October 15, 2020 Vol 91 Issue 5

Page 1

TheOnlineBeacon.com

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Volume 91 • Issue 5

Day of Dialogue

Third Annual Day of Dialogue Coming Oct. 21 BY BRIAN RHODES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MCLA will be hosting its third annual Day of Dialogue, which hosts several workshops and speakers, virtually on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The theme of this year’s Day of Dialogue is “Creating Change Through Community: Action and Organizing,” which is meant to encourage MCLA’s students, faculty, and staff to explore the ways that community organizing can empower change. Students will be able to access all of the day’s events through Canvas. The Day of Dialogue is a campus-wide day of workshops and discussions that focus on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. As in previous years, classes for the day will be canceled on the day of the event. The Canvas site leading students to all the day’s workshops and events will

PHOTO BY MAYA MCFADDEN

Students engage in classroom activities with professors as a part of the first annual Day of Dialogue in 2018. This year marks the third annual Day of Dialogue. be live soon according to an email from MCLA’s Chief Diversity Officer Christopher MacDonald-Dennis.

Public Safety

“Community organizing is the process of building collective power—particularly among those who have

been marginalized—to make change, always with an eye toward creating a more just community and society for

everyone,” said MacDonald-Dennis in a statement on the Day of Dialogue. “I am look-ing forward to a day of presentations, workshops, and discussions in which our community will look at the themes of action and organizing through an interdisciplinary lens.” Due to the college’s restrictions caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, all of the day’s sessions and events will be held virtually. In total, there are 14 scheduled sessions compared to 18 last year. The day will open with a welcome event hosted by MacDonald-Dennis, MCLA President James Birge, and Keynote Speaker Kerri Leyda Nicoll, associate professor of social work. Following this opening, students will be able to attend two breakout sessions; the first goes from 9:45 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. while the

Dialogue, Page 10

SGA

Police Investigating Prouty Elected SGA President Suspicious Van BY NATALIA GIACOMOZZI MANAGING EDITOR Public Safety’s Chief of Police Daniel Colonno told the MCLA community on Tuesday, Oct. 13 that an incident involving four female MCLA students occurred on Monday, Oct. 12 in downtown North Adams. According to Colonno, Public Safety is working with the North Adams Police Department in order to investigate the suspicious activity. “They were approached by a black four door sedan occupied by three males. The driver of the vehicle asked our students if they were drunk and asked if any of them wanted to give out their snapchat names,” Colonno wrote in a safety alert sent via email on Tuesday night. The students declined to give the suspects any personal information. According to Colonno, the men in the sedan watched as the students walked away and followed them in the van. “Our students felt unsafe causing them to hide in some bushes, as the vehicle circled the block looking for them,” he said.

Campus police escorted the students home after the students called the North Adams police department. The incident took place around Eagle Street and Center Street. At the time of publication, the only specifics known are that the sedan had a loud sound from its exhaust pipe and the three occupants were identified as white. “The three occupants are described as white males with short hair with one of them having red colored hair,” Colonno said. Colonno also requested that anyone with information regarding the incident should contact the North Adams police department at 413-6644945 or campus police “by dialing extension 5100 from any cam-pus phone or 413662-5100 from your cell or off campus phone.” “This incident serves as a reminder to practice safe behaviors such as being alert, staying in groups and contacting the MCLA Campus Police to accompany you if you are feeling unsafe or dialing 911 if you feel you are in an emergency situation,” Colonno said.

BY NATALIA GIACOMOZZI MANAGING EDITOR

Student Government Association (SGA) elections drew to a close on Wednesday, Oct. 8, with several vacant positions being filled by the voted in candidates. The new SGA presidential cabinet consists of Shannon Prouty ’21, who will be the president, Noah Henkenius ’21, who will be the executive vice president (EVP), and Melanie Davis ’22, who will be the coordinating vice president (CVP). Prouty served on SGA during the 2019-2020 academic year, and was slated to be former SGA President Dean Little’s CVP before his decision to step down. The class of 2021 council will consist of Crystal Wojcik ‘21 as the president, Samantha Johnson ’21 as the vice president, and Brian Adelt ’21 as the treasurer. Ian Crombie ’23 won a residential seat on SGA, and Edgar Perez was elected the president of the class of 2023. At the time of print, there has been no announcement

SGA, Page 10

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SGA

Shannon Prouty ‘21 (above), Melanie Davis ‘22 and Noah Henkenius ‘21 have been elected as a cabinet to lead SGA this year as President, Coordinating Vice President and Executive Vice President respectively.


News

TheOnlineBeacon.com

2

COVID-19

Food Pantry Moves Operations Online Amid Pandemic BY BRIAN RHODES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF In order to adhere to the college’s COVID-19 restrictions and safety guidelines, MCLA’s Food Pantry has moved much of its operations online this semester. Spencer Moser, director of civic and community engagement, spoke in a Microsoft Teams interview about what the process of moving the food pantry online has been like. He noted that students can now access a form online with designated pickup times when they can get food from the pantry. “It actually ended up being fairly seamless,” Moser said on moving operations online. “A significant amount of credit goes to the two student food pantry coordinators, DeAnna Wardwell and Shelby Dempsey.” Shelby Dempsey ‘21 and DeAnna Wardwell ‘22 are the food pantry’s coordinators. Dempsey said that online operations have been going smoothly so far. “We were lucky to have certain people help us and give resources we could use to make it so the food pantry is more virtual,” she said in a Microsoft Teams interview. “We learned a lot and it was really in-teresting. And So far, it’s been paying off.” Dempsey said that it was important for the food pantry to stay open despite the pandemic. “With an issue like hunger insecurity that a lot of

college students face, this wasn’t something that we could put on pause and say ‘the food pantry can’t be open this semester’,” she said. “Because it is such an important resource for students on campus to have.” Moser said that because of the COVID-19 restrictions, the food pantry had to go virtual to keep social distancing and safety precautions going. “We kind of put our heads together and said ‘let’s try this other approach,’ and it was really a lot of hard work and creative work with the three of us,” he said. Dempsey, Wardwell and Moser all noted that it is likely that the food pantry’s new online functionality will stay in place once the COVID-19 pandemic is over. He noted that, in addition to the flexibility that came with online functionality, those taking from the pantry now can know what’s there before visiting. “Like so many things since COVID hit and we had to pivot a lot of our services here at the college and around the world, we’ve found some silver lining in that there might be some efficiencies now in what we’re doing, and greater access and equity,” he said. “It saves [students coming to the pantry] time, it does save us a lot of time,” Dempsey said. “And we’re able to get resources like food and hygine products and certain things that students

