Leja rl2670@mcla.edu Deputy Features and A&E Editor The city of North Adams tried its best to claim the 1st place spot during the Small Business Revolution last month. The chatter concerning the contest became a common occurrence on various social media platforms, and for a short time, the feelings of comradery and community were stronger than they’ve been in years. Not only did locals vote for their quiet mountain town, but the city even received social media endorsements from James Taylor and Elizebeth Banks.

Still, despite all efforts, North Adams only placed 3rd, and while the loss was expected for many, it was heartbreaking nonetheless. Win or lose though, one thing was made certain: The people of North Adams are ready for change. They want to see economic and commercial growth, and the NAMAzing Initiative hopes to gain just that.

The NAMAzing Initiative, headed by city council president Benjamin Lamb, is currently spearheading the Eagle Street Initiative, an attempt to reinvigorate one of the city’s last remaining representations of it’s rich, historic past by turning the street in to a social hub for locals and visitors alike.

Eagle street is, in many ways, the very lifeblood of the downtown area.

It hosts some of the city’s most memorable and enjoyed establishments, including Village Pizza, Persnickety

PHOTO BY RON LEJA

Eagle Street is home to Jack's Hot Dog Stand and Village Pizza.

Toys, Jack’s Hotdogs, and most recently Desperado’s. It’s also home to the city’s annual Eagle Street Beach Party, a lively event in which 250,000 pounds of sand is spread from curb to curb, allowing for several beach themed, family oriented events.

Recently, the NAMAzing initiative was approached by MassDevelopment, the state’s economic development and finance agency, with a proposition: raise $25,000 to be put towards the development of Eagle Street by May 5th, and MassDevelopment will match it.

Should NAMAzing receive enough donations from the general

public, they hope to install a number of components to the Eagle street area. For starters, they plan to build a permanent, outdoor parklet in front of Persnickety Toys.

The parklet would function as a hangout-spot for 15-20 people, and provide evening lighting, outlets to charge personal devices, and free wifi for those in the immediate area.

While professionals would be hired on to build the outlet, potential volunteers are expected to be recruited through this year’s college day of service to assist in the production of seating and flower boxes.

The initiative would also allow for

the installation of branded trash and recycling bins as well as a plentitude of outdoor signage for establishments that line the street. They also plan to paint “Historic Eagle Street Shops and Dining” in large, attractive letters on the north end of the street, while constructing two, seven foot brick columns on the south end of the street, from which a gatewaylike sign will be constructed.

While the street has suffered due to a lack of storefronts, several investors have taken interest in the eagle street area in recent years.

While it may not look like much now, several buildings have been

purchased and are currently undergoing restructuring, and the potential to reinvigorate commerce in the area is as strong as ever.

Funding for the Eagle Street Initiative is currently being gathered through Patronicity.com, a civic crowdfunding and crowdgranting platform similar to that of kickstarter. As of March 20th, the initiative has currently raised nearly $6,000 of the desired $25,000.

Those wishing to contribute may do so at www.patronicity.com/project/eagle_street_initiative#/

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Backup Spring Concert this Friday

By Mitchell Chapman @mitchapman Editor-in-Chief Student Activities Council (SAC) will not be hosting a Spring Concert this year, but that won’t stop junior Kamron Anderson from putting one on anyway this Friday in Sullivan Lounge.

“Last year a friend of mine, La’Juan Allen, hosted a concert and had his friends perform,” he said. “I have been waiting to do this for a year now and I am very excited to have the opportunity to do so. I really enjoy music, and giving artists a chance to showcase their talent in front of students seemed like a good idea to me.”

According to Anderson, the event had been in the works for about a year, with the idea to name it “Backup Spring ‘17 Concert” when SAC announced that it would host a comedian instead of a musician this year.

“It was honestly a late title change and almost a joke that there is no official

“I really just wanted to create an outlet for some of the kids to show what they have created.”

Kamron Anderson

spring concert and that we are having a comedian,” he said. “I really just wanted to create an outlet for some of the kids to show what they have created. And if people like it enough possibly I will do it next year, but it will depend on the turn out.”

The concert will feature local artists, with the exception of some talent Anderson knows from Ludlow, Mass., and will feature hip hop and soul music. Musicians listed to be featured include Dilliano, Jahbari, Dot Visions, Mikey Black, Cheffdaddysupreme, Travis Rice, Messaoud Kerris, Jack Dawson, Kirby and Ryan Soares. “[I hope to] get more people noticed around campus,” Anderson said. “We have plenty of musical talent

across campus and these people don’t get recognized or noticed. If the turnout is good maybe more artists can be recognized across campus.”

At the time of publication, SAC has not responded to The Beacon’s inquiry for comment on the Backup Spring Concert.

“I liked the idea of just a concert where people can attend for free and support their friends,” Anderson said.

The Backup Spring Concert is not in any way hosted or affiliated with SAC. The concert will take place this Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. in Sullivan Lounge, located in the Amsler Campus Center.

It is free and open to the public.

As of now, there are no plans to make this a yearly event.

“I just plan for it to be a good time [and] everybody is welcome to attend,” Anderson concluded.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KAMRON ANDERSON. The backup concert will feature a host of local musicians.

