May 2, 2013 - Issue 13

Student Newspaper of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

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

North Adams, Mass.

Volume 77 ◆ Issue 13

Th u r s d ay, M ay 2 , 2 0 1 3

No suspects yet in bomb threat

By Aya Lanzoni Editor-in-Chief

Survey looks into Public Safety Jurisdiction News - Page 7

Dance Co. takes to the stage

Largest MCLA club to perform at MassMoCa this Friday and Saturday Arts & Entertainment - Page 9

Fender overcomes injuries Soccer player continues to strive for the best Sports - Page 13

News Arts & Entertainment Sports Opinion Fun & Games Photo Essay

2-7 8-10 11-13 14 15 16

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On Thursday, April 25 at 3:30 p.m., Public Safety was notified of a non-descript bomb threat on the College campus. This was the first time a bomb threat has occurred at MCLA according Jim Stakenas, vice president of Administration and Finance Confusion and emotions ran high as students were evacuated to the armory located near The Pitcher’s Mound, at 206 Ashland.

A note was found by a student in the men’s bathroom of Murdock Hall, claiming three bombs were hidden on campus and going to explode at 4:30 p.m. Public Safety was immediately notified.

“I was just preparing for a show and then I heard the alarm about a bomb threat,” senior David Camillo said. “All I was told to do was go to the armory.”

Emergency text messages and First Class alerts were sent out, as well as a campus-wide announcement to computers and digital intercoms in classrooms.

THREAT, continued on page 5

Photo by Jack Guerino/Beacon Staff

More than 1,000 students and faculty walk to the armory on Ashland Street after receiving instructions from campus staff members.

FBI talks to student who knew alleged Boston bomber

By Aya Lanzoni Editor-in-Chief

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) interviewed freshman Adam Umarov, a Chechen native who knows one of the alleged Boston Marathon bombers, on Thursday, April 25 and Monday, April 29.

Umarov, 19, explained why they came to the College.

“There was the incident in Boston, and that’s how I got dragged into this in the first place. I’m from Chechnya, and my family

migrated here a long time ago,” he said. “I knew the kid who they supposedly said is involved in [the Boston Bombings], so they came here and have been questioning for a while now. They just want to get answers.”

Umarov said the FBI did not ask him about the bomb threat on campus on April 25. They did not suggest any connection between Boston and the bomb scare here.

The FBI came to the College, asking Umarov questions about how he knew the alleged bomb-

ers, saying that they were concerned about his safety.

Umarov said that the FBI might come back tomorrow to ask more questions.

“They interviewed five or six of my friends. They say it’s their job and I understand that,” he said.

Umarov stated that he lost contact with the younger brother in high school.

“I had nothing to do with this kid,” he said. “They just want to see if I have any connections with that, but it’s not every day that

you have the FBI come and interrogate you. It’s very tough.”

Umarov also said that he was surprised the FBI came to the College.

“I was very nervous, my mouth was dry, the color just changed in my face. I was shaking, and people around me said that I changed. I was so stressed out,” he said.

Umarov knew Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the younger brother

UMAROV, continued on page 3

Grant ref l ects on past 10 years as President

By Nick Arena & Aya Lanzoni

Editorial Staff In the second semester of her 11th year, President Mary Grant has brought the College to new heights, getting to know students, faculty and staff, and advancing MCLA in many ways.

Graduated from the class of 1983, Grant sought her master’s degree and PhD before returning to the College. Open to opportunities, she is the first alumnae to come back as president.

She said many of the highlights have to do with the people at the school. “[I appreciate] the opportunity to work with the faculty and staff here on the campus who really just give it their all, so it’s a real privilege to get to know people and be a part of a community,” she said. “And getting to know

the students over this decade who are coming here filled with ideas, seeking opportunities, watching them progress and graduate, the Board of Trustees and getting to know them [as well]. So for me, the highlights have been around the people, when people come together in a community like this where we work collectively.”

Grant also said that the campus community has changed her as a person as well as a president.

“I think that every time you interact with somebody, you have the opportunity to change. You are open to hearing another person’s point of view, of learning about their culture, what really gets them passionate,” she said.

“I’ve learned a lot from the people who have a perspective and care about the institution. I feel

Photo Courtesy of Bernadette Lupo

GRANT, President Mary K. Grant greets students and faculty continued on page 3 at the Academic Recognition Banquet.

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News

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Commencement plans underway

By Hannah Sterrs

Special to the Beacon As the school year comes to a close, the students of the class of 2013 are one step closer to graduation. The Commencement Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 18, in the Amsler Campus Center gymnasium.

At 10:45 a.m. when the procession begins, soon-to-be graduates will exit Venable Gym into the quad before they make their way through the gates of the College one last time.

Commencement attendees will witness this year’s keynote speaker, Diane Patrick, receive a Doctorate of Laws honorary degree from the College. Diane Patrick, First Lady of Massachusetts, is a lawyer, advocate against domestic violence, educator, and a community volunteer.

Other honorary degree recipients include Elizabeth Coleman, John “Jack” Downing, and Mardi Crane-Godreau. Coleman has been the president of Bennington College since 1987 and will receive a Doctorate of Humanities.

Downing is president and CEO of Soldier On in Pittsfield and will receive a Doctorate of Public Service.

Crane-Godreau is an appointed assistant professor at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth in the department of microbiology and immunology and will receive a Doctorate of Science.

Each graduate has been given five tickets for friends and family which will be required to enter into the gymnasium. For students with friends or family whom have handicapped needs, parking and seating will be available.

Family and friends unable to attend inside the gymnasium can view a live stream shown in Sullivan Lounge. The lounge will also be equipped with crayons and other activities for small children.

On Friday, May 17 at 3:00 p.m. in the Church Street Center, graduates and their parents are invited to attend the College’s annual Baccalaureate Ceremony.

Attendees hear ivy orations of past years, while getting to hear their class’s oration for the first time.

Senior Week activities begin Tuesday, May 14. Senior Week, put on by the Class of 2013 Class Council, is an optional week of fun events for students remaining on campus before the commencement ceremony.

While these events are optional, pre-registration was required of all seniors. Senior Week preparations began in October 2012 by class council members Elizabeth Mullen, Catt Chaput, Patrick Endy, and Brycen Waters.

However, Waters notes, “We [the class council] held class meetings asking for feedback on what the senior class would like to see for their trips.”

COMMENCEMENT, continued on page 4

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Robert Bence to step down

By Sam Boyden

Special to the Beacon Bob Bence, professor of political science and public policy, is set to retire at the end of the semester after 37 years at the College.

After teaching at schools all over the country in his 46-year career, Bence decided it was time to take a break from teaching.

“This is a high energy place that appropriately demands quite a bit of people,” he said. “At this point it’s clearly time to let somebody else take a shot at that.”

Bence looks back fondly at his years at the College, enjoying the many educational trips to Canada and other locations his classes visited, as well the vibrant discussions, watching students grow over the years.

“One of the fondest [memories] is certainly watching students grow, both personally and

intellectually over a four-year period, and really how satisfying that is.”

Originally from the Appalachian region, he had never been to New England before interviewing for a position at the College. Bence never thought he would come to a place like this, but the charm of the Berkshires and demeanor of the staff and students caused him to stay.

“I loved the region,” he said. “It also provided an opportunity to teach a variety of courses.”

Although he has many fond Beacon Archives memories of the college, there Robert Bence speaks at a lecture given in 2011. were some challenges along the way. The battle for higher as spending time with his wife, said. “I’d also like to become more education funding and support children, and grandchildren. politically active again.” was one of the biggest.

He is a man of many hobbies Bence offered parting bits of “Sometimes it felt like it was us and enjoys working around his wisdom to students. He spoke to against the world,” Bence recalled, home in Vermont, reading and being intellectually humble. “but many of those battles have spending time outdoors.

“You should leave MCLA been won.”

“I have a multitude of hobbies, knowing less than when you came At age 68, Bence plans to spend which include outdoor activities – realizing how much more there his retirement traveling as well such as fishing and hiking,” he is to learn.”

WJJW engineer Paul Willey retires

By Justine Cozza Staff Writer

At one point in time, every town had a Paul Willey- an engineer that had worked for all the local radio stations and knew all the ins and outs of the trade.

But times have changed, no one knowing that better than Willey.

After 42 years of serving as WJJW’s engineer, and almost 60 years in the field, Willey, 83, will step down from his duties at the end of the academic year. Approaching his retirement, the imprint the engineer has made not only on the College’s radio station (WJJW), but also on Williams College’s radio station (WCFM) is one that cannot easily fade.

Willey brought comprehensive knowledge of radio to WJJW, including a range of technical information and FCC regulations, according to English-Communications Professor Harris Elder, who served as the WJJW adviser for almost 30 years until 2007.

“He kept the sometimes aging equipment operating, and selected and installed new equipment,” Elder said. “He was very reliable, making his services on-call as well as routine. WJJW could not have functioned without him.”

For Willey, there are many achievements to reflect on from the last 60 years.

In the 1960s he signed on as chief engineer at WBTN in Bennington, Vt., and WMNB in North Adams, his employer for 45 years.

“The engineer of any station is extremely critical,” Broadcast Media Professor Michael Leary said.

Leary, who teaches radio production, continued saying engineers are resonsible for maintaining equipment and ensuring that anything Photo Courtesy of Carl Villanuevabroken gets immediately Paul Willey operates the radio transmitter fixed so that the station in the radio station, located on the third remains on air without any interuptions. floor of the Campus Center.

“Paul, with his ex“My biggest achievement has tensive experience, has to be building a station the way helped keep WJJW on air and I wanted,” Willey explained. “I available for the students to learn have a craft that I could work for- how radio works from a hands-on ever, giving me the opportunity to experience,” Leary said. work as long as I have.”

Throughout the years, there According to the Radio Guide’s have been many changes in techarticle on Willey, his career be- nology that influenced the radio gan in the 1930s in Vermont. At world. With changing technolothe time, most radios were still gies came the need to learn how powered by battery. Willey gradu- to use new equipment. ated from a state trade school in “I have to know how all the maSt. Johnsbury, Vt., with a diploma chines work,” Willey explained, in radio. After continued study at while pointing at the transmitter, the Massachusetts Radio School an electronic device which with in Boston, he began his radio ca- the aid of an antenna, produces reer in St. Johnsbury, at WTWN. radio waves. “I have taken cor-

respondence courses to keep up with the times.”

Throughout Willey’s career, he has seen the rise of computers, to digital TV, to FM digital radio, each of them bringing along special equipment, and new possibilities for the future.

Willey has helped WJJW in these transitions, most recently with digital streaming, and has been an invaluable resource, according to English-Communications Professor Jim Niedbalski, WJJW adviser since 2010.

“While certainly the Internet and satellite radio has had an impact on radio, radio in general still provides the intimacy between listener and DJ, and a source of news, information and sports in addition to music. Everyone who owns a car has a radio and uses it,” Niedbalski said. “Since WJJW is a non-commercial educational station, it provides this without the often-annoying advertisements you hear on commercial radio.

Listeners won’t find on commercial radio the wide variety of music they find on college radio stations like WJJW.” As Willey moves on from the position, he leaves behind a strong foundation, having contributed many years of his hard work.

“Paul has been with WJJW every step of the way, and we will miss him,” Niedbalski added.

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News

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Beacon.mcla.edu

College to be first COPLAC school to have both drug, alcohol related amnesty policies

By Hannah Sterrs

Special to the Beacon If you are involved in an incident where drugs and alcohol play a factor, would you call someone for help? While some students may hesitate to answer this question, by as early as May students will be able to answer with ease.

MCLA will be implementing a combined Amnesty and Good Samaritan Policy. These policies will allow the College to adhere to sexual assault policies standardized under Title IX, as well as support the need of students.

Title IX is part of the Educational Amendment Act of 1972, which promotes gender equality in all school facilities. In a 2011 ‘Dear Colleague’ letter set forth by the U.S Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, colleges and universities were pointedly reminded to review their policies when handling alleged sexual assaults.

In response to this letter, Title IX sent forth their own ‘Dear Colleague’ letter that called for “schools [to] consider whether their disciplinary policies have a chilling effect on victims or other students reporting of sexual violence offenses.”

According to the College’s 2012-2013 Student Handbook, “Behaviors resulting in violations of community standards as a result of improper use of alcohol will not be excused or mitigated.”

The handbook also states violations in result of improper drug use will also not be “excused or mitigated.” For students involved in sexual assault and alcohol related cases, the policies in the most current Student Handbook could be daunting.

The current policies regarding sexual assault do not ensure students who report being assaulted while under the influence would not be penalized for violating the College’s drug and alcohol policy.

