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Volume 82 ◆ Issue 6
Th u r s d ay, M a r c h 1 0 , 2 0 1 6
News
Authentic Korean Restaurant Opens on Ashland Street Page 3
A&E
Kehlani headlining Spring Concert Page 6
Sports
Softball set to defend MASCAC Championship Page 10
Op-Ed
Why your vote actually does matter Page 4
Campus Life
Debate club approved Page 8
President James F. Birge: MCLA’s newest Trailblazer By Gionna Nourse and Harmony Birch Co-Editors-in-Chief
Sporting his blue-and-gold-striped bow tie, Dr. James F. Birge reminisced about his early life in the Berkshires and shared his future plans for success at MCLA. Although he’s only been on campus for a little over a week, he has already met with department chairs and set up faculty meetings with multiple departments. He said he is intrigued by the “vibrance” the campus exudes. When he toured campus on Tuesday, one of the places that stuck out the most was Venable Theater, where he witnessed Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) students and staff working on sets for two separate shows. “Boy, that’s really ambitious of them,” he said, thinking back to the tour. “[It’s] great that there’s enough energy from students to be able to work that frenetically on two sets.” He attended the opening of FPA’s performance of “A Doll’s House” on Thursday night, and has been trying to become wellacquainted with campus and town activities. When exploring the Center for Science and Innovation (CSI), Dr. Birge met Sophomore Daniel Heinen, who recently developed a 3D application using augmented reality technology. Heinen created a poster of the human skeletal system, which becomes 3D after Photo by Gionna Nourse/The Beacon scanning a QR code with a tablet or MCLA’s 12th President, Dr. James F. Birge shares his thoughts regarding his experiences smartphone. and interactions on campus so far. “Thinking about what that could do to create access for students who are at home fundamental to a liberal arts education.” attractions North Adams possesses. studying...instead of turning the pages in a Birge said he has no intentions of When his youngest daughter became a book, here’s something that’s malleable,” Birge discontinuing any majors here. senior in high school, Dr. Birge resigned as said. “I am completely blown away by that.” He does intend to make efforts to increase FPU’s president. “My wife Lisa and I were at Before he came to MCLA, Birge was enrollment and student retention rates, as well a stage in our lives where we were thinking.... president at Franklin Pierce University (FPU) as increase donations to the College, he said. where do we want to be, what do we want to for six years. During his tenure at FPU, the To increase enrollment, Birge aims to do?” theater, dance, math, fine arts, American capture and showcase MCLA’s energy to a “We wanted something more vibrant,” he studies, graphic communications and arts broader market of prospective students. said. “We wanted to live in a community management majors were discontinued due FPU wasn’t an ideal fit for Birge, he said where we had opportunities to go to museums, to low enrollment. No full-time faculty were Rindge, New Hampshire, home of FPU, is a performances and out to dinner. What drew laid off and classes in those programs were still small, rural town without many of the cultural me to MCLA was all of those things.” taught, according to Birge, because they “were
Innovation lab opens; students invent Lab resources include 3D printer, educational Xbox, laptops, a heat gun, magnifying tools, whiteboards, a projector, and a small library of books By Idalis Foster
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Senior News Editor After a successful open house on Monday, the innovation lab in the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation (CSI) is officially the new place for students to come together and invent freely. Sophomore Daniel Heinen and Monica Joslin, dean of Academic Affairs, are two of the great minds behind designating this space for students to conduct research projects. Heinen, a biology major with a minor in Computer Science, saw the need for a comfortable, open student space in the CSI for students to innovate and learn from one another while embarking on individual projects. He reached out to Joslin, as well as his professors Ann Billetz and Justin Golub, for help in designating this space. “Monica Joslin was instrumental in
securing this space for us,” Heinen said. “Her and Professor Billetz were able to help us start out and Interim President Clemmer came by to visit us.” Joslin was more than happy to help and saw the importance of a space for students in a building that was made for innovation. She is hopeful that the outcomes of new projects in the lab will eventually be incorporated into courses as supplemental material to help students learn interactively. “It is important to support faculty and students in their work," Joslin said. "The innovation lab is an example of a student initiative, supported by a team of faculty members. We need to support innovation and entrepreneurship; this is important for economic development.” Heinen also mentioned that Clemmer was so impressed with the lab and how it has been built up by students, he referred
Heinen to a friend who is the head of the Chamberlain group. Right now, the members of the innovation lab are not actively seeking funds, as it is more of a student effort through donations, but Heinen has looked into some grants for which he will eventually apply. The lab is open for students to use its resources, including soldering tools, an Xbox Kinect console re-purposed for educational uses, laptops, stripping wires, a heat gun, magnifying tools, whiteboards, a projector and a small library of books from different courses for students to borrow freely. All of the resources in the lab were donated by students who have seen the great potential of the space. According to both Heinen and sophomore Alexander Switzer, the space is beneficial in that there isn’t one leader of the space. It is shared, and facilitates learning between students to bring ideas to fruition. Lab continued on page 2
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News
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Beyond the beacon
Compiled by Idalis Foster Senior News Editor Sourced from Tribune News Service
Colombian women gain place at peace negotiations Conflict negotiations have rarely included the voices of women despite their making up half of the world population. In Colombia’s recent negotiations between the Colombian government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), women are taking on a prominent role and bringing gender issues to the table. These issues include sexual gender-based violence which has surprisingly only been mentioned in 6 percent of the 300 peace agreements that occurred over the last 25 years. Virginia Bouvier, a senior adviser for the U.S. Institute of Peace, is unsure of the final outcome for the agreement but stated that “the provisional agreements that have been reached do allow for sexual violence to be considered as a crime against humanity.”
There is a deadline of March 23 for the agreement to be settled upon but there are talks for other provisions to be discussed including job training and reparations for victims of sexual violence. Norway is currently helping to facilitate the talks and their ambassador Kare R. Aas is very aware of the legitimacy added to the peace process with the presence of women considering their importance to Colombia’s society.
terrorism suspects with the statement “The FBI is offering up to $25 million reward if you help capture one of these jihadis.” Justice Clarence Thomas, one of the two in dissent, argued that it should have been granted a review considering it involves speech and is a First Amendment case. On the other hand, King
County Metro Transit officials found the ads to be demeaning to minorities by equating their dress and skin color with terrorists unlike the government funded ads that they did allow that were similar. Critics were wary of these ads being used on public transportation due to the “Muslim-sounding names” and the statement “AFDI wants you to stop a terrorist.”
Supreme Court sides with Seattle Transit on “jihadi” ads
Millionare Jay Faison attempts to get conservative energy on Republican agenda
The Supreme Court decided to let Seattlearea transit agency’s choice to reject a controversial ad from the American Freedom Defense Initiative stand with only two conservative justices dissenting. The ad, titled “Faces of Global Terrorism,” displays 16 photographs of wanted
Jay Faison, founder and CEO of SnapAV, is using his millions to try to get Republicans to join the agenda for conservative clean energy alternatives. His foundation, C l e a r P a t h Foundation, is
They also look forward to on the poster. There was an image of a human head on INNOVATION LAB, working with the Makerspace the poster as well. Continued from pg 1 tools, such as the 3D printer, and using their own technology to enhance their projects. “We’re not a club, just a group of students who want to share ideas and innovate in an open space,” Heinen said. “It would be nice to have funds, but I’ve always believed that if you want something, you have to get it yourself. That’s why I don’t mind stocking the fridge, or buying posters and lights for the whiteboard to make the space more comfortable.” Switzer, a computer science major with dual concentrations in software development and information technology, has already used the Xbox Kinect console to experiment with gaming. He appreciates having this network of students around him to learn new skills like soldering. “I’m working on a project that involves computer science,” Switzer said. “I’ve been cutting people out using the 3D scanning of the Xbox Kinect and placing them into fighting games. I like video games so that’s where some of my ideas come from.” Heinen presented his project on Mobile Augmented Reality in the biology lab at the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC) Northeast Regional Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity Conference in October. He used an app to make the scan of a brain model accessible to anyone through a QR code
Financial aid announcement 16-17 MCLA foundation scholarships are now available to apply for online! Log in to mcla. Awardspring.Com using you’re a# and self-service password. Only one application to fill out!! Deadline is midnight on April 4th!!
launching a $1 million campaign to do just that and Faison himself has opened a Capitol Hill office to be able to work from the center of where politics live. Unlike most in the environmental community, Faison is actually in favor of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, or fracking, but he does want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He appeared at the Ntional Press Club to try to convince them to join his agenda but received pushback from Republicans who questioned global warming’s legitimacy. Faison quickly changed his approach by encouraging agreement on conservative clean energy not on climate change. In the past, he has spent $165 million on efforts to fight against climate change and he recently used $1.5 million to start his super PAC (political action committee) and says that he wants “to give back in the prime of my life, rather than at the end of it,” with a focus on energy issues since he believes energy drives everything.