Logan: Breaking the Super Hero Mold

By Ron Leja Deputy Features and A&E Writer Sitting down to watch “Logan,” Hugh Jackman’s latest and presumably last take on the Wolverine character, I couldn’t help but to feel some level of skepticism. While I’ve always been a fan of the X-men, the movies have proven to be fairly sub-par experiences. The stories presented have never been very compelling, and always seem to fall victim to a certain level of campiness and super-hero movie tropes that most of the fan-base doesn’t find appealing. Over the years comics have progressively matured, and fans have come to expect the same from the movies.

As an X-men fan, I’m happy to report that “Logan” has finally broken the mold. Leiden with gratuitous violence, adult language and thought provoking, mature subject matter, “Logan” finally allows for the Wolverine character to be presented in a way that better resembles the mentality of his comic counterpart. Director James Mangold has done away with the typical plot devices that have ultimately hurt the X-men movie franchise for years, offering up an X-men tale that is still very much grounded in reality. Gone are the alien threats and ludicrous, over the top CGI spectacles of past films. “Logan” is in many ways the “Dark Knight” of the Marvel cinematic universe.

PHOTO FROM DENOFGEEK.COM

The heart of the f ilm resides more in the developing relationship between Laura and Logan.

Based very loosely on the “Old Man Logan” mini-series, the film takes place in a distant future, the year 2029, where mutants are all but absent from society. Logan, along with fellow mutant Caliban, played by Stephen Merchant, care for a mentally deteriorating Professor X, played by Patrick Stewart.

The professor is a mere shadow of his former self. Prone to violent seizures that result in intense, ground shaking psychic attacks, Logan and Caliban have hid the professor away in an abandoned smelting plant on the Mexican border. The professor’s brain has been classified as a weapon of mass destruction, and Logan, working as a simple limo driver,

hopes to earn enough money to purchase a boat for both him and his colleagues to live out the rest of the professor’s life on the ocean, completely segregated from the human population.

Patrick Stewart’s return to the role of Professor X is a welcome one. Given the professor’s mental state and failing health, Stewart is able to explore the character in ways that viewers have yet to see.

He’s no longer limited to the highbrow, thespian roll that viewers have come to expect, and instead comes off as more of a tragic character still clinging to his last shreds of hope for the mutant population.

He swears, discusses the tragedies that being a mutant entails, and

even cracks a joke from time to time, the result of which makes for a more grounded, believable character.

The film really picks up when Logan is approached by Gabriella Lopez, a nurse who wants him to escort both her and an 11-year-old girl named Laura to a remote area in North Dakota dubbed “Eden.”

She claims that there are people looking for Laura, and that “Eden” is the only place in which she will be safe. Hesitant at first, Logan eventually accepts the job only to find Lopez has been murdered, and Laura left in his care.

Laura, played by the young actress Dafne Keen, is one of several mutant children being hunted by

a mutant research facility that had hoped to use them as weapons.

She, like Logan, bares adamantium claws that pierce through her knuckles, and fights with a primal ferocity that is sure to make audience’s jaws drop. Viewer’s first taste of Laura’s combat prowess is arguably one of the greatest fight scenes in Marvel movie history. It doesn’t only capture a viewer’s attention, it demands it, and helps to set the stage for the rest of the film.

However, the best aspects of the film are not found simply in its incredibly brutal fight scenes.

The heart of the film resides more in the developing relationship between Laura and Logan. The character of Logan tackles some pretty dark feelings, wrestling with alcoholism, nihilism and thoughts of suicide, but through his interaction with Laura, the character manages to find reasons to persevere, even if he is hesitant to do so at first.

All in all, Logan is a much heavier picture than fans of the X-men will be use too, but the result is a much more rewarding theatrical experience. The story and its characters have depth, and the relatively dark subject matter is a refreshing new take on the super hero genre. As Marvel continues to expand its theatrical universe, I can only hope that they will continue bolster their stories with mature themes instead of playing to younger audiences, which comics no longer adhere to.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

March 23, 2017

Death Is Real:

7

A r e v i e w o f “ A C r o w L o o ke d A t M e ”

By Chris Riemer A&E Editor I never run out of things to hate about music journalism.

Sometimes I wonder if the only acceptable form of an album review would just be an in-depth examination of the reviewers experience listening to the music.

When you try to describe the music itself, don’t you always end up describing yourself, anyway?

I’m not being abstract, I really believe that.

This belief started as a distaste for the practice of giving artworks numerical ratings, whether it be Ebert’s 4 stars or Pitchfork’s outof-ten score. I know it’s supposed to provide a defensible point for the review, like a thesis, but to me the process seems to have very evil implications. It represents a systematic refusal by journalists to examine pieces of art on the terms of these artworks, and for no real reason, except to make the reviews more easily skimmable, digestible and shareable. As a writer in the arts, I’m perpetually horrified by the ubiquity in my field of systems like this—how they lessen and dumb down the experience of art, and turn art criticism into an accumulation of bloodless clickbait.