UMAROV, continued from page 1

of the bombers who survived a gun battle with police, and their family.

Tsarvaev is in the Federal Medical Center Devens in Devens, Mass. under armed guard and is charged with using weapons of mass destruction in connection with the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15, which killed three and injured about 260.

His brother, Tamarlan, died in a shootout with Watertown police on April 18.

Director of Marketing and Communications Bernadette Lupo said that a request was made and put the FBI in touch with Umarov. She is unable to comment on anything else.

Public Safety was also contacted and also not able to comment on the matter. They said that they are not allowed to comment on an on-going investigation due to

3

SSDP members have suggested that the alcohol and drug education programs sanctioned by the College’s conduct officers should also include sessions with Counseling Services to discuss the event. Theresa O’Bryant, who is also the College’s chief conduct officer, said in a meeting discussing the policy that she will handle all amnesty and good samaritan cases personally.

O’Bryant is currently putting the final touches on the draft of the policies, along with the help of the members of SSDP. “We’re looking it over as asked

by Dean O’Bryant to see what we do and do not agree with,” Willnow said.

The final draft, that according Photo Courtesy of Michael Vogt to O’Bryant is a “formal policy From left to right: Treasurer Ben Willnow, Vice President Ruth Vital, President Michael Vogt, and Sec- reinforcing how the college has already been behaving,” is also a retary Chris Hantman make up the e-board of the Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP). way for students to avoid having This can deter victims from com- refrain from reporting an inci- of Students Charlotte Degen and a judicial record despite trying to ing forward about possible at- dent in fear of getting into trouble Associate Dean of Students Thehelp others. tacks. Also, students involved in with Residential Programs and resa O’Bryant.

However, these policies do not events with someone who is se- Services, Public Safety, and more.”

Along with the petition, memprevent students from breaking verely intoxicated can be swayed By late April, the College will bers of SSDP also presented rethe law. If the incident were to not to call for help because of the be the first College within the search on the benefits of a Good happen off campus and the North possible implications.

Council of Public Liberal Arts Samaritan Policy, as well as inforAdams Police Department were The soon-to-be-implemented Colleges (COPLAC) to include mation on UMass Dartmouth’s to respond, the school could enAmnesty Policy will grant am- both drug and alcohol related am- Good Samaritan Policy. force the law. The policy would nesty to students who report be- nesty policies. However, students SSDP also brought news that also only protect those involved ing sexually assaulted while under of the College have seen a need the Good Samaritan Policy will in incidences after the resolution the influence of drugs or alcohol. for the Good Samaritan Policy not violate the Drug-Free Schools is adopted. Therefore, those with In conjunction, the Good Samari- dating back to April 2012. and Communities Act (DFSCA) past judicial records will not be tan Policy will attach amnesty to Wanting to make a “drive for of 1989, also known as the Drugabsolved. the student who calls for help for change,” as said by junior Benja- free Schools and Campuses Act. Students have been responda severely intoxicated peer. min Willnow, treasurer of SSDP, Because drug and alcohol offensing positively to the upcoming The Board of Trustees unani- in 2012 the group realized that es are in direct violation of Stanpolicies. “I think students will mously voted to implement the the college did not have a Good dards of Contact set forth by the be more confident to make the combined Amnesty and Good Sa- Samaritan Policy. Since then, DFSCA, the act requires instituright decisions,” junior and SSDP maritan Policies on March 21, just SSDP has been making efforts at tions of higher education to estabmember, Ally Fanning said. “I three days after the Student Sen- various college-related events to lish policies that address unlawful know that if I were to ever find ate unanimously passed a resolu- educate students and community possession, use, or distribution of myself in a situation where drug tion urging the Board of Trustees members of the Good Samari- alcohol and illicit drugs. and alcohol played an influence, I to adopt this new policy. At the tan Policy’s benefits. Last May at Because a good samaritan wouldn’t hesitate to get help.”

March 18 student senate meeting. “Rock the Block” in downtown policy would lessen some of the Mike Vogt, president of Students North Adams, SSDP collected 100 disciplinary implications resultfor Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), signatures on a petition calling for ing in alcohol and drug related said that the group is, “Trying the College’s implementation of incidents, the issue of losing fedto implement a Good Samaritan the policy. The club gathered 200 eral funding arose. This is why Policy to avoid alcohol-related total signatures before presenting students granted amnesty would injuries and other issues. This is the petition in a meeting that took be subject to a personalized form important because students may place this past March with Dean of drug or alcohol education. confidentiality issues.

“I just want the rumors to stop,” he said. “I had nothing to do with this.

My sister came here and she left a good image of herself and I want to leave that same image.”

2013 Lamda Iota Tau Inductees

“I just want the rumors to stop.

I had nothing to do with this.”

- Adam Umarov Photo by Kayla Degnan/Beacon Staff

Freshman Adam Umarov, 19, was interviewed by the FBI.

Nicholas Arena Paul Aslanian Kelley Bulmer Mariah Burgess Dennise Carranza Kacie Clark Megan Cronin Natasha Dalton Elissa Demary Michael Feloni Emily Follin Alison Foss Ariel Fusini Jessica Gamari Lynn Gingras Jack Guerino Christopher Hantman

Kathryn Johnson Christopher Johnson Gabriel Kogel Ayaka Lanzoni Rachel Maher Kimberly Marotte Rebecca McBrien Catherine Obrzut Amanda Olsen Raanan Sarid-Segal Jesse Scicchitano Alaina Storey Kaylie Sweet Jeffrey Vecellio Gregory Wilson Kristen Young Johanna Young

News 4 Foss returns to psychology Senior Week Thursday, May 2, 2013

By Andrew Ricketts Special to the Beacon

Deb Foss has been a part of the campus community since 1987. After three years of serving as associate dean of advising, Foss will return to her former faculty role in the fall.

In 2009, the Advising Center merged with the academic affairs area of administrative staff. The academic affairs branch has a program for students called the Center for Student Success and Engagement (CSSE), a program Foss helped create. She will continuen serving in that position full time until August.

“In August of 2009 I took an administrative leave to help the CSSE come together. Three years later the center has come together as a unit,” Foss said.

“I have accomplished what is needed and it’s a good time for me to step back.”

According to Foss, she has missed teaching. She will be teaching psychology part time in the fall while still working in advising through the spring. As a faculty member, Foss earned tenure back in the 1990s.

“I’m more of a teacher than an administrator. As an

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administrator, sometimes I have to shut doors to write reports and I realized I don’t like doing that,” Foss said.

Being the department chair gave her a taste of being an administrator, according to Foss. When she goes back to teaching it will mean less meetings, not sitting behind a desk and more work with the students.

“Some of the benefits of being a teacher are that I can choose a textbook and it will be my choice. When I’m teaching Photo courtesy of Bernadette Lupo a class, I’m the ‘expert’ of the subject,” Foss said. “Working as Foss will return in the fall an administrator, it’s working with a bigger picture and think students choose colleges for different reasons. One working with other people.”

According to Foss, some thing CSSE focuses on is how of the things she’s learned in they help make the transition the process of coordinating from high school to college go advising is to treat the student smoothly.”

To get the full benefit as a whole, what’s called holistic from the college, students development. Some colleges treat people in segments, such need to be engaged in the as what career plans they have, learning, according to Foss. clubs they are involved in or The administrator position’s experience will make her a, Foss interested in and more.

“A wonderful thing about said. Foss credits Cindy Brown, MCLA is that we do treat vice president of academic students as a whole and we try affairs, and Charlotte Degen, to improve students over the vice president of student affairs, course of the four years that with helping her get started on they are here,” Foss said. “I organizing and working in the CSSE program.

activities to start while getting to hear their class’s oration for the first time. Graduates will also be given the opportunity to thank someone who has positively impacted his or her college experience. A brief reception follows the ceremony.

Senior Week activities will start on Tuesday, May 14. Senior Week, created by the Class of 2013 Class Council, is an optional week of fun events for students to take part in while remaining on campus before the commencement ceremony.

While the events are optional, pre-registration was required of all seniors. Senior Week prepara-

tions began in October 2012 by class council members Lizzy Mullen, Catt Chaput, Patrick Endy, and Brycen Waters. However, Waters notes, “We [the class council] held class meetings asking for feedback on what the Senior class would like to see for their trips.”

Once Senior Week, baccalaureate, and commencement have come to a close, this year’s college graduates will exit the gym through the main patio doors and around the south side of Murdock Hall to the Murdock lawn where friends, family, faculty, and staff join to congratulate them on their new place in the “real world.”

Senior Week Events

Tuesday Tiki Tuesday Wednesday Class of 2013 Dance Party Thursday Mohegan Sun Casino or Lake George Steam Boat Cruise Friday Baccalaureate & Senior Dinner Saturday Commencement

President Grant voices difficulties of leadership

GRANT, continued from page 1

I’ve grown a lot, and for me, it’s about life-long learning. There’s no better place to do life-long learning than a college campus.”

Grant emphasized that the College community is a team.

“I’m in the midst of it, but it takes a team. With academic programs when I came here, we didn’t have a major in the political science and public policy, visual arts, chemistry program; the environmental studies program was only a minor; we didn’t have some of the minors that we have now; Gallery 51 [or] BHIP; the athletic fields in playable shape; the Campus Center renovated; the History House where it is right now; the new [science] building going up; the downtown presence; shared education facility with Berkshire Community College. Each one of these takes time. There are individuals working alongside to make sure everything happens.”

When she came here, Grant didn’t think that the school community was as engaged, she said.

“As an institution we are now more deeply connected,” Grant said.

Grant began the Berkshire Compact for Education approximately seven years ago.

“It’s about raising the aspirations of kids [or adults] in the schools in the Berkshires to want

to continue life-long learning,” she said. “Out of this program came the Professional MBA program. The Fast-Track program is also new, so the Compact has been a really important connecting vehicle.”

For Grant, one of the most difficult challenges during her time as president was when Rolinda Mondesir, who would have been in the graduating class of 2013, passed away four years ago.

“I think it’s those moments where you lose [someone], it’s the most difficult thing. The multicultural dinner in the fall has become a way of honoring her, as well as Ernst LaRochel,” she said. “We can always figure out how to trim a budget, or fix a problem, but those by far are the most difficult ones that stay with you.”

With issues on campus and in the community including the arming of Public Safety, divestment from fossil fuels, and the city’s vote on the Conte Middle School, Grant stated that deciding where to stand requires a lot of thought.

“It’s looking at it from multiple perspectives, not just one point of view,” Grant said. “That’s one of the rich benefits of being in a leadership role is that you have the chance to look at it wearing many different hats, not just one.”

She has had to make a number of difficult decisions, such as the

arming of Public Safety.

“I think it was a set of complicated conversations for the campus,” she said. “I think that the board of trustees made absolutely the right decision and the board’s job and my job is not to make decisions that are going to make everybody happy all of the time.”

She continued that she admires the devotion of the students who took the time to make their discussions about the issue and respects the board of trustees for delaying their vote and encouraging more training for the officers.

“We’ll do it to the best of our ability and we’ll continue to make sure that the officers are trained at the highest levels possible,” she said. “My responsibility at the end of the day is to work with [everyone] to make decisions and implement them, not just for today, but going forward.”

In more recent months, the discussion of divesting from fossil fuel has become an issue, and Grant sees this as a complicated one, but should be addressed.

Her biggest concerns lie with the College’s ability to continue to provide for the students, but she hopes to see divestment happen at the College.

“When you look at it at face value, it’s an easy question to answer: yes we should be doing this, but then there’s all of the caveats of what does it mean and how do

we really do it,” she said.

She would also like to see investment in green energy become something at not only MCLA, but colleges across the country. ““[It would be really great] if across everyone’s investment portfolios we saw that happening, because then maybe it would generate a higher rate of return, leading to more investment, which would produce more interest, which would fund more scholarships,” she said.

Her concerns do not solely revolve around MCLA, but also the mark that it leaves in the North Adams community. Grant remarked that recently, a forum was held to discuss the revitilization of the Conte Middle School.

“It would a wonderful step forward for the city to have some forward momentum, and a way to keep putting good energy into the city from all fronts,” she said. “I’m looking forward to the outcome of that vote and if it’s a yes vote then I think it’s a great opportunity for the city to begin reinvesting in their schools.”

With a smile, Grant told the Beacon that one of her favorite moments as president is commencement.

“It’s a day where everybody comes together, it’s about that shared sense of accomplishment, and we get to meet families who are so proud of their graduates,”

she said. “It’s just a wonderful, happy, emotional day.”

She feels as though she’s had lots of great moments during her time here at MCLA. She has initiated many of the renovations on campus as a whole, such as Hoosac Hall, the Freel Library, the Amsler Campus Center, the Zavattaro Athletics complex a few years ago, as well as the addition of the new Center for Science and Innovation.

