Spring 16 issue 8

For more content, visit online at: Beacon.MCLA.edu

Beacon@MCLA.Edu 413-662-5535 Mark Hopkins Room 111

Volume 82 ◆ Issue 8

Th u r s d ay, M a r c h 3 1 , 2 0 1 6 News

Dual Degree created in business major program Page 3

A&E

Katherine Hill debuts novel “The Violet Hour“ Page 6

Sports

Lacrosse earns first win Page 10

Op-Ed

Graduation requirements stressing out students Page 4

Campus Life

Cook Off Finale Coverage Spring Concert artist Kehlani attempts suicide

By Paige Pomerantz and Jon Hoel A&E Writers

Rapper and SAC spring concert performer Kehlani was hospitalized on Monday March 28 after an attempted suicide following a wave of harassment on the internet.

Her anguish appears to come from controversy surrounding allegations that she stepped out on her partner, NBA Cleveland Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving, with her former partner, rapper PARTYNEXTDOOR (Jahron Anthony Brathwaite).

These insinuations stemmed from photos PARTYNEXTDOOR posted Photo by Aris Jerome on his Instagram, showing the couple holding hands in bed. Kehlani revealed that she Subsequently, Kehlani hashad attempted suicide on been receiving severe criticismsMonday, March 28 over from Cavaliers fans regarding herInstagram. All her posts have alleged indiscretions. since been deleted.

Since her hospitalization, It remains unclear whether Kehlani posted images on her own Instagram account, showing herself or not Kehlani will cancel her strapped to an IV in the hospital, upcoming tour appearances, with PARTYNEXTDOOR at her including the SAC spring concert bedside. Afterwards, she deleted on April 18. The Beacon has reached out to her agent for her account.

“I wanted to leave this Earth. comment.

If you or someone you know is Being completely selfish for once.

Never thought I’d get to such a feeling overwhelmed or distressed low point,” Kehlani wrote on her in anyway, you can reach out to Instagram post. “Don’t believe the Health Services on campus, or blogs you read. No one was cheated call the suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255. on and I’m not a bad person.”

Photo by Torin Gannon/The Beacon

The MCLA Cook Off contest was held Wednesday March 23. A.J. Kody, Gascard Gaston, LaJuan Allen (pictured), the three winners from previous competitions, faced off for the Cook Off Championship. Check out our covereage and find out who won on page 2!

Curious about Cannabis? Psychologist talks medical marijuana’s strength and weaknesses

By Emily Gabert Staff Writer

Marine Biology students travel to St.John Page 8

twitter.com/

THEBEACON_MCLA

facebook.com/ MCLABeacon instagram.com/ MCLABeacon News 2-3 Op-Ed 4-5 Arts & Entertainment 6-7 Campus Life 8-9 Sports 10-11 Photo Essay 12

Psychology alumnus and researcher Evan Herrmann held a lecture last Friday about his research with cannabinoids.

Herrmann’s findings highlighted medications developed to treat cannabinoid addiction, along with the use of the plant as a tool for medical treatment.

In the past 20 years, Herrmann said that there has been a large shift on Public Policy regarding cannabis. Most of which has actually been happening on the scientific side of things.

“Among those folks involved in policies,” Herrmann said, “views tend to be very polarized. Some find cannabis to be a miracle drug or a harmless drug that can treat everything…to the other side that finds [cannabis] a dangerous drug.”

No formal decision on the status of cannabis can be made until much more research is done on the effects of the plant. Many conclusions don’t come from

scientific research, Herrmann found.

No drug has ever gone from schedule one value, to another level, and back in medical value.

Substances are weighed by what medical value they hold – if any at all; Herrmann found a parallel between cannabis and bath salts, which has been said to be helpful in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease, but more tests cannot be conducted due to the fact that

Photo from Wikipedia

that bath salts were moved to a different schedule due to the situations that have occurred with the substance. “[Bath salts were] emergency scheduled, to be dangerous – schedule one,” Herrmann said, “no one is going to look at it. If that drug had been developed by pharmaceutical companies… there might be a different story.”

Herrmann believes that medical scheduling does not fully

represent a drug’s medical value due to the fact a lot of drugs have good and bad sides to them.

Currently, there is no Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug to treat cannabinoid addiction. There are about 300,000 people who go into treatment for an addiction to the drug, but many of those aren’t self-appointed treatments. Some people are brought into treatment by court order. Cannabinoid addiction – while serious – is not as severe as other drug addictions, Herrmann found. Not as many people become dependent on the plant, like they would with another drug.

Herrmann reported that current outcomes of behavioral treatment for the drug are quite poor. Roughly 40 percent of those who did behavioral treatment quit the substance, and those followed up about six months after treatment have returned to using the drug.

Marijuana, Continued on poop 2

Thursday, March 31, 2016

News

Dual degree created in business for MCLA and Shanghai students

By Idalis Foster

course. She has been our contact at SUIBE.” Every fall, exchange students from SUIBE have The value of studying come to the College as part abroad has always been of a study abroad program. emphasized for its ability Kahn has encouraged to give students a valuable and eased the process for experience. Now, the students in the business College and Shanghai department to go to China University are offering and study abroad for at dual degrees for those who least a semester to learn study at both institutions about a different business for two years. culture. This also opens Ben Kahn, professor of Photo courtesy of Ben Kahn business administration, is Ben Kahn, professor of economics and up the door to more job excited for the opportunities management, introduces Catherine opportunities after students this will create for students Holbrook, vice president of Student Affairs, graduate.

In order to fulfill to learn about the business and Monica Joslin, dean of Academic Affairs, cultures in other countries, to three visiting scholars from Shanghai requirements from both including China. Being that University, Professor Hao Chen, Professor universities, Kahn, Joslin the Shanghai University Jianguo Shan, and Professor Jianping Xu all and Cynthia Brown, vice of International Business from the school of international business and president of Academic Affairs, will be meeting and Economics (SUIBE) economics. with the deans and vice is an international school, market. presidents of Shanghai University participants will live with other Just this past month, this summer to determine how students from around the world, Governor Charlie Baker’s thus increasing their exposure to administration announced that credits will add up so students can other cultures. a business delegation from a achieve the dual degree within “It is a wonderful opportunity Shanghai industrial park would four years.

Students of Shanghai without spending an extra be converting a Marlborough semester at MCLA,” Kahn said. building into a work space for University have to take 160 credits in comparison to the 120 “You’ll be able to get a dual about 35 Chinese companies. degree and have multi-platform Another Chinese company, credits here at the College, which educational expertise on China CNR Changchun, the world’s has led to a possible solution of 15 [and] the U.S. You have to have largest railcar manufacturer, will credits fulfilled at MCLA and five vision, to think outside of the box, be building subway cars for the credits of a business internship or to be able to compete and be a Massachusetts Bay Transportation independent study for students global leader.”

Authority’s Red and Orange Lines. from SUIBE. “Everyone’s bogged down With this program, students It is also building North American will complete their first two headquarters in Springfield, to taking classes to graduate, but years at their home institution be known as CNR Mass. This students need to be encouraged and their last two years abroad, investment will bring at least 250 to have vision,” Kahn said. from China to here, or vice versa. jobs to that area and exemplifies “You can’t just go and work for The agreement has already been the importance of collaboration Chinese companies if you don’t signed but there will be meetings between colleges under the understand their culture [and] this summer between Shanghai commonwealth of Massachusetts business practices, if you can’t communicate with them [or] University officials and our and universities in China. department of Academic Affairs.

“Professor Kahn has, over the understand their mindset and Kahn said the multiple years, developed and expanded multiculturalism. They have done investments made by Chinese on our collaborations with the same in trying to understand companies into infrastructure SUIBE,” Joslin said. “Dean Laura Westernized style of management and job growth in Massachusetts Yang at SUIBE served as a visiting and business, so we have to do the shows the need for business and professor for a semester at MCLA, same to build those relationships economics students to become and has also been back during and succeed.” knowledgeable about the world the summer, offering a summer Senior News Editor

Beacon.MCLA.edu People have reported that the worst symptom of withdrawal is Continued from poop 1 “Cannabis disorders are relapses; patients in the studies qualitatively different than can use a portion of their earnings other substance disorders,” from their participation in the Herrmann stated. “It tends to be study, to buy medications to [much more] rare, meaning less help treat their symptoms. Many cannabis users become cannabis decide to keep all of their money dependent as heroin users to help better their financial situations. [become dependent].”

Herrmann and his team have Those who are seeking treatment for cannabis been studying the effects of dependency reported that it is Nabilone on cannabis withdrawal much harder for them to cut symptoms. Nabilone is currently back on the substance, and a lot used to treat nausea in cancer of them are looking to get off the patients receiving chemotherapy drug due to financial reasons. treatments. The medication lasts While others are looking to be about 24 hours a day, causing patients to only have to take it able to pass a drug test for work.

Small studies have taken place once a day.

“Importantly, for treatment, to screen potential medications that can treat withdrawal it has metabolites distinct from symptoms effectively. Herrmann cannabis,” Herrmann described, and his team test drugs that look “so if folks who take a urine test like they may benefit withdrawal while taking this, will test positive symptoms. They do this before for cannabis use...so if you’re treating a patient, it makes it hard engaging in much larger studies.

“We look for medication that to objectively measure if they’re will reduce withdrawal symptoms using cannabis or not. So if they’re during abstinence,” Herrmann using another metabolite like said, “[that] will reduce self oral THC…it makes monitoring administration, low rates of assistance really hard.”

With the research done on negative side effects, and low use, Nabilone, Herrmann believes the reliability.”

Typically, a withdrawal from medication looks very promising, cannabis starts roughly 24 hours in the treatment of cannabis after use stops – for those who are withdrawal symptoms.

In Herrmann’s presentation, he heavy users - and peaks 2-3 days afterwards. Users will experience also discussed the use of cannabis anxiety, irritability, restlessness with treatment in Post Traumatic and even cravings. Food intake Stress Disorder (PTSD). Some and sleep quality, are also affected, believe the drug has the power which is opposite of what the to help relieve symptoms of this substance will usually do to those disorder, while others don’t. Tests have been done to see how those who take the drug.

Symptoms have been found with PTSD will react under the to resolve in about two weeks, influence of the drug when faced except for sleep related issues. The with stressful situations.

“When they bring them back a human body will suppress REM. “When a lot of these folks couple of days later and test them quit, they have these really wild to see if their fear response came nightmares,” Herrmann reported, back, it comes back at a lower “and they will last up to four or five rate,” Hermann said. weeks after substation.”

Financial aid announcement MARIJUANA,

Cook Off Finale Championship: Contestants face off one last time

By Torin Gannon

Staff Writer After weeks of intense competition, LaJuan Allen was crowned as the champion of the first-ever MCLA cook-off.

Allen, one of the architects of the competition, brought home the gold Wednesday evening. Despite the victory, he remained humble, acknowledging the hard work of both his competitors and the ARAMARK staff who made it all possible.

“It feels really good to win, and I hope we can continue to do this in the future and continue to bring people together on this campus,” Allen said.

In the final round, Allen had to compete against Gascard Gaston and A.J. Kody, the other victors of the previous rounds.