Finally, my impression of the hype surrounding “A Crow Looked At Me,” the most recent album from the monumental indie musician Phil Elverum (as Mount Eerie), has been difficult to reconcile with my experience of the album itself. The album centers around the loss of Elverum’s

PHOTO FROM PWELVERUMANDSUN.COM

Genevieve, Phil and their daughter. wife, Geneviève, to pancreatic cancer last July. Geneviève was a fantastic artist in her own right, from her various musical projects and collaborations to her acclaimed career drawing comics, such as the Ignatz-nominated “Susceptible.”

“Consequence of Sound” has given “A Crow Looked At Me” a score, a respectable A-, which again seems intrinsically evil to me, although I’ll let you decide how you feel about that.

The lyrics on the album were compiled from scraps of poetry and various thoughts Elverum wrote down during and after

Geneviève’s sickness. Many of the lines neither rhyme nor seem particularly structured. They spill over one another in continuous threads, ending eventually, often just before the final chord in the progression—tracks like “Toothbrush/Trash” and “Seaweed” are built like this, like rooms without doors.

Elverum continually returns to the idea of not learning anything or gaining anything artistically from Geneviève’s passing. I think listeners will probably wonder at some point why he made the album. I don’t think it’s a testament to their re-

lationship, or anything like that.

It seems more like the result of a process of coming to terms with death, and of understanding his altered role as a person, primarily his new role as a single father. In other words, I see the album as a necessary continuation of Elverum’s quest for meaning, which probably started long before he first began releasing music under the name “The Microphones.”

It’s a difficult album to listen to, obviously, even as individual songs. Hearing about Elverum’s plan to build a house for his family on an island near his home-

town of Anacortes (a plan he still intends to go through with) isn’t fun. The music is really devastating. Although I don’t think this was Elverum’s intention, the album makes you think about losing people you care about and makes you inhabit his sorrow, or at least some distant and lesser sorrow.

The music is brutal and loose, if not quite formless; acoustic guitar rhythms crumpling into one another. It does what it’s meant to do, basically—complementing the bleakness and confusion of the lyrics without getting in the way.

On his Bandcamp, Elverum wrote: “‘Death Is Real’ could be the name of this album. These cold mechanics of sickness and loss are real and inescapable, and can bring an alienating, detached sharpness.”

In the song “Emptiness pt. 2” he sings: “There is nothing to learn/her absence is a scream.”

A Mount Eerie album can’t possibly be completely artless, but “A Crow Looked At Me” is maybe the closest thing I’ve heard to someone sitting down with you and saying whatever it is they feel.

If the question of artlessness or the process of grieving interest you, give it a listen. The second single “Ravens” is a good place to start, and a good way to tell if you’ll actually want to listen to more.

If you’d like a better idea of how and why the album came about, I’d suggest Jayson Greene’s piece for Pitchfork.

Ed Sheeran’s “Divide” Shows New Side and Influences of the Singer/Songwriter

By Emma Monahan A&E Writer British singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran recently released his third studio album, “Divide,” the highly anticipated comeback after a yearlong hiatus. Although the album is nowhere close to the sound of Sheeran’s debut 2011 album “Plus,” the lyrics are still genuine and real, the beats are catchy and Sheeran is able to portray his voice in many different ways.

The album’s opening song, “Eraser,” has those honest lyrics that fans love. Sheeran raps about his life changing and adjusting to the fame, “I need to get in the right mind and clear myself up/Instead I look in the mirror/questioning what I’ve become.” The song is similar to “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You” from “Plus,” giving listeners high hopes for the rest of the album.

“Shape of You,” one of the more popular songs on the album, and “Castle on the Hill” show different sides of Sheeran’s music, more upbeat, pop hits when compared to his original work. As stated, the lyrics remain the same, and he writes about love, family, fame,

sex and any other situation within his life that a 20-something year old can relate too. The problem is, once you hear “Shape of You” too many times, you become sick of it like any other pop song.

“Dive” is different. The third song on the album, Sheeran shows how powerful his voice is, he embraces the imperfection of it during the chorus. The song is another one of his classic love songs (remember “Photograph” and “Thinking Out Loud”?), but the guitar is a familiar beat, which makes the song perfect for when you stay in with your significant other for a night.

Alongside “Dive,” other songs on the album such as “Perfect,” “How Would You Feel (Paean),” “Supermarket Flowers,” as well as a handful of other songs fall under the category of classic love songs.

“Divide” is the album that many first dance songs at weddings will come from.

Sheeran also shows his influence from Irish music in the catchy songs “Galway Girl” and “Nancy Mulligan.” “Galway Girl” not only seems to show off Sheeran’s guitar skills, but the back beat is an instant hook when paired with the fiddles. Another one of his popular rap songs, the lyrics are fun to sing

along too, which is always a plus.

“She played the fiddle in an Irish band/But she fell in love with an English man/Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by the hand/Said, ‘Baby I just want to dance.’” “Nancy Mulligan” is even more of catch, especially when you learn that the song is about Sheeran’s grandparents (insert “Aww’s” here).

“She was Nancy Mulligan/And I was William Sheeran/She took my name and then we were one/ Down by the Wexford border.”

Whereas “Galway Girl” is far more on the pop side of things, “Nancy Mulligan” is a true Irish song with fiddles, chanting and clapping in the background and the homage to Sheeran’s family.

