Updated policies reaction, Boston Marathon

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Thursday, April 21, 2022 • Volume 75, Issue 28

‘Boston is not a marathon to be trifled with’: 30,000 flock to Monday’s race Maddie Khaw

Beacon Correspondent

COVID-19 testing center at the corner of Kneeland Street and Harrison Ave. / Beacon Archives

Students report anxiety with updated COVID policies Maddie Khaw Beacon Correspondent COVID-19 precautions have enveloped Emerson’s campus since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. Masks in classrooms, mandatory weekly COVID tests, and designated isolation spaces for COVID-positive students became commonplace as the Emerson community learned to live with the virus.

Effective May 16—and continuing when students return for the fall 2022 semester—the college’s COVID-19 procedures will look much different.

The policy shift, per Associate Vice President for Campus Life and “COVID Lead” Erik Muurisepp, comes in light of declining local case counts and official guidance, as well as consultation with Tufts Medical Center and the Boston Public Health Commission.

“Based on where things are we felt this was the most logical step, as we’ve been stepping down restrictions and practices all academic term,” Muurisepp said. “We know a lot more about the virus, and that the vaccine and boosters help prevent significant illness and hospitalization.”

The college will shift from a weekly surveillance testing model to a symptomatic testing one, terminate its contact tracing program, move to an “isolate-inplace model” for positive cases, and drop the mask

mandate in almost all campus spaces. Among these changes, one policy will remain the same—the college’s full vaccination requirement, which includes at least one booster shot.

“I definitely want to see us making changes, and I’m really excited to have things more back to normal,” junior theatre and performance major Clara Livingston said. “But only within reason.”

Symptomatic testing will be available for students only, while faculty and staff “should consult with their primary care providers about testing,” the email said. Asymptomatic students who prefer to test regularly can do so with their own self-administered rapid antigen tests, it continued.

While the college will not provide rapid tests, Muurisepp noted that students can access tests through their health insurance—including the student insurance plan—which covers eight tests per month.

“If folks are concerned and want to still be testing on a regular basis, we feel that there are avenues for that,” Muurisepp said. “Mostly through what the government has set up for insurance companies and the tests they can send out.”

Not all students welcome the new changes. Firstyear communications studies major Andy Ambrose said she fears that, without surveillance testing, students can spread the virus unknowingly.

“My big fear is having COVID and giving it to COVID policy reaction, Pg. 3

Downtown Boston was transformed on Monday, as thousands of runners from across the world crossed the finish line of the 126th Boston Marathon—the first run to be held on Patriots’ Day since the onset of the pandemic and 189 days following the 2021 marathon in October.

For Carlie Brainard, an Emerson graduate student, the event was more than just a marathon; partnering with a nonprofit, she managed to raise $7,530 for Community Rowing Incorporated.

The five-hour and three-minute run proved to be more enjoyable than Brainard originally anticipated.

“It was so much more fun than I would have expected,” she said. “I thought that I was going to be in terrible pain the whole time. I was nervous that I was going to get bored—but the crowds in Boston were just unbelievable and it caused this adrenaline

rush.”

Coasting until mile 22, she pushed herself up Heartbreak Hill in Newton, and eventually managed to finish 23,164th overall.

“Even when I was exhausted, I would keep running for the fans and the spectators who came out and were cheering us on,” she said. “I tried to make it a point to give every little kid that I passed a high five.”

To Brainard, running through Wellesley College was the most exciting part of the race because of the “Wellesley Scream Tunnel,” a student-led gauntlet lined with cheering fans.

After the marathon, Brainard said she met her friends and family to eat dinner at Maggiano’s Little Italy, fulfilling her desire to eat “tons and tons” of pasta.

The Boston Athletic Association estimates around 500,000 spectators gathered around the course, cheering on the nearly 25,314 runners on the 26.2 mile route.

Volunteer Yvonne Peychal woke up

Boston Marathon, Pg. 3

Boston Marathon runners receiving thermal covers and medals after the race. / Campbell Parish Beacon Staff

Comedy troupe reflects on successful season Karissa Schaefer Beacon Staff From Los Angeles to Skidmore College to right here at Emerson, Jimmy’s Traveling All-Stars’ eventful spring semester filled crowds with laughter at every possible turn. As their last show nears, the sketch comedy troupe reflects on a successful season, how they prepare for performances, and the meaningfulness of their tight-knit bond.

Whether it’s someone’s fourth year or first semester with Jimmy’s, the group feels like family for those involved. The collaborative team writes sketches or is always preparing for something at their weekly meetings every Sunday, which they treat as a catharsis from all the other things going on in their busy lives. Though Jimmy’s specializes in sketch comedy, there’s always an improv show held in the middle of every semester, exemplifying their versatility.

Sophomore comedic arts major and treasurer for the student organization Zoe Seitz emphasizes Jimmy’s as an ideal environment for any writer, comic, actor, or anybody interested in performing arts to showcase their creativity.

This is Seitz’s second semester with the troupe, which she describes as a place that keeps everyone laughing in a warm, welcoming way.

“It’s a place where you can feel you can come to and be comfortable, no matter how you’re feeling,” Seitz said. “The main story that new members get told, each Jimmy holds with them that this is a place where you can call another home.”

As for the creation of the group, new members are jokingly told the origin of who Jimmy is, which senior acting BFA Will Martella—loosely titled the creative director—called a “made up story.”

In contrast, Seitz laughed about it being a gorgeous one, bringing tears to her eyes. Funnily struggling to remember the creator’s name, Martella credited Dan Levy ‘02 as the founder of the troupe back in 2000.

Martella mentioned how a big part of the troupe is the theatrics, notably saying they refer to themselves as “theater kids.” From the start, it has been a place outside of musicals and plays that people who love comedy performance can do. Though it was created over 20 years ago when there were only a Jimmy’s All-stars, Pg. 7

INSIDE THIS EDITION COVID policy change reactions Pg. 2 Emerson works on climate action strategy Pg. 3 Opinion: Thank you to the dining hall Pg. 4

Hannah Beck (left), Julia Mallon, Amelia Toscano, Julia Burns, Ainsley Basic. / Courtesy Julia Burns

Women’s lacrosse says bye to four seniors, see you later to one Vivi Smilgius Beacon Staff

After years of winless seasons and canceled games, the Emerson women’s lacrosse team rebuilt its roster and posted its best record since joining the NEWMAC in 2014. The senior class played a key role in the team’s rebuilding period, contributing heavily to this season’s success.

As with most other athletes in Emerson’s class of 2022, the seniors of the women’s lacrosse team experienced a uniquely challenging career, with several of their seasons cut short or outright canceled due to the pandemic. For players like co-captain Amelia Toscano, the lost time made this season’s accomplishments even more

special.

“With COVID, we haven’t really been able to see all the potential we could have,” Toscano said.

“Coming to the end of the season feels good. I’m really proud of the team and how much we’ve accomplished.”

Three of this year’s five graduates started at Emerson during the same season as current Head Coach Jessie Koffman. She said watching the players find their roles as players and women has been rewarding.

“It’s been very fulfilling to see these players grow from their freshmen year to now,” wrote Koffman in a statement to The Beacon. “They have all really come into their own and it’s a great process to be a part of.”

The seniors also credited Senior day, Pg. 8

Beacon Farewell column Pg. 5 First-year releases EP Pg. 6 Comedy Extravaganza returns in-person Pg. 7 Women’s softball raises SA awareness Pg. 8

761

positive COVID-19 tests

1.27% positivity rate

59,000+ tests completed

*Accumulated from Spring 2022 Semester

News Emerson professors named Guggenheim fellows The Berkeley Beacon

Frankie Rowley Beacon Staff

Two Emerson professors were chosen as Guggenheim Fellows for the 2022 program, bringing the number of Emersonian recipients to six.

The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation named visual and media arts professor Kathryn Ramey and writing, literature and publishing professor Jerald Walker to its cohort of 186 fellows. The two were selected from approximately 3,000 applicants, all representing different arts-based academic disciplines from across the United States and Canada.

Ramey, selected for the Film - Video category, plans to use her Guggenheim grant to exhibit her film El Signo Vacío—or, The Empty Sign—a feature-length “cinematic essay” examining the United States’s 124-year rule of Puerto Rico.

Ramey said her work on the film originated in 2013, when she discovered that the U.S. was “policing” the Caribbean from a former military base in Puerto Rico—which, coincidentally, was called the Ramey Station of Customs and Border Patrol.

“With the shared surname as a jumping-off point, El Signo Vacío is a re-educational film asking ME/the US viewer to reconsider their role in geopolitics,” she said to The Beacon.

The film is a part of a larger project called Alchemies of Anti-Colonial Cinema Practice, which lends focus on the anthropological aspects of tourism, highlighting new “scholarship” on artistic and anthropological pursuits.

