Fall 16 issue 10

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Beacon@MCLA.Edu 413-662-5535 Mark Hopkins Room 111

Volume 83 ◆ Issue 10

Th u r s d ay, D e c e m b e r 1 , 2 0 1 6

Inside

2

Should PE be a requirement?

6

And The Kids at Pittsfield tonight

‘Tis the season

10

Blazers lose to Williams

Combating the crippling costs of recovery

By Mitchell Chapman Managing Editor

Photo by Emily Gabert/The Beacon

People gather at the annual tree lighting in downtown North Adams.

Downtown North Adams gets ready for the holidays

By Emily Gabert Staff Writer

The large and brightly shining Christmas tree stood tall on the Main Street green directly across from the First Congregational Church and the First Baptist Church on Nov 23. The First Baptist’s Sanctuary Choir started off the tree lighting ceremony with a performance of classic Christmas songs like “Silent Night” and “O Christmas Tree.”

Suzy Helme, the North Adams’ events coordinator, gave a quick speech to the city about being thankful for all the positive things in our lives and what the area has to offer this holiday season.

“I’d like to give some thanks to this community,” Helme said. “We’re not perfect but while we strive to do better, fix the problems we see and help our friends and neighbors in need, it’s important to stop and be thankful for what we do have that is good and

wonderful. I think we have a lot going for us.”

Helmes went on to thank Mountain One Bank and Greylock Federal Union who helped sponsor the event.

Cascade School Supply and Berkshire Bank also helped the city put this event together, and MASS MoCA lent a hand with sound equipment.

“This year the North Adams HOLIDAY Continued to page 11

Forum: Education and inclusivity will get us through a Trump presidency

By Harmony Birch Editor-in-Chief

On Monday a small portion of the campus community gathered for a forum about how to make all campus community members feel safe, especially in the wake of the presidential election.

Some students attended for extra credit in classes. Others wanted to see how administration would respond to the election. “[President Birge’s] initial email

was pretty disappointing,” senior Jade Tarris said of the president’s first email to the campus. The second one, she acknowledged, was better.

“I want to be active in [Birge’s] position, you’ve got to work with those in power,” Tarris said. Then, alluding to our new president-elect Donald Trump, “Words to live by.”

Senior Julia Daly attended the event to see what the college administration’s response to Trump’s presidency was.

“I wanted to see if the administration was going to amend that they weren’t

proactive,” said Daly.

In addition to a second email Birge also gave a speech at the Latin American Society’s rally on Nov. 15. While Daly thought the speech was less offensive, she thought it seemed “image based,” and not like “it was coming from a genuine place.”

“It didn’t address the entire student body,” Daly said.

The forum originated from FORUM Continued to page 11

Two years ago, Kenna Waterman started Josh Bressette Commit To Save A Life, Inc. after the tragic death of her son, an addict. The organization helps alleviate costs related to opioid recovery, which can cost upward of $50,000 without insurance.

“A large portion of the people we work with are no longer working, some of them are even homeless,” Waterman said. “Some of them have jobs, and are in the process of getting back on their feet, but most aren’t.”

Waterman’s organization helps recovering addicts in Berkshire County and southern Vermont, based in North Pownal, Vt., where she lives. Her son Josh lived in North Adams until his death. According to Waterman, the heroin usage in North Adams is very similar to that of Vermont. “[The usage] is pretty much the same everywhere,” she said. “Some places just have more services than others.”

According to Waterman, the first step into recovery is detoxification, which is usually a three to five day process. The drug is gradually flushed out of a user’s system, during which users are subject to withdrawal.

“Withdrawal is long and painful,” Waterman noted.

“A lot of people can’t do it. Of course, the other option is to go on medication, which is either methadone or suboxone.”

After detox, addicts usually enter a 30-day rehab facility or clinical stabilization service. However, addicts without transportation to these places can quickly see themselves falling behind and off of these programs.

“Transportation can be a big issue,” Waterman said.

“These people often have no licenses and no job. They lost it all. A ride is a huge cost they face. It’s like having no way to get to work.”

Thankfully, Josh Bressette Save A Life, Inc. assists recovery addicts in financing and finding rides, though it doesn’t touch detox and rehab costs.

“We could never pay for detox and rehab,” Waterman explained. “It’s safe to say that both cost well over $50,000, with some places charging as much as $500 a day.”

Even with health insurance, recovering addict often find themselves with a copay they can’t afford.

In fact, even those lucky enough to still be on their parent’s health insurance aren’t always covered.

Waterman says it is not uncommon for parents to take out loans to send their kids to rehab.

“Their best bet is to get on MassHealth or the Vermont state insurance,” Waterman said.

After detox and rehab, the next and final step to recovery is to enter a sober living home. In a sober living home, recovering addicts live in group housing in which they have to follow a set of rules designed to get them back on their feet, as well as contribute to their community by doing chores. However, many recovering addicts skip this step due to the price.

“We don’t have any around here that aren’t expensive,” Waterman said. Because of this, her organization will pay no more than one month of a sober living rent.

When the addict does return home, either after rehab or sober living, staying clean is up to them.

This is challenging, as relapses are common, and can result in the addict falling back into their old routines.

“Relapse is part of recovery, but if they start falling into their old routines, they’re going to use again,” Waterman said.

As such, Waterman’s organization helps where it can, one dollar at a time.

Campus News 2 Chari Millard: ARAMARK employee, hobby genealogist, and occasional clown passes

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Thursday, December 1, 2016

By Harmony Birch Editor-in-Chief

Chari Millard, 56, was more than a friendly face at ARAMARK’s World Café. She was a mother of eight, a hobby genealogist, and an occasional professional clown.

She’d only recently gotten her ten-year gift from ARAMARK before her passing on Nov. 14 at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

Chari lived in Adams but was born in Evansville, Indiana, on Oct. 27, 1960, a daughter of the late Ervin Casper and Elizabeth (Doe) Casper Oparowski. Her family moved to Adams when she was a child.

One of Chari’s daughters, Elizabeth “Betty” LeSage, said that Millard started young with her first child. Chari and her husband met when they were both teenagers and got married when Millard was only 16. Her husband, Michael L. Millard, passed away the same day as Chari, only 14 years earlier.

Chari’s name was fitting for her.

Her mother meant to name her after the French spelling of love but got the spelling wrong, according to LeSage.

Chari ended up with eight children. She always wanted a big family.

“Family was always really important to her,” Lesage said.

At ARAMARK Chari started out cashiering but eventually found her niche at the World Café. LeSage says it wasn’t so much cooking that Chari enjoyed as it was being able to work with students. “Having a student come back for a second burrito would make her day,” LeSage said.

ARAMARK wasn’t Chari’s only job. She also worked at Red Carpet Restaurant in Adams, the former Ground Round Restaurant at the

Photo Courtesy of Elizabeth LeSage

ARAMARK worker Chari Millard passed away unexpectedly Nov. 14. She was with the company for ten years.

Berkshire Mall, Berkshire County Head Start, and occasionally as a clown when the town of Adams put on events.

In her free time Chari enjoyed tracing back her family tree.

“We have a generational picture from the 1800’s that she found,” LeSage said.

She also liked collecting tree figurines, clowns, and “Old woman who lived in the shoe” and egg

shaped music boxes.

She enjoyed learning and reading about Tsarist-era Russia, English royal history and the Kennedys. Her favorite book series were Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Little House on the Prairie.