Since Sheeran took the past year off, two songs featured in the deluxe version of the album, “Barcelona” and “Bibia Be Ye Ye,” show how he could’ve been influenced by foreign countries, Spain and Ghana respectively.

“Barcelona” is a song that you can’t help but dance along to because of the rhythm and the beat, even if you argue that it’s not a true Sheeran song. “Bibia Be Ye Ye” is probably, if not the, least favorite song on the album. The guitar intro will remind you of a cheesy

PHOTO FROM CHICACOTRIBUNE.COM

Each of Sheeran's albums are titled with a single symbol.

Jimmy Buffett song, and although the lyrics are nice, you can’t help but press the next button, but it could grow on others.

Sheeran is able to bring the music from different cultures together on his new album, as well as branching out in his own way and also staying true to himself.

With an upcoming North America

tour in the horizon, it’ll be interesting to see where this album takes Sheeran. His performances on recent award shows have been like sneak peaks; at the 2017 Grammys that took place in February, he performed “Shape of You” all by himself, no band, not backup audio, just him, his guitar, keyboard and a loop pedal.

SPORTS

Dimassimo helps MCLA split double-header with Central Iowa

By Brady Gerow @MCLABeaconSport Sports Editor Junior Joe Dimassimo recorded a walk-off single to help push the Trailblazers past Central Iowa in the second game of their double-header in Florida on Friday, March 17.

In the seventh, junior Brett LaBonte drew a lead-off walk and was pinch run for by freshman Logan Rumbolt. He was quickly sacrificed to second and when sophomore Antonio Archina popped out, there were two outs when Dimassimo came to bat. The lefty drilled a single into right center field and Rumbolt jogged home with the game winning run.

Central Iowa took the first game of the double-header in convincing fashion, earning a 13-0 win over the Blazers, but the Blazers did not stop fighting and came back to win the next game.

After two and half innings of play, the Dutch led 4-0 before the Blazers began to make a run at a comeback, having scored

PHOTO BY MCLA ATHLETICS Catcher Nick DiSanti (left), Head Coach Mike Gladu (middle), and Pitcher Liam Nolan (right) consulting in a game last season. three runs in the bottom of the third, having put them down one point.

LaBonte and freshman Christian Seariac had RBI singles while Archina added a

sac fly in the inning.

The Blazers tied the game in the fifth inning on freshman

Joe Toledo’s RBI knock, but the Dutch completed a double play to end the inning.

The Blazers’ bullpen was able to keep the game tied at four until the bottom of the seventh where the Blazers took home the win.

The win was given to sophomore pitcher Bobby New who improved to 2-0 after pitching a two thirds innings of scoreless balls.

Toledo, senior Bill Pulasky and Dimassimo all ended with two hits as the Trailblazers and Dutch each recorded ten hits in the game.

The first game of the double header was all the Dutch, as they got ahead early in the game and never looked back.

They had recorded ten runs in the second and third innings alone. The Dutch scored three more runs over the last three innings to give them the 13-0 victory in the first game.

The Trailblazers return north and are not scheduled to play again until Wednesday against New England College in a doubleheader.

Softball falls to Bowdoin and Lawrence; finishes disappointing Florida trip

By Joseph Carew jc2824@mcla.edu Co-Managing Editor The College’s Softball team finished its Florida campaign with two losses on Monday against Bowdoin and Lawrence University, 3-2 and 10-4, respectively. With two games moved and the other ten games resulting in losses, the team has begun its new season on the back foot.

The first game saw the Bowdoin Polar Bears break out to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning. MCLA fought back as Senior Alex Romano went with a bunt and helped bring in a run to make it a 2-1 contest in the fourth inning.

The Polar Bears were not to be denied and notched another run in the bottom half of that very inning. The top of the seventh and final inning saw a Blazer comeback.

Freshman Kayla Baker wacked a pitch and secured a place at first while Sophomore Kaitlyn Beghela got to home plate to make the game a one run affair and put fear into the hearts of the Bowdoin players.

Freshman Erika Quackenbush got up to the plate next with two outs and the game in the balance. Quackenbush got a

PHOTO BY MCLA ATHLETICS Freshman Kayla Baker(Left) playing both inf ield and outf ield has boasted a solid .333 batting average despite the teams disappointing 0-10 start, while sophomore Chelsea Coleman (Right) has recorded a solid .375 batting average while playing third base during the team's f irst ten games. piece of a pitch but it landed in the glove of Bowdoin player and the game was over.

Senior Katelyn Henault helped keep the contest close for the Blazers pitching three scoreless innings.

Senior Marisa O’Toole for Bowdoin hit the only homerun of the game.

The latter game against Lawrence University saw the Blazers rack up a 3-1 lead

through two and a half innings only to see it all disappear. The third inning was unkind to defenses on either side and saw MCLA notch three runs and Lawrence five runs. In the top of the inning Quackenbush and Romano had RBI singles while Sophomore Chelsea Coleman had an RBI groundout.

This surge of runs woke something on the Lawrence

team which seized control of the contest in the bottom of that very inning. They had four hits and took advantage of a Blazer error to sit 6-3 by the time the inning was over.