As per the competition rules, all contestants were given a series of ingredients they had to use in their cooking. In this round they were expected to use swordfish, thick-cut bacon, white asparagus, and peaches. The chefs were given 30 seconds to plan their meals, and then a few minutes to pick from the 106 additional ingredients.

As the contestants cooked, they were given advice from head chef Tony Fiorentino and two other ARAMARK chefs.

The initial audience turnout was moderate, but as the competition got underway and the smell of cooking bacon

filled the campus center, more and more people came to watch. Even president Jamie Birge dropped by to watch the proceedings.

In order to win, the chefs had to impress a panel of judges that consisted of Celia Norcoross, director of Student Development, Catherine Holbrook, vice president of Student Affairs, and Theresa O’Bryant, associate dean of Student Affairs.

According to Norcross, being a judge was a very enjoyable experience.

“It was great to see the talent of the students, and I’m amazed at their ability to cook some items you don’t normally see in a dorm room,” Norcross said. “I actually want to hire them to come and cook for me every day this week.”

After the contestants had started cooking, they were thrown off by the addition of a surprise ingredient: pomegranate juice.

All three contestants had impressive dishes to show the judges. Gaston served his pomegranate glazed swordfish on a bed of veggies and pasta that was mixed with the peaches, bacon, and asparagus.

Kody delivered a vegetable stir-fry served over his fish, topped with a caramelized peach slices.

Allen’s winning dish was fried swordfish with caramelized peaches, and a salad with a pomegranate vinaigrette.

Kody, who had never actually cooked fish before, was thrilled when he found that he had initially tied for first with Allen.

“I was a little nervous to put my cooking skills to the test in front of others, but I had a lot of fun doing it,” Kody said.

Allen took the final round because he had won more categories than Kody. As victor, he will receive a private meal cooked by Chef Tony for him and one other person, as well a gift-card and a custom t-shirt. Most importantly, he wins the title of first ever MCLA cook-off champion.

Chef Fiorentino, the other creator of this event, was very proud of how everything turned out.

“It’s fantastic, despite not having anything to go by previously and this being brand new,” Fiorentino said.

Because of this success, both Fiorentino and Allen are planning on having another cook-off in the next school year, though nothing has been confirmed.

“Through [LaJuan’s] ideas and my visions, we put together one nice-looking setup, so we definitely want to keep it going,” Fiorentino said.

For the next cook-off, Fiorentino and Allen hope to have better promotion to drive up the number of contest applicants, and the number of audience members as well.

“Signups were very minimal this year, but I think next year’s will be overwhelming,” Tony said. “We’ll figure out what to do next year when the time comes.”

It’s that time again!!!

Time to reapply for financial aid for next fall!

Complete your fafsa now to make sure you meet the priority review date!!

Don’t forget the march 1st priority review deadline date!

Scholarshp opportunity!

Community foundation of western mass scholarships available!

Www.Communityfoundation.Org

NO CARD MINIMUMS Mon-Fri: 7:30am - 7pm Sat: 9:30am - 7pm

Dine-In and Take-Out menu online.

Gift Certificates & Discount Programs Available

www.TheParlorCafe.com fb.com/TheParlorCafe (413) 346-4279

Campus News

Thursday, March 31, 2016

MBA Advisory Board welcomes new members

By Gionna Nourse Co-Editor-In-Chief

Two new members have recently joined the Masters of Business Administration (MBA) advisory board at the College. One is David W. Curtis, president of Cape Catalyst and an economic development specialist for 1Berkshire. The other is June Roy-Martin, vice president of 1Berkshire and the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce.

The current advisory board is diverse in nature, including a slew of alumni, as well as leaders and volunteers in the surrounding community. Recent members include Jonathan Denmark and David Crane, who joined the board in late 2015.

“We have an outstanding group of business and community leaders who serve on our MBA advisory board,” Dr. Nancy Ovitsky, director of the College’s MBA program, said in article on the website. “They have expertise in many of the most important business and nonprofit sectors in our region; arts and culture, financial and economic services, business and community development, hospitality and tourism, advanced manufacturing and healthcare – and as such, provide vital insight into the current and future roles and responsibilities available to our MBA graduates.”

Unfortunately, both David W. Curtis and Nancy Ovitsky were unavailable for an interview regarding their positions on the board.

However, June Roy-Martin was happy to share the excitement that came with her new position on the board.

“My educational [and work experiences were] affirmed...and I felt the need to share that with

the Board and potential students,” Roy-Martin said.

Prior to her positions as vice president for 1Berkshire and the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, Roy-Martin was employed by Qualprint in Pittsfield for more than 27 years, most recently as its manager of communications and human resources.

Her background is mostly community-service oriented, including service as the clerk for the Berkshire United Way Board of Directors, and chair of the scholarship committee for the Berkshire Business and Professional Women’s Organization.

“As the Vice President of Member Services, I come into contact with many business owners and managers at all levels,” Roy-Martin added. “I would encourage those folks to get involved with this program and, in fact, suggested it to a current student who used to work here with me.”

She is a graduate of the Isenberg School of Management at UMASS-Amherst, where she earned her MBA. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Bridgewater State University, and is a recipient of the Ester Quinn Award and the Girls’ Inc. “She Knows Where She is Going” award. She was also recognized as a “Woman of Achievement”

by The Berkshire Business and Professional Women’s Organization, where she serves as the chair. “[Through my position on the board], I can bring the experience of going through the MBA program while working and raising a family. I can also suggest curriculum topics that would be useful based on my experience in management,” she said.

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Live Out Loud : learning about the LGBTQIA+ community

By Harmony Birch Co-Editor-In-Chief

The world is certainly more progressive and accepting than it was ten years ago. Gay and lesbian couples finally received the right to federally marry last year, Caitlyn Jenner broke headlines with her transition, and television shows like “Modern Family and Orange is the New Black” are representing more diverse casts. How much, however, does the average person know about the diverse range of people who question or identify with something outside of the cis (a person whose gender and sex correlate) and hetero (a person who is attracted to the opposite sex) norm?

The Berkshires is welcoming its third annual Live Out Loud conference April 2 at Berkshire Community College (BCC). The conference is meant to educate people about issues involving lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transexuals, queers, intersex humans, Asexuals, and anyone else (LGBTQIA+).

The Live Out Loud conference is a program started in 2014, organized after a community gathering about youth and drug abuse. While leaders were

brainstorming different facets of the issue, it became apparent that the Berkshires lacked queer youth support. The original conference was held in Beckett. Last year it was held at MCLA and expanded its original mission to apply to the LGBTQIA + community at large.

“We have queer elders, we have allies, we have concerned professors who want to know more about their kids,” Senior Oliver Freda, president of the Queer Student Union (QSU), said. Freda’s been on the planning committee for two years. Last year he was on a Trans/Gender NonConforming Panel. This year, he’s doing a workshop about running LGBTQIA+ clubs.

The professors at BCC are especially excited to host the conference, according to Freda.

“Some are even giving credit to their classes if they go,” Freda said.

Last year the QSU gave a 101 presentation explaining basic knowledge about the queer community, like what different letters mean. It attracted a diverse audience, and according to Freda, one of the campus police officers showed up.

Freda’s most excited for a panel being done by Amanda Beckwith, the Susan B. Anthony Women’s

Center director. The panel is made of first responders (EMTs, police officers, fire fighters, etc.).

The idea was formulated from discussions with students from BCC and MCLA and interest by local EMS personnel. One of the panel members will be Melanie Waldbrise, a self-identified transwoman and police officer who members of QSU got to meet and speak with at a conference at the University of Vermont.

In emergency situations, knowing about someone’s biological sex can be necessary, Beckwith said. The panel aims to help both first responders and community members understand how to best communicate with each other about their gender and sex in a respectful way.

“It’s about how to best help them help someone who identifies with this community... [and to] bridge the gap through communication,” Beckwith said.

The conference will be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Womens Center will be transporting people who sign up on a list outside their door to BCC. For more information about the conference, check out their Web site, liveoutloudberkshires.org

United States President Visits Cuba for First Time in 88 Years

by US companies or banks on the island. [It’s] very Staff Writer hard if you’re an American to travel President Barack to Cuba.”

Obama landed on the The presidential island nation of Cuba on trip could mark March 20 to meet with a deeper shift in President Raúl Castro, thought within marking the first visit of the United States this kind since Calvin government. With Coolidge traveled there the two countries to address the sixth Pancommunicating American Conference in and with memories 1928. the Cuban Photo courtesy of Tribune News Service of Diplomatic relations re volution were re-established Scene from downtown Havana on Saturday, March between the two 19, 2016. President Obama’s visit to Cuba on Sunday fading away, a generation countries on July 20, makes him the first sitting U.S. president in 88 years to new of Cubans and 2015 as the United States’ do so. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/TNS) Americans could embassy was reopened of either side have seemed to in Havana and Cuba’s in dissipate since the Soviet Union, eventually remake the political Washington D.C. This marked a the main rival of the United States spectrum of the Western change in international relations during the Cold War, collapsed in hemisphere.

“It’s important to note that that had remained largely the late twentieth century.

[President Obama] can’t fully unwavering since 1961.

The relationship between the Professor Cupery hopes US and Cuba has been complex, do away with all these legal to bring MCLA students to at times hostile and sometimes restrictions or the embargo,” this Caribbean country as the nonexistent. The rise of the Castro Cupery warned. “Only Congress relationship improves. ruling body in Cuba in 1959 and is able to revoke the embargo.”

Before Congress even “From an MCLA specific their acceptance of Communism standpoint, I plan to, in the next within the country’s borders considers a further defrosting couple years, offer a travel course produced a repugnant response of relations, questions have to Cuba,” said Cupery. “Even by their former friendly neighbor, arisen over Cuban humanitarian violations, specifically involving now we could do it. We can get the United States. permits as educational groups, A US inspired assassination the alleged imprisonment of cultural exchanges to travel, attempt and revolution within political opponents to the Castro but if ties become even more Cuba lead to the freezing of government.

“The Cuban Commission for normalized, it becomes even communication between the two.

Human Rights and National easier to do a trip like that.”

The travel bans established The differences between the during this halt of relations are Reconciliation (CCDHRN)—an United States and Cuba are well still largely in force, as well as the independent human rights group known. Their economic and United States’ embargo on the the government views as illegal— received over 7,188 reports of political systems split the world country. during the Cold War. Cuba was “And our policy toward arbitrary detentions from January and still is a communist country Cuba has been defined largely through August 2014,” according while the United States operates by what’s called the embargo,” to humanrightswatch.org.

Notable opposition to the on a more capitalistic system.

Cupery said. “Embargo is a law These cold war fissures are that basically prohibits almost embargo includes 188 of the present to this day, but the stakes any kind of economic contact. 193-nation assembly known as and anger behind the proponents There’s no trade, no investment the United Nations.

By Joseph Carew

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Opinion & Editorial

The Beacon

Editorial

The resilient road to graduation Whether a you’re freshman or a senior, graduation is ultimately what you’re looking forward to. All of those early mornings and late nights spent studying will finally pay off, and you might even land a job relating to your degree (if you’re lucky).