Biology professors Ann Billetz and Justin Golub are both very impressed with the initiative taken by the group of students who have already begun using the space for their personal research projects. “I see myself as more of an adviser in helping them visualize their projects, where they can go with it and the applications of it,” Golub said. “Dr. Billetz and I really sort of let them figure out what they want to do and then once they come to us with ideas, I say ‘Oh that would have great application in this field or that field.'” Professor Billetz saw the value in creating this space and feels that the cross section of biology, math, business, and computer science students has enabled them to build off of their differing knowledge and skill sets. On the topic of how this can help these students in their future careers, Billetz commented that their creation of individual research projects shows they “can think broadly, troubleshoot and work in a diverse team environment.” “I love the enthusiasm and creativity of these students. I feel very privileged to get to help support Photo by Domonique Ackley/The Beacon their research goals,” Billetz said. “I really think this exemplifies MCLA. Students who are amazing in a The lab boasts many tools for electrical wiring as well as laptops and books for students to research. college that supports their ideas.”
HIGH MUD
COMEDY FEST
with TIG NOTARO,
DAVE HILL, SEAN PATTON, SETH BROWN, and MARK JAGIELLO
Hosted by OPHIRA EISENBERG and THOMAS ATTILA LEWIS
March 11 & 12
TICKETS: massmoca.org/highmud or 413.662.2111 87 Marshall Street, North Adams, Mass.
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Campus News
Beacon.MCLA.edu
3
Korean restaurant opens on Ashland The Korean Garden offers authentic, traditional fare
By Gionna Nourse Co-Editor-In-Chief
Just a ten-minute walk from campus, the newly owned and operated restaurant on 139 Ashland Street has something authentic, fresh and interesting to offer its patrons. Former home of Red Sauce, DeFazio’s and TJ’s Southwestern Bar and Grill, the space has been repurposed numerous times. Since the latter restaurant closed its doors last year, the space on Ashland Street has remained vacant. It wasn’t until South Korean natives Jenny Pae and her husband Young Pae decided to branch out on their own that the possibility of Korean Garden arose. They had lived in the Boston area prior to moving to Western Mass., and are used to being surrounded by authentic Korean dining options. “There aren’t any restaurants serving authentic Korean food around here,” Mrs. Pae said. “There are many people looking for Korean food and some restaurants offer only a few Korean dishes, but Chinese and American food is mixed here, [so it’s] not authentic.” For a total of eight years, the couple worked at Jae’s Asian Bistro in Lenox, Mass. and Jae’s Inn in Williamstown. Eventually they wanted to open their own place, and the empty venue on Ashland Street was a
Photo by Gionna Nourse/The Beacon
The owners of Korean Garden Jenny Pae and Young Pae are excited to share their authentic Korean and Japanese recipes with the Berkshire Community. perfect fit. “I was thinking, ‘We need something new here,’” Mrs. Pae said. “This is the only Korean restaurant in the area.” The business is family owned and operated with a small staff, including the Pae’s daughter and a student from the College.
The extra staff generally works on the weekends, the establishment’s busiest time. Although they don’t deliver to the enormous population of college students surrounding them, they have been extremely busy in-house since their opening night on Feb. 20. “We were very busy here the past few
weekends,” Mrs. Pae said. “Every table was full and the kitchen was busy, and I was running all around the restaurant.” Their menu offers a vast array of traditional Korean food, such as bulgogi (grilled marinated beef), kalbi (marinated beef short ribs in a traditional sauce), kimchi (fermented vegetables with seasoning), Stir-fry, Tofu, tempura (fried veggies, meats or seafood) and, their most popular, a variety of noodle bowls. “The noodle bowls are by far our most popular dishes,” Mrs. Pae said. They also offer a full sushi bar, run by Young Pae, who has been a sushi chef for over 25 years. “We are trying to bring the prices down, especially with the sushi, so it is affordable for the college students,” Mrs. Pae said. Veronica Colacurcio ‘16 finds the new restaurant a delicious, affordable option to order food and pick it up easily. “They have a lot of variety and they aren’t pricey,” she said. “It is a lot closer to campus [than other restaurants] and is a nice place to pick up food, without having to drive.” The owners will be looking into delivery options in the future, but for now they continue to offer their authentic, traditional food, complete with dine-in and take-out options, to the North Adams community. For more information on the restaurant, please visit www.facebook.com/krngarden
Brown Bag Lectures Going Course covers mental health By Emily Gabert Staff Writer
Some faculty members find themselves stuck when students disclose information about their mental health. In the latest installment of the Brown Bag lecture series, faculty spoke about this pressing issue with the guidance of psychology professor Benjamin Wood. Faculty brought up concerns about how to react in a situation where a student looks to them for assistance. “It’s a risk when you disclose [information],” Deborah Foss, psychology professor, commented. “There’s an ounce of trust they have in you.” Faculty voiced concern for the lack of guidance they are provided when circumstances occur in the classroom. Many found that they had no idea of who to contact or what to do, which is something they would like to see change. “A guide sheet could be helpful,” Director of Counseling Heidi Riello said. “You can look at it when required.” Psychology professor Timothy Jay shared a tactic he uses when checking in with a student who seems distressed in class: He walks up to a student and quietly asks if they’re okay. Jay finds
that some students will not require any help and would rather deal with the distress on their own, while others may need a bit of help – and he goes from there. Staff agreed that in a small college setting, such as MCLA, the relationships students have with staff may be much more frequent and sometimes students look up to professors Photo from MCLA Website as mentors. They also Professor Tim Jay was one of agreed that it is very multiple faculty members with situational – dependent advice for helping students. upon the size of a the change in younger classroom and who else generations about what one is in attendance. Wood began to research decides to share. Even a reaction to what is this topic after experiencing a situation with a student being taught in some courses regarding mental health. can be a reason for the subject Wood wanted to understand of mental health to arise. what makes students decide Some faculty mentioned that to voice these concerns with literature works taught in class faculty, and how much one can cause a student to disclose mental health problems if decides to share. “Encourage [students] to they find a connection with share what is comfortable,” the subject matter. Some have Wood said. “Don’t pull things even found that when things like sexuality are mentioned, out [of them].” Sometimes students decide mental health has been to share these issues when brought up. Sumi Colligan will be discussing accommodations with their instructors, Wood presenting at the next Brown found. Other times it can Bag Lecture series on April be to help break the stigma 8, titled “The Forgotten surrounding mental health. Refugees: Syrians in Jordan It was said that social media and Turkey.” could also be a reason for
Overboard By Joseph Carew
Staff Writer/Columnist It’s midnight and the submission of that paper you wrote last minute just went through. A sigh of relief follows. You take a deep sip of coffee and move on to the next paper that’s due tomorrow. Five classes, or 15 credits, is the normal course load for students at MCLA, though taking more than the suggested amount can have both advantages and disadvantages, especially when it comes to graduating on time. The ability to see your graduation checklist tick away is enviable, but can prove academically challenging. This is especially noticeable at 21 credits or greater, where the student is required to get special permission from his or her adviser and the dean of Academic Affairs. The term is course overload, and there’s a form for that. Kate Heekin, assistant director of the Center for Student Success and Engagement (CSSE) generally hears this when she speaks with students who are looking to take more than 15 credits: “I hear ‘I need to catch up’… and that can be because a student withdrew from a course, failed a course, or has chosen, on purpose, for a few semesters to maybe take four classes.” She notes that this depends on the student, however. Taking summer courses is a viable alternative to cutting down credits and to avoid the pressure
associated with taking on more than a normal amount of credit hours during the fall and spring. “Six courses is a lot to take on, so I always want students to think about summer as an option,” Heekin said. Taking on more than 15 credits can vary greatly in its difficulty, depending on a number of factors; most notably on a student’s academic capability, the level of courses taken, and outside workload. Having a job outside of being a student can easily contribute to one’s ability to make time for academics. Of course, college life is expensive and working isn’t uncommon among students, but the amount of time spent at a job can negatively affect your college career, especially if you take more than 15 credits. Junior Sychiah Johnson had already picked 15 credits worth of classes when an additional course came into her view. “I was taking five but it seemed interesting,” Johnson noted about her sixth class. Her 18 credits would fall into the other group Heekin sees often. “[They ask me] ‘What can I do to sort of challenge myself, to enrich what I’m doing,’” Heekin said. Before taking on more than you are able to handle and typing essays into the night, Heekin suggests talking about it first with an adviser or someone at CSSE.
