Issue 13 - Spring 2014

Student Newspaper of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts North Adams, Mass.

The Beacon Th u r s d ay, M ay 1 , 2 0 1 4

For more content, visit online at: Beacon.MCLA.edu Volume 78 ◆ Issue 13 Section a

Non-emergency clinic opens at Wellness Center

By Nick Arena Editor-in-Chief

Yesterday the MountainOne Wellness Center, partnering with Berkshire Medical Center (BMC), began providing non-emergency care for the College and Northern Berkshire community.

According to a press release from BMC, the medical center will provide services on a daily basis from 10 a.m to 10 p.m. from registered nurses and nurse practitioners. Services will be available to Northern Berkshire residents and visitors over the age of 18.

Anyone seeking emergency care should still dial 9-1-1 or go to the BMC Emergency Room.

“The BMC Walk-In Care Center will provide assessment and treatment of common illnesses and minor injuries, including infections, minor wounds, abrasions, joint sprains, skin conditions and other minor conditions,” according to the press release. “The Walk-In Center will

accept all commercial insurance plans, MassHealth and Medicare.”

The walk-in center will remain open until the BMC Satellite Emergency Facility opens, which is schedule to be open by midMay, according to the release.

According to an article in Tuesday’s Berkshire Eagle, BMC placed a $4 million bid on the former North Adams Regional Hospital (NARH) and other facilities. The final purchase details will depend on any other bids that are received for the hospital.

Governor Deval Patrick held a press conference at the College on Friday regarding the Wellness Center and BMC’s bid on the former NARH building.

According to iBerkshires, Patrick said that the approvals required from the state are completed, but that the federal Bankruptcy Court, and Medicaid and Medicare Centers will still need to approve the whole process for BMC to take control of NARH.

Photo by Nick Arena/The Beacon

Governor Deval Patrick visited the campus Friday, along with Representative Gailanne Cariddi and others to discusse the walk-in clinic at the Wellness Center, and the status of NARH.

Task Force holds first meeting Colleges differ on

idea of smoke free

By Makayla-Courtney McGeeney Staff Writer

The college’s smoking policy task force has combined several small committees and has distributed positions to further research in establishing an updated smoking policy for the campus.

A campus wide survey, including faculty and staff, will be available by May 13 either through self-service banner or surveymonkey.com. According to the force’s meeting that was held on Friday, the survey is the first step in telling what the campus is looking for.

“I wouldn’t want to finalize anything without a student perspective,” said Vice President of Student Affairs Charlotte Degen.

“We need to come to a conclusion where smoking can happen.”

The force’s issue statement reads that the College’s existing policy: “Is out of date-buildings, locations, etc., not disseminated with, details and scope largely unknown, likely out of date with taking account of up to date information about tobacco use affects, not aligned with sister institutions, non-smokers are concerned about their exposure

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By Alexander Moore Staff Writer

Photo by Jess Gamari/The Beacon

Mike Vogt, left, representing Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and Jeremy Smith, right, representing the Chemistry Department, discuss the timeline for the smoking policy changes at Friday’s meeting. to smoke, and is not supported with education and enforcement.”

Each group involved has a different role, such as the survey group, the best practices of compliance committee, the analysis/make recommendations committee and an education committee.

Members of the task force consist of faculty from departments of Health Services, Residential Program and Services (RPS), Chemistry, Psychology,

Center for Student Success and Engagement (CSSE)/Advising, Athletics, Admissions, Human Resources, Facilities, Aramark and Computer Science. A group of five students is also involved.

“Voters during the Student Government Association (SGA) elections were asking about the smoking ban, and many don’t want it to be banned,” said new

TASK FORCE, continued on page 4

A smoke-free campus does not necessarily mean that there is no smoking allowed altogether, according to a Beacon survey of three nearby colleges.

The Beacon reported April 10 that seven of the nine state colleges and the five UMass schools are considered smoke free, as well as Berkshire Community College (BCC) in Pittsfield and Williams College in Williamstown. However, smoke free is defined in different ways, and smoke free at some colleges does not mean smokers can’t light up on campus property. “[At BCC,] people are allowed to smoke in their vehicles,” said Heidi Weber, BCC public relations manager said. “They can go down to the edge of the campus and smoke there as well.”

According to Jim Kolesar, vice president for Public Affairs at Williams, individuals are allowed to smoke within 25 feet of a campus building.

“You can stand on this campus and not be against the letter of this law,” Kolesar said. “We are a smoke-free campus, but we define

Improving adjunct benefits

TV Studio gets updated

Commencement and senior week ahead

New legislation seeks better pay and benefits for adjunct faculty.

English/Communications aims to bring studio up to HD quality.

As the semester nears the end the school braces for graduation.

News, page 5

Commencement, page 8

News, page 3

it a different way.”

According to the Williams College’s webpage on the Smoke free campus policy, “Smoking is not permitted anywhere in College buildings, including student rooms or within 25 feet of a College building.”

Susan Pearson, associate chancellor of UMass Amherst, said the campus is not only smoke free but tobacco free as well.

She said the college also bans electronic cigarettes.

Pearson said since the campus is tobacco free, a student will in fact have to walk off campus to smoke.

According to the UMass Amherst tobacco free policy webpage, “1.The use of tobacco is prohibited in all buildings and vehicles owned or leased by UMass Amherst, regardless of location.

2.The use of tobacco is also prohibited on all University grounds and in any outdoor area controlled by the University.

This includes all University land, parking lots and parking ramps, athletic fields, tennis courts, and recreational areas.

SMOKE FREE, continued on page 4

News Opinion Commencement

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Weekend Student fees may face another increase Weather

By Jess Gamari

Forecast from Weather.com

Today, May 1

Morning Rain High: 72° Low: 44° Precip. Chance: 80%

Friday, May 2

Afternoon Showers High: 63° Low: 42° Precip. Chance: 40%

Saturday, May 3

Showers High: 61° Low: 43° Precip. Chance: 30%

Sunday, May 4

Managing Editor

The State legislature is currently discussing monetary appropriations to give to state universities, according to James Stakenas, Vice President of Administration and Finance.

It’s possible this may cause an increase to student fees.

“Right now the governor’s budget in the House Committees on Ways and Means budget is below the level that we need for our appropriations and not raise fees, and the senate budget will be coming out in the next couple weeks,” he said.

There are multiple steps in this voting process, according to Stakenas, including the governor’s budget, House Committee of Ways and Means, Senate Committee of Ways and Means.

“Last year the board of trustees voted to increase student fees anywhere from zero to $500, and that’s probably the action we will take this year,” he said.

“Our optimism has us believe our government will bring us sufficient resources to the state universities for our operating budget and we won’t have to raise student fees.

Every year that we talk about an increase to student fees we’re very judicious in wanting to make sure we have enough resources to operate, make sure we have enough resources to provide our students with services that they need, but to keep that amount as low as possible.”

There is only one more board of trustees meeting before the end of the fiscal year, and Stakenas as said an answer is about a month to six weeks away.

Renovation group to look at campus space In 2007, the College completed a facilities master plan, which reviewed the needs of current and future departments on campus.

“The study was put together by a company called Goody Clancy and it really was the basis for renovation of Bowman Hall and the creation of the science center,” Stakenas said. “That company is coming back now to redo the master plan because there are areas on campus that we need help from the state in order to renovate, and the state is more willing to help us if we have a plan for how we are going to utilize spaces.”

Goody and Clancy will look at all of the buildings on campus, but they will primarily focus on Bowman Hall, Venable Hall and the Church Street Center. The consulting firm will be on campus

next week, May 6, 7 and 8.

“On a similar note, we have some grant money to do a deeper dive in the Church Street Center,” he said. He is looking for club representatives to share their ideas for renovation ideas. He said he is aware the building is in need of more windows and air conditioners, but he is looking for what clubs need in terms of space, storage and performance needs. “I know that there are a lot of clubs and organizations who use the social hall. What types of spaces would best serve students?”

SGA officials sworn in Winners of the spring elections for SGA were sworn in Monday night. Following election results, the new SGA cabinet elected .

Samantha Beacon was elected as parlimentarian, Danielle Bloh was elected as senate secretary, and Chris Cozzaglio was elected as senate chair.

Photo by Jess Gamari/The Beacon

President elect Brendan Peltier, right, swears in the members for the SGA cabinet next year.

20 years. The money that students pay for parking is also subsidized by money from the College. There is no reserve for that account.”

Stakenas said repairs will be made to the campus safety parking lot, and there are plans to pave the dirt parking lot across from the financial affairs office.

invited guest speakers and has cosponsored events with STAGE, and even participated at sextival, where they talked about gender equality in the workplace.

Asian Club changes name The Asian Club constitution was reapproved, along with the change to the club’s name. The club will now be known as the Asian and American Union to appeal to a wider diversity of students on campus.

Kiosk seeks food ideas College parking permit costs As the semester comes to a close, are average the pod and cafeteria services will After meeting Charlotte close as well. The Trailblazer kiosk Degen, Vice President of Student is looking for new food ideas for Affairs, President Jake Powers next semester. The kiosk cooler Class of 2014 Announcements reported that the College’s cost previously held ice cream, but the Caps and gowns are now on for parking permits are about kiosk was losing money from the sale for $41 in the bookstore. The average when compared to other unpopular item. A reminder to attire is created from recycled schools. Money collected from all students: that shoes and shirts plastic bottles and should not be permit fees goes toward painting are required to enter Subway, the ironed or dry cleaned. Advisor the lines, repaving, fencing and Pod and the cafeteria for sanitary Jenn Craig reminded seniors to maintenance. reasons. be on the lookout for an email “One thing to note is that we on First Class about voting for don’t own all the lots,” Powers Students for a Democratic yearbook superlatives. said. The College is looking to Society approved as club purchase another lot, but Degen The Students for a Democratic Possible policy for midterm has told Powers this will not cause Society club was approved on warnings to come the parking fee cost to increase. Monday night. SDS president The academic policy committee Currently, commuter students Brian Fitzpatrick said the club met to discuss midterm warnings. pay $30 per semester and resident has already been actively tabling They are looking into possibly students pay $100 per semester. and talking to the campus creating a policy for professors “We’re very lucky we have about capitalism and possible who don’t send warnings to enough parking here on campus. social justice economic reform. students who are in danger of It may not be right outside your Rochefort said the group has failing. residence hall or class room but there is parking,” he said.

S e n at o r S t e p h a n Sunday, May 4, 2 – 8 p.m. Main Street North Adams Rochefort raised the FEATURING: question of what happens to the unspent money and if it resides in a reserve fund.

According to Stakenas, the College created World-renowned dubstep duo from the Berkshires a bond for the parking lot Also Featuring: near Berkshire The Mast • Declarations • Down County • Allegrettos • Harlequin Towers, which is payable over Quiet Friday and Friends • DysFunk Crew • Rebel Alliance

Rock the Block 2.0

A block party in downtown North Adams

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Campus News

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Legislation aims to improve adjunct professor pay, benefits

By Makayla-Courtney McGeeney Staff Writer

Adjunct professors working part-time with no benefits at a fraction of what tenured professors earn. Colleges often choose to hire adjuncts to teach some courses instead of hiring fulltime, tenure-track professors.

New adjunct professors can make $3,000 per course for the first two semesters, then roughly $4,500 per course thereafter; night class professors receive about 20 percent less. Some adjuncts teach courses at two or even three schools to attempt to earn a full-time salary.

“The market is in favor of administrators if you want to teach,” said English/Communications Professor Benjamin Jacques. “It’s a buyer’s market.”

Legislation regarding the adjunct faculty situation in Massachusetts is in the works, said Jacques, but not likely to pass this year. The purpose of House Bill 1086 is to address the over-reliance on part-time adjunct faculty, primarily at community colleges.

According to the Massachusetts Teachers Association, student’s ability to choose courses, finish degrees on time, and receive proper counseling is affected by the lack of full-time professors.

Many adjunct professors at the college support the bill and are happy for some change.

“I think the fact that someone is saying ‘we need to have this conversation’ is significant,” said English/Communications Professor Kelli Newby in an email, who has been teaching as an adjunct for several years. “I’d love to see it pass, but even if it doesn’t, people are talking about the problems with the system and I’m all for

that.”

In an article written by Becky Tuch for Portside.org, the percentage of teaching positions occupied by part-time faculty has more than tripled in the past four decades.

This leaves two-thirds of all professors teaching part-time or having non-permanent positions, according to the Adjunct Project.

English/Communications Professor Jill Gillbreth, an adjunct for several years, said in an email that the bill will reveal inconvenient truths about the working conditions of adjuncts. She added that society as a whole has agreed to apply a corporate business model to education and places adjuncts in an impossible position.