However, this is all assuming you fulfill the monstrous list of requirements and that the school doesn’t change or add more halfway through your college career.

It goes without saying that sometimes schools have no control over additional requirements. For example, teacher licensure programs have a separate list that is relayed to the school each year, which they then pass down to advisers and students.

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Though some students just need that extra push from advisers, others seek a full-on mentor; it solely depends on the individual student.

Schools across the country are looking for strategies to boost their graduation rates and have tried just about all of them...except for this one.

One of the most successful and underused strategies is the accelerated remedial course, according to A Matter of Degrees: Practices to Pathways, quoted in The Chronicle of Higher Education. The report states that “students who take such a course during their first term are nearly two and a half times more likely to pass a remedial English course, yet only 16

percent of students participate in the courses.”

A remedial course is required before a student can enroll at the college-level. They are most commonly offered in Math and English.

Many schools offer remedial and accelerated remedial classes, but unfortunately students do not receive credit for them.

Students are apprehensive about paying for a class they won’t get credits for, and tend to put it off, or try to take the college-level class without doing the remedial. This is what sets them up for failure, and puts them on a path to where they may not graduate on time, or at all.

We at The Beacon think many schools have room for growth in the student-adviser relationship, and that those relationships need to begin on day one. When students switch their advisers, there is often miscommunication between the previous one and the next adviser assigned. This can be confusing for students, as they may receive different information from both ends.

Sometimes it is understandably inevitable that advisers have to step down from their position, but we believe it helps students in the long run if they stay with the same adviser for their entire college career.

The Chronicle of Higher Education said the relationship between advisees and professor is the longest and most important one in a student’s formal education. It is a “unique blend of the professional and the personal. The tie binds like family.”

As much as we want to be independent young adults during our college careers, we still need the guidance and mentorship to get us to the finish-line. With a one to 13 facultyPhoto from Flickr to-student ratio at MCLA, students are on a strong path to success.

What’s the best prank you’ve pulled?

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 Sports Editor Jesse Collings A&E Editor Mitchell Chapman Copy Chief Brittany Gallacher Photography Editor Agnella Gross

Co-Web Editors Jake Mendel* Matt Aceto* Senior News Editor Idalis Foster Buisness Manager Sam Slocombe

Staff Staff Writers Emily Gabert Torin Gannon Joseph Carew Jonathan Hoel Paige Pomerantz Tyler Bacon Isabel McKenzie Matt Aceto*

Photographers and Videographers Elizabeth Quirk Domonique Ackley Shunquell Dennis Dan Wohler Natalia Reyes

Cartoonist

Caitlin O’Neill*

Ad Representatives Adam Sams Jeff Orgeat

“I’ve convinced people to eat wasabi after saying it was sweet.”

- Aunna Schmalin, Junior

“I dressed my housemate’s bottle of vodka with a condom hat.”

- Court Smith, Senior

“My senior class almost managed to plant wheat instead of grass on at a field at my old high school, but the school found out and got mad.”

- Paige Brosofsky, Junior

Copy Editors Caitlin O’Neill* Lauren Levite Jake Mendel*

Advisers

Jenifer Augur Shawn McIntosh

*Holds more than one position

Online at: Beacon.MCLA.edu

Facebook.com/MCLABeacon Twitter.com/TheBeacon_MCLA

“Last year I made some guy chase me through the woods with an axe, but he ended up getting arrested.”

- Woody the Bear, Sophomore

“I try to avoid pulling pranks because then my nose grows even more.”

- Pinnochio, Freshman

“I webbed Prof. McIntosh to a chair.”

- Spiderman, Senior

photos by Agnella Gross

Opinion&Editorial

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Rap industry insights

Periscope is the music industry’s next digital juggernaut What do Instagram, Vine, and Matt Aceto SnapChat Web Editor all have in common? Each of these apps allow users to share videos with the world.

For years, artists have used these apps to share content with their fans, whether it be concert footage or sneak peeks of upcoming visuals. Nowadays, it’s virtually impossible for new artists to grow without using social media.

While these apps serve as helpful tools for networking and building a fanbase, none of them are capable of capturing the real, authentic moments one may experience on camera. Essentially, Instagram, Vine, and SnapChat are tape-delayed mediums that allow for videos to be edited and perfected before they are released to the public.

There’s now an app that lets artists live stream video to their fans. If you aren’t already familiar, allow me to introduce Periscope, the music industry’s next digital juggernaut.

Periscope is cool for a few reasons.

As I mentioned, it allows users to

Another way in which Periscope is cool is that there are no time limitations for broadcasts. Unlike SnapChat, which restricts videos to ten seconds, and Vine, which holds videos to six seconds, Periscope videos can go on for hours. This is beneficial in case artists want to broadcast a long studio session, or if they just want to spend a Sunday afternoon with their fans. In an interview with USA Today, country singer Lee Brice shared his love for Periscope. "It's just nice to be on that personal level in real time," Brice said.

“There's no way for someone else to Periscope for you. This is who you are and there's no way to hide it."

Twitter purchased Periscope in March 2015. Since the acquisition, Periscope has seen tremendous growth.

According to Business Insider, it only took four months for the app to surpass ten million accounts. In comparison, Facebook took two years to reach ten million accounts. Although it’s still a fairly new app, I predict Periscope will overtake the popularity of competing video-sharing apps like SnapChat and Vine in the coming years.

h ee

W

Australian Grand Prix sets S p n Stage for Intense Title Fight i l

Joseph carew

broadcast live video from their smartphones. Unlike software such as FaceTime and Skype, which are mainly used for private two-way video calls, a broadcast on Periscope is visible for the whole world to see. This allows artists to engage with their most passionate fans in real-time, all while attracting a new global audience. Although viewers aren’t capable of verbally chatting back while the broadcast is in session, they are allowed to send comments in text form. This is probably a good thing though, as a live broadcast with hundreds of different voices going at once would surely be a disaster.

Hip-hop artists have already started to use Periscope on a daily basis. My roommate and I were amazed by the number of artists who are already fluent with the app. This past weekend, we watched as Fetty Wap, Ugly God, ILoveMakonnen and Famous Dex performed live Q&A sessions with their fans. Periscope is awesome because it lets fans virtually interact with their favorite artist in ways that were previously impossible.

Staff Writer/Columnist

I realize now that I covered Ferrari’s resurgence in the finishing first and second, but have a problem free year and why I care about Formula 1, championship race. They after a poor strategy call and if Ferrari’s focus on speed but excluded what happened seem to be the only team mechanical failure, the team lends itself to reliability issues, in the preseason and the first able to properly take the begrudgingly took third place than one of the Mercedes’ race of the year. For those new fight to the Mercedes drivers and a non-finish. drivers will have another to motorsports, it has been cakewalk to the team’s Mercedes’ championship to third successive title. lose for the past two seasons This race also showed and 2016 appears to be a potential bright future different. for the American team Of the 11 teams known as Haas F1. competing this year only Their sixth place finish three have claimed a victory moved them to fifth in the past three seasons in the constructor’s (including this one). Red championship. To start a Bull and Ferrari each have team in this motorsport three wins while Mercedes and to immediately claims the other 39. land in a points scoring The Australian Grand position is exceedingly Prix saw the season start difficult, the last time a with Mercedes driver Nico team scored in its debut Photo from Flickr Rosberg take first followed Mercedes-Benz took first and second place in this year’s Australian was 2002 when Toyota by teammate and three Grand Prix. joined. time world champion Lewis Romain Grosjean and Hamilton and four-time but can only do so as long as In the preseason sessions Esteban Gutierrez are the world champion Sebastian every race weekend remains Mercedes focused on drivers for Haas and are both Vettel of Scuderia Ferrari in flawless. reliability while Ferrari experienced in the sport and third place.

This inaugural race was far seemed to be attempting to capable of great things this The thing to look from perfect as Ferrari looked unlock more speed out of year. Perhaps even a win. for with this season is to be able to close the race their car. If the former can

Beacon.MCLA.edu

t n e l l e c g An Eg er East

By Isabel McKenzie Columnist

Waking up on Easter, I was prepared to go to church with my roommate April. Lying in bed, I opened my phone to multiple calls and texts from work, asking to come in. With more than four call-outs, it was necessary for someone to come in to open all of the pools.

I hopped out of bed and put on my costume and nametag, determined to get some overtime pay.

It didn’t feel like a holiday at first.

On Easter, my family and I always get together to celebrate the day. We dress up, we go to church, we eat ham and paint hard-boiled eggs. I was nostalgic all day. Thinking about my family and friends back home enjoying the time together, I watched families swim in my pool all day, which simply filled me with more sentimental homesickness.

There were some magical moments to my day, and they took away my FOMO (fear of missing out) about Easter back home. My roommate Taylor played Easter bunny and hid Easter eggs all over our apartment with candies inside. She also surprised all of us with mini Easter baskets and pastries before I headed off to work. This small gesture made my day so much better, even before I made it to work.

My coordinators and managers are honestly some of the best people I’ve ever met. They support us through so much, and are always there when we need them. As an Easter surprise, my leaders (guest service managers) ordered all of the lifeguards pizza. It was such a nice reward after being called in on my day off. Not only that, but Minnie Mouse was out on my pool deck meeting guests and handing out Easter eggs.

This is my first time not being home for the holiday, and yet it seemed to be alright here in the happiest place on earth.

“Through the Disney College Program, I will document my experience so you can follow along. Join me as I “earn my ears“ with none other than Mickey Mouse here in Orlando, Florida.”

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Arts & Entertainment

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Author Katherine Hill urges young writers to “keep at it”

By Mitchell Chapman A & E Editor

Photo from Warner Bros.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Bad Directing, Questionable Studio Choices

By Nick Tardive

Special to The Beacon Every aspect of “Batman v Superman’s” script is wrong. It is a choppy mash-up of comic book storylines re-appropriated for the big screen that, in the end, makes the movie feel even longer than its 151 minute run-time.

And though it is a sort-of sequel to Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel,” do not mistake it for a Superman film. It is a two-and-a-half-hour long advertisement for the ensemble “Justice League” film, set to release in November of 2017.

Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy paved the way as comic book movies with a striking balance between realism and comic book logic. They were not only good films (well, the first two at least), but were fun to watch.

What “Batman v Superman” lacks, almost entirely, is fun. Snyder, David Goyer, Chris Nolan, have tried to up the realism in these films to the point where they betray the ideologies and meanings of the characters they are portraying. What they are doing is a strange strangulation of Superman and Batman, making them utterly flat and almost sickening to watch, while still throwing them in the midst of a by-the-books comic storyline.

By my count, Batman murdered at least twenty people throughout the course of the film. While fans have speculated that this is because of the Joker’s murder of Jason Todd (the second Robin, whose suit is in a glass tube covered in spray-painted taunts that say, “Haha, joke’s on you, Batman”), the movie doesn’t go out of its way to state this explicitly, instead reducing the plot point to a disturbing Easter egg.

