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News
Volume 82 ◆ Issue 1
Th u r s d ay, F e b rua r y 4 , 2 0 1 6
Public Safety releases new alert app By Emily Gabert
Minimum Wage Increases Page 3
A&E
#BlackLivesMatter exhibit opens at G51 Page 6
Sports
National Women in Sports Day Page 10
Op-Ed
Should youths recieve parole? Page 4
Campus Life
5 things to expect at the beginning of a new semester Page 8
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News 2-4 Features 5 Arts & Entertainment 6-7 Sports 8-9 Campus Comment 10 Local Events 11 Photo Essay 12
Aside from the timer and guardian features of the application, students can dial 911 from the application. Tips can also be sent to Public Safety through this program, allowing for a twoway communication between the tipper and officials. All tippers are kept anonymous, unless they say otherwise. Only then will the phone number be revealed to Public Safety. Users are never watched when using the application. Only a snapshot of the location will be captured when the user contacts emergency officials. This application is not unique to MCLA. It is a third party and has became active on other college campuses. The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, also known as RPI, has been said to use the application, along with Springfield College, and even Utica College. Feedback shown on the iTunes app store has been positive from these campuses.
Staff Writer MCLA’s Public Safety has rolled out a new smartphone application intended to help improve campus safety. After a year of planning and developing, “The Rave Guardian” app has been released. “As we grow in our technology and start to see these smartphones and what not, it’s a logical step to take,” said Director of Public Safety Daniel Colonno. This app is available for any member of the college community with an MCLA email address. Upon installing this program, users are asked to set up a profile with an up-to-date picture and include information about themselves that may be pertinent for emergency officials to know if they are unable to communicate. The data in these profiles will only be available to the College’s campus police when sending a tip, making a call, or when the timer expires if one has Public Safety set up as their “guardian.” Photo by Domonique Ackley/The Beacon “I think if the majority of the Guardians are self chosen from one’s Public Safety unveils new “Rave Guardian” app. campus has this application and contact list. It can be any trusted uses this, ” commented Catherine more comfortable walking.” individual that will be notified if a Holbrook, vice president of Student Affairs, “it Students can call Public Safety directly from student has not turned off the timer within a will have a positive impact on campus.” chosen time frame. An individual can set up the application, rather than just dialing the So far at MCLA, there has been no student the timer for however long it should take them department’s number, making for a much feedback. Before being released, the application to get from one area of campus to another, or quicker process. GPS coordinates are then was tested by the college’s Resident Directors even when they’re walking back to campus used to get an approximate location of where and Resident Advisers in each residence area. the user is located so emergency officials can after a trip into town. The feedback from them was positive. “I don’t use it,” said freshman Skiler Lillie, make their way to anyone in need. Providing “This is a portable blue light, on your person,” “but it seems useful and it makes people [feel] a picture in the profile makes it easier for Colonno stated. “It’s everywhere you go.” officials to identify people.
New software allows advisers to track your Canvas data By Harmony Birch
Co-Editor-in-Chief Last Semester all incoming freshmen were subjects of a new faculty study that synthesizes Canvas data and gives faculty a grade, predicting whether or not individual students will drop their class. The study is ongoing this semester and was to test the usage of a software called Dropout Detective after the college was given a $40,000 grant by the Davis Educational Foundation to implement the software. Dropout Detective collects real time data and reports the students’ likelihood of succeeding in a class based off of their Canvas usage. The software is part of a larger program at MCLA called “Blazing a Trail for Student Success” that is aimed at improving student and adviser relationships to increase retention rates. Last semester, the software was given to 16 First Year Experience (FYE) courses to test its prediction accuracy. Out of those 16 courses, data was only usable from 10. In order for the software to be effective, a course must use Canvas consistently and to its full extent, including attendance, grades and assignments. For the 10 courses that were usable, the Dropout Detective’s scores predicted the likelihood of
a student succeeding in the course, and even correlated the likelihood that a student would return to MCLA for the Spring semester. The goal is to start using Dropout Detective on a larger advising scale. All of the professors who used the software for their classes already have the information collected by Dropout Detective, the student’s attendance, their Canvas use and when they turn in assignments. Advisers normally do not have access to that information, and must rely on
students and other faculty to figure out how well the students are doing in their courses. This semester students from those original FYE courses are still being tracked by their advisers with Dropout Detective. Advisers for the students participating in the study can see every time a student logs in to Canvas, attends a class, or turns in an assignment. All of these factors go into making one combined score for all of the students’ classes and their likelihood of dropping out of school. Currently, it is up to individual faculty preference to inform students of their role in the study, and of the existence of Dropout Detective. Professor Jenna Sciuto used the software for one of her FYE courses and will now be able to use it as an adviser this semester. “I don’t think we do [have to inform students] for the course because we already have all of that information, but I do think once we get into the advising, we’ll have to let students know because that’s new,” Sciuto said. Her experience with the software so far has been positive. Drop Out Detective Continued on page 2
Photo courtesy of AspireEDU/ Aspireedu.com
Drop Out Detective grades a students likelihood ofdropping out of college.
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Thursday, February 4, 2016
Campus News
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Natural Resource Expert to give lecture By Idalis Foster
Senior News Editor The annual MCLA International Conflict Prevention and Resolution Speaker Series will kick off Monday with author and analyst David S. Abraham and his lecture entitled “The War over the Periodic Table.” The talk, to be held in Murdock Hall room 218 on Feb. 8, will touch on a set of elements that Abraham says few have heard of but many consume through electronic gadgets, and are important to armies. Abraham has a long standing career with experience in commodities training and overseeing international and natural resource programs in the White House. Through researching rare metal trade at Tokyo University, Japan’s
that the growing use of rare metals could have great e nv i ron m e nt a l , geopolitical and economic consequences has gained him recognition. “It’s hard with the limited funding we have to get somebody who’s kind of a big name doing some really cool stuff, but if you get that Courtesy of David S. Abraham’s Twitter (https://twitter.com/ local connection abrahadave) [it] really helps,” David Abraham is the author of “Elements David Cupery, of Power,” a book on rare metals and their assistant professor use in the sustainable future. of political science and public policy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Council on said. “Adam Hines, who spoke Foreign Relations, his argument in the series last year, suggested
him and we looked David up. He’s addressing stuff that’s not just issues of conflict; it connects to the environment, to the economy, to what’s going on here in the United States.” “The Elements of Power,” Abraham’s book on the discussion topic, is available for purchase on Amazon. He has also written multiple pieces for The New York Times, ranging from Congress’ decisions regarding natural resources to the possibility of the next resource shortage regarding rare earth metal. He also has articles in BloombergView, The Wall Street Journal, and The Atlantic. “Part of it is getting students to think more about their own choices and how interconnected the world is,” Cupery said. “The idea of the speaker series is to confront conflict and the war
in a way that taps into solutions and parts of it that students did not know just from watching the news or reading the newspaper.” Students interested in this discussion and looking to further their knowledge on the topic can take courses here, including Politics of Conflict with Cupery, which touches on non-violent protest and issues of power and oppression. Cupery emphasized that a liberal arts education encourages students to think across fields and that classes in sociology also play a big role in discussion of conflicts. Following the lecture, there will be a student session for those who would like to speak with Abraham one on one. For more information on Abraham and his work, go to his website: http:// www.davidsabraham.com/.
DROPOUT DETECTIVE, cont. from pg 1 “What I like about Dropout Detective is that it puts all the information together, then also keeps a record,” Sciuto said “If a student wasn’t attending [class], I could message them within Dropout Detective and there would be a record of when I contacted them, what I did, and what they said.” According to Professor Anne Goodwin, the record-keeping aspect is one of the strongest draws to the software. Goodwin is one of the founders of the “Blazing a Trail for Student Success” initiative. It was originally started to encourage the use of Canvas for advising, according to Goodwin. Goodwin works in the Biology department, the only one that universally uses Canvas for advising. The department has its own Canvas page with links to job and research opportunities,
course and grad program requirements, and other resources for students. Goodwin says that gathering the students’ information without their explicit consent or knowledge is legal. Faculty are able to discuss academic information involving students with each other, though this is limited departmentally. “The only reason I don’t [discuss information now] is because people aren’t submitting information [via Canvas] with our current, inefficient system,” Goodwin said. Dropout Detective gives information to students’ professors and advisers, as well as CSSE. Though there could be potential problems with using Dropout Detective for advising—Sciuto describes it as “a little creepy,” and “kind of like an overlord”—the
College is generally optimistic about the results, and willing to try the software out. “We need to be in a place where students graduate MCLA understanding issues of privacy and transparency. [They should] understand data analytics, how data is collected and used, and understand the ramification of these processes that are Above: Graphs depicting risk scores for students in comparison to control groups. Below: A screenshot from the Canvas program advising page which includes resources for invisible but everywhere,” Gerol courses and contacts for advisors and faculty. Petruzella, assistant director of Academic Technology, said. “A pilot like this is an opportunity for us to start having real conversations about technology literacy and what that means.”