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Thursday, March 10, 2016
Opinion & Editorial
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Editorial
Vote! It could be your last chance
With Super Saturday results yielding a split decision between Cruz and Trump, Bernie Sanders also took two wins, showing he’s still in the race. Half of the country was in shock while the rest jumped for joy after hearing the results of the Super Tuesday primary election, which took place on March 1. Trump “trumped” his opponents on the Republican side and Clinton soared past Sanders for the Democrats. “Super Tuesday is the biggest day of the 2016 primary season, with 13 states and one territory participating: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming and American Samoa,” according to cbsnews.com. Although the convention isn’t until July, an article in The New York Times says, “If the Super Tuesday voting pattern continues, Donald Trump will reach delegate target.” The article went on to explain how and why Trump could reach the delegate target, even without wins in Ohio and Florida, the two largest winner-take-all-states. “Mr. Trump would amass so many delegates because the rules become more biased toward candidates who win, allowing him the chance to take an overwhelming share of delegates with just a minority of the vote,” the article explained. Voter turnout was much
larger for Republicans than it was for Democrats this primary, in comparison to 2012 voter turnout results. “More than 8.5 million Republicans turned out to vote in the 11 GOP Super Tuesday states that reported results,” according to National Public Radio (NPR). “That suggests far more enthusiasm than the last time Republicans picked a nominee. In those same 11 states in 2012, turnout totaled only around 4.7 million.” As for Democrats, the excitement seems to have dwindled down to almost nothing since the 2008 elections, with turnout totaling only around 5.9 million. This is about 2.6 million fewer in those states than in 2008. “The Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary were clear signs that Millennials could carry the 2016 presidential election,” according to an article published in The Huffington Post, titled Millennials Paving the Way: 2016 Presidential Election. “And the proof is in the numbers; over 80 percent of Democratic participants under the age of 30 voted for Senator Sanders, according to a recent CNN poll. Obama reportedly received only 57 percent in 2008.” The 2012 election was arguably less historic than the 2008 election, potentially resulting in lower voter turnout. However, since the coming election could either result in the first female president, first
socialist and Jewish president, or what some say will be our last president, voter turnout should be substantially higher than we have seen thus far. Voters in either party would argue that these low voter turnout numbers skewed Clinton and Trump’s delegate wins, stating that between 20 and 50 percent fewer voters participated in this primary. “Intermittent voters are Americans who are registered to vote but do not always make it to the polls,” according to a study by The Pew Research Center. “They differ significantly from those who vote regularly. For one thing, they’re less likely to be married than are regular voters. Intermittent voters also are more mistrustful of people compared with those who vote regularly. “ These lopsided numbers can potentially cause lopsided excitement with voters in both parties, leading to an advantage for the Grand Old Party (GOP) as it gets closer to the general election. “While enthusiasm for Trump may be driving many Republicans to the polls now, it may, in a general election, also drive turnout for voters who hope to defeat the highly polarizing candidate,” the NPR articles states. Voter turnout means a lot more than the general population thinks it does. Although numbers are the “end-all-be-all” when it comes to who gets into office next, what really puts candidates in a
leading position is ultimately the response and recognition from their supporters, which boosts their confidence and enhances their campaign. “Strong turnout is typically a sign of how enthusiastic and engaged a party’s voters are,” according to cbsnews.com. “Generally, a party’s primary or caucus turnout is higher when its voters are engaged in the process and the race is competitive, both of which are true on the Republican side.” You can register to vote online. If you are a student living on campus and are from Massachusetts, you can also register to vote here in North Adams. You can also request an absentee ballot from your hometown well before election day to ensure your participation in the upcoming presidential election. The polls in Massachusetts are open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in most areas, and some employers even offer “voters day off ” to their employees so they can participate. Check with your employer about their specific time-off policies. The point is, the next time you think to yourself “my vote doesn’t matter,” think again. No matter who you’re rooting for in this election, every vote and every voice matters. For more information on Massachusetts policies on voter registration and absentee ballots, please visit sec.state.ma.us/ovr/.
What are your plans for Spring Break?
The Beacon 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*
“I’m going to California to visit family; it’s going to be lit.”
“I’m traveling down to visit my aunt in South Carolina.”
- Alayna Lucaroni ‘17
- Izzy Heltai ‘18
“I’m taking part in the Ireland travel course, so I’ll be there all week exploring different areas.” - Jess Lovellette ‘17
Photographers and Videographers Elizabeth Quirk Domonique Ackley Shunquell Dennis Dan Wohler Natalia Reyes
Cartoonist
Caitlin O’Neill*
Ad Representatives Adam Sams Jeff Orgeat Copy Editors Caitlin O’Neill* Lauren Levite Jake Mendel*
Advisers
Jenifer Augur Shawn McIntosh
*Holds more than one position
Online at: Beacon.MCLA.edu
Facebook.com/MCLABeacon Twitter.com/TheBeacon_MCLA
“I’ll be staying on campus to work on the theatre production of Bye Bye Birdie.” - Kathleen Sansone ‘16
“I’ll be rewatching Scooby Doo’s Spooky Island movie. I’ve seen it a dozen times before and can never get enough.”
“I’m going to see my sister in North Carolina for her birthday. She’s also having a gender-reveal party for her baby.”