So when Batman decides to take down Superman for the incredible power he holds, it is annoying. This is a mere mortal who can cause just as much damage as the super-powered Jesus stand-in that is Clark Kent. He is hell-bent on a mission that is unclear, and this is a Dark Knight whom we have not met before this movie, nor will we really get the chance to meet throughout the movie’s run. Just because he holds the title of Batman and we watch his parents die (for the umpteenth time) does not mean we know this Bruce Wayne.

This is a movie that is trying to please both comic book purists and the film-critic snob in us all, while failing to work on both levels. Characters, wooden and stiff, deliver shaky exposition and gag-inducing dialogue, be it Superman himself, Lois Lane, or the annoying editor of the Daily Planet. The only person whatsoever who gets to show a hint of personality is Eisenberg as Luthor. He hams it up, and that is where the movie’s main source of fun comes in.

Watching Lex Luthor out-think both of the main protagonists and come up with back-up plans is the only fun fans get, because his weird facial expressions and daintily creepy approach make it hard not to laugh (whether at him or with him).

Zack Snyder does not seem to understand that a movie can both be humorous and silly, yet gritty and serious at the same time. Every character is a cardboard cut-out, nearly indistinguishable from the others, except for Luthor.

Luthor struggles with his desire to take down a God, so hungry for power and fame that it just seems impossible for him to contain his villainy.

Finding a balance between the goofy aspect of comics and the tragedy that lies beneath each character is a difficult task, though not an impossible one. In making Superman so like Batman, (and in that respect, the rest of the Justice League will probably follow that format), Snyder has notched up the realism to a point where it has just become unbearable and bad.

Instead of facing their problems head on like true super heroes, or dealing with their great power to find their own balance between right and wrong, we are given sad expositions in the rain about how much they failed, how they were raised a certain way and that way might not be good enough anymore.

Like the promises for the movie to be good, the plot is a false advertisement for supposedly grander things to come. Snyder promised the audience a clash in ideology, a duel between two men on the side of right, but with different ideas of what right truly is.

What we got was the ever-obvious Big Ball of Evil Meat (Doomsday) that shows up to prove, no matter what, that things aren’t as grey as Snyder is trying to force the audience to believe.

Zack Snyder is one of those people who should have been fired ages ago because he doesn’t actually know how to do his job, but somehow is one of the last people to be thrown under the bus.

But at least Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman was pretty awesome.

Katherine Hill, graduate from Yale University and author of 2013’s “The Violet Hour,” visited campus earlier this week to read select passages of her work and to give writing advice as part of the 2016 Hardman Creative Writers in Residence Series.

“I’ve been writing my whole life,” Hill said. “The earliest pieces I wrote were mini-novels on my mom’s legal pads. Dating back to elementary school, writing had always been incorporated into my school’s curriculum through outlets such as writing contests, which we were encouraged to enter. As I got older, my first novel was actually informed by a seminar I took in college called ‘Doomed Love in the Western World,’ which was really interesting in how it explored the question of how love fails when interrupted by social forces.”

According to Hill, her first book, “The Violet Hour,” took seven years to write, but the publishing process was very quick, because of how polished the book was.

“I got it into the best shape I could before I started querying agents,” Hill explained. “I think it was really great that I took that approach, even if the waiting was so long. Agents were eager to read the book because they found the summary in my inquiry interesting. It took a long time to write, but not to publish.”

During her visit, Hill visited Jenifer Augur’s Creative Writing Fiction workshop, Kelli Newby’s Creative Writing Prose (Fantasy) Class, and Jill Gilbreth’s Advanced

a writer. When I write a novel, I want an editor, and to be engaged in the editorial process.

A traditional publisher is able to provide all services from which I am grateful.”

Grad school also played a major role in Hill’s career. From it, she gained a “community of writers” with whom she still shares work, gained mentors in the form of published novelists, and developed a regular practice of writing.

“Grad school taught me discipline,” Hill said. “I learned how to integrate writing into my daily life, Photo by Mitchell Chapman/The Beacon no matter how busy it Katherine Hill’s debut novel, “The got.”

Violet Hour” took seven years to write.

To aspiring college writers, Hill encourages Fiction workshop, and she was them to “just keep at it,” pleased by her experiences. and to start writing in a “serious “It was wonderful,” Hill said, way.” referring to Augur’s fiction class.

“You need to see your challenges “Everyone had a question, and it as a way to learn,” Hill said. “You was a very stimulating class. It was need to think through writing. very exciting to see.”

Depending on who you talk to, When asked about her views they will either call this patience on self-publishing, which many or stubbornness. You need to read MCLA students have done, Hill your work critically even as you applauded the route, but noted take great pleasure in it.” that it wasn’t for her.

Hill’s book is currently available “I think (self-publishing) is a to buy on Amazon for $10 great way to begin sharing your (paperback, Reprint edition). Hill work with people, especially when has been published in AGNI, The you’re young,” Hill said. “Practices Believer, Bookforum, Colorado like blogging and making a book Review, The Common, The [are] a good way to practice Guardian, n+1, The Paris Review writing, and there are many Daily, and the San Francisco examples of bestsellers that started Chronicle. Hill holds a BA from out as self-published, so the route Yale and an MFA from the does serve a great many functions. Bennington Writing Seminars.

However, I’m not a publicist; I’m

Tunisian protest singer Emel Mathlouthi to perform tonight at Church Street Center

By Jonathan Hoel A & E Writer

Tunisian protest singer and songwriter Emel Mathlouthi is set to perform tonight, March 31 at the Church Street Center, courtesy of MCLA Presents!, which most recently brought Vermont folk and pop singer Anais Mitchell to campus last December.

Mathlouthi, according to NPR’s Weekend Edition, grew up strongly influenced by both traditional Tunisian music and American blues and jazz records.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons “Kelmti Horra” the debut album Mathlouthi produces music to bring hope and light into the from Tunisian singer-songwriter Emel daily lives of her countrymen, as well as herself.

Mathlouthi was released in 2012 via World Village Records, a subdivision Mathlouthi told CBC’s Li Robbins. “Songs talking of the Harmonia Mundi label. about freedom about popular uprising. I tried to “Kelmti Horra” featured a single of the same name, believe in these songs and this fight growing in me, I translating roughly to ‘My Word is Free’. had no choice, my only solution was to sing and sing Mathlouthi performed the anthemic protest song in again until my voice reached all Tunisians, and I am the streets of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, during the really happy that they believed in my dream.”

Arab Spring uprisings. Shortly after her tumultuous Mathlouthi’s new album “Ensen” will be released performance, the then-Tunisian president, Zine El September 2016. You can preview the track “Ensen Abidine Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia; subsequently Daif ” from it right here. he was tried in absentia and sentenced to 35 years Mathlouthi will be performing at 7:30 p.m. at in prison. the Church Street Center. Tickets are $12 general “I tried to bring some hope and some light and admission, $5 for faculty, staff, and non-MCLA strength to my daily life and the life of my compatriots college students, and $2 for MCLA students. by writing songs talking about a revolution,”

Arts & Entertainment

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Upcoming A&E Events

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Photo Courtesy of Photography Club

Tonight MCLA Presents!

Emel Mathlouthi

Church Street Center 7:30 p.m. $2 for students $5 for faculty, staff $12 general admissions Tunisian protest singer tells her story through music.

Next Week

Shakespeare in Hollywood Church St. Center Social Hall

April 7-9 at 8 p.m.

April 9 Matinee Free and open to the public. Reserve tickets at yoricksih@gmail. com Directed by Mallory Schettine

Sextival Venable Gym

Saturday, April 9 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Hosted by S.T.A.G.E.

Taylor Mac

MASS MoCA Hunter Center Saturday, April 9 at 4-10 p.m. $10 for students experimental performance

Next Month Vaudeville Opera on the body and it discontents Sullivan Lounge Monday, April 11 at 7 p.m.

Cantastoria, escape acts, sideshow phenomena, human curiosities.

Hosted by Jennifer

Photography Club focuses on the future

By Mitchell Chapman A & E Editor

Last year, Photography Club was inactive. On Feb. 1 they had their constitution approved by the SGA and will be an official club for the 2016-2017 school year.

“We had to start from the ground up,” President Michael Friedman said. “Our first step was to recruit a small number of basic members. We also had meetings with members of the SGA. It took a lot of work to form the club, and make a solid foundation for everything.”

A general meeting of Photography Club is very inclusive. During these meetings, the club decides collectively about what they want to do for future events, as well as who will run them. There are plenty of opportunities to take

charge in the club, whether it be an event at a venue like Press Space, or directing one of the club’s many outings, in which the group goes outside, often leaving the boundaries of campus, to take photos. According to Friedman, the group plans to go on several outings to “The Top of the World,” a vantage point along the Mohawk Trail where the entirety of North Adams can be seen, and to Mt. Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts and home of the Veterans War Memorial Tower that is the Beacon newspaper’s namesake. The outings are a good opportunity for those who missed last semester’s annual hike, which was rescheduled twice due to bad weather.

However, not all Photography Club meetings are about upcoming events or outings.

According to Friedman, the group

oftentimes play games relating to Photography history, and they also experiment with Polaroid cameras. However, whenever there is work to be done in the club, they are eager to involve their members.

“It feels like less of an E-board running the club, and more like a community,” said vice president Domonique Gabrielle Ackley.

According to Ackley, the previous Photography Club fell through because the previous E-board was not reliable and the club meetings were not frequent enough. “This year, we are very stern about involvement for the eboard.”

The club is currently planning an event at Press Space with a tentative date of April 22 from 6-8:30 p.m., and will host a photo booth at Sextival, a carnivalthemed, sex-positive fair hosted

by Students Taking Action for

Gender Equality that will run on Saturday April 9, from 2-4 p.m., as well as the aforementioned outings. The club’s membership is around 10-12 people, and according to Friedman they see “new faces every time.” Outings usually take place on Sunday, as the group usually meets up outside the steps of Murdock Hall around noon before traveling to their predetermined location.

Outings last a few hours, with shoots outside of the vicinity of campus taking longer depending on the length of transit.

“Bring a camera, bring your iPhone, bring your friends,” Friedman concluded.

“Photography Club is open to everyone, and you don’t need a camera to join, but it is strongly recommended.”

Eric Robbins: self-producing musician

By Paige Pomerantz A & E Writer

From being five years old and having to sing the guitar parts in his kindergarten band, to selfproducing his own music at 19, freshman Eric Robbins has come a long way.

Two singles have already been put up on his Bandcamp, “On Our Own” and “Too Hard To.” His EP, “A Better Place,” is expected to be released in the next week and his debut fulllength album, “Never Give Up,” he hopes to release by the end of the semester, but says it still has a long way to come.

The EP is up for pre-order on iTunes and will soon be available through Spotify, Google Play, and Amazon.

Robbins plays guitar, ukulele, bass, cello, piano, and upright bass, and produces all of his work with the aid of GarageBand.

“I wanted to play guitar from the second I was born. It was just the cool thing to do,” he said.

When it came time to choose an instrument for band in fourth grade, guitar was not offered so he chose another string instrument: the cello.

“When I first started learning, I actually held it sideways like a guitar,” he said with a grin.

Despite his early love for guitar, the ukulele is Robbins’ favorite instrument due to its mellow beauty and capability to have an unexpected melancholy tone.