“The trick is not getting in over your head,” Grant said, “but strengthening parts of the institution so that people have the best space for learning and for living.”

“The work goes on,” she said.

“I look forward to continuing to make the case for more resources for the institution, getting to know what the graduates are doing, and that there continues to be a connection.”

Grant felt that there will be a new set of opportunities and challenges in the future.

“I never knew 11 years could go by so fast,” she said. “Having been here has been such a privilege and such a joy and I could not imagine working with a better group of colleagues that I have among the faculty and staff. For as long as I’ve been here, it’s been a joy and for as long as I stay, I hope it will be the same.”

News

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Campus-wide evacuation for bomb threat THREAT, continued from page 5

Students were evacuated to the inside of the armory and separated by dormitories.

Students who lived in the local area were told to stay inside the building until further notice.

“I was in class and everyone went silent,” junior Kimberly Marotte said. “I’m just really glad [the College] has phones for bomb threats.”

Approximately 1,000 students and faculty were evacuated.

The state police bomb squad swept the entire campus for any explosives.

“I was just getting into the Hoosac elevator and was told about the bomb threat,” freshman Salimata Kamara said. “I just tryed to stay calm and figure out what was going on.”

Resident Advisor (RA) of Berkshire Towers Alexa Hebard was watching television when she heard about the evacuation.

“I thought it was just a fire drill when [RAs] were told to get everyone evacuated. I felt as though it was my responsibility to keep calm and make sure that everyone [was] listening,” Hebard said. “Whether it was a real threat or not, it’s good to have a system in place and a course of action.”

North Adams Police sent out a city-wide announcement and blocked off Porter Street, Montana Street, Hoosac Street, Bond Street, Corenth Street, Davenport Street, and Church Street. At 6:15 p.m., it was

determined that the campus was cleared of any threats.

“There are no suspects at this time,” Michael Cozzaglio, North Adams police officer, told The Beacon in a press conference.

“We are taking photos and fingerprints, looking at camera systems [within Murdock Hall], and interviewing people who were in the building at the time.”

“Last week [the Boston Marathon bombings] was in everyone’s mind. The first priority was to keep everyone safe,” James Stakenas, vice president of administration and finance, said at the press conference. “I think that everyone responded well and that we have a great working relationship with the city.”

According to Cozzaglio, a canine was sent in to the event, aiding efforts to discover anything specific to the threat.

Nothing was found.

“The possible charges would be for disorderly conduct,” he said. “If it should rise to a terrorist attack, we’d have to take it up with the district attorney’s office. Because of the shock and awe that this creates, we would certainly prosecute them.”

All classes and scheduled events were cancelled for the rest of the day. Students, faculty, and staff were allowed to return after the campus was determined safe. For a message from President Mary Grant, go to www.mcla.edu about the day’s events.

Beacon.mcla.edu

5

Administration addresses confusion over evacuation

By Nick Arena

Managing Editor Hands were raised and questions were posed in Sullivan Lounge as students and faculty sought clarification about the Thursday April 25 bomb threat.

Monday at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. MCLA’s administration, alongside the North Adams Police and Fire Departments, hosted meetings to address concerns facing the campus.

The 1 p.m. meeting had a large turnout.

“I want to begin by thanking everyone for how they handled the events from last week,” President Mary Grant said.

Speakers at the meeting including Grant, James Stakenas, vice president of administration and finance, Charlotte Degen, vice president for Student Affairs, and Michael Cozzaglio, North Adams Police director.

The administration and Cozzaglio took the audience stepby-step through the processes they went through in the short time they had to react.

Cozzaglio said a decision on how to handle the threat was determined in roughly seven minutes.

“We identified a couple of key locations to check [for potential explosives],” Cozzaglio said.

These two buildings were Murdock Hall and the Campus Center, both of which were searched by a bomb-sniffing dog, he continued. The other buildings were scoured by MCLA Facilities.

“The people that are most familiar with the buildings are the people we ask to check the buildings,” Cozzaglio said.

After the overview, the floor

Photo by Nick Arena/Beacon Staff

Officer Michael Cozzaglio addresses the crowd in Sullivan. was given to members of the “If someone who made the audience to pose their questions threat was a student at the college, about the incident. that person would have been Education Professor Dale evacuated with us,” Farley said.

Fink questioned the process of “That person could have been sending everyone to one building in the gym with us. There were with little information available unchecked backpacks and bags to them. everywhere, and I didn’t logically “Without information, it was see why.” hard to figure out why I’d be safer “We were told by someone in there than out on the grass,” who just happened to go to Fink said. the bathroom that we had to Cozzaglio responded that one evacuate,” Chaput remarked of the choices was where to place about the communication issues. students and faculty.

Other questions were posed by “In a situtation like this, it members of the College such as would be safer inside a secure Facilities Electrician Sean Smith, building like [the armory],” who asked what training facilities Cozzaglio replied. “If there was members had received before an explosion you’d be better off searching for suspicious items. inside a fortified building.”

“They were told to look for Students also posed a number anything suspicious in the of questions and suggestions, common areas,” Director of which were well accepted by the Facilities Charles Kimberling administration. replied.

Seniors Emma Farley and Degen stated that, in case of Catherine Chaput both made future emergencies, students presentations that mentioned should register their cell phones issues such as placing all of the for emergency alerts, update students with the potential threat their emergency contacts, and maker in the armory, the lack of review Public Safety’s emergency successful communication, and guidelines, and that any questions, the fact that students were not comments, or concerns should be allowed to leave the building. directed to Stakenas.

Tough confirmation expected for Obama’s pick to regulate mortgages MCT Campus WASHINGTON — The Obama administration’s selection Wednesday of a North Carolina congressman to head the government’s mortgagefinance regulator appears certain to spark a confirmation battle and renewed debate over the government’s role in backstopping home loans.

Obama announced that he had picked Rep. Mel Watt, a Democrat from the Charlotte area, to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Never heard of it? Don’t worry. Most Americans haven’t, either.

The agency’s job is to oversee the quasi-government titans of mortgage finance, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These two, until the summer of 2008, had operated largely as private enterprises with congressional oversight. Since late 2008, they’ve been in government conservatorship.

The selection of Watt, a career

politician who hasn’t worked in banking or finance, touched off immediate controversy. He’ll head a highly technical agency, and his nomination did not sit well with Republicans who want changes in housing policy.

“I could not be more disappointed in this nomination. This gives new meaning to the adage that the fox is guarding the hen house,” Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said in a statement fired off minutes after news broke of Watt’s selection and well before the official White House photo op. “The debate around his nomination will illuminate for all Americans why Fannie and Freddie failed so miserably.”

The FHFA has been headed by an acting director, Ed DeMarco, since Sept. 1, 2009.

DeMarco has frustrated the administration’s efforts to forgive some mortgageholder debt and to loosen lending standards to help more borrowers take advantage of today’s low interest rates.

Liberal groups have rallied across the country urging Obama to fire DeMarco, and Corker, a member of the Senate Banking Committee that must confirm Watt, signaled in his statement that Republicans may fight the nomination in order to keep DeMarco in place.

“Before any nominee should be considered for this post, regardless of their qualifications, the administration should explicitly lay out how they will unwind these entities,” Corker said.

Obama looked past the questions of qualification Wednesday when appearing before the cameras with Watt at the White House. He instead focused on Watt’s rise from a humble past to a lawmaker who has defended the little guy.

“He’s helped protect consumers from the kind of reckless risk-taking that led to the financial crisis in the first place. And he’s fought to give more Americans in lowincome neighborhoods access

to affordable housing,” Obama said of Watt, who did not speak to reporters.

Spokesman Jay Carney defended the pick of Watt during the daily White House briefing, noting Obama “looks for people who are experienced in a broad variety of ways.”

Fannie and Freddie purchase mortgages from banks and other lenders, then pool them together in a mortgage bond offered to investors.

This process, known as securitization, allows banks to get a loan off their books and frees them up for more lending.

The Treasury Department in February 2011 actually laid out five potential paths to unwind Fannie and Freddie by paying off bad debts and collecting more money. Timothy Geithner, then the treasury secretary, signaled favor for a plan that eventually gets rid of Fannie and Freddie in favor of the private sector, with government providing an insurance function in the process.

Watt is the second North Carolinian to be nominated for the post by Obama. His pick in 2010, North Carolina Bank Commissioner Joseph Smith, was rebuffed by Republicans.

North Carolina, home to Bank of America, has been more aggressive than most states in policing lenders and forcing banks to work with homeowners who had been given unsuitable mortgages.

Watt has served 20 years in Congress, many of them on the influential House Financial Services Committee.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., called him “a thoughtful policymaker with a deep background in finance and a long record as a champion for working families.” Rep. Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said Watt “has deep expertise in housing policy and a record of distinguished service” in Congress.

6

News

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Beacon.mcla.edu

Commuter students face hardships

By Gionna Nourse

Special to the Beacon On a cold January morning, Amy Modesti wakes up at least an hour and a half before her class and starts to shovel the snow and ice off of her car from the storm the night before. She is freezing, and as she rushes to get to class, she imagines how nice it would be if she were in her warm bed like some of her peers.

As she drives down the road, her car slips on some ice, and before she knows it, she is sliding all over the road. She tries to keep driving, and possibly make it to school, but she decides not to risk it. She turns around and goes home. Since the school didn’t cancel classes, Modesti now has to try and make up all of her missing assignments from that day.

More than 80 percent of college students commute, facing these types of situations every day around the United States, according to the book, Profile of Undergraduates in U.S. Postsecondary Education Institutions.

Students choose to commute for many reasons—most have other obligations like families, full-time jobs, and they want to save money.

“Since my home is not that far away from the main campus, I am able to commute back and forth to the campus,” Modesti explained.

“If the weather is bad after I

have left my class or an event, I am able to spend the night at one of my friends’ townhouses or campus apartments until the storm is away from the area.”

Modesti is from Cropseyville, a small New York town just outside of Albany and Troy. She attended Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) prior to coming to MCLA where she is finishing her degree in art and arts management. She has almost an hour commute to school each day.

Commuter students save money on the cost of tuition, yet they tend to spend a lot of money on gas, depending on how long their commute back and forth is, and how many days they attend classes each week.

Modesti commented on how it is still cheaper to commute than living on campus and having to pay for a parking pass. Parking passes cost $30 per semester for commuter students and $100 for resident students.

Although she saves money, Modesti complained about how much money she spends on gas each day.

“Sometimes, I spend $20-$60 a week on gasoline, depending on how many days I have my classes,” she added. “Since gas is cheaper in Massachusetts and Vermont than it is in New York [$3.70 and up compared to $3.57$3.60 in MA and VT], I usually go to those states to buy my gas,” she continued.

Congetta Wagner, a freshman

commuter at Berkshire Community College (BCC), shared views similar to Modesti’s about living off campus. “Gas kills me between school and work, and yes the weather has given me trouble, and sometimes I missed class because the roads were unsafe to drive on, or there was something wrong with my car,” she said. “Also, I drive to school because they don’t offer housing and it’s only a half an hour away from my house.”

Students tend to worry about missing out on the so called “college experience” when commuting to school instead of living on campus. However, other students say that they are still a part of the clubs and organizations on campus, and do not feel like they are missing out.

“As a commuter student, I do have an opportunity to become a member of the MCLA student community,” said Modesti. “As a double major in the art and arts management program, I have had an opportunity to meet many students and staff from various states and countries who are as passionate about the visual and performing arts as I am.”

“Everybody that I have met has been very friendly and welcoming toward me during the past two years that I have been attending MCLA,” she added. “I have become involved in various activities during my time as a commuter, such as attending artist talks and gallery openings at Gallery 51, DownStreet Art,

and Mass MoCA. Modesti has also volunteered for the production of Urinetown and events put on by MCLA Presents through her internship at the Jarvis Rockwell Gallery.

But at times, it is difficult for her to attend school-related events.

“Sometimes, it can be difficult for a commuter to join a club on the campus,” she said. “Most of the clubs have their meetings at night during the times when I am not usually on the campus for a class.”

However, some students such as Wagner do not share the same sentiments of Modesti.

“I do kind of feel like I missed out on the college experience but it doesn’t really bother me,” Wagner said positively. “I’m just happy to be in school.”

Jennifer Craig, Student Activities Coorinator at MCLA, says that there are many events on campus for Commuters to attend, ranging from club and organization sponsoreed events to lectures sponsored through academics.

“Many commuter students do have to pick and choose which events they are able to attend; this is mainly due to the date and time events are offered,” she explained.