Chari leaves behind her stepfather, Matthew Oparowski of Adams, her children Michael Millard, Jr., and his wife Marcia of Cheshire, Joshua Millard of

North Adams, William Millard and his husband Rishid Sarkis of Winter Haven, FL, Matthew Millard and his fiance Cassie LaChance of Cheshire and Jacob Millard and his fiance Jasmin Figueroa of Adams, Elizabeth LeSage and her husband Mathew of Adams, Elise Cross and her husband William of Adams, and Jacqueline Millard of Adams and twelve grandchildren.

“My brothers and sisters don’t always agree on everything but we can all agree that my mom was a truly selfless person, her love was unconditional even when she was angry or disappointed with a decision,” LeSage said. “She made a safe and loving home for us and that isn’t something that everyone gets to have. I am so proud that she was my mom.”

SGA: Should Physical Education remain a requirement?

By Nick Tardive Staff Writer

The College’s physical education requirements have “no benchmark” for learning, according to Deborah Foss, psychology professor and chair of the All College Committee (ACC).

Currently, physical education is a graduation requirement without being a part of the core curriculum, taught via 20 hour-long classes for one credit per course. MCLA is currently in the process of reforming its core curriculum. The school, in that process, is considering either dropping physical education as a graduation requirement entirely, or integrating it with the core.

“What I’m looking for is a way to get student comments,” Foss said.

“This directly affects students. You are the largest constituency on campus, but there really is no way to col-

lect student comments.”

Questions regarding the requirement were sent out via e-mail some time before Thanksgiving break, however Foss knew that such a tactic would not reach everybody and wanted the support of SGA in touching base with their constituencies and coming to a consensus on the physical education requirements.

SGA representatives spit-balled several ideas in regards to reaching out to students about the physical education requirement. Public Relations Chair Adam Sams suggested

creating a survey on surveymonkey. com. Senator Jacob Vitali brought up the possibility of marketing the survey through First Year Experience courses, although that was considered to be too narrow a group to be reaching out to. Other ideas included bringing up the subject during the Campus Center Takeover and having RA’s sending out e-mails to their residents. As a joke, Senator Sullivan considered the benefits of bribery.

“When I see the requirement, I always say, ‘Why do I need this? I did it in high school, I did it in middle school and elementary school, so why do I need to do it in College?’”

Senator John Kelly asked, remarking that the physical education requirement seemed entirely unnecessary.

Foss admitted that, as it stands, the college seems to have “zero percent interest” in keeping the requirement as it is now. She

seemed displeased with what had become of the physical education courses on campus. When the school first began implementing the Lifetime Wellness requirement, there was a clear goal in aiding students become physically fit as well as mentally fit. There was a benchmark for measuring success in the class, and how that applied to their overall education. Now, Foss said, the courses required for graduation were just there for students to take a one credit course.

“In the absence of outcomes, there’s no way of knowing why we’re doing it.” Foss said.

The professor admitted that the ACC only acts as in an advisory position to President Birge, and that the final decision is ultimately his. The committee sent a report to the President regarding the core curriculum addendum,

but Birge sent back asking for more information. Student members of the ACC also brought up the need to include the voice of the students, at which point Foss contacted SGA President Williams.

Adviser Jenn Craig addressed members of SGA once Foss had left, upset that the student representatives had not taken the time to express their opinions, or any constituent opinions they might have heard.

What’s in a name?

Correction In last week’s campus comment, Alexander Stewart’s name was mispelled. We regret the error.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Campus News

Retreading Edwin Teale, Vadnais speaker finds hope Managing Editor

By Mitchell Chapman Managing Editor

Photo by Mitchell Chapman/The Beacon

President Birge, right, listens to Harris’s lecture. Birge, who worked with Harris while at Franklin Pierce University, introduced the Vadnais speaker to the MCLA community. and well.”

“We found that it was not always a story of loss, but a story of change,” Harris said. “Though we tend to focus on the loss.”

Harris, a prolific birder, also attempted to catalogue the same birds Teale had, but due to the change in habitats and other factors, he couldn’t replicate the his results.

“In some places, the birds and wildlife had become rarer than Teale’s time,” Harris said. “They were still there, just they were harder to find.

I’m also not as good as a birder as Teale was. He was very meticulous, and that shines through in his journal.”

Though there are gaps in Teale’s original journal, which Harris attributes to the Teale’s loss of their son, David, who was killed in World War II, just two years before their “North With The Spring” journey. Harris took advantage of these gap periods to honor the Teales’ loss.

“It made me appreciate my own

kids,” Harris said.

From the Everglades, Harris worked his way North, eventually traversing New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts, where most of the trails were more or less still intact. They even visited Walden Pond, which was trashed in Teale’s time.

“Teale was furious,” Harris said.

“He catalogued each piece of trash.

Now, there’s a fence and a limited occupancy, which Teale probably would not have liked, but it keeps the pond clean.”

Harris’ family had concluded Teale’s original journey in Mt. Washington, Maine. Harris stated that he “had a book in mind that was going to be successful.” However, there was still one more stop that he had to visit.

Harris concluded the journey by visiting the farm the Teale’s bought after their journey, from which their shared gravestone is located. It simply reads “Two who loved this Earth, and loved each other.”

“Venable 8” delves into toxic masculinity, gun violence

By Harmony Birch and Kelsey Kistner

Editor-in-Chief and Staff Writer Americans are ten times more likely to be killed by a gun than citizens of other developed nations, according to a study published in March in the American Journal of Medicine.

In 2014 two MCLA students recognized the scarring impact of gun violence and created “Venable 8: Three Lessons on Gun Violence in the Classroom.”

Shedd’s aim with Venable 8 is to create a safe space to discuss gun violence.

The show is composed of three different plays. “A Child’s Game” by Benjamin Baylon & Phillip Shedd, “Class Act” by Holly Jensen, and “Trofimov, A Student” by William Orem and opens for a second time in North Adams Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. to Dec. 4 at 10 a.m.

When Shedd and Baylon were coming up with the original concept

Professor John Ridgway not returning

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Computer Science dept. will be down a professor next semester

By Mitchell Chapman Amidst man-made climate change, not all is lost. Before Thanksgiving break, Dr. John Harris of Franklin Pierce University recounted his journey through Eastern America in his installment of the Vadnais Lecture series, titled “Returning North With The Spring.” His trip started in Key West, Florida and ended in Mt. Washington, Maine, spanned 17,000 miles.

“Returning North With The Spring,” also recorded in a book Harris wrote over three years, recounted his journey retreading the 1947 path of nature writer Edwin Way Teale. After his initial journey, Teale authored “North With The Spring,” which became a bestseller as well as one of the most recognized pieces of nature writing of its time. Harris found that the eastern United States has changed a lot since Teale’s time.

“The Teales were traveling down pre-Eisenhower highways,” Harris said, referring to Edwin and his wife, Nellie Imogene Donovan, who traveled with him. “In some places, the roads had totally transformed.”

Harris traveled with his wife and daughters during the journey in a van, having the luxury of modern GPS and technology. As such, due to luck and technological advances, there were some places the Harris family had access to that the Teales could never reach.

“1947 was a particularly cold year,” Harris said. “By contrast, 2012 was one of the warmest years on record.”

Storms and bad weather were a constant roadblock for the Teales, but not necessarily for the Harris family.

In some instances, bad weather just never came, but they still tried to stay as faithful to the Teales’ journey as possible, in some instances visiting the same sites in the exact same day.

Harris found that some places, such as the Everglades, were “alive

Beacon.MCLA.edu

they researched motivations of past school shooters, according to Shedd.

Columbine and Sandy hook stood out especially.