- Maxwell Teplansky ‘18
- Rachel McLoughlin ‘16
photos by Elizabeth Quirk
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Opinion&Editorial
SnapChat ruins concerts Matt Aceto Web Editor
Rap
I ndus
Insig
try
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Texting at the dinner table is rude, my mom taught me that. It’s important to interact with the people you’re actually with in real life, and not with the people on your phone. At rap concerts, there are always people who feel the need to record every moment of the show, and post it to their SnapChat story. By the end of the night, their story has amounted to a few hundred seconds of video footage. For what purpose, though? The reality is, not one person cares about their videos, which likely came out blurry with distorted audio anyways. In my opinion, people who SnapChat footage of rap concerts are committing an act that’s equally as rude as texting at the dinner table. I find recording SnapChat videos at a concert to be rude for two main reasons. Firstly, it takes away from the experience of others. If I go to a concert to have fun, dance, and sing along, I expect others around me to do the same. When the people to my left and right are both
standing completely stationary with their arms outstretched like the Statue of Liberty, it’s going to kill my vibe. Secondly, recording videos is disrespectful to the artist performing. Artists are going to feel discouraged when they look out and see the entire audience has their phones out. I find recording videos at a concert to be similar to texting during class. Teachers find nothing more rude than students who text in class, and I’d imagine artists feel the same way about people who record videos during their performances. If your excuse to use your phone during a concert is to take pictures, you’re also wrong. Unless you happen to be standing extremely close to the stage, your pictures will likely turn out to be crap. Let the professional photographers on stage do their job; that’s why they’ve been hired in the first place. Ten years from now, you probably won’t remember the sixty photos or videos you took anyways. You will, however, remember the experience you
had. There’s a serious problem with cell phone usage at concerts, but I’m not sure what can be done to enforce a change. Banning the use of all cell phones and video recorders would be an unrealistic rule to follow, considering security workers already have a hard enough time trying to track down and remove illegal substances from the venue. For the time being, it seems we’ll just have to tolerate the hundreds of camera flashes coming from the crowd. I blame the popularity of SnapChat for this unsolvable mess. It’s time for people to put down their phones, and live for the moment. I’m tired of being among the only ones dancing and shouting at concerts; there needs to be more active participants in the audience. This would make for a much more fun experience, both for the fans and the performer. SnapChat stories disappear after 24 hours anyways, whereas genuine memories will last a lifetime.
Call for Papers! 14th Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Research Conference (MCLA URC) The Conference will take place April 21, 2016 on the MCLA campus. The Undergraduate Research Council is soliciting 100-word abstracts for presentations: papers, posters, creative writing, visual artwork and performance. Deadline: March 25, 2016
Beacon.MCLA.edu
One
5
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Dre s ’ n a M
By Isabel McKenzie Columnist As I walked through the AMC movie theatre in Disney Springs on Saturday morning, a young child handed me a pair of bunny ears. The smell of popcorn and butter wafted to my nose, and amazingly I caved and got a bag at eight-thirty in the morning. Surprisingly, finding a seat in the theatre for my roommate was few and far between. It was packed. This showing was for Disney’s most recent animated film “Zootopia.” I won tickets through a cast member opportunity called Magic Backstage. Tagged with my special yellow wristband, and my bag of popcorn, I settled in to my seat, surrounded by cast members of all ages. Magic Backstage is an amazing cultural aspect of Disney, and a way for cast members to experience exclusive events with other cast members. There’s nothing like watching a brand new Disney movie in a theatre filled with people who work for Disney. Its almost like being in a secret club. Every month, cast members can enter into drawings for different Disney experiences or giveaways. There are movie showings, special stays at Disney resorts, and backstage tours at attractions like Haunted Mansion or seeing Cique du Soleil at Disney Springs. Like the “Zootopia” showing, all of these experiences are free and open to any cast member from any line of business. From CPs (college programmers), to coordinators, to leaders, anyone can be sitting next to you. This is Disney’s way of providing magic for the people who make the magic. In my opinion, it’s a great way of keeping the motivation and morale up within the company. My Organizational Leadership professor mentioned that workers for companies are happier with benefits that are not monetary, even though they say otherwise. And I have to say, I am definitely feeling the magic, more so than last week, if that’s even possible. “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.”
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Arts & Entertainment
Thursday, March 10, 2016
A Mitchell Chapman
A & E Editor
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Curious Kehlani announced as SAC Case of spring concert headliner By Jonathan Hoel
REDRUM
A & E Writer
Are original ideas too big of a risk in film?
There is a very prominent trend in revisiting old Intellectual Properties (IPs) in the cinema, as studio after studio has realized that nostalgia can be highly profitable. While this trend has given rise to the creation of great films, ranging from the recent remake of “True Grit” to the breakout success of “Star Wars: Episode VII,” it has also been damaging to new IPs and the movie industry as a whole. Max Landis, screenwriter of “Chronicle” and “American Ultra” has become somewhat of a spokesperson for new IPs. He has gone on many media platforms (one being a fantastic video interview with RedLetterMedia, a YouTube channel that became famous for its “Mr, Plinkett Reviews” series) expressing his frustration and confusion when “American Ultra” tanked at the box office, despite having prominent actors in Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg and mixed-to-positive review scores. “I have this fantasy that somebody is going to write the next ‘Star Wars’—that won’t be called ‘Star Wars,’” Landis explained in the interview. “However, if a script with the budget ‘Star Wars’ would have now—even if it was a great script—crossed studio desks, they would be like ‘this movie is too big of a risk.’ The question then becomes: where do movies that take risks fit in now?” Although many factors contributed to “American Ultra’s” failure at the box office, Landis does make a few key points. Movies based off of existing properties, be it a remake, belated sequel, or a spiritual successor, are a much safer investment than a film without a recognizable name attached to it. If you have a comedy film about catching ghosts with a few wellknown actors and a decent script, it will do alright at the box office. However, if you attach the “Ghostbusters” brand to that movie, you will have a breakout hit. There is no crime in loving a property. “Star Wars” is pretty rad and could use as many sequels as it can get, but when you have a situation where the vast majority of movies in theaters are either based off something, are part of a franchise, or are a reimagining of a well-known name, it severely limits the types of stories you have the ability to see. It’s bad enough that there are only the proverbial “seven stories” that you can tell, but when they are bound by the conventions of a property, it severely limits the evolution of film. The independent film scene will always be a place where filmmakers can experiment. Mark Ruffalo has found a cozy home in the indie film scene when not up to “Avengers” business. However, not everyone has access to these films, and they can often be a bit “out there.” They also lack the budgets to periodically evolve the genres that blockbusters tell. Max Landis might have very well been making excuses for his own shortcomings in Hollywood, but there aren’t a great deal of new ideas coming from that direction. When they can make $2 billion by remaking “Star Wars: A New Hope,” is there a place for original ideas in Hollywood anymore?
Correction Joke’s on us
Last issue, in the article “Ibsen classic ‘A Doll’s House’ is coming to Venable Theater this week,” Professor Standley was mistakenly quoted, referring to Ibsen’s play as “the funniest play of all time.” In fact, she was referring to the FPA’s production of “Noises Off.” The quote has been removed from the online version of the article. We regret the error.
Photo from Carlos Chavarria
Kehlani’s focus is R & B and achieved fame from “America’s Got Talent.”
Wednesday morning, the Student Activity Council (SAC) unveiled a poster as an exciting way to announce this spring’s annual concert: the R&B artist Kehlani will be performing in the Venable Gym on April 18. Kehlani, an Oakland native, attended Oakland School for the Arts, focusing on dance as her initial passion in the arts. Kehlani, along with other students from OSA performed in a band together known as PopLyfe. PopLyfe saw moderate success on NBC’s reality show “America’s Got Talent” where they placed fourth in the sixth season in 2011. Kehlani left Poplyfe in 2012. Last year she dropped her mix-tape “You Should Be Here” which featured artists Chance the Rapper and BJ The Chicago Kid. The album was received warmly by critics, and
financially performed well, peaking at #36 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/ Hip Hop Albums. Shortly thereafter she was signed to Atlantic Records, and went on to be nominated for Best Contemporary Urban Album at the 2016 Grammy Awards last month. “Kehlani’s got both specificity and a knack for flipping the archetype of the wounded young girl,” Complex contributor Anupa Mistry wrote in her review of Kehlani’s debut album. “That’s got to be a salve for a young person in the thick of it.” Kehlani’s debut album, which is as-of-yet untitled, will be released in May via Atlantic Records. The SAC spring concert is held every year in the spring semester, and is funded by student activity fees allocated by the SGA. The 18+ concert will take place on April 18 at the Venable Gym. Tickets will be sold in the Market Place in early April for $5 for students and $7 for guests, faculty and alumni.