Iowa caucas narrows down candidates By Idalis Foster
Senior News Editor After a close call, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton came out as the front runner in the Iowa caucus by only 0.3 percent while Republican candidate Ted Cruz took hold of a 3.3 percent lead over rival Donald Trump. Clinton barely beat rival Bernie Sanders but both candidates monopolized the vote, knocking Martin O’Malley, who only received 0.6 percent, out of the race. The Republican candidates remain largely split as well with Cruz, Trump and Marco Rubio taking the top three spots with a combined 75 percent of the caucus. But according to Tribune News Service, Cruz “showed the power of strongly voiced conservatism among Republican voters” and established his place as a
competitor with Trump. Similarly, Sanders, who has been underestimated for much of the race, is competing well with Clinton.
Tribune News Service credited the results, practically a tie, to the possibility that “half the voters disillusioned by Washington turned against the establishment
politician.” The next caucus will be in New Hampshire where there could be another close call for the Democrats. For the Republicans on the
other hand, Cruz may not be as lucky with his political views.
FINANCIAL AID ANNOUNCEMENT WELCOME BACK!! IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN!!! TIME TO REAPPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID FOR NEXT FALL! STOP BY THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE IN ELDRIDGE HALL TO PICK UP AN INFORMATIONAL PACKET IF YOU DIDN’T GET ONE ALREADY! DON’T FORGET THE MARCH 1ST PRIORITY REVIEW DEADLINE DATE!
Campus News
Thursday, February4, 2016
Beacon.MCLA.edu
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Minimum wage increases to $10 Massachusetts on multi-year plan to raise minimum wage further
By Idalis Foster
Senior News Editor The minimum wage across Massachusetts has risen to $10 per hour as of Jan. 1. As MCLA already had students at that pay level, any students making less than $10.00 were automatically brought up to that wage. According to Human Resource Manager Emily Bouplon, 2009 was the last time the federal minimum wage was changed, and states have since increased their minimums to account for “cost of living, cost of wages and desire for labor market competitiveness that [is] unique to their states.” This $1 increase is a large jump for any state and is higher than most of the states bordering Massachusetts, including New York, which only increased its minimum wage from $8.75 last year to
$9 this year. In all of New England, only three states saw an increase from 2015 to 2016, while the other three did not make a change. Of the three that saw increases, Massachusetts was the highest with a full dollar more, while Connecticut and Vermont rose their minimum wage by only 45 cents. New Hampshire remained at $7.25 and Maine at $7.50, with Rhode Island keeping their $9 minimum. Students are generally overjoyed by the increase in their hourly rates, particularly those who live in Massachusetts and have supported minimum wage increases in the past. Sophomore Falyn Smith works in the Multicultural Center for her work study and was happy to learn that Massachusetts had decided to make the change. How-
ever, she is also cautious about over celebrating the increase. “I’ll always be happy about an increase in minimum wage because $9 an hour is in no way
“$9 an hour is in no way sufficient to provide a livelihood” - Falyn Smith sufficient to provide a livelihood without having to sacrifice certain things,” Smith said. “That being said, $10 is still insufficient.” Smith expressed appreciation
Green Living Seminar kicks off with urban wildlife Susannah Lerman starts discussion of relationship between wildlife and people
By Torin Gannon Staff Writer
Finding a way for humans and animals to better coexist in the same space was what Susannah Lerman had come to the Fiegenbaum Center for Science and Innovation (CSI) to talk about. Her lecture, entitled “Improving Relations Between People and Urban Wildlife,” focused on three experiments conducted by Lerman for the US Forest Service over the past 15 years. Each experiment was done with the intent of seeing how suburban areas can better suit wildlife. “The majority of Americans live in these urban and suburban environments, and this is where they are having their primary interactions with the natural world,” Lerman said. “What we can think about is how [to] improve these conditions so people can have these meaningful experiences with wildlife.” Lerman’s experiments largely dealt with people’s yards. According to Lerman, many conservationists would like to see people do away with their manicured and mowed yards in favor of wild land. Lerman thinks there can be a “happy medium” between the two. “I’m really interested in how people interact with wildlife in their back yards,” Lerman said. In one experiment, she and her fellow scientists measured how lawn mowing affected the biodiversity of bees. Over a two year period, she and her team mowed 17 yards in Springfield, Mass. at varying times, and saw how it affected the honey bee population. Her team mowed so many yards
of the increase in her work study wage, especially since she, like many other students who receive work study awards, was not able to procure her position until later last semester. For students who have work study funds to make up from last semester, this could be the wage bump needed to avoid too many extra hours. Previously, students were paid one of three wages: $9, $9.50, or $10. The increase to $10 is one of a multi-year staggered approach, according to Bouplon. Sophomore Joseph Wiggins was pleased to hear of the increase in wage and appreciated being able to work less hours for the same amount of ending income with his busy schedule. “As long as I’m getting the money in the end, I’m fine with getting
over that time, it was the equivalent of walking from Springfield to Philadelphia and back. They discovered that if a person waited just two weeks to mow their lawn, it would greatly increase the biodiversity in their yard. Lerman encourages people to let themselves be lazy and, “mow less for more buzz” as she puts it. Another experiment she conducted, this time in Arizona, looked at how different types of yards affected bird population. In the area they visited, she noted there were two different types of yards. Lower income neighborhoods had lawns with plants that were not native to the area, where higher income neighborhoods had their yards modeled after the natural desert. The higher income neighborhoods saw a greater number of the area’s local birds. Lerman sees this as an environmental justice issue. “We’re finding this unequal access to nature. So for people who want to access [native species], it
becomes a privilege,” Lerman said. Room 121 in the CSI building was filled with students and faculty alike, all to hear Lerman’s presentation. Josh Reynolds, senior and a member of the Environuts, took a particular liking to the lecture. “I thought it was really interesting how she showed [the] good balance you can have between urban areas and nature,” Reynolds said. Lerman’s lecture was the first in the Green Living Seminar series. The theme this semester is “Living With Wildlife: Conflicts and Conservation.” Monty Chandler, the Massachusetts state director of United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and Wildlife Services will be presenting at the next lecture in the series, which will be held on Feb. 4.
more per hour,” Wiggins said. “Less hours for the same money just sounds better to me.” With the increase, students will have to reschedule their hours for this semester with the new hourly pay in mind. Since work study students are allocated a certain amount of funds per semester, the extra $1 could mean fewer working hours, so students should plan their budgets accordingly. “Students should keep in mind that they’re earning more this semester,” Bouplon said. In order to make their awards last, they should be mindful of the number of hours they are working per pay period.