“What does it take for an individual to commit such a heinous act of violence?” Shedd asked while conducting the research. “And how can this violence be stopped?”

Shedd thinks that previous conversations about gun violence have been unproductive. The focus is generally split into two sects, access to guns and access to mental health care, but Shedd believes the majority of these conversations ignore one important facet, toxic masculinity.

“When men in our society aren’t taught how to express themselves emotionally, they will lash out in desperation to prove themselves masculine,” Shedd said. “Arguably, a firearm is the most notorious symbol of power and masculinity in our society.”

“I don’t think the show itself has done anything to prevent gun vio-

lence, but it is meant to create a conversation about it,” Shedd said.

After the show audience members are encouraged to share their feelings, experiences, and opinions about gun violence and are encouraged to bring those conversations outside of the theater.

“Theatre has proven to be a powerful catalyst for change, and we hope attendees will challenge themselves to expand their thinking through this piece of theater,” Shedd said.

The show itself is meant to explore the different perspectives of young men who choose to pick up a gun to cope with their own insecurities and the contrast of how women react when the gun is being pointed towards them.

The show is being held in three venues and adapted to best fit each venue’s audience. It will be held at ROOTS Teen Center, MASS MoCA, VENABLE 8 Continued to page 11

Computer Science professor John Ridgway announced Monday morning to his classes that he is not returning to teach the spring semester. The department only has three full-time professors.

The news comes after student complaints about teaching style and course difficulty.

The College has not issued an official statement yet. It is not known if Ridgway is being fired or is leaving the college of his own volition.

“He was a nice guy but very unorganized,” junior Austin Thompson said, who had Ridgway in three classes at the beginning of the semester. “A lack of a solid foundation in regards to a lesson plan really killed him.”

As such, Thompson had to drop two of Ridgway’s classes. “[He was a] very smart man that simply just couldn’t get the ball rolling in regards to furthering our learning as computer science students,” Thompson said. “I personally dropped two of his classes to save my GPA so as to not lose my scholarship.”

Ridgway is set to finish this semester, with nearly two weeks of school left. His absence will stretch an already understaffed computer science department thinner.

“I know people are complaining about him, but he did just get hired,” junior Evan Murray, who is finishing a class with Ridgway, said. “The computer science department is scarcely staffed as is.”

When asked for a statement or reason for his not returning, Ridgway responded by email. “I have nothing to add. Peace.”

Ridgway is leaving after one semester of teaching. His hire was announced Sept. 12, along with 11 new faculty members. He holds a Ph.D. and Master of Science degrees in computer science from UMASS-Amherst and a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pa. At MCLA, he taught classes in Java, Web Development and C++.

Beacon Staff for Spring 2017 Eboard

Mitchell Chapman Editor-in-Chief Joseph Carew Co-Managing Editor Jonathan Hoel Co-Managing Editor Nick Tardive Senior News Editor Brady Gerow Sports Editor Chris Riemer Arts & Entertainment Editor Domonique Ackley Photography Editor Lauren Levite Copy Chief Emily Gabert Features Editor Ron Leja Deputy Features and A & E Editor Adam Sams Design Editor Dan Wohler Beacon Web News Producer Sam Kniskern Beacon Web News Producer

Staff

Reagan Smith Staff Writer Lily Schaub Staff Writer Hannah Snell Staff Writer/Copy Editor Gianna Vigliatura Staff Writer/Copy Editor Emma Monahan A&E Writer Aryel Brosnan Copy Editor Nick Webb Copy Editor Rae Ross Photographer

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Thursday, December 1, 2016

Opinion & Editorial

The Beacon

Editorial

Let Freedom Reign: Hampshire College vs. The American Flag Hampshire College, a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Mass., decided to cease flying the American flag after the results of the presidential election. The action came after students lowered the flag to half mast and an incident on Nov. 10 in which the flag had been burned.

Following a meeting with the campus community college officials decided to keep the flag down, stating that the flag represented to some “a powerful symbol of fear they’ve felt all their lives because they grew up in marginalized communities, never feeling safe.”

Last weekend a group of around 400 protesters rallied peacefully to show their dissent towards the college’s decision.

As a private institution Hampshire College has the right to cease flying its flag, especially

if the college’s own community consents.

Those protesting the college’s decision are protesting its freedom of expression.

If the college were a public institution there would be a stronger case for protest. As a state government owned property, a public institution like MCLA would have to comply with government preferences of flag flying.

Hampshire College protesters argued the college’s refusal to fly the flag was disrespectful to veterans and those who have lost their lives fighting for this country.

While protesters have a right to protest, legally Hampshire College is on solid ground. Not only do they have the right not to hang the flag but the flag burning itself has been determined con-

Beacon.MCLA.edu

stitutional by two different Supreme Court cases.

Late Justice Anthony Scalia, a well-known conservative and libertarian, participated in the most recent ruling stating, “If I were king, I would not allow people to go around burning the American flag. However, we have a First Amendment, which says that the right of free speech shall not be abridged -- and it is addressed in particular to speech critical of the government,” Scalia said, according to CNN. “That was the main kind of speech that tyrants would seek to suppress.”

President elect Donald Trump tweeted Tuesday that, “nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag. If they do, there must be consequences—perhaps loss of citizenship or [a] year in jail!”

While the protests done at

Hampshire College seemed civil, it’s scary to think that an institution’s freedom of speech could soon be under attack.

It could be argued that institutions are not people and therefore have less right to freedom of speech? Is Hampshire College’s expression any different than that of a bakery’s who refuse to bake wedding cakes for same sex marriages?

When does freedom of expression turn into oppression of others?

It seems that veterans would argue the decision to not fly the flag oppresses them and their service—but Hampshire College has argued that its students felt oppressed by the flag itself, a symbol of a country they no longer or maybe never felt like they really belonged to.

“What did you do this Thanksgiving?”

The Beacon is published Thursdays during the academic year and is distributed free to the College’s community. The Beacon is funded by the Student Government Association, the English/Communications department, and ad revenues. Single copies are free, additional copies may be purchased at 50 cents each.

Contact information: News desk number: 413-662-5535 Business number: 413-662-5404 Email: Beacon@mcla.edu Web site: beacon.mcla.edu Office: Mark Hopkins Hall, room 111 Mission Statement The Beacon strives to provide timely and accurate news of campus and local events.

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Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Harmony Birch Web Editor Managing Editor Jake Mendel Mitchell Chapman Design Editor Adam Sams A&E Editor Features Editor Jon Hoel Joseph Carew Copy Chief Buisness Lauren Levite Manager Photography Editor Reagan Smith Domonique Ackley Video Editor Dan Wohler

Staff

“I drove back to the cape and I saw my family. We had a bonfire and enjoyed a family meal and watched a bunch of football” - Jake Rafferty, 2017

“Played with my cats and ate some vegan apple pie.”

- Jenn Wilson, 2018

“My family did a yankee swap with ornaments.”

- Jennifer Suslo, 2018

Staff Writers Emily Gabert Nick Tardive Kelsey Kistner Sports Writer

Brady Gerow

Photographers and Videographers Shunquell Dennis Sam Kniskern

Cartoonist

Samwise Fox

A&E Writers Ronald Leja Chris Riemer Emma Monahan

Copy Editors

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Ayrel Brosnan Nick Webb

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Online at: Beacon.MCLA.edu

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“I went to Portland, Maine for Thanksgiving and got to take my 92-year-old grandfather out for drinks!”

- Katherine Guitard , 2018

“Ate, talked trash with my family, and ate some more.”