Last Week
FPA: “A Doll’s House” a somber delight By Mitchell Chapman A & E Editor
There is something about theater and drama that just goes hand in hand. Life isn’t always happy, nor does it end well, and theatre thrives off of realism. As someone who has never been exposed to “A Doll’s House,” I can certainty see why it has lasted as long as it has. The story centers around Nora and Torvald Helmer (portrayed by FPA veterans Brianna McDermott and Marcus Neverson) and the money Nora borrowed from Nils Krogstad (former “Dog Sees God” star Zack Page) under questionable circumstances, in order to send Torvald to Italy to cure a past illness. Krogstad works at the very same bank Torvald manages, and is in danger of losing his job, so he uses the illegitimate “IOU” as leverage to keep his position. Little does he know that Nora has kept the whole affair a secret from her husband, for it has the power to disintegrate their marriage and family. The play is a tragedy in every sense of the word. Nothing goes right for anybody. Likeable characters die, unlikeable characters get redeemed only to die, achievements are overshadowed by personal failures, and the whole thing leaves you feeling a bit glum. I fully understand why Ibsen wrote in the play’s second ending, where Nora does not abandon her children; for 2016, such an ending, while not very
cheery, is not so very appalling to us. The traditional family structure found in “A Doll’s House,” has evolved since Ibsen’s time, and in a country where one third of all marriages end in divorce, the tragedy of Nora Helmer’s relationship has become commonplace. However, this was not the case in 1879, when the play was first performed, and as such was quite controversial for its time. Despite all the doom and gloom, there are a few joyful moments that shine through, the vast majority of them belonging to Dr. Rank (played by Braxton Vittori), a terminally-ill doctor that is a close family friend of the Helmers, and visits them regularly. His path in life was damned from the start, as he suffers from a disease that is slowly disintegrating his spine, and despite having great wealth, has no wife or children to leave it to after he dies. He accepts his fate as a reality and tries to make the best of it, and his insights are both clever and entertaining to listen to. Nora and Torvald might have nothing physically broken, but they are broken human beings. Torvald influences Nora to the point of suffocation, and lets his own unquestioned ideals regulate how he manages his business and his relationship. Nora is used to shutting away her own opinions, liking whatever her dominant male figure (her father, then Torvald) tells her to like, in order to fit the accepted gender norms
of the time, that she doesn’t even know who she herself is or what she truly wants in life. She has wasted 12 years of her life being in a relationship that just wasn’t healthy for her, and the only ways out are dramatic ones. Though the play is old, the dialogue came off as fresh; the best compromise between Victorian-era dialogue and contemporary speech. It does not suffer from “Shakespeare Syndrome,” which I define as the grammatical structure and select word definitions of the past clash with a contemporary audience’s perception of language; you will understand every sentence spoken. That being said, it did seem to provide an original barrier when the play opened, but it was one that the cast quickly overcame and used to their advantage as the play progressed. The play’s set and design did the job, and I appreciate the clever use of multiple projectors and prerecorded clips for transitions in between scenes; there is so much potential for live performance and projected film, and I am just a sucker for performances that make use of multimedia. The sound design was also quite good, and was used effectively (one of the best uses of montage in a theatre production I have seen thus far), using music a film would use to communicate sadness, tension, etc., especially during scene transitions. There really is no truer name than Ibsen.
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Arts & Entertainment
Karen Moss brings her eclectic exhibition to G51 After showcasing art from across the country last month, G51 opens a solo exhibition with Karen Moss By Jonathan Hoel A & E Writer
Karen Moss’s “What’s Next?” exhibit, which runs at Gallery 51 downtown until April 24, encompasses a variety of her work from the last few years, incurring themes of poverty, corporate greed, privacy, sexuality and feminism. An intriguing aspect of her art seems to be the recurring appearance of anthropomorphic chimeras in her art; part animal, part person—she usually seems to have them depicted as little girls in various alarming or disturbing ways, such as in her piece “Have a Nice Day” and “Follow the Leader”. Moss’s various pieces are all made with different materials, styles and themes. She is driven by ideas, not some mantra or aesthetic to adhere to, so that leaves her lots of room to maneuver artistically. This works to her advantage, especially since she has nearly five decades of experience to draw on for inspiration. Her piece “Surveillance” is particularly noteworthy. A piece from 2013, from before the Snowden NSA Leaks, which is interesting because the two are certainly kindred in Photo by Jonathan Hoel/The Beacon spirit. The piece shows a little girl, President Birge admires Karen Moss’s Solitary Triptych, 2013 innocent, blindfolded, surrounded at Gallery 51. by trees with horrible grotesque eyes and mouths. The piece seems pretty entwined with some overly colorful landscapes current in a time when – for all intents and purposes – we live with eyes and ears and fast food, and creepily idealized skinny girls all around us. While her art has the quality and resembling Bratz dolls), it also frequently can be immensity of someone who has been a veteran of overwrought with symbolism. A bit too obvious is the generic supercenter plastic the art world for as long as she has, Moss’s art also encompasses a refreshing youthfulness – surprising shopping bag, embroidered with a yellow smiley perhaps, in someone her age, she seems to draw on face, like a tremulous Cheshire Cat. It is altogether lots of contemporary culture for her inspirations, as too frequent in its appearances in the exhibit. It loses the otherwise brilliant notion of its haunting evident in some of her work. A big theme in her art seems to be contrast, an presence and implication. These are small complaints however, in what is intense dichotomy of elements. This is a doubleedged sword artistically, because while some of the overall a superb and thoughtful exhibit. Some of most powerful images in the exhibition come from the pieces deserve to be looked at over and over and this technique (like in her “Red Dumpster” paper contemplated thoroughly. The work of an artist with works, a series of gruff, oblique homeless figures exemplary talent, see it yourselves.
Beacon.MCLA.edu
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“Fuller House” more than a nostalgic cash-grab By Mitchell Chapman A & E Editor
Netflix didn’t have to try with this one. The long awaited sequel/ spiritual successor to ABC’s 90s sitcom proves that it cannot only exceed the scope of its predecessor, but compete with modern-day television. I’m not a fan of the original “Full House.” I saw it because I grew up in the age of television reruns and I had a younger sister. It was alright; Uncle Jesse (John Stamos) and Joey Gladstone (Dave Coulier) provided enough antics to keep me interested, and it is still interesting to see Bob Saget in the role of Danny Tanner, knowing what a dirty-mouthed comedian he is, but as a whole, the show never really had enough going
on for me to follow it too closely. It’s interesting to analyze, in contrast with “Fuller House,” seeing as “Full House,” was so grounded in 90s family values and conventions of TV at the time, while “Fuller House” more or less gets to do what it wants with the freedom Netflix allows. The show takes a gutsy move by sidestepping the original male trio to focus on the lives of DJ Fuller (Candice Cameron-Bure), Stephanie Tanner (Jodie Sweetin), and Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber) to focus on their adult lives and their children. It was somewhat of a risk, for although Cameron-Bure has had a vibrant film career after “Full House,” Sweetin and Barber haven’t exactly done much in terms of acting, though after a few episodes they slide right into their old selves, and it works. Instead of being a show about three father figures, it becomes a show about three mother figures, with Stamos, Coulier, and Saget dropping in regularly to keep things interesting. The child actors they picked work, though Elias Harger (Max Fuller) takes the cake for best performance. His character just bring an energy not typically found in child actors, while his counterparts, Soni Bringas (Ramona Gibbler) and Michael Campion (Jackson Fuller) are pretty standard fare as far as these types of shows go. I don’t quite understand the 32 percent rotten score this show received on Rotten Tomatoes, especially considering that the scripts were so good this time around. The scope of the sequel show is much bigger than the original, as are the set-ups, and most every episode pays off in a way that is both amusing, but true to the original spirit of the show. A quick sift through RT’s aggregated reviews of the show reveal more snobbery than actual criticism. For what it is, “Fuller House” hit every point it needed and more to be decent, let alone good. It’s a show that exceeded my expectations from episode 2, and one that I couldn’t stop watching. I can’t say the same of the original “Full House,” or of many other sitcoms on today. This is a prime example of when the critics are just flat-out wrong about a piece of entertainment. Netflix knew well what people expected from this show, and pretty much blew them out of the water (even if the original “Full House” did set the bar pretty low). If you have any knowledge of the original show, this iteration is a must-see (it’s a literal love-letter to the original), and if you haven’t, this is still a pretty decent piece of entertainment worthy of your attention.