MASSPIRG students release report on textbook prices PRESS RELEASE
North Adams, MA – This past Wednesday, MASSPIRG Students released a new report investigating the real impact of high textbook prices on today’s students. The report, titled “Covering the Cost,” is based on a nationwide survey of nearly 5,000 students, including 1316 from Massachusetts. Over the last decade, the price of college textbooks has soared. Since 2006, the cost of a college textbook increased by 73% - over four times the rate of inflation. Today, individual textbooks often cost over $200, sometimes as high as $400. That’s why, more than a decade ago, MASSPIRG launched its campaign for textbook affordability to call attention to high prices and to highlight potential solutions to the problem. However, no research to date — including our own — has attempted to investigate the degree at which prices actually affect student’s financial standing and behavior. This report aims to fill that gap, and make the case for urgent action around high textbook prices. According to the Report: Over one-quarter (25.21%) of students replied that they had used financial aid to pay for their textbooks. Nationally, this finding means that over 5.2 million students use financial aid to purchase their textbooks. For those that used financial aid, the amount of financial aid dollars they put toward purchasing textbooks was more than $349 on average per semester. Applied nationally, that means over $1.5 billion dollars in financial aid is spent on text-
books every semester. “College isn’t supposed to be easy, but while stress over finals makes sense I can’t understand why we as students need to feel the same amount of stress over paying for the books we’re studying from,” said Milena Casamassima MCLA Junior. “Everyone morally ought to be an advocate for open-source textbooks, their development, and their implementation” said Colby Harvish, MCLA Senior. Open-source textbooks are a path towards innovation [and] foster accessibility more than traditional textbooks ever have.” The report also demonstrates how high textbook prices cause unnecessary financial hardship on students, negatively impact their academic decisions, and have high opportunity cost. This new data means that high textbook prices are impactful enough to merit urgent, demonstrative action from policymakers on all levels to support alternatives to the traditional system of publishing. There is some good news, however. A solution that has the potential to save students billions already exists. Openly licensed textbooks are turning the traditional publishing model on its head. In direct contrast to traditional publishers, who strictly control every facet of access and use of their textbooks and materials, open textbooks are available for free online, are free to download, and are affordable in print.
For the full story, go to http:// www.theonlinebeacon.com/.
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Opinion & Editorial
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Editorial
The Beacon
Supreme Court ruling raises serious questions about parole, redemption Although juvenile killers shouldn’t be tried as adults, they shouldn’t be free to roam the streets, either. Last Monday the Supreme Court ruled that its 2012 decision banning mandatory life-withoutparole sentences for juvenile killers must be applied retroactively, according to an article published in The New York Times. Hundreds of inmates are currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole for murders committed in their youth. This decision will grant them a new chance at release. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, the court’s leading advocate in cutting back on death penalties, wrote the majority decision after the vote concluded at six to three. The ruling and opinion indicated that a sentencing of life without parole for juvenile offenders should be outstandingly rare, and that each individual’s circumstances should be examined before reaching this conclusion. Those who agree with Justice Kennedy say juvenile offend-
ers should be offered parole since some of their crimes reflected “transient immaturity” and they have since matured. Justice Kennedy also wrote, “[prisoners] must be given the opportunity to show their crime did not reflect irreparable corruption; and, if it did not, their hope for some years of life outside prison walls must be restored.” This means the opportunity for parole will be offered to prisoners on a “case-by-case basis” if the offender can prove their crime did not warrant life without parole. This reassessment is based on evidence and thorough examination of circumstances at the time. Some crimes are so heinous that it would seem redemption is impossible, and offenders, juvenile or adult, should be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Though some juveniles undoubtedly commit violent murders, some cases require a deeper investigation into their past. In the 2012 Supreme
Court case of Miller v. Alabama, 14-year-old Evan Miller was convicted of murder and sentenced to a mandatory term of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The online case file explains that Miller, along with a friend, beat his neighbor and set fire to the boy’s trailer after an evening of drug and alcohol abuse. The neighbor died as a result and while Miller was initially charged as a juvenile, his case was later moved to adult court. There, he was charged with murder in the course of arson. Once the jury found Miller guilty of the crime, the trial court imposed a legally mandated punishment of life without parole. The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed, ruling that Miller’s sentence was not overly harsh compared to his crime, and that its mandatory nature was permissible under the eighth amendment. The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution states: “Excessive bail shall not
be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” In 2003, at the time of his crime, Miller had been in and out of foster homes because his mother suffered from drug and alcohol addiction, and his stepfather was abusive. Miller also used drugs and alcohol regularly and had a history of four suicide attempts, his first at six years old. All of these factors, which should have been considered in his trial, were swept under the rug, so to speak. Many officials (such as Justice Kennedy) argue that Miller’s age, upbringing and maturity level may have been considerable factors in his crime. Though juveniles are often immature and coerced into making detrimental decisions, each crime is different and should be treated as so. Some murders are committed more brutally or deviously than others, and those cases should require even further examination of the offender’s history before considering parole.
“What did you do over break?”
The Beacon is published Thursdays during the academic year and is distributed free to the College’s community. The Beacon is funded by the Student Government Association, the English/Communications department, and ad revenues. Single copies are free, additional copies may be purchased at 50 cents each. Contact information: News desk number: 413-662-5535 Business number: 413-662-5404 Email: 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. 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. Letters must be signed by the writer and include a phone number. Letters may be dropped off at the office or emailed 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 emailed to Beacon@mcla.edu. Advertising Policy The Beacon reserves the right not to publish any advertisement it deems to be libelous, false. or in bad taste.
Editorial Board Co-Editors in Chief Gionna Nourse Harmony Birch Co-Web Editors Jake Mendel* Matt Aceto*
Sports Editor Jesse Collings A&E Editor Mitchell Chapman
Senior News Editor Idalis Foster Buisness Manager Sam Slocumbe
Copy Chief Brittany Gallacher Photography Editor Agnella Gross
Staff “I skied a lot over break. Worked too, but mostly skied.” -Austin Jones, 2017
“I traveled to Boston a lot to walk around the city and window shop. I also relaxed and spent time with my family.” -Clare O’Connor, 2018
“I spent time working at a nonprofit organization in my hometown (Boston) titled Teen Empowerment. It helped me think a lot about what I want to do with my life.” -Alaxaundria McIntosh, 2019
Staff Writers
Photographers and Videographers
Emily Gabert Torin Gannon Joseph Carew Jonathan Hoel Paige Pomerantz Tyler Bacon Isabel McKenzie Matt Aceto*
Elizabeth Quirk Domonique Ackley Shunquell Dennis Dan Wohler Natalia Reyes Cartoonist
Caitlin O’Neill*
Ad Representatives Adam Sams Jeff Orgeat Copy Editors Caitlin O’Neill* Lauren Levite Jake Mendel*
Advisers
Jenifer Augur Shawn McIntosh
*Holds more than one position
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“I relaxed and spent a lot of time with my boyfriend watching the Twilight Zone.”
“I worked and spent time with family. Along with seeing the new Star Wars, which was great!”
-Kassie Jernegan, 2016
-Alexander Stewart, 2018
“I worked, played a ton of music and partied.” -Joe O’Neil. 2016
“I traveled to Manhattan a lot and spent time at MoMA. I got to see the Picasso sculpture which was really neat.” -Julia Daly, 2017
Opinion&Editorial
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Beacon.MCLA.edu
5
Anticipated Albums of 2016
Compiled by Jonathan Hoel & Paige Pomerantz
Photo Courtesy of Isabel McKenzie
One of our columnists, Isabel McKenzie (right) joined by her friend (left) as they settle into the Disney College Internship Program.
With 2015 leaving listeners with impressive stacks of albums, the bar is set high for album releases in 2016. Fans of all genres are expected to be pleased subsequent to announcements from artists ranging from Kanye West to Bon Jovi to Explosions in the Sky. Records of note that have already been released this year are the late, great David Bowie’s ★ (Blackstar), Jesu / Sun Kill Moon, and Dream Theater’s The Astonishing.
Adventure is Out There...Working forMicky By Isabel McKenzie Columnist
I never thought I would be working for a mouse. This semester, I am blessed to be in Orlando, Florida, and participating in the Disney College Program (DCP), and of course, working for Mickey Mouse. The Disney College Program is any young person’s dream come true. If you love Disney, or even just love theme parks, meeting new people, and living in a new place, the DCP sounds too good to be true. And let me tell you from experience that it has already been the best two weeks of my life! I’ve eaten some amazing treats. Anything Mickeyshaped tastes amazing, from chocolate chip cookies, to cake pops, to ice cream sandwiches. If it’s got mouse ears, it’s got to be good! I’ve also already met people from all over the world, and walked until I’ve felt like my feet were falling off in every one of the parks. Every day, waking up is a new adventure.
According to the Disney Careers website, the DCP had its first class in 1981 and started with a mere 200 students from 20 schools working in the Magic Kingdom. The DCP has since expanded to include all four parks, as well as Disney resorts, and Disneyland as potential working areas, with international students and over 4,000 participants each term. The DCP centers on three main components of “living”, “learning” and “earning”, concepts I will continually be bringing up in this column. Week to week, I will be examining and highlighting different aspects of the DCP, and my own personal experience here at Disney. I will be working as a lifeguard at Disney AllStar Resorts and Blizzard Beach Waterpark! I hope to give my diligent readers an insight into my life here at Disney. Whether it makes you interested in the program, Disney, or just studying and traveling abroad on your own, I hope to inspire you to make your own dreams come true, as I am currently living mine!