Ramey, an experimental filmmaker and sociocultural anthropologist, has already received a slew of grants and fellowships related to her work, including a residency with the Marble House Project and an arts fellowship with the Social Science Research Council. Her films have been screened at the Toronto and Ann Arbor Film Festivals, as well as the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington D.C. “Through artisanal film processing, my work interrogates, ritually re-imagines, and re-presents [sic] images made by and for the colonist about the lands and peoples they have colonized,” Ramey said. “Alchemies of Anti-Colonial Cinema Practice acknowledges the role the individual consumer/traveler plays in the colonial process and calls on the viewer to examine how they participate in colonial practices and encourages them to stop.”

Applying to the Guggenheim fellowship, she said, was an exciting—and secretive—process.

Ramey said the process was essentially “getting a super exciting email and then not being able to tell anyone for over a month.”

Nevertheless, she said the “fairly standard” process wasn’t

too intimidating for her, given her familiarity with the structure stemming from previous applications for similar accolades.

“I apply for lots of opportunities for my creative and scholarly research and have the written materials ready to modify for each application,” she continued. “In this case, I had applied to the Guggenheim Foundation the year before so I just had to revise my application for the stage I was in and also contact individuals who would recommend me.”

Visual and Media Arts Chair Cristina Cotz-Kornejo stated the VMA Department is thrilled about Ramey’s recognition.

“She is a selfless mentor and educator and is the engine that drives our experimental filmmaking curriculum in VMA,” she said in an email to The Beacon.

Throughout the pandemic, Ramey took on the role of Associate Chair in Production Operations for the VMA department during a period when she was ”kneedeep” in her film, according to Cotz-Kornejo.

She also said Ramey remained committed to her work as a filmmaker-anthropologist even while teaching at the college.

“Her work in experimental/ analogue film processes and ethnographic research continued and thrived all while contributing to the functioning of the department and education of our students,” Cotz-Kornejo continued.

Jerald Walker, a professor of writing, literature and publishing,

was selected for General Nonfiction, joining seven other fellows in the category. He described the process as a competitive one because candidates are selected based on “prior achievement and exceptional promise.”

“I kissed my wife, hugged my cat, and gave thanks to organizations like the Guggenheim Foundation that support the arts and intellectual pursuits,” he stated in an email to The Beacon, recalling his reaction to the news.

Walker said he plans to work on a new collection of essays with publisher HarperCollins during his fellowship, which will be his fourth book following How to Make A Slave and Other Essays—a National Book Award finalist in 2020—The World in Flames: A Black Boyhood in a White Supremacist Doomsday Cult, and Street Shadows: A Memoir of Race, Rebellion, and Redemption.

The Guggenheim grant, Walker said, will help give him a “concentrated period of time to focus on research and writing.”

“This one will address pressing issues of race in such a way that blends personal narrative, cultural criticism, and humor,” he said.

Writing, literature and publishing Chair Roy Kamada said Walker—who previously served as department chair—had been a valuable asset to the WLP program for years.

“As a colleague, he is honest, generous, and engaged,” Kamada said. “His students cite his abil-

April 21, 2022

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ity to inspire their best creative work, his rigorous work ethic, and his invaluable feedback and advice.”

Kamada spoke highly of Walker’s work—specifically praising his most recent book, How to Make a Slave.

Both Ramey and Walker are members of the School of the Arts, overseen by Dean Robert Sabal.

“I really admire the work of both of these faculty members and am so proud of their accomplishments and the honor they bring to the School of the Arts,” Sabal said.

Emerson has previously celebrated four other Guggenheim fellows, both faculty and alumni. The foundation selected WLP Professor Jabari Asim as a General Nonfiction fellow in 2009, as well as Elaine McMillion Sheldon ‘13 for the Film-Video.

Professor Pablo Medina and alum Denise Duhamel ‘84 were selected as poetry fellows in 2014 and 2020 respectively.

“It is an incredible honor and distinction that comes with funding and time off from teaching to pursue your research,” Ramey said. “I love teaching and my students are so inspiring, but it is hard to fit long-form filmmaking into the academic calendar. Having a full year to complete some work is going to be amazing.”

frankie_rowley@emerson.edu

Updated COVID policies cause stress for students Cont. from Pg. 1 other people and not knowing,” she said. “I don’t want to hurt other people’s lives.”

Ambrose said she worries about bringing COVID home to her parents or spreading it to her immunocompromised friends. Testing weekly helps mitigate these concerns, although she admits she panics each week as she awaits her test results.

“I sit there waiting for the email or text message,” Ambrose said. “I would be like, ‘Oh my God, it’s two in the morning and I still don’t have my message; I must have COVID.’ It’s just bad for my anxiety, to have that fear.”

Junior theatre and performance major Alette Segerstrom said she prefers optional testing over symptomatic testing, while acknowledging that obtaining her own rapid tests on a regular basis doesn’t seem viable or realistic.

“I just wish [testing] was still accessible,” Segerstrom said. “I just like knowing that I’m safe and that, if I am sick, I’m not spreading it to other people. It makes me feel better.”

Similarly, first-year journalism major Adora Brown said weekly testing delivers a sense of security and helps alleviate COVID-related anxieties. She typically gets tested on Mondays, which she said provides “peace of mind” after weekends of being around different places and people.

The lack of testing, Brown said, makes her feel “a little more anxious.”

“It’s a lot of faith they’re placing in the student body to go get tested, which I feel like everyone won’t necessarily do every

single time,” Brown said. “That could definitely cause problems, because they’ll show up to class that day.”

The college’s decision to shift to symptomatic testing was informed in part by the knowledge that other institutions have employed similar practices without “impacts to their operations,” Muurisepp said.

“The passing of the virus is a real concern, and we certainly understand that,” he said. “I think that’s also where you have to make decisions and take actions as an individual of how you are going to best protect yourself…

Surveillance testing has been a great benefit to keep our campus open—but two years into it, we also know that symptomatic testing works just as well.”

Instead of moving students to dedicated isolation spaces upon testing positive, Emerson will require students who contract COVID-19 to quarantine in their assigned living space for the CDC-recommended five days.

For 10 days after testing positive, they must remain properly masked when leaving their spaces; this move, Muurisepp said, “helps prevent the risk to others, or minimize the risk.”

To students like Livingston, however, this isolate-in-place model “doesn’t really make sense.”

“If that’s the policy, we should not call it isolating,” she said.

“That’s not what’s happening…

You’re still in the room with the person you live with—at least that’s how it seems to be—so you’re not in isolation.”

Brown added that the modified quarantine policy creates issues for anyone who lives with room-

mates.

“You’re definitely going to get your roommate sick,” she said.

“That is a little absurd, in terms of being a ‘solution.’ Just because cases aren’t to the same extent as they were in January or February doesn’t mean that [the pandemic] is going to go away.”

Muurisepp acknowledged that “there are risks with all of these decisions.”

“No one can ever create a risk free environment,” he said. “Especially when it deals with public health.”

However, he noted that even when quarantining in shared spaces with roommates or suitemates, students can take measures to mitigate risk.

Emerson’s Center for Health and Wellness is currently working on a plan for students who test positive—as well as their living mates—detailing how to safely isolate within shared personal space. The department already has similar provisions for off-campus students who test positive and isolate in their apartments.

“It starts becoming similar to how you live alongside [others] when you are positive with flu or strep throat,” Muurisepp said.

“Living in a shared environment, there are precautions you can take.”

Emerson’s masking policy will also be further relaxed on May 16. After shifting to a limited mask-optional model in March, the college will drop its mask mandate in academic spaces. The mask-optional policy will take effect in classrooms, but not in ECAPS and CHW, as masks are still required in healthcare facilities statewide.

Junior visual and media arts

major Jack Adille said he feels comfortable without a mask, but that these more relaxed mask policies should be accompanied by required testing.

“We’re just getting used to not having masks, so I think it’s important to keep up with the testing.” Adille said. “There are people that obviously have it worse than others, and it’s good to know we are still keeping track of the positive and negative [tests].”

Without weekly testing, Livingston said she will likely revert to more consistent mask-wearing.

“I was feeling okay with mask optional because everyone’s tested—but knowing that people aren’t getting tested, I definitely want to mask more,” she said. “We need one or the other, for sure.”

First-year visual and media arts major Angelo Gontier, who wears his mask at all times, said that case counts over the summer will better inform his choices about mask-wearing next semester.

“Obviously, I miss not wearing a mask,” Gontier said. “I think it’s good we’re going back to normal—let’s just see how it goes.”

Ambrose, meanwhile, suggested there might be no such thing as “back to normal.”

“I want things to be normal so bad, but it can’t go back to what it was before,” Ambrose said.

“There’s an ‘after,’ and it’s going to be different. I’d love to be without masks, and I’d love to not fear getting COVID. But unfortunately, I just really fear getting COVID.” With the college’s vaccination requirement upheld, vaccinated students face a lesser risk of severe infection than those who are unvaccinated. Although breakthrough infections can happen and COVID risk depends on a number

of factors besides immunization status, an unvaccinated person is 29 times as likely to end up hospitalized from COVID as a vaccinated person and five times as likely to get infected, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Emerson community’s vaccination rate sits at 98 percent, according to Muurisepp, with the rate among students alone reaching almost 99 percent.