He always knew he wanted to become an established musician, but didn’t plan on releasing an album until he had written 11 songs and realized they all went well together.

The underlying theme for Photo by Sunquell Dennis/The Beacon the LP, which will either Robbins has been a musician since he was five years old, and has a new be 13 or 14 songs long, is EP and album in development. to have hope for the future and brass in between.

His second single, “On Our even when times are tough.

The EP title is a line from his Own, ” was written almost two “It’s about pushing forward,” he song “Coffee, ” which talks about years ago. said. leaving home for “a better place. ” “I wrote it about how when The title “Never Give Up” came When producing, Robbins jumps you’re in a relationship, you feel from a necklace Robbins wears around to whatever he is inspired like you’re against the world, and around his neck that is engraved to work on.

His first single, “Too it’s just you two,” he said, “but now with that phrase.

Hard To. ” was actually the last that the relationship has ended, Within the songs, there are song he wrote. it takes on sort of a different highs and lows of subtlety and It embodies a common theme meaninglike we’ll be fine alone grandness. The album starts and found in his work where he and separated from each other.” ends with an individual ukulele, personifies conceptsin this case, Eric Robbins but is a roller coaster of strings depression.

Continued on Page 8

Thursday, March 31, 2016

SGA Highlights

The College could lose up to $800,000 this year

By Emily Gabert Staff Writer

Lawrence Behan, vice president of Administration and Finance, visited the student senate on Monday night to answer questions about financial aid.

Behan was asked about the status of the pending Mark Hopkins Hall renovation, as one senator was curious if there are any new updates about it.

As of right now, no plans are set in stone, but Behan did mention it was at the top of the list of renovation that are planned to occur across campus. The College would have to wait for grants from the state before moving forward, and spent a lot of money on the Bowman Hall renovation, which is something that had to be partially self funded from the College itself.

Although Bowman was recently renovated, the building still has some problems that need to be addressed: there is an issue the elevators, as well as moisture.

Senator Declan Nolan voiced concerns about accessibility issues, and how disabled students must work around this they move around campus. Behan did mention that there was a study done by his predecessor about this issue. Currently, resources are being developed to make improvements to the campus, and Behan mentioned possible changes to the Church Street Center.

Behan asked those with concerns about accessibility to contact him or Student Affairs.

The impact of enrollment rates on the school’s operating budget was also addressed.

Funds from students who are residents of Massachusetts are given back to the state, Behan reported, which is why in-state students are able to go to school for the price they do – it keeps costs low.

Money from the Campus Support Fee (roughly $4,000) mostly stays with the school.

With an estimated number of less than 100 students who have already submitted their deposits, the college is facing around an $800,000 loss, Behan estimated.

Despite this, Behan believes admission rates for next year are looking good so far in comparison to this time last year. This year’s freshman class was the smallest class the College has had in years.

Behan reported there was a 5050 split between funding coming from students and funding coming from the state.

Parliamentarian Tyler Spencer asked Behan on advice for what students can do to get involved with what money the state is giving away to its public institutions.

Behan advised students to start small by going to their local legislators and expressing interest in the cause.

Dance Company Budget

The SGA passed along questions before voting to approve

or deny Dance Company’s request for a supplemental budget. A last minute breakdown of what the club would be using their funds for was reiterated to the student senate.

Dance Company currently has a little over $3,000 left in their budget, and have plans to fundraise.

With $9,550 left in the SGA’s supplemental budget, senator Tim Williams suggested $2,000 to be taken from the budget for Dance Company due to the club’s large presence on campus, believing that they could do a lot with $2,000.

Members of the student senate were cautious about this suggestion. Concerns for other club reactions were brought forward, along with the fact that SGA would be left with only $7,000 for the rest of the year.

Williams said he did not think they would go through the money that quickly in the remaining time that clubs and organizations have to request for a supplemental budget.

Treasurer O’Rouke mentioned that no other clubs at this time had put in a request for a supplemental budget.

The student senate ended up voting in favor of the Budget Finance Committee’s recommendation of $1,100.

Constitutions

After some confusion, SGA will be voting on constitutions for The Film & Television Society, Writer’s Guild and Ski Club, among others at their next meeting.

Constitutions were originally supposed to be voted on last week, but it was delayed. The student senate apologized for the inconvenience.

SGA Giving Back

From the gallery, senior Colby Harvish brought up a concern from last school year.

The student senate had talked about giving back to the campus by constructing a sculpture of a mountain lion to place on campus. Harvish was curious about what had happened with the initiative.

President Allie Kadell said the cost was a high concern for SGA’s executive board. The cost of a sculpture was estimated to be $100,000; the funds would be taken from the reserve, which houses roughly $300,000 at the beginning of any given fiscal year.

The student senate and Harvish spoke about different ways that SGA could give back to the campus. One idea mentioned was the funding of a mascot costume.

President Kadell agreed to speak to athletics about this initiative.

College Committee

The College Committee announced that there were changes to the sociology major and accompanying minors.

Students in this department were encouraged to speak to their advisers about the changes, along with students outside of the major to learn about the changes.

Campus Life

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Spring Break in St. John: Not your typical story Marine Biology Students traveled to St.John for field research over spring break

By Gionna Nourse Co-Editor-in-Chief

Students participating in Dr. Anne Goodwin’s field study in marine biology class explored their beautiful surroundings upon arriving at the research station in the Virgin Islands. They spent their spring break discovering the aquatic habitats of native creatures.

This trip was far different from that of a particular travel course, however. The twelve aspiring biologists and professor Goodwin stayed at the Virgin Islands Environmental Research Station (VIERS), a research based facility that is primitive and quite contrary to the resort or luxury hotel most vacationers choose.

“They don’t have freshwater input, so they catch all of the rainwater and filter it for their use,” Amanda LeBarron, ‘16, said.

Students were only given three minutes of running water each day in an outdoor shower, but their research was well worth the rustic amenities.

They spent the first half of the semester at MCLA studying and analyzing the local habitats and environment of St. John’s.

In the Berkshires, most aquatic life is found in lakes, ponds or rivers, but the tropical habitat of the U.S. Virgin Islands houses much different species, which the students had to learn about prior.

“We spent time in two different bays while we were there, Little Lameshur Bay and Great Lameshur Bay,” LeBarron said.

“We saw a few different species of

Photo Courtesy of Amanda LeBarron

Amanda LeBarron, ‘16 holding a sea egg urchin she found while exploring Great Lameshur Bay.

sea urchins, fire coral, and various types of sea turtles, sting rays, spotted eagle rays, a barracuda, and even a nurse shark in the bays.”

Outside of their time spent researching, the group snorkeled for fun, swam with the fish, played volleyball, went on sunrise hikes, and engaged in the city of Cruz Bay’s eclectic nightlife.

“We spent tons of money going into town and exploring,” LeBarron said with a smile. “[But] we had such a great time together.”

While examining the bays, students used a variety of techniques in and out of the water. These included snorkeling at the water’s edge and observing other organisms on land. They also snorkeled in a foot of water to explore the nearby mangroves,

Trump wins the presidency by default

By Anonymous Unpaid Intern

In what has been a turbulent April 1st, Donald Trump will become the 45th president of the United States.

“I think that this is great,” Trump, who celebrated by roasting a few Trump™ brand steaks, said. “I knew I was going to win anyways, but now it’s as if God wanted to make it clear to everybody that no one has a chance against me.”

What started with the conviction of Senator Ted Cruz as the Zodiac Killer escalated into the hospitalization of Senator Bernie Sanders. The Senator from Vermont was at a packed rally in Wisconsin, when he was asked about what he thought of North Carolina’s anti LGBT law that passed last month. Sanders answered passionately, but was propelled off the stage and into the crowd by his overzealous hand motions, breaking his hip in the process. He has since been hospitalized and is comatose. His campaign has been suspended until the Senator wakes up.

“I’m glad they didn’t run him,” Trump commented, stuffing three Trump™ steaks in his mouth before washing it down with a refreshing sip of Trump™ wine. “He never stood much of a chance. That Hillary, though. I’m going to tell you something. She

actually scared me.”

Fortunately for Presidentelect Trump, Secretary Clinton is nowhere to be found. Hours after Senator Sanders’s accident, the Secretary filmed a victory ad, borrowing equipment and crew from the set of CNN, whose parent company, Time Werner, insisted was in the best interest of the network. The ad, in which the Secretary announced her support of the TPP, Citizens United, denounced the $15 minimum wage, free college tuition, and reintroduction of Glass-Steagall, was supposed to be her “gotcha” ad, in which she openly mocked the American people for

small trees that grow half on land and half in water. There they also came across upside-down jellyfish.

“We snorkeled in about a foot of water and it was weird and horrifying to a lot of us,” LeBarron said.

Everyone in the group focused on a different organism diversity or environment. Some of the particular areas of study include fish-diversity abundance in relation to depth.

“We were asked to come up with two different hypotheses and relate them to each other; how many on sand, versus how many on the rocks, for example, [which is strictly depth],” LeBarron said.

LeBarron was particularly focused on long-spine black sea urchins and sea urchins in general for her abstract study. All of the participating students are required to present their findings at the College’s Undergraduate Research Conference (MCLA URC) in late April.

Although students were unable to free-dive during this trip, LeBarron has had some experience with it before, and is even dive-certified. “[Diving] doesn’t scare me at all. I like that stuff,” LeBarron said.

LeBarron’s favorite part of the trip, by far, was lying in the water and observing the organisms.

“It’s cool to see everything under the water, things people above water aren’t able to,” she added. “I love seeing the organisms at peace, [and] I become completely engrossed in the underwater culture.”

Eric Robbins Continued from Page 7 Parents have always been supportive of his decision.

“After school if I’m not already a ‘famous musician,’” he said, with air quotes, “then I would just get another job, but keep writing, producing, and hoping.”

Although he aspires to be famous, Robbins ironically suffers from stage fright when it comes to solo performances.

“I know I need to start performing alone eventually,” he said.

He has no problems with group performances. He was the guitarist in Harlequin’s production of “Bye Bye Birdie” as well as their Revue.

Most of his free time is dedicated to music, but Robbins also enjoys playing video games, being outdoors, and spending time with his friends. As he continues to work feverishly, keep an eye out for his releases.

Campus Life

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Green Living : Rogovoy encourages students Wildlife Rehabilitation

By Torin Gannon Staff Writer

Anyone who’s been through a surgery has also probably gone through rehabilitation in order to make sure that they’re in tip-top shape, and ready to go back out in the world.

Lauren Adams helps guide wild animals go through this very process.

Adams, the guest of the last installment of the Green Living Seminar, works as the lead wildlife keeper at the Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences (VINS).

The rehabilitation mainly works with birds.

Much like with humans, the goal of wildlife rehabilitation is for the injured animal to be released back into the wild.

There are a variety of reasons for a bird to be admitted to VINS. It may be due to being hit by a car, attacked by a pet, or striking a window. VINS also treats birds that are sick or emaciated, and they also care for orphaned chicks.

Adams pointed out that many of these injuries have a common theme.

“A lot of wound care we see can be directly linked to humans,” Adams said.