Courtesy of Def Jam
Kanye West Previously Swish, now WAVES February 11 Kanye West tweeted to say that he was, “So happy to be finished with the best album of all time,” and shortly after altered the title from Swish to WAVES, via Twitter. If you are somehow unaware of the prolific, egocentric culture icon, WAVES is his seventh studio record. All of his albums have gone platinum, selling more than 1,000,000 units each. WAVES will feature contributions from both Kendrick Lamar and Sia.
Courtesy of Crush
Weezer Weezer (The White Album) April 1 On April Fool’s Day, Weezer will release their tenth album, colloquially referred to as The White Album. Weezer fans will be holding their breath for this one, as it comes after a series of arguably weak albums from the group. The band’s first two albums Weezer (The Blue Album) and Pinkerton are both regarded as classics by music critics and fans alike. We’ll see what reaction this album elicits from it’s listeners.
Courtesy of Nabil
James Blake Radio Silence James Blake’s third album, he reported in Esquire, will feature Kanye West and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, who he collaborated with before on his Enough Thunder EP. The album has no concrete release date, but it is predicted to drop in early-to-mid summer, based on the releases schedule for Polydor, his label.
Courtesy of Noah “40” Shebib
Brian DeGraw Animal Collective Painting With February 19 The neo-psychedelia continues with Animal Collective and their new album Painting With. The experimental pop band from Maryland is returning as a trio for their 10th studio record. The album was recorded in Paris with Arcade Fire’s Colin Stetson and the Velvet Underground’s John Cale. Photo from Tribune News Ser vice
Boys Don’t Cry Perhaps one of the most anticipated albums of all time, Frank Ocean has been working to his follow-up to Channel Orange for 4 years. Boys Don’t Cry will be his sophomore release, and consequent to missing all of the 2015 deadlines, it will, presumably, drop this year.
Drake Views From the 6 Drake had a very successful 2015. He had two mix tapes: his own, If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late, and a collaborative mix tape with Atlanta rapper Future, titled: What A Time To Be Alive. Now he’s releasing his fourth studio album, Views From the 6. Drake’s record has no official release date, but it is speculated to be coming out in either late February or early March.
Terry Richardson Frank Ocean
via Garth Jennings Radiohead TBA The announcement of a new Radiohead release is somewhat akin to what it must have been like hearing Jackson Pollock was working on a new painting. Radiohead’s albums have all been extremely critically acclaimed, as well as huge financial successes. This will be their ninth album, the first since 2011’s The King of Limbs. Its release date is as of yet unannounced, but it looms ever closer, and the excitement builds. Check out an extended list of 2016 releases on theonlinebeacon. com
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Thursday, February 4, 2016
Arts & Entertainment
Beacon.MCLA.edu
North Adams wins Fall 2016 Levitt Amp Music Series A series of 10 free concerts will be held in a renovated Colegrove Park next fall
By Mitchell Chapman
Joseph Thompson said in a statement shortly after the Grant’s announcement. The Levitt Amp Music Series will join MoCA’s June Solid Sound Festival and September Life is scheduled to return to Colegrove FreshGrass Bluegrass festival as a major Park every Sunday between August 14 and musical presence in town, though it will run October 16 later this year, and without a significantly longer than either (10 weeks) dime of admission required to join in on and will be free and open to the public. the madness. The city of North Adams “We’re considering a wide range of artists, has been selected as one of 15 Levitt some of which have performed in North Amp Grant recipients to host 10 weeks of Adams before through programs like MCLA free music in the soon-to-be-renovated Presents! & DownStreet Art,” Michelle Colegrove Park. Daly, MCLA Berkshire Cultural Resource “We are thrilled to announce the 2016 Center Program Coordinator, said. “We’re Levitt AMP Grant Awards winners,” said also looking at different ways to include the Sharon Yazowski, executive director of the Levitt Foundation, in a press release Photo from MCLA community in the selection process. We’re last month. “As North Adams’ new main Colegrove Park will see major renovations this coming Spring and Summer to in the very early stages of planning this series, and don’t have specific bands booked public park, the soon-to-be re-launched accommodate the concert series, which will start in August. yet. There isn’t a theme (except awesome Colegrove Park will be an ideal setting for the Levitt AMP North Adams Music its small size, North Adams received the the hashtag #LevittAmpNA was created to free music). The requirements of the grant Series, bringing the community together second most votes, only behind Sheboygan, generate awareness about North Adams’s specify we program a diverse music series, and creating a welcoming destination for all Wisconsin, which has a population of about application. MCLA was part of a coalition so expect to see a wide variety of genres and 49,000 (last measured in 2010). that included the City of North Adams, the artists both local, regional and national.” to enjoy.” Although Levitt Pavilions, the organization Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, According to Daly, the city of North Throughout the voting process, which responsible for the grants, has not released MASS MoCA, and the North Adams and Adams will be readying the park for the lasted roughly a month (November 2-30 of 2015), rankings of all entrees were available the exact metrics of the votes, it is very Williamstown Chambers of Commerce. concerts during the spring and summer, for viewing online, and North Adams possible that participation from MCLA and The campaign was spearheaded by the and the space will be available for other remained in the top ten throughout the residents of North Adams helped the city MCLA Office of Institutional Advancement, community events when not occupied by voting process. Cities with up to 400,000 pull off this victory, although anyone could according to Director of Marketing and Levitt Amp. According to the college’s Web site, the Levitt Amp money will go towards residents are eligible for the grants, which vote. A detailed plan outlining why North Communications Bernadette Alden. “We look forward to even more live hiring musicians, a professional production are $25,000 each. North Adams has a Adams should receive the grant is still active population of roughly 13,000 (as of 2013), on the college’s Web site (http://www.mcla. music in downtown North Adams this crew, rented equipment, marketing, and and competed with towns such as Trenton, edu/About_MCLA/area/bcrc/Levitt-Amp/ summer, and can’t wait to enjoy the the “boring basics” such as insurance. The New Jersey, which has a population of levittamp), and tabling efforts were held in fantastic slate of performers that MCLA series will coincide with the reopening of approximately 84,000 (as of 2012). Despite the Campus Center to generate votes, and will put together,” MASS MoCA Director Colegrove Elementary School. A & E Editor
Desperados much more than just Mexican food North Adam’s only Mexican restaurant has a wide range of comfort food and beverages.