- Patricia Gary , 2017

Photos by Shunquell Dennis

Opinion & Editorial

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Beacon.MCLA.edu

XKCD

Columns

I

5

HATE

By Nick Tardive

THIS

Staff Writer

Harmony Birch Editor-in-Chief

Big-Daddy-Trump-Savior’s Millennial es v i s s Many Conflicts of Interest Mi

Putting aside the hate and fear conjured up by the mere existence of President-elect Donald Trump for a moment, consider the reason why he was elected.

Economic anxiety, they say.

People are worried about their futures, they say. Trump is a businessman, and he will bring that mentality to the oval office. He’s the man who wrote “Art of the Deal,” after all!

But…is that all it’s cracked up to be?

Consider Donald Trump’s business ventures – of which will be carried on by his demon spawn in a horrific bastardization of a “blind trust”. Those same demon spawn have already sat in on meetings with foreign leaders and diplomats, which takes Trump’s already screwy idea of what a blind trust is and tears down the veil entirely. Yet put even that aside for the moment.

Per the “New York Times,” Donald Trump is conducting business in 20 different countries around the globe, including: China, India, the United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan.

In India, the country where our president-elect conducts business the most besides the United States, Trump’s real estate is being built by corporations with clear ties to India’s prominent political party.

After Trump made his initial call for a Muslim ban in America, Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, called for the removal of Trump’s name from his building in Istanbul. Then

the Donald went on to say that Erdogan was right for bringing down the whip on rebels taking place in the country’s recent, failed coup. Following that, all protests of Trump’s name on his Istanbul tower stopped. In a radio interview with Stephen Bannon of all people, who is now his Chief Strategist, Trump even admitted that he had a “little conflict of interest” in the country because of his “major, major building in Istanbul”.

Does America really need, or want, a President who is clearly still interested solely in the success of his own brand?

Just because he won the election doesn’t mean that stopped.

His entire campaign was run on that brand, with splashes of political ignorance and hateful paranoia more than a few places. There is no indication, to me, that Donald Trump would set aside his business ventures around the world to focus on the Presidency.

His unwillingness to give his company over to anybody but his children, as well as his clear lack of interest in being president in the first place, gives me no hope that Trump is thinking about anything but lining his own pockets at the expense of not just the American people, but Earth and humanity as a collective whole.

Not to mention the ridiculous amounts of debt that Trump has accumulated from foreign parties, including the Bank of China and Russian business people. “Fortune” and the “New York Times” both concluded that Trump understated

his own debt, in some cases by not including loans taken out by his company or even reporting revenues from his different ventures as income without subtracting salaries, utilities, maintenance and other upkeep costs. “Fortune” placed Trump’s accumulated debt at over $1 billion, or one-tenth of Trump’s self-proclaimed net worth (of which “Fortune” extrapolated that Trump was worth less than half of that, or a little under $5 billion).

One can make an argument that this is good business strategy, as was the case made for Trump’s tax-dodging sketchiness that blew up shortly during the first two debates and then fell by the wayside.

But would someone even want to make an argument that this makes for a clear-headed president with the American people in mind?

Donald Trump clearly only cares about his name, and the brand connected to it. To achieve such a height, he has certainly had to work with some unseemly people across the country. And now our President of the United States is in debt to China and Russia, doing business with India, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

While at the same time, he is in complete denial that his business will at all affect the way he runs the United States.

This is either a liar or a fool, if not both, and he now holds one of the highest offices in politics in the world.

But economic anxiety, or something...

News Literacy and Trump Some people are blaming the results of the presidential election on the influx of fake news that has begun circulating the internet.

In response Facebook and Google are cracking down on fake news sites to prevent circulation.

The internet has made it easier for fake news to disguise itself but more terrifying than fake news production is the decline in news literacy. As a member of the media, I assure you that healthy skeptics towards what you’re being told are essential.

During this election, fake news wasn’t the only problem sensationalist headlines led people to draw conclusions without reading articles. At least three times one of my Facebook friends would post a satire piece from the New Yorker on Facebook with an offended and outraged comment.

Education on both sides it seems is the reason this election floundered. The

left didn’t have an accurate understanding of where the country’s politics stood. The right didn’t understand that the Republican party especially not Donald Trump is unable and unwilling to bring back jobs and fight for the common man.

Good news literacy is composed of three rules to follow.

Does it sound too outrageous to be true? It probably is.

Read the entire article a) something questionable will stand out and you’ll know the story is fake. b) The story will likely be more boring than the headline.

Most news is actually really boring. I know you know this and that’s why you only read the headlines but in addition to being boring it’s also informative!

With these three simple rules and a high school education we can all come together to elect intelligent government officials!

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Thursday, december 01, 2016

Arts & Entertainment

And the Kids trio, Hannah Mohan, Megan Miller and Rebecca Lasaponaro play a refreshing folky indie pop that has brought them a wide-ranging audience of fans. They have been championed as one of the best bands in the Western Mass music scene.

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Photo by Joanna Chattman

And The Kids to perform in Pittsfield tonight!

By Ron Leja

A&E Writer

And The Kids, a quickly rising indie-rock group born of Northhampton’s amplified progressive music scene, will be performing at The Garage at 111 South Street, in Pittsfield, tonight at 8 p. m. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $12, and may still be available online for $10 through the Berkshire Theatre Group website.

The group, comprised of guitarist and vocalist Hannah Mohan, drummer Rebecca Lasaponaro, and synthesizer and percussion artist Megan Miller, formed in the summer of 2012.

The three met while all acting

as interns at the Massachusetts Institute for the Musical Arts, a nonprofit teaching, performance and recording facility known for hosting both classes and camps dedicated to the support of women in the music business.

Newfound bassist Taliana Katz has recently been added to And The Kids, and is a welcomed addition to the group. Katz made her debut during the groups NPR tiny desk concert in 2015, following visa-related issues that lead to Miller, a citizen of Canada, being unable to re-enter the United States after visiting family for the holidays. She has been barred from entering the country for the past five years, the result of which lead And The Kids to record their latest album, “Friend

Share Lovers” in Montreal.

And The Kids have released two albums to date. Their first album, “Turn To Eachother,” released in Feb. 2015, was a remarkable debut LP that greatly portrayed Mohan’s vigorous vocals, as well as the bands ability to almost seamlessly blend strange mixtures of instruments such as electric guitar and glockenspiel.

Their second album, “Friends Share Lovers,” has received praise due to the band’s use of sound sculpting techniques not previously used in their debut album. Admittedly, both albums are considerably different from one another, the latter being a heavily synthesized, experimental collaboration as opposed to their originally minimalistic, down-to-

earth style. The shift in aesthetics is noticeable, but only helps to exemplify the groups growth as artists, as well as their willingness to branch out to unexplored territory.

While the musical artistry of And The Kids is reminiscent of other popular, women-driven indie acts such as “Tegan and Sarah” and “Of Monsters and Men,” the group manages to find their own sound through a delicate mixture of soulful vocals and surreal, earthy melodies.

Inspiration from the folk-rock genre is evident, but the group is hardly defined to the genre alone.

And The Kids is, in every sense of the word, a fairly unique mashup of genres. Their sound is familiar, yet stylized and peculiar in its

execution.

And The Kids can only be described as a smooth blend of summer seasoned folk rock, with hints of gritty, beach-bum funk bass lines sprinkled around Mohan’s impressive range of bluesy vocals. The result is an experience that the group has doubly named “apocalyptic pop.”