“We are lucky to go to a school where most people are aligned with the ideology of getting vaccinated,” Brown said. “But I also don’t think we should take that for granted and start being completely loose with the guidelines we have in place.”

While she feels skeptical, Brown said she hopes the new policy goes well once implemented.

“I don’t want to be pessimistic about it,” she said. “We’re all just kind of going with the flow and seeing how things work. So, it’d be nice if it works. If it doesn’t, then they’ll make the adjustments they need, I’m sure.”

Muurisepp said there always exists the possibility of altering practices following the implementation of new policies, but he feels these changes will help the community start “living alongside the virus.”

“None of our decisions these past two years have been made lightly,” Muurisepp said. “We know every decision impacts a lot of people in lots of different ways.

But our goal and our commitment has always been to reopen campus, to have in-person classes, and so we will do whatever we need to make sure that stays.” maddie_khaw@emerson.edu

The Berkeley Beacon

April 21, 2022

3

Marathon draws runners from across the globe

Cont. from Pg. 1

at 5 a.m. and was expected to arrive at her post at 7 a.m. on Monday morning in order to fend off the crowds.

“I used to run marathons,” Peychal said.

“I never qualified for Boston. My husband ran it five times and he’s been volunteering for 15 years. After the bombing in 2013, I decided to volunteer with him.”

The 126th Boston Marathon marks the ninth year since the terrorist attack that killed three people and injured over 250 others.

“There’s just the two of us and I thought, ‘I want to be with him no matter what,’” Peychal continued.

Men’s elite runner Evans Chebet was the first to cross the Boylston Street finish line at 11:43 a.m., in just two hours and six minutes, just 15 minutes before women’s elite runner Peres Jepchirchir.

Other seasoned runners took the course, including Kevin Clark of Charleston, S.C., tackling his second Boston Marathon.

“Boston is not a marathon to be trifled with,” he said. “It’s very difficult and it’s like an older woman, so to speak—you have to pay respect to them. Otherwise, they can slap you around and teach you some respect, which I learned the hard way last year.”

Clark participated in the marathon last October, during which he started off too fast and exhausted himself to the point of injury.

“It was enjoyable up until the finish when I came in too hot,” Clark said. “I took it out too fast in the first 5K and never really backed off.”

“I can say the old lady slapped me around and taught me some manners,” he added.

Solomon Hailu of Los Angeles came in at two hours and 57 minutes. Though he had qualified for the 2020 marathon, that edition of the race was canceled due to the pandemic, meaning that he had to wait until last Monday to run again.

“I knew everything to expect in terms of Heartbreak Hill and how you need to conserve energy—still went out too fast,” he said. “There was awesome crowd support and I don’t think we could have asked for a more beautiful day.”

Compared to his past experience running a marathon in New York City, Boston’s 26.2 miles proved to be “challenging.”

“You can do well, you just need to run

with your head and not go out too fast and be really disciplined,” he said. “New York is a little more dense with more turns. For Boston, there weren’t really that many turns—it’s a pretty straight shot. It’s great.”

Supporters of each runner lined the marathon route and waited at the Public Garden to reunite with their exhausted yet accomplished loved ones.

Kristie Aldridge stood patiently on the grass in the Public Garden with her children Katie and Fletcher, eating sandwiches while waiting for their father James to cross the finish line. They had all flown from Raleigh, N.C. to watch him compete.

“We got to see him at mile 21 at the top of Heartbreak Hill,” Kristie Alridge said.

“As the mother and the wife, that running career takes a lot of support from a family perspective, but it almost makes it feel like we’ve earned this with him. So it’s a lot of fun.”

The two children unfurled a poster they made for their father, which read, “Don’t wipe out,” next to a drawing of a toilet paper roll.

James Aldridge also ended up finishing with a time of two hours and 57 minutes, reaching the finish line at 1 p.m.

Tonna Arbaugh, mother of runner Ben Arbaugh and sister to runner Jenny Fritzsche, appreciated the city’s welcoming energy on Patriot’s Day. “It’s wonderful and very supportive

with high energy spirits around,” Arbaugh said. “Especially when you’re on the little bridge [over the finish line]. That was a nice spot to stand and watch them come in. It was awesome to see the elite runners.”

The Arbaugh matriarch previously participated in California’s Avenue of the Giants Marathon in 2018 after much prodding from her son Ben. Tonna Arbaugh qualified for the Boston Marathon after completing the California marathon and was slated to compete, but was derailed by the pandemic.

“I qualified for Boston—my first marathon, but then COVID took over,” she said. “Of course they canceled Boston, and I did it virtually.”

For the Arbaugh family, Boston’s gathering isn’t just a celebration of athletic achievement, an excuse to reunite.

“It’s a nice little family reunion—plus it’s my son’s birthday today,” Arbaugh said. “That’s why I planned on coming to Boston to watch them run.”

The Boston community, added Aldridge, is “really exceptional.”

“Being here with the two kids, there were times I needed to go pick up sandwiches or get in line for the restroom and everyone was just so helpful and said, ‘Well, don’t worry, I’ll watch your kids,’” she said. “I feel like this really is a community and a fun and safe experience for a family.” contact@berkeleybeacon.com

Supporters lined the finish line of the 126th Boston Marathon on Boylston Street. / Campbell Parish Beacon Staff

Mary Wacera Ngugi placed third in Monday’s race, finishing in two hours and 21 minutes / Campbell Parish Beacon Staff

A handcycle race competitor nears the finish line / Campbell Parish Beacon Staff

Boston Marathon runners rehydrate after finishing the race. / Campbell Parish Beacon Staff

College, city work toward climate damage mitigation Vivi Smilgius Beacon Staff

As the world feels the effects of climate change, Boston attempts to limit damages—but the question of whether its action plan is adequate remains unanswered.

The city’s climate action plan, released in 2019, charts a path to carbon neutrality by 2050 through reducing carbon emissions in buildings and transportation.

Like other higher education institutions in Massachusetts, Emerson has pledged to limit its emissions. Harvard University set the closest deadline for fossil fuel neutrality in 2026, while Emerson seeks carbon neutrality by 2030; Boston University and Tufts University pledged carbon neutrality by 2040 and 2050, respectively.

Along with its commitment to carbon neutrality, Emerson’s Sustainability Manager Jennifer Lamy said, Emerson purchases renewable energy credits, which essentially fund renewable energy sources. These credits allow the college to operate at an “energy carbon neutral” capacity in terms of its direct emissions.

According to Lamy, Emerson creates fewer emissions than other area schools partly because of its location downtown and its small student body.The college’s downtown location means it is easily accessible via public transportation, limiting the number of students, staff, and faculty who commute via car. However,

commuting students, staff, and faculty contribute to the college’s indirect emissions.

While the college is focused on limiting its car commuters, explained Lamy, it is also ensuring storage space for bikes and incentivized public transportation through discounted MBTA cards.

The college also takes other climate initiatives, including composting a large portion of its food waste. Emerson falls under Boston’s commercial food material disposal ban, which limits the amount of waste facilities producing large quantities can dispose of.

While she acknowledged the importance of composting in mitigating carbon footprints, Dr. Amruta Nori-Sarma, an assistant professor of environmental health at Boston University, said food waste could also be considered “an opportunity for local solutions.”

“Food waste and food scarcity counterbalance each other,” she said. “One of the efforts I’ve seen in ways to distribute food waste is by not really conceptualizing it as food waste but as providing leftover food to community members that might have a need for additional nutrition.”

Carol Oldham, a climate campaign consultant and former executive director of the Massachusetts Climate Action Network—a self-proclaimed “hardcore climate activist”—says food waste isn’t as large of a cause of pollution as it may seem. Though it’s a “front of mind” issue for many, Oldham said the Boston area’s

mandate against large quantities of food waste ensures it is not a large source of pollution.

However, Nori-Sarma noted there are plenty of other sources of pollution in the area, many of which come from everyday “lifestyle choices” made by Americans.

“We’re all members of the same communities,” she said. “The carbon footprint that we have on a per capita basis is much higher than a lot of other places around the world because of the lifestyle choices we enjoy making.”

Students and Boston residents can benefit the environment around them by being “educated consumers,” said Nori-Sarma.

Considering the effects of consumption can lead to more ethical and environmentally friendly spending choices, including travel, dining, and shopping.

“How we participate in consumption can be really impactful,” Nori-Sarma said. “There’s so many different ways that we can make little decisions in the margins that may have a bigger impact together.”

Nori-Sarma commended the city’s attempts to mitigate climate damages— noting its plan accounts for vulnerable communities who will suffer more severe consequences of climate change, like people of color, the elderly, and the poor.

However, she admitted to feeling skepticism about whether current climate initiatives are enough to respond to the damage sweeping the nation—literally— by storm.

A poster advertising Earth Day / Creative Commons

“The pessimistic side of me knows that with the severity of the issues we’re facing, yesterday wouldn’t be soon enough, but the optimistic side says some action towards reducing our carbon emissions is better than nothing,” Nori-Sarma said.