PHOTO PROVIDED BY SHELBY DEMPSEY

in addition to moving operations online, the food pantry has been doing other things to get the MCLA community engaged, like the recent logo design competition. The winning design is pictured above.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY SHELBY DEMPSEY

DeAnna Wardwell ‘22 (above) and Shelby Dempsey ‘21 are the food pantry’s student coordinators. Dempsey said that online operations have been going smoothly so far this semester. need and can’t afford to them the quickest way possible.” Dempsey noted that, despite there being fewer students on campus, the students that are using the food pantry’s resources need it more now than usual because of the pandemic. “We are noticing that students, when they fill out their orders, are taking a lot more, which we are psyched about,” she said. “We were ecstatic when we started seeing orders coming in.” Moser said that, in addition to moving operations online, the food pantry is trying to work with retailers and grocery stores in order to get students with food insecurity issues gift cards that they can buy food with as an alternative option. He mentioned that they wanted to make it happen during the spring semester but were unable to. “We’re still working really hard to make that an option,” he said.

FINANCIAL AID ANNOUNCEMENT OCTOBER 1ST IS HERE!! – IT’S TIME TO REAPPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID FOR 2021-2022! ANY QUESTION, EMAIL US AT FINAID@ MCLA.EDU OR CALL US AT 413-662-5219

Moser and Dempsey noted that when the COVID-19 Pandemic initially started, and students were sent home for the second half of the Spring 2020 semester, that the food pantry remained open for the few students still on campus and in the area. Dempsey noted that they also tried to help students who were not near campus and could not access the food pantry. “We wanted to make sure we were able to reach students who lived all over the state and in other states as well,” she said. “We did a ton of research and we found resources in several different areas from Worcester, Boston, different parts of the Berkshires, New York, etc. and we found food pantry resources for them, we found homeless shelters, resources like that, information on that, and we just blasted that to students if they needed it.”

Dempsey gave Moser praise for how helpful he has been in helping the food pantry accomplish its mission. “Spencer has been more than just a boss, he’s become a mentor,” she said. Wardwell, Dempsey and Moser noted that, in addition to moving operations online, the food pantry has been doing several other things to get the MCLA community engaged in it even if they don’t have food insecurity issues. One example mentioned was the recent logo competition that the pantry held earlier in the semester. “It’s another means to build community around the pantry,” Moser said. “And let people not just know more about it, but feel that they’re contributing to it and it’s really a resource like any other resource we have on campus and we can all be a part of it one way or another.”

FREE SCHOLARSHIP SEARCHES: FASTWEB.COM SCHOLARSHIPS.COM NOW IS THE TIME TO START SEARCING AND APPLYING FOR NEXT YEAR’S SCHOLARSHIPS!!


News

Oct. 15, 2020

TheOnlineBeacon.com

3

RPS Rolling Out New Housing Directing Program BY MARIAMA NDIAYE STAFF WRITER This fall semester RPS has been in the process of transitioning to a new online housing assignment called The Housing Director. It has been tested already this semester and should be rolled out by the spring semester. Vice President of Student Affairs Catherine Holbrook, RPS director Dianne Manning and Dean of Students Heather Quire. had a few comments on the new improvement in the overall MCLA housing process. The new housing software program, The Housing Director (THD), is fully online. The program provides the opportunity for RPS to manage many administrative functions including housing assignments, the housing assignment process, and the collection of important student information. Students can view their assignment, mailbox, and on-campus phone information on the Self-Service THD and can make waiting lists and room change requests online. “Overall, THD will improve the quality of service

that RPS can provide students and allow students to access information and services in a more convenient, 24/7 way,” said Manning. Manning elaborated on the efficacy of the new program. “The most frequent issue students have is understanding what it means to log into the MCLA Portal. This is important to understand because you must be logged into the MCLA Portal in order to access Self-Service THD,” she said. When asking about how this new system will both differ and benefit from the old system, Holbrook said that RPS worked to digitize more of the housing forms. “Today’s student wants to be able to do things 24 hours a day, online if possible, in a manner that is convenient to them,” said Holbrook. Holbrook also said the new THD will accommodate the college’s staff. “For staff, once the system is in place it is an efficient mechanism as well. We have been examining a whole host of processes and putting them online. And the housing process is not so much a process, but a tool that allows many functions to be automated,” she said.

PHOTO BY NATALIA GIACOMOZZI

The new housing software program, The Housing Director (THD), is fully online. The program provides the opportunity for RPS to manage many administrative functions including housing assignments, the housing assignment process, and the collection of important student information. Holbrook added: “It wasn’t that we were changing a process so much as we were changing the manner in which we created the ways in which students and the college interacted and the way we maintained our own records.” When Quire was asked about any experience that she had on working on the THD, she started with commenting on her involvement with migrating to the program.

Beacon News Briefs:

“This is a tool that can help RPS manage their daily operations. It’s a database that allows doing the work that they do in a more efficient way and interacts with students in a way that is user-friendly,” said Quire. “It also keeps the rosters and keeps room assignments and changes automatically. and when signing in guests, for example, there will be an automated system for checking in a guest.

I am actually excited that they[RPS] have been using it in different capacities so far, and it will be completely rolled out as we go and continue to do housing,” Quire also said. On the program, for example, Quire stated that she could also do a “quick lookup of where a student lives, who they might live with, to give a more efficient way with residents living on campus.”

Check out this For Thursday October 15, 2020 semester’s most recent episode of Virtual Career and Internship Fair to be Held on Thursday, October 22 Beacon Web News on YouTube or MCLA-TV on Philo! MCLA’s Career Services is hosting a virtual Career and Internship Fair to help students prepare for finding a job after college on Thursday, Oct. 22. The fair will be held on handshake, a career services software platform designed to assist college students in looking for, finding and securing employment opportunities. At the fair, students will have the opportunity to participate in one-on-one interviews, and networking opportunities.

It is suggested that students have their resumes with them and ready for the fair, and dress in business atire. The first 50 students who register for the virtual Career and Internship Fair will be given a free gift. Students who are interested can contact Anthony Napolitano, Jr., employer relations and internship coordinator for more information on the specific details and schedule of the Career and Internship Fair.