“Some commuter students have to arrange their schedules around their family and work schedule, so if an event is offered when they are working it would be hard for them to attend.”

Craig commented on how the College used to have more

Photo by Kayla Degnan/ Beacon Staff

Sophomore Kristofer Thayer hangs out in the commuter lounge while he awaits his next class. programs for commuter students such as the Commuter Student, Advisor Board (CAB), but they faded away over the years due to a lack of interest from students.

“I would love to have students come help reinvigorate that club.

My hope for the club would be to provide different activities that help promote communication and social interaction among commuter students,” Craig said.

Despite gas prices and potentially dangerous driving conditions, students such as Modesti and Wagner make the commute to school just as the other 80 percent of college students do in the United States each day.

Eagle Street Rising exceeds expectations

By Lauren Feeney

Special to the Beacon What made this past Saturday different from any other Saturday? Eagle Street Rising had arrived.

Eagle Street Rising, a part of the College’s Environmental Studies Green Living Seminar, is a project geared towards revitalizing the North Adams community. In the Green Living Seminar, students attend sessions featuring speakers from around the country who focus on the theme of urban revitalization and how cities around the world operate. In response to these talks, the Environmental Studies students chose Eagle Street as their main focus for the revitalization project.

“We’ve identified Eagle Street as not performing to its potential,” said environmental studies senior Richie Doucette.

Through limited changes, Doucette added that the street could be changed into something better.

Doucette is right. From noon to four, Eagle Street Rising transformed the quiet street that claims the fame of Jack’s Hot Dogs, Persnickety Toys, and Desperados, into a vibrant street filled with bustle and excitement. Spray-

painted tires filled with colorful arrays of flowers, supplied by Mount Williams Greenhouses, Inc., were placed along the sidewalks. A bicycle path in colorful chalk lined the center of the street, just waiting for bicyclists to tear their tires into the asphalt. Children clung to recently bought purchases from Persnickety Toys while adding their own personal creations to the chalk-ridden sidewalk.

Residents couldn’t agree more that Eagle Street Rising served as a much-needed change for the community.

“It’s just incredible. I think all the events in North Adams Photo courtesy of Gillian Jones/North Adams Transcript should foster this kind of People sit in an outdoor cafe on Eagle Street on Saturday. community. You close your violin. The Eagle Street Rising eyes and hear all these people Committee.

This year the Eagle Street committee transformed the bustling and chatting. It’s really Rising event coincided with abandoned building into a café, nice,” said Sue O’Reilly.

O’Reilly, founder of The the College’s 21st Annual complete with a children’s play Rural Library Project in Community Day of Service, space and treats such as ice cold Williamstown, was selling her a day during the spring where lemonade and donuts.

“It would be great if all the plants and fair trade jewelry student volunteers from the on the busy sidewalk to raise College and the local community shops were open on Eagle money towards establishing new work together to clean up and Street,” said Bushway, grasping improve the city. After their day his violin. “It would help libraries in different countries.

“Seeing all the community of hard work, volunteers in the everybody.”

A little ways up the street, members coming down here designated neon green t-shirts and seeing the change; it were seen mingling with family environmental studies students Monica Conlin and Abbey looks so much better than and friends along Eagle Street.

Violinist Stephen Bushway O’Brien handed out food what I thought it was going to turn out to be,” added Sean welcomed visitors into the vouchers for Jack’s Hot Dogs, Pease, member of the Eagle makeshift One Day Café with Village Pizza, and Desperados Street Rising Beautification the melodic, tinny sounds of his for the Community Day of

Service volunteers. A large Eagle Street Rising Poster in the background asked for community feedback on the event. The poster was featured at the Undergraduate Research Conference last week. In exchange for writing feedback on the poster, Conlin and O’Brien handed out fluorescent green “Going MCLA Green” water bottles.

The comments had nothing but praise for the event, with scripted handwriting on a pink sticky-note exclaiming, “This better block project needs to become a mainstay in the community,” and another saying, “We should do this everyday.”

“This is really great to see the outcome,” said O’Brien, handing out a water bottle to a volunteer.

“It really came together.”

Eagle Street Rising has been in full planning mode since January. Doucette, pinning the event as a “collaborative process,” gained inspiration from the organization Better Block Project. Eagle Street Rising is the first of its kind to be happening in New England.

“This is fun, isn’t it?” asked Doucette to his smiling friend.

Yes, it absolutely is.

News

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Beacon.mcla.edu

7

Public vs. private colleges: personal preference

By Justine Cozza Beacon Staff

A common stereotype when considering a public versus private higher education is that private education triumphs over all. But is a private college better and if so, why?

According to several MCLA students who transferred from private institutions, MCLA offered advantages they couldn’t get at their previous college.

“My last college was private and in my experience there was no difference in my education.

If anything I feel that MCLA offers me more than my last school ever did,” junior Danielle Heinsohn said. “If I could give any advice to a student looking to transfer don’t just look at a college, make sure it’s a fit for you.”

Heinsohn attended Fairleigh Dickenson University, a private university with over 12,000 students. “MCLA is the exact opposite of my old school in a really positive way,” Heinsohn explained. “Everyone here just clicks.”

An issue for many students is the transfer of already existing credits. The College is a member of the Mass Transfer program, which according to the Mass Transfer website, ensures that a minimum of 60 credits will be transferred and applied to a student’s bachelor’s program.

Depending on the student’s GPA, they may also qualify for

guaranteed admission and a tuition discount.

“When I graduated from Springfield Technical Community College and got my associates degree I was really nervous that there might be an issue with continuing my education,” sophomore Erin Ferris explained. “I quickly learned when coming to a smaller school that the people here aren’t just trying to get through the day, they want to help you.”

Beacon Archives The College accepts credits A student walks to class at Williams College, a private school in from other accredited colleges Williamstown, Mass. and universities, the Military, Massachusetts and to students a major,” Webster said. “I was College Level Examination in certain majors who come debating between English and Communications but MCLA Program (CLEP), Advanced from New England states.

MCLA offers tuition has combined something my Placement (AP) exams, and from prior learning life reduction programs to New last college didn’t offer.”

York residents, southern According to CollegeAsk. experience. residents, com, 81 percent of small One of the biggest issues Vermont for most students is money. Connecticut, New Hampshire, colleges which have less than According to the National and Vermont residents who 3,000 students, report that Center for Education Statics in are arts management majors. they award merit scholarships transfer students.

In the 2010-2011 academic year, For Rhode Island residents to annual current dollar prices for there is also a tuition reduction comparison, 66 percent of undergraduate tuition, room, program for athletic training medium-sized schools and 67 and board were estimated to be and English/Communication percent of large schools offer $13,600 at public institutions, majors. To qualify for these merit awards.

There are also scholarships $36,300 at private not-for- programs you must reside in the profit institutions, and $23,500 state, be a United States citizen, that are offered to transfer students. For students that at private for-profit institutions. and be a full time student.

“I had to leave my last college are inducted into Phi Theta At MCLA, the approximate tuition and fees to attend the because I couldn’t afford it,” Kappa there is a scholarship college for Massachusetts junior Drew Webster said. that is renewable for up to six residents is $8,525. Out of state “MCLA had the major that semesters by maintaining a residents total adds to $17,470, I was looking for, in a nice minimum GPA of 3.3 and full time enrollment at MCLA. with room and board adding up location, and close to home.

Webster attended Curry There is also a Transfer to about $10,000. There is also an 85 percent tuition reduction College, a private liberal arts Presidential Scholarship that is from the out-of-state rate college in Massachusetts. “At awarded to incoming students for New York residents near Curry I was struggling to find with demonstrated academic

achievement at the college level.

“Here at MCLA we look at the whole student,” explained Annette Jeffes, dean of admission and enrollment management. “It’s not just about the numbers, essays, or interviews.”

According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, the most common time for transfer is in a student’s second year. Onethird of all students switch institutions at least once before earning a degree.

“No matter if you pick a private or public education, each experience is different,” Jeffes said. “Here at the College we try make a community no matter if you’re a transfer, commuter, or full time student.”

There are pro’s and cons to both public and private colleges.

A wide choice of majors is a commonality in most public colleges. Some private colleges have a smaller range of majors, but offer a more academic focus. Some may focus on the fine arts while others focus on engineering.

As seen in the Time article “Are Private Schools really better?” there is no evidence that private schools actually increase student performance.

Instead, it appears that private schools simply have higher percentages of students who would perform well in any environment based on their previous performance and background.

showed that only 28 students believed that yes, they could ticket you for speeding, while 52 replied ‘no’, showcasing the confusion.

According to the College’s website, Public Safety is responsible for “enforcing local and state laws and regulations,” which would include traffic violations.

The annual CLERY Report only documents criminal acts, and while speeding is not, there are no statistics available for moving violations.

“We choose not to enforce some things, such as speeding, although we do have the power to enforce traffic regulations. It’s a safety issue,” Joseph Charon, Director of Public Safety, said.

Even though traffic enforcement may not be at the top of the priority list for the Public Safety department, they certainly can and will enforce it if they feel it becomes an issue around campus, Charon said.

Students were then asked who they would call in an emergency situation both on-campus and at an off-campus location. For the on-campus response, most would assume that the Public Safety department would be the overwhelming choice, but that was not the case.

By a mere four vote margin, Public Safety was the top choice, inching out North Adams Police, 42-38. Both departments are located with a two minute drive of campus, Public Safety being the closest at 277 Ashland Street.

enforce the laws of a specific area.

For Public Safety, this means any property owned, operated or controlled by the College. Although they may not have jurisdiction over other areas, all officers are still duty bound to report a crime to the proper authorities or intervene if it is a matter of life or death.

This may come as a surprise to many students, as the survey showed that a slight majority of 41 students believed Public Safety couldn’t arrest them, compared to 39 who knew they could.

Even with full arrest powers Public Safety hasn’t exactly been putting criminals behind bars.

According to the 2012 CLERY Report only a few people have been arrested on or off campus

by Public Safety since 2009, with arrests for a resident area drug violation, vandalism, and public intoxication. This doesn’t mean they haven’t been catching students and townsfolk breaking laws though.

In 2011 alone, Public Safety referred and pursued over 120 cases, ranging from burglary to liquor violations.

When asked about the priorities of the department, Charon responded simply: “It’s the safety of the community.”

For more information on the Public Safety Department, CLERY Report, and safety information, visit Public Safetys website at http://www.mcla.edu/Student_Life/publicsafety/

Survey shows nearly half didn’t think Public Safety could make arrests

By Sam Boyden

Special to the Beacon The Department of Public Safety has been in the news recently, ranging from the CLERY Report to the long process of arming our officers, but there still seems to be confusion on the jurisdiction and scope of the College’s police force.

To gauge level of understanding of the role and duties of Public Safety, 80 students were surveyed on four questions covering speeding tickets, arrest powers and who they would call in an emergency.

The random, unscientific survey was conducted by students in the Writing and Reporting the News II class in March, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent.

The student responses showed that nearly half of those surveyed did not believe that they could be arrested by Public Safety and most did not know they had the power to stop speeders. They also were divided on whom to call in emergency situations.

The first question, “Can Public Safety give you a speeding ticket?” brought up a topic that every student, faculty member and visitor has wondered while blowing through stop signs, forgetting about directionals and driving the wrong way on Montana St. Parking tickets from the College are common during the parking ban, but moving violations are much more rare.

The results of the survey

Some students explained that they believed the North Adams officers were better trained and had more experience with emergency situations they might encounter, while others said they simply could not remember the Public Safety extension number x5100, or had cell phones that required them to use the full seven digit number while on campus.

911 was just an easier option for them.

The school website states that all MCLA officers are fully trained police academy graduates with field officer training. They also are all certified first responders and certain officers are certified EMTs as well.

This, in theory, puts them toeto-toe with North Adams Police in terms of training and field knowledge. According to Charon, the important part in an emergency is calling for help, regardless who you are calling. “Protect yourself, look out for your fellow community members and get help as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

When asked who they would call for an off-campus emergency, students overwhelmingly voted in favor of the North Adams Police. Only five students said they would call Public Safety, leaving 75 votes to the local police force.

This was an expected answer as most people in society know that in an emergency 911 is the primary number to call.

But what many students do not realize is that Public Safety can

and in some cases will, respond to those calls even if you call 911.

Some students believe that by calling the local police, the college administration will not find out about the situation, but this is rarely true. Police and other emergency frequencies are monitored by the dispatcher in Public Safety, and often times a Public Safety officer is sent to the scene to assist.

This cooperation is essential for a rapid emergency response across campus and the community, as local police officers assist the Public Safety department daily with tasks such as accidents, breaking up groups of unruly or intoxicated students, and investigations.