Several of the group’s songs, such as “Glory, Glory” and “All Day All Night” dramatically change tempo throughout. While they may start off slow and steady, they soon develop in to lively, powerful performances, creating a melancholy sort of charm that fans of the indie scene are sure to enjoy.

Bella Roma pizza opens in supreme location Owners of Pizza works add new location

Photo via iberkshires.com

Bella Romma is the new pizza place in downtown North Adams, located centrally at 117 Main St. Give them a call at (413) 663-6666 to place an order.

By Emma Monahan A&E Writer

The walls of Bella Roma, located on Main Street, where previously Supreme Pizza use to be located, are painted blue and yellow in the small, newly redone pizza shop. Ilyas Ozdemir, owner of Bella Roma

and also co-partner of Pizza Works on Ashland Street, intended this.

“North Adams has MCLA, and MASS MoCA,” he said as we sit in the restaurant.

North Adams is known as a college town with its local shops, chain restaurants as well as town favorites, and many,

many pizza shops.

Ozdemir isn’t worried though about opening a second pizza shop in town, especially when it comes to competition.

The reason behind opening a second shop was being his own rival, and won’t hurt himself when it comes to business.

Ozdemir explains how North

Adams has two big aspects to it, MCLA and MASS MoCA, saying that having a location on Main Street will be beneficial in the summer when tourists come through.

Luckily for MCLA students, Bella Roma delivers, and if you’re wondering about using Blazer Bucks, Ozdemir isn’t sure yet, but it’s a possibility in the future. What makes Bella Roma stand out from many pizza shops in town, especially Pizza Works, is the different items on the menu.

“Taste the difference” the top of their menu says, that difference being the food that stands out. With options of a thin or thick crust pizza and many toppings from pepperoni, hamburger, spinach and even eggplant and garlic. The restaurant also sells by the slice, and has a specialty topping option, which include steak, chicken, different kinds of cheese and many more.

There are a wide variety of salads, which Ozdemir says is

one of the major differences on the menu from other shops, as well as stromboli options, quesadillas, pita pockets, paninis, soup and even omelets.

Like every new restaurant, the beginning is slow, but Ozdemir seems confident in how well the shop will do.

The restaurant has a similar seating situation as Supreme Pizza, with tables and chairs.

The air is saturated with an aroma one can easily associate with a pizza shop, and people can enjoy their evening dinner while the traffic goes by on Main Street. The MCLA color scheme makes the room bright and alive, like a warm welcome.

If you have your heart set on a certain pizza joint in town, it’s worth giving Bella Roma a chance, especially if you’re a fan of Pizza Works.

Bella Roma is open every day, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.

Thursday, december 01 2016

Arts & Entertainment

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Shows to binge-watch to help forget about finals

By Chris Riemer A&E Writer

The first snows have fallen, the first cars have been unnecessarily ticketed, and the final project you were supposed to be working on for the last three months is due in a week. Do you silence your phone and get to work on your growing pile of assignments?

Of course not! You still have a week! Instead, you’re going to watch/rewatch/re-rewatch anything that will tamp down that icky feeling of inevitable doom.

“But what will I watch?” you ask.

“This is an article about that,” I respond, gently. “Didn’t you read the headline? Okay, here it is again, worded differently.”

-SHOWS YOU CAN WATCH TO PUT OFF THAT FEELING OF INESCAPABLE DISASTER NETFLIX

Ninety percent of us are on our parents’ Netflix account, which is great, because it’s easier to make friends when we’ve all only ever seen the same 10 shows!

-If you are interested in the genesis of the personal computer, programmers and engineers

yelling at each other, or Lee Pace’s torso, you might enjoy: “Halt & Catch Fire.”

-If you’ve been stuck in an industrial-size tub of almonds for the last six months and are having difficulty understanding all the Halloween costumes on your friends’ social media, you should probably watch: “Stranger Things.”

-If you like horror, but would prefer a shallow, stilted, and more exploitative take on the

genre, give “American Horror Story” a try. The new season isn’t on Netflix yet, but that’s okay, because the first season is the only one with even a meager dash of inspiration.

-If you like campy horror that is warm and fun and spooky, and doesn’t lean super hard on the

romantic angle, you’ll like “The X-Files.”

-If you like movies about computers and drugs but don’t know anything about them, or think 4chan is a good place to form political opinions, or want to see Rami Malek look perpetually terrified, you might enjoy: “Mr. Robot.”

-If you’re so burnt out at this point all you can do is laugh at yourself, and want to feel way, way worse for some reason, check out “Bojack Horseman”

-If you didn’t get enough attention that one time you deleted your Facebook for a couple weeks, and need sources for your anti-technology alarmist thinkpiece, which you will no doubt subject me to via social media, you’ll love “Black Mirror.”

-If you feel like you don’t have enough indie cred or whatever to wear corduroy and an old sweater from Goodwill and one of those

7

OTHER - ”Rick & Morty” is fun!

Kanken backpacks all at the same time, you should probably watch “Twin Peaks.” Or just wear whatever you want. I don’t know, I just review television shows.

AMAZON

Why do you watch stuff on Amazon Prime? Did you get the free six-month student membership and then forgot to cancel and now you’re trying to get your money’s worth? I don’t know what to tell you, buddy.

“True Blood?”

Wasn’t season 3 supposed to come out right about now? Better rewatch the first two just in case!

-The recent singles from

Donald Glover’s upcoming album have already sort of eclipsed the hype from “Atlanta,” his brilliant new show on FX which premiered in September.

It’s hilarious and smartly political, and if you missed it you should go un-miss it pronto.

-Tired of HBO’s supermassive

-If you’re one of those people who inserts quotes into their conversation constantly, or your friends make fun of you for not watching what they believe is the greatest television show of all time, “The Wire,” then you should probably go ahead and watch it.

black hole “Game of Thrones” sucking up a distressing amount of money just to destroy any fond memories you had from a overly wordy, decades-old book series?

“Westworld” is better, and if you really cram you’ll be ready for the finale this Sunday.

-If you thought Peaky Blinders didn’t spend enough time on exposition about furniture, give “Downton Abbey” a try. I haven’t seen it, I just assume it’s like an “Antiques Roadshow” spin-off.

-When there’s nothing else, there’s always “The Eric Andre Show.”

“Moonlight” is an uncompromising triumph

Barry Jenkins’ new film is being hailed by critics as exquisite and historic for its fearless portrayal of one man’s life over several decades as he is brutalized by poverty and intolerance.

By Jon Hoel A&E Editor

Suddenly, it’s Oscar season again. And with nods to a couple outliers, most of contending films are coming out now, after their various successes on the festival circuit, they have been given to mass audiences for review.

Among the early predictions for “Best Picture” is “Moonlight” a dazzling dramatic film by Barry Jenkins, director of 2008’s “Medicine for Melancholy”, a smash-hit at the Toronto Film Festival.

“Moonlight” tells the life story of Chiron, an introverted kid living in urban Florida, where he is bullied relentlessly for being different. The film follows Chiron over the next three decades-we

see him as a kid, a teenager and a full-grown man.

Alex Hibbert plays Chiron as a kid. Hibbert is not the strongest child-actor in the world, but he

does a respectable job with a very difficult role.

The teenage sequence is portrayed by Ashton Sanders, also a relatively unknown

By A24 Studios

actor. Sanders’ in the film (alongside Janelle Monáe and André Holland), has the best performance in the film.

The last portion, is portrayed

by Trevante Rhodes, also a new actor, who has appeared in HBO’s “Westworld”, but this is his first starring role.