Massachusetts has already felt the effects of climate change, including extreme winter weather like this year’s record-breaking blizzard. The state has followed Boston in its demand for cleaner energy, though its efforts have been less than successful. In 2015, the state released its plan to get 300,000 zero-emission vehicles on the roads by 2025; as of March 2022, the state had registered just over 50,000 electric vehicles, rendering it severely behind on its plan.

The focus on pollution caused by traffic stems from the direct effects of such

pollutants on human health, Nori-Sarma said. Those living in close proximity to roads or nearby airports may suffer from particles released from exhaust pipes or jet fuel combustion. Boston residents and city-dwellers around the world have already begun experiencing the adverse effects of transportation pollutants, illustrating the need for cleaner travel as soon as possible.

Boston’s high population of students and young people are both directly affected by the adverse effects of climate change and complicit in causing them— as consumers, travelers, students, activists, and voters.

Lamy said that while young people can and should make small lifestyle changes, the best way to mitigate negative environmental impacts is through involvement in public policy and local government.

“Staying educated as voters…is probably the number one thing we can do to make sure we have the structures and the politicians in place to make these policies a priority,” Lamy said. “That’s a lot stronger than any individual action.”

Oldham agreed, urging students to “get involved in Boston.”

“They’re working on putting together the Green New Deal for Boston,” said Oldham. “Emerson students should totally be involved in that… [Student] voices should be heard.”

vivi_smilgius@emerson.edu

Opinion

The Berkeley Beacon

April 21, 2022

4

A writer’s goodbye; why we still love YouTube Kaitlyn Fehr Beacon Staff

Content warning: This article contains mentions of sexual assault.

When I was 14, I hugged a YouTuber who would later be outed for having inappropriate relationships with minors.

Later, said YouTuber would openly admit to statutory assault, but would continue to post on their platform to this day.

Veeoneeye, real name Jason Viohni, spent summer 2014 on the Vans Warped Tour. As a former and current emo, I loved Warped Tour and was excited to hear one of my favorite YouTubers would be there. It was only later when the news broke that I would feel regret and anger over my meeting him on the tour.

The anger and devastation I felt only intensified when it seemed that no media outlets were covering this story.

Hell, the man openly admitted to it and faced no consequences, and no negative articles as far as I could find.

This feeling continued over the years, and every time scandals happened on the internet I found myself fuming over the fact that it seemed like no one outside of the comments section cared.

By the time I was in college I found people who cared just like I did, and “tea” channels—channels where usually disembodied voices explain the latest YouTube drama—were popping up left and right on the platform.

Still, I couldn’t get over the feeling that it seemed like the media wasn’t covering these stories, and I had no idea where or how to write about them myself.

When influencer David Dobrik was under his own public scandal last February, former editor-in-chief and fellow YouTube drama lover Katie Redefer pushed me to write about it for The Beacon. That push changed my life.

Beacon Archives I had written for the Beacon before, and while those light-hearted emo-focused articles were fun to write, they didn’t appease the writing gremlin inside of me.

Writing about digital culture and internet scandals did.

Now, in my final weeks at Emerson College, with a bevy of internet-focused articles behind me, I know I’ve found my passion. I will forever be grateful to The Berkeley Beacon for giving me a platform.

Despite all of the articles I’ve written about terrible people doing terrible

things on YouTube.com, I genuinely do still love the platform (child predators aside). For my final article at The Beacon, I think it’s time I show you all why I still love this platform.

While YouTube started with a man documenting his day at the zoo on video, it has evolved into a platform for education, community, and for people to post what they’re passionate about.

To this day, whenever I need to find out how to do something, I turn to YouTube. If a task exists, there’s a YouTube video explaining how to do it.

One channel—“Dad, how do I?” —

stands in for anyone who didn’t have the chance to learn daily tasks from their parent growing up, things like how to fix a tie or install a kitchen faucet.

Despite the drama in the beauty community, the platform is responsible for teaching thousands of people how to do their makeup, regardless of age, gender, or background.

Like many factions of YouTube, the beauty community is just that, a community. It lets people connect with others just like them, something they might not have the chance to do in the

A love letter to the Dining Hall Shannon Garrido Beacon Staff

As another school year comes to an end, it’s time that as a student body, we start acknowledging and appreciating one of the best features Emerson College has to offer—the Dining Hall.

Moving to America comes with a lot of adjustments, a notable one being the striking realization that access to good home-cooked food is just about impossible unless you are willing to drill a hole in your wallet. However, if there is something that has made cold, bitter, Dunkin-ridden New England a little more palatable, it’s knowing that I can walk into the dining hall and find something worthwhile.

Whether you’re coming from a night of pillaging the streets of Boston and need carbs, or just craving the feeling of hot food and well cooked meat— like Sunday’s beef stew—the DH always extends a kind and delicious hand. However, there is always the assumption that college dining food is made of some sort of radioactive poison, or is simply so gross it’s nearly inedible. For students who grew up in a Caribbean household, there is a fear that they will never run into their preferred food options so far from home.

The Emerson College dining hall puts those negative expectations to rest.

This year especially, as COVID restrictions loosen on campus, the dining hall has truly come into its own.

From a wonderful Thanksgiving feast, for all those who choose to celebrate, to plantain and chicharron on a ran-

Beacon Archives dom Tuesday, it is clear that the staff work incredibly hard to provide delicious and different meals. Although I’m unable to speak for all students’ experiences, I know that there is something to be said about the effort our dining hall staff puts into providing some well cooked, well seasoned food. Not to mention the kind environment created by the staff once the food is prepared and served.

Of course, there is no such thing as perfection. We have all found ourselves going up-and-down the dining hall stairs wondering if the food will start looking appetizing if we take a lap and try again. Making food for the entire student body means making a lot

of food in bulk, for a three meal school day. It would be ridiculous to expect perfection from a school cafeteria where food has to be made around the clock. Nevertheless, the fact that we get served pork belly and crab cakes at a college cafeteria—where it would be

easiest to just serve pizza and ground beef and call it a day—is something to be grateful for.

So many students across the country prefer nearby businesses as food options because of the diverse palette they can offer. When it comes to

© 2022 The Berkeley Beacon. All rights reserved.

Editor-in-Chief Lucia Thorne

The Beacon is published weekly.

Anything submitted to the Beacon becomes the sole property of the newspaper. No part of the publication may be reproduced by any means without the express written permission of the editor.

Managing Editors Shannon Garrido (Content) Camilo Fonseca (Content) Marcus Cocova (Multimedia) Campbell Parish (Operations) Section Editors Frankie Rowley (News) Hadera McKay (Opinion)

real world.

The different subsections of YouTube—beauty, technology, tutorials, comedy, gaming, cooking, vlogging, fashion, travel, and many more—provide something for everyone. With YouTube by your side, no one has to feel alone in the things they’re passionate about.

All of these subsections come from people’s passions, and that’s what makes YouTube noteworthy. In my love letter to the YouTube video essay, I talk about how video essays have brought life back to the platform because there’s passion behind them.

Many of the big YouTubers—Tana Mongeau, Shane Dawson, and even Jenna Marbles before she left—have seemingly lost that passion, posting videos where obviously their heart wasn’t behind. For a while, it seemed like the passion had been lost from YouTube entirely.

Now, there’s a new wave of content creators that clearly love the platform and the content they’re putting out there. We’ve moved on from the era of only makeup looks and storytimes, and the platform feels fun again.

If the trending page is any indication, the content people consume nowadays varies wildly. Today, April 20, the trending page is a mix of Nicki Minaj, Johnny Depp’s testimony, a Minecraft speedrun, a soccer game, easter egg videos, challenge videos, and true crime videos.

YouTube has a long way to go to make up for the mistakes of some of its biggest names, but the passion behind the content on the platform makes it worthwhile.

There’s always going to be new drama and scandals to write about, but we can’t forget why the platform still exists, and why people still love it. kaitlyn_fehr@emerson.edu Caribbean food though, it’s nice to see that the dining hall finds a way to sneak in some Cuban ropa vieja and Dominican pollo guisado more often than expected. It’s almost like a present to walk in starving and homesick to then find familiar options. And for those who aren’t familiar, you are introduced to new and delicious food options!

Although there is always room for improvement, this is a public thank you to all dining hall staff who work hard to make those improvements.

Thank you to the lovely staff of cooks and servers, who with a charismatic smile always give me a little more than I ask for—just in case.

Thank you for those moments where my tired brain can’t translate chicken breast with Estofado, and I get a knowing smile that tells me I don’t have to apologize or repeat myself. Thank you to all the staff that take an extra minute to strike up a conversation or make sure the tables and floors are clean.

Your work and effort shouldn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated, because without it our school wouldn’t run.