MCLA didn’t have an answer for this explosion of scoring and the game ended in a 10-4 result.

This spring break series of games puts Salem State at

the head of the Conference with a record of 7-3 with Framingham a close second at 6-5. MCLA stands last in the conference of eight teams but with the majority of the season remaining to make up some ground.

Softball picks up again this upcoming Wednesday with a pair of games against Lyndon State University.

SPORTS

Cutler paces Trailblazers in easy win over Green Mountain

By Brady Gerow @MCLABeaconSport Sports Editor Junior Mackenzie Cutler and freshman Kim Granito combined for nine goals, leading the Trailblazers Women’s Lacrosse team in their 21-3 win over Green Mountain College Eagles at Shewcraft field last Saturday.

Cutler recorded five goals to lead all scorers while Granito added four of her own. The Trailblazers placed eight different players in the scoring column during the game.

The Blazers wasted little time to get the offense going; they scored the game’s first four goals, giving them a comfortable place to start the game from.

Granito started the scoring just one minute into the match. Senior Natalie Caney, Cutler and junior Courtney Gabrus added goals in the opening stretch to make it 4-0 in favor of the Blazers. The Eagles attempted to fight back with a goal of their own at the 23:55 mark to set it to 4-1, but the Blazers fired back with three goals of their own. Two goals came from Granito and Cutler who both recorded their second goals of the game, and junior Aleah Sangiovanni tallied her first goal of the game during the stretch.

The Eagles recorded another goal with 16:13 left in the half, making it 7-2, but the Blazers scored the last seven goals of the half to take a 14-4 lead. Granito and Cutler each had three goals in the first half for the Blazers.

The Blazers put the game away early into

March 23, 2017

SCORE BOARD

9

MCLA Women’s Lacrosse MCLA (21), Green Mountain College (3) Mackenzie Cutler (MCLA) 5 Goals, 2 Assists

Rachel Aramburu (Green Mountain) 2 Goals

MCLA Softball MCLA (2), Bowdoin (3) Kayla Baker (MCLA) 2-4, 1 RBI

Allison Rutz (Bow) 2-3, 1 RBI, 1 Run

PHOTO BY MCLA ATHLETICS Junior Mackenzie Culter (Top) attacking the goal with the ball , freshman Kim Granito (Bottom) attacking with the ball. Granito was awarded rookie of the week for her performance. the second half, having opened on a 5-1 over the Eagles, who had placed the score at 19-3.

Sophomore Zoe Elwell earned the win in goal, playing the first half and stopping a pair of shots in the half, while freshman Julia

Coughlin played the entire second half in goal for the Blazers.

MCLA, now 2-2 on the season, is back in action today as they travel to Sage College for a non-league tilt.

Winners and losers from early NFL Free Agency The NFL offseason, in a signing of Cornerback Stephon sense, officially began two Gilmore, will make answering weeks ago. Free that question very, very agents were free to difficult. sign with the team Loser: Cincinnati of their choice, Bengals which meant that The Bengals, on the a lot of players, and other hand, were not of course, boatloads as fortunate. The team of cash, began to Andrew had suffered last season change hands really, Baillargeon from issues with their really fast. Here, offensive line, but things The Call I want to take a got worse when linemen moment to reflect Andrew Whitworth and on who got off to the races, and Kevin Zeitler signed on with who was left in the dust during the Los Angeles Rams and the opening period of free Cleveland Browns, respectively. agency.

In addition, Cincinnati also lost Winner: The New England Runningback Rex Burkhead to Patriots the aforementioned Patriots.

Oh, Bill Belichick and Coming off a disappointing company are right back at it. six-win season, the Bengals Fresh off a historic Super Bowl needed to make a strong victory, it is clear the Patriots impression during the offseason fully intend to defend their title to return to the postseason this this season. Where they win year, but unless they score an big is not necessarily through absolute slam dunk in the draft free agency, though they did or make an unexpected trade, make a splash signing there, possibly involving controversial but rather through trades.

Quarterback AJ McCarron, the Particularly with members of road to the playoffs will likely be the NFC South, namely the an uphill battle for the Bengals Panthers and Saints. With these this year. two teams, the Patriots traded Winner: Cleveland Browns away their first, second and Stop me if you’ve heard this third round picks in exchange before, but man, the Browns for Wide Receiver Brandin killed it during Free Agency.

Cooks, Defensive End Kony Coming off a dismal 1-15 Ealy, and a fourth round pick. season, the Browns aren’t in a The question is not so much position to make the postseason “Will the Patriots repeat” as quite yet, but their long term much as it is “Who can stop prospects got much, much the Patriots from repeating” better, and in a very unique and these acquisitions, in way. Starting off with what I addition to the free agent believe to be the <strong>most

creative trade in NFL history, the Browns acquired the second and sixth round picks from the Houston Texans in exchange for the fourth round pick and the removal of Brock Osweiler. The Browns needed to hit the NFL’s salary minimum, even after their splash signings in free agency, and getting a second round pick essentially to freely do this was absolutely genius dealings from General Manager Sashi Brown. In addition, the Browns, arguably owners of the worst offensive line in football last year, turned their biggest weakness into a strength, practically over night, through the signings of the aforementioned Kevin Zeitler and Center JC Tretter from the Green Bay Packers. They also locked up the lone bright spot on their offensive line by extending the contract of Joel Bitonio by five years, at $61 million. Even though Terrelle Pryor took off, the Browns proactively replaced him with Kenny Britt, who essentially has the exact same skill set as Pryor, and came at the exact same contract Pryor would later sign with Washington with, only Britt signed for four years, $32 million as opposed to Pryor’s one year/$8 million pact with the Redskins. The skies may be dark right now over First Energy Stadium, but moves like this assure that the sun will one day shine for the Cleveland Browns.