The fourth and final question students were asked revolved around the hot topic of arrest powers. “Does Public Safety have full arrest powers?” Many students seemed unsure, and others drew their opinion from the recent move to arm campus officers.

They believed that if the officers could carry firearms they could arrest someone as well. This is true, but not because of the guns.

According to the College’s website and Charon, all officers are “Sworn, Warranted and Armed,” tasked with not only enforcing local and state laws, but also bound to responding to emergency situations and assisting to the fullest of their capacity. By definition, being “warranted” by the court gives someone the legal power to

8

Arts & Entertainment

Thursday, May 2, 2012

Beacon.mcla.edu

Gianetti: creative activist

Junior passion enthusiast and theater major pursues creative lifestyle

By Kaylie Warner A&E Writer

I swear I’m not being a killjoy, but seriously.

Chill out.

By Shannen Adamites A&E Editor

Dance Company shows are one of, if not the largest performance events on campus. With their intense amounts of energy, crazy lighting, and a million emotions expressed through movement, there’s really nothing not to like about it. It’s an event everyone looks forward to, and an event to celebrate a semester’s worth of dedication, skill, aches, pulled muscles, and teamwork.

I was in Dance Company for a semester. Due to my copious amounts of coursework and other rehearsals, I couldn’t fit it in my schedule after that. Working with the company was very time consuming: from individual rehearsals and consultations, to full company meetings and critiquing sessions.

Everyone works their butts (and feet and legs and abs and ankles) off to make these shows as elaborate, eloquent, and grand as they are.

It’s totally understandable that the audience goes absolutely nuts. It’s safe to say that everyone knows at least one person in Dance Company, considering it’s the largest club on campus.

However, there’s a fine line between being supportive, pumped, and impressed, and being unnecessarily obnoxious.

It must be taken in to consideration that dance, no matter if it’s hip-hop, lyrical, belly-dancing, ballet, or jazz, is first and foremost, a form of artistic expression.

Therefore, it must be respected.

Shouting and cheering at the end of a number is awesome; there’s no better feeling than getting a round of enthusiastic applause for all that hard work.

But don’t get so carried away to the point where you’re cheering so loudly before a complex number that requires concentration, or an emotional number where your jubilant shouting ends up detracting the sentiment.

Just like how flash photography is discouraged due to it’s potential to distract actors and dancers alike, excessive celebrating also has the potential to distract dancers.

Save your applause for after the number. Bring the house down with your merriment and satisfaction, but not while a performance, which took a considerable amount of time, effort, sweat, and collaboration is taking place.

Jacquelyn Gianetti, Fine and Peforming Arts (FPA) major with a concentration in theater, grew up in a small town in central Massachusetts, which she recalls as being a black hole.

There was no art in the area, and Gianetti was determined to change that.

“I guess it speaks to my character,” she said. “Since I was young, I wanted to be a rock star.”

Gianetti became a creative activist in the community when she created a small theater company during her junior year of high school. She was the voice of the students, and insisted that the school system add more creativity to its curriculum.

The theater program did

“Since I was young, I wanted to be a rock star.”

-Jacquelyn Gianetti two very short plays during Gianetti’s junior year. During her senior year, they did a production of “Grease,” with Gianetti as Rizzo.

“It was probably the first time I ever really performed and it was difficult. I tend to shy away,” she said.

While she was hesitant to join the MCLA community at first, she certainly does not regret it.

In fact, she regards her decision as a life-changing experience.

“When I met [Professor] Laura Standley, it was astounding how quick we

connected. She opened my eyes to many things,” she said.

In one of Standleys classes, Experiencing Performance, Gianetti learned about viewpoints training.

“It is kind of hard to explain but it’s mostly about taking risks, not denying, not thinking, and going for your fears,” she said. “I think it is pretty great when I see people crossing the street and I think, ‘hey I can see their view points.’”

Gianetti played Thea in Standley’s production of Ibsen’s renowned play, ‘Hedda Gabler’ last spring. This role was particularly challenging, as she is used to playing a certain type of character.

“I normally play outthere characters, and it was challenging artistically and emotionally. I was scared because the character was the total opposite of me,” she said.

However, Gianetti learned from Standley to power through, be in the moment, and not to think when acting. This impacted her tremendously.

“I don’t like to admit it, but I do still get stage fright, but I just think of what Laura tells us,” she said.

Agamemnon posed another challenge to Gianetti.

Physically and mentally, it put a toll on her. However, she felt that is what made the process and production so beautiful.

The students in Theater Lab had to learn to trust and work well with each other. The character of Cassandra made perfect sense for Gianetti and her rock star dreams.

“She makes sense for me to play because she is ‘the crazy [expletive]’, which I guess is me,” she said, laughing. “There are two ways you can play Cassandra. You can give her a big heart or you can bring out

Photo by Kacie Clark/Beacon Staff

Jacquelyn Gianetti aspires to fill her life with creativity, art and theater. She is looking forward to directing next spring.

Photo by Jack Guerino/Beacon Staff

Gianetti performs as the MC in last fall’s production of ‘Cabaret’. her insanity and so, I distanced myself and pushed her to that point of insanity.”

Gianetti is looking forward to stepping up and directing next spring, which she feels is a good step for her. In the future, she hopes to get a PhD in theater studies and possibly join an artist commune to be

with other people who love creating art.

“If I had the ability to do anything else, and have any other profession, I would take it because this life is hard.

However, I need theater and art to survive,” she said.

Love is Gianetti’s main motivator.

Top 25 films to watch this summer MCT Campus

1. Iron Man 3

7. Hangover Part III

2. The Great Gatsby

8. After Earth

Friday

May 10

3. Peeples May 10

4. Star Trek Into Darkness May 17

5. Epic May 24

6. Fast & Furious 6 May 24

May 24

May 31

10. Now You See Me May 31

11. The Internship June 7

12. This is the End June 12

13. Man of Steel June 14

14. Monsters University June 21

15. The Heat June 28

16. The Lone Ranger July 3

17. Grown Ups 2 July 12

18. Pacific Rim July 12

19. RED 2 July 19

20. The Wolverine July 26

21. Disney’s Planes Aug. 9

22. Elysium Aug. 9

23. Kick-Ass 2 Aug. 16

24. The World’s End Aug. 23

25. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones Aug. 23

Arts & Entertainment

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Beacon.mcla.edu

IGC Variety Show brings community together IGC revives annual springtime variety show tradition

By Jennifer Nault

A&E Writer From dance routines, to a violin player, the talent at the Inter Greek Counci (IGC) Variety Show was diverse and a huge hit amongst performers and audience members. There were originally 22 open spots, but so many people wanted to participate they added more.

IGC had a signup sheet for anyone who wanted to add last-minute at the beginning of the show while people got their free pizza and salad. In total, there were 24 different acts, and they were told to keep their acts between five and 10 minutes.

“The song Mike Vogt played on the guitar blew me away,” said senior Meghan Bradley.

“This was one of my favorite open mics formatted events I have ever been to. Most of the time it’s just poetry and acoustic bands, but this open mic was all over the map, and it made it very entertaining. IGC should do this more than just once a year,” Bradley said. “The show was open to,

Photos by Dennise Caranza/Beacon Staff

Above: Junior Justin Balsamo plays the violin. Below: The members of Beta Lambda perform an original dance.

and free to the public. One of the more popular acts was students sharing their original work. There were eight poets, Colby Durrand and Jamie Melvin shared their comedy acts, and a few people shared songs that they wrote.

Beta Lambda and Pi Upsilon Pi, the two organizations that make up IGC, did two group acts. Beta Lambda did a dance routine, and Pi Upsilon Pi performed a song together.

“I had a really fun time. It was just the thing I needed after a long Monday,” said freshman Stephanie Perez. “I knew MCLA had talent, but the amount of it at the variety show was over the top. It was really neat to see people that you see every day blow an entire audience away when you weren’t expecting it.”

“Thank you to everyone who came out tonight!” Christopher Hantman, the president of IGC, wrote on the Facebook event after it was over. “It was a blast and a lot of great talent came out.”

This was the first IGC Variety Show since the spring of 2010. As an annual show every April, and the rate of success it had last week, the IGC hopes to continue with more variety shows in the future.

Dance Company returns to MASS MoCA

By Shannen Adamites

A&E Editor freshmen and new additions to the company have adapted and found their niche within the largest performance club on campus.

“These freshmen and sophomores have so much potential,” Kelly said. “I’m very proud of all of them.”

Hebard smiled and agreed, “They’ve come so far so quickly and they’re taking the club in such an awesome, new direction. When we graduate next year, I know we’ll be putting the company in very good and capable hands.”

Sophomore Lance Ruggiero is also very excited for this semester’s performance.

“Even though I have two other tech weeks and homework and finals coming up, I can’t wait to dance,” he said.

Tabling for ticket reservations will continue through today in the Marketplace during the usual dinner time hours.

Dance Company returns for their spring semester performance at MASS MoCA tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are free for students.

Co-presidents Alexa Hebard and Katie Kelly are ecstatic to show off their efforts with a wide variety of dance genres, talent, and surprises.

“My dance is based around robots,” Hebard said. “It’s set to Imogen Heap’s song, ‘Hide and Seek’, and everyone is very rigid and animatronic.”

Kelly is looking forward to performing in several numbers, all of which are completely different.

“I normally do hip-hop, but this semester I’m not only in one of those, but also a lyrical piece and a Cape Verdean-influenced piece as well,” she said.

Kelly and Hebard are also extremely impressed with how well the entering

Photo by Dennise Caranza/Beacon Staff

Dance Company prepares for their biggest show of the semester. See them show off their skills and variety tomorrow and Saturday at MoCA.

9

By Kaylie Warner A&E Writer

Rock and roll ain’t noise pollution

The Runaways helped pave the way for women to enter and flourish in the rock and roll community which has influences on heavy metal. Two of the band members were especially important to the growth of women in rock and roll.

The Runaways turned the rock scene upside down. Although, they never did well in the states, they were a sensation in Japan.

Cherie Currie was the lead vocalist and donned lingerie on stage while rocking out to their hits such as “Cherry Bomb,” and “Queens of Noise.” She was only 15 at the time.

As a woman, I feel that The Runaways were extremely influential and empowering for females in the rock and heavy metal world. I feel it was powerful for Currie to go on stage at 15 and rock out wearing the lingerie at the time. She was making a statement that young, hot girls and could rock out just like the boys. They opened the door and took all of the initial shame and hatred for other women to flourish.

Lita Ford and Joan Jett became huge successes after the band split almost as soon as they formed. Jett is still a powerful force in the rock world, as well as Ford. These women not only sing but play guitar. Ford especially inspires guitarists to this day.

Jett has been an extreme influence on women in rock and roll and heavy metal. To this day, she is making music and touring as Joan Jett & The Black Hearts and still bearing that “I don’t give a damn” attitude. Her most famous singles are, “I Love Rock ‘N Roll,” “Bad Reputation,” and “I Hate Myself for Loving You.” She even did a cover of Tommy James & The Shondells 1969 single, “Crimson and Clover.” Her cover brought the song to a new level of popularity.

Ford has a great voice and a few solo albums. She also partnered up with the prince of darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne, with their song “Close My Eyes Forever,” which did well and is argued to be one of the best songs from Osbourne and Ford’s careers.

Recently, the band Halestorm, partnered with Disturbed’s lead singer and did a great cover of the song. Halestorm is directly influenced by Jett and that seventies hard rock sound.

Halestorm debuted with their single “I Get Off,” which shocked many with its blunt lyrics about masturbation and sexual power.

Basically, the song says “yes I am hot, and yes I can have an orgasm without you.”

Now, that’s rock and roll!

10

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Arts & Entertainment

Beacon.mcla.edu

Senior art showcase prevails

By Haley Costen A&E Writer

In the chaos of the bomb scare on Thursday April 25, art was put on the back burner, and students were prevented from attending the opening of the senior art show “Pathways to Perception” at Gallery 51.

Despite this, the artists’ efforts were not unrecognized.

“Our attendance did suffer,” Associate Gallery Manager Christina Stott said. However, she said 170 people did show up, despite the lockdown on campus.

“For a little bit we thought about cancelling it, but it panned out. It was very nice, even though it could have gone very

badly,” Program Coordinator Valeria Federici said.

“It shows a very nice group of work,” she said of the student art, which was all inspired by functions of the brain.

Among the most eye catching art was Andrew Cross’ enormous acrylic on canvas “Perfecting the Imperfect,” which depicts a swirl of vivid oranges and blues surrounding a cartoony pink creature, a skull, and a face with a tongue lolling out of its mouth. According to advertisements for the show, Cross’ work was inspired by ideals and insanity.