MCLA to Host Virtual Open House Week Starting Monday, October 26 The college is hosting a week long Virtual Open House event, starting on Monday, Oct. 26 and ending on Friday, Oct. 30. The Virtual Open House will consist of several events, including academic information sessions for several majors, student panels, counselor and family panels and a resource fair. Two student panels will be held during the week. The first is on Monday, Oct. 26 from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. and the second is on Thursday, Oct. 29 from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. A resource fair will be held from 6

p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Student and faculty leaders are being asked to attend the event and should contact Judy Roy in order to sign up for a space. A family panel will be held from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27. An admissions counselor wrap-up will be held from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30. More information on the Virtual Open House and the events set to take place during the week can be found at mcla. edu/admission-aid/visit-us/virtualfall-open-house.php


News

Oct. 15, 2020

TheOnlineBeacon.com

4

Another ‘skinny’ Coronavirus Relief Bill on Tap In Senate BY DAVID LERMAN ROLL CALL The Senate will vote next week on a “targeted” COVID-19 relief package that includes more funding for the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Tuesday. The decision to push another “skinny” relief bill marked a new attempt to jump-start negotiations that have been stalled for months over the size and shape of the next round of economic aid for the pandemic. A $1.8 trillion relief offer last week from the Trump administration landed with a thud on Capitol Hill, as House Democrats said it was too small and Senate Republicans said it was too big. But there was little reason to think that the upcoming legislation pushed by McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, stands any real chance of becoming law. And the strategy of going narrow and “targeted,” as McConnell put it, appeared to contradict President Donald Trump’s own intentions. “STIMULUS! Go big or go home!!!” the president tweeted, within minutes of McConnell’s announcement. In pushing for another

PHOTO BY YURI GRIPAS

Republican senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. The last stimulus package enacted to help combat the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic was passed by the Senate in March. small package, McConnell blamed Democrats for holding up larger-scale relief. “Republicans do not agree that nothing is better than something for working families,” he said in a statement. “The American people need Democrats to stop blocking bipartisan funding and let us replenish the PPP before more Americans lose their jobs needlessly.” McConnell said the Senate would have time to vote on a new aid bill when it reconvenes next week, even as it prepares to take up the

confirmation of a Supreme Court nominee. “Unless Democrats block this aid for workers, we will have time to pass it before we proceed as planned to the pending Supreme Court nomination as soon as it is reported by the Judiciary Committee,” he said. The full contours of the Senate GOP’s upcoming bill were not yet clear. McConnell said only that it would provide “targeted relief for American workers, including new funding for the PPP.” The Paycheck Protection

Program, first created in March, provides forgivable loans to small businesses that keep workers on the payroll during the pandemic. FiscalNote, the parent company of CQ Roll Call, received a loan under the program. Trump has pushed specifically for that program in recent weeks, along with a new round of tax rebates and $25 billion in additional aid for the pandemic-battered airline industry. House Democrats have sought at least $2.2 trillion

in aid. A bill they passed in May over Republican opposition would provide a total of $2.6 trillion in aid with a net cost of $2.2 trillion after accounting for offsetting tax increases and rescission of unused PPP funds. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., outlined a host of concerns with the latest $1.8 trillion White House proposal in a flurry of letters to her caucus in recent days. “Tragically, the Trump proposal falls significantly short of what this pandemic and deep recession demand,” she wrote in a letter to Democratic lawmakers released Tuesday. She has pushed for more money for state and local governments, more detailed plans for vaccine testing and tracing, more rental assistance, and expanded tax credits for low-income families, among other things. Senate Republicans last month backed a smaller package with a net cost of $300 billion after offsetting more than half of the measure by rescinding unused PPP funds and appropriations to backstop Federal Reserve lending facilities. But it got no Democratic support and couldn’t get over the 60-vote threshold to end debate.

U.K.’S Boris Johnson Says He Won’t be ‘Blown Off Course’ by Pandemic BY EMILY ASHTON & STUART BIGGS BLOOMBERG NEWS Boris Johnson pledged to “unleash Britain’s potential” next year as he tries to regain momentum and calm unrest in the Conservative Party over his government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The U.K. prime minister ordered his Cabinet to bring forward fresh ideas for a Queen’s Speech marking the beginning of the next session of Parliament, expected in the spring. The agenda will include plans to spend money on schools and hospitals, crack down on serious violence, and bring in tougher sentences for animal cruelty, Johnson’s office said in a statement. “We were elected to get Brexit done and unleash Britain’s potential,” a spokesman for Johnson said in the statement. “The prime minister has been clear that we will not be blown off course in our plans to build back better and that’s just what our next Queen’s Speech will do.” The government’s announcement Sunday is timed to coincide with the second day of the annual Tory conference, which is taking place online this

PHOTO BY STANSALL BEN

Boris Johnson, prime minister of the United Kingdom, was hospitalized and was in critical condition earlier this year after testing positive for COVID-19. year because of COVID-19 robbing ministers of faceto-face meetings with members and the chance to quell dissent. The premier has faced criticism over lockdown measures and problems in the virus testing system, while some polls show his party trailing to Labour for the first time in several months. Tensions were further inflamed last week when Johnson apologized for getting his own COVID-19 rules wrong. The govern-

ment has been trying to strike a balance between trying to contain the pandemic and keeping as much of the economy running as possible. But coronavirus cases have surged in recent weeks and Johnson’s chief scientific officer has warned the pandemic is not under control. The U.K. reported 12,872 new cases in the latest daily data on Saturday , almost double the number from Friday , though the Department of Health said

because of a technical error, cases not counted in previous days were added to the total. On Saturday at the Tory conference, ministers tried to shift the focus onto the government’s plans for Britain’s economic recovery. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab promised the U.K. would “bounce back stronger” but an overnight report in the Sunday Times suggested several hurdles remain . Cineworld is drawing up plans to close all its sites in the U.K., a move that would put as many as 5,500 jobs at risk. International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said new trade agreements will give companies suffering from “depressed domestic demand” a “bigger slice of the international pie.” Truss also said the government must prevent “predatory” company takeover bids from abroad “that don’t necessarily have Britain’s best interests at heart,” especially at a time when firms are undervalued during the pandemic , though she declined to give an example. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Steve Barclay said the government would not return to austerity as the country recovers from the

pandemic, and said he expected an announcement in the coming days on COVID-19 testing at airports, a key demand from the travel industry to try to boost flagging demand. House of Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg has written to cabinet ministers asking for “bold and am-bitious bills.” The government must “make the most of the opportunities which will arise” when Britain leaves the European Union fully at the end of the year, he said in the government’s statement. Johnson’s office also confirmed the next Queen’s Speech will include a bill to repeal the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act, which would hand the power to choose the date of the next general election back to prime ministers, rather than Parliament. Johnson blames the act for the Brexit paralysis of 2019. On Sunday, Home Secretary Priti Patel will announce an overhaul of what she’ll call the country’s “fundamentally broken” asylum system. Patel will use a speech at the Tory conference to set out a “firm and fair” immigration approach, according to her office, after it emerged last week that ministers are examining whether to process asylum seekers in offshore holding centers.