By Paige Pomerantz A & E Writer
Fresco, rápido y agradable- that is what to expect when entering North Adams’ only established Mexican restaurant, Desperados. Welcomed with a smiling face and warm, house-made tortilla chips and salsa, the yellow and burnt-orange color scheme paired with fun decor provides an eccentric yet relaxing ambiance, perfect for grabbing a quick bite to eat with friends. This is the restaurant’s second location, the original being in Williamstown with high success for over 20 years. The menu is priced fairly reasonably considering the portion sizes and quality of the food, and our meals were on the table within 15 minutes of ordering. Granted, this was a Wednesday evening. On the weekend, it is much busier, causing service to be a bit slower, but still adequate. After ordering the grilled chicken ‘Smokin’ Fajitas,’ I was completely stuffed before half the dish was finished, which left me with lunch and dinner for the following day. $15.95 is nearly a steal for three meals. The cheese is hand-shredded and blended right off the block, the tortillas are warmed, and the
chicken is prepared to order with a variety of harmonizing- yet not overpowering- spices. Arguably, the two most important components of a Mexican restaurant are their house guacamole and margaritas, both being very popular items at Desperados. At nearly every table you can hear customers ordering margarita pitchers (only $18) for their table and sides of freshly blended guacamole, which their menu states is “the best around.” If you’re looking for a nonalcoholic alternative to a Mexican beverage, Desperados offers Jarritos, a Mexican soda, in strawberry, mango, or grapefruit. Other popular items off the menu includes, believe it or not, buffalo wings ($8.50 for 10, $16.95 for 20) as well as salads ($10.95-$12.50), quesadillas ($10.95-$11.95), chimichangas ($10.50), enchiladas ($15.95), and tacos ($7.95). What better way to end a meal than with dessert? Although it does not have dulce de tres leches, a popular Mexican cake, Desperados does offer a widely popular deep fried ice cream, strawberry cornbread, chocolate lava cake, turtle cheesecake, chocolate peanut butter pie, and sopapillas (all for $5.50). For entertainment purposes, a
Photo by Liz Quirk/The Beacon
The popular Mexican restaurant is well known for its margaritas as well as standard Mexican attire, such as fajitas and burritos, though its menu has enough variety for almost evdeck of Trivial Pursuit cards is night, and buy one ‘rito,’ get the plenty of options possessing the provided at each table, as well as second half-off on Wednesdays. capability to please all who walk All deals are valid 4 p.m. to 10 through the door. a large television behind the bar and smaller televisions at some p.m. and dine-in only. Located at 23 Eagle St., it is Go to Desperados on your open Monday through Thursday of the booths. Specials are held Sunday through birthday to receive an entrée up 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and to $14.95 on the house. Wednesday. Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Overall, both the atmosphere closed on Sundays. Kids eat for just $2.99 on Sundays, Monday night is 50- and the food were enjoyable Food is available for both dinecent wings, all-you-can-eat tacos and I recommend anyone to in and take-out. ($10.95), burritos ($11.95), and try it- even those who don’t For questions or reservations, enchiladas ($11.95) on Tuesday like Mexican food. There are call (413) 346-4664.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Arts & Entertainment
Beacon.MCLA.edu
New Jersey Comedian Chris Gethard Rap lights up MASS MoCA with laughter Industr By Jonathan Hoel A & E Writer
Up three flights of stairs and into the crowded atmosphere of Mass MoCA’s cabaret-style Club B-10, a once-chilly evening was warmed by laughs courtesy of three Tri-state stand-up comics, most notably Chris Gethard, the idiosyncratic headliner of the show on Saturday Jan. 30. Gethard is a self-described “grown-up ‘Calvin’ from Calvin & Hobbes,” known for hosting his own New York City variety show, ‘The Chris Gethard Show,’ which has been on air for 5 years. The show was mostly an enjoyable one. Gethard brought along opening comics Josh Carter, co-host of ‘Northern Discomfort’ at The Stand in Manhattan, and Tom Dillon, a Long Island comedian who burst with energy. Gethard won the crowd over pretty early into his set. A dedicated fan in the front-row announced to the comedian that she had not slept in 36 hours leading up to the show, in tribute to his own sleepless act for an episode of his TV show. His bewilderment at her, and the subsequent improvisational returning to it was great. While there was certainly some different style among them, the three all maintained a certain snarky sarcasm towards the posh and lavish culture of the Berkshires and Mass MoCA-– and indeed its patrons. “You don’t scare me, you collegeeducated motherf***ers,” Dillon bellowed at the crowd. He went up and down throughout his set, but was at
Apocalypse fallout survival strategies, citing his father’s theory about “following the rats” to guarantee survival. He also surmised all people with glasses would die, so his demise was inevitable anyway. The crowd seemed to love it. “It was a good show, a good dichotomy of comedians,” Melissa Williams, ’17, remarked. Gethard is something of a well-kept secret by his feasibly underground fan base. His comedy is very linguistic and analytic. One of his most amusing anecdotes was visiting Orlando with his wife, Broadway starlet Hallie Buellit, and contrasting Disneyworld and Gatorworld. Gethard released his first comedy album, the eponymous and cheekily titled “My First Comedy Album,” via Giovanni Records in 2014. Photo by Gionna Nourse/The Beacon Gethard is the author of one comedy Some of the show teetered on generic album, released in 2014 by Giovanni at times. Gethard went into a childhood story about beer drinking that was very Records basic stand-up comedy. Anyone that his best when he was berating people grew up watching Bill Hicks or Patton from Staten Island, for the reasons Oswalt clips on YouTube may be tired you might imagine. Dillon’s weakest of the high-school drinking story-trope. moment came from a bit about the TV However, it was one of only a few weak show “Undercover Boss” and Popeye’s moments in a night full of comedy gold. Chicken, which was a bit bland, and the Whether watching his wife zipline in her wedding dress, or throwing entire bags payoff kind of unsatisfying. Gethard has his shot at Mass MoCA of ice out school-bus windows at men in three-piece suits, Gethard left us all with as well: “I went to a state school in New Jersey. some pretty hilarious imagery. Gethard’s next show will be in New I can’t entirely relate here,” Gethard said, Brunswick, NJ on March 12, at In “not here in this gargantuan palace of the West Club and Studio. For more art.” information, you can check out his Gethard went all over the board comedy at chrisgeth.com or follow him topically with his set. He discussed on twitter at twitter.com/chrisgethard.
#BlackLivesMatter opens at G51 today with art from across the nation By Mitchell Chapman A & E Editor
Try as we might, we are not created equal. In the United States, we do not share the same opportunities for wealth and happiness, whether it be dictated by economic status or the color of your skin. Though contemporary American society has taken leaps and strides since the days of Martin Luther King Jr., this country still has a long way to go in terms of racial equality, which the #BlackLivesMatter campaign has raised critical awareness of. Since its inception, the campaign has sparked a national debate about issues the public simply cannot ignore to do with race. MCLA has joined the conversation twice by holding two public forums about race, initially sparked by the Ferguson and Staten Island catastrophes in which two African-American men, Michael Brown and Eric Garner, were killed by police. Today, Gallery 51 joins the conversation with their new exhibition, “What Does #BlackLivesMatter Mean to You?” The exhibition includes 33 artists from 17 states who are at “varying stages
of their careers” and like the recent “Spectacle 99,” will feature a variety of art forms including drawing, painting, sculpture, and video. According to professor Melanie Mowinski, who is curating the event with professor Francis JonesSneed, artists were
encouraged to display what the BlackLivesMatter movement meant to them, both literally and conceptually, to “examine the impact of state and national violence on black lives.” Most of the artists are from outside of New England, with only four artists from Mass. participating in the exhibition. “This exhibition will examine how art can ignite conversation between artist and viewer, viewer and viewer, and viewer and self,” Mowinski said. MCLA students were permitted to submit to
the gallery, though the exhibition is dominated by professional artists, despite being strongly marketed throughout the residence areas. A few tentative pieces have been published online. An opening reception will kick off the exhibition tonight from 5-7 p.m. It is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served. “What Does #BlackLivesMatter Mean to You?” will remain in the gallery from Feb. 4-28. Accompanying the release will be the release of a “2016 Monthly Mantra Calendar” by PRESS (directly next to G51), which will feature “quotations and images of influential figures in the Civil Rights Movement, Black Lives Matter movement and other movements centered on equality and justice,” according to a statement released by the college. The calendar is a product of a collaboration between Jones-Sneed, Mowinski, and students who participated in the fall 2015 class “Women, Race, and Society.” The calendar was inspired by student creations, and is available for viewing at https://letterpressasapublicartproject. wordpress.com/2015/12/22/order-a2016-calendar-online-today/.
Insig
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Matt Aceto Web Editor
The blond rapper trend must end Fashion trends come and go like the wind. Some trends are original, and others are adopted from previous concepts. While trendsetting is applauded, trend hopping is frowned upon. Trend hopping, also referred to as wave riding, is when people jump from trend to trend, sticking with whatever is hot at the time. Over the past few years, I’ve noticed rappers flock to a particular trend: dyeing their hair blond. Don’t get me wrong, bleached blonde hair looks great on some rappers. Some, but not all. Young Thug and Future are among the ones who look cool with blonde tips in their dreadlocks. Sometime over the past few years, though, rappers dyeing their hair blonde transformed from eccentric to routine. The way I see it, before a style can become a universal trend, it must first be considered extraordinary. In other words, if a particular style doesn’t differentiate itself from what’s currently popular, it will never take off. An unconventional style, such as bleaching one’s hair, tends to lose its freshness once it’s adopted by the masses. Thus, the longer something trends, the more uninspired it becomes. Though the masses ultimately decide which styles are hot, it’s often famous rappers who receive credit for what’s trending. When bucket hats became the craze of 2013, it was west coast rapper Schoolboy Q who received credit for the trend. Movie stars or other celebrities may attempt to set trends by appearing outlandish on the red carpet. Sometimes these attempts prove successful, other times they go horribly wrong. Pharrell’s infamous brown hat at the 2014 GRAMMY Awards had Twitter in a frenzy for all the wrong reasons. When rappers began bleaching their hair, I thought it was cool and different. I first noticed the style a few years ago, when Chris Brown went blonde. Artists like Sisqo and Eminem also sported the bleached blonde hair in the early 2000s long before it was a trend. Overall, hair dyeing for men became more popular during this time period. As noted in “More men coloring their hair”, an article written by Kavita Daswani for the Los Angeles Times, the percentage of American men who dye their hair rose from 2 percent to seven percent between 1999 and 2010, according to Multisponsor Surveys Inc. Today, hair dyeing is not only popular in hiphop, but in professional sports as well. NBA players such as George Hill, Jared Sullinger, and Marcus Smart have dyed their hair blonde for the 2015-2016 campaign. This past season in the NFL, Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. showed off his dyed hair as well. Men’s bleached blonde hair had a good run, but I believe the trend has officially been played out. Some of these rappers, such as New Jersey’s P-Dice, are beginning to look like snow cones with their multi-colored domes. It’s time for hip-hop artists to start focusing on creativity through their music, not their hairstyles.