The Beacon emailed adjunct professors who teach in other academic departments for comment, but none of them replied.

Temporary full-time faculty (terminal) are hired with salary, benefits and a four-course load for four semesters, then transition to an adjunct for the fifth semester and lose benefits. Students who have these professors as an advisor may be assigned a new one during that fifth semester.

Otherwise, the advisor may continue to advise on their own time without pay.

“Schools tend to rely more and more on adjuncts,” Jacques said.

“But, it’s a disruptive practice for the professor and students.”

The Beacon emailed the Academic Affairs office seeking comment on the legislation, but did not receive a reply by press time.

For example, in the English/ Communications department, of the 26 professors, nine are tenured or tenure-track, four are full-time contingent (not tenure) and 13 are adjunct professors, including night courses. Campuswide there are 83 tenured faculty,

five contingents and 46 adjuncts currently employed for the spring 2014 semester, excluding adjunct professors who teach at night or during the summer. Smaller departments that offer fewer courses are likely to use fewer adjuncts.

“All sides want to find a solution, no one group can do it on their own,” Jacques said. “Colleges can save money by hiring adjunct, but in the long run it’ll weaken education.”

The potential downside of the difference in professors is that it interferes with the courses being offered: one course offered in the spring but not the fall, and vice versa. Jacques, who will be retiring after this semester, said that terminal professors are also not around as much during the fifth semester.

“Maybe more tenure track positions will open up,” he suggested, “and it would be nice if the departments had more input on decisions of bringing people in, more flexibility.”

The House Bill requires “that all part-time faculty who carry at least a 50 percent teaching load can obtain health insurance” and receive equal pay on a pro-rated basis, as well as be eligible for the state retirement plan.

Secondly, by 2019 ‘all public higher education institutions must increase the share of courses taught by full-time,’ tenure-track faculty. Lastly, it will increase the number of full-time faculty and require part-time faculty to be given priority consideration for future tenure-track opportunities.

“We can be a part of the problem or part of the solution and I hope everyone [faculty and administration] looks at it that way,” Jacques said. “We need to come together to find a way forward that provides a fair solution.”

Beacon.MCLA.edu

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Changes made to education test

Alterations made to the MTEL will change testing times in relation to student field placement

By Gabriel Kogel Senior News Editor

In spring of next year the education program will require students to pass the first Massachusetts Testing Education Licensure (MTEL) exam before enrolling in their second field placement.

The test, called “Communication and Literacy,” is the first of a series of MTELs required by the State Department of Higher Education (DHE) before education majors can enroll in the last of three student teaching practicums.

Susan Edgerton, Chair of the Education Dept., said the DHE is pressing for increased oversight and tracking of student progress toward licensure.

“What we’re trying to do now by making this policy is what we’ve tried to do in practice all along. To encourage students to start early on these tests,” she said.

Professor Ellen Barber is responsible for monitoring students placed in the field. She already requires students to register for the communication and literacy MTEL after completion of their first placement.

“Instead of just watching you the semester before student teaching, we’re telling you that before you take the second field placement, you need to take the first MTEL,” Barber said.

The communication and literacy MTEL is meant to be passable with the knowledge accumulated in high school, according to Edg-

erton and Barber.

“Most education majors don’t take the second field placement until the second semester of their junior year,” Edgerton said. “So it’s not that early in their fouryear [college] career to be taking it.”

According to Edgerton, each of the three field placements asks for more participation from education students.

“The first field placement, they may just be observing, or they may be assisting a licensed teacher with small groups. Next semester, they’re doing a little more, even teaching a bit,” Edgerton said.

The third and final semester is the most important practicum.

Student teachers are in class every day with the regular teacher. DHE requires the passing of all MTELs before the final practicum.“We want to make sure they have good reading and writing skills before we put [student teachers] in a classroom,” Edgerton said.

“But it’s also for the benefit of our students, so they’re not scrambling to pass all the MTELs at the last minute.”

The online test, which costs $125 to take, has both a reading and writing component.

According to Barber, students planning to take their second field placement have most likely decided that education is their calling.

“We’re asking teachers to work with college students, they’re giving their professional time,” she said. “At that point, the MCLA student needs to be committed to a career in teaching.”

Bolivar elected to 3-year term as an MLA delegate

By Nick Swanson Staff Writer

Professor Mariana Bolívar Rubín was recently elected to the Modern Language Association of America’s (MLA) delegate assembly.

“I’m very excited to understand how the discipline works, and to be a part of the decision-making not only in academia, but now in the workforce,” Bolívar said.

Bolívar, Professor of Modern Language at the College, is fluent in Spanish, English, and Portuguese. She was previously a graduate instructor in the department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo. Before that, she was a Spanish graduate teaching assistant at Colorado State University (CSU). She finished with a master’s degree in foreign languages at CSU in 2007.

Still progressing, she enrolled in two master’s programs at the University of Colorado: the grad-

uate teacher program in 2010, and the foreign language technology program in 2011.

She will now serve a three-year term as regional delegate. She has several aspirations for her time holding the new position.

“One of my goals will be to research ways to add more technology and contemporary forms of teaching,” Bolívar explained. “In order to foster the needs of students, so they can learn in new ways, this will in return motivate modern language as a career.”

Bolívar stated that modern language is not receiving the same amount of attention as in the past.

“Here at MCLA we don’t have the option to major in Spanish, but that is something I want to change,” she said.

She wants to connect language studies with other disciplines, like interdisciplinary studies, to help spread the study of language as a profession. She is currently inter-

ested in problems in the modern language profession today.

“If you look at employment levels of professors and their compensations (salaries),” she said, “some professors of modern language are paid differently even though they have the same level of education.”

Bolívar says her election is an opportunity for her to explore the subject further and see what can be done.

According to the MLA governance webpage, the main functions of the delegate assembly include recommending actions regarding the conduct of association business and the association’s direction, goals, and structure to the Executive Council, and approving amendments to the MLA constitution.

278 members comprise the assembly.

According to Bolívar, amendment proposals start in October,

and each delegate is able to vote in the final decision making process.

She said that a past proposal tried to boycott academic research MLA shares with Israel because of Israel’s conflict with Pakistan.

“That boycott did not pass, but I just want it to be clear that I would definitely vote against a proposal like that,” Bolívar said. “[MLA] is an open platform and it should stay like that.”

MLA holds an annual convention at which the assembly meets to go over a variety of topics.

Bolívar said the three major purposes for the convention are professional administration, sharing academic works from research, and discussing issues related to employment. She explained that MLA acts as a platform for people to find and apply for jobs, and interviews are held at the conference to hire those people. Many candidates also apply on the MLA website all year long.

Photo courtesy of Mariana Bolívar

Professor Mariana Bolívar was recently elected an MLA delegate.

Bolívar interviewed at the MLA conference in spring 2013, and was offered her current position at MCLA. The next MLA convention is in Vancouver, Canada in January 2015. Its title is Negotiating Sites of Memory.

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Gender and sex norms still causing problems Trans and non-gender binary students continue to struggle with institutionalized gender norms on campus

By Raanan Sarid-Segal Staff Writer

On campus, numerous groups lobby administration when issues crop up. The problems they address range from great to small, from issues surrounding smoking to the vital issue of food and its availability to those with dietary restrictions. Among these voices for campus appear a traditionally ignored and marginalized category of individuals: trans people and individuals with non-binary gender identities.

“It’s hard for any institution to not go by a gender binary, because the world goes by a gender binary,” said Elliot Henderson, class of 2016. “But I face issues with dorming, IDs, what names I am allowed to use, bathrooms.”

Trans and non-binary people on campus face many obstacles to living the way they are comfortable living. Rules and systems limit the ways in which they can go about their days without fear of being “outed” or misidentified.

“I have issues daily as secretary of the QSU. My name on FirstClass does not match up with the name I go by,” said Ollie Freda, class of 2016. “Because I am not cis[gender], [FirstClass] doesn’t work for me. Sometimes I tell people to call me ‘Ollie’ and then need to send them an email and that is weird. It is uncomfortable for me and confusing for them.”

The issues with FirstClass are particularly insidious. FirstClass exclusively uses the legal names of students, not their preferred names.

This is damaging in several ways.

“I was working in a group project where I was out but known as Andrew; they knew I was trans but they didn’t know my legal name,” said Andrew McNamara, class of 2014. “And I almost failed the project because they couldn’t find me on FirstClass, because what I was known by was not on the listings.”

This experience is not unusual. Trans people and people with non-binary gender identities frequently find themselves in

conflict the communication programs on campus.

“In terms of being outed, email is the worst thing on campus,” said McNamara. “You cannot avoid FirstClass; you have to check it every day, and you are being outed with every use.”

The FirstClass name policy isn’t the only problem trans and nonbinary people face on campus which new and old groups have begun to focus on in their efforts to implement change. Because these people have been unacknowledged for so long, even the basic definitions of the terms they use to describe their experiences are often unknown outside these communities.

When people refer to themselves as non-binary, what they usually mean is that they do not identify as either male or female, instead viewing their gender as somewhere on a continuum between and around those two categories.

“In the contemporary United States, because we are focused on the individual, we talk about identities and see it as connected to the core self,” professor of anthropology Sumi Colligan said. “A non-binary identity would be people who see themselves on the continuum between and around female and male gender identities… In some Native American cultures there were third and fourth genders. These were based on the roles people fulfilled.

So someone who was biologically male might engage in activities seen as female, or crossdress or something like that. Western culture has just been more restricted.”

She explained that gender expression varies by culture, age, ethnic group, location, and many other variables.

“I think even people with female or male identities can still be interpreted in a variety of ways,” Colligan said. “I have a female identity but I present it very differently from the way other people with female identities might.

How we act in our identities is what varies between people.”

The College is taking action to react to the issues facing trans

Schools defines meaning of smoke-free campus SMOKE FREE, continued from page 1 3.The use of tobacco is prohibited inside any vehicle located on University grounds.”

“When we instituted this policy, there was training that went on with the employees,” Weber said.

At BCC, employees were trained on how to react to a person breaking the smoke free policy, Weber said. They were told to remind the individual in a friendly manner, that the campus was smoke free.

Both Pearson and Weber said to enforce the policy, both colleges rely on voluntary compliance and action by students and faculty members on campus.

“We are relying principally on voluntary compliance and the efforts of members of the campus community to encourage such compliance,” Pearson said.

Weber said since the policy has been implemented, there hasn’t been much backlash.

“The policy has been fairly smooth,” Weber said.

and non-binary people, but many are still unhappy with how slowly these changes are coming, or how they are implemented. Members of the newly formed group Initiative for Campus Safety (ICS) have devoted themselves to dealing with these issues, though they also wish to deal with more general problems of safety and comfort on campus.

“I just recently went to a conference,” said Freda, “and there were a bunch of groups from a bunch of schools who were facing similar problems. Housing forms were finally updated, but they are not doing anything to change the system. You can ask for exemptions but that is not always available.”

Another big problem on campus is the lack of availability of gender neutral bathrooms.

“There is only one in the campus center, and it was out for the entire month of January,” Freda said. “It does not indicate a great level of concern on the part of the school.”

School IDs cause problems for some students as well.

“Because your legal name is on your ID, what people call me on a day to day basis is in conflict with the names on the paperwork,” said Henderson. “The school number is the same, so I don’t see why the person swiping cards in the cafeteria needs to know my birth name.”

The efforts of ICS and other groups, like QSU and STAGE, have pushed this school toward being more accommodating and accepting of trans students and students with non-binary gender identities. But there is still progress to be made, on this campus as well as schools elsewhere in the country.

Some on campus are hopeful about the direction the college is headed.

“I have gotten no negative feedback from anyone I have spoken to,” said McNamara. “In fact, everyone I have spoken to on the subject is supportive. We know that systems like banner can be changed fairly easily, and we hope to get the administration to help us enact these changes soon.”

Gender labels may help with identity issues, but may also constrict people

By Alexander Moore Staff Writer

Labels are dehumanizing and having a label masks our complexities as human beings, according to Karen Cardozo, Professor of Interdisciplinary studies.

“We are never just one thing, and even when we cite multiple identities, those labels can’t capture our complexity or uniqueness as human beings,” Cardozo said in an email interview.

According to civilrights.org, in 2007, hate crimes against individuals based on sexual orientation increased to 1,265, the highest level in five years. The article referenced the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics Act (HCSA) report which stated “gay men and lesbians have consistently been the third most frequent target of hate violence over the past decade.”

In an article written by Sasha Goldstein on mydailynews.com from April 1, three men attacked a Michigan woman for being gay.

They did this after seeing her marry another woman on television.