Loser: Chicago Bears

Fans of the Chicago Bears must be absolutely livid right now. It has been a very tumultuous offseason for Chicago, as the Bears not only lost star wide receiver Alshon Jeffery to the Eagles in free agency, but they also signed Mike Glennon to an outrageous three year, $45 million deal.

Mike Glennon, to put it bluntly, is a younger version of Josh McCown, who the Bears also happened to have a few years ago; a guy who can put up good stats, but can’t bring in the Ws. Over four years with Tampa Bay, Glennon has started in 18 games, appeared in 21, and holds a 5-13 career record alongside passing for a shade under 200 yards a game and 30:15 for a TD-INT ratio.

Glennon won’t have anywhere near the wide receiver talent he got used to in Tampa Bay, and I believe the Bears will quickly find themselves having buyer’s remorse with this contract.

Andrew Baillargeon is the host of The Call, a weekly program broadcasted by WJJW. Tune in on Sundays from 7-10 p.m..

Listeners can also tune in via 91.1 FM WJJW or our website, hyyp://www.mcla.edu/Student_ Life/studentmedia/wjjw/.

Want a guest column? Contact Mitchell Chapman on Office 365.

MCLA Baseball MCLA (5), Central Iowa (4) Joe Toledo (MCLA) 2-3, 1 RBI, 1 Run, 1 BB

Michael Reuter (CI) 1-4, 2 RBI, 1 Run

NCAA Men’s Basketball #2 Kentucky (65), #10 Witchita St. (62) Malik Monk (Ken) 14 Pts, 2 Reb, 4 Ast, 2 Blk

Landry Shamet (Witch) 20 Pts, 2 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl

NCAA Men’s Basketball

#3 Oregon (75), #11 University of Rhode Island (72)

Tyler Dorsey (Oreg)

27 Pts, 5 Reb, 3 Ast, 3 Stl

Stanford Robinson (URI) 21 Pts, 2 Reb

NCAA Women’s Basketball #1 Connecticut (94), #8 Syracuse (64) Gabby Williams (UCONN) 23 Pts, 6 Reb, 5 Ast, 2 Stl, 2 Blk

Alexis Peterson (Syr) 25 Pts, 5 Reb, 4 Ast, 2 Stl

OPINION

What classes do you Exploring career opportunities One student’s search for financial comfort in fashion want to see at MCLA?

CAMPUS COMMENT

I would like to see more advanced French Courses, more Journalism courses, and more creative writing courses, especially poetry.

Sebastian Conrad, Senior

“I wish classes were mixed more with two disciplines. For example, instead of a plain humanities course, mix it with some social science classes.”

Nate “Bill” Buchanan, Senior

“I know some schools offer a mixology class that seems like something students would be interested in.”

Eli Ritrosky Sophomore

PHOTOS BY DOMONIQUE ACKLEY, RON LEJA AND EMILY GABERT

I’m graduating holders (not wallets!) soon, and in the are in for spring, and face of career adthey recommend patvice from friends/ terned swim trunks family/a pugnaand a revere collar cious commentashirt for nailing that tor on our website cool-dad-at-thenamed Boss Hoggg, beach look. They also Chris Riemer endorse trousers and I’ve decided to briefly explore job Cogitations jackets in nude shades. opportunities outElle scoured New and side of the fast food York Fashion Week industry.

Carpathians for the hottest spring As a lackadaisitrends, and their cal millennial, my photo slideshow is a search began and cornucopia of style ended with the Forbes list gems. I had no idea that I was “The World’s Billionaires,” so ahead of the curve: “Don’t which updates in real time feel like getting dressed in the (wow!). I started at the top, morning?” they inquire, with but neither Gates nor Bufrhetorical playfulness. “Toss fett appealed: dropping out on a fancy robe and you’re to start a software company good to go.” is kind of passé, especially Is this what I was lookwhen you only have a couple ing for? On an international months of college left, and scale, I had it locked down, Buffett’s weird frugality but New England is a unique reminded me too much of little ecosystem of its own. I my current lifestyle. It was didn’t want to bound outside Amancio Ortega, then; coin my singlet and matching founder of Zara, currently the terrycloth bathrobe only to richest man in Europe, and a find that I had grievously pioneer of “fast fashion.” miscalculated. So, I contacted I don’t know much about an expert: Elizabeth Saint fashion, so I perused some Germain, a recent graduate style guides online to brush from MassArt with a degree up on the spring trends. in Fashion Design, who is Glamour says bralettes are also my girlfriend. in, either under a blazer, “I’ll write the article,” she paired with some acid-washed either joked or threatened. jeans, or, if you’re Kendall “Hahaha. My big break.”