One of the more unique works in the gallery was G.W. Dunbar’s “Light Spectrum analyzer,” a wooden box with

a movable screen that could be pulled to reveal a color spectrum combining to white light. Dunbar also had paintings featuring space in the show. The focus of his art was science, according to advertisements.

“Half of us were stuck in the armory before the show.

It significantly impacted the turnout at the opening as well as the general feeling,” Dunbar said in an email interview, adding that he was very disappointed.

David Camilo’s digital composite images were also a unique part of the show.

His work was inspired by consciousness according to advertisements, and captured the ideal better than some of the other artist’s captured their

Photo by Kayla Degnan/Beacon Staff

Perfecting the Imperfect, 2013 by Andrew Cross was done with acrylics on canvas. He was focused on the idea of a ‘distorted perfection’ according to his explanation of his work at Gallery 51.

PAM class to present “Day into Night” festival The College has announced its Fourth Annual Performing Arts Management (PAM) show, “Day into Night,” will take place on Sunday, May 5, from 3-10 p.m.

Part of this season’s MCLA Presents! performance series, this festival – which will showcase music, dance, theater and visual art – will begin in the Quad and end in Venable gym.

A highlight of the event will be an evening dance party with hip hop artist Spose.

Also known as Ryan Michael Peters, Spose released his first album entitled “Preposterously Dank” in 2007. Sam Pfeifle of the Phoenix magazine describes Spose as “aggressive, passiveaggressive, silly, sarcastic, and dead-serious.”

According to PAM class member Thamar Jean-Fedestin, “This Maine native’s style of music consists of contagious hooks and an incredible flow. A multi-layered hip hop artist, Spose is sure to be

a crowd-pleaser, bringing an interesting mix of satire and mindblowing beats.”

“Day into Night” also will feature daytime performances by Hannah Cranton, One Way Out and The ReMINDers, as well as activities to include an open mic session and a variety of performing arts workshops – such as those put on by the Harlequin musical theater club, NeXXus step team, and the Allegrettos a capella group.

The Jazz Band also will perform.

Cranton is known for completely throwing herself into everything she does, whether it is acting, music, or visual arts, according to PAM student Kyle Cantoni.

“It is easy to pick up on her passion for her work, especially in songs like “Rollercoaster Ride” and “Shadow of a Certainty,” Cantoni said. “The audience will appreciate her skilled guitar play-

ing accompanied by her clear and animated voice.”

According to MTV, The ReMINDers stood out at the Black August Hip Hop Project for their reggae-inflected and bilingual rap.

“The ReMINDers bring a soulful and positive sound to “Day into Night’ with their brand of hip hop,” PAM student Dary Burgos said. “Bringing across messages that promote awareness and progressive thinking, this duo inspires the audience and is enjoyable for everyone.”

Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 for faculty and staff and non-MCLA students with valid ID, and free for MCLA and Williams College students and members. Call the box office at (413) 662-5204 for reservations.

For additional information and a complete listing of the MCLA Presents! season, go to www. mcla.edu/presents or call (413)664-8718

own.

“Connected to a God,” was especially powerful in its portrayal of a woman with a lollipop in her mouth and headphones on her ears, glancing up at a digitally manipulated ceiling, her eyes grey and ethereal.

Nicole Proulx’s acrylic on gesso board portraits were captivating in the way that they appeared like photographs and focused in on facial recognition. Her series of untitled works and self-portrait, while not as colorful and vibrant as other Photo by Kayla Degnan/Beacon Staff pieces, were among Nicole Proulx used acrylics on gesso the most striking art. board to paint a piece called, Untitled Eric Walsh’s series (Parker), 2013.

“From Past to Present: the influence of dreams in The Story of Everyone” was also worth noting. Walsh’s the show. His drawings of a watercolors focused on memory. donkey head, naked men and “Defiance,” a colorful picture of women, and emotional faces in a girl smoking a cigarette and his “Ingurgito Somnium” were “Winter’s Magic,” a grey and especially dark and haunting. warped, extra white picture of a girl’s breath in Duchemin’s limbed, or in turn, limbless a snowy background contrasted dolls, labeled as “Magnefique beautifully.

Carrie Converse’s “My Reve,” were also memorable.

Amy Modesti, junior, said she Reflective and Authentic Self ” and her friends raced down to series were her most visually the show on Thursday April 25 striking pieces in the show. The to look at the work of her peers two paintings, one primarily after being confined to the composed of blues whereas armory for two hours. the other featured pinks, “I think the overall show depicted a naked woman with was really excellent,” she said, a unicorn horn in a colorful adding that it was good to see outdoor scene. Her work was how some of the artists have inspired by dreams, according progressed over the years after to advertisements.

Adam Duchemin used sharing classes with them. charcoal drawings to convey

Sports

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Beacon.mcla.edu

Softball is second seed in MASCAC

By Nick Swanson

Sports Writer

Last weekend the softball team went four for five after three consecutive days of gameplay and now are on the road to the MASCAC championship. Their overall record now stands at 19-20 and 10-4 in the conference play.

First the Trailblazers battled in a doubleheader against Massachusetts Maritime on Saturday that earned them the seed in the MASCAC. The opener ended 21-3, and then a 12-0 shutout for the final game that completed the sweep.

“I am proud to see the team playing so well and now that we are put in this great position I’m confident that they will succeed,” coach Mike Ameen said.

During the first five-inning game the Trailblazers took control early and had the score 10-0 by the end of the third inning.

In the top of the fourth, nine more runs were added to the deficit when they charged through their lineup.

Maritime did not score until their final chance in the bottom of the fifth inning. They managed

to bring three runners across the plate before the game ended.

Rachel Quackenbush pitched for eight innings in the doubleheader, she made 17 strikeouts and allowed only one hit.

The nightcap went well for the Trailblazers when they scored seven runs in the opening moments of the game.

Three more runs between the second and third inning, and the runs continued with two scored in the fourth.

Quackenbush and senior captain Ainsley MacDonald completed a no hitter and finished the game with a 12-0 shutout.

Most recently the Trailblazers faced Williams College on Monday, where they took the first game 3-0 but lost the nightcap 9-1 which ended their streak.

Sophomore Amanda Meczywor scored following a hit that lead to a double by sophomore Angelica Perfido. Perfido then raced to home base after a single from sophomore Sam Barbotta.

The final run was scored by freshmen Kristen Nadeau in the bottom of the second after a sacrifice hit to right field by Quakenbush.

“Quakenbush did outstanding again on the mound and from my knowledge after her performance today she has broken the strikeout pitching record at MCLA,” Ameen said.

Williams College ended with a win over the Trailblazers in the second game. They hit the ball continuously in the top of the third that earned them four runs.

An inside the park homerun was gained by Williams’ center fielder Ali Graebner after she successfully stole every base due to errors by the infield. Their lead increased to 9-0 in beginning of the sixth inning after three more runs were scored.

“We rotated our players a little bit, we do that to try different tactics and to well round every player,” Ameen said.

The Trailblazers attempted a comeback in the bottom of the sixth after Nadeau scored. Bases were loaded when Williams switched pitchers, but she struck out the final batter.

“Playing different teams before the upcoming tournament is preparing us greatly because I personally believe that we get better through the mindset of an actual

game,” freshmen Abigail Lucas said.

Senior Kendra Hobbs agreed, “It is good to see different styles of pitching to help against experienced pitchers, but I think we are ready, strong, and confident.”

Between the two doubleheaders the Trailblazers won in a nonleague single against the Southern Vermont College (SVC) Mountaineers on Sunday. The game ended 8-0 due to the mercy rule during the fifth inning.

The softball team started to score right away in the first inning after freshmen Michaela DiNicola scored from Barbarotta’s groundout to SVC’s shortstop. Freshmen Tanelle Ciempa then hit a double that brought in two more runs in the same inning.

The Trailblazers scored at least one run in each inning except the third. In the fourth inning they put another three on the scoreboard, which includes the two run homer by freshmen Shelbi Clary.

When up at bat, the Mountaineers faced senior captain Ainsley MacDonald. SVC only made it to third base while MacDonald contained them the entire game.

NBA player “comes out” to the public on Monday

lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political advocacy organization.

In the arena of professional male Martin, who married his hussports, a National Basketball As- band in 2008, said Jason Collins' sociation player announced Mon- courage to announce his sexualday he is gay. ity in a very public way paves the The announcement is seen by way for others to feel comfortable some as opening the door wide about themselves and do the same. for others -- whether they be ath- "I always say to folks ... everyone letes or everyday people -- to have knows a gay person, whether they the courage to do the same. be a part of your family, a neigh"I think that him coming out, bor, a coworker. This basically unreally just heralds what's happen- derlines that fact." ing in society in general," said Collins made the announceTed Martin, executive director of ment through a first-person arEquality Pennsylvania, the state's ticle in Sports Illustrated. He has played for six teams in 12 seasons, and most recently with the Washington Wizards. He is currently a free agent and wants to keep playing basketball, according to the story.

Collins' announcement, Martin said, outlines that no one should be afraid to tell people who they are.

“He has a multimillion-dollar career, there's a little bit of a risk for him, but that bridge will be crossed," Martin said.

"Sometimes, people are afraid of the new and the different. Once they get over that fear, it melts away pretty fast."

Martin said one Photo from MCT Campus thing Collins said is Washington Wizards center Jason Collins that he is "learning to has become the first male professional embrace the puzzle athlete in the major four American sports that is me." leagues to come out as gay.

MCT Campus

"That's terrific because isn't life one big puzzle with many different sized, weird pieces? Gay people are a part of that puzzle ."

Martin said Collins' coming out was big news Monday because many people don't want to "go first," and Collins had the courage to do so.

"There are absolutely other (gay male athletes)," Martin said.

"When the third or the 23rd comes out, it'll be a lot less news.

But there always has to be that one person that comes out first."

John Dawe, CEO of the NEPA Rainbow Alliance, board member of Equality Pennsylvania and Wilkes-Barre businessman, is a well-known voice for the area LGBT community.

Dawe said Collins' story is a "coming-out" story, and the reason people don't come out as gay, he said, is because they fear discrimination, lack of equality and lack of acceptance.

As an example, Dawe said the Rainbow Alliance was going to honor someone at a recent event for the work the person quietly did for the community behind the scenes. But that person declined the honor. "They said, 'If I'm gay in this field I've chosen to pursue, I'm not going to get a job,' " he said.

"Unfortunately, discrimination is alive and legal in Pennsylvania.

Surprisingly, unlike race, ethnicity, veteran status and other groups, absolutely no protections exist for LGBT citizens in employment, housing and access to opportunity," Dawe said, adding that plans are underway to introduce legislation in Harrisburg that would prohibit such discrimination.

In the meantime, Dawe said, it's essential that LGBT people in any high-profile position who have come out of the closet "advocate for equality in that area."

"We applaud Mr. Collins for looking past fear and are hopeful that he and those in similar positions of public image will use the stage afforded them to advocate for equality and fairness for all," Dawe said.

"LGBT Americans are our teachers, doctors, business leaders, neighbors, friends, family, clergy, and, of course, professional athletes," Dawe said, and everyone needs to realize that.

Dawe said he didn't know if Collins' coming out might inspire young gay athletes to do the same, but it would make them feel more comfortable if they chose to.

"Obviously it's a decision someone has to be ready for and do in their own time. What will really help people to come out is to not fear being discriminated against," he said.

Paul Zbiek, who teaches a sports and society class at King's College, said he was very much expecting a professional athlete to come out as gay soon, based on media reports.

"It's not unexpected," Zbiek said.

Zbiek said Collins shouldn't be looked at as a player because of his sexual orientation since he is now a free agent, but because of his veteran years as an NBA player and that he is a solid player.

"If (teams) are looking for someone like that, I think he'll fit the bill," he said.

Zbiek said Collins' coming out was breaking news, not so much for the younger generation, but the older generation.

11

Up close or far away?

By Ariana Tourangeau

Sports Editor Where you sit at a sporting event is a lot more important than I thought it was. It will tie together your experience by either making you feel like you’re a part of the game, or you don’t pay much attention because you’re too far away to even know what is going on.

I recently went to a Red Sox game and sat three rows from the front near the dugout. Needless to say it was amazing. For those of you that don’t know, I am not much of a baseball fan.

It makes sense to me, I get what is going on, but I just get bored watching it after a while unless it is an intense game. Football and hockey are my number one sports because there is action left and right and I am always entertained.

