Student Newspaper of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Volume 74 Issue 6 For more content, visit us at: theonlinebeacon.com
North Adams, Mass.
Th u r s d ay, O c t o b e r 2 7 , 2 0 1 1
Firearm referendum in the works
Rock on!
SGA is working on a ballot to determine student support for arming Public Safety By John Durkan Editor-in-Chief
Photo by Brian McGrath/Beacon Staff
Stew, from Stew & the Negro Problem, points out to the crowd at the Eleanor Furst Roberts Auditorium in the Church Street Center on Saturday night. The performance, organized by MCLA Presents!, raised money for the Margaret A. Hart Scholarship. FOR STORY - SEE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, PAGE 8
A referendum determining student support for arming the Public Safety officers is in the works, SGA President Todd Foy said Monday. The SGA Executive Board discussed the plan with President Mary Grant and Dean of Students Charlotte Degen, Foy said. Tentatively, the vote, if the referendum is approved, will happen in late November or December. Currently, the SGA needs to write the referendum, which then goes to Degen, where she will look over it and give it to the SGA Senate. The Senate then votes to approve the referendum. Afterwards, if approved, the students can vote on the issue. The result of this vote will give
the SGA an official stance. Student Trustee Jaynelle Bellemore, who sits on the Board of Trustees, said the SGA’s stance would represent her direction. Senator Catt Chaput suggested the referendum include a “don’t care” option because she doesn’t want only students who feel strongly about the issue voting. Senator Jason Brown reacted favorably to the referendum, but wants the SGA to push the communication effort with the students. “I would hate this to slide through the cracks,” Brown said. In an email, Degen said two community meetings will be held, one on Nov. 16 and the other on Nov. 17. Foy said the community meetings need “massive publicity.” SGA, continued on page 3
O’Brien discusses her career, challenges By Chris Goodell Managing Editor
Soledad O’Brien addressed the College community last Thursday night, offering advice and anecdotes from her experience as an author and journalist. Lecturing in the Church Street Center at 7:30 p.m., and earlier during a brief question-and-answer session in Murdock 218, O’Brien spoke about the importance of diversity and giving a voice to those who may not have one. “If we could find a place where under-covered voices have a home, it would be a win-win,” she said. “The American story is a story of all these different voices.” O’Brien began her news career in 1987. After dropping out of Harvard University, she began working at WBZ-TV in Boston, where she described her main
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duty as removing staples from bulletin boards. She enjoyed being able to work in the industry, however, and soon moved on to work at NBC, and later CNN. O’Brien has also worked on several documentaries, including “Black in America” and “Latino in America.” “[Documentaries] have to tell a story about America in some context,” she said. “It has to be something that really resonates with people. “I think we’ve had the chance to tell stories that others don’t think are important,” she added. “There is nothing worse than doing nothing and saying nothing when your voice is needed.” O’Brien told stories about her experiences in job-searching, and how she sometimes faced discrimination because she is biracial. She was able to deal with this prejudice by following the ex-
Shriner’s honors Stannard Janelle Stannard, women soccer’s MASCAC player of the week, underwent treatment at the Shriner’s Hospital throughout her childhood Sports, page 9
ample set by her mother, she said. O’Brien recounted a story about how she once witnessed her mother, a schoolteacher, intervene when a principal appeared to be harassing a black student. “There was a genuine shift in power at that moment,” O’Brien said. “There was a value in refusing to capitulate.” As a journalist, O’Brien said she wanted to be the eyes and ears of the viewers, answering questions and providing context for stories. “I see my job as advocating for the viewer,” she said. One of her biggest challenges was being a working mother; her colleagues often assumed she would not want to do certain assignments because she has four children at home. However, O’Brien was eager to take any assignments she could. She continuously emphasized the importance of working hard and
Halloween weekend activities plentiful Explore your options around town and on campus Features, page 5
taking advantage of opportunities. “Your success is going to be heavily correlated to how hard you work,” she said. “Look at every single opportunity you get as an interview.” While answering questions from the audience, O’Brien also highlighted the importance of addressing the country’s economic crisis. “People are angry. It’s a very tough time; the economy is bad,” she said. “The time is now and the opportunity is now to use your voices in a time of change.” Throughout the lecture, O’Brien’s main piece of advice was to rely on oneself to create opportunities and persevere through adversity. “Just because people say you can’t doesn’t mean you actually can’t,” she said. “It’s up to you to be the architects of the opportunities available to you.” O’Brien’s lecture comes as part
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Photo courtesy of MCLA
Soledad O’Brien lectured at the Eleanor Furst Roberts Auditorium last Thursday. of the Hardman Lecture Series, made possible by the Hardman Family Endowment. Prior to the lecture, President Mary Grant announced that the Church Street Center auditorium has been renamed the Eleanor Furst Roberts Auditorium, in honor of the late Hardman family benefactor.
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