The people who serve and cook our food are some of the most important people in our lives, and deserve a warm thank you from their student body. shannon_garrido@emerson.edu Karissa Schaefer (Living Arts) Tyler Foy (Sports) Kaitlyn Fehr (Copy) Advisor David Dahl (617) 824–8687 berkeleybeacon.com contact@berkeleybeacon.com

The Berkeley Beacon

April 21, 2022

5

Former Editor-in-Chief bids farewell to The Beacon Katie Redefer Beacon Staff

I remember my first Monday Beacon meeting like it was yesterday. Dozens of students bustled around the Bill Bordy Theater in the Fall of 2018, chatting with one another about news around the world and Emerson’s campus. Some typed away on their laptops, editing stories, or photos for the website. Others discussed the latest print edition with The Beacon’s faculty advisor, listening dutifully to his praise and critiques.

From that moment on, I knew I was in the right place.

To its staff, The Beacon wasn’t just a silly student newspaper they made for the hell of it. They treated it as a real, professional news source for the Emerson and Greater Boston community, and The Beacon’s content benefitted as a result. And better yet, The Beacon’s student staff had complete control over what was published—with only a faculty advisor giving critique after the paper was published, but held no editorial control.

Being the starry-eyed freshman I was, I viewed The Beacon as a genuine, uncensored voice of the student body, and I desperately wanted to play a role in that.

I wrote stories for multiple sections, and I was hired as an assistant lifestyle editor all by the end of my first semester. I was over-the-moon at the idea of spending every Wednesday night in a bustling newsroom rushing to hit the print deadline, and once the spring semester started, somehow my expectations were surpassed.

I loved the crowded chatter of the newsroom, the spirited discussions about topics like the state of the college or the future of journalism, and the chaos of the print deadline looming above it all. I was pushed to write stories that challenged me, and as a result, I wrote some of my favorite stories to-date.

Most of my cherished Beacon memories reside in those formative days, when we were all jammed together into the newsroom that formerly resided in the (often sweaty) Piano Row basement.

In Fall of 2019, I rose to the position of deputy lifestyle editor, and by the end of that semester I was accepted into the Kasteel Well program for Spring 2020. I was beyond excited to study abroad, but sad to have to resign my position as an editor and spend a semester away from reporting.

I sat on this thought for some time, until I realized no students were reporting for The Beacon from Kasteel Well.

I spoke to my Editor-in-chief at the time, who gave me his go ahead, and I teamed up with fellow staffer Lara Hill to become co-section editors of the Kasteel Well vertical. Upon arriving at the castle, roadblocks were quick to pop up; like the six-hour time zone difference and the lack of hard news coming out of Kasteel Well in general. The castle is a relatively small study abroad program that rarely has newsworthy occurrences on its campus—that is, until the novel coronavirus quickly began spreading around Europe, and would soon snowball into the first pandemic of the 21st century.

On the same day, Lara and I published our first article under the Kasteel Well vertical, administrators informed castle students that the mandatory spring break excursion to Milan was canceled due to rising coronavirus cases in Italy.

A week later, we were informed that all castle students would be sent back to Boston halfway through the semester due to continuously rising cases across Europe.

Without The Beacon, there would’ve been no student-run news source about what was happening at the castle—and what would later happen on the Boston campus when COVID-19 soon came to the U.S. In writing and reporting those stories at the castle, Lara and I got to write the first draft of history for the Great Castle Exodus of Spring 2020, and ensure the Emerson community had access to accurate information about the castle departure.

Aside from this, The Beacon gave me a productive distraction when I needed it most. I truly don’t know how else I would have coped with the stress of being kicked out of The Nether-

lands weeks early, knowing it was only a matter of time before the same fate befell the U.S. I returned to Boston in Fall 2020 after what felt like eons spent indoors and away from crowds. In the first week of that semester, The Beacon saw a mass resignation of more than a dozen staffers following the publication of a living arts story that centered white voices in the discussion of #BlackLivesMatter and perpetuated a white savior narrative.

As former staffers came forward and shared times they were discriminated against at The Beacon, I began to recognize The Beacon I’d come to love less and less. I was distraught to think that while I felt accepted at The Beacon, others felt silenced and squandered—and that I played a role in that by not caring to notice sooner. It forced me to reevaluate everything I knew about journalism, and the role my whiteness plays in it; certainly one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned at The Beacon.

Even after we removed the story, published a correction in its place, and began the work to repair institutional inequities, people continued to put pressure on remaining Beacon staffers to stop publishing altogether. Suddenly I was faced with a choice—to stay and repair what was left of The Beacon, or to leave for good. The ashamed part of me considered leaving, wondering if perhaps I wasn’t cut out for this industry after all. Yet a more hopeful part of me thought, “Should 70+ years of Beacon history end here?”

I stayed, taking on the role of living arts section editor, and tried to hold my section together by its teeth. It was a struggle every week just to find enough stories to print in the paper, but quickly, new and talented writers began to emerge. Meanwhile, the Editor-in-chief of the time, Diti Kohli, worked endlessly to try to repair internal issues within our organization.

Soon we were stumbling back to some sense of normal operations, but the semester was rapidly ending, and Diti was poised to step down from her role.

Someone call an Ambulance for Michael Bay’s new action flick Charlie Ambler Beacon Staff

Someone call an ambulance, but not for Michael Bay! Because his career is alive and well.

Upon watching Bay’s latest action movie, Ambulance, I’m sure he will be calmly waiting for his Oscar. Too bad it’s not coming. This is a film that has it all: electrifying dialogue, a brotherly-love story, top-tier cinematography, and a brutally convoluted plot that makes all of those other elements irrelevant.

Michael Bay’s Ambulance, while incredibly entertaining, is just another example of an average action film made in the last decade that can only be described as outrageously bad.

Let’s start with the plot. From the outside, the film seems like a formulaic heist-gone-wrong. Danny Sharp, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, and Will Sharp, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, share a strong bond on-screen as they try to pull off a major heist in downtown L.A. However, things go astray as the two attempt to flee the scene with a cool $32 million.

What gives the movie a twist of strong originality–– a requirement action films need to fulfill to set themselves apart nowadays––is that the two brothers don’t escape in a fancy getaway car like an Aston Martin, but something that attracts unwanted attention, an ambulance. On top of that,

the two men have to bring along two unexpected guests, the ambulance technician and a dying cop. The audience is battling whose side they are on: the technician, the cop, or the brothers—as graphic footage of the cop, who is bleeding out, continues throughout the film.

The main anti-hero of the film was played by Jake Gyllenhaal. This man is living proof of the fact that it does not take much for someone to toss away any dignity or respect because of a dollar sign.

As soon as my good friend Gyllenhaal found out that he could be paid a hefty number for a mediocre role, he jumped at the part! I will say, the role fit him perfectly. His character lived a lavish lifestyle after multiple, successful bank robberies, but that of course wasn’t enough for him.

Why quit when you are ahead? Why stop acting in decent features when you can get paid for visual and audible vomit?

What aggravated me the most, was this unadulterated, relentless love that every character seemed to have for the other. Hear me out, I am not trying to say that every character is supposed to be apathetic. But COME ON. They sacrifice everything for this money, only to fall into a love triangle while on the run with a dying cop and EMT as hostages in a stolen ambulance.

All I could think while watching was how these robbers desperately needed to get their priorities straight. Was the

priority the money they just stole or was it the pretty ambulance tech? Was it the dying cop who no character had any explained connection to? Or was it escaping successfully? I am lost.

Additionally, one would think that when writing a screenplay about a bank heist with an ambulance, someone would know at least the bare minimum about gas mileage on the model used in the film. The F-550 has a gas mileage of around 5.8 AVG MPG. This means that an ambulance going at full speed for close to a full day would have to be refueled … a few times, disregarding the fact that these two brilliant thieves stole the ambulance midshift. That bad boy must have had half a tank at the start. Even if we did not know the make and model it’s just as frustrating with anyone with common sense–not that this is the most unrealistic or asinine take we see.

Something else that stood out to me was how in the Ambulance cinematic universe, driving-sickness doesn’t exist. Throughout the entire film, the chief of police rides along with another officer in the back of a racing police van whilst facing perpendicular to the direction in which the car is traveling. They were reading all sorts of screens and not once did they look to be getting a little motion sick. Really?

I couldn’t get through a page of a book on a plane without thinking of feeding the floor below me.

The greatest scene in the whole movie was when my boy rocking some

Katie Redefer is a senior journalism major and the former Editor-in-Chief of The Berkeley Beacon. / Beacon Archives Another staffer approached me to ask that I run to be the next Editor-in-chief under the newly implemented election system, and I obliged.

I half-expected not to win at all, but by some miracle, I did. Then would ensue my busiest, most stressful, and most rewarding semester of college todate. It was absolute madness, editing articles every day, watching the sunrise every Thursday morning after hitting the print deadline, and continuing to respond to the controversies stemming from the fall.

I held The Beacon in such a special place in my heart for all it had taught me, but suddenly holding the key leadership role, I was constantly afraid of making mistakes, failing to hold The Beacon properly accountable, or otherwise letting down my peers. Truthfully, I wish I’d rolled with the punches a bit more, because now after four years of college, I’ve come to fully understand that failing is a crucial step in learning.