Without giving too much away, the film tackles very heavy themes of racism, homophobia and violence in the turbulent world Chiron inhabits.

It’s a touching and powerful film, that captivates and leaves you whirling in thoughts of gentrification and heritability as you leave the theater.

Is this film going to win best picture of the year? Probably not, it’s not perfect and suffers from the amateur qualities of its very green director. But it could change your life.

“Moonlight” is playing at Images Cinema in Williamstown until Dec. 8.

8

Features

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Phtotos by Joseph Carew/The Beacon

The murals throughout campus deal with variety of topics including a tribute to The Grateful Dead, a portrayal of Jesus Christ, and other topics.

Student chalks inspiration up to faith

Haliemae Smith, Junior, has spent the past two years turning campus into a chalk gallery

By Joseph Carew Features Editor

She walks through a campus made up of tan and bland buildings, seeing untapped potential. Armed with chalk, the artist takes her inspiration and transfers it to the wall while fading into some 90s grunge.

The path from Amsler Campus Center to the quad has become more colorful with each pass.

Little by little that odd opening between Venable and the Campus Center has developed into an informal gallery of chalk.

Haliemae Smith, a junior, has been creating and collaborating on the chalk murals all over campus since her first semester at MCLA last year as a sophomore.

“I feel like I do it more for personal reasons and because I really enjoy it, like the process of it,” Smith said. “It’s a very good stress reliever and after I do a chalk mural I’m more centered in myself.”

She came to the College in search of a small and artistic environment and loved the natural beauty MCLA had. Last year, her first here, she decided to help make the campus more interesting by creating these chalk murals.

“I think it was out of boredom,

yeah it was out of boredom,” Smith said when asked about what inspired her to start. “I just enjoy it a lot. I haven’t really done any for a specific purpose.

I think it makes the campus look more interesting.”

With more than a few done now she hopes to continue making these until she graduates.

Smith, a Christian, channels her faith for inspiration with some of her pieces. One of the more recent additions to the campus walls, a large portrayal of Jesus Christ, has lead her to more openly express herself and her faith.

“It’s hard here because I don’t want to offend anyone but then I realize we’re a liberal arts school and we should be able to express our beliefs,” she said.

Though these murals are in some of the more trafficked spots at the College, Smith creates these pieces mainly for herself. The act of creation is one that brings about a sense of calm within her.

“I mean I’m not really doing it for people, I’m doing it more for myself,” Smith said. “And it’s funny I like the process of it

or anything else.

Typically she works through inspiration from within but admits that as an RA she created a piece about the Grateful Dead solely for some of her residents in Berkshire Towers.

She vehemently defends everyone’s freedom of expression and would like to see more people creating art on campus. In her own work, Smith tends to focus more on what inspires her instead of recent events.

“I mean it’s art. They can draw whatever they want on the walls so I should be able to as well,” Smith said. “I try to stay away from political stuff though. Yeah like I would never do something about the election or anything like that.”

She has collaborated with other artists at the College in the past but prefers to work alone.

“I learned quickly I don’t like working with artists who are also like me; which is stubborn,” she said. “We couldn’t agree on what we wanted it to look like.”

Smith has been turning to walls for artistic expression since

“I mean I’m not really doing it for people, I’m doing it more for myself.

And it’s funny I like the process of it better, I love the physical labor of it more than the final project.”

--Smith better, I love the physical labor of it more than the final project.”

She thinks about her drawings deeply and deals with a conflict inside of herself. Smith sees the need to express herself and her beliefs but doesn’t wish to impose them or offend anyone in the process. All the while, as an artist, she said she shouldn’t care about the reaction her artwork gets.

Even though Smith prefers the process to the product, the mural of a large heart that finds itself supported by a tree sticks in her mind over the others.

“So the one with the heart is kind of whatever you invest your time in and whatever you put inside your heart is what’s going to come out in your actions,” Smith said.

Since her first piece on campus she decided to focus more on works of art that deal with biblical stories rather than political beliefs

(Left): Smith has been working on pieces on campus since last fall including this mural.

(Right): A landscape image splitting day and night that Smith colloborated on.

childhood.

“I don’t know, we had a chalk board wall at my house and my mom would make me do chalk board murals of different holiday stuff,” Smith said. “So I guess I started out doing that.”

Music is an essential part of the process. Sounds and tones that pull her to focus away from the art is what Smith turns to.

“I guess I like angry music.

I don’t really listen to the lyrics though, it just helps me zone out,” Smith said. “I usually can only make art when I’m not thinking about it.”

Pearl Jam, Tool, and some classic Korn are prime examples of the music playing around her while she sketches a dedication to The Grateful Dead or a mermaid gazing up at a resting ship above.

“I love 90s grunge, I am obsessed with Tool,” Smith said. “I listen to music that helps me zone out. I usually can only make art when I’m not thinking about it; it just naturally comes out.”

From little fish to large landscapes, Haliemae Smith has been doing her best to make the campus look more interesting all while rocking out to some fairly heavy stuff.

Campus Life

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Beyond the Beacon Compiled from MCT Campus

Corker, is also being considered and is what some call a safe pick.

Fatah party meets for first time in seven years

Cuban Leader Fidel Castro dies at age of 91 A controversial figure, Castro's legacy is one that divides the world. Notable leaders who were not present at the Cuban's memorial service included British Prime Minister Theresa May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Francois Hollande. The Marxist leader was not shunned entirely at his memorial as the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Bolivian President Evo Morales attended. Some world leaders caught flak for their stances on the deceased.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provoked outrage from Cubans who had fled the Castro regime by calling him a "remarkable leader."

Trump choice for HHS Secretary Rep.Tom Price of Georgia is being considered for the lead of Department of Health and Human Services

by Donald Trump he has a 100 percent anti-abortion voting record. If confirmed he would be able to repeal one of President Barack Obama's most controversial initiatives: free birth control for women under the Affordable Care Act.

Trump has narrowed his secretary of State list to four options

Brazilian soccer team air crash disaster

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is still in the running. New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and retired Army Gen.

A Brazilian soccer team, the Chapecoense AF, was devastated by a plane crash earlier this week leaving 71 of 77 onboard dead. Nineteen Chapecoense players were among the dead but Alan Ruschel and Helio Hermito Zambier (defenders on the team) survived the crash as well as goalkeeper Jakson Follman.

The reason behind the plane crash is unknown at this time.

David Petraeus, the former CIA director are also in the running,. Both may have a hard time being passed by senate. Giuliani's buisness ties are often questioned and Petraeus was fined 100,000 for sharing classified information with his biographer and lover. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' political party, Fatah opened it's first party congress for the first time in seven years.This comes admist concern about who will take over if the 81 year old president retires. Fatah was reelected as the Palestinian authority.

New threats for civilians in Syria and Iraq AMMAN, Jordan _ In two of the Mideast’s most devastating urban conflicts _ Aleppo in Syria and Mosul in Iraq _ civilians who were already facing deprivation and danger are confronting harsh new threats brought about by recent battlefield events, humanitarian groups and international organizations say.

In Aleppo, dramatic gains by government forces have sent whole families fleeing rebel-held areas _ though few havens have awaited them. Images released by the government and opposition activists Tuesday showed weary-looking adults with children in tow dragging suitcases through ravaged, detritusfilled streets.

The United Nations said that about 16,000 people had been displaced by fierce fighting that erupted over the weekend, with thousands more likely to follow.