“The vicious, unprovoked assault is being investigated as a hate crime after the three men hurled gay slurs as they beat the 28-year-old woman unconscious,” Goldstein said.

According to B. Gaudet, who identifies as asexual and non-binary, labels are useful and they refer to ideas that would otherwise take a long time to explain.

“I think it’s very important that labels exist because it allows people to talk about the things they experience and connect with people who experience life in a similar way,” DV Shetler, a student who identifies as asexual, said. “Having the label there has sort of helped me make sense of my life in a way.”

Shetler said they didn’t know they were asexual until the age of 19 and discovering that label helped them make sense of things.

In an online panel discussion on outfrontonline.com, Pieter Tolsma, Program Coordinator of Denver PIQUE (a sexual health

and support program for Gay and Bisexual men in Denver, Colo.), said anyone who has done gay online dating comes across offensive labels all the time.

“These terms exist and crop up like mushrooms in March because they are useful but it does not mean they are doing the community any favors when it comes down to getting us to respect each other’s differences,” Tolsma said.

In addition to the labeling in terms of sexual orientation, according to Michael Birch, Professor of English/Communications and author of the book “Mediating Mental Health: Contexts, Debates and Analysis,” the mental health community suffers from labeling, portrayals, and stigmas.

“Labels about mental health have been the wrong ones for too long,” Birch said. “Themes of dangerousness have prevailed over better ideas of mental health.”

Birch said the media often portrays a person with schizophrenia as a violent individual when, in fact, most individuals diagnosed with this condition are more likely to harm themselves than others.

“It’s more important to know the person than it is to know the condition,” Birch said. “By understanding the person first and the condition second, labels can be overcome in favor of more useful knowledge for everyone.”

Shetler said if we lived in an ideal world, we wouldn’t need labels.

“To deny all categories is to risk ignoring some important ways that we are labeled by others whether we like it or not, and how different labels carry different privileges or disadvantages in society,” Cardozo said. “It’s a bit of a catch-22.”

According to Sumi Colligan, Professor of Anthropology, we will never live in a world without labels or social categories.

“Labels can be constraining, but they also help provide a sense of social coherence. They may also provide people a foundation for personal and cultural identity, especially if they embrace the labels,” Colligan said.

Smoking task force meets TASK FORCE, continued from page 1

SGA Executive Vice President Alexandra Kadell. “I definitely think that the policy needs to be updated and that this issue should be controlled because people have their rights.”

Kadell said she joined the task force when the SGA President asked who would be interested in providing a student perspective.

According to the meeting’s conversation, the compliance group is responsible for looking at other school’s policies and relating it to what our community values. There also needs to be caution with language when advertising because some

schools state they’re 100 percent smoke free but not tobacco free and vice versa.

B e f o r e implementation, Degen mentioned that there would be a process of educating Photo by Jess Gamari/The Beacon the campus on the Administrative Advising Assistant Jennifer new policy and also Alibozek, left, and Charlotte Degen, vice potentially holding president of Student Affairs attended the open meetings to give meeting. people a chance to understand. ready in fall.

While a draft timeline is in “This will be a multi-phase the works, director of Human process,” she said. “We can’t Resources Mary Ellen Olenyk employ something without the believes an updated policy will be education aspect first.”

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Campus News

Beacon.MCLA.edu

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Possible upgrade for the television studio

By Kaleigh Anderson Staff Writer

The English/Communications Department is looking for a possible upgrade to the television studio that could occur over the summer and conclude by the start of the next academic year.

The estimated cost of this upgrade is around $400,000, according to Peter Gentile, the studios executive director. If approved by the College’s administration, the television studio, located in the basement of Mark Hopkins, would upgrade to high definition software, and purchase a new switchboard and HD cameras.

“We want journalism to be celebrated at the levels of television, radio, print, and online media,” Professor Birch said.

The studio was last updated in 2007, when it was modernized with digital cameras and tapes for recording and playback. The Avid editing suite, located on the first floor of Mark Hopkins, was also created that year for students to use industry standard editing software.

“Our last upgrade in 2007 was basically about $250,000. Unfortunately technology moves so quickly that that became obsolete after a couple of years,” Gentile said. “Everything you see on television is high definition now. All of the local news stations have gone to high definition, so certainly we need to join that race.”

The television studio is currently used by

three to four television production classes weekly. Students are given hands on experience running, producing and directing shows, editing and filming footage, and using the switchboard, teleprompter and audio board during mock productions.

Besides the fact that the studio is not using HD Avid for editing, the current software in the editing suites is reaching its limit on updates.

“I’m running Avid 7.0 in my office,” Gentile said. “The computers in the suite are using Avid 4.5, and they’ve been upgraded as Photo by Kayla Degnan/The Beacon far as they can go.”

Students work on recording a segment in the TV studio.

The key to this upgrade is the studio would use hard drive based servers. This cast media, believes that an update to the of the mission statement in the communiwould mean no more tapes or discs; all studio could benefit students. “From my cations side of the department.” Birch said, video would be stored in a central server experience, I had an internship with PBS “I’m not in a position to say at this particuand that really taught me a lot. They used lar moment that the update is absolutely system.

“One of my biggest issues with the ed- Avid editing software so an upgrade on certain but I think it’s going to happen, and iting suite is that you cannot access your Avid would give me a better idea on what’s I think it’s going to happen probably sooner projects from all of the computers,” senior used in the field of communications and rather then later” If the proposal is approved, Gentile said Danielle Scolpino said. “If someone else is that’s the most important thing,” McCall said. the hope is the new equipment would be working on the one with your project you Gentile is a member of a committee with installed and integrated over the summer, have no access to it until they are done.”

Associate Academic Dean Paul LeSage, giving the faculty and staff time to get faThe central server would fix this issue and Birch and Professor Ebiware to meet and miliar with it before students return in the let students obtain files from any network discuss possible ideas as well as vendors. fall.

It is unsure when the update will be computer.

“We are going to enter a curriculum reofficially announced as accepted and what According to Birch, The eventual goal is vision process; our committee has been specific equipment will be purchased, as to bring in The Beacon, WJJW and the teleexploring the new technology, and will meetings are still being held. vision studio onto one local server so that “We know that no $400,000 upgrade is they can help and benefit each other, serv- look toward a program in convergent media journalism, which will mean that the taken lightly. Budgets are tight always, but I ing as a converged student media newscourses we currently offer will be changed think that we have a good proposal on our room at MCLA. and modified somewhat with a refocusing hands, ” Gentile said.

Jacob McCall, a student studying broad-

Changes made to core computing and communication class

By Amanda Mahoney Special to the Beacon

Most students would not think that in a computing class you would actually get to take apart old computers and put them back together again.

But, most of Computer Science Professor David Eve’s students probably weren’t expecting to be told on the first day of classes they would be his “guinea pigs,” the very first ones to whom he would teach this different course.

The possibility of the College doing away with the existing computing graduation requirement was only part of the reason why Eve drastically changed a course he had taught the same way, on and off, for a number of years.

The main focus of the original Computing and Communications 100 (CCCL) class was to teach students how to use Microsoft

Office properly, but the College wasn’t sure how effective the course was.

However, Eve and many other department members believed the requirement was too valuable to get rid of completely.

Changing it to a course that looks at technology and how it affects our society was a way to save it. They hoped adjusting the course in such a way would make students more aware of how prominent technology is.

Eve had considered changing the course before the College brought up the idea of completely doing away with the requirement. With the support, help, and advice of the whole Computer Science department, he developed a course he believed would be most beneficial to current and future students.

“There’s a difference between information literacy and technological literacy,” Eve said. “I’ve seen, first hand, the need for

it in the work place. They are useful regardless of one’s concentration or major, some more than others.”

Colleague and supporter Mark Cohen agrees.

“Computers touch all disciplines of learning,” Cohen said. “I think there should be a Tier III class to expand on what CCCL-100 teaches.”

Eve is teaching the new course this semester but with some improvements.

“It’s an evolving process and I’m building on what works and re-tooling what didn’t,” he revealed. “I’m switching out the readings so the database component has room for improvement.”

Eve said the content of the course is made up of things he finds “fun, scary and interesting.”

“I want to understand our role as consumers and producers of information in the information age and to understand

privacy and security in it,” he stated. “To understand the pervasiveness of ubiquitous technology, to understand how these applications are made.”

Eve said he hoped his students liked the new class more than they would have liked the original CCCL-100. At least for a couple students, Eve accomplished his goal of getting students to think more critically about technology use.

“I liked what was taught in the class. It gives me a totally different way to look at technology,” Romeo Grey said. “The class did let me know more about technology and how much we depend on it, and how much more we use it than we think.”

Freshman Danielle Hartnett agrees with Grey.

“I feel as if I am more aware of the technology I use every day. I cut down on the amount of time I use my phone and deleted a lot of things,” she said.

ministration and Finance, talked about the origins of the MCLA Laptop Initiative program.

“It was very clear to us at that time that students were bringing computers to campus. We wanted to have a consistent product on campus and we wanted a good price for students; we wanted a maintenance agreement as well as bundled software and things that students would need to do their work,” Stakenas said. “Those guidelines led us to connect with all the other state universities to have this laptop requirement program.”

According to a ‘04 article on Boston. com, “College officials… said laptops will drive a shift to a more interactive, handson curriculum and ensure that all students graduate with skills needed to succeed in a technology-dependent economy.”

The colleges had made a deal with Dell Inc. to offer laptops to students for $1,200, a discounted price. However, the plan did

not come without criticism, as many college students worried about the extra expense, on top of the cost of tuition, fees, and room and board. The ‘04 article cited the cost of attending state college at $10,000 while today that has almost doubled. The cost of the laptop has stayed consistent.

This deal is still offered at the College, with program laptops sold through Dell. On the TechHelp webpage is also a link to purchase these laptops.

Benefits of purchasing a program laptop are stated on the site and include not only a discounted price, but also complete warranty coverage and on-campus support.

Students who have program laptops have the option of receiving a loaner laptop for any time their laptop is being repaired. The program laptop also comes with ComputracePro service, a theft recovery software.

These benefits are not offered to students who own non-program laptops.

Students are not required to buy a program

laptop. However, all non-program laptops must meet the College’s minimum hardware requirements and have Microsoft Office, Sophos Antivirus and FirstClass Client.

Some professors feel very strongly about the need for students to own laptops.

“I teach four writing classes and I need my students to be able to write in class,” said English/Communications Professor Jenifer Augur. “I like to be able to look over their shoulders and give them feedback.”

When asked if the Laptop Initiative was still required by all state colleges, Stakenas replied, “I think more and more universities aren’t holding up on their requirement.”

“I think what we will likely do is underscore the importance of having some sort of technology,” said Stakenas. “Courses are available on Canvas. We want students to use eportfolio; we want you to check your email; we want you to stay connected with your friends; we want to be able to make emergency announcements and notices.”

Benefits of the MCLA laptop initiative program

By Payton Vincelette Special to the Beacon

You’d be hard pressed to find a college student today who does not own a laptop.

“I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have a laptop,” said sophomore Salimata Kamara.

“It would be pretty tough to get anything done without one.”

That is a statement consistent with the Laptop Initiative at MCLA. The TechHelp website states: “MCLA is requiring that all freshmen come to campus with a laptop computer… Increasingly our faculty are providing class materials on-line and the campus now offers end to end wireless access for your convenience as a student.”

This initiative has been in place at the College for 10 years, and is part of a larger plan announced in ‘04 for Massachusetts state colleges, except University of Massachusetts and community colleges.

James Stakenas, vice president of Ad-

A6 Thursday, May 1, 2014

Opinion

Beacon.MCLA.edu

“What are your plans for summer vacation?”

“I’m going to be taking online classes and I’m going to have a job.”

“I’ll be working primarily around the school, doing art in my own time, and helping someone setup a website.”

-Abby Law, 2016

-Bradley Gradneigo, 2015

The Beacon The Beacon is published Thursdays during the academic year and is distributed free to the College community. The Beacon is funded by the Student Government Association, the English/Communications department and from ad revenues.

Contact information: News desk number: 413-662-5535 Business number: 413-662-5404 E-mail: Beacon@mcla.edu Web site: beacon.mcla.edu Office: Mark Hopkins Hall, room 111 Mission Statement The Beacon strives to provide timely and accurate news of campus and local events.

Editorials Policy Unsigned editorials that appear on these pages reflect the views of The Beacon’s editorial board.

“I don’t have any plans right now.”

“I’m working on my art studio and doing more art.”

-Evan Pirnie, 2015

-Justine Curley, 2014

Signed columns and commentaries that appear on these pages reflect the views of the writers.