I whole-heartedly believe that there is not a journalist on the planet who has not made a mistake, gotten a fact wrong, or whose work has not suffered as a result of personal bias. We all must learn how to report fairly and factually if we wish to stay afloat in this industry, and that means failing at times.

The Beacon offers students interested in journalism a unique space to learn, and yes, fail. When else will students get the chance to practice journalism without the fear of being fired for their mistakes and losing their income—or sporty Birkenstocks got side-swiped by a van. It had me in tears. His legs resembled the spaghetti I had last night.

As the (self-proclaimed) most passionate and enlightened environmental advocate individual in the state of Massachusetts, I would like to highlight the film’s championing of major environmental issues.

From the very beginning of the film, they advocated for safer options when it comes to clothing and material goods. As aforementioned, one of the bank robbers decided to wear Birkenstocks during their big boy mission to break the bank! Good on him, Birkenstocks are some of the most environmental sustainability options for footwear on the market.

Any viewer—and Birkenstocks wearer—knew this robber was feeling good on his feet during those long hours at the bank holding his gun.

Most of those men will develop a serious foot cramp during the long wait for the teller to bring out the cash, but not our friend with the Birkenstocks.

With that sole support, he could go home knowing that he had millions in cash, and saved a little piece of the environment by doing it.

What Michael Bay should have done was reduce the use of computer-generated effects. CGI takes lots of computer power, and as you may know, less electricity means less emissions.

The film was jam-packed with constant explosions, gunfights, and car crashes, all of which would have been more compelling and environmentally friendly if they decided to go with practical effects.

Not to mention, if Bay and his team decided to blow up half the cars in L.A., they would have solved the gas crisis in the nation. The only issue

without having to answer to corporate overlords driven by monetary gain?

As a result, The Beacon makes frequent errors, but perhaps this is by design. From these errors come moments of clarity, as the world’s most important lessons must be learned the hard way. I know I would not be the journalist I am today if it were not for the mistakes—and of course, triumphs—I made at The Beacon.

So here I am, after editing hundreds of Beacon stories and spending countless sleepless nights in the newsroom spread over eight semesters, bidding one last goodbye to the student paper that made me the journalist I am today.

I write all of this with such sentimentality because for a moment in Fall 2020, I wasn’t sure The Beacon would continue to exist. As I look upon a newsroom full of intelligent, young student journalists, it upsets me to think they almost didn’t have this space to grow.

More than anything, I’m excited for them, and the many future Beacon staffers to come. The Beacon propelled me to write for my home state paper, Delaware State News, then The Boston Globe, and to my future job (which I sadly cannot announce yet publicly).

I am certain The Beacon will lead them to similar success, and teach them innumerable lessons about what it means to be a journalist. kathryn_redefer@emerson.edu

Michael Bay / Courtesy Creative Commons that the producers would find was all that rubble, metal, and whatever was left of all those cars. But that is why we have recycling!

On a very grounded level, this film delivered something rare. This film gave viewers a (Berkeley) beacon of hope. If filmmakers and producers can sit down and pay $40 million dollars to make this unflinching film, then you can secure that job at The New York Times. You can do anything you put your mind to.

The blatant disregard of common sense in this film is a feat of its own.

However, at the end of the day, this film was not made by accident. The brains behind the film (or lack thereof) intentionally did all of this. If they can get away with it, you can get away with a lot of things– maybe even $35 million from a downtown L.A. bank?

If this review confused you, then you have had the Ambulance experience, hope you enjoyed it. brian_ambler@emerson.edu

The Berkeley Beacon

Living Arts

Abigail Lee

Emerson Stage performance of ‘Into the Woods’ enchants audiences Karissa Schaefer Beacon Staff

The Cutler Majestic Theatre transformed into the storybook fairytale of “Into the Woods” for this year’s Emerson Stage’s spring musical.

The three-hour-long show held three performances this past weekend on April 14 and 16. Primarily featured were numerous senior and junior musical theatre students, directed by professor Scott Lafeber and senior theatre major Emma Goldman. A twist from the English Stephen Sondheim classic, the directors’ version Americanized it by applying symbolism of the nation’s utilitarianism, as described in their program director’s note.

This was clear upon entry into the theater as the projected title screen had “An American fairytale” subhead. Due to a sound system crash right before the show, a line of people wrapped around all the way to the Print and Copy Center, eagerly waiting for the doors to open. As everyone settled into their seats, the fake cow, named Milky White, was visible behind the front projection screen, offering a sneak peek of the “main character.”

As senior Anania Williams stepped onto the stage to take power as the Narrator, he introduced the story’s main characters: Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, a Baker and the Baker’s Wife, Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk, and the Witch. Though each cluster of characters was illuminated by different colored lighting to represent their various settings, the front screen made them just barely visible. For such a fun, opening number that gives context and shows the key players and their supporting characters, the screen’s extended duration was disappointing.

Despite the appreciation for the set designers’ dedication to the show and their opportunity to try something modern with digital pieces, the projection was rather distracting. Whenever the front screen was down, the framing was meant to symbolize the look of a storybook, a neat detail. However, when projections occurred on the back screen and the occasional fabric that would drop periodically from the ceiling, they would get washed out from the stage lighting.

This ultimately wouldn’t be the biggest deal if there wasn’t a reliance on the projections to provide the biggest “Into the Woods” scene setter: trees.

When the front screen lifted after the introduction, the stage finally became clearer, more lively, and bright. The lights hit the details of the tall wooden ladder and constructed wooden stairs made to emulate the atmosphere of the woods. What was missing were a few replicas of actual trees, that would’ve added a more physical dimension.

Senior Amanda Vazquez pulled off Little Red seamlessly, convincing the audience that she’s a funny, yet annoying little girl. Her singing matched her acting talent, most notably during the high-pitched scream Red has at one point in the show. The ditziness was shown as she happily skipped away from the wolf, only to get eaten by him in their next scene together. The following scene erupted laughter from the audience, as Little Red and her grandma were set free from the wolf’s stomach, perfectly alive and well.

Another senior who pulled off the role of a young kid perfectly was Dennis Dizon, who played Jack. His big moment came during the song “Giants In The Sky,” a performance of high anticipation that left everyone applauding. At one moment during the song, he let out a small laugh, making the crowd give him one in return. His line delivery was on point in every way, definitely proving how convincing he is as a performer.

Additionally, seniors Anthony Lafornara, who played Cinderella’s Prince and the wolf, and Cedrick Ekra, Rapunzel’s Prince, put on a show all on their own. The friendly princes’ dynamic was a joy to see, as they comically rode bikes across the stage and sang a phenomenal rendition of “Agony”—not once, but twice. They captivated the attention of everyone in the audience, doing so with great onstage chemistry and presence. This is definitely a song male characters in Bridgerton would sing.

Senior Beatrice Steuer convincingly portrayed the Baker’s Wife, exceptionally capturing the character’s flaws with ease. Opposite of her was the Baker, played by senior Jake Collins. The pair’s chemistry as a bickering couple who are desperate to have a baby felt authentic, and the story behind their characters was intriguing, which is important considering their interconnections with the other characters.

The musical was very comical, including some of the sound design. The noises used for placing the magical beans in Jack’s hand and the crush-

ing splat noises for the giants’ steps were particularly memorable. Though Milky White dying and falling over might’ve been tragic for Jack, it was also a hilarious moment for the crowd.

Then there were the few lines of “to slay” when referring to the giants, which caused a giggle each time. Oh, and can’t forget about Rapunzel’s sexual tone of laughter, saying “Oh, okay” believing her prince was pulling on her hair from outside the tower— while it was really the Baker’s Wife— and her constant exaggerated crying.

Another applause for Rapunzel’s actress senior Ella Shaw, who despite not having that many lines, still handled her role with grace. Her signature operatic singing was typically more present than lines, but was nevertheless still impressive. The only negative was her positioning on the ladder, which was meant to represent her tower. For the most part, it obstructed the view of Shaw, making it hard to see the face of the long-haired princess.

The more minor supporting characters—like Cinderella’s stepsisters, played by juniors Isabelle Wisdom and Morgan McMillin, as well as senior Roberta Alaman as Jack’s mother— were just as entertaining and amusing, with the stepsisters often stealing the show when onstage.

Going into this musical blind after never seeing it done before or seeing the movie, there were really no prior expectations. While good, it’d be interesting to see another take on the classic musical to compare characters and performances. Some roles were casted spot on, but others had room for improvement, with the desire for them to be more consistent and convincing.

The drama in the show, from cheating to deaths, made it interesting and similar to an American dramatized TV show. Some more songs that were particularly memorable include “Your Fault” and “Ever After.”

The closing company song was a great way to go out and bring everyone together for bows. Though fully engaged in the show, the feeling that something was missing and that some stuff could’ve been done better could not be shaken. That’s not to say that the passion and hard work these students have put into this show over the last few months has gone unnoticed, certainly leaving people stunned that they did that. karissa_schaefer@emerson.edu

6

First-year releases EP ‘Sittin in 317’ Beacon Staff

Into the Woods. / Courtesy Craig Bailey

April 21, 2022

Halfway through the semester, first-year marketing communications major Vritika Thadhani and her friends set goals for themselves to accomplish before the summer—Thadhani’s goal was to create new music.