Adams and the other workers at VINS dedicate their time to splinting broken limbs, mending wounds, and administering fluid therapy to starving birds (this involves giving a bird an IV that provides liquid sustenance). Adams said that they’re most common work involves raising young chicks.

Adams and her staff face a lot of unique challenges that

health-care professionals don’t face. A major issue is that the VINS workers need to have an in-depth understanding of animal anatomy before they can even start to diagnose an ailment. Additionally, birds don’t make very good patients.

An adaptation birds have taken on is to hide their injuries. In the wild this keeps them safe from predators taking advantage of their vulnerability, but under these circumstances, it makes things difficult for people like Adams who are just trying to help.

VINS workers also have to be mindful of a bird’s stress.

Being around humans can be very stressful for a bird, and too much stress can be lethal. Ensuring that patients remain relaxed and stable is a necessity.

All of this is done to ensure that a patient can effectively live back in the wild as nature intended.

“We cannot release an animal that is unable to survive in the world,” Adams said.

Adams strongly implored that people report birds they see acting strangely to the proper authority, so groups like VINS can give them care.

The next speaker for the green living seminar will be Pat Parenteau, the senior council and professor of law at the Vermont Law School; his talk is entitled “A Shifting Approach to Protecting Endangered Species”. This session will be held Thursday, March 31 at 5:30 p.m. in room 121 in the Science Center.

Beacons to be distributed in vOID

By Anonymous Unpaid intern

An anonymous source told officials late last Tuesday that Beacon members were fed up by lack of publicity and student awareness towards the paper.

“It’s like no one even cares about the Beacon,” the source said. “I had a girl in one of my classes who didn’t even know our name.”

To appear more edgy and reach the masses, the editorial board voted to start distributing all Beacons within copies of The vOID. “No one cares about real news, all they care about is poop emojis,” the source said.

They intended to distribute last week’s issue in The vOID but The

vOID was taking a vacation.

“God, how are we supposed to tell the world about Hulk Hogan’s sex tape and piggyback off of another publications success if they don’t publish on a weekly basis? At least we’re willing to chop down small forests and kick baby birds for our publication.”

The source said the Beacon advisers were especially disappointed and threatened to give all Beacon staff members F’s if they didn’t figure something out soon.

The vOID mastermind, Jesse D. Collings, was unavailable for comment.

Editors Note: The above piece is satire, happy April Fools day!

to follow their passions

By Emily Gabert

All Berkshire native Seth Rogovoy ever wanted to do was write. Last week the “Rogovoy Report” journalist visited the College as this year’s Hardman Journalist in Residence, giving a speech entitled “Keeping the Beat: A Life in Journalism.”

Rogovoy claims that writing was the only thing he was ever good at, which he found to be useful as he made his way through school. His classmates would have to work much harder than him on the same projects while he found himself able to perform with less effort.

“Everybody’s born with something they’re good at,” Rogovoy said, “whether it’s… getting a ball into a basket or drawing a picture, or making a painting, or building – I’m not good at anything except writing.”

As a child, the young Rogovoy discovered that he was an ancestor of the famous Yiddish author, I.L. Pertez, which left a great impact on him. Rogovoy recalled feeling as though he had to pick up his ancestor’s legacy – leading him to later decide on what he wanted to do with his life: be a writer.

Rogovoy later began to get into rock music and wrote music reviews for his high school newspaper, some of which his classmates did not agree with. At one point, Rogovoy took issue with the fact that his reviews were getting cut in all the wrong places, and got more involved to solve the problem. He eventually became editor-in-chief of his student newspaper.

Rogovoy actively began to consider a career in music journalism, but as he entered college he thought he needed to become more serious.

“I thought, maybe I’ll be a lawyer or something,” Rogovoy reflected, “and that lasted until about Econ 101 and Politics

102…I’m not going to spend the next four years taking these dreadfully boring courses, just so I could be a lawyer, [which I didn’t really want to be].”

Rogovoy only ever wrote once for his college newspaper; after graduating college, he traveled to the Middle East, where he learned a lot about writing. He spent a lot of time writing about his travels and doing a lot of reading. Rogovoy went on to live in New York City for a year, hating the price tags of the Big Apple, before relocating to Pownal, Vermont just over the border of Massachusetts.

His work as a freelance journalist began when he walked into a weekly newspaper’s office, “The Advocate,” and asked if there was any way he could help contribute to the publication. At that time, he had been working as a bartender while he tried to break into writing.

Rogovoy’s first story with the publication was about a local feedstore, which made the bottom of the front page.

“One thing leads to another accidentally,” Rogovoy stated, “and you shouldn’t have a plan, because you should just let things happen, and be open to opportunities.”

Rogovoy wrote his way back into the Berkshires via the “Berkshire Eagle’s” weekly magazine supplement called, “Berkshires Week Magazine.” The two-person team was looking for an assistant editor and due to connections, Rogovoy ended up working at the magazine for three years. He reflected on the time as a training course for what he would spend the rest of his life doing.

Eventually, he grew tired of working for other people and decided to “officially” quit “The Berkshire Eagle.” On his last day with the newspaper, the Arts and Entertainment editor approached him about doing freelance music reviews for the section.

Trump Continued from poop 8 believing she would stand by the polices she copied from Senator Sanders.

“I can’t believe you actually bought it,” she said, smiling proudly. “South Carolina was particularly pleasing for me.

I called black teenagers super predators in ’96. Why did you think you could trust me when corporations give me so much?”

Clinton was bold in her ad, knowing that the general population preferred her over President-elect Trump. However, things took a turn for the worse when a small green bird was found situated on her podium.

“Why look here…” the Secretary trailed midway through broadcasting, mistaking the bird as a sign of good luck. A second bird landed on her podium.

Then a third. In the span of three minutes, possibly fifty birds crammed onto her podium, and a few of them were irritated. The

Secretary was lost in a storm of feathers, and hasn’t been seen since. DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz has been sighted attempting to masquerade as the Secretary in Madison, Wisconsin, donning a cheap Party City™ Halloween mask from the 2008 election cycle, but failed to fool anybody, and has been dealt with by the local authorities.

“Boy, I know Wisconsin is known for their cheese-heads,” Trump said, renaming the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts to the Trump University, North Adams.

“But I’ve seen a bigger cheeseball than Debbie WassermanSchultz and her DNC. You lose a candidate, so what? You can buy another. I’m a businessman, I can buy loads of candidates. How much do you think Marco Rubio costs?”

That figure, is between $40,000$300,000, according to the Senator’s Super PAC data.

John Kasich also dropped out today, but nobody noticed.

Staff Writer

“It wasn’t what I was planning on doing,” Rogovoy said, “but I looked at the schedule and saw Doctor John was playing at the Iron Horse in North Hampton… so I went and reviewed Doctor John, and the review ran.”

From then on, more reviewing opportunities came to him.

Rogovoy spent 16 years as the “Berkshire Eagle’s” music critic after the other freelance columnists had left. Rogovoy became what he had wanted to be when he was 10 years old.

Rogovoy’s career as a writer began due to his freelance work. A literary agent contacted him and talked to him about a book deal, which later transformed into Bob Dylan: Prophet, Mystic, Poet, that featured a unique Jewish angle.

“It was interesting,” Junior Heather Ryan, who attended Rogovoy’s lecture, said.

Rogovoy went on to write a few other books, one of them being The Essential Klezmer, a book about a Jewish genre of music.

He also ventured out into writing for the “Berkshire Daily,” until it folded back in 2011.

He became active on the radio, eventually creating his website, “The Rogovoy Report,” in which he reports on events occurring in the Berkshires.

In a question and answer session following the lecture, audience members asked Rogovoy about various aspects of journalism. One student asked about his opinion of online journalism; he admitted to liking the speed in which things can be published online to the web.

“Rogovoy did what journalists do best: he made an important point by telling a story,” commented Zach Finch, an English/communications professor who attended the event.

“In this case, the story was his own narrative of blazing a path, as a writer, a journalist and a culture worker.”

We Accept BlAzerBucks!

15% off order with student ID OR Large 1-topping for $10.70 (mention code 10)

(413) 664-6279 117 Main Street North Adams, MA 01247 offers cannot be combined

Editors Note: The piece to the left is satire, happy April Fools day!

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Sports

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Baseball swept by Eastern Nazarene

By Jesse Collings Sports Editor

The MCLA Trailblazers got strong pitching performances from their staff in both games against Eastern Nazarene College on Saturday, but their offense came up short in both contests and the Lions swept the Trailblazers during their doubleheader.

With the losses MCLA falls to 3-8 on the season while ENC improves to 11-6 on the season.

In the first game ENC got off to a quick start against MCLA sophomore Liam Nolan, who they tagged for three runs in the first inning. Jeremy Wagner doubled down the right field line to score Colton Rice. Brandon Wynne would then single to score Wagner and then Wynne would score on a wild pitch by Nolan.

Despite the poor start, Nolan would settle down as the game progressed, allowing only one more run over the remaining six innings. The Trailblazers would get on the board in the second when sophomore Nick DiSanti doubled to score junior Myles Candelet to make it 3-1 ENC. The Trailblazers were limited from there thanks to a stellar

By Tyler Bacon

Sports Columnist

Syracuse’s run to the final four shocks tournament Most experts thought that Syracuse didn’t deserve to be in the NCAA tournament and now they are in the Final Four against North Carolina.

Their double-digit comeback against Virginia in the Elite Eight was an impressive feat. Virginia was 68-0 when leading by 10 points or more at halftime since Tony Bennett took over as coach at Virginia seven years ago.

Virginia uses a slow and methodical pace on offense. They ranked 351st in the nation in tempo and play solid, lockdown defense. Both of those factors make it extremely difficult to battle back from a double-digit deficit.

Syracuse sped them up by extending a full-court press and using their typical 2-3 zone defense to get in passing lanes and causing turnovers.

Syracuse freshman, Malachi Richardson, caught fire in the second half to lead the Orange to the comeback victory. He scored 21 of his 23 points in the second

Trailblazers starved at the plate, drop pair of games on Saturday pitching performance by Lion pitcher Brent Houle. Following the double by DiSanti, MCLA would only garner one hit off of Houle, a single by senior Nate Gutmann, as Houle went the distance to earn the 4-1 victory for ENC. “Baseball can overall be a frustrating sport,” MCLA head coach Mike Gladu said. “We just have to have more plate discipline and recognize hitters pitches when we have them throughout each at bat.”

The second game told a similar story for the Trailblazers as senior Todd Hunt allowed three runs over five innings, but the Trailblazers fell just short at the plate.

ENC struck first in the bottom of the second when senior Justin Wagner singled to score Kurt Picarelli. The Lions would add to that in the third when junior Nick Story doubled to right field to score Picarelli and and Connor Simpson.

The Trailblazers would get on the board in the top of the fourth when senior Nate Alibozek singled to center, scoring Nolan. ENC would secure a key insurance run off of MCLA senior Robert Jutras, who had come in relief for Hunt half.

Syracuse wasn’t even supposed to make it out of the second round. No 10-seed has ever made it to the Final Four. Dayton was favored over Syracuse in the first round. Syracuse beat Dayton by 19 points.