Feminism in Art Open Mic and Showcase a big hit By Paige Pomerantz A & E Writer
Snapping, clapping, and passion filled the dimmed Sullivan Lounge at the Feminism in Art Open Mic and Showcase last Thursday. Co-sponsored by the Susan B. Anthony Women’s Center at MCLA, Sounds and Tones Records, and Common Folk, the event rung in Women’s History Month. “My own sex, I hope, will excuse me, if I treat them like rational creatures, instead of flattering their fascinating graces, and viewing them as if they were in a state of perpetual childhood, unable to stand alone,” Mary Wollstonecraft once said, according to a strip of paper from the jar that was passed around the room, leaving everyone with a different feminist quote.
Moving performances energy to the showcase. of poetry, song and even Other performances for dance occupied the the open mic portion of the evening, all introduced by show included Emily Young junior Samwise Fox, the on ukulele, Luke O’Brien M.C. of the evening. on guitar, Francesca Shanks “Art is beautiful because singing folk songs with a it came out of you,” Fox ukulele, and Christopher exclaimed on stage. Hantman, Casey Potts, Alyssa St Franc, a and Marissa Essor all with freshman with a powerful poetry, among others. message to deliver, read “…consume my essence one of her original works. and make me a part of what “My poem is about being you wish you could be,” Photo by Shunquell Dennis/The Beacon Essor read from her original black and being a woman and what that means and The event gave many students an outlet to poem “Pheonix.” different interactions that express themselves creatively and enjoy There were three feature sets art. I’ve had,” Franc said. by local artists as well. Titled “Why do You Make High school senior duo Three members of Nexxus it About Race?” Franc emoted a Chasing Daylight (Alyssa stepped up to the occasion and positive response from the crowd. Richardson and Jake Keplinger) wowed everyone with a strong Midway through her piece, she brought a sense of refreshment performance that echoed through even had to pause due to the to the lounge with their young the room. They were in sync with audience’s fervent cheers and eagerness and talent. They one another and brought great claps. performed two original songs
and a cover of Ed Sheeran’s “Afire Love.” Catherine DeGennaro of the acoustic-folk band GRNDMS performed solo. Her voice was subtly beautiful as she sang about female lineage and the connection that is passed down. Williams College students Maija and Ryan make up Eventyr, who also performed. If you frequent the Parlor’s open mic nights, you have probably seen Maija on her mbira, a hand-held African instrument. Her effortless indie-reminiscent vocals harmonized with Ryan’s and perfectly accompanied the guitar and hardingfele (a Norwegian fiddle) used. A similar event is being held on March 25 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the UNO Community Center in North Adams.
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Campus Life
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Debate Club draws a crowd at first meeting By Idalis Foster News Editor
The Debate Club is a new club on campus that was just approved by SGA on Feb. 22. Sophomore Kaitlin Wright carried a torch for the club as president after freshman Tyler Spencer was unable to serve on the E-board due to his current position as parliamentarian of SGA. Their first official meeting was Thursday, March 3, and the club already has a decent turnout of about 13 people. More are expected to attend tonight, with the word about the club spreading fast. The club has been in the works since this past summer when Spencer reached out to freshman John Kelly, a political science major and the current vice president of Debate Club, to get a sense of whether he’d be interested in helping him start it up. “I’m hoping for the club to gain enough support and recognition to end up going to Model UN conferences and possibly having our own Model UN conferences,” Kelly said.
By Emily Gabert Staff Writer
With the release of the budget recommendations from SGA’s Budget Finance Committee (BFC), the student senate asked questions and held a discussion about the recommendations for clubs and organizations, before voting on the proposal. The student senate approved the budget recommendation for the 2017 fiscal year. Before the approval, the president of Dance Company, Bryanna Bradley, delivered papers to the student senate in regards to the budget with hopes for an increase in funding for the dance club for 2017. Bradley elaborated on where the bit of money offered to the club would go. Some funds would go toward costumes, while other funds would go toward hiring a light designer for performances. The senate offered suggestions for Dance Company to make up for the loss of funding from the budget decrease,
Wright spoke similarly about end goals but was mindful of the possible differences in experience with debating in the past of potential members. She wants students to feel comfortable joining the club, regardless of whether they have experience or not. “We’ll first go over what you do in a debate and the different kinds of debates. From there we kind of hope to engage in different types of debating, like Model UN and Mock Trial,” Wright said. “For events, we’re hoping to do something with the Political Science Club, possibly a mock debate...an SNL type of mock debate.” MCLA currently does not have a club that’s sole purpose is to debate, and the only resource for debate so far has been the Model UN course. There is the Political Science Club, but Wright emphasized that Debate Club is for the debate of any topic, while Political Science Club, which she is a member of, is for discussing politics. Both Wright and Kelly have
experience debating from their time in high school and are hopeful that this can be the same outlet it was for them during that time. Spencer found debating to be a life changing experience and wants the same sense of community to continue with this new club. “In high school I joined the mock trial team and it really
in college and wants to make it so students can go to different debate competitions and summits that are related to debate, as well as Model UN. He said it teaches people to argue in a logical way, but also creates a sense of community for students, just as any other club would for those with a special interest. Director of Admissions, Gina Puc, was approached by Spencer as well. She debated in high school and loves it, so when approached, she saw the value it would bring to the campus. “I’m hoping that the Debate Club will cultivate enough interest to compete Photo by Shunquell Dennis/The Beacon in college debate activities throughout the Northeast,” helped me get on the right Puc said. “It will provide track. It helped me become students the chance to engage more passionate about law and in an intellectually rigorous and debating,” Spencer said. “My competitive activity outside grades got better after I started of the classroom that will help doing it and I met the nicest sharpen skills like research and group of people. It was one the writing that complement their best experiences I had in my studies and preparation for life entire life.” after MCLA.” Spencer said it was important The club meets Thursdays at for him to continue this activity 8:15 p.m. in Bowman Hall 217.
Clubs disapointed by SGA budget cuts such as fundraising, which could be beneficial to the club due to it’s campus popularity. Bradley took these considerations but cited with the time restraints due to practices that fundraising is an issue for them. She also reminded the senate that funds generated from their fall and spring performances do not go toward the club. The fall show’s proceeds go to the Berkshire Dance Theater for scholarship money, while the spring show’s is given solely to the Mass MoCA for allowing the performances to be held in their space. Even though Dance Company did not receive more money, Bradley still expressed gratitude to the BFC for their work. Constitutions The student senate approved two constitutions: Harlequin and the Environuts. Constitutions for the Writer’s Guild and one other club will be voted on, at the next SGA meeting.