Letters Policy The Beacon welcomes Letters to the Editor. Deadline is noon on Mondays for that week’s newspaper.

Letters should be kept to 500 words or less and are subject to editing for grammar and content. The Beacon will not publish anonymous or libelous letters.

“I’m applying to IS183 and a few other arts based organizations. I’ll be making art.”

“I guess just working and graduating. I’m going to be working at a state park after graduation.”

-Stephanie VanBramer, 2014

-Steve Carpenter, 2014

Letters must be signed by the writer and include a phone number. Letters may be dropped off at the office or e-mailed to Beacon@mcla.edu.

Contributions Policy The Beacon accepts stories, photos, and opinion pieces for publication.

Submissions should be dropped off at the office by Monday at noon or e-mailed to Beacon@mcla.edu.

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Editorial Board

Photos compiled by Amy Modesti

In my humble opinion...

Beyoncé’s influence on teen pregnancy

By Nick Arena Editor-in-Chief

Apparently a new contributor to the increasing teen pregnancy issue in the United States has entered into the ring.

A report from The Guardian commented on a rant from Bill O’Reilly where he claimed that Beyoncé’s music is a negative influence on minority women and is resulting in increased teen pregnancy rates.

I won’t lie, I really don’t like Beyoncé’s music, in fact I can’t stand it. That being said, maybe we should stop and actually think about how absolutely ridiculous O’Reilly’s claim is.

Saying that “provocative” music is going to cause more teen pregnancies is just about as credible as arguing that violent video games turn people into

violent killers, it’s a load of garbage.

Last I checked, O’Reilly is a pretty fervent member of the religious right. I wonder if any policies from the religious right would affect teen pregnancies; maybe something like abstinence?

As multiple reports have shown, states that require abstinence only education have some of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the country.

A study from the Guttmacher Institute in 2012 stated that abstinence only education has yet to prove whether it prevents sex until marriage and can even deter teens from using contraception when having sex.

This can be compared to states that require comprehensive sex education classes, which tend to have much lower teen pregnancy rates and much higher usages of contraception.

Teen pregnancy is a big issue, and by calling out the absurdity of this argument I am in no way trying to diminish this fact.

However, if we are actually going to take an issue like this seriously, we need to start seriously educating people.

Comprehensive sex education should be the responsibility of each school and of each parent. I will even go so far as to say that school’s can offer a combination of a comprehensive sex ed. program and an abstinence program.

I am sure Beyoncé’s music is going to continue violently assaulting my ears, but I will confidently state she’s not the problem.

“I’m a lot of fun at parties, I swear!”

Farewell facts

By Jess Gamari

Managing Editor Hello again friends. It’s hard to believe this is not only the last issue of the Beacon for the semester, but also my final article for my undergrad career. I hope you have enjoyed learning interesting facts each week, but I hope you continue to seek answers to everyday mysteries. Follow wherever your curiosity leads you, you never know what you may learn.

In parting, I leave you with a few additional fun facts. I hope you enjoy them and share them at parties with friends!  It’s bad luck to open umbrellas indoor, but do you know why?

According to a nursery rhyme my father used to read to me, it’s not a safe idea to hold an open umbrella on the chance that a strong wind could come and blow you to the ceiling, thus leaving you stranded on the ceiling. Being colorblind does not mean that one sees in black and

Editor-in-Chief Nick Arena

white or gray-scale, but rather the person views colors in limited shades, also known as color vision deficiency. Colorblindness is hereditary, but males are more likely to have the trait, with a one in twelve chance to be colorblind.

Dogs, cats, mice, rats and rabbits mostly see greys and some blues and yellows. I hope by now you have recovered from learning about beaver anal secretions in vanilla products. Moving on to other beauty products, I’d encourage you to take a closer look at the ingredients label of your products.

More than likely, there will be something listed as pearl essence (or “pearlescence”) in lipsticks, nail polishes, and other shimmery beauty products. Pearl essence is obtained primarily from silver herring and is one of many by-products of large-scale commercial fish processing. There are companies which use synthetic ingredients for the shimmery effect, such as Revlon and Almay.

Alternatives are out there, just double check if the company is animal friendly. Mosquitos have 47 teeth, and they are as sharp as piranhas. According to About.com: Insects, Only female mosquitos bite humans and other amphibians because they need protein from blood for their eggs. Males prefer to feed on flower nectar.

They travel at about 1-1.5 miles an hour and their hearts beat 300600 times per second. They can detect the scent of humans up to 100 feet away.

Sports Editor Jesse Collings

Managing Editor Jess Gamari Photography Editor

A&E Editor Shannen Adamites

Kayla Degnan Web Editor Michael Dahlroth

Copy Chief Avery Finnivan Advertising Manager Darcie Sosa

Senior News Editor Gabriel Kogel

Staff Staff Writers

Photographers

Kaleigh Anderson Rachel Fitterman

Richard LaRocque Amy Modesti Andrew Ricketts

James Hunter Chunyu “Judy” Leng Kelsey Marini Makayla-Courtney McGeeney Alexander Moore Jenna O’Connor

Design Team

Shannen Adamites* Nick Arena* Raanan Sarid-Segal Jess Gamari* Nick Swanson Nicole Ngoon Jesse Collings* Copy Editors Yvonne Camacho Rominda DeBarros Nicole L’Etoile Marc Latour

Advisers

Jenifer Augur Gillian Jones Jim Niedbalski

*Holds more than one position

Online at: Beacon.MCLA.edu Facebook.com/MCLABeacon Twitter.com/MCLA_Beacon

Opinion

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Bigger than biceps

Important reminders

By Makayla-Courtney McGeeney Staff Writer

For my last column of the semester, I thought it would be nice to sum up most of my health and fitness tips to prepare you for the tasks of summer (which actually won’t be so bad with this knowledge).

Start carrying a water bottle with you to avoid confusion between hunger and thirst. When you’re busy, it’s easy to experience dehydration without realizing it.

Be in control of your own body by knowing what you need for fuel and to function. Water also serves many other roles, including getting rid of cramps after hours of swimming or exhausting runs.

It’s also important to set aside a few hours to schedule your meals

for the week. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been starving, cranky, and just not feelling like cooking, but when I have a premade meal waiting for me in the fridge, it’s as easy as heating it up.

For lunch, stick with an equal amount of protein and vegetables with a little bit of brown rice or sweet potatoes (carbohydrates).

Try not to consume carbs for dinner if you can help it; it’s better to just increase the portion of protein and veggies.

Depending on your summer schedule, these tips may not pertain to you, but they’re good to know so you can adapt them to your own routine. Regardless, there is always a way to sneak in some calorie torchers during the day. If you don’t have time to work out at the end of a long work day, try to cram in some squats in the elevator, while waiting in line, or even in the shower (someone suggested that to me). If there’s a little space and a little extra time, then there is no reason to avoid exercise.

Resources for fitness are unlimited these days with the help of endless inspirational blogs, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

There are also a few helpful apps on smart phones that will count every step and even monitor your sleeping patterns.

On off days when you feel like giving up, give yourself some time to find energy and willpower to jump back into the game. Everyone needs down days to re-evaluate their routine or exactly what they want. It’s your life and your body, but don’t make quitting an

option. The more you push yourself, the easier it will be to set harder barriers to break through.

Years ago I hated burpees (jump up and back down out to push-up position) and cheated them during my workouts, but now I put all of my effort into the first few reps because it ignites my stamina for the rest of the sets.

Being healthy is a challenge at first, but once you get going it makes you realize a lot about your inner strength and overall potential to reach not only fitness goals, as well as goals in other areas of life. Pushing personal limits will help you push greater limits elsewhere. Not only does being healthy benefit your body now and down the road, it also helps your mood, attitude and mental well-being.

Be happy about being healthy, and do it the right way.

Exercise of the week: Leaning single-rows: Take a dumbbell, kettle bell, or heavy shampoo bottle or water jug (if at home) and stand in front of a desk or chair at waist height. Place one hand palm down close to the edge of the surface, and obtain the weight source with the other. Your body should be leaning at an incline on the one gently locked arm. Use your feet to determine difficulty, by setting them wider to be easier and in closer for a harder movement.

Bring the weight in toward your armpit in a rowing motion. Keep your elbows in and core tight.

This exercise targets the middle of the back. Perform 10-12 reps for three sets on each side.

Wellness center concerns

By Jenna O’Connor Staff Writer

With the closing of North Adams Regional Hospital (NARH) on March 28, the closest hospital is Berkshire Medical Center, located in Pittsfield—which is a 25-to-40-minute drive for the residents in the surrounding Northern Berkshire towns.

The college announced last week that the MountainOne Wellness Center is going to become an “Urgent Care Center” for the public, in addition to serving the students.

Although this is a very good thing for the public, the wellness center acting as an urgent

care center raises some concerns as well. Such concerns include students paying for the limited services provided by the wellness center, crowding and long waiting periods, general safety of the College’s campus, staffing of the wellness center, and parking for services at the wellness center.

With all of this said, the remaining question is: How is this actually going to work?

The wellness center is a place for students to go for urgent, general, psychological, and other medical problems, and if it’s open for the public and staffed by the former NARH workers who now work at BMC, the students might not get the time of day in order to

take care of their medical needs.

The wellness center will now be open seven days a week, for 12 hours a day, instead of its normal hours of Monday-Friday, 8a.m. to 4p.m.

According to the iBerkshires. com article, Governor Deval Patrick stated, “…Not as an emergency room [the wellness center], but as a place where people can go for basic care. The type of which was rendered in the emergency department at NARH.” This is questionable, because the NARH emergency room acted as an emergency room—so what will the wellness center actually be? The need to define urgent vs. emergency vs. basic care still needs to be addressed.

pensation, or credit to the user.

Compensation for an idea can be seen as uneconomical and unrealistic, but a simple “thank you” email doesn’t cost the company anything.

This policy is not unheard of.

Several other companies implement similar rules. Netflix is another one of these companies.

The website does not accept ideas for films or shows, but if an idea is sent and is similar to a show, a user will not be credited.

Another disturbing piece of information is the third party applications or services that interact with sites like Soundcloud and Instagram.

If a user deletes content from

their Soundcloud page, and that content is linked with an application that accesses it, that application owner is not obligated to delete that content. For example: if someone makes a song and uses an application to access Soundcloud to post the song, that song is now in two different places. If the user deletes the song off the Soundcloud website, that song is still on the application.

These are just a few things individuals sign up for when they create an account on websites like this. It is a good idea to skim through the terms of use sections.

Though it may take a long time, it might be worth it in the end.

User beware on social media sites

By Alexander Moore Staff Writer

Instagram, Snapchat, and Soundcloud are all popular social media services with lengthy “terms of use.” Many individuals do not take the time to read these policies, and may not know what they are getting into when they sign up.

When Snapchat gets an idea submitted by a user, all rights to that idea are taken away from the user and the idea becomes the sole property of Snapchat. Snapchat has the right to use the idea for commercial purposes or not without acknowledgment, com-

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Under the bodhi tree

Meditation 101

By Gabriel Kogel Senior News Editor

For my last installment of Under the Bodhi Tree, I want to thank every one of you for reading my words. For those of you who’ve offered kind words in return, I’m especially grateful. May you always be blessed and live in joy.

This has been my final semester at MCLA. I feel a mix of sadness to be leaving a community made up of such inspirational people, and hope that I’ll get a chance to put all the spiffy skills I’ve learned to use.

Since this will be our last time sitting together, I’m going to offer some practical advice on meditation. There are various ways of going about it, so by all means experiment and decide what works best for you. I’m going to discuss the way I meditate; however, there’s no wrong way to meditate, as long as you receive benefits.

Like any practice, it helps to meditate regularly. I’ve found the best time to meditate is right after waking up. The journey from sleep to consciousness can be

A7

bumpy, so meditation can help smooth the transition. I also meditate during the evening when I’m especially anxious or lost in mental machinations. I prefer to meditate for a half-hour, setting a gentle alarm to alert me when my session is over.

I meditate sitting cross-legged, since I’m not flexible enough for the lotus pose, but I don’t believe any particular pose is necessary as long as you’re comfortable. I place both of my hands on my knees and cup them, to signify my openness to accepting life as it is.

With closed eyes, breathe in deeply to fill your bloodstream with oxygen. Since our lungs need room to expand, this will help bring attention to proper posture.

Core supporting muscles often get lazy, and this leads to slouching. But slouching during meditation doesn’t allow the deep, full breaths we need. So although we may slouch, we can always return to awareness of the muscles that keep our spines tall and straight.

I prefer to exhale through my mouth, offering a little resistance to the retreating breath. Some meditators repeat a mantra or a chant in their mind, such as “nam myoho renge kyo.” I prefer to focus on my breathing, while looking into awareness of the moment.