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Campus Life
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Beacon.MCLA.edu
SGA highlights The Student Government Association (SGA) kicked off 2016 with a meeting to discuss upcoming tasks and goals for the spring semester, along with an announcement of events to occur around campus.
Compiled By Emily Gabert
Two SGA members resign
Former president Richard Nixon Two members were said to have resigned: Midiyanuel Hawkins and Lauren Tomaszczuk, both citing that they would not be returning to the College after the fall semester. Hawkins was president of the Class of 2019, while Tomaszczuk was vice president of the class of 2018, and also a Senate Secretary. Elections were held to fill in the Senate Secretary position. Senator Evan Pirnie won the election for the vacant spot. “Congratulations Evan,” President Alexandra Kadell announced. “We’re really grateful that you took this position.”
Bowman Hall open on weekends
The push for Bowman Hall to have later study hours has been successful. The college has now allowed for Bowman Hall to be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. All areas will be open for students to use, but the College is asking for students to respect the newly renovated hall, as this privilege will be taken away if misused.
Name change form modified
Modifications to the preferred name request form have occurred. It is now easier for students to have their preferred names changed so that MCLA recognizes it. Students have been pushing for this change for about a year. The College also announced a ban on hover boards, so students are not allowed to have them on campus.
Five things to expect at the beginning of a new semester By Mitchell Chapman A&E Editor
Beginnings can be awkward and jarring, and this is especially true when starting a new semester of college. Whether you are a firstsemester freshman, or a battlehardened senior, there are a few adjustments anyone can expect to make while starting with a clean slate. The following is a list of things to expect when starting a new semester of college.
Courtesy of iStock Professors might seem vicious at first, but they’re really gentle. It’s easy to be intimidated by a new professor with a teaching style you’re not used to, especially if they have strict classroom rules and a heavy prejudice for bad grammar and spelling mistakes. The first few weeks tend to be particularly challenging as students struggle to adjust to the various teaching styles and classroom expectations unique to each of their professors. Play by their rules, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and learn. Chances are, you won’t be used to how each of your professors run things, but with a little perseverance and tolerance, you will.
This isn’t your mama’s cooking The adjustment from homecooked meals to whatever is available at your local school cafeteria can either be a blessing, a curse, or not worth talking about. This adjustment varies from student to student, depending on your school’s funding (public, private), economic status (lower income, middle, etc.), and level of independence (living on your own, staying at home). This concern can be virtually nonexistent for commuters, but for resident students, the change in diet can be a major one. A common challenge with cheaper schools, such as MCLA, is how to diet with limited food options. It can be hard to stay healthy when no long-term healthy food options are available on campus. A salad might make you feel better about yourself, but lettuce alone will not replace the multi-vitamin diet a growing college student needs. Larger institutions often have more variety, more than one dining hall, and plenty of off-campus destinations for eating out, but for institutions that are not as privileged, the grocery store will have to do.
Courtesy of Kuhnriddle.com
The Taconic Room of MCLA’s Berkshire Towers. Living with your friends can be fun, but cleanliness and boundaries are a must. Dorm life can be pretty disgusting Nobody likes to share a bathroom, and one shared by 20+ students can get a bit uncomfortable. Dorms vary from institution to institution, but many fail to provide the same amount of control and cleanliness found at home. The classic carpet-less cinder block doubles found in MCLA’s Hoosac Hall attract dust and dirt pretty fast. A carpet is a good investment, especially during spring when mud is everywhere. Still, for some students, dorm life provides welcoming freedom and accommodations not found at home, such as modern furniture and a hot shower. Not the most challenging adjustment by any means, but not always a great environment for fostering good mental health and hygiene.
People We all have to talk to them. Some interactions are better than others. Whether it’s a good friend or the annoying neighbor who blasts his music at 3 a.m., human interaction is key to college. For some, college is a place to build great work relationships, and for others, it’s a place to find friends, tolerate roommates, and maybe even have a relationship or two. Most students get a little bit of the best and the worst. Some people get fantastic roommates, Resident Advisers (RAs), Resident Directors (RDs), class advisers, bosses, co-workers, club members, volunteers, and of course, professors. Others are not so lucky. With the wide variety of human interactions available at college, especially one with as many opportunities as MCLA, chances are you’ll connect with some people and butt heads with others. A new semester often brings in new faces, but also specters of the past. Like it or not, college is one of the few times in life where all of your best friends and enemies might be just a floor away.
Things that cost money that you don’t think about You don’t stop paying for college after tuition and fees. Everyone has to live and experience life, and those things don’t come cheaply. Whether it’s a trip to the grocery store, a book you forgot to buy, or just doing laundry, there’s a reason why the Admission office recommends that students come to MCLA with cash on hand. Sometimes there are expenses you can’t possibly foresee. Your car may get totaled in an accident, or you might encounter a medical emergency that your health insurance doesn’t cover. College can provide increased autonomy and independence, but it can also signify a money hole. A new semester might mean increased spending habits that ought to be managed. Many people are broke in college, so when you have money, make it count. College is a time of transformation and exploration. While some rituals are habitual and will follow you throughout your entire college career, others are not. All you can do is make the most of the opportunities presented to you and do your best to make these special four years memorable.
Campus Life
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Beacon.MCLA.edu
SGA Highlights Continued Budget Committee
Compiled By Emily Gabert
Plan ahead for club events
Needing a new Diane
The budget committee has requested for clubs and other organizations to send in their budget request by Feb. 5. They will meet in the following weeks to discuss demands, and to meet with Laurie Brown to figure out what money they have to work with.
No credit for dance classes
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SGA is asking clubs and organizations to plan ahead for events and to put their purchase orders in as soon as possible. Two to three weeks in advance was advised. “Our hope is that we get them in sooner, rather than later,” Jenn Craig announced. “Possibly by the end of February or early March.” “In the past,” Craig said, “we kind of let things slide and go in at the last minute. We might not be doing that now. They need to get those things in, in a timely fashion.”
With the retirement of Diane Collins, members of the SGA elective board will be sitting in the office while a hiring committee looks for a new office manager. Candidates for the position will have a chance to speak with students. Full support to clubs and organizations will still take place.
Club constitutions Geography minor
The issue of students not being able to gain credit for their dance classes at Williams College was brought to attention by Senator Lovellette.
The Geography minor was given a name change and is now the Earth Science minor, reported Senator Williams. The prefixes for those classes were changed accordingly. The SGA was accompanied by a number of visitors on their Feb. 1 meeting.
Two club constitutions were approved by the Student Senate: the photography club and the Student Veterans Association. It is believed that the photography club has been inactive for over three semesters. the Student Veterans Association is something new that has been brought to campus to help support veterans in their transition back into regular life, and to have a sense of commodity. The dance minor has been brought up to the Fine & Performing Arts department. They are working to make a dance minor a reality. Credits are being worked on to transfer over to the College from Williams College. Students interested are encouraged to speak with the Registrar.