Photo by Gionna Nourse/The Beacon
President Birge The new president of the College, Jamie Birge, took questions from the student senate, and even took some questions from those in the gallery. Students were interested to see if Birge had already had plans in mind for the college. Birge explained that even though he hopes to help improve enrollment rates, he is trying to learn more about the college and the area, before stepping foot into making changes. “I learned a long time ago that before leaders can really make changes,” Birge said, “they have to understand the culture first.” Birge believes this is a beneficial
factor in deciding what changes need to be made; increasing enrollment rates is something he also hopes to work on, once he has a better understanding of what the college is doing, and how it can be improved. Birge also expressed to the student senate that he hopes to become engaged with students across campus, along with reaching out to clubs and other organizations. Birge also said he has no plans to cut academic programs. New SGA Office Manager In Advisor Jenn Craig’s advisor report, she announced that SGA’s new office manager Amanda Schumler, an alumni from the class of 2012, has started her position. Craig advised clubs and organizations to reach out to Schumler and to introduce themselves to her. Campus Garden Revival The coalition to bring back a garden to campus, met last Friday at 4 p.m. Clubs like the outdoors club and the Good Vibes Yoga
Club were two involved in the meeting. The coalition is currently deciding on where to place the garden on campus. One spot was offered by the school, while the coalition has two other spots in mind; soil quality is being taken into account as well. The group is expected to meet the following Friday after spring break. All are welcomed to attend and those with questions are urged to contact Senate Secretary Even Pirnie.
Photo by Makayla-Courtney McGeeney
SGA meets every Monday at 7:00p.m. in Murdock 218, meetings are open to all members of the campus community.
Campus Life
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Green Living Hunting in Mass. By Torin Gannon Staff Writer
For this week’s session of the Green Living seminar, Becky Cushing talked about managing wildlife sanctuaries. Cushing is the Berkshire Sanctuaries Director for the Massachusetts Audubon Society. In her talk, Cushing described how Mass Audubon’s goal is to protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and wildlife, and to discuss what that means. “Sometimes people and wildlife have similar needs, and sometimes they have very different needs,” Cushing said, “so it’s interesting that we’re saying Mass Audubon is protecting both people and wildlife, because sometimes those aren’t always going to be aligned.” She said one of the things they try to do with their sanctuaries is find the balance for both the wildlife living in them and the people visiting them. Mass Audubon is doing a lot of work to monitor the wildlife in sanctuaries and determine how the species are doing. Cushing displayed a massive glossary of all the bird species observed by the organization as part of this effort. Cushing stated that the data is used to determine how they can manage their sanctuaries to best benefit the species living in them. She mentioned work they had done at Canoe Meadows in Pittsfield, where they created grasslands to benefit bird species that require such an environment for nesting. In her talk, Cushing encouraged those in attendance to consider, especially when visiting wildlife sanctuaries, “What impact am I having on wildlife?” More information on Mass Audubon can be found at their website, www.massaudubon.org The next session of the Green Living Seminar will be held on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in room 121 of the Science Center. The presenter will be Alia Del Malino, a program manager for the Berkshire Environmental Action Team. Her presentation is entitled “Roads and Wildlife: Reducing Human impact on Habitat and Connectivity”.
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Commuters squeezed out of student parking spots February 29, 2016 To the Editor: I am writing to inform you of the lack of sufficient parking areas for commuter students. I believe an article about this topic should be included in an issue of the Beacon. In numerous instances, I have had trouble in seeking a parking spot in one of the designated commuter lots. These lots are often taken by either the Board of Trustees, other visitors, or during special events. This leaves commuter students with insufficient space to park their cars, which is necessary for them to make it to campus and get to class in time. Resident students do not have the same requirement for parking as commuter students do. It is not entirely necessary for them to have a car on campus; It is more of a luxury. However, it seems that resident students are also given luxury treatment in regards to parking space. The resident student parking lots are closer to the school buildings than the commuter parking lots are. Whereascommuter students must park their cars here on a daily basis, most resident students may not use their vehicle for an extended amount of time. I propose that this issue be addressed, and more parking areas be reserved for commuter students. Perhaps more lots need to be created, or there could be less parking space reserved for resident students, as it is not as necessary. This has become so much of an issue that I have begun to simply park on the street, and I refuse to pay the fee for a commuter student parking sticker, because I always felt I was not getting my money’s worth. This is the same with many other commuter students I have spoken to about the issue. Sincerely, Taylor Sheldon ‘17
Financial aid announcement Attention fall 2016 returning students: Don’t forget to reapply for financial aid for next fall! Complete your 16-17 FAFSA now! March 1 priority review deadline date! Scholarship opportunity! Community Foundation of Western Mass scholarships available!
Have a great spring break!
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
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Thursday, March 10, 2016
Sports
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Softball set to defend MASCAC crown Trailblazers return the majority of the roster that won the MASCAC Championship last spring
By Jesse Collings Sports Editor
Coming off of their MASCAC Championship in 2015, the MCLA softball team is looking forward to defending the crown in 2016. “We are just taking one game at a time,” MCLA head coach Jamie Trudeau said. “We have discussed getting to the number one spot and having that target on our back, but our conference is strong overall and there are a lot of tough teams out there. Four different teams got first place votes in the preseason poll, we are not the only good team in the conference.” The Trailblazers were picked to finish first in the MASCAC in the preseason coaches’ poll, as they received 41 points in the poll, tied with Worcester State for first place. The Trailblazers defeated the Lancers last season in the MASCAC semi-final last season before defeating Salem State in the championship game, 6-0. However, Trudeau is avoiding placing too high expectations on the team. “You never know what could be going in the conference, Bridgewater State could have seven new freshmen that are all really good,” Trudeau. “We are not emphasizing a championship, we are emphasizing going inning-by-inning and one game at a time and playing to the best of our ability. If we do that that we are going to end up where we want to be.” MCLA will be anchored by senior pitcher Rachel Quackenbush, who has already re-written
the MCLA record books during her career for the Trailblazers. Quackenbush owns the career record for strikeouts in a career, entering 2016 with 530 strikeouts, more than twice as many as the previous record holder. Quackenbush’s 179 strikeouts last season ranked her 16 in the country last season and her 198 strikeouts as a sophomore in 2014 ranked her 13. Quackenbush led the MASCAC last season in strikeouts, earned run average, saves and innings pitched. “Rachel is a great player and has a very solid work ethic, which is one of the major reasons she has been so successful at MCLA,” Trudeau said. “She knows what it takes to win and the amount of effort it takes to get there. It is always a pleasure to get to coach somebody who you can work with and help get to their fullest potential. Last season we worked together offensively and she was able to improve a lot at the plate as well as on the mound.” Offensively the Trailblazers will be led by senior outfielder Michaela Dinicola, who led the team last season in hits, walks, steals, batting average and on-base percentage. Quackenbush also serves as the top slugger on the team, leading the squad last season in home runs and runs batted in. The Trailblazers will also the return of seniors Abby Lucas and Angelica Perfido, along with junior Alexandra Romano, all of whom hit over .290 last season. “You have to love a player like Michaela, a player who just enjoys the game and has fun. I expect her to step up as senior, she came up
clutch for us last year and got us a lot of big hits,” Trudeau said. “Angelica has been focusing on her offense and trying to hit the outside pitch a little bit more, we are looking at our senior class to come up big this season.” The Trailblazers will have to cope with the loss of Amanda Meczywor, who graduated last spring. While Quackenbush was the ace of the staff, Meczywor was a consistent second pitcher for the Trailblazers, starting 19 games for the Trailblazers and finishing with a 4.76 earned run average. Meczywor also led the Trailblazers in doubles and slugging percentage and hit .316 last season. “You don’t just replace a player like Amanda, she was not only big for us at the plate and on the mound but as a leader as well. We are planning on several different players stepping up and filling that void.” Junior Katelyn Henault, who pitched last season in a limited role, will be counted on to replace Meczywor in the starting rotation. Trudeau is also counting on a couple freshmen to contribute right away for the Trailblazers. “Katie Breghela is going to add some speed to our lineup. She’s an overall good athlete and will find a home in either the outPhoto by Domonique Ackley/The Beacon field or infield, she is very versa- Senior pitcher Rachel Quackenbush led the MASCAC last season tile,” Trudeau said. “We also have in earned run average, strikeouts and innings pitched. Chelsea Coleman who is going Boston on Saturday in Clermont, mont College in a doubleheader. to be very solid at the plate for us, FL. The Trailblazers will play ten They will begin conference play she is a very fundamentally sound games in Florida before head- on April 2 when they travel to Saplayer.” ing back north. MCLA will have lem State to play another doubleMCLA opens their season in their first home game on March header. Florida when they play UMASS- 31 when they host Southern Ver-
Griffin experiment comes to an end Quarterback’s future uncertain after being released by Washington
By Tyler Bacon
Sports Columnist
There was a time when Robert Griffin III was considered to be one of the brightest stars in football. On Monday, the Washington Redskins informed him that he would be released according to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport. Griffin did not take a snap for the Redskins last season and was a third string quarterback all season, behind starter Kirk Cousins and backup Colt McCoy. He made $16.1 million last season in the last year of his five year rookie contract.