In Mosul, the scene of a 6-weekold offensive by U.S.-backed Iraqi troops, there is increasing desperation _ and a fast-growing casualty count _ among city residents who, willingly or not, have followed Iraqi government instructions to shelter at home while the fighting rages around them.

Beacon.MCLA.edu

9

Campus Safety Log Monday, Nov. 14 4:02p.m. – Responded to 911 Hang-up Call from Venable Hall.

7:31p.m. – Investigated Suspicious Activity in Berkshire Towers.

7:51p.m. – Responded to a Mental Health Issue in the Flagg Townhouse Apartments.

Tuesday, Nov. 15 11:10a.m. – Responded to Medical Call from Berkshire Towers.

2:56p.m. – Received information of Suspicious Activity in the Flagg Townhouse Apartments.

4:19p.m. – Warned subject involved in a Juvenile Problem in Venable Hall.

5:20p.m. – Filed report on Larceny / Forgery / Fraud on MCLA Campus.

11:41p.m. – Investigated Suspicious Activity at 72 Porter Street.

Wednesday, Nov. 16 1:11p.m. – Served paperwork to 19 Blackinton Street.

1:13p.m. – Filed report on an Informational Conversation on Hoosac Street.

9:05p.m. – Responded to Medical Call from the Flagg Townhouse Apartments.

Thursday, Nov. 17 12:42a.m. – Closed Case on Suspicious Activity in Mark Hopkins Hall.

12:53a.m. – Investigated Suspicious Activity in Eldridge Hall.

8:35a.m. – Referred medical transport from the Wellness Center to North Adams medical.

10:57p.m. – Investigated Suspicious Activity on Church Street.

11:26p.m. – Closed Case on Suspicious Activity on Montana Street.

Saturday, Nov. 19 8:46a.m. – Investigated Animal Issue in the Flagg Townhouse Apartments.

Could not locate.

12:26p.m. – Assisted citizen at Xtra Mart.

3:15p.m. – Warned subject involved in a Juvenile Problem in Venable Hall.

Sunday, Nov. 20 1:04a.m. – Responded to Medical Call and transported subject to hospital.

1:34a.m. – Responded to a disturbance call on MCLA campus and restored order.

12:57p.m. – Responded to Medical Call on the Boardman Block, transported subject to hospital.

Monday, Nov. 21 1:12p.m. – Responded to 911 Hang-up Call from 87 Blackinton Street.

2:07p.m. – Filed report on a Weather Related Issue in Murdock Hall.

Tuesday, Nov. 22 12:23a.m. – Filed report on a “Disturbing the Peace” incident in the Flagg Townhouse Apartments.

11:31a.m. – Subject with Personal Injury at the Center for Science and Innovation was referred to North Adams Medical.

3:11p.m. – Responded to 911 Hang-up Call from the Wellness Center.

6:16p.m. – Referred a Safety Hazard to other campus officials.

11:14p.m. – Rendered services to Safety Hazard in Murdock Hall.

Wednesday, Nov. 23 11:12p.m. – Investigated Suspicious Activity in Berkshire Towers.

Friday, Nov. 25 1:55p.m. – Warned subject involved in Suspicious Activity in Venable Hall.

10

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Sports

The drought continues

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Men’s basketball loses to Lyndon State 92-60

By Brady Gerow

photo from athletics.mcla.edu

By Brady Gerow Sports Writer

Behind double digit performances from all but one starter, the Williams College Men’s Basketball team trampled the MCLA Trailblazers 91-61.

Kyle Scadlock and Matt Karpowicz racked up strong stat lines from inside the paint to help lead the Ephs to the win on Tuesday Nov. 22 in Chandler Gymnasium.

“I feel we have some strength from the interior against a lot of teams,” said Williams Coach Kevin App, “and we want to establish that as early as we can.”

Scadlock recorded 17 points along with ten rebounds on the night, while Karpowicz added 15 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks.

The Ephs established the inside game very early, with the first nine points of their offense coming from lay-ups and free throws.

The Ephs attempted 12 threes in the first half, but most came up short. The lack of success outside kept Williams going inside. They had no trouble driving the ball,

having recorded a 60.6 percent field goal percentage from inside the three point line in the first half.

However, the Trailblazers had a rough first half, only having posted 29 points compared to the Ephs’ 51.

The Blazers struggled on offense, having recorded a 31.4 percent field goal percentage from inside three point range. The Blazers struggled to get inside the paint, as the Ephs’ recorded seven blocks in the first half alone.

The Blazers also struggled to get any help from the bench. In the first half, the bench recorded only two rebounds, four fouls, and no points.

Fouls were a problem early for the Blazers, as forward Nolan Bird recorded two early fouls to take him out of the game for some time.

The Ephs took direct advantage of the foul trouble on MCLA’s second tallest player, by pounding the inside even more.

“We’re looking to establish our style moving forward in the interior,” App said. “We’ve got some

Playoff Picture: The Cowboys, Patriots, and?

By Jake Mendel Web Editor

There are already only five weeks left in the NFL season. With that being said, everyone has been looking at the playoff picture since week five.

The term “if the season ended today” is one of the favorites among reporters because it gives people something to talk about.

The issue is that there is still a month left in the season and just one loss can completely change the playoff picture. If the Patriots lose one of the next four games it opens the door for the surging Dolphins in the AFC East. Since losing week 1, the Cowboys have been unstoppable.

What happens if they lose a game?

Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott have had incredible seasons. What about the rookie wall?

Most may say that the Super Bowl is going to be the Patriots vs the Cowboys. While right now, there is

a great chance of that. There is still more than a month left in the season as I mentioned earlier. What about the Raiders? Arguably the best offense in the NFL combined with the Khalil Mack and the battle-tested Bruce Irvin on defense? At 9-2, the Raiders only two losses have come at home.

In the NFC, it seems that since 2011 or so, the Seahawks became a team that thrives in the post season.

A team that often starts slow. but once the playoffs come around, Seattle’s suffocating defense is good for one or two wins on their own.

Looking past the top-two seeds, any team that gets hot should be a threat in the playoffs. Both the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants haven’t lost in more than a month and a half. We have seen the Giants do this in both 2007 and 2011.

players that have some talent down there.”

The Ephs were also able to record six offensive rebounds in the half.

The Blazers had a stronger second half, but it wasn’t enough to bring them back into the game.

MCLA was outscored 40-32 in the second half, having made 46.2 percent of their shots from inside the three point range.

Behind the three-point line was where the Ephs seemed to steal the second half. Having shot 7 for 16 from behind the arc, with 21 of their second-half points having come from three-pointers.

The Ephs walked out of that game at 3-0 and have improved to 5-0 since, having beaten Union College and Eastern Connecticut State.

The Blazers continue to struggle, having dropped to 0-4 after this game, and now to 0-5 following a 130-98 loss after facing off with Sage College in the last game of their season opening road trip.

Sports Writer Behind double digit performances from all but one starter, the Williams College Men’s Basketball team trampled the MCLA Trailblazers 91-61.

Kyle Scadlock and Matt Karpowicz racked up strong stat lines from inside the paint to help lead the Ephs to the win on Tuesday Nov. 22 in Chandler Gymnasium.

“I feel we have some strength from the interior against a lot of teams,” said Williams Coach Kevin App, “and we want to establish that as early as we can.”

Scadlock recorded 17 points along with ten rebounds on the night, while Karpowicz added 15 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks.

The Ephs established the inside game very early, with the first nine points of their offense coming from lay-ups and free throws.

The Ephs attempted 12 threes in the first half, but most came up short. The lack of success outside kept Williams going inside. They had no trouble driving the ball, having recorded a 60.6 percent field goal percentage from inside the three point line in the first half.