School renting out space A presentation from Celia Norcross, director of Student Development. Norcross presented a proposal for clubs and organizations to have access to a space downtown, so long as the SGA approves money to the cause. Norcross stated that the issue of more space needed for clubs has been something students have been bringing to her office’s attention, along with the issues of students trying to find activities to do off campus. She believes that with doing so, it will not only benefit students but also North Adams. “We’ve been trying to get students to push [down town],” Norcross said, “and to really give back to the economy that is here in town.” In the past, the college has worked with the community of North Adams for local businesses to
stay open later, allowing for more opportunities to benefit the area. With the opening of the College’s Gallery 51, she also claims that this has helped North Adams with bringing new artists and other visitors to the area, via our College’s students. Clubs and organizations could use this area for holding events, such as performance clubs holding their shows in this space, along with comedians and even musical acts. She believes it could draw in people from the College and the community. The Spires literary magazine and the Greek organization, Pi Upsilon, were mentioned in her presentation as she explained their benefits from this downtown area. Pines hopes to hold fundraisers in the space and host speaker nights. Spires hopes
to hold their open mic nights in the space. Both organizations have little to no budget, and hope to utilize the area well. Norcross also reasoned that this space could be beneficial to clubs and other organizations, by allowing for them to have a new place to fund raise. “You’re on campus in the market place, always in the same spots,” Norcross stated. “One of the things we’ve tried doing is to cultivate more spaces downtown.” The slideshow also explained that local businesses downtown would be sharing this space with the College, but the students would have first priority over the area. Currently the College is paying for that leased space from January until the end of June. If the spot has a good response from students,
it would be able to be leased again for the following year; the college is looking for the okay from the SGA to fund this area. Concerns of transportation were brought up by members of the senate. A shuttle schedule would be arranged, along with the hiring of new shuttle drivers. In a survey conducted to about 75 students, some had said they would even consider walking downtown to these events. The issue of advertising and public relations was also a concern. The SGA will be discussing the proposal soon.
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Thursday, February4. 2016
Sports
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Men’s Basketball drops thriller to Worcester State By Jesse Collings Sports Editor
Worcester State freshman Alex Santos made a leaning jump shot at the end of regulation to tie the game and Worcester State caught fire in overtime as they defeated MCLA 104-96 on Saturday. The loss marks the eighth-straight loss by MCLA as they tumble to 4-15 on the season and remain winless in the MASCAC, sporting a 0-7 record in conference play. Worcester State improved to 13-7 overall and 5-2 in MASCAC play. MCLA started slow on offense but the Trailblazers picked up early in the first half when they substituted five bench players with 16:55 left to play in the first half. The unit of freshman Colin Parrott and juniors Joe Wiggins, Anderson Dalmace, Careem Kirksey and Isshiah Coleman played a fast, up-tempo style with a full court press and the rangy Coleman anchoring the back line. In just under five minutes of work the Trailblazers took a 7-5 deficit and turned it into 21-15 lead. A particularly strong play was made when Coleman altered a lay-up attempt by Worcester State guard Bilal Shakir and in one motion Coleman corralled the rebound and fired a perfect outlet pass to a streaking Wiggins as he raced down the court for a slam dunk that fired up the crowd and forced Worcester State to call a time-out. “My style of play has always been to play that way, I came off the bench in high school and at my community college,” Wiggins said about bringing in energy off of the bench. “I enjoy coming off the bench, it is something I told coach that I was comfortable doing and it’s been working out.” “We are trying to substitute guys in and out quickly to make sure everyone is rested,” MCLA head coach Anthony Skiffington said. “We want to everyone out there playing hard and fast.” MCLA opened up their biggest lead of the game towards the end of the first half following a threepoint field goal and a short jump-
er from junior walk-on Jeremy Guillen and two free throws from Kirksey. Worcester State would battle back thanks to multiple three pointers from Shakir and Ryan DiBernardo. With MCLA leading by four, sophomore Merle Darling drained a three point field goal with 11 seconds to go, but Shakir dribbled calmly down the court and made a three-pointer of his own as time expired to reduce MCLA’s lead to 47-43 heading into the half. Worcester State would finally tie the game back up with 12:29 to go in the second half when junior center Paul Brooks converted a layup to tie the game at 55. Brooks’ layup was followed by a jumper from Jamal Mustapha and four free throws from Shakir to give Worcester at 61-55 lead. Coming out of the timeout, MCLA pounded the ball inside getting three straight layups and a jumper from freshman Ki-Shawn Monroe tied the game at 63. MCLA would open up a lead with about five minutes remaining in the game when senior Paul Maurice caught fire and nailed back to back three pointers to give MCLA a three point lead. Santos replied with a three of his own to tie the game at 71. On the ensuing possession, Maurice was fouled taking a three pointer and made the first two free throws. The third free throw missed, but Parrott miraculously came up with the offensive rebound despite giving up a fullfoot in height to Brooks who was trying to box him out. Parrott then nailed a three pointer and Khalil Paul followed that up with a lay-up to make it 78-71 Trailblazers. With MCLA leading by five with under two minutes remaining, Worcester State got a jumper from Santos, followed by a block by Brooks. The rebound was picked up by DiBernardo who raced the length of the court for a layup that cut the lead to one. A pair of free throws from Santos put Worcester State in front 81-80 with 43 seconds remaining. A nice drive and dish by Monroe found an open Hannah-Wornum
under the basket, who converted the layup and was fouled. HannahWornum made the free throw to put MCLA up 83-81 with under thirty seconds to play. Just nine seconds later DeBarnardo scored another layup to tie the game at 83-83. Following a Worcester State timeout, Paul got quickly to the basket and scored to give MCLA a 85-53 edge, but Santos came right back and converted his jumper as time expired to send the game into overtime. MCLA started the overtime hot, with Kirksey nailing a three pointer and Maurice doing so as well after Brooks responded with a layup for Worcester State. Santos made a triple of his own to cut the lead to 91-90 and Brooks made another lay-in to put Worcester in Photo by Shunquell Dennis/The Beacon front. MCLA sophomore Joe Wiggins rises up on the fast break to slam home two of With the Lanchis 19 points. ers up by two earned a whopping 47 trips to the foul trouble. with under a MCLA was led by Maurice who minute to play, Shakir made a pair charity stripe. Santos and Shakir of free throws and a missed shot were the games high scorers with had 20 points and Wiggins who by Monroe was translated into a 30 and 25 points respectively, but had 19 points off of the bench. layup for Mustapha with 35 sec- they shot a combined 12-44 from Hannah-Wornum had a doubleonds to go that put Worcester up the field. However, the duo made double with 11 points and 12 100-94. Free throws from DiBer- up for it by combining to go 24-31 rebounds to go along with his nardo and Santos would seal the from the line. DeBernarndo had game-high four blocks. The Trailblazers are in action on deal for Worcester State, earning a double-double with 21 points them their third straight confer- and 13 rebounds, while Brooks Wednesday when they host Westhad 10 points and 18 rebounds, field State before heading to Saence victory. The difference in the game was 13 of coming on the offensive lem State on Saturday. The Traila big disparity in free throw at- end, which is even more impres- blazers lost to Salem State at hom tempts. MCLA went to the line sive because Brooks was forced to earlier this season, 87-81. 25 times while Worcester State sit for most of the first half due to
back is not taken to the ground. It was entertaining watching Odell Beckham Jr. playing free safety during the second half of the game. Although, I’m sure his new head coach, Ben McAdoo, was not thrilled watching his star receiver line up on defense. I understand that no one wants to get hurt and have to rehab over the offseason. But if the NFL is going to charge fans to come watch the game and pay the players to show up then make it a competitive game. Each year the number of viewers is dropping. According to ProFootballTalk, the Pro Bowl drew a 5.0 overnight rating. That’s down from 5.6 last year and significantly down from the 6.7 rating the Pro Bowl got in 2014 when it was on NBC.