Despite the way I feel about the sport, where I sat made me appreciate it that much more and I was actually able to get into the game and enjoy it. Don’t get me wrong, when I went to a Red Sox game over the summer I sat in the bleachers pretty far away and I still had a blast. Yeah, I didn’t know much of what was going on and didn’t really pay attention, but I hung out with my friends and had a few drinks. I did the same sitting close to the front, but I actually was close enough to keep up without squinting to find out what the score was and move my head left and right to see who was up to bat. I love sports, so any sporting event I go to I’m going to enjoy because I love the atmosphere and the game, but sitting up close definitely made it that much more enjoyable.

If you’re a die-hard fan for the game you’re watching this might not apply to you. If I was sky high at a Green Bay Packers game I would bring binoculars to make sure I knew what was going on and I am 100 percent positive that I would still have a blast and be able to get into the game. I just know that the experience I had being up close and personal to the game as opposed to being far away was a way better one, and definitely gave me a different outlook on the sport itself.

I recommend saving up your money in order to sit up front at one of your favorite sporting events because the experience is way better than being miles away in the stands. If that isn’t an option, bring some binoculars and buy some beers; you’re still guaranteed to have a great time.

12

Sports

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Beacon.mcla.edu

Baseball ends season with one home game

By Chris Oxholm Sports Writer

The baseball team’s season came to and end this week after a grueling five games in three days.

The Trailblazers lost a doubleheader on Saturday at Mass.

Maritime, split a double-header against Norwich at Shewcraft Field for the first home on Sunday, then lost on Monday to Springfield.

As of Monday, the Trailblazers stand at 4-26 overall and 2-12 in the conference. This was not the way the team wanted to end their 2013 season.

“We wished we finished on a better note,” junior Derek Lescarbeau said. “It was a really rough season for us.”

The victory against Norwich was one of the very few home games the team got to play this year. Junior Cody Weaver pitched all seven innings, throwing six strike-outs. He gave up a homerun to Cadet’s freshmen Mike Doyle.

Senior Joe Duncan, junior Jared Gersh, sophomore Tyler Beniot, and sophomore Rory Slattery all had an RBI to the Trailblazers 4-2 lead game two win. The split was the first and double-header

the team had to play at Shewcraft Field.

“Never playing at home is the worst,” Lescarbeau said. “Away games can hurt you mentally and physically. MCLA is far away from a lot of schools, traveling can make you really tired before a game.”

Out of all the team’s games, the games against Norwich and Westfield were the only real home games they had. The doubleheader against Westfield was the best performance they had all year, but even that game wasn’t played at Shewcraft.

Tennis falls to Lyndon State to end season

By Justine Cozza Sports Writer

The Trailblazers fell to Lydon State Wednesday, April 24, at home 6-3 in the regular season finale. The team finished their season 1-9 overall.

“The team played decent,” senior Daniel Nesti said.

“The wind was steady around 10 mph— with the wind at your back, you couldn’t be aggressive and hit steady shots for fear of the ball sailing off the court.”

According to the College’s webpage, the team dropped two of the three doubles matches.

Taylor Krowitz and Daniel Nesti outplayed the Hornets 9-7 to earn the Trailblazers only doubles win.

“Our doubles partners were good decisions,” Nesti said.

“Everyone seemed to work well together.

Krowitz earned his second point in singles 6-4, 6-4. Junior Mitchell Mabardy was the only other winner for MCLA in the third singles match 6-0, 6-3.

The Trailblazers finished 1-5 in conference play, 1-5 in away games and 0-5 at home.

“We need to work on game management, form, strategy, and composure,” Nesti said. He considered what parts of play need work for next season, saying “just improvements to the all-around game.”

To get box scores or recaps of the games for this season, visit http://athletics.mcla.edu/ sports/mten/2012-13/schedule

Scores, Schedules, and Standings Baseball

Scores

4/27 @ Mass Maritime L, 7-0 and 4-3

Softball

4/28 Southern Vt. W, 8-0

4/29 @ Springfield L, 7-4

4/29 Williams W, 3-0 and L, 9-1

4/24 Lyndon St. L, 6-3

Baseball

4/27 @ Mass Maritime 4-26 (Overall) W, 21-3 and W, 12-0 2-12 (Conference)

4/28 Norwich L, 3-1 and W, 4-2

Tennis

Standings

5/3 TBA MASCAC 2nd Round Playoffs

Softball

19-20 (Overall) 10-4 (Conference)

Tennis

1-9 (Overall) 1-5 (Conference)

Photo from MCT Campus

Dion Jordan during a news conference introducing the Miami Dolphins' first-round draft pick on Saturday, April 27, 2013, at the team's training facility in Miami, Florida.

“Our best game was defiantly Westfield,” Lescarbeau said. Even though we played at Joe Wolf Field, it was still in North Adams and our friends got to come support us. We also didn’t have to travel far.”

As for their other home games, Salem State was played in Westfield, one hour and thirty minutes away. Worcester State was played at Auburn High School, two hours and twenty minutes away, and Fitchburg State was played in Leominster, a two hour drive.

The Trailblazers are only loosing

one senior and will have six seniors next season: Jared Gersch, Cody Weaver, Derek Lescarbeau, Joe Vaverka, Sean Coyle, and Ross Miner.

“Hopefully, next year we will do better,” Lescarbeau said. “It’ll be my senior year and I really want to do well. Going to the MASCAC tournament or maybe even the finals would be awesome.”

The team has a short fall ball season in September and October, mostly of practices and scrimmages. Their 2014 season kicks off next spring break with their annual trip to Florida.

Dolphins top pick Dion Jordan ready to wreak havoc MCT Campus

MIAMI — Dion Jordan is built like Udonis Haslem. He wants to play like Lawrence Taylor.

Jordan, the Miami Dolphins’ latest first-round selection, arrived in Miami to great fanfare Saturday.

Flashbulbs, his general manager and a lucky season-ticket holder were among those welcoming him to town.

But with a passing glance, one could easily confuse Jordan with an NBA small forward and not a budding NFL defensive lineman.

He stands more than 6-foot-6, but weighs a mere 250 pounds. There’s a reason one of his coaches at Oregon nicknamed him the “Preying Mantis.” He’s all arms and legs.

“For me personally, improving my weight and my strength is an area that I’m looking forward to getting better at,” Jordan said in his first South Florida media availability.

“I feel like I can play with the same speed and the same motor right around 260 (pounds),” Jordan added. “I know it’s something that I have to do personally. I’m going to take care of that and get ready for the season.”

Jordan’s to-do list is filling up.

Moving to South Florida is high on it. But item No. 1 is rehabbing his repaired shoulder.

Jordan is less than two months removed from labrum surgery. When not in Miami for spring practices in the coming months, he’ll be in Los Angeles getting healthy.

If his mending, skinny body ever catches up to his raw physical ability, Jordan could be a bona fide star.

He runs a 4.5-second 40, is athletic enough to drop into coverage, and even ran down kickoffs all four years at Oregon.

But he was the draft’s No. 3 pick one reason above all others: To get after the quarterback. Together, Jordan and Cameron Wake will attack the edges in a 1-2 punch intended to level Tom Brady, again and again.

“Watching a guy like him for awhile, seeing his talent and understanding how (good) he is at doing his job of getting after the quarterbacks, it just motivates me that much more to step my game up,” Jordan said of Wake.

Lawrence Taylor, arguably the most dangerous pass-rusher in NFL history, is another hero.

As Taylor did with the Giants, Jordan played strong-side linebacker at Oregon. The Dolphins have been non-committal whether Jordan will stand up or play with a hand in his dirt as a pro.

“I do feel like I have a high motor,” Jordan said. “I work really hard, not just when it’s game time but every day leading up. So when the lights come on and when it’s game time I turn it on, and like I said I am looking forward to improving in that area and being a great complement to him on the other side.”

But first, he needs some sleep. The past week has been a blur.

It began with pre-draft commitments in New York City, including a visit to the Stock Exchange and a local hospital. Then came draft night, when commissioner Roger Goodell called his name third (the Dolphins traded up from 12 to get him), with the dizzying media crush that comes with such a selection.

Then he hopped a flight to South Florida, and dined with his new position coach in Fort Lauderdale on Friday night before Saturday’s press availability. Jordan will be back in to town for this weekend’s rookie camp, and intends to participate, even with the injury.

In the meantime, he’ll spend some time with his family back in Phoenix. Amazingly, he might not be the most athletic person at the dinner table.

Younger sister Sherrelle Jordan runs the 100-meter hurdles, and just last month, posted the third-fastest time in Arizona history in the event.

Dion Jordan also ran track as a kid, and played basketball too. But he gave up hoops to focus on football, and came into his own at Oregon.

In Miami, the expectations ramp up even more. While Jordan fielded questions from the South Florida media Saturday, his new boss – owner Stephen Ross – listened from the back of the room.

I don’t feel pressure at all,” Jordan insisted. “When it all boils down to it, it’s about what you do on the field and, me and the rest of the rookies and whoever gets here, we all understand that.

“That’s all that matters and that’s what I’m going to take care of. I’m going to take care of what I have to do as a player.”

13 Fender completing long journey of recovery Sports

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Beacon.mcla.edu

Senior women’s soccer player continues to improve after suffering brain injury in car accident

By Kelsey Marini

Special to the Beacon The dark colored car pulls up to the soccer practice field with a cloud of dust chasing close behind from the dry dirt path.

It is late in the afternoon so the sun is setting on the Berkshire mountains, making the heat tolerable enough to have the car windows down. Inside there are three bodies, one bobbing her head as the beat of a Brittney Spears song can be heard blasting what seems half a mile away. Lauren Fender slowly steps out of her parent’s car after a long three hour ride from Plymouth to the College. It is the end of the end of August, meaning its preseason for the Women’s Soccer team.

Fender has been waiting for this moment for what seems like forever. She steps out of the car just in time to see her fellow teammates sprinting towards her with big smiles on their faces. After hugging every person a million times, she puts her fingers through her auburn spiked hair, takes her glasses off and says, “Miss me?”

Lauren, or as the team calls her, “Fendi”, would have been going into her senior year for her soccer career. On the soccer field there was no doubt Fender was a fireball. If the ball was anywhere near her she would be all over it like a tiger hunting its prey. When she tore her ACL at the end of her junior year, there was no doubt the team was losing a valuable player. But the injury didn’t stop Fender; she was driven to get back on that field. She worked hard in rehab and soon was getting back into soccer groove. But she and her teammates had no idea that she had a long journey ahead of her.

In the summer before her senior year, Fender was pushing herself into overdrive to make her final year the best one.

Working out every day and

preparing herself to get back on the field was the only thing on her mind. But on June 3, a car accident changed Fender’s life forever.

The accident happened in the early morning when a drunk driver slammed into Fender’s car. She was in the passenger’s seat; the side the vehicle was hit. The accident left her lying in a hospital bed at Boston Medical, in a medically induced coma for two and a half weeks to keep her brain from swelling.

When Fender woke up from the coma, she wasn’t sure what had happened.

“Being in Boston was fuzzy but I do remember my friends,” she said.

Once Fender realized the almost fatal car accident left her temporarily in a wheelchair and unable to speak, she knew she had a long journey ahead of her.

The next month she started her recovery.

Starting from the Beginning When the accident happened, Fender’s left temporal lobe hit the inside of her skull, killing neurons. Neurons help the brain send out signals to the rest of the body, but unfortunately once a neuron is lost it cannot be replaced or regained. When Fender woke up she found she had trouble with functions on the right side of her body as well as writing and walking.

Also, since her brain was hit on the left side, which controls language, she had trouble speaking. Miraculously, Fender’s memory was perfect other than remembering the initial accident.

“I was fully aware of what was going on around me, but the hardest part was communicating what I knew,” she said.

The next month, Fender worked her hardest at physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and speech

Fender converses with her fellow teammates.

dtherapy (ST). Each day she progressed and her upbeat spirit impressed and inspired everyone around her. The one thing Fender makes clear is that she isn’t the type to give up. “I don’t know why I’m so positive but why be negative?” she said when asked how she kept so positive throughout her recovery. The hardest part was the PT. The whole right side of her body was still weak, so little things like lifting her leg became a challenge. But everyday Fender pushed through with a smile on her face because she knew it could have been much worse. Many of the other patients being treated at the same time as Fender had trouble Photo Courtesy of Kelsey Marini being positive. She became an Fender rushes into the field to make a play. inspiration with her “don’t ask questions, just do it,” attitude.

I decided to call Keshia to see about her injury to a class at “I choose to live,” she proudly what was going on.”