Griffin’s career got off to a fast start. His rookie season, in 2012, made him a superstar after being drafted number two overall behind only Andrew Luck. Griffin would go on to beat Luck in the Offensive Rookie of the Year race after he threw 20 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions and also ran for over 800 yards and 7 more touchdowns. His career was never be the same after he tore his ACL and his MCL in his knee in a playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. Griffin injured his knee while going after an errant snap on a slippery FedEx Field turf. His knee buckled. This was every Redskins fan’s biggest fear. Griffin has been benched by two different coaches: Mike Shanahan and Jay Gruden. Griffin never had the coaching staff that utilized his ability to run the ball or believed in him. He was named the started last offseason by Gruden but was eventually benched following a preseason loss to the Lions on August 20th. He never looked
comfortable in Gruden’s offense since he is a quarterback who needs to have an option to run instead of being more of a pocket passer and forcing the ball down the field. Griffin’s release means that he gets a new start. He needs to get out of Washington and go somewhere, as a backup, and prove that he still has Photo from Tribune News Service the skills to be a starting quar- After an electrifying rookie season, Griffin has been bothered by injuries and terback. More inconsistent decision making, bringing an end to his time in Washington. importantly, he A general manager is going to thought he lost after his ACL inneeds to go somewhere where the sign him and give him a system jury. coaching staff believes in him and that fits him. Griffin is going to He was once a star in the Nalets him use his legs to make plays be looking to prove the Red- tional Football League and now like he did in 2012. skins wrong and show them he he has to prove that he still beHe should have no problem still has that elite speed that they longs in the same league. finding another job in the league.
Sports
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Beacon.MCLA.edu
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Baseball ready for new season MCLA to begin 2016 season under the leadership of new head coach Mike Gladu
By Jesse Collings Sports Editor
With the weather starting to look more like spring time, the MCLA baseball team is preparing for their upcoming season. The Trailblazers, who finished 11-18 last season, will be under the leadership of new head coach Mike Gladu. Gladu is an Adams native who starred at Hoosac Valley High School before playing at American International College and spending three years as a minor league player in the Chicago Cubs system. For the past five seasons Gladu was an assistant coach for Williams College and also managed the Berkshire Americans, a travel team, for the last three seasons. Gladu discussed some of the tests he is facing as a first year coach. “Some of the challenges come from the different aspects of coaching. For me, it can be a set of signs or defensive or offensive schemes,”Gladu said. “The players have to come together and get on board with those. All of these guys can play baseball, they just have to fine tune it and play at the level I expect them to play.” In addition to coaching the Berkshire Americans, Gladu also serves as an instructor for Cages at the Mill, an indoor baseball training facility in North Adams. Throughout his coaching career in Berkshire County he has come to know several players currently on the Trailblazer roster. “There are probably six or seven guys on the roster that I knew pretty well and a couple more that I knew not as well, but I knew of them,” Gladu said. “I know what their strengths and weaknesses are already and we are working on those.” MCLA graduated six seniors last season, including Chase Preite, Mike Sullivan, Rory Slattery and Tyler Benoit, all of whom played key roles in the MCLA offense last season. The Trailblazers as a team
were sporadic offensively, hitting .264 overall but only .213 in conference play. “They struggled a little bit at the dish. There are a number of players on this roster that because of upperclassmen playing in front of them didn’t get a ton of playing time,” Gladu said. “Andrew Casteel is going to get a lot of time at third, Nate Gutmann will also get more playing time this season, those are a couple of the hinge guys we are expecting to see more out of. We have a new group of leaders and a lot of new players, so I don’t think it will be too hard to improve on those things.” Defensively the Trailblazers will lean on a veteran pitching staff. Senior Todd Hunt led the team in innings pitched last season and finished with a 4.27 earned run average. Seniors Robert Jutras and Eamonn Andre will be called upon to pitch a lot of innings this season as well, with Jutras as a starter and Andre as the number one relief pitcher on the team. Sophomore Liam Nolan had an excellent freshman campaign in 2015, pitching 29 innings and finishing with a 2.17 ERA. Nolan, who is hard throwing right handed pitcher known for his devastating slider, will be counted on to lead the charge for MCLA. “Liam is a solid kid that absolutely loves the game. He’s a solid kid that will do anything I ask him to do, he works extra hard,” Gladu said. In this game you work as much as you can to get better. For him, the summer baseball that he has played and the improvements that he has made since last season are going to be really important to us.” The Trailblazers will be looking at several newcomers to the program who will be called upon to contribute this season. Freshman catcher Antonio Archina will likely see a lot of time behind the plate as he replaces senior Alon Willing. Gladu is counting on Archina a few other newcomers this season.
Photo by Domonique Ackley/The Beacon
Senior lefthander Todd Hunt led the Trailblazers in innings pitched last season and was second on the team in strikeouts. “Antonio Archina, our freshman catcher is going to play a big role,” Gladu said. “He has a nice swing, he is still learning the ins and outs of college baseball, especially the catcher’s position. Brandon Kelly is going to be our fourth starter so we are expecting him to come and pitch some good innings. Joe DiMasio, who is coming over from Westfield is going to get thrown right into a lot of time at second base, which is an important position.” MCLA will open their season
with their annual trip to Florida over spring break. The Trailblazers first game of the season will come on Friday with a doubleheader against SUNY-Poly in Auburndale, Fl. MCLA will play nine games in the Sunshine State before heading back north. Gladu spoke about the importance of playing competitive non-conference teams before heading into MASCAC play. “It’s all about trying to play competitive teams. The more good teams you play in the non-
conference the more prepared you are going to be heading into conference play,” Gladu said. “The win-loss record is important but the conference record is what really counts, and you want to play teams that get you ready for those games.” The Trailblazers will host their first home game of the season on Thursday, March 31 against Southern Vermont College. They will then begin conference play on Saturday, April 2 when they travel to Salem State.
Intramural Champions
Photo from MCLA Intramurals
Austin LaFrance (left) and Myles Candelet (right), collectively The Kan Jammers defeated Team Baconater in the finals of Kan Jam to win the Intramural Championship.
Photo from MCLA Intramurals
From left to right: Trey Coryell, Pat Mahoney, Sakan Sadowsky, Andy Haier, Joe Tavella and Kam Anderson of Asian Invasion defeated Team Baconater in the finals of Kickball to win the Intramural Championship.
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Thursday, March 10, 2016
Photo Essay
Beacon.MCLA.edu
“Red Dumpster I,” “Red Dumpster II,” and “Red Dumpster III” are works inspired by common problems, such as homelessness and consumerism, in society.
What’s Next? An art show of recent work by Karen Moss on display at Gallery 51 until April 24.
Photos by Elizabeth Quirk
“Broken” and Moss’s other artwork catches the viewers’ attention by combining pop humor and fantasy.
“Strange Trio” is one of Moss’s many pieces that feature sales flyers and catalog pieces as a medium.
Moss’s inspiration for “Surveillance” and her other pieces branches from a childhood interest in stories and children’s books.