The result of this challenge is Sittin in 317, an EP composed of three songs, released under the name Baby Face. Thadhani wrote and produced the EP based on old drafts she had started in high school. She released the project on April 16 on Spotify.

The EP title refers to Thadhani’s working process in her dorm room while the stage name, Baby Face, comes from the nickname her family gave her. The songs all evoke specific moments in Thadhani’s life, especially the relationships she’s had.

“It was definitely painful to relive it, but when I could do it through music, it was a way to process it comfortably and safely,” Thadhani said.

As Thadhani began working on the tracks in March, she was also recovering from jaw surgery she had over

Kaytranada, along with Yves Tumor and Childish Gambino. Thadhani’s versatile interests come from her passion for fusing and expanding genres.

“I can’t wait to just see how I can bend R&B as a genre,” she said.

Thadhani emphasized how Hiatus Kaiyote combines R&B with different sounds so it is no longer a single genre.

The first-year’s music has been anchored by support from her family, who have always welcomed her ventures. Thadhani said her parents both have strong singing voices, particularly her mother who sings at temple.

Thadhani’s older sister introduced her to different music early on and has been a significant influence. “[My family] literally just sent me flowers for this release, and I cried,” Thadhani said.

Thadhani grew up in East Brunswick, New Jersey where she spent her childhood immersed in the arts.

She started singing at the age of three, which turned into a penchant for writing and performing. Thadhani was active in school choirs, eventually becoming vice president of her high school acapella group and learn-

“Sittin in 317” EP cover. / Courtesy Vritika Thadhani. winter break that aligned her underbite. She was worried the recovery process would be cumbersome and stall her ability to make music, but she fully healed from the surgery.

“It’s just been a wild semester,” she said. “The music thing has definitely kept me grounded.”

Two of the tracks, “Phoenix” and “Freedommind,” rely heavily on layered vocals, a nod to Thadhani’s background in acapella and choir.

“If I can provide myself that extra depth with my own voice, I’ll definitely do it,” she said.

“My Home Soul” is the most lyrical of the tracks, drawn from a relationship that Thadhani had to learn to let go. Although the EP began from high school projects, Thadhani said it has evolved to become a response to what happened during her first year of college.

“It was closure for me to realize that I’m okay,” Thadhani said.

In terms of genre, Thadhani takes inspiration primarily from R&B and jazz. The artists she most admires range in sound and influences: Hiatus Kaiyote, Charlotte Day Wilson, and

ing sound engineering because of her position.

“During COVID time, we had to make our concerts online, and I started using different mixing programs to make the voices blend,” Thadhani said.

Thadhani hopes to continue experimenting with music and collaborate with artists in Boston, including friends she has at Berklee. Although Thadhani was accepted into Berklee, she chose Emerson because she wanted a background in marketing that would allow her to navigate the music industry.

“The reason I’m studying to be a marketing communications major is so I can end up marketing myself and other people like me who want to make music,” Thadhani said.

Following the EP release, Thadhani began working on new music right away.

“My summer is gonna look like me in my room making music as much as I can,” Thadhani said. abigail_lee@emerson.edu

The Berkeley Beacon

April 21, 2022

7

‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,’ commonly known as Jimmy’s Traveling All-Stars

Cont. from Pg. 1 select handful of comedy troupes on campus, it’s easy to label it as that, but members feel as though it’s so much more.

“If we can do something spectacle, that’s a big thing,” Martella said. “Something to get the crowd riled up because that’s what they want at the end of the day. It’s the one place on campus, and really just life, that people know me really well and can bust my balls.

Also, just really see me for the person I am and appreciate my own creativity, which is something I’ve never had.”

According to Seitz, a typical meeting is silly and very goofy.

Every gathering is eventful and chaotic in the best way, doing anything from watching old videos, writing, pitching, casting, or rehearsing for an upcoming show.

Both Seitz and Martella agree that a crucial component of every meeting is Rose, Bud, Thorn, an hour-long discussion that allows everyone to bond and express themselves before getting to business.

“If you haven’t heard of it, it’s the best part of your week, the worst part of your week, and something you’re looking forward to,” Martella said. “That’s when we can just let it all out, put it out on the space. I don’t pay attention after that.”

Every show starts with a warmup circle of screaming and chanting, where positive energy radiates throughout the performance center. The troupe loves performing for themselves, however, all of the fun is also for the crowd they get to meet.

“It’s all about making others, for the temporary time being, happy and leaving that space feeling as pumped up as we are,” Seitz said. “It’s always in the hopes of making somebody laugh, smile, or have a good time. If we can provide that for people the way that Jimmy’s has done for me or the way comedy has done as a whole, it’s an honor.”

Given the “traveling” in the name, Jimmy’s gets to expand their horizons by frequently going to comedy festivals outside of Boston, showcasing their work and learning from other comedians. Invited by USC’s Fourth Quarter All-Stars, the group got to attend Sketchella in LA earlier this year, noticed because of the name similarity, which Fourth Quarter told them they didn’t

Jimmy’s Traveling All-Stars. / Courtesy Zoe Seitz steal. For Martella and Seitz, the experience was fast-paced and tiring, yet awesome. Compared to the home base of an Emerson writer’s room, the tensions of the show allowed for a great learning lesson.

“That process of being really on our toes and genuinely stressed out in a performance setting was actually so great,” Martella said.

“That’s when you build the most close bonds with your fellow performers.”

Seitz credited President Grace Guy for organizing the trip, saying it would not have been possible without her. The soon-to-be graduating senior was assisted by Emerson for their travel plans, which Martella gave props to for finally “choking up some money,” jokingly saying to throw him a bone. With many past Jimmy’s members now in LA, the troupe was able to meet some of the Emersonian alumni, calling it an honor to perform with them “[The festival] was a great networking tool because now we met a bunch of other awesome, funny people as well that we can go back and see in the future,” Seitz said. “I have an LA performance under my belt now. It was an unforgettable experience that I will carry with me forever.”

Most recently, Jimmy’s attended Skidmore College’s 2022 Comfest April 1-2, which they attend every year. After first getting into Jimmy’s, Seitz was told to be the most excited for this event. Although Martella didn’t attend this year, he compared the people at Skidmore as similar to the Emerson community, besides

being secluded in the woods. Performing alongside troupes from schools like NYU and Cornell, it’s an opportunity for everyone

“As far as doing sketch comedy in general, I like getting the laughs, it’s an adrenaline rush like nothing else.

Anyone that says anything different, they’re lying.”

-Will Martella

involved to network, with Seitz thinking of it as a business trip of sorts.

“Getting to see all these new people and getting to have your eyes open to all this amazing comedy, not only here but other places, is so awesome while making new memories and gathering material,” Seitz said. “You learn so much when you’re out with the people you love most, getting to do what you love most.”

Upcoming, Jimmy’s Traveling All-Stars will be performing at the EVVYS May 6, in which Guy will be co-hosting, prompting Martella to jokingly say “hashtag nepotism.” Members received some nominations as well, such as Guy’s outstanding writing for stage for “Zephyr” and their outstanding comedy sketch performance for “Welcome to Heaven.”

Written by members Clare Jackson, Matthew Miller, and Hannah Berkowitz, the story follows two “quirky, zany, out-of-this-world” orientation leaders for heaven, which is no longer the ideal place to be.

“I’ve loved watching [Matt] act ever since I was a freshman,” Martella said. “He’s one of the best actors that has walked into Emerson in the past couple of years. Clare is an insanely talented writer, so when they get together, they’re unstoppable. It’s like an unstoppable force meets an even more unstoppable force.”

Comedy holds a special place in both Seitz and Martella’s hearts, and getting to share their craft with Jimmy’s tops it all. Getting to perform for an audience is almost therapeutic for the two. For

Martella, who is a senior, getting to share the stage one last time, with his talented friends and be his authentic self is encouraging.

“As far as doing sketch comedy in general, I like getting the laughs, it’s an adrenaline rush like nothing else,” Martella said.

“Anyone that says anything different, they’re lying.”

Jimmy’s has become a main source of motivation for Seitz, both as a comedian and a person.

As she counts down the days of the week until every next Jimmy’s meeting—which will soon turn into months as the semester draws to a close—Seitz knows comedy is the path for her, as her major goal is to supply a release for those who need one.

“I know comedy has saved me in some ways, and comedy is always a great way to get people away for a moment from the seriousness of everything going on,” Seitz said. “Getting to be a part of the Jimmys and getting to see how they can provide that for people, and provide a temporary escape for people just even for an hour, is exactly where I want to be right now.”

With many of the troupe’s veterans leaving after this semester, Martella and Seitz invite everyone to try out at the start of the next school year.