Then they were supposed to play Michigan State and would have been huge underdogs.

Middle Tennessee State helped out Syracuse and upset Michigan State. Syracuse then rudely thanked Middle Tennessee State by blowing them out by 25 points.

Syracuse then defeated 11-seed Gonzaga by 3 points and upset 1-seed Virginia by 6 points to make it to the Final Four.

They had stretches this season of bad basketball. They had 13 losses this season and went a lackluster 9-9 in the ACC. They even lost to St. John’s! After beating Syracuse, St. John’s went on and lost 21 of their final 22 games.

Part of what makes the NCAA tournament so special is the lower seeds coming seemingly out of nowhere to make a run at the Final Four. Syracuse is not your typical Cinderella team.

They play in a big-time conference with a big-time coach. Jim Boeheim has always run the same 2-3 zone defense for as long as I can remember and people still have a hard time against it.

This might not be one of Jim Boeheim’s most talented teams but yet this team is only two wins away from another National Championship. So keep picking Syracuse to lose in your brackets and they will look to keep proving everyone wrong.

Photo from MCLA Athletics

MCLA second baseman Joe DiMassimo had a two-run double in the seventh inning on Saturday against Eastern Nazarene. in the bottom of the sixth when ing. The inning began when AliRice singled home Justin Wagner bozek walked and senior Slayter to make it 4-3 Lions.

Aubin reached on an error that MCLA would mount a late rally moved Alibozek to third. Freshin the top of the seventh, scor- man Joe DiMassimo then came ing two runs against ENC pitch- up big with a double to center that

scored both Alibozek and Aubin to make it 4-3 ENC. “Joe just understands what he has to do at the plate and he has worked on his weaknesses to develop them into strengths when it comes to his at bats,” Gladu said.

The double put the tying run on second base with one out and knocked ENC starting pitcher Cameron Fiorentino out of the game. Ben Harvish pinch-hit for Andrew Casteel but was struck out by Lion closer Ben Petersen.

With the game on the line, MCLA senior shortstop Ryan Shook grounded out to short to end the rally and send MCLA home with a pair of losses.

MCLA will have their first home game of the season on Thursday when they host Southern Vermont College at 3:30 pm. They then open MASCAC play with a doubleheader at Salem State on Saturday.

“I expect our club to show plate discipline and work counts,” Gladu said. “Pitch to contact and make plays we are supposed to make. Take our approach one pitch at a time, both offensively and defensively.”

Oklahoma’s senior led squad looking for championship

By Jimmy Burch

Tribune News Service After watching Oklahoma make a season-high 62 percent of its shots, including 57.1 percent from beyond the arc (16-of-28), Baylor coach Scott Drew compared the Sooners to the NBA champs, the Golden State Warriors.

Alas, subsequent Oklahoma performances in Big 12 play changed that perspective. If not, my broken bracket would be in better shape as the Sooners (297) head to Houston for Saturday’s matchup against Villanova (33-5) in the Final Four.

But this much is clear heading into the final stage of March Madness: If the Sooners of January show up in Houston, as they did in the West Region finals by making 50 percent of their 3-point shots against Oregon (12-of-24) in an 80-68 triumph, OU should be the team cutting down the nets after Monday’s championship game at NRG Stadium. If the Sooners revert to their February form, when they struggled from the perimeter, their fans will be shaking their heads and wondering how they lost Saturday’s rematch to Villanova, a team OU routed 78-55 in a Dec. 7 contest in Honolulu.

For these Sooners, the bottom line is that much of a boom-orbust proposition in March Madness. During January, the Sooners

had a stretch where they topped the 50 percent mark from beyond the arc for three consecutive games and four of six, canning at least a dozen threes in each contest. Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger envisions needing similar production in Houston for a team has buried at least half of its 3-point attempts in 11 of 36 games, including twice in the NCAA Tournament.

“We’ve got to shoot it well to win. And making threes is a big part of that,” Kruger said during a Monday teleconference with Final Four coaches. “We’re a team that shoots the three. We’re not changing that overnight, nor do we want to. Late in the year, we’ve defended a little better and rebounded better to cover up the nights when our shots aren’t falling.”

Villanova coach Jay Wright, whose team is 9-1 in its past 10 games, would welcome catching the Sooners on a night when their shots are not falling. That was hardly the case in Hawaii, when OU made 14-of-26 shots from beyond the arc while Villanova made just 4-of-32 attempts from 3-point range and 31.7 percent overall. OU won by 23, providing Wright a valuable teaching tool he has embraced for three months.

“All year, we used that game as a bar to show our guys what a top5 team looked like,” Wright said.

“They were close to being a Final Four team at that time. We just

now have gotten close to that.”

“They’re playing with swagger now,” Kruger said of the Wildcats.

“The first game, other than being familiar with their personnel, means very little to anyone. It’s almost like we played them last year. It doesn’t relate to this game at all.”

The Sooners can quiet that emotion with a barrage of 3-point baskets, a strategy that worked last week but fizzled in February setbacks against Kansas State (80-69) and Texas Tech (65-63).

The Sooners were a combined 12of-47 from beyond the arc (25.5 percent) in those losses and went cold during an extended secondhalf stretch of a 76-63 loss to Texas that included a 22-0 run by the Longhorns.

Buddy Hield, the team’s leading scorer (25.4 avg.), is preparing for another boom-or-bust approach from the perimeter in pursuit of the Sooners’ first national title in Houston.

“It’s hard to take away the 3-point shot from us,” said Hield, who has connected at a 46.5 percent rate this season (146-of-314).

“We’re going to shoot regardless if their hands are in our face or not.”

If the shots fall in Houston like they did in January, and again last week against Oregon, the Sooners should be the ones celebrating at the end of March Madness. If not, OU will bow out knowing it has taken its best shot at winning a national title.

Sports

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Softball hits rough patch down south

By Jesse Collings Sports Editor

After strong start, Trailblazers drop final five games in Florida nice rebound performance from spond with two

The softball team began the defense of their MASCAC Championship in Florida over spring break, going 4-6 despite some strong pitching performances and excellent defense.

“The players started to develop as a team. We had offensive highlights from our freshmen and upperclassmen and our pitching staff did a great job,” head coach Jamie Trudeau said. “We put many players in different positions and we have a very versatile team. I am looking to forward to seeing our defense getting sharper as well as our offense taking control and getting those runs across in key situations.”

MCLA opened their season on Saturday, March 12 against UMASS-Boston in Clermont, FL. The Trailblazers and UMASSBoston were engaged in a tremendous pitcher’s duel between MCLA’s Rachel Quackenbush and the Beacon’s Annie Thomas.

Both pitchers shut-out their opponents through seven innings, but it was Thomas who cracked first, allowing MCLA freshman Katelyn Berghela on a wild pitch, giving MCLA a 1-0 lead in the top of the eighth, which was all Quackenbush needed to finish off the Beacon’s. Quackenbush finished the game with a completegame shutout, allowing only two hits and striking out nine batters.

The Trailblazers would then play Clarkson University, who scored six runs in the fourth inning off of MCLA junior Katelyn Henault and held off the Trailblazers for a 7-6 victory.

On Sunday, March 13 the Trailblazers would pick up two victories in a double-header, defeating Endicott College in the first game and Lasell College in the second.

In the first game MCLA got two RBI’s each from senior Sierra Baily and Berghela and Quackenbush kept the Endicott offense in check as MCLA defeated the Gulls 7-3.

In the nightcap, MCLA got a

Henault, who allowed two runs in four innings of work and freshman Chelsea Coleman drove in three runs for the Traiblazers as they defeated Lasell 5-2.

After a day off, MCLA played Norwich University on Tuesday, March 15. Quackenbush turned out arguably the best pitching performance in school history, allowing only one hit and striking out 15 out of the 24 batters she faced and leading the Trailblazers a 5-0 victory over the Cadets.

The 15 strikeouts are the second highest total in school history, one shy of the 16 strikeouts that Quackenbush had in 2014. Coleman and senior Sam Boyle each drove in a pair of runs and senior Michaela DiNicola scored twice to give MCLA all of the offense they needed.

The Trailblazers were then faced with the tough task of playing Washington University, who is ranked 9th nationally. Washington jumped out to an early lead and quickly disposed of the Trailblazers 10-1 in a game that was stopped in the fifth inning due to the mercy rule. Washington banged out 13 hits during the contest and Maggie Clapp was solid on the mound, allowing only 4 hits in 5 innings as Washington improved to 16-4 on the season.

On Wednesday, March 16 the Trailblazers played another doubleheader. In the first game MCLA was bested by RutgersNewark, who pushed two runs across the plate to give the Scarlet Raiders a 5-1 lead in the sixth.

Following an RBI single by senior Jennifer Sicinski and runners on first and second, junior Alexandra Romano lined out to second, bringing the Trailblazers rally to an end and giving Rutgers-Newark a 5-2 victory.

MCLA would come up short in the second game in a wild contest against Ithaca College. Down 4-0 in the bottom of the sixth, MCLA exploded for six runs in the inning sparked by an RBI double by Berghela. The Bombers would re-

runs of their own in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 6 and send the game to extra innings.

Ithaca would overwhelm Henault in the eighth inning for six runs and MCLA was shut down in the bottom of the inning to give the Bombers the 12-6 victory.

M C L A wrapped up their trip on Friday, dropping both games of a double-header to end their trip at 4-6. In the first game MCLA played North Central College, and after trailing 4-0 Photo from MCLA Athletics in the bottom MCLA freshman Katilyn Berghela was named the MASCAC Rookie of the Week in of the sixth, back-to-back weeks for her performance in Florida.

MCLA scored be enough for the Gators to hand play out.” three runs to Fellow freshmen Coleman leads get within one of the Cardinals. MCLA their fifth straight defeat.

MCLA is currently being led by the team with 7 RBIs while DiNiHowever, North Central was able Kaitlyn Berghela, who is hitting cola is hitting .395 and leads the to pick up an insurance run in the .424 just 10 games into her colteam with 15 hits. Quackenbush top of the seventh and Andrea legiate career while also leading leads the MASCAC in both Starr shut-down the Trailblazers the team in slugging percentage strikeouts and earned run average in the home half of the seventh to and stolen bases.

For the past two and is currently averaging more pick up the 5-3 victory. weeks, Berghela has been tabbed than a strikeout per inning for the “We definitely have the abilas the MASCAC Rookie of the Trailblazers. ity to be an offensive threat. We The Trailblazers are off until also demonstrated a great deal of Week for her performance. Berghela spoke about being given the Wednesday, March 30 when they character versus our opponents,” award for a second consecutive travel to Rensselaer Polytechnic Trudeau said. “There wasn’t a week on Monday.

Institute for a double-header. game we didn’t fight back and “It was pretty exciting to be “Florida was our starting point. have opportunities to win.” named MASCAC Rookie of the We learned how the little things In the final game of the trip, the Week, two weeks in a row, ” Bercan creap up on us in a game,” MCLA offense was held to only ghela said.

“I was happy with how Trudeau said. “For us going forfive hits as Allegheny College we did in Florida and I know we ward its about tightening the moved past the Trailblazers 4-1. can do even better when conferscrews and taking care of all the Allegheny was able to score two ence play begins.