Features

TheOnlineBeacon.com

Professor Franklin Named Berkshire Top 25

5

BY ISABEL COSTA STAFF WRITER English and Communications Professor Mark Franklin has been nominated by Berkshire Magazine as one of the top 25 people of the Berkshires for both his years of teaching as well as his music involvement in the community. “I don’t think I could ever function in a world without music. It is as much a part of my life as any other single thing I do,” said Franklin. Every year Berkshire Magazine chooses 25 individuals within Berkshire County to be featured in the magazine. The top 25 are based on creativity, dedication and level of influence these individuals bring to the Berkshire County community. Franklin is known as a teacher first and foremost, teaching English at Wahconah High School for 38 years before coming to MCLA. “I come from a family of educators. My dad was my principal in high school and my siblings are teachers as well,” said Franklin. Franklin says teaching in a high school is very different from a university setting, but his relationship with students stays the same. “In high school, you are in one building for anywhere from six to eight hours a day, whereas on a college campus my days are less structured, so that’s different.” “There is also much less of the social aspect that goes on in high schools. I’m not as involved in extracurricular activities now. I don’t see as many people in the course of a day, but this hasn’t changed my relationship with students, “ said Franklin.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARK FRANKLIN

Photo Provided by Mark Franklin. Franklin is known as a teacher first and foremost, teaching English at Wahconah High School for 38 years before coming to MCLA. When he isn’t working as a professor at MCLA, Franklin is at home practicing and listening to music. “I started playing the guitar when I was 13, and I have been singing and playing ever since really. “I started taking it more seriously after college when I was asked to play for weddings. I have done hundreds of weddings by now, and then it slowly fanned out to me doing more gigs in the area,” said Franklin. Franklin now serves his community by playing for mentally disabled individuals through the Berkshire Music School. “I really have discovered I love doing it. Sometimes I only play for two or three people at a time or many adults in a recreational center

and I have continued to do it via Zoom,” said Franklin. Franklin is honored to be within the Berkshire 25, jokingly saying he was nominated by his sister who was in the Berkshire Top 25 last year for her work as a saint. Franklin mainly uses music to inspire the people around him. “As with any art I like to share with people what I find beautiful, what’s nice is that most of the music I work with has lyrics. “I use songs in my learning, not as a replacement for poetry but to show them even if you take music away songwriters would write something that you would also call a poem,” said Franklin. Franklin’s feature in the Berkshire Magazine 25 has

Check out your local college radio station, broadcasting from 10 a.m. to midnight every day

also delighted his colleagues and students throughout the MCLA community. “The other way I like to inspire people is just because it’s a pleasurable activity. Learning should be pleasurable so when I inject it into a classroom situation or lesson, I expect that even if it’s not something the students are fond of and listen to every day, it will make them pay closer attention,” said Franklin. Amber Engleson, the department chair of MCLA’s English and Communications program, has highlighted her love of working beside Franklin. “I’ve known Professor Franklin as a colleague for six years, and in particular in his role as one of our College Writing professors,” she said.

Though College Writing can be a difficult class to teach, Former students of his have said how much they value his expertise when it comes to writing well and his creativity when it comes to class activities. “In fact, he has been known to bring his guitar into class occasionally! Professor Franklin is a caring, thoughtful person, both inside the classroom and outside of it; MCLA is lucky to have him,” said Engleson. Franklin hopes that in the future he can help to create an open mic opportunity here at MCLA. “I would love to be a participant or help to coordinate open mics in the future to bring an even bigger community of music lovers,” said Franklin.

Want to advertise here?

Contact Editor-in-Chief Brian Rhodes at br1620@mcla.edu for rates and inquiries


Arts & Entertainment

Oct. 15, 2020

TheOnlineBeacon.com

* THURSDAY, OCT. 15

* SUNDAY, OCT. 18

-Virtual Creative Reading Workshop: Imagining Reclamation and Healing Virtual 4 p.m.

- Pop Up Bistro at The Mount 10 a.m.

The Mount in Leno

* MONDAY, OCT. 19 - FASFA Help Virtual Oct. 19-22

- Musical Bingo at Mingos 7:30 p.m. Mingo’s Sports Bar and Grill

* FRIDAY, OCT. 16 - Flu Clinic 10 a.m. Quad

- Online Ghost Tours Mount Virtual 8 p.m.

at the

- free Live Music Freight Yard Resturant & Pub 8 p.m.

* SATURDAY, OCT. 17 - Building Visual Studies Talk 9 a.m. Virtual - Seasonal Train Ride Tickets are $16 Berkshire Scenic Railway-Hoosac Valley Service

- It’s on US Campaign Week Virtual - MCLA’s Annual Elizabeth & Lawrence Vadnais Enviromental Issues Lecture series 4 p.m. Zoom - Real Talk Monday’s 5 p.m. Virtual

* TUESDAY, OCT. 20 - Envisioning Just Worlds: A Conversation on

Emergent Strategy with

adrienne maree brown

1:45 p.m. Virtual

- DAY OF DIALOGUE

8 A.M. - 3:45 P.M. CREATING CHANGE THROUGH COMMUNITY ACTION AND ORGANIZING

7


Arts & Entertainment

TheOnlineBeacon.com

6

Megan Thee Stallion on Tory Lanez, Breonna Taylor and speaking up for Black Women BY CHRISTI CARRAS LOS ANGELES TIMES Rapper Megan Thee Stallion is once again using her platform to take a stand for Black women. In a powerful op-ed Tuesday for the New York Times titled “Why I Speak Up for Black Women,” the “Savage” rapper reflected on her revolutionary “Saturday Night Live” performance demanding justice for Breonna Taylor as well as a summer incident involving Canadian rapper Tory Lanez, who has been charged with shooting Stallion in Beverly Hills. “I was recently the victim of an act of violence by a man,” she wrote. “My initial silence about what happened was out of fear for myself and my friends. Even as a victim, I have been met with skepticism and judgment. “The way people have publicly questioned and debated whether I played a role in my own violent assault proves that my fears about discussing what happened were, unfortunately, warranted.” The “WAP” hitmaker went on to condemn the stereotypes and double standards society places on Black women, “who are