Northeastern University. Fender said when asked what made her Keshia Devoe was Fender’s excitedly accepted the invitation so determined. housemate the previous year. to talk about her accident and Fender could easily take the When she picked up the phone her recovery. award for the most independent she had told Raber that Fender “I’m proud of her for doing person on earth. Having had been in an accident. that,” said Raber. “She just went someone or something hold her “I was scared to death,” said in front of the class and talked back or hold her hand is never Raber. “I then called Grandma like it was nothing.” an option. She was never one to Fender, who was such an When Coach Raber talks go by the rules. When she was optimist through the entire about Fender’s story and her fifteen she took her mom’s car thing.” accident she makes sure that and drove around for fun, being Right away she started texting Fender’s family gets all the the rebellious independent and communicating with the credit they deserve. They were personality everyone knows and rest of the team. Each day the there right from the beginning loves. Having someone hold players and some alumni waited with the most upbeat spirits her hand through her recovery anxiously to hear the latest news a family can bring. Even if wasn’t going to be any exception. on Fender. Once Fender started Fender had a slip from her The OT and PT processes were waking up from her coma and determined attitude, her family the most frustrating, but she recovering, the information was right there telling her she refused to be babied. became harder to text to so can’t give up, it is not an option. many people. So, Coach Raber, Fender’s family brought many Coming Together as a along with Grandma Fender and communities together along Community other family members, started with her second family, her up an update blog on a website team.

Women’s soccer coach Deb called Caring Bridge.

“Life can change tomorrow,” Raber was at dinner with a Two days after Fender woke said Raber. “You just never friend in Northampton, Mass., from her coma, Coach Raber know.” when she received several phone went to visit, full of excitement But what she does know is calls from present players and along with some nerves. Like that Lauren Fender’s story is alumni. many, she did not know what to not even close to being over.

“When I saw that these players expect when she would finally Fender has a great message to were calling me I thought it was see Fender. Raber had called give the world. Her recovery odd,” said Raber. “Then after while Fender was still in the does not just consist of getting receiving a text from another coma, having someone hold back to where she was, but to the phone to her ear as she excel past that point into far told Fender how proud she was greater opportunities, and every and said nothing but positive day Fender’s message becomes a comments. When Raber walked little clearer. through the hospital’s door for the first time, she saw Fender Fast Forward to Now with her new short hair and same old big smile. Fender Months later, after missing recognized coach right away her fall semester, Lauren Fender and she could not express how is back on campus. She is now happy she was to see her coach working with athletic trainers standing in the door way.

Matthew Boillat and Amanda The next step was to organize Beckwith, as well as physical a fund for the Fender family therapist Nancy Bullett and to help pay for the medical Coach Raber. She has paved a expenses. Fortunately, Raber’s smooth road to recovery so far Uncle, Donald Raber, is an and with the help of all loved investment banker and helped ones she is making every day her set up the fund. He, as a gift mean something. Day by day to the family, decided that he Fender’s progress reaches a and his company, Alderbaren new high. She is balancing her Financial in Kingsport, schedule of three classes and is Tennessee, would administer going to walk on stage May 2013 the account so they can focus on with her class and friends she Fender. loves so much.

While recovering, Fender had Photo Courtesy of Kelsey Marini been asked to make a speech

14

Opinion

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Beacon.mcla.edu

What are your thoughts on the bomb threat and evacuation?

“It had to be a joke. At first, I thought, “Is it a drill?” It was insensitive, after what happened, after Boston. I thought the evacuation went well. I liked that they checked in, and brought in the state police.”

“I feel like it was someone just playing a joke. It was too soon after what happened in Boston. I was a little scared. I thought the evacuation point wasn’t far away from campus. I would have felt better somewhere in town. And I didn’t like being forced to stay there. “

-Bethany Brown, 2016

-Grace Ngobo Toko, 2016

“It was so soon after what happened in Boston. I was coming back from a bike ride, I saw everyone leaving campus. Someone told me, I didn’t believe them at first. I live offcampus, but near the school, so I wasn’t sure if someone was going to tell me to leave. No one did.”

“Anyone would know that after what happened in Boston, the school would evacuate and cancel classes. I thought the evacuation was very stupid- anyone could have known we were going to go to the Armory, and bomb that.”

-Sim Sharp, 2013

-Wilnalis Mercado, 2016

“I thought the evacuation was stupid; they put us all into one building. I didn’t like that they didn’t let people leave, they were really rude about it. Wouldn’t it have been better if we were scattered? My sister and I are from Boston, we took it seriously. People were laughing. You wouldn’t be laughing if it was real.”

“I think it’s wild, and I think whoever did it is really unintelligent. I live off-campus. We were in our room, it was really wild.

Had no idea what was happening. I’m from Springfield, it used to happen all the time. Now that bombings are really happening, now it’s treated like a big deal. .”

-Valerie Mercado, 2015

-Tedd Cecchetelli, 2013

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“The Shedding of the Winter Coat”

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Opinion

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Modern psychiatry: The Western world’s stranglehold on modern medicine?

Western psychiatry is too focused on the neuroscience approach of studying mental health and neglects the other factors that can affect mental health.

Beacon.mcla.edu

What a long and strange trip it’s been

With my collegiate career finally reaching its culmination, I find myself, like so many other soon-to-be graduates, trying to quantify my college experience.

The city I began my college career in, Boston, has changed plenty since the wet-behindthe-ears me (not to be confused with the suddenly worldly version). The Red Sox are on the comeback, thank god, the Bruins are looking to begin defending their Stanley Cup victory last year, and of course the Pats are good, but a far cry from what a freshman self, coming off a devastating disappointment of a 2007 season, expected.

And the bombing, in the last month the entire country has taken up the rally ‘Boston Strong,’ The country is on the precipice of something, but I cannot gather what. Our politicians have been at each other’s throats for years now, only to come together last week to evade one of the sheer horrors of living in ‘Seuquestamerica,’ delays at airports. The move was laughed off as silly selfish political games by the pundits on weekend political roundtables coast-tocoast, but I think some kind of shark was unceremoniously jumped Friday as the house passed a bill redistributing government funds to bail out the FAA. Some democrats, to their credit, did lobby hard against taking money from services to ease the burden on the middle and upper classes that is dealing with airports. Talk to a povertystricken Detroit family about how the change will affect them.

Newt Gingrich on Meet the Press called the move “A win for economic conservatism.”

If that is what conservatives consider to be a win, then expect

your GOP candidate in 2016 to run a on a platform of “No Delays at Airports for the Upper Class, and Minorities Please Vote for Us!” The sheer horror of this fallacy is what the Republican party will become in the coming decades.

Beaten soundly at the moment, do they regroup and construct a firm libertarian base and leave the Bible-thumpers in the cold?

I mean it’s not like they’re going to vote Democrat. Right now the GOP looks like a rabies-riddled cur backed into the corner of an alley. The question is: will the disease of blind conviction eat the animal from within or will the amped-up Democrats put it down themselves.

What does any of this have to do with college you might ask, well it is everything.

One thing I have come across in my five years of undergraduate education, spanning two states and three institutions of varying merit and size, is a whisper of something barely under the surface. Something President Obama was elected on, change.

I see a younger generation able to be informed at the push of a button. Twitter, Facebook, they all allow users to inform oneanother on a grand scale.

But we are still the generation who, innocently enough at first, willingly waived our right to privacy. The notion that someone on a computer thousands of miles away can type in my name and get some sort of statistical rundown of me is bewildering.

Generations before us fought to prevent government agencies from accessing our information, now we give it away freely under the pretext of some internetbased community.

The court case that defines our generation will encompass this issue of privacy. We are a generation of avatars, online personas truthful, made-up, perhaps some stew of both.

In a world that now values demographic information over everything, where can we go when we know everything about each other already? And how damaging should it really be to your life that you snapped a picture of yourself choking down beer in college? More free information means more scrutiny, you won’t find me on Facebook, try asking me instead.

the current intuition of psychiatry driven by the Western world has issues with it that may be haltering progress and even harming patients.

The languages of psychiatry and the negative connotations behind words such as ‘disease’ are creating stigma. Because of this, people are more reluctant to consider that they may have a mental health condition, and are less likely to receive the appropriate help as a result.

Differences in culture have been found to affect the

mental wellbeing of the general population, suggesting Western and other individualistic cultures can improve mental health by learning to appreciate more collectivistic values.

There is still a long way to go with developing a psychiatric institution with beliefs and practices that do not harm those under its influence. It is clear that in order to better treat mental illness we need to assess our society more deeply and recognize the differences within culture in others.

Stigma

By Ken Rodriguez Web Editor

Collectivistic cultures such as China and Japan have been found to have lower rates of depression in comparison to individualistic cultures such as the United States and Australia.

The findings emerged despite populations with collectivistic cultures having a stronger genetic vulnerability to depression, according to a study done by Joan Chiao and Katherine Bliznisky of Northwestern University.

It is estimated that around one in every five people suffer from depression in individualistic cultures found in Western nations while only one in 10 suffer in Asian regions.

Defining cultures

The two general classifications of cultures are individualistic and collectivistic.

In individualistic cultures, individuals are seen as independent with values focusing on self-sufficiency and setting and pursuing personal goals.

Individualistic cultures tend to put more emphasis on personal accomplishments, challenges, and careers. Some examples include the United Kingdom, Australia, France, and the United States.

In collectivistic cultures, individuals are seen as interdependent, with values focusing on social harmony, working to achieve mutual goals within the social hierarchy.

People place more emphasis personal experiences in relation to the group with relationships defining individuals. Collectivistic societies include nations such as China, Japan, and Singapore.

Genetic findings

Due to an allele known as 5-HTTLPR (S), 75 percent of East Asian populations are genetically susceptible to depression while only 43 percent of European populations are genetically vulnerable.

Alleles are alternate forms of the same genes found in chromosomes that come in short (S) and long (L) forms.

In a study conducted by Evelyn Bromet, the presence of 5-HTTLPR (S) was shown to cause increased negative emotions and behavior such as heightened anxiety, fear of uncertainty, shyness, fear conditioning, attention bias to negative information, and increased risk of

depression in carriers.

The study suggests that culture can be a strong factor concerning mental health genetics.

Researchers attribute the interpersonal qualities of collectivistic culture work to protect members from developing anxiety and depression conditions. Strong and supportive relationships formed under collectivistic culture are believed to help keep depression and other conditions from developing.

The findings from both studies also suggest that strong collectivistic cultures developed in regions such as Asia as a way to protect those with genetic vulnerability.

Some have criticized Western psychiatric medicine for ignoring the impact culture can have on mental health, leading to improper diagnosis and treatment of conditions.

In addition to not properly addressing the influence of culture, Western psychiatry has been accused of creating stigmas surrounding conditions such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.

Sheila Mehta, associate professor of psychology at Auburn University, argues that the language used in the biomedical approach to mental health prevents sufferers from seeking the proper help.

“Viewing those with mental disorders as diseased sets them apart and may lead to our perceiving them as physically distinct. Biochemical aberrations make them almost a different species,” Mehta wrote in a study done on stigma in 1997.

Anthropologist Juli McGruder comments how Western culture makes it more common for individuals to reject any notion that may indicate that something is wrong with them in the book “The Globalization of the American Psyche: Crazy Like Us.” “Mental illness is feared and has such a stigma because it represents a reversal of what Western humans have come to value as the essence of human

Figure above from study done by Chiao and Bliznisky

Negative impact

Derek Summerfield, a psychiatrist at the Institute of Psychiatry in London, argued in an article from The New York Times that the globally recognized Western interpretation of mental health is negatively impacting the progress made in the field as well as the health of sufferers.

“Western mental-health discourse introduces core components of Western culture, including a theory of human nature, a definition of personhood, a sense of time and memory and a source of moral authority. None of this is universal,” Summerfield wrote. “It is as if one version of human nature is being presented as definitive, and one set of ideas about pain and suffering… There is no one definitive psychology.”

Summerfield argues that

nature,” McGruder noted.

“Because our culture so highly values self-control and control of circumstances, we become abject when contemplating mentation that seems more changeable, less restrained and less controllable, more open to outside influence, than we imagine our own to be.”

The negative connotations in psychiatry in combination with the values of Western culture has made it more common for sufferers to reject the idea that they might have a condition, making them much less likely from them to receive help.

Recap

Concerning the length of human history, we are just now beginning to understand how humans function psychologically.

Although a lot has been learned,

15

By Andrew Hodgson Staff Writer

16

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Photo Essay

Students are recognized for their leadership positions within the campus community.

Beacon.mcla.edu

President Mary Grant congratulates students for their leadership roles on and off campus.

Leadership Award Banquet Photos by Shauna Dacus

The MCLA Jazz Band perfoms a few songs during the beginning of the ceremony.

Junior Mary Ferrara enjoys a cupcake at the banquet.

Hundreds of students gather in the Amsler Campus Center Gym on April 24 for the 17th Annual Student Affairs Leadership Recognition Program.