Many times, thoughts and associated feelings will arise. The challenge is to accept them with kindness, but not get lost in them.

Try imagining bowing to these visitors, and then letting them go on their way.

Namaste friends; I salute the divine within you!

Waiting for grad school

By Yvonne Camacho Staff Writer

In the blink of an eye, four years are up.

Seniors know there’s no avoiding the dread instilling question, “What are you doing after graduation?”

For most students, the most traditional choices are entering the workforce or enrolling in graduate school. But, by taking an unconventional route and delaying a permanent job or graduate school immediately after college, it may yield highly beneficial results.

Alumna Alexandra Nichipor, a current graduate student at Harvard Divinity School, knew she wanted to further her education, but also had the dream of living abroad.

“I figured out a way to make these two dreams work. I took a year off to be an English instructor at Hebei University in China. This allowed me to live in China, and also to get experience teaching at the college level, which would support my future plans to become a professor,” Nichipor said.

After graduation, students should take the time to figure out the direction they want their career to go and fill that time with enriching experiences.

“I’ve noticed that a lot of people feel like they should go to graduate school directly from college,” Nichipor said.

While there are many wonderful reasons to go to graduate school, delaying the real world should not be one of them. Not to belabor the

obvious, but graduate school is a substantial life decision that merits special consideration.

“Many of the most successful graduate students I’ve met at Harvard have taken some time off.

They’re a little older, and they’re also more mature, do more interesting projects, and frequently they get higher grades,” Nichipor said.

According to a report by the Council of Graduate Schools and the Graduate Record Examinations Board, institutions responding to the Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees received nearly 1.88 million applications to graduate programs for fall 2011. Of those applications, about 766,000 (40.8 percent) were accepted.

This is not to dissuade those considering higher education but to urge students to consider a gap year to gain valuable experience.

Experience that can make you a more desirable graduate applicant, help you become better acquainted with your chosen field of study, and if you decide graduate school isn’t for you, it can make you a fierce competitor to those with higher degrees but lacking the experience.

A person, with the demonstrated ability to get the job done is an equal if not greater contender to someone with a master’s degree with no proven experience.

“I don’t know if I would have been accepted to graduate school without the accomplishments of my gap year,” Nichipor said.

A8 Thursday, May 1, 2014

Commencement

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Today, May 1

Photo courtesy of Brendan Peltier

Lizzy Mullen and Jessica Jean-Charles lead last year’s graduation procession.

Photo courtesy of Brendan Peltier

College President Mary Grant high-fives a graduate.

MCLA gears up for Commencment 2014

By Rominda deBarros Staff Writer The College will celebrate its 115th Commencement in the Amsler Campus Center Gymnasium on Saturday, May 17, beginning at 11 a.m.

The Baccalaureate ceremony will be held on Friday, May 16 at 3 p.m. in the Church Street Center.

Graduates will start off the Commencement ceremony with Procession, where they will walk through the College front gates one last time, saying their final goodbyes, before walking across the stage in the ceremony. Graduates are asked to assemble in Venable Gym at 10 a.m.

Attendees and guests are invited to begin seating at 9:30 a.m. in the gymnasium. The ceremony will conclude with a reception on the Murdock Lawn, which will be relocated to Venable Gym in the event of rain.

According to the College’s website, there will be three recipients of honorary degrees this year, including Lila Berle, a dedicated land conservationist, who will receive an honorary Doctor of Humanities; Michael Christopher ’73, former president and chief operating officer for Legacy Banks, who will receive an honorary Doctor of Public Service; and Michael Conforti, director of the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, who will receive an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts.

In addition to being recognized and honored during the Ceremony, these recipients will also have books placed in the Freel Library in their name.

This year’s Commencement will feature keynote speaker Charles F. Desmond, who will receive an honorary Doctor of Public Service.

As well as being appointed by Governor Patrick in September ‘08 to the Board of Higher Education, Desmond has also been actively involved in both civic and community organizations in the Boston area. He has also served as Executive Vice President of the Trefler Foundation, and worked for 30 years at the University of Massachusetts Boston, with a focus on student affairs and community collaboration.

Baccalaureate Traditionally baccalaureate ceremonies are a sermon to the graduating class, offering a more intimate setting where graduates are given the opportunity to pause and reflect on their rite of passage from college.

During the ceremony graduates will get the opportunity to hear ivy orations of past years as well their own class oration for the first

time.

“Baccalaureate is a time-honored tradition that has been celebrated since the early 1900s at the College,” said Christine Naughton, director of Alumni Relations and Development.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for graduating seniors and their families to slow down and embrace the moment at hand listening to poems written by students, student performances, and to share a sprig of ivy with those who have impacted, inspired, and enlightened their academic experience.”

Following the ceremony there will be a brief reception in the campus center gym. Graduates as well as guests and family members are invited to dine and enjoy a slideshow reel. Reservations are required for this event, through the Advancement office.

Graduation is closing in on students, and the Alumni Association in the Office of Institutional Advancement is looking to connect with graduating seniors.

Over the course of Senior Week, the Alumni Association will be holding a few events that seniors can participate in to get them introduced to the alumni community. These events do not require that students pay for the senior package, according to Alumni Relations Coordinator Jamal Ahamad.

“This year, we have three events that take place during senior week,” Ahamad said. “We have a

Green Living Seminar Murdock Conference Reception Room 218 4:30 -6:30 p.m.

Spring Cleaning with Career Services Amsler Campus Center Marketplace 11:30 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Women’s Center Amsler Campus Center Marketplace 11 a.m. -2 p.m.

MCLA Presents! The Chronicles of Rose puppet workshop 107 Main Street 6 p.m.

The last installment of David Lane’s Serial Puppet Drama!

Friday, May 2 Open Mic Night Amsler Campus Center Sullivan Lounge 7- 9 p.m.

Allegrammies Church Street Center Auditorium 6 -7 p.m.

Liberal Arts at Work Dinner Murdock Conference Reception Room 218 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Volunteer Appreciation Reception Church Street Center Social Hall 4 -5:30 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Brendan Peltier

A graduate celebrates with his family.

Alumni office prepares events for Senior Week

By Nick Arena Editor-in-Chief

Drum Circle Event Amsler Campus Center Gym 6:30 -9:30 p.m.

non-trad and traditional senior alumni welcome at Freight Yard Pub, that’s from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday May 13. That is to have everyone come in for a mixer, there’s hors d’oeuvres, and you get to talk to some alumni. It’s just welcoming you, you made it, let’s celebrate you.”

Ahamad added that Tiki Tuesday will also be held that evening, which will involve games and wings for the class of 2014.

“That Friday we have Baccalaureate,” Ahamad continued.

“Baccalaureate is a tradition here that isn’t talked about enough on campus. We celebrate all of the students the day before commencement with Ivy Oration poems. We have an entry from every

year from 1911 all the way up to this year.”

He said that he is cooridinating these events with Coordinator of Student Activities Jenn Craig, and that he wants to see more graduating students get involved with the Alumni Association to give back to current students.

“The major thing that we’re looking for them not to forget, we want them to give back,” Ahamad said. “When I say give back, I mean we want them to be present in the community that they are a part of. Even if it’s just coming back to talk to current students who are doing what they did in the past just to shed some light on their situation.”

Ahamad quoted his Bishop in

saying, “I give because I have, and I have because I give.” He emphasized that when former students give back the people they help are more than likely to return the favor.

Students who remain in contact with the Alumni Association will also have access to regional alumni events, he said. These events are both mixers and professional networking opportunities for jobs and internships.

He said that he is also looking to coordinate more alumni panels for current students. Currently he said departments such as Arts Management and Athletics hold these panels during Alumni Weekend and the Annual Leadership Conference, but that the association would like to hold them more often.

Cans for Candy Tabling Amsler Campus Center Marketplace 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Saturday, May 3 Class of 2016 Dodgeball Taconic Lawn 4 -8 p.m.

Mr./Miss MCLA Academic Quad(rain location-Venable Gym) 3- 5 p.m.

SAC Luau Venable Gym 9 p.m.- midnight

Tuesday, May 6 Tricks of the Trade: Putting the Contemporary Back into the Forefront of the Cocktail Party MASS MoCA 6 p.m.

Student Newspaper of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts North Adams, Mass.

The Beacon Th u r s d ay, M ay 1 , 2 0 1 4

For more content, visit online at: Beacon.MCLA.edu Volume 78 ◆ Issue 13 Section B

Softball surges into playoffs

Photo by Richard LaRocque/The Beacon

Sophomore infielder Sierra Bailey handles a ground ball and looks to throw the batter out at first, while also keeping the runner at second from advancing to third.

By James Hunter Sports Writer

The Trailblazers will enter the postseason tomorrow with the second seed after splitting the series with top-seeded Bridgewater State.

“Bridgewater is our biggest rivalry in the MASCAC and I can picture it coming down to us versus them in the MASCAC final again,” Samantha Boyle said.

Both teams came away from a regular season matchup looking even. The Trailblazers dropped the first game 2-1, but came back to win game two 3-0.

Softballs season-long performance earned the team a first-round bye. The Trailblazers are set to play the winner of a matchup between third-seeded Worcester State and sixth-seeded Fitchburg State in the second round.

Game one of the Bridgewater games played out as a pitcher’s duel. Neither sophomore Rachel Quackenbush or Bridgewater’s Amber White let up a run until the seventh inning. Quackenbush finished the game with nine strikeouts. White had five.

The Bears’ seventh inning runs would come after a single from Sa LoPilato. She would advance to second on a sacrifice bunt, before both she and Jill Welch would score on an infield error by the Trailblazers.

Quackenbush responded well, leading off the bottom of the seventh inning with a double to right field. She would move to third on an infield out and then score the Trailblazers only run on a passed ball. White managed to close

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out any hope of a late rally. The Bears secured the final two outs quickly after.

The Trailblazers gave Bridgewater its first MASCAC loss of the season in game two. Quakenbush went to the mound to relieve Amanda Meczwyor in the sixth inning. The team rallied for three runs while she kept the opposition’s bats quiet through the seventh.

“Bridgewater is our biggest rivalry in the MASCAC and I can picture it coming down to us versus them in the MASCAC final again,” Samantha Boyle said.

“Winning that last game was what we needed to give ourselves a boost after the hard loss of the first game. We knew

we could win both, it just came down to a single miscommunication that lost us the game and we were all fired up to come back and win the second game,” Boyle said.

Taking a win over the top-seeded team has inspired more confidence in the postseason chances of the team.

“I think that this gives our team a lot of motivation going forward, because going into yesterday’s games Bridgewater was undefeated in the conference,” Quackenbush said.

Quakenbush is focused on her pitching prowess, saying she feels her pitching needs to be on point.

“There could be no tomorrow,” she said. “I need to make sure all my pitches are working so that we have no runs scored against us and we can score first.”

Quackenbush’s season record improved to 9-7. As a team, softball has won six of their last seven games, most recently sweeping Westfield State.

The Trailblazers take on either Fitchburg State or Worcester State tomorrow, 3 p.m. at the Zavattaro Athletic Complex. Fitchburg will travel to Worcester State tonight to play the Lancers at 7 p.m. The winner of that game will then come to North Adans on Friday.

Fitchburg finished the season with a 14-16 record, and lost both of their games to MCLA this season. Worcester State finished the season with an 11-20 record, but was able to split their season series against the Trailblazers earlier this year. MCLA took the first half of a doubleheader on April 6th, winning the game 2-1. However, the Lancers were able to fight back in the second game and toppled MCLA by the score of 4-2.

Baseball finishes season

Rock the Block 2.0

The Trailblazers fall to Bridgewater State at home.

This Sunday, Main Street will be closed for festival activities.

Annie Raskin to retire after 10 years of teaching at the College.

Arts & Entertainment, page B4

Features, page B6

Sports, page B3

English Professor to retire

Sports A&E Features Photo Essay

B2-B3 B4-B5 B6-B7 B8

B2 Thursday, May 1, 2014 Fair territory

Sports

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Women’s lacrosse to begin play next spring

With Sterling, NBA was asking for trouble

By Jesse Collings Sports Editor

The comments Los Angles Clipper’s owner Donald Sterling recently made about AfricanAmericans have generated a lot of talk. Clearly, Sterling’s remarks have no place anywhere in society. While most of the blame has been thrust onto Sterling himself for making the remarks, some blame certainly deserves to go to the NBA, who really have no one to blame but themselves for this PR nightmare.