PHOTO BY RICH FURY

Megan Thee Stallion performs onstage during Day 2 of “Red Rocks Unpaused” 3-Day Music Festival presented by Visible at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on September 02, 2020 in Morrison, CO. still constantly disrespected and disregarded in so many areas of life” even as “so many have embraced messages about racial justice this year.” A video attached to her essay expands on how the system repeatedly fails each woman of color who is forced to “prove she’s a victim because society sides with a man” and suppress “her traumas because she can’t show no weakness.” “Too many men treat all women as objects, which helps them to justify inflict-

ing abuse against us when we choose to exercise our own free will,” she continued. “We feel the weight of this threat, and the weight of contradictory expectations and misguided preconceptions. “The issue is even more intense for Black women, who struggle against stereotypes and are seen as angry or threatening when we try to stand up for ourselves and our sisters. There’s not much room for passionate advocacy if you are a Black woman.” After her “SNL” tribute to Taylor _ which saw her

“harshly rebuke Kentucky’s attorney general, Daniel Cameron, for his appalling conduct” after no officers were charged in Taylor’s killing _ Stallion said she “anticipated some backlash.” “But you know what?” she wrote. “I’m not afraid of criticism. We live in a country where we have the freedom to criticize elected officials. And it’s ridiculous that some people think the simple phrase ‘Protect Black women’ is controversial. “We deserve to be protected as human beings.

And we are entitled to our anger about a laundry list of mistreatment and neglect that we suffer,” she added, citing disproportionately high mortality rates for Black mothers and Black trans or gender-nonconforming people. The “Hot Girl Summer” mastermind, who is known for her sex-positive lyrics and music videos, also rejected assumptions haters have made about her body. “I’ve received quite a bit of attention for appearance as well as my talent,” she wrote. “I choose my own clothing. Let me repeat: I choose what I wear, not because I am trying to appeal to men, but because I am showing pride in my appearance, and a positive body image is central to who I am as a woman and a performer. “I value compliments from women far more than from men. But the remarks about how I choose to present myself have often been judgmental and cruel, with many assuming that I’m dressing and performing for the male gaze. When women choose to capitalize on our sexuality, to reclaim our own power, like I have, we are vilified and disrespected.”

COVID-19 Brings Long-Distance Friends Closer BY NARA SCHOENBERG CHICAGO TRIBUNE As the COVID-19 pandemic tightened its grip on Chicago, Danielle Campbell reached out to seven of her dearest friends. Most had gone to college with her; all had been in her wedding. But now one was in Seattle, and three were living in France. “You’re my favorite people,” Campbell texted. “I want to make sure that you’re all okay.” The “Fabulous Babes” group chat that resulted was flooded with messages, and soon there was a weekly Zoom meeting with wine or cocktails. The “Babes” discussed their anxieties and challenges, but they also shared silly photos and joked and laughed. “It just really became a lifeline for all of us,” said Campbell, 47, of suburban Oak Park. Chicagoans have reached out to dear friends across the country and the world during the pandemic. And in some cases, they’ve stayed in close contact

with multiple conversations, texting sessions or video chats. In interviews and responses to Tribune queries on Facebook, two dozen area residents said they were spending more time with close friends who live far away than they did before the pandemic. That makes sense to Washington, D.C., psychologist and friendship expert Marisa G. Franco, who said she, herself, is in more frequent contact with her best friend in Chicago, in part because this is a stressful time and in part due to pandemic-related flexibility in her schedule. “Work life is less rigid,” Franco said. “We’ve heard a lot about how the boundaries of our work life have changed, but in the same way, I think, the boundaries of our emotional life have changed. For friends, that can be useful because it’s like, ‘Oh, now let’s chat at 1 o’clock, when I don’t have a meeting at work.’” Others point out that COVID-19 makes proximity less of a factor in friendship.

“When you can’t be close to people physically, it opens up (your options),” said Kryss Miller, 47, of Oak Park. “If I’m connecting with somebody across the street with Zoom, I can also connect with my friend in Paris.” River Forest resident Emily Paster, a freelance food writer who grew up in Washington, D.C., touched on a common theme when she talked about connecting with close high school friends on Zoom. One of her former classmates is living in Rome, she said. Others are in New York and Washington, D.C. But their 30-year bond remains strong. “When we get together, it’s just the easiest thing in the world, without any of the awkwardness or superficiality of some of our adult relationships,” said Paster, 46. “It’s so different _ it’s such an authentic, honest connection _ because we knew each other growing up. We’ve been in each other’s childhood homes, we knew each other’s par-

ents. When my dad passed away in 2011, my friends in River Forest were lovely and supportive, but it was nothing like hearing from my friends from high school who knew my dad.” In one of the more innovative twists on the trend, Melanie Pivarski, of Oak Park, is taking a Zoom ballet class with an old college friend who lives in England. Nicole McCabe, of Naperville, is now in daily contact with a close high school friend in South Carolina via the Marco Polo video app. “Those old friendships _ there’s such a comfort and an ease. They know you in such a deep way,” said McCabe, 41, who works for an educational nonprofit. Aurora resident Neeta Pal, who grew up in India, attended a Zoom meetup with a dozen friends from college who are living in India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the U.S., Dubai and Singapore. The women, some of whom hadn’t seen each other in 20 years, recalled college crushes and hijinks, including

sneaking out of the dorms after the 7:30 p.m. curfew for tea or dinner with friends. “It was like no time had elapsed,” said Pal, 42, a mechanical engineer. “It felt really, really good.” Early in the pandemic, Oak Park resident Becky Fuller sent a meme to her next door neighbor and close friend Danielle Campbell: “Check in on your extroverts. They are not okay.” Campbell, the extrovert in question, said the message hit home. Campbell started a WhatsApp chat for both women and six friends from Chicago, Seattle and France. France was going into lockdown, and Americans were feeling scared and isolated. Major life events such as high school graduations and weddings were canceled. “In retrospect, I think I was mourning, because I did something I did when my dad died,” recalled Campbell, 47, an executive at a software company. “I was staying up way too late _ till 1 or 2 in the morning, alone.”