The NFL needs to realize that some changes need to be made. People are still going to watch the game due to the exciting young talent the game offers. There is one quick solution to help fix the Pro Bowl: add a skills competition. All of the other major sports have a skills competition. The MLB has a Home Run Derby. The NBA has the slam dunk contest and the three-point contest. The NHL has the hardest shot, accuracy competitions, and the fastest skater competitions. The NFL could do competitions to determine who the fastest player in the league is or let linemen run some routes. They could find out which quarterback has the strongest arm or which quarterbacks can hit moving targets. Wide receivers could run routes
Opinion: NFL needs to improve the Pro Bowl By Tyler Bacon
Sports Columnist The Pro Bowl was what everyone expected it to be: a game with no tackling and no one taking it seriously. But, as long as people are watching the game, nothing will change, even though changes are needed. It is arguably the worst of all the All-Star games in professional sports. The Hockey (NHL) All-Star Game was also played on Thursday and that game was more exciting than the NFL one. At least there was some drama in the hockey game unlike Thursday Night’s Probowl. The game was not close and by the second half there was no tackling. There is nothing exciting about watching running plays where the halfback
and find out who has the best hands. There could be an obstacle course for every position. The players with the best times at each position could win money and bragging rights. Being voted as an All-Star is supposed to be an honor but that isn’t the case for football players. For example, Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers simply declined an invitation to be an alternate. All seven New England Patriots who were elected to the the game opted to stay at home. There were six quarterbacks at the game on Thursday. Russell Wilson of the Seahawks was the only quarterback actually voted in to the Pro Bowl. The NFL would be wise to make the Pro Bowl a showcase of all the young talent the NFL has to of-
fer. There can still be voting on All-Stars but the game should be played by rising stars such as Derek Carr and Jameis Winston. Fans would still be interested in the game because they can watch their favorite players one last time before the next season and they can even watch the rising stars of tomorrow. Players will be interested because they get to compete against each other and have fun in the warm weather of Hawaii. The NFL has to make some changes to the Pro Bowl or the number of viewers is going to drop dramatically every year. People will still watch the game to see their favorite players play but the game is far from perfect and the league should look into some changes that would make the Pro Bowl way more fun.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Hotaling leads MCLA over Worcester State
Sports
Beacon.MCLA.edu
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Junior’s 21 points lead Trailblazers to 61-58 conference victory over MASCAC rival Worcester State on Saturday By Jesse Collings Sports Editor
The MCLA’s Women’s basketball team got 21 points and 10 rebounds from junior Kayla Hotaling and the Trailblazers avenged an earlier season loss to the Lancers of Worcester State by defeating them 61-58, at home on Saturday. The victory improves MCLA to 11-8 on the season and 3-4 in MASCAC competition. Worcester State falls to 5-14 on the season and 2-5 in MASCAC play. The Trailblazers started the game strong, as Hotaling and freshman Karina Mattera each made two field goals to give MCLA an 8-0 lead. Worcester State would claw back into the game and take a 1613 lead, but consecutive baskets by Mattera and junior Ashley Clawson would give MCLA a 17-16 lead after the first quarter. The game remained tight with MCLA holding a slim 34-31 lead heading into the half. A basket by Mattera and a pair of free throws each from sophomore Emily Moulton and Hotaling gave MCLA a 40-33 lead, but Worcester answered with an 8-0 run, culminating in a layup from freshman forward Kaitlyn Berkel that gave the Lancers a 41-40 lead. The two teams would trade baskets until a jumper by Mattera with just under a minute left in the third quarter to give MCLA a 48-46 lead. MCLA started the fourth quarter with baskets from Mattera
and junior Courtney Durivage, but Berkel responded with four straight points for Worcester State. MCLA nursed their slim lead, which reduced to one when Worcester junior TaNajia Smith made one free throw with 1:44 to go to put Worcester State behind 58-57. Durivage made a critical jump shot with 1:26 left to put MCLA up by three. Smith made another free throw with 35 seconds to play to make it a two-point game, and then Worcester immediately fouled Durivage, who missed her two free throws, giving Worcester another chance to tie the game or take the lead. With 31 seconds left to play Worcester attempted to inbound the ball but the pass was stolen by sophomore Courtney McLaughlin, who was fouled. McLaughlin made one of two free throws to put the Trailblazers up by three. On the next Worcester possession, Worcester State sophomore Brianna Hackett’s game-typing three-point shot was blocked by Clawson, and MCLA dribbled out the remaining time on the clock to seal the win for the Trailblazers. “We needed a big win like this,” MCLA head coach Holly McGovern said following the victory. “It has been a three game week for us, the last two have been on the road so it was good to win the game at home.” Worcester State significantly shot better than the Trailblazers, shooting 48 percent from the field
compared to MCLA’s 37 percent and earned 24 trips to the free throw line where they shot 75 percent from. The difference in the game came from turnovers, where Worcester State committed 31 which led to 25 points for MCLA, while the Trailblazers committed 16 which the Lancers could only turn into 12 points. “I thought our guards did a terrific job on the floor tonight, especially Ashley Clawson, we put her on Brianna Hackett and she did a great job not allowing her to become a part of the offense.” MCLA was led by Hotaling, who recorded a double-double for the sixth time this season. Hotaling was aggressive throughout the game, putting up a season-high 20 shots, something that McGovern was glad to see. “I was really happy for her, over the last two games she had struggled a little bit so I was glad to see her get off to a strong start for us.” “I just wanted to contribute in any way that my team needed me to in order for us to pick up a very important win,” Hotaling said. “In Saturday’s game , I tried to take advantage of the good opportunities that my teammates put me in and I converted those chances into taking shots.” MCLA hosts Westfield State on Wednesday and will then travel to Salem State on Saturday. The Trailblazers lost to Westfield 90-69 earlier this season and defeated Salem State 47-41 back in January.
Photo by Shunquell Dennis/ The Beacon
Hotaling soars for one of her 10 rebounds during the game Saturday against Worcester State. Hotaling currently leads the team in points per game, rebounds per game and blocks per game. She is currently fifth in the conference in rebounding, averaging nearly nine rebounds per game.
National Girls and Women in Sports Day Celebrated By Joeseph Carew Staff Writer
Girls and women of varying ages were welcomed to campus for the 26th time as National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) was celebrated in the Amsler Campus Center. This year’s theme was “Leading the Way” and was used as a “nod to all those individuals and organizations who are on the front line for girls and women in sports,” according to ngwsd.org. “The kids get some physical fitness,” Dorothy Houston, associate director of athletics, said, “[as well as] exposure, the opportunity to work with our student athletes [and] to see our college basketball game. It’s a lot of great things… that they might not have been exposed to before.” Numerous athletes volunteered their Saturday to host a variety of clinics that helped introduce the participants to the students’ respective sports. Softball, basketball and lacrosse were among the sports represented by this year’s volunteers.
College hosts event for 26th consecutive year
Houston also pointed out the mutually beneficial aspect of the event for the athletes. “[For] some of them who have a major in education, it’s an opportunity to work with kids, which is great,” Houston said. Coaches and student athletes combine to make this event run accordingly, but what Houston cites as another key to the event’s success is the addition of a women’s component. A nationally ranked pickle ball player was brought in for the adults this year. “NGWSD began in 1987 as a special day in our nation’s capital to recognize women’s sports,” states the website NGWSD.org. “In 1987, NGWSD also served as a remembrance of Olympic volleyball player, Flo Hyman, for her athletic achievements and dedication to promoting equality for women’s sports; Hyman died of Marfan’s Syndrome in 1986.” According to MCLA’s NGWSD web page, this event has pulled in around 70 women and young girls each year for the past six years, and is celebrated throughout the United States.
Photo by Shunquell Dennis/The Beacon
MCLA junior lacrosse player Rachel Greene teaches a group of local youth about the fundamentals of the sport. MCLA traditionally holds this year the event culminated in the they’re happy, and the parents are national event every spring se- women’s basketball team defeat- pleased about the day, then it’s a mester and aims to continue do- ing Worcester State. great day and we’ve met our exing so well into the future. This “If the kids are going home and pectations,” Houston said.
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Photo Essay
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Beacon.MCLA.edu
MCLA clubs gather for “Nacho Average” Club Fair event in Bowman Hall last Tuesday.
Wet Feet Week
Photos by Domonique Ackley
Senior Alexandra Kadell represents ”Nacho Average” Club Fair.
SGA during the
From left to right, Dirk Jones, Christopher Gamble, and Declan Nolan from the class of 2019 play SAC’s Mystery Bingo.
Senior Sam O’Brien tables in the Marketplace for Women’s Center Wednesdays.
Zack Page ‘16, Erin D’Entremont ‘17, and Max Teplansky ‘18 put on a happy face as they share details about Harlequin’s upcoming musical, “Bye Bye Birdie.”