I’m ready to see little things defensively. We also runs in the top of the second on how the rest of the season will left many runners on base so we a fielding error and that proved to

Lacrosse starts season with pair of losses

By Jesse Collings Sports Editor

For the first time in program history, the lacrosse team headed south for a set of games over spring break. The Trailblazers traveled to Clermont, FL over the weekend to play a pair of games against non-conference rivals to start their second season.

“Going down to Florida to test ourselves is a really big deal and it gives us a chance to see what our team is going to be like,” head coach Maria Bartini said. “There are just some things that you can’t figure out in practice and to get onto the field this early in the season is important.”

MCLA opened their season last Thursday when they played Goucher College. The Gophers

pounded the MCLA net, outshooting the Trailblazers 30-15 on their way to a 21-5 victory.

Goucher got going early, scoring a goal just under thirty seconds into play as Jojo Franklin scored to give Goucher a 1-0 lead. After Franklin scored a second time, Jessica Borucki scored to give the Gophers a 3-0 lead. Sophomore Taylor Brewer would record the first MCLA goal of the season, scoring an unassisted shot with 27:14 to go in the first half. After a goal from Goucher’s Zoe Merz, MCLA sophomore Mackenzie Cutler would convert a free position shot to make it 4-2 Goucher.

The Gophers would however take control of the game from there, going on a 10-0 run that smothered the MCLA offense and blew the game wide open for

Goucher. Junior Natalie Caney would score with 2:11 to go in the half, but MCLA still trailed 14-3.

MCLA showed a sliver of life at the start of the second half as Cutler and Caney each scored early goals to make it 14-5, but Goucher would close on a 7-0 run to clinch the victory.

“It’s tough because we are playing teams that are having their seventh or eighth game of the season while we are just getting started,” Bartini said. “We were also limited due to injuries so our bench was very short. We need to figure out some ways to disrupt their momentum better, winning draws and preventing turnovers and avoiding getting in those ruts.”

Goucher was led by Borucki who had 4 goals and three assists,

and Goucher was much better clearing the ball than MCLA was, converting 10-13 opportunities while MCLA only went 6-14, giving Goucher a decisive defensive advantage.

On Sunday the Trailblazers played Eastern Connecticut State, falling to the Warriors 15-4. Much like the first game, the Trailblazers struggled on offense, getting out shot 27-9. The Warrior defense was tremendous in the first half, completing 7-10 clears and winning the ground ball differential 18-8. Eastern Connecticut limited MCLA to only two shots in the first half, with the lone goal being scored by Brewer. Eastern Connecticut had a tremendous first half on offense as well, scoring all 15 of their goals in the first period.

In the second half MCLA showed improvement on the defensive end. Not only did they shutout the Warriors, but they went 8-11 on clears and won the ground ball differential 12-8. The Trailblazers would get a goal each from Cutler, Caney and senior Tanelle Ciempa, but it was not nearly enough to worry Eastern Connecticut, who cruised to the 15-4 victory.“They tried to spread the ball around more in the second half, but we did a good job pressuring them across the field and we were able to get some good goal scoring opportunities out of that,” Bartini said.

The Trailblazers played Sage College on Wednesday and continue play this weekend when they host Mitchell College at 1 p.m.

Sports

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Beacon.MCLA.edu

11

Lacrosse earns first win of season Second half surge guides Trailblazers past Mitchell College

first goal in there that tied things up and once we got the lead we had enough confidence to start playing the way that we should.”

With the victory MCLA improves to 1-3 on the season while Mitchell falls to 1-2 in 2016. The six goals the Trailblazers allowed were the lowest total MCLA had conceded during this season.

Mitchell would draw first blood in the game, taking advantage of a turnover by Trailblazer sophomore Mackenzie Cutler and finishing with a quick goal from leading scorer Amanda Rowan to take the 1-0 lead. A couple minutes later, Mitchell freshman Kate McCormack would score a goal of her own to make it 2-0 Mitchell.

Cutler would get MCLA on the board moments later following a turnover that was created

by MCLA junior Photo by Kasey Conklin/MCLA Class of 2016 Rachel Green to MCLA sophomore Taylor Brewer scored four goals in the Trailblazers victory make it 2-1 Mitchover Mitchell College. ell. Mitchell would ond half to earn their first victory answer with 20 of the season, defeating Mitchell minutes remaining in the first

By Jesse Collings 14-6.

Sports Editor half when MCLA junior Svetlana “They had a belief in themselves Morrell committed a foul close to The lacrosse team went into and it clicked in during halftime,” the net that allowed Mitchell to halftime down 5-4 to Mitchell head coach Maria Bartini said. “I earn a free position shot that was College on Saturday. However, the let them talk to themselves dur- converted by Mitchell senior KaTrailblazers would outscore the ing the break and let them pump tie McBride. visiting Mariners 10-1 in the sec- each other up a bit. Getting that

Following another goal from Rowan that made it 4-1 Mitchell, MCLA would rally back beginning with a goal from Green. Cutler tossed a pass inside to Green, and Mitchell goalkeeper Samantha Ryan gambled by coming out of the net and trying to intercept the pass. Green got to the pass just before Ryan and whipped it into the open net for her second goal of the season. With 7:58 to go in the half Cutler began to break out in transition and found a wideopen Mackenzie Gregory who buried the break-away shot to make it 4-3 Mitchell.

With just under a minute to go in the half, MCLA sophomore Taylor Brewer converted a free position shot to tie the game at four. The tie would be short-lived however, as McCormack would score just a couple seconds later to make it 5-4 Mitchell heading into the break.

The Trailblazers significantly outshot Mitchell in the first half, 19-12, but were unable to convert many of those attempts, mainly thanks to terrific goalkeeping by Ryan who had 9 saves in the first half. Bartini addressed the difference between the teams offensive output during the two halves.

“One of our goals before the game was to get more shots on net, and we had done that. At halftime we felt that we were getting quality looks, we just needed to take better shots. We shot the ball a lot harder and that reflected in the goals that we scored in the second half.”

The Traiblazers gained control of the game in the second half, starting with a goal from Brewer coming from an assist from Green. Green would quickly follow that with a goal of her own to make it 6-5 MCLA with 27:15 to go. Junior Natalie Caney would get on the board to give MCLA a two goal lead, but Rowan scored on an assist from McCormack to make it 7-6.

MCLA would respond with a defiant run, closing the game on

a 7-0 run that saw two goals each from Caney, Cutler and Brewer to seal the game for the Trailblazers.

The 14 goals MCLA scored were equal to the combined total that they had during their first three games. Bartini discussed the importance of earning their first victory following the triumph.

“It’s a big confidence boost for the whole team to show what we are capable of doing,” Bartini said.

We had shown what we were capable of in practice but it hadn’t really translated that well into a game yet, so it gives us a confidence boost that we really needed.”

Defensively the Trailblazers were strong. They got solid performances from seniors Gabby Prata and Zoe Schwartz anchoring the back line, while freshman goalie Zoe Elwell had her best performance in net so far this season, stopping seven out of 13 shots.

“It was huge for Zoe, as a freshman she is still a rookie and she comes out of this game with a lot more confidence and that will show in her play from here on out,” Bartini said.

The Trailblazers will be back in action on Thursday when they travel to Johnson State. They will begin conference play on Saturday when they travel to MASCAC rival Mass. Maritime.

Johnson State has a record of 0-2 on the season and is coming off of losses at Norwich and at Smith.

The Trailblazers will look to pick up their first conference win of the season on Saturday against Mass. Maritime. The Trailblazers will make the long trip down to Cape Cod to play the Buccaneers, who are 3-2 on the season. Mass.

Maritime is coming off of a victory, having thumped Wentworth Institute of Technology last Saturday, 15-7.

On Wednesday, April 6 the Trailblazers will travel to Southern Vermont College to battle the Mountaineers in non-conference play.

Tennis opens season with loss to GMC

By Jesse Collings Sports Editor

The Men’s tennis team opened their season against Green Mountain College on Saturday, and were dealt a close defeat at the hands of the Eagles, falling 5-4. With the loss MCLA is now 0-1 on the season while GMC improved to 3-1 on the season.

In singles competition, GMC earned the point in the number one slot, with senior Connor Braden defeating MCLA sophomore Aaron Goldsmith, 6-1, 6-3.

While Goldsmith was not satisfied with his personal performance, he believes the loss will give him something to work on heading into the rest of the season.

“Personally, I know I could have

performed a lot better to help the team in singles,” Goldsmith said.

“This first match gave me some things to fine tune to be ready for the rest of the season so I can produce.”

Trailblazer junior Rob Wabshinak would get the Trailblazers on the board in number two singles play, defeating GMC junior Truman Cressey. Wabshinak dropped the first set 2-6, but would rally back to take the final two sets 6-3, 6-2.

“I felt like I played exceptionally well during our first match,” Wabshinak said. “I kept my composure and stuck to my game plan and did not let the other player get into my head.”

The Eagles would answer with senior Grey McCampbell, who

defeated MCLA senior Richard Larocque, 6-1, 6-1 to pick up the point in number three singles play.

Sophomore Michael Rooney would even things up for the Trailblazers by defeating GMC senior Andrew Woodman, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 in the number four position and junior Jeff Mason would defeat GMC sophomore Jack Tiernan in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.

In the number six singles position, MCLA sophomore Jared Freeman’s rally came up just a bit short as he was defeated by Eagle freshman Thomas Grunow, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

In doubles play, the duo of Goldsmith and Wabshinak would take the point out of the number one doubles competition, defeating

Braden and Cressey 8-6. The pair of McCampbell and Woodman would defeat Mason Rooney and Lacroque, 8-4 and Tiernan and Grunow were able to scrape past Freeman and Mason 8-6 to take home the fifth and decisive point for the Eagles.

“I am proud of the heart and improvement the team showed in our first match from last year to this year,” Goldsmith said. “This is a great group of guys and we can do very well this year.”

“The team played outstanding, everyone gave 100% and nobody gave up,” Wabshinak said. “We were well prepared for the match and we will be getting better and better as the season progresses.”

MCLA will be back in action on Thursday when they play

North Atlantic Conference power Colby-Sawyer. Colby-Sawyer has won the NAC the last four seasons and the Trailblazers will look to open conference play with a major upset.

The Trailblazers return a confident team that nearly qualified for the playoffs last season for the first time in school history. Goldsmith was named to the all-conference first team last season following a stellar freshman season and Wabshinak was named to the allconference second team. Mason and Larocque add a veteran presence to the team while Rooney will look to build on a promising freshman season. Freeman will contribute out of the sixth singles slot after missing last season with an injury.

12

Thursday 31, March , 2016

Photo Essay

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Spring Break Abroad

Ireland

Photos by Agnella Gross/The Beacon

Japan

Photos courtesy of Meg Gugarty

Belize Photos courtesy of Adazae Shepherd-Edwards

Virgin Islands

Photos courtesy of Tazia Johnson

England

Photos courtesy of students in the 2016 Arts of Medieval & Renaissance Britain study tour