Sports

Oct. 15, 2020

TheOnlineBeacon.com

LeBron James and Lakers Defeat Heat in NBA Finals to Capture RecordTying 17th title BY TANIA GANGULI LOS ANGELES TIMES Through the darkness and drama, the questions about whether the Los Angeles Lakers’ luster was gone forever, remained the hope that a day like this would happen again. A championship. Confetti sprayed all over the court. A superstar puffing a cigar, grinning at what he’d done. On Sunday evening, the Lakers became champions for the 17th time with a 106-93 win over the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. This time they did it in a gym shaped like Mickey Mouse with two superstars who came to resuscitate the franchise. Anthony Davis came because of LeBron James. At the end of a strange, heartbreaking season _ the longest NBA season ever _ James won his fourth championship. He notched a triple-double in the clinching game _ his first of the series _ with 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists. He earned Finals most valuable player honors for the fourth time in his career. Afterward, he shared the glory with owner Jeanie Buss, general manager Rob Pelinka, coach Frank Vogel and all the fans who couldn’t be there. “I told Jeanie when I came here I was going to put this franchise back in the position that it belongs,” James said. “... We just want our respect, Rob

PHOTO BY WALLY SKALIJ

Los Angeles Lakers’ Rajon Rondo takes the trophy after the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat to win the NBA Championship in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. wants his respect, coach Vogel wants his respect, the organization wants their respect, Laker nation wants their respect. “I want my damn respect too.” This title didn’t look like the rest. It didn’t happen at home or on the road. There weren’t fans, hostile or friendly; there wasn’t a familiar ride to an arena. There was just basketball in a bubble that protected them from a global pandemic that gripped the nation. They remained on this campus at Disney World, steeling themselves for a mentally taxing existence, aided by the knowledge of their grander mission. James wanted the chance to make history. He wanted to tell a story no one else

could _ that of a transcendent basketball player who came to Los Angeles to save the Lakers. He faced a skeptical fan base that needed proof he could do it _ that vandalized murals that dared suggest James was their king. The LeBron James Era started with losses and the first serious injury of his career. The resignation of Magic Johnson, the Lakers icon and team president who recruited James to L.A., in the spring of 2019 caught him by surprise, and his patience was tested by a group of 20-somethings who wanted to impress him but didn’t know how. The Lakers missed the playoffs for an unthinkable seventh consecutive year. “Thinking I have some-

thing to prove fuels me,” James said. “It fueled me over this last year and a half since the injury. It fueled me because no matter what I’ve done in my career to this point, there’s still little rumblings of doubt.” The reset in the summer of 2019 wasn’t smooth or painless, but it set the stage for a major recovery. It gave James the co-star he had yearned for _ publicly at times. This adage had stopped being true in the NBA: What the Lakers want, the Lakers get. But it had been replaced by a modern NBA adage _ what star players want, star players get. And these stars wanted to be Lakers. James and Davis were perfect together.

8

“Respect,” Davis said. “True friendship. But you’ve got to see us off the court. It’s unreal.” They won 24 of their first 27 games. They balked at the insistence that they weren’t beating strong teams. They began waiting for each other to leave the court after games, like best friends on a playground, though they had a more serious purpose. They got through a December lull and stormed through January. On Jan. 25, James passed Kobe Bryant on the all-time scoring list in Bryant’s hometown of Philadelphia. Bryant congratulated him on Twitter. On their flight back, Dwight Howard woke his teammates to a nightmare. Bryant’s helicopter had crashed in Calabasas, California. He and his 13-yearold daughter, Gianna, were dead, along with seven others. The Lakers cried and hugged on the tarmac before they left one another, as the rest of the city did the same. James left the plane and broke down sobbing _ his colossal shoulders shook with each breath. In a team meeting later that week, James told his teammates and everyone there that his shoulders were broad enough to carry them through this. All they had to do was hang on. “When I got traded,” Davis said, “he just had that belief, that we have a chance to win it all.”

Intramurals Continue On In Hopes of Normalcy for Students BY KYLE MILLIGAN SPORTS EDITOR MCLA’s Intramural Department is innovating this semester to ensure there is a sense of normalcy for its student participants. This fall, intramurals started on Oct. 1 with Esports. Video games that are being played this semester are NBA 2k, Rocket League, and Call of Duty. Competitive video gaming is new to intramurals and is already making a difference. Intramurals is also offering open gym time, and a space for students to play video games in the Campus Center gym on Sunday nights. Game consoles being used are PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. Students are also advised to bring any video game they want to play. Esports is being offered through the Mission Control app. Intramurals Director Adam Hil-

dabrand advises students to check the MCLA Intramural’s Instagram page for live updates. Every student has received several emails with directions on how exactly to sign up for these competitions. Venable Gym was the intramurals location last year. This year however, it is being used as overflow seating for the Cafe. “Venable Gym being repurposed was a big hit for us, but we are adapting,” Hildabrand said. “We are following the same protocols as the athletic department which has limited what we can offer in person. That’s why we are pushing Esports and trivia,” said Hildabrand. The Intramural department is taking COVID-19 very seriously by following all of the protocols that were given to MASCAC participants during the pandemic. Hildabrand is hopeful that the Intramural department

PHOTO BY CARA SHEEDY

Students participate in Cornhole in Venable Gym during Intramurals in 2011. Intramurals is one of the most historic clubs on campus. provides some normalcy to MCLA’s students that have already participated in the past, but to those who haven’t as well. “Intramurals do so much for individuals and our campus community as a whole. It provides a physical outlet for those not involved in a varsity sport. It provides open gym times for the community,” said Hildabrand.

“All of this helps us keep things as normal as possible. Which is what we are looking for in this virtual world. We are looking for normalcy and connections and intramurals is trying to fill that void,” said Hildabrand. Hildabrand encourages people to follow the Intramural Departments’s social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to

stay up to date on what they are offering. Intramurals has added on to their program this year with alumni / student Kahoot Trivia nights and recreational Esports. Participation was good last year. Hildabrand hopes to continue to see participating expand during a unique semester because of COVID-19 restrictions.