Sterling has a history of controversial behavior since he became the owner of the Clippers. In 2009, longtime Clippers executive and NBA legend Elgin Baylor sued Sterling for employment discrimination. In the suit, Sterling allegedly told Baylor that he wanted to fill his team with “poor black boys from the South and a white head coach.” During contract negotiations with rookie Danny Manning back in 1988, Sterling allegedly said “I’m offering a lot of money for a poor black kid.”

If Sterling’s basketball bigotry wasn’t enough, his other business practices displayed even more racial intolerance. In 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a suit against Sterling for housing discrimination concerning his real estate properties in Los Angeles.

The suit said that Sterling refused to rent to non-Koreans in the Koreatown neighborhood of LA, and to African-Americans in certain neighborhoods. Sterling allegedly said that he didn’t like to rent apartments to African-Americans because “Black tenants smell and attract vermin.”

Despite all of this evidence and all the unsavory incidents created by Sterling, the NBA had yet to seriously crack down on Sterling for his actions. Sterling had plenty of instances of racism and discrimination on his rap sheet, but it never affected his status as the Clippers owner. Sterling is like a dog that had been given too much leeway on his leash. If he hadn’t gotten in serious trouble from the NBA for all his other offenses, what was stopping him from sparking more incidents of bigotry?

NBA commissioner Adam Silver pretty much had no choice but to come down harshly on Sterling, but for a lot of NBA employees and fans, it has been a long time coming.

Photo by Kaylyn Smith/MCLA Athletics

The lacrosse team poses for a team photo on their practice field, along with interm head coach Kaylyn Smith.

By Raanan Sarid-Segal Staff Writer

The College is getting a new sports team, with a women’s lacrosse team having been approved for varsity status next year. The sport has been practiced privately here for years but is only now getting official sanction by the school to be seen as something more than a club.

Next year, the Trailblazers will compete in MASCAC, the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, as part of the women’s lacrosse competition. The college will be competing against other Massachusetts state schools such as Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University and others.

The team has existed as a club for years and has been given this new status because of a spike in interest amongst the local population, as well as nationally, in the sport. Club members are excited to see their team get recognized as an sport at the school.

“I am showing up for numbers, because I graduate this year,” said Sara Lieneck, class of

2014 and team member. “But I am also showing up to have fun and help the team get recognized as a varsity sport.”

The club has been limited in what they could do up until now due to the lack of funding and connections that being an unrecognized team brings.

“Women’s lacrosse was always through SGA, as a club, but within the last five years the college has been talking about expanding athletics, one of the teams they had discussed was women’s lacrosse,” said Kaylyn Smith, assistant to the athletic director. “The sport has grown in Berkshire County so the college got interested last year. We were still a club this last year because our rules about recruitment require one year of recruitment time before the establishment of a new varsity team.”

MCLA is not alone in its expansion into the sport of women’s lacrosse. All over the country, colleges are establishing teams and joining leagues which did not exist even 10 years ago.

“Lacrosse has been growing at an exponential rate all across the country,” said Maria Bar-

tini, the teams head coach. “I started playing in the 80’s, when I was in high school, and it was popular where I was but not very known outside of that space.”

Players are excited for the sport to become official, hoping that the college campus will turn out for games.

“It is a pretty exciting sport, containing elements of soccer and basketball,” said Bartini.

“It is also very high scoring, which a lot of people like. In fact just the announcements have generated interest among students thinking of applying, have applied or are thinking of transferring. People want to be part of the beginning of something.”

The college now has seven women’s sports teams, and six men’s. And although this is an unequal number of teams, Title IX does not require that the college immediately create a new male sports team to bridge the gap.

“Down the line the college is in a position now to add another sport,” said Smith. “As things stand now, we have a new team and are working on recruiting more players.”

Tennis finishes season with 3-7 record

By Kaleigh Anderson Sports Writer

The Men’s 2014 tennis season has come to a close, ending with an overall record of 3-7 and 1-5 in the conference. They ended the final match with an 8-1 loss against Green Mountain College, on Thursday, April 24th.

Because of poor weather conditions, the game was rescheduled from Wednesday, April 23rd. In addition, although the match was technically a home match for the Trailblazers, the game was played at the Bennington Tennis Center in Bennington, Vermont due to weather conditions.

Green Mountain dominated the doubles matches defeating the dynamic duo of freshman Rob Wabshinak and junior Taylor Krowitz, with Green Mountain sophomore Connor Braden and junior Jack Hepburn defeating them handily, 8-1. Junior Richard LaRocque and sophomore Ray Yelle also lost a close match in the third slot 8-6.

In singles play, sophomore Andrea Binder took MCLA’s lone point winning 8-6 in a close match over Green Mountain senior Forrest Teutsch. Krowitz also played an extremely competitive match against Green Mountain sophomore Nate Berner-Tobin, but ultimately dropped the match to Berner-Tobin, 8-6. With the victory, Green Mountain improved it’s record to 4-8 on the season.

Despite finishing the season with a losing record, the 2014 season could go down as a success for the men’s tennis team. After winning just one match last season, the team improved greatly under first year head coach Trevor Grimshaw. They hope to continue on and learn for the future ahead to come out on top in the 2015 season.

MCLA’s three victories this season all came by a score of 6-3. MCLA defeated Johnson State on March 30th, and then went on to defeat Sage College on April 10th. On April 12th, MCLA won it’s first road game in nearly a year, as they defeated Johnson State again, 6-3.

The team showed great promise, especially due to the relative youth of the team. MCLA top two players, Taylor Krowitz and Rob Wabshinak will hopefully be back for the next season. Krowitz is a junior while Wabshinak is only a freshman. Wabshiniak in particular has been very strong for MCLA, playing in the number one singles slot for most of the season and playing very combatively against the other universities best. Other key contributors like Rich LaRocque and Ray Yelle will also likely be back for next season.

MCLA finished with a 1-5 record within the North Atlantic Conference, good enough for only sixth place within the conference. ColbySawyer went an undefeated 5-0 in the conference and will go on to play North Eastern Athletic Conference champion Penn StateAbington for a spot in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The game will be played on Saturday, May 3rd, and will be played in Schenectady, New York.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Sports

Beacon.MCLA.edu

B3

Baseball finishes disappointing season

By Kelsey Marini Sports Writer

The baseball team finished their season with a tough loss against conference rival, Bridgewater State. The men we unable to take any lead, losing the first game 7-1 and the second game 1-0. The Trailblazers went into the game on their senior day prepared to send Bridgewater home with a loss but came up short of victory.

In the opening game, the Bridgewater Bears jumped to the lead right away. They were able to bring in a run in the first inning followed by three more in the second. In the third inning the Bears added another run giving them a 5-0 lead over the Trailblazers.

Bridgewater’s starting pitcher, Andy Sadoski, shut out the Trailblazers until the sixth inning. Rory Slattery, who went 3-3 at bat, was able to make a play that brought in Chase Preite, after he had walked. But this would be the only attempt the Trailblazers would make to try to make a comeback. The Bears were able to hold them to one run for the rest of the game.

“The team struggled offensively,” said Cody Weaver, “but individually, Rory Slattery had a great day at the plate.”

Bridgewater would out hit MCLA 12-6 and end the game with two more hits in the seventh making the final score 7-1. Mike Mancivalano took his fifth loss of the season and was relieved by Tyler Benoit before Eamonn Andre took the mound for the final inning.

The second game came down the pitchers battling for victory. Robert Jutras held his ground against the Bears, shutting them out to just one hit through the first four innings. But an infield error in the fifth led to a stolen base that was brought home by a solid single to left field. This put the Bears to a 1-0 advantage over the Trailblazers.

While Jutras was holding his own, the Trailblazers attempted to make moves with their offense. Bridgewater’s pitcher, David Holmes, was able to hold MCLA to one run for the first four innings as well. The Trailblazers had their opportunity to score in the first inning when Nate

Photo by Richard LaRocque/The Beacon

MCLA catcher Alon Willing rises from his crouch to throw an advancing runner out.

Alibozek hit a single followed by a walk from Preite, but were unsuccessful.

“It’s a shame we couldn’t get runs for [Jutras] because he really worked out there,” said Eamonn Andre, “It was easily his best start of the season.”

The Bears were able to retire 20 Trailblazers before Cody Weaver was able to make a single hit off a bad hop in the seventh. The game would end after getting out Jared Gersch on the fly to left field. The game ended with a final score of 1-0. Chase Preite earned a .403 batting average with 14 RBIs and six runs for the season.

These games marked the end of the season for the Trailblazers as they did not make the cut for post season.

Bridgewater would be the final games for seniors Sean Coyle, Jared Gersch, Derek Lescarbeau, and Cody Weaver.

“What I will miss most is the opportunity to be with these guys all the time, playing the sport I love,” said Weaver.

The men ended their season with an overall record of 3-23, with and eight game losing streak. They finished in eighth place in the MASCAC conference with a record of 1-13.

Division 1 student-athletes fight for compensation

Beacon reporters explored the potential of Division 1 student-athletes eventually gaining compensation for their athletic endeavours. The Beacon talked to multiple student-athletes, coaches and athletic administrators to discuss how they felt about the future of compensation for athletes.

By Kaliegh Anderson and Tiearra Henson

The debate has risen as to whether or not Division 1 student athletes should be paid. College football and basketball teams have become huge media enterprises over the last decade racking in more than 6 billion in annual revenue according to the New York Times. Last year Turner Broadcasting and CBS signed a 14-year, $10.8 billion contract deal for the television rights to the NCAAA Men’s Basketball National Championship Tournament otherwise known as March Madness. Top college coaches can make as much as a professional coach these days if not more, a prime example of this is Ohio State paying head football coach Urban Meyer $24 million over the next six years.

The question that arises is should the athletes be paid as well? According to Forbes.com the average student athlete dedicates 43.3 hours to their sport, which is 3.3 hours more than the average Americans typical work week. The Northwestern football team is in the process of forming a union for student athletes to fight for wages, supporters of the union say that it will help athletes fight for compensation and better medical care for their injuries.

Opinions vary on whether or not college athletes should start to get paid, a main reason being that most of the athletes are already receiving some type of scholarship from their respective school that can range from 60,000 to over 200,000 dollars depending on the university. It is unclear when this matter will be resolved, if ever, due to its high stature.

Kaylyn Smith, Women’s Lacrosse Coach- “I believe that athletes should not be paid at the division I level for the simple fact that majority of them are on scholarship which saves them crazy amounts of money during their 4 or 5 year college experience. I fully support the notion of your education being your payment for the simple fact that it is something these athletes earn and they are not given it.”

Danielle Scolpino, Women’s Basketball - “I don’t think Division 1 athletes should be paid a salary, because athletes who go Division 1 already have a lot going for them. They are allowed to go to college for free, and they get many extra expenses like food, hotels, and apparel. I think this would ruin the name of Division 1. “ Mitchell Candalet, Men’s Soccer- “I believe that the student athletes shouldn’t get paid, but they should get a certain percent of the sales from their jerseys or apparel.”

Sarah Currie, Women’s XC, “ I don’t think that they should be getting paid because then school’s with more money will get the better players and athletes won’t pick a school based on the education it offers.”

Jeff Puleri, Men’s Baseball Coach- “They shouldn’t be paid, not because they don’t deserve to be but in the current format of the NCA there is no way that they could be paid. Where do you draw the line and pay one athlete and not pay another? Without a major structural change in the NCAA I don’t see this happening.”

Erin McNulty, Women’s Soccer- “I don’t think that the athletes should be paid a salary, but I do think that they should receive better medical care for injuries.”

Lucy Tremblay, Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Bard College – “I think that athletes getting wages would take away from the love of the sport, in college in my opinion you play something because you love it and you have a passion, turning it into a job would take a lot away from the game.”

Anthony Barbosa, Men’s Basketball- “Yeah they should because they are bringing millions of dollars to the school and they don’t have time to work.”

John Jones, Men’s Basketball- “I just don’t think they should get paid. They are already getting a free education.

If that’s the case it shouldn’t be the NBA.” Deborah Raber, Women’s Soccer Coach- “I do believe compensation packages is a pandora’s box for athletics program. If they fund one program they need to fund all... budgetary nightmare. It’s a big misconception that most DI football and basketball programs are revenue generating sports. The reality is most lose money.”

Paul Maurice, Men’s Basketball- “If they are paid, they should be able to accpet money [from sponsors and apperances] then too.

Four MCLA players make All-MASCAC teams Sophomore pitcher Rachel Quackenbush was named to the first team All-MASCAC team on Wednesday. Quackenbush led the conference with 174 strikeouts. Michaela DiNicola was named to the second team All-MASCAC. The

sophomore outfielder finished the season with an impressive .338 batting average.