“The Jimmy’s magic is real, it’s awesome,” Seitz said. “If you’re looking to have a good time and be surrounded by people who will love you endlessly and be freaks, that’s what we are all about.” karissa_schaefer@emerson.edu

Comedy showcase to return in person this weekend Hannah Nguyen Beacon Staff

Comedy Extravaganza, also known as ComEx, will be returning for its annual comedy showcase in person this weekend for the first time in two years.

Presented by The Center for Comedic Arts, the student-run festival will last from Saturday, April 23 to Monday, April 25. Junior comedic arts majors Sophie Bellone and Cole Alberti, the lead producers, began planning ComEx at the start of the spring 2022 semester.

“This is a culmination and a celebration of comedy at Emerson, but it’s also being hosted

through our class, the ComEx showcase class,” Bellone said.

“We’ve been working all semester to sort of produce the [main] showcase, which is called $5 Shrimp.”

To kick off the event, there will be three shows—a stand-up comedy show, an improv show, and a sketch show—held in the Greene Theater on April 23.

Performing Their Sketch Comedy will present “There’s Ten of Us” at 6 p.m. Performing Improv Comedy will present “The Wednesday Club” at 7:30 p.m.

Comedy Writing Standup will present “Please Clap: A Standup Showcase” at 9 p.m.

“Those are all showcasing the talents of [comedy] classes that

have been going on throughout the semester, and this is sort of their final showcase,” Bellone said.

On April 24, the ComEx students will showcase “$5 Shrimp” at 6:30 p.m. and present The Jess Ilias Clavelli Comedy Awards at 8:30 p.m. The Jess Ilias Clavelli Comedy Awards will showcase 10 finalists who are comedic arts majors or in a comedy troupe.

On April 25 at 8 p.m., there will be a live Zoom webinar called “An Appointment with Dr. Ken Jeong: A Comedy Q&A.” “This group of people is like some of the most talented people that I know at Emerson,” Bellone said. “It’s going to be awesome.

We’re going to see something re-

Courtesy Sophia Bellone hannah_nguyen@emerson.edu

Sports

The Berkeley Beacon

April 21, 2022

8

Softball doubleheader brings awareness to sexual assault Tyler Foy Beacon Staff

The softball team hosted its fifth annual Sexual Assault Awareness game in a doubleheader against Babson College on Friday.

The initiative was started years ago by a former member of the team, according to Head Coach Phil McElroy.

The games seek to validate those who have faced sexual assault.

“It was one of those things where we felt like it was a way that we could bring attention to the fact that people should not be ashamed of coming out and saying ‘Hey, I’ve been a victim before as well,’” McElroy said.

In previous years, there was an advertised fundraiser for victims of sexual assault in combination with the games.

The fundraiser was not a part of this year’s rendition.

Emerson College and athletics have a reputation in sports activism—something most first-year athletes haven’t had the opportunity to participate in before.

“These kinds of causes have never really intersected with my sport,” said first-year right-handed pitcher Jessica Gomez. “This particular cause meant a lot because it all kind of ties in with Title IX and all those things that are giving women—particularly women

athletes—more of a voice.”

Emerson’s tradition of community activism is a central part of the college’s identity, McElroy said, and is one that is emphasized in the athletic recruiting process.

“We have students that are not afraid to have their voice heard,” McElroy said. “Those are conversations that we do have, about how we get into the community and we are not afraid to talk and to communicate on things.”

Gomez said this aspect was a major reason she chose to come to Emerson as a Division III student-athlete.

“The politically-outspoken atmosphere of Emerson was definitely a big seller,” Gomez said. “I honestly had no idea that it was a part of the athletic community, but it’s something so special, and if I had chosen a different school that might not have been the case.”

In preparation for the doubleheader, the team designed posters and a logo for their warm-up jerseys. Gomez said it was a bonding experience for the team.

“When you’re in season everything is so busy,” she said. “It took a conscious effort from everyone to set aside time. It just kind of makes you stop and smell the roses a bit. I just appreciate all of us doing this for the team.”

When the players took the field, the focus became winning the game against Babson—a difficult task, as the Beavers entered the game with only two confer-

Senior Johnny Maffei pitching in Saturday’s game / Bryan Simmons-Hayes

The softball team is 13-15 in 2022 with eight games left to play. / Sydney Ciardi Beacon Staff ence losses.

Babson wasted no time in game one scoring a run in the first inning. The Lions’ offense struggled against Beavers starting pitcher Megan O’Reilly, who struck out 15 in the appearance.

The Beavers continued to pile on runs throughout the middle innings and it wasn’t until the bottom of the seventh that the Lions were able to reply. But the Lions’ one run––on an RBI single

by Gomez––was too little, too late, and the first game came to a close 7-1 in favor of Babson.

Game two saw a similar start as the Beavers struck again in the first inning for one run. Babson started pitching, picking up where they left off and holding the Lions scoreless for five innings while scoring an additional two themselves.

In the bottom of the sixth, Emerson had an opportunity with a runner in scoring position. First-year infielder Ally Lacey hit a double to right-center field deep enough in the gap to score the runner. A single from first-year utility Sam Zannotti plated another, narrowing the score to 3-2.

Those were the only runs the Lions were able to muster against the Beavers, who tacked on another in the top of the seventh and finished the game on top 4-2.

Though the day finished with an unfortunate result for the Lions, their message still rang true. McElroy said the team looks forward to being a part of more activist causes in the future, but added that the quantity of events should not outweigh their quality.

“We will be trying to do a little bit

more,” he said. “A lot of our players are a part of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and typically, that group will typically do a lot of day events and awareness events. I think that we always have the challenge of, ‘how many of these awareness games should we do?’”

The team is made up of seven firstyear players, including Gomez, who hope to set up different events to advocate for topics such as mental health in sports.

“As we get older, as we get more experienced, and as we figure out how to put these things together, that’s something that could be in the future for us,” she said.

tyler_foy@emerson.edu

Women’s lacrosse seniors reflect on career after successful season Cont. from Pg. 1

Senior midfielder Hannah Beck will return as a graduate student next year / Sydney Ciardi Beacon Staff

Koffman with this season’s success, saying she played a large role in shifting the dynamics of the team on the field, in the weight room, and beyond. Toscano said Koffman is one of her team’s biggest supporters.

“She always has me and my teammates’ backs,” Toscano said. “It’s been a pleasure being one of her players, and it’s nice because we’ve grown together throughout the last four years.”

Co-captain Julia Burns agreed, saying Koffman played a key role in rebuilding the roster.

“It’s hard as a coach to come into a program and rebuild it, but I think she’s done a fantastic job,” Burns said.

“She’s really supportive of us, no matter what we want to do. She’s supportive and compassionate and pushes us when necessary. She’s been great.”

The past four years have been rebuilding years for both Emerson’s men’s and women’s lacrosse programs, with the men’s teams going from 4-68 overall to 11-4 this year and the women’s team shifting from 33-60 overall to 9-5.

Burns said she’s proud to have been part of the team’s growth. For her, being a leader throughout the process made seeing the team’s shift particularly exciting.

“To come in here and see the change from freshman year to now

is extremely rewarding,” Burns said.

“There’s a lot to be said for sticking with a program throughout its rebuilding… Being captain the past two years and being part of that growth has been one of the most rewarding things.”

Part of this shift has come with the development of team culture—much of which has been cultivated by the seniors, according to Koffman.

“The seniors have set the standard for work ethic and what is expected of players,” Koffman wrote. “They have been a key part in the growth of this program and their hard work will continue to shape this program…

Our captains have been crucial in the growth and commitment to this program. They lead by example and really work hard in all they do.”

Co-captain Ainsley Basic said this culture allows players of all ages to make an “immediate impact” on the field. The sense of inclusion and camaraderie among the team, coupled with a newfound thankfulness for the opportunity to play an uninterrupted season, has contributed heavily to the team’s success, she said.

“Since [my freshman] year, we’ve just been working hard and playing with gratitude because we know that at any point the season can be taken from us,” Basic wrote in a statement to The Beacon. “There was a lot of excitement to finally get a full season. Everyone came into it with a new sense of appreciation for the time we

get on the field.”

Midfielder Julia Mallon said the class of 2022 showed a resilience that helped the rest of the team persevere through difficult times. For Mallon and the other seniors, this year is a testament to hard work and dedication.

“The fact that we lost every game freshman year, had two basically canceled seasons, and still showed up every day senior year ready to play just shows how committed, determined and passionate we are and how much we love the team,” she said.

For Basic and Hannah Beck, both of whom are graduating a semester early, this season marks their first— and last—undergraduate college lacrosse season. Beck, however, will return to the field as a graduate student next spring. She said she is glad this season won’t be her last and added that she looks forward to continuing her career and leaving a legacy of team culture for future players.

“As a team, we’ve always had great chemistry,” Beck said. “Everyone is happy to see each other succeed and be a part of that. It’s been that way since my freshman year and I know it will be like that even after I leave.”

The Lions won their Senior Day faceoff against Clark University 16-4.

They will return to the field on April 23 against Smith College.

vivi_smilgius@emerson.edu