Jenner, “successfully layered” Liz explained that styles over a shrunken white T. trickle down (much like Topshop says singlets (but Boss Hoggg’s conception of they don’t sell any) and card economics) from high fashion

into brands like Urban Outfitters, Topshop, etc., ending up at stores like H&M and American Eagle within a few months. Basically, everything you see is a knockoff of a garment from a more upscale brand.

She also gave me the insider knowledge on what is currently in. Seasonal colors include nudes (way to go Topshop) as well as pastel pinks, greens, and yellows. Big looks are “nerd couture” and “geek chic:” you’ll be neither overnor under-dressed in a button down and nice pants.

“Skip the jeans and styles that are ripped on purpose,” Liz advised.

Finally, the ‘80s-inspired pieces from last year have advanced to the ‘90s. Liz recommended plaids, patterns and mesh instead of lace for a more precisely in-style retro look.

“Camo and cargo shorts are reported to be coming back but like please no,” she added.

There you have it! The fashion world is strange and complex, but with the right guidance trends begin to emerge.

At least to those with the right sensibilities, which I was now certain I did not possess.

With my dream of exploiting the clothing industry torn asunder, I returned to the Forbes list for further financial inspiration and saw the next runner-up: Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com.

Separating work from creator Don’t fetishize prison writing Great artists, and mined legitimate success, to professionals in genPete Rose, to the works of eral, aren’t always the Martin Heidegger. greatest or most moral Especially with art, it is hard human beings. On the to separate creator from creopposite end, the most ation, as the success of such moral individuals don’t works is always based in part always produce great on the specific moment in Mitchell work. time in which the work was Chapman created, which brings factors This creates much confusion particularly such as the social landscape From the when talking about and demographics at the Editor work, great or not, as it time. Especially today, it is is always in some way increasingly hard to separate connected to the perindividual pieces of art from son who made it. Michael Jackson, the franchise or genre they are a for instance, led a troubled life but part of as some pieces of art even was arguably one of the greatest rely off of others for meaning (i.e. musicians of his generation, and “Rogue One: A Star Wars story” post mortem it is his work that he would be little more than a meis most remembered for, rather diocre film without the context of than the scandals he was a part of.

“Star Wars: A New Hope”).

However, other works are not so This reliance off of societal values lucky, as they are forever stained and the social landscape can also by the controversy surrounding be applied to other instances of their creators. These include recent work, whether it be architecture to figures such as Ryan Lochte, whose biology to journalism, and given personal decisions have underthat, the success and value of one’s work is affected by the reputation of the creator, but it is by far not the only factor that determines success.

The reputation of the creator oftentimes helps give context to an instance of work, but it does not refute the point that good work can come from bad people and bad work can come from good people.

Like anything, work from controversial figures should be considered on a pros and cons basis, acknowledging that good points and legitimate achievements stand on their own, no matter who accomplished or concocted them.

“Like anything, work from controversial figures should be considered on a pros and cons basis, acknowledging that good points and legitimate achievements stand on their own, no matter who accomplished or concocted them.”

Most people are man Capote and familiar with “In Cold Random House, Blood,” the seminal work the novel was kept by novelist Truman from publication Capote, which depicts indefinitely. They the gruesome murders wanted to keep of a family of four in “In Cold Blood” small town Holcomb, the essential Jon Hoel Kansas. Something documentation about the senselessness Fishin’ With of the murders. of the crime and Capote’s Capote even tried Jon dazzling writing style to buy the rights captured the attention to Hickock’s of the American public. memoir to stop its It has gone on to critical and publication, but the journalist commercial acclaim, and one who Hickock entrusted it to, of the best-selling true-crime Mack Nations, refused. Nabooks of all time. tions was eventually ruined by Recently the Wall Street tax evasion court costs, further Journal published a fascinatcomplicating the Hickock ing piece that reveals one memoirs ever seeing a publicaof the two murderers in the tion. novel, Richard Hickock, who Why all the fuss? A prison had penned his own prison memoir is big money. A recent memoir before his execution example of this is the excellent on April 14, 1965. Because of memoir “Guantánamo Diary” aggressive positioning by Truby Mohamedou Ould Slahi, who was only recently freed from Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp where he was held without charge since 2002. His release in October of last year came after 14 years of imprisonment. This was all covered excellently by CBS journalist Holly Williams for “60 Minutes.” Slahi’s experiences are an embarrassment to our country, as evidenced in his internationally bestselling novel.

Prison literature has done well with American audiencs.

A relatively recent novel by Jack Abbott, “In The Belly of the Beast,” chronicles his cor-

Fascination with prison literature goes hand-inhand with the American obsession with death row, as well as its inhabitants. It’s not something we should fetishize, but since we have, it becomes quickly problematic.

respondence with journalist and author Norman Mailer.

Abbot read Mailer’s book, “The Executioner’s Song,” and was inspired to attempt to chronicle his own experiences.