Sports

TheOnlineBeacon.com

Athletics Stay Focused as They Await the Filling of Coaching Vacancies BY KYLE MILLIGAN SPORTS EDITOR

9

SCOREBOARD NFL: Week 5 Thursday

Bears (20), Buccaneers (19)

N. Foles (CHI) 30/42, 243 YDS, 1 TD

MCLA athletes face several coaching vacancies with no firm dates on when they may be able to start hiring to fill the positions. Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Assistant Athletic Trainer, Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coach, and Assistant Volleyball Coach are positions within the Athletic Department that are currently vacant. The head of Women’s Basketball coaching job has been vacant since early spring 2020. And the heads of Men’s and Women’s Cross Country coaching jobs have been vacant since around the holidays in 2019-2020. “There is not a search for any of these positions at this time,” said Athletic Director Laura Mooney. “We’ve just been on hold because of COVID, we haven’t really got the green light to go ahead and move these positions forward at the moment,” Mooney said. Mooney said she was hopeful to be able to get these positions filled in the spring, as they hold high importance within the Athletic Department and for student athletes. Mooney had meetings with Cross Country and the Women’s basketball team, who both have a head coach vacancy. The Athletic Department is available to these team’s athletes during a time where they are without a leader. “If they need resources around any areas within the department, we would be happy to assist,” Mooney said. Mooney encourag-

Sunday Panthers (23), Falcons (16)

T. Bridgewater (CAR) 27/37, 313 YDS, 2 TD

Raiders (40), Chiefs (32) D. Carr (LV) 22/31, 347 YDS, 3 TD

Cardinals (30), Jets (10) K. Murray (ARI) 27/37, 380 YDS, 1 TD

Steelers (38), Eagles (29)

B. Roethlisberger (PIT) 27/34, 239 YDS, 3 TD

Rams (30), Washington (10) J. Goff (LA) 21/30, 309 YDS, 2 TD

Ravens (27), Bengals (3) M. Brown (BAL) 6 REC, 77 YDS, 1 TD

Texans (30), Jaguars (14) D. Watson (HOU) 25/35, 359 YDS, 3 TD

PHOTO BY MCLA BEACON

Previous Women’s Basketball Coach, Loren Stock prepares her team during a timeout in the 2019-2020 season. MCLA Athletics is waiting for permission to begin the search for multiple open coaching jobs. es athletes without a head coach to control what they can in academics, individual work, and connections with their teammates. There is open gym time in the Campus Center for athletes with or without head coaches. Having access to the gym is not a problem for any program currently. Volleyball is currently practicing, so their assistant coach vacancy isn’t something they are desperate for at the time. “With so many unknowns, the thought process is everybody should be preparing for what we just don’t know yet,” Mooney said. A competition decision will come from the MASCAC among all presidents. The NESCAC recently re-

leased the news of no winter sports. The MASCAC has not decided on winter sports yet. MASCAC athletic directors have been in consistent contact with the MASCAC since March about winter sports. Basketball falls in a highrisk category, according to the NCAA Sports Science Institution. In order to participate in a high-risk sport, athletes would need to be tested three times a week. For the time being, Mooney is exploring the interim situation, looking at all options, but none Mooney could name. “We’re trying to come up with solutions for basketball since it’s more immediate, just trying to see what makes sense,” Mooney

said. Mooney has been recruiting senior athletes herself with coaching vacancies affecting recruitment. Once the athletic department is given the okay, there will be a nationwide search for coaches. “This is a very unusual year. Know that we’re trying to do the best we can in the parameters that we have,” Mooney said. “We’d love to do whatever we can to help them feel better about the situation,” With so many unknowns, Mooney encourages fall and spring athletes to stay ready for who knows what is yet to come. Spring 2021 could look very different, and everyone should be ready to play.

Beacon Sports Trivia: World Series Edition

Who threw the only no-hitter in World Series history? A. Whitey Ford B. Roy Halladay c. Don Larson

Who is the last team to win consecutive World Series titles? A.Red Sox B. Yankees C. Giants

Which is the only current franchise to never appear in a World Series? A. Rays B. Padres C. Mariners

Dolphins (43), 49ers (17)

R. Fitzpatrick (MIA) 22/28, 350 YDS, 3 TD

Browns (32), Colts (23) B. Mayfield (CLE) 21/37, 247 YDS, 2 TD

Seahawks (27), Vikings (26)

DK Metcalf (SEA) 6 REC, 93 YDS, 2 TD

Monday Saints (30), Chargers (27) D. Brees (NO) 33/47, 325 YDS, 1 TD

Tuesday Titans (42), Bills (16) R. Tannehill (TEN) 21/28, 195 YDS, 3 TD

MLB: ALCS & NLCS Game 2 NLCS Braves (8), Dodgers (7)

I. Anderson (ATL) 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 5 K Braves lead series 2-0

Game 3 ALCS Rays (5), Astros (2)

R. Yarbrough (TB) 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 HR, W Rays lead series 3-0

NBA Finals Game 5 Heat (111), Lakers (108)

J. Butler (MIA) 47 MIN, 11/19 FG, 12/12 FT, 35 PTS, 11 AST, 12 REB

Last Week’s NFL Trivia Answers Who is the NFL’s alltime leader in field goals made?

What year was the first Super Bowl played in?

D. Adam Vinatieri

C. 1967

Which team won the first Super Bowl? A. Green Bay Packers

Game 6 Lakers (106), Heat (93)

L. James (LAL) 41 MIN, 13/20 FG, 28 PTS, 14 REB, 10 AST

NCAA Football Rankings 1 Clemson 4-0 2 Alabama 3-0 3 Georgia 3-0 4 Notre Dame 3-0 5 North Carolina 3-0 6 Ohio State 0-0


News

Oct. 15, 2020

SGA

From Page 1 from SGA disclosing if anyone has filled the class of 2024 presidency position. No one was elected to a seat on the class of 2022 council. Additionally, the Student Trustee position is also vacant. SGA President Dean Little ’21, who chose not to seek re-election, noted in an email to all the winning candidates that there were multiple write-in campaigns, but those did not receive the minimum votes needed to get any traction into SGA. “This shows greater interest in the work you are all are about to embark on. What you all do in this next year will matter and will change the shape of campus,” Little said, in addition to wishing the new SGA members good luck. Henkenius expressed optimism going forward

in his position at SGA in a statement to The Beacon. “I’d say I am looking forward to hopefully getting to make some impactful changes for students this semester,” Henkenius said. Crombie noted that he has always wanted to serve in SGA and winning the election for a residential seat means he can build his reputation on campus. “I am very excited about this position; I have never really been a part of any type of student govern-ment before, but I’ve always wanted to be. I’m really hoping to be a voice for students on campus, and to help improve the quality of life for residents as much as I can,” Crombie said in an email. According to Little, the newly elected SGA members will be sworn in during the SGA meeting on Monday, Oct. 19 at 7:00 via Microsoft Teams.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY SGA

Dean Little ‘21, former SGA president,chos not to seek re-election.