The MCLA baseball team also landed two players on the All-MASCAC teams. Junior Rory Slatterly was named to the All-MASCAC second

team. The infielder/pitcher finished the season with a .301 batting average. He was joined on the team by fellow junior Chase Preite, who finished third in the conference with a .403 batting average.

B4

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Arts & Entertainment

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Rock the Block returns

The Advanced Performing Arts Management Class presents a fresh update of the popular street festival

By Shannen Adamites

Arts & Entertainment Editor Main Street will be closed from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. this Sunday as a citywide festival with vendors, concerts, and endless creativity line the street.

Rock the Block 2.0, a revitalization of Spring 2012’s highly successful block party presented by the Advanced Performing Arts Management (APAM) Class, brings an entire day’s worth of art, music, and culture to Main Street, bridging the gap between the campus creative community, and the Berkshire County Art scene.

Local and student artists will present and distribute their works in various booths.

Headlining this year is the renowned electronic dance music (EDM) duo, Barely Alive, hailing from Berkshire County. “Back porch bluegrass” band, Down County, ska/punk group Rebel Alliance, garage punk act, Hill Haints, and progressive metal band, Declarations will also play sets throughout the day.

Several student/alumni performers will take the stage as well, including electronic performances from DJ iamsam and DJ Elixer, and poetry readings from senior Christopher Hantman, sophomore Alex “The Poet” Hicks-

Courant, and alumna access the Jessica Sweeney. various venAmong the many dors and acvendors and activities, tivities comDesperados will feafortably. ture a burrito bar, and “Everyone I Got Goodies will hold [in the class] a chocolate dipping stawas differtion. Junior Lily O’Neil ent and has will sell her homemade their own bracelets and art, and strengths,” senior Ben Mancino Wr i g h t will sell prints of his said. “But photography. in order to Student organizations achieve evare also planning to erything, partake in the festiviwe had to ties. The Student Activtouch on all ities Council (SAC) and aspects of Student Government putting on a Association (SGA) are show of this teaming together to size. People establish a tie-dyeing got to work station. The Queer Stuon their dent Union (QSU) will weaknesses have a booth distributso they can ing pins and buttons, learn differPhoto from BCRC Flickr and The Allegrettos ent things, DEBO Band headlines at Rock the Block in Spring 2012 will have a station set up and not limit for musical chairs. themselves in layout the festival. Though she said Marketing and Finance Direc- she was mainly in charge of bud- order to get a well-rounded pertor, Cecilia Wright, said, “I’m ex- geting and spreading the word, all spective of everything going on.” cited about it. I’m coming to that students in the class participated Under the guidance of Berkrealization that everything we in organizing the show in such a shire Cultural Resource Center worked on is coming together.” way that bands playing on differ- (BCRC) Director Jonathan Secor, After an entire semester’s worth ent stages would not overlap their the APAM class worked diligently of planning, Wright said that it’s sounds, and that patrons would and independently for most of the been a challenge to program and be able to easily participate and semester.

“Working with Jonathan was great,” Wright said. “He let us take the lead but gave us advice and support when we needed it most in order to keep us on the right track.”

Despite the forecast calling for rain, Wright ensures that the event will still go on as planned.

“We’re thinking up of possible plans to do just in case the weather isn’t great,” she said.

Who’s playing at Rock the Block 2.0!

Barely Alive Down Country Rebel Alliance Hill Haints DJ Elixer DJ iamsam Declarations

With other performances by

Harlequin Jessica Sweeney Chistopher Hantman Alex “The Poet” HicksCourant and many more!

Seniors display imaginative pieces at G51

By Rachel Fitterman

Arts & Entertainment Writer The senior art show “Elemental Connections,” which features the thesis work of graduating art majors, opened last week with a diverse and imaginative range of pieces.

Stephanie VanBramer’s mixed media paintings aim to mix words and images to create “pieces of stories the viewer can lose themselves in.” VanBramer’s canvases are visually stunning—her work is bold and evocative, both accusing readers directly and allowing them to create their own stories within the work. “Truth Called You Out,” asserts a piece of the same title, the bold statement sprawled across the canvas.

In “Don’t Hold Your Breath” and “Sometimes,” similarly accusatory messages frame classic-style portraits of cartoony faces, pointed but vague enough to let the viewer make up their own mind on their meanings.

In contrast, Marli LaGrone’s study of movement through letterpresses and collage is wispy and delicate, with “Butterflies,” which features tiny, brightly colored paper butterflies dancing across a starkly gray smeared backdrop, being the most hauntingly poetic. Like VanBramer, LaGrone incorporates words into her work, but in a definitively quieter way. “Particle Physics”

features fluid, abstract strokes beneath a lengthy poem in modest font. Though it featured the least explicitly obvious movement, “Annuals” was a collage that captured a specific moment in time— a couple backed by fresh blooms, the same paper butterflies covering their eyes censor-style, allowing for an overall cohesive feeling to LaGrone’s work.

Narrowly thematic collections are also prevalent in this year’s show, with studies in fire, fish, and birch trees by William Raymond, Georgia Costigan, and Jessica Wheeler, respectively. Wheeler’s work, inspired by Impressionist paintings, is a surreal mix of Monet and Ansel Adams.

Though the paintings all feature birch trunks and branches, each one managse to be hauntingly unique. Raymond, on the other hand, creates a different scenario on each of his canvases, imagining worlds within flames. His best work is “Camper’s Flame,” an ethereal piece littered with night stars against a warmly lit bonfire.

Similarly immersive are Costigan’s underwater paintings of fictional fish, developed from memories, images, and imagination, as she explains. Her piece “Within the Current” spans three canvases, allowing the viewer a truly aquarium-like experience.

Kayleigh Brand’s work differs significantly from the rest, featuring character studies and concept

Photo by Amy Modesti/The Beacon

Stephanie VanBramer stands by her artwork. Elemental Connections remains on display until May 25. art for her graphic novel “Chil- without being overbearing. “Ty- figure for a sad-eyed goat draped dren of the Swells.” Inspired by ler” is a standout—the combina- in the traditional blue veil. “The Selkie mythology, each character tion of the subject’s beard and King’s Feast” is similarly suggesis visually distinctive in personal- a thick-trunked tree that seems tive, where a lamb wields fork and ity and lifelike. almost to grow out it make it an knife in an almost violent manner.

An intimate study of human-ar- exemplary piece of the study.

“Markhor at the Sea” features the tistic relationships, Aria Hatfield’s Yet the star of the show by far Cancer sign’s crab brought to life, series of watercolor and ink por- is Justine Curly, whose work re- symbolic of the satirical nature of traits are beautiful and insightful. invents traditional zodiac sym- Curly’s work, which, as it stands, The emotional and inviting faces bols into eerie, statement-making creates a world of murky images are each paired with a defining paintings. Most prominent is “The balanced expertly with a healthy image with enough subtlety to Madonna,” a classically staged dose of humor. explore the subject’s personality painting that trades the religious

Arts & Entertainment

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Beacon.MCLA.edu

B5

Final installment of ‘Rose’ to premiere tonight

By Raanan Sarid-Segal

Arts & Entertainment Writer “The Chronicles of the Rose” is returning for its latest episode tongiht at 6 p.m. The show, part of “MCLA Presents! Inaugural Puppet Fest!,” tells the continued story of Rose Valland, a real life curator at the Jeu de Paume Museum in Paris under Nazi reign and occupation.

David Lane, the writer and director of the play, has put the show together keeping in mind the relative obscurity of the central story, but his interests lie more in creating an interesting experience than in telling a simple story.

“The show is a table-top puppet show that explores the time of occupied Paris during World War Two,” said Lane, in an interview over the phone. “But I am more interested in creating a theater of images than telling a serialized story.”

The play promises to be accessible to new viewers, given this emphasis on imagery over continuing storyline. However, the show will feature a review of the

Photo from BCRC Flickr

The final installment of “The Chronicles of Rose” premieres tonight at 6:00 p.m. at 107 Main. events which preceded this epiIn addition to trying to be invitsode, allowing newcomers the ing, this episode also promises easiest possible entry into the per- to pay off some of the storyline formance. threads which have been set up in

previous shows.

The play deals with issues which plagued the past, and the echoes of which continue to be felt. Its subject is the Nazis’ censorship, destruction and hoarding of the great pieces of western art, the pieces that it felt best exemplified the power of European history.

Rose Vallard, the real curator, had to deal with the ways in which the Nazis would ransack Paris to get their hands on art which they deemed valuable, and how all the other pieces were in danger of being destroyed.

“The Nazi art policies have been in the news recently,” said Lane.

“The German government recently found a whole warehouse full of confiscated art that the Nazis had stored for use in their planned great museum.

“We think of World War Two as being in the past, but it is intertwined with modern life more than we realize,” he continued.

“That period of history continues to affect us, especially concerning our politics – the issues that currently exist in the Middle East, our reactions to news of genocides, so

much about how we think now is related to that time.”

The show promises to be an interesting experience, especially given its use of puppets (a traditionally dismissed medium). It will tell a story of defiance and courage in the face of oppression.

The show may be of interest to fans of the form for that reason alone.

The Chronicles of Rose Tonight, 6:00 p.m.

107 Main Street North Adams Puppet Gallery

The Directing Class presents

“Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind” 30 Plays in 60 Minutes!

Fast-paced, interactive performances

SAC amps up school spirit with pageant

By Nicole L’Etoile

Special to The Beacon The Student Activities Council (SAC) will hold a pageant for Mr. and Miss MCLA in the Quad at 3 p.m, Saturday.

This event has not happened since 2012, when only a Mr. MCLA was chosen for that year.

“We have so many different clubs, sports teams, and organizations and we wanted to bring them all together in one event,” said SAC President Allison Conlon. “We would love to have the clubs be closer with each other and this event could help that.”

The point of the event is to promote school spirit and bring the MCLA community together in a way where students can support each other and have a good time. Applications to run for Mr. or Miss MCLA were due on April 10, and everyone on campus was eligible.

“There was not really a specific criteria for this event; we really wanted it to be open to every single person on this campus,” Conlon said. “Everyone who is helping out with this event really loves MCLA and we want the participants to feel the same way we feel about the school.”

A total of eight students will participate in the event: four male and four female.

The participants all went through an application process where they gave information such as what being a student of the College means to them and what people should know about the College.

They then went through an interview process where participants were chosen.

“The biggest reason that I am participating is that this position represents school spirit, and that is something I feel like I embody,” said participant Chris Cozzaglio. “I may not be able to attend all the events we have, but I attend as many as I can.”

According to Conlon, a fun thing about the event this year is that the two most recent winners, Jake Conway and Marcelle Bastille, will be brought back to crown the new Mr. and Miss MCLA. Conway won the title of Mr. MCLA in 2012, and Bastille won the title of Miss MCLA in 2008.

The winners of Mr. and Miss MCLA will hold the title until the next time that the event happens.

“I enjoy school spirit events, and I’m sure this experience is going to be a fun one,” said participant Stacy Fisher. “I hope that the campus can come together and celebrate some of the things that we love about MCLA.” The rain location for the event is in Venable Gym. The event is free and open to the public.

The Black Box Venable Tonight at 11:00 p.m.

Tomorrow at 11:00 p.m.

Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.

Downstreet Art receives $10,000 grant

The College has announced that its Berkshire Cultural Resource Center (BCRC) initiation, DownStreet Art, was awarded a $10,000 NEA Art Works grant by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

The funding, for this year’s DownStreet Art effort, will be used to increase marketing efforts, revive the mural project, and to support the DownStreet Art Associate Gallery Manager Program and DownStreet Art Thursdays.

NEA Acting Chairman Joan Shigekawa said, “The NEA is pleased to announce that DownStreet Art 2014 is recommended for an NEA Art Works grant. These NEA-supported projects will not only have a positive impact on local economies, but will also provide opportunities for people of all ages to participate in the arts, help our communities to become more vibrant, and support our nation’s artists as they contribute to our cultural landscape.”

“Receiving funding from the National Endowment for the Arts’ ‘Art Works’ program validates in a very public way the hard work that so many are doing to revitalize DownStreet North Adams, utilizing the creative economy and the arts as a tool,” said BCRC Director Jonathan Secor.

“We are looking forward to a great summer of pop-up galleries, new large-scale murals, over three dozen exhibitions, and of course DownStreet Art Thursdays, the last Thursday of every month,” Secor said.

According to the NEA, Art Works grants support the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and enhancement of the livability of communities through the arts.

The NEA received 1,515 eligible applications under the Art Works category, requesting more than $76 million in funding. Of those applications, 886 are recommended for grants for a total of $25.8 million.