Mailer helped him get his book published and encouraged his appeal for parole. Unfortunately after his parole was granted, Abbott stabbed a 22 year-old waiter, Richard Adan, to death and was sentenced to 15 yearsto-life. He hanged himself in prison years later after a parole denial. However, the legacy of his startlingly written novel remains.

Fascination with prison literature goes hand-in-hand with the American obsession with death row, as well as its inhabitants. It’s not something we should fetishize, but since we have, it becomes quickly problematic. In the same way a person might feel uncomfortable enjoying a Roman Polanksi film.

PEN America has its own Prison Writing program. According to their website, the program was started in 1971 and “believes in the restorative, rehabilitative power of writing and provides hundreds of inmates across the country with skilled writing teachers and audiences for their work.”

I don’t think we should be exploiting prisoners more than we already do, but if they can profit from it, and the writing is as vibrant as Slahi or Burns, then I’ll be purchasing my copy.

CAMPUS NEWS

March 23, 2017

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY RALLY

Poetry and fervor

11

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CONTACT INFO News desk number: 413-662-5535 Business number: 413-662-5204 Email: beacon@mcla.edu Website: theonlinebeacon.com Office: Mark Hopkins Hall, room 111 PHOTO BY JON HOEL — CO-MANAGING EDITOR

From left, Bryanna Bradley, Patricia Gary, Angela Hunt, Julia Daly, Shannon Cahill. Students reading Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise."

Large attendence at the rally in the quad to suport women on campus

By Jon Hoel Co-Managing Editor Before spring break, International Women's Day took place around the world. Most colleges held events, including ours--MCLA hosted a Women's Day Rally in the Quad from 2 to 3 p.m. on March 8.

People gathered by the stairs in the Quad, and then began to culminate in front of Bowman Hall, where all attendees

were encouraged to speak.

The crowd was small at first, but grew in size as the event went on. The first speeches were given by Karen Cardozo, a professor in interdisciplinary studies who led the rally.

Several students spoke as well, including sophomore Mikaela Serrano-Moore, sophomore Don'Jea Smith and several others, all expressing their desire for unity and support to bring women

on campus together and demand awareness and intersectionality.

Public Safety Sargent Laura Lefebvre spoke about her personal experiences, stepping into non-traditional gender occupational roles--being a a public safety officer and a woman, as well as her commitment to listening to students. She offered to buy any student a coffee who wanted to educate her more about

themselves and their uniqueness.

The rally concluded with a collaborative reading of the seminal poem "Still I Rise"

by American poet Maya Angelou, who was a civil rights activist and feminist icon. The poem was read by five female students, who read one line of the poem at a time, followed by a Beyoncé Knowles song, "Run The World (Girls)" from her 2011 album "4."

VOICES

Slam poetry club revamps with new name

By Mitchell Chapman @mitchapman Editor-in-Chief

When freshman Taylor Parece came to MCLA, she hoped to start a slam poetry cub, envisioning starting it from scratch. Much to her surprise, one already existed, but that didn’t stop her from becoming the club’s president.

“When I first emailed Amanda Schuler about starting a new poetry club, I imagined having to write a new constitution for a new club on campus with my ideas of how I wanted it run,” Parece said. “Instead, it went better. Another student, now our VP Doni Smith, had wanted to revamp the previously established Slam Poetry Club under the ALANA title. Together, we decided our goals with starting a poetry club included erasing the ‘slam’ and making all poetry welcome.”

One of the first orders of business was to rename the club to “Voices,” in an attempt to re-brand the organization with an ALANA focus, which was the subject of debate in SGA. “While the name change is still undergoing senatorial debate, Voices was starting,” Parece said. “Initially we had only our few good friends who wished to support us join the first meeting, but slowly I see more poetry enthusiasts coming in. Each meeting, there’s between seven to 15 people.”

Voices will retain its slam

poetry focus, but now features open mics and workshops designed to help writers.

“Our group works on an every-other-week basis,” Parece said, describing a general meeting. “The first week we spend time writing with guiding prompts, and workshopping poetry from our members. This allows all of us to practice not only writing but rewriting in a way that is constructive. The weeks in between workshops are our ‘quiet’ open mic nights where members, their friends, and

other MCLA students gather to share what they have written in a very close-knit, nonjudgemental environment.”

In the future, Voices hopes to reserve Sullivan Lounge in the Amsler Campus Center to host a large open mic night free and open to the MCLA community every month.

According to Parece, their first such event will be held on April 3 in collaboration with Students for Responsible Drug Policy (SSDP), with more details to be posted on Voice’s Facebook page as the

date approaches.

“While our group began as a slam poetry club, we revamped it this year to include all forms of poetry both written and spoken,” Parece added. “Our open mics are available for all.”

Voices meets Thursdays at 8 p.m. in Bowman room 201.

“If you like writing poetry, or simply just listening to some good poems with snacks, Voices is a perfect place to go,” Parece concluded. “No writing experience is required.”

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Cherry blossom tree blooms as spring comes to Boston Commons, and the rich greenery of North Adams begins to flourish once again.

Spring in Sight?

Photos by Tramel Griffith, Emily Gabert, Ron Leja, and Domonique Ackley

Cold, brisk air threatens the first day of spring in North Adams over the past week as mother nature takes it time to remember what season it is.