Want to write a guest column for The Beacon?

If you’re interested in writing a guest column, contact Brian Rhodes at br1620@mcla.edu

Read more about your Trailblazers, and keep up to date with the latest news at Athletics.mcla.edu

TheOnlineBeacon.com

10

PHOTO PROVIDED BY SGA

Noah Henkenius (above), Melanie Davis ‘22 and Shannon Prouty ‘21 have been elected as a cabinet to lead SGA this year as Coordinating Vice President, Executive Vice President and President respectively.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY SGA

Noah Henkenius (above), Melanie Davis ‘22 and Shannon Prouty ‘21 have been elected as a cabinet to lead SGA this year as Coordinating Vice President, Executive Vice President and President respectively.

Dialogue From Page 1

second is between 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Two more breakout sessions will be held later in the day, the first is between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. while the second runs from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Each breakout session will consist of several presentations with topics ranging from voter suppression, effective advocacy, Black Lives Matter in higher education and self-care. More information about spe-cific presentations can be found on the Day of Dialogue as page when it goes live. After a lunch break between 12 p.m. and 12:45 p.m., there will be the keynote address by Leyda Nicoll. Leyda Nicoll Nicoll’s keynote speech is titled “Building the Foundation for Radical Change,”. Leyda Nicoll teaches Introduction to Social Work, Inequality & Social Policy, Intergroup Dialogue, Com-munity Organizing, Poverty & Place, and the internship course for students in Social Work, Criminal Jus-tice, and Sociology. She is one of three Faculty Fellows for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Aside from teaching, Leyda Nicoll also volunteers at the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition

and is active in antiracism and equity efforts within the community. The theme for the first Day of Dialogue was “Complicating Race,” and the for the second year’s events was “Educating A Diverse Community: Inclusive Teaching and Learning at MCLA,”. “I really want students

to know about the different opportunities that exist on campus to learn about diversity and diverse ways of learning,” MacDonald Dennis said in a statement to The Beacon on last year’s Day of Dialogue. MacDonald-Dennis was not available for an interview for this story by the time of publication.


Oct. 15, 2020

Opinion

TheOnlineBeacon.com

11

Editorial

Plots Against Governors of Michigan and Virginia Highlight a New Low

Last Thursday, the FBI stopped a domestic terrorism attempt to kidnap Michigan’s Democrat Governor Gretchen Whitmer. According to CNN, “the conspirators conducted surveillance of Whitmer’s vacation home on two occasions in late August and September.” Thirteen men have since been charged. On Tuesday, Oct. 13 an FBI agent testified that several of those conspirators also considered kidnapping Virginia governor Ralph Northam. “They discussed possible targets, taking out a sitting governor, specifically issues with the governors of Michigan and Virginia [due to Covid-19 restrictions]” agent Richard Trask said in court, according to The Detroit News. Both Whitmer and Northam are Democrats. And both of them definitely saw the April tweets from the Commander-in-Chief suggesting their respective states be “liberated.” Donald Trump’s rhetoric, whether it stems from a 2005 Access Hollywood tape or a September 21st rally in which he said the coronavirus “affects virtually nobody,” has consequences because a president should be taken at their word. Reciting that we live in a nation indivisible, a term made in the Pledge of Allegiance, is meant to demonstrate pride in being able to agree and to disagree with each other. But a desire to afflict harm on someone on the opposite political spectrum exudes something else- it is a call to the darkest impulses in history, a memento of a power believed buried when the era of monarchs ended. This desire is why the challenger in the recent Belarus presidential election, Svetlana

Tikhanovskaya, has taken refuge in Lithuania. As reported by NPR last November, the FBI recorded that “violence against individuals rose to a 16-year high [in 2018].” Plotting to kidnap elected officials pushes this unfortunate statistic further- that is domestic terrorism, defined by assistant director of the FBI’s counterterrorism division Michael McGarrity as action “intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion, or affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping... within the jurisdiction of the United States.” in a 2019 statement to the United States House of Representatives. Reacting to the foiled plots, White House press secretary Kayliegh McEnany said on Tuesday, Oct. 13 that “President Trump has continually condemned white supremacists and all forms of hate,” per CNBC. The absence of an official White House statement (as of Oct. 14) rebuking the attempts, however, is more telling, projecting how the moment before us will be remembered. What does that signify to the world, our allies, and to each other? If respect is earned, then this want means we collectively need to do better. Generosity can garner the same size audience as atrocity. Pay attention to what those on all sides of the political spectrum have to say. And form your own conclusions, especially when you have the right to vote. Complete a ballot, wash your hands, and welcome the differences of your family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors.

The Beacon is published Thursdays during the academic year and is distributed to the MCLA community. The Beacon is a designated public forum and content is determined by student staff members. The Beacon is funded by the Student Government Association, the English/Communications department and ad revenue. Single copies are free and additional copies can be purchased at 50 cents each. If you wish to purchase additional copies, please contact a staff member.

Contact News desk number: 413-662-5535 Business number: 413-662-5404 Email: beacon@mcla.edu Website: theonlinebeacon.com Office: Mark Hopkins Hall, Room 111

Policies Letters: The Beacon welcomes Letters to the Editor and columns on issues of interest to the campus. Deadlines are 11:59 p.m. Sunday. Strive for 500 words or less. Editorial: Unsigned editorials that appear in these pages reflect the views of The Beacon. Signed columns and commentary pieces reflect the views of their writers. Contribution: The Beacon accepts stories, photos and opinion pieces. Submit to beacon@mcla.edu. Advertising: The Beacon reserves the right to not publish any advertisement it deems libelous, false or in bad taste.

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Brian Rhodes

Managing Editor Natalia Giacomozzi

Sports Editor Kyle Milligan

BWN Executive Producer Symantha Kehr

Staff Staff Writers Isabel Costa Mariama Ndiaye

Photographer Kylan Martus

BWN Reporters Mei Craig Cara Fusco

Adviser Shawn McIntosh


Feb. 6, 2019

IN OTHER BEACON NEWS

12

FINANCIAL LITERACY

THE VALUE OF A DOLLAR CHANCE TO WIN A PRIZE! COMPLETE THIS COURSE AND YOU WILL BE ENTERED TO WIN A PRIZE.

DRAWING NOV. 15

LEARN MORE AND TEST YOUR FINANCIAL LITERACY KNOWLEDGE TODAY!

VISIT: TEACHBANZAI.COM CLASS CODE: HXQ5UN

MCLA


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.