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Features

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Beacon.MCLA.edu

The roles of Admission Ambassadors on campus

By Nicole L’Etoile Staff Writer

Admissions Ambassadors fill an important role in attracting students to the College because they are often the first people to leave a lasting impression on the prospective students, according to Admissions officials.

With a staff of 26 Admissions Ambassadors and campus tours offered each day at 11a.m. and 2 p.m., there is a lot of work that goes into coordinating the Ambassadors to match the needs of prospective students, according to Admissions Counselor Kayla Hollins and Director of Admissions Gina Puc. “As long as I’ve been at MCLA, either as staff or a student, we’ve had [Admissions Ambassadors]. Probably for decades,” Puc said. “The Ambassadors are very important because they are the first student contact that prospective students experience.”

Admissions Ambassadors take prospective students on campus tours and answer questions from students and parents. Ambassadors are matched up with prospective students based on their majors and their interests so that they are able to shed the best light on the programs on campus.

Campus tours take prospective students around the entire campus, bringing them into the residence halls, library, and academic buildings. Typically, there are less than ten prospective students on each tour.

“A current student’s opinion has more weight to prospective students when looking at schools,” Hollins said. The Ambassadors also typically follow up with those visitors to make sure that all of their questions have been answered.

“The more times a student comes to the campus, the more likely they are to come here,” Puc said. “For some students, it’s meeting the student that has the same interest as them.”

All students can apply to be an Admissions Ambassador, and the first step to starting this process is to become a volunteer ambassador, according to Hollins. Students can volunteer to be an ambassador through sophomore student and Volunteer Coordinator Lucas McDiarmid, and they can later interview and be hired for a paid position.

“I work with the Admissions Volunteers to ensure that we utilize them to best suit the event of the day,” McDiarmid said. “Oftentimes that means choosing appropriate locations and jobs for certain people.”

According to McDiarmid, he acts as the liaison between the Ambassadors, the Admissions staff, and the volunteers.

“Volunteering is definitely the best first step for anyone with an interest in being an Ambassador because it gives individuals a foot in the door and a chance to see how things in Admissions work,” McDiarmid said.

Ambassadors need to be passionate about the College and have a good campus record, as well as be well-rounded and have a good amount of knowledge about all things on the campus.

Photo courtesy of Ben Mancino

Lucas McDiarmid, second from right, stops his tour at Venable Gym so interested students can see what the College has to offer during Spring Fest.

“As for my own experiences, I have loved being an Ambassador,” McDiarmid said. “I had a freshman this year come up to me and say ‘Hey you’re Luke right? You spoke so highly of MCLA and the Political Science program that you’re the reason I chose MCLA!’” According to Puc and Hollins, Admissions Ambassadors do a lot of good things for the College and the recruitment of new students to the campus.

“We want [prospective students] to interact with good representative students,” Hollins said.

Raskin to retire from teaching in English Department

By Jenna O’Connor Staff Writer

After teaching for over 10 years at the College, Annie Raskin, part-time professor in the English/Communications department, is retiring.

Raskin has been teaching at the College since 2002, and earned her Bachelor’s at Skidmore College in 1990, and her doctorate at SUNY Albany in 2004.

Over the years, Raskin has taught a plethora of courses, including Introduction to Literature, Introduction to Women’s Studies, Reading the Graphic Novel, and 19th Century Women American Regionalist Writers.

“One of the things that I’m most grateful for, and will miss, [are the] three courses that I put together. Which is unusual for a part-time professor,” she said. “I developed a course—[English/Communications Professor] David Langston actually encouraged me—because the department needed more human heritage core courses, and he was very kind and led me through the preparations for what the core courses were looking for.”

Regarding her favorite courses to teach, she said, “It’s a toss-up between the 19th century course, and the three times I taught Introduction to Women’s Studies. I loved teaching that because so many students—bright, young women—still don’t realize that gender and sexual behavior are socially constructed. I’ve had a wonderful time with the students in those classes. As a woman teacher it just felt so good.”

In her life, Raskin has been a psychiatric nurse for more than 15 years, was involved with a catering business, and owned an antique business. She finally decided that she was going to be a professor after she heard a very inspirational lecture at her local library from a professor of Jewish Studies.

“I was terrified to teach, I didn’t think I could do it,” she said. “A former colleague of mine—who was 20 years younger than me— said, ‘stop thinking about what you think and look at them [the students] and wonder what they’re thinking,’ which helped me.”

After this bit of telling advice, Raskin was able to link her teaching construction to her old profession of psychiatric nursing— she decided to draw it to group therapy. “I

know how to do that [group therapy]! So that was my construct—not to assume that the students needed therapy—but to get a group to share and to know each other within the classroom.”

“I have felt from day one respected by the department,” she said. “The faculty and the department have always made me feel comfortable. The chance to construct my own courses is a real privilege—to not have any guidelines. I’ve just always felt comfortable constructing my own courses.”

After retiring, Raskin plans to volunteer at the Bennington Homeless Coalition, spend more time with her 95-year-old mother who resides in Maine, and her daughter who lives in Brooklyn, NY. She also plans on looking into the M.F.A. program at Bennington College.

“One of the first things I want to do, though, is have the time to pull together the manuscript that I’ve been working on for three years,” she said. “I’ve been writing poetry for a long time.”

Students have made clear that her presence will be sorely missed, and her influence has driven and encouraged students

Photo by Jenna O’Connor/The Beacon

After retiring, Raskin plans to volunteer at the Bennington Homeless Coalition. to succeed in their studies and to pursue their own aspirations.

“Having Raskin as a professor was inspiring and motivated me as a reader, writer, and future teacher,” sophomore Alex HicksCourant said. “She has never been anything less than a fantastic presence to be around, and the school will suffer a tragedy to lose her wisdom and energy.”

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Thursday, May 1, 2014

Beacon.MCLA.edu

B7

Lefebvre is a friendly presence in Mark Hopkins

By Harmony Birch

Special to The Beacon “Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘I don’t like this man. I must get to know him better,’ and then you’re less likely to dislike the person because you know the person,” Kyle Lefebvre said.

Kyle, a maintainer who operates primarily in Mark Hopkins, lives by this quote.

He sits in the honors lounge, his hands clasped together between his knees, swinging his legs back and forth, with a sweet sideways smile and a blush that saunters up along his cheeks.

He’s called a maintenance man, but refers to himself as a janitor.

A janitor is a person who keeps “the premises of a building (as an apartment or office) clean, tends the heating system, and makes minor repairs,” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, while the word maintenance is defined by dictionary. com as “care or upkeep, as of machinery or property.”

“It’s pretty much a fancy name for a janitor, if you ask me,” Kyle said, peering out through his one eye. “We’re here to make sure you guys are safe.”

Before working at the College, Kyle was a housekeeper. He is 50 years old and grew up with the term janitor; using it seems quite natural to him.

However, not everyone feels that way.

“I think maintenance worker is a better

term instead of saying a janitor,” freshman sociology major Vanessa Ageno said. “Janitor just sounds negative.”

Ageno isn’t the only person who feels as though the word janitor carries negative connotations. A paper called “Normalizing Dirty Work: Managerial Tactics for Countering Occupational Taint,” interviewed managers from 18 “dirty work” professions, including janitorial work. The research found that name changes, such as from janitor to maintainer, are employer’s efforts at keeping workers happy and stigma free.

Regardless of job labels, however, faculty and students are grateful for Kyle’s presence on campus. English/Communications professor Jim Niedbalski enjoys roaming the halls with Kyle.

“Often Kyle will come in here and say ‘what’s that,’ ‘what’s this word mean’ or ‘what’s that expression that they say,’” Niedbalski says, smiling slightly as he reenacts some of Kyle’s mannerisms. “He’s actually someone who cares about some of the things I care about in terms of language and what words mean; he’s an intelligent guy and he actually likes to understand things.”

He also appreciates Kyle’s work as a maintainer.

“Kyle is incredibly helpful and will always respond if I have any questions regarding his role as a maintenance worker,” he says. “He’s glad to help me do things like get a step ladder and tape page one of The

Beacon on the wall, always willing to take my recycling, and so forth. He’s just a very helpful person and it’s clear that he takes his job seriously.”

Kyle is a college staple, often seen walking the halls of Mark Hopkins. He’s lived in North Adams, and a bit in Williamstown, his entire life. He has watched the College evolve.

“I was here when they built the Campus Center, when they built the quad, I can remember when where the townhouses are was all trailer park,” he says, pointing towards the townhouses and nodding his head.

He remembers when Berkshire Towers was built.

In elementary school, Kyle attended the Normal Practice School, now known as Mark Hopkins. He remembers being in the basement in kindergarten, where his gym classes were held, and having to leave school early because a construction worker fell off the seventh floor of A Tower and died.

In a place like North Adams where the economy relies on healthcare and education and the unemployment rate was last recorded to be 10.3 percent, Kyle does well for himself and takes pride in his work.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average median pay for a janitor in 2012 was $22,320. In 2009 a census reported that the median household income in North Adams was $35,020.

Like all full time maintenance workers

Book Club gets SGA approval

By Chunyu “Judy” Leng Staff Writer

English majors are notorious readers, or so they say. It’s not often that their work load allows time for recreational reading. Freshman Diana Faulkner wanted a way to share her passion for reading with others on campus outside of the classroom, thus the idea for a campus Book Club was born.

Book Club became an official club last month. The group will begin meeting when classes resume in the fall, but they have already created an online fundraiser to help raise money for books.

“I think it’s tough for a lot of college students to find time to read for personal enjoyment, because many become overwhelmed with class readings,” Faulkner said. As President of Book Club, she hopes the club will provide students with a cause to read for fun.

Members of Book Club will read about one book every six weeks, and meet each week for group discussions. Book genres will range from classics, mysteries, thrillers, and romance, among many others.

Kathryn Donnelly, freshman and Vice President of the club, believes this club is a great way for student to read books they have never read before, as well as give students the chance to experience new genres and titles which they may not have heard of previously.

Neither Faulkner nor Donnelly had a book club in high school, but they both agree that this may be part of the reason they were inspired to start one in college. For them, it’s something they have

Photo by Nick Arena/The Beacon

Faculty and students are grateful for Kyle’s presence on campus. working for the College, Kyle is unionized.

All of the College’s full time employees are required to join a union under the agreement between the Board of Higher Education and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Kyle says there are pros and cons of working under a union contract.

“Being in a union definitely has its advantages, because if you work for someone who just wants to be prejudiced towards you because they just don’t like you, they cannot get rid of you,” he explains. “That’s one good thing about a union, but the bad part is, if there’re people that don’t really want to work, they can get away with murder. It goes both ways.”

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Photo by Kayla Degnan/The Beacon

Book Club is a new club on campus. always wanted to be a part of but never had the chance.

“Book Club is going to be a great addition to MCLA,” Lauren Levite, a freshman who majors in English, said. “It’s important to create a space where students can make the time to read for fun instead of as a project for their classes, and this club will create that outlet.”

When it came time to choose an advisor for the club, Donnelly suggested English Instructor Lucinda Bradley as the perfect fit. “Somebody who can teach literature with a passion is somebody who should be advising a book club,” Donnelly said. At the College, Bradley teaches the course, “Children’s Literature: A Lively Art.” Along with reading books each semester, the club plans to hold events for the campus community. “We were considering trying to find somebody who’s selfpublished to talk to us about their book after we read it, provided we read a self-published book,” Don-

nelly said.

The group may also hold a movie night for books adapted into movies. Such films are becoming more and more popular, although there is a unique experience with each storyline being portrayed.

“The difference between books and movies is that books can create a world in your own mind,” Bradley said. “It is a vivid world where you can see and know the characters better and form your own conclusion, which could be very hard for a movie.”

In the future of this book club, Bradley hopes students in this club will be able to discover things by themselves through discussions. “I hope they can look at themselves more deeply, have a good interaction and about express exactly how they think.”

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Book Club’s online fundraiser should visit Indiegogo. com and search for “MCLA Book Club Funding.”

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Photo Essay

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Student Activities council’s Spring Fest SAC Celebrates the Planting Season Photos by Richard Larocque

Junior Michael McCalaster receives a stick of cotton candy from Sophomore Alex Lopez.

Sophomore Katie Glaubitz, left, and Junior Kayla Degnan, right, make colorful sand art.

Sophomore Kassie Jernegan rides the rodeo shark. The ride fit SAC’s Shark Week theme perfectly.

Senior Thamar Jean-Fedestin gets her custom airbrushed backpack after waiting in a long line of students.

Sophmope Allison Pevay, left, and Junior Natalie Shea, right, enjoy sno-cones in Venable Gym.

Junior Tyrhe Polite, picks out a cactus and receives some cactus care tips from the vendor.