However, the Trailblazers had a rough first half, only having posted 29 points compared to the Ephs’ 51.

The Blazers struggled on offense, having recorded a 31.4 percent field goal percentage from inside three point range. The Blazers struggled to get inside the paint, as the Ephs’ recorded seven blocks in the first half alone.

The Blazers also struggled to get any help from the bench. In the first

photo from athletics.mcla.edu

Nolan Bird scored 14 points. half, the bench recorded only two rebounds, four fouls, and no points.

Fouls were a problem early for the Blazers, as forward Nolan Bird recorded two early fouls to take him out of the game for some time.

The Ephs took direct advantage of the foul trouble on MCLA’s second tallest player, by pounding the inside even more.

“We’re looking to establish our style moving forward in the interior,” App said. “We’ve got some players that have some talent down there.”

The Ephs were also able to record six offensive rebounds in the half.

The Blazers had a stronger second half, but it wasn’t enough to bring them back into the game. MCLA was outscored 40-32 in the second half, having made 46.2 percent of their shots from inside the three point range.

Behind the three-point line was where the Ephs seemed to steal the second half. Having shot 7 for 16 from behind the arc, with 21 of their second-half points having come from three-pointers.

Ex-NFL star Darren Sharper gets 20 years in prison as LA rape he took advantage of my body without my permission,” one of the victims said in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom on photo from Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times/TNS Tuesday. “I have lost every bit Darren Sharper (pictured) of self-confidence I’ve ever had and am always in fear while

By Corina Knoll alone. It doesn’t matter whether Los Angeles Times it’s day or night, I can see a guy (TNS) and automatically in my head think, ‘What if this guy tries to LOS ANGELES — Former NFL rape me?’” star Darren Sharper was senSuperior Court Judge Michael tenced Tuesday to 20 years in E. Pastor noted the statements prison for drugging and raping she and another victim gave as he two women in Los Angeles, capsentenced Sharper. ping a case in which the athlete “I daresay that I cannot speak was accused of attacking more more eloquently or passionately than a dozen women across the about the horrible misconduct of country.

Mr. Sharper and the unfathomSharper was sentenced as part able effect he has had on the two of a plea deal he reached last year alleged victims,” the judge said. “I — a “global resolution” that his atthink their individual statements torneys said helped resolve sexual speak volumes as to this disgraceassault cases filed against him in ful abuse of trust and the behavior multiple states. of Mr. Sharper.”

“I can only imagine myself lyAfter Los Angeles authorities ing there like a vegetable while

arrested Sharper on suspicion of sexual assault in January 2014, women in other cities came forward, alleging similar attacks. The former New Orleans Saints safety has been convicted of drugging and raping nine women in Los Angeles, Nevada, Arizona and Louisiana.

In August, a federal judge in New Orleans sentenced him to more than 18 years for the attacks. The judge said a federal presentencing report indicated there were 16 victims.

The sentence in Los Angeles is to be served at the same time as others around the country.

Sharper, a five-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl winner who retired in 2011, went on to work as an analyst for the NFL Network until his arrest in Los Angeles.

He pleaded no contest in March 2015 to the Los Angeles charges accusing him of drugging and raping two women.

News

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Beacon.MCLA.edu

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Photo by Domonique Ackley/The Beacon

Three pins, displayed at the event. Pins are to signify allies of those who will be marginalized by Trump.

FORUM Continued from page 1

Photo by Veronica Rose/The Beacon

Alumni Marcus Neverson auditions for the play. It aims to create a space to talk about gun violence.

VENABLE 8 Continued from page 3 the North Adams Armory and lastly MCLA. The educational aspect, Shedd hopes, will come in the form of the postshow talk backs.

The three plays are all fictional accounts based off of real events. All three shows focus on gun violence in a classroom setting.

“This show looks at gun violence in a rural small town high school, a college and Sandy Hook, Conn. There is also a soundscape featured in the show with clips from Columbine, Virginia Tech and others,” Shedd said.

When asked if he was worried the show would sensationalize gun violence Shedd argued that gun violence was HOLIDAY Continued from page 1 Chamber of Commerce sponsored a decorating contest in the windows downtown,” Helme said, “and we’re really grateful to the volunteer groups that decorated the store fronts.”

Berkshire Family & Individual Resources (BFAIR), the Adams Youth Center, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary youth group, the North Adams Farmer’s Market Committee, North Adams Yoga and the North Adams Ambulance Services were all the volunteer groups that helped embellish and transform empty and lonely storefront windows into festive and vibrant works of art for those passing by to enjoy.

Mayor Alcombright continued the spirit of thankfulness by thanking city workers, the police department, the fire department, and neighboring community members for helping the town

already being sensationalized and that “Venable 8” would provide a safe space to talk about the violence productively.

“The 24-hour news channels, Facebook as a source for news, gruesome video released to the public --these factors of sensationalism have all effectively left us numb to the gun violence epidemic in our country,” Shedd said.

“We’re not trying to glorify gun violence --we’re quite simply terrified of it, and see theater as a way to cause change,” Shedd said.

Shedd hopes eventually the show will be seen by as many people as possible--but that eventually it won’t have to be toured at all because the gun violence epidemic will cease to exist. put together this event. Thanks were also given to the city’s electrician for helping light up the tree, and even to Suzy Helme for organizing the event.

The first Christmas tree in downtown North Adams was donated to the city by the Forest Park Country Club in Adams, while the tree at the other end of Main Street near Subway was donated by the Aubuchon hardware store in Williamstown. Alcombright expressed gratitude to both businesses for their contributions.

“As you look at the tree, you’re gonna see something new,” Mayor Alcombright said. “There’s a beautiful garland that’s been added to the tree. This was made by the Brayton [Elementary School] sixth and seventh graders and some others….that 100 foot chain that I was told was going be here is 220 feet long, representing the well wishes of all these students at Brayton Elementary School.”

In concluding his speech

responses that rose up all over the campus community after the election, according to Cindy Brown, vice president of Academic Affairs.

Birge acknowledged the new diversity task force being reassembled by Vice President Catherine Holbrook and Brown and efforts to hire a part-time counselor to whittle down counseling services current two week wait period as efforts the College is taking to address the needs of students who feel unsafe after the election results.

Birge also emphasized a need for diverse voices to be included in the College’s new strategic plan.

Birge said he’d been contacted by many people who were not in support of the college’s new programs, but argued that there is “real fear and hate that has emerged since the election.”

Birge assured those at the forum that MCLA would not tolerate hate crimes and would work to make all voices feel welcome and to educate others about inclusivity.

The three union heads, Charles Cianfarini from the Association of Professional Administrators, Elizabeth Manns from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Alcombright urged attendees to remember what is truly important in life: our faith, family, and friends.

He mentioned the multitudes of service men and women who would not be able to spend Thanksgiving with their families and pointed out that the police force and firefighters would not break for the holidays. Alcombright asked every attendee to think of these brave individuals on Thursday.

“Let’s be thankful for each and every one of us for being here together tonight,” he announced, before reminding the community of the national Small Business Saturday going on across the United States. The Mayor encouraged community members to support small town businesses in North Adams as they began their holiday shopping following Black Friday.

Alcombright led attendees

Employees, and Grazianna Ramsden from the Faculty Association all expressed their dismay for the new Presidentelect, but also their commitment to fight for change.

“I understand this is not about the election,” Ramsden said, speaking publicly to President Birge, “[but] as a woman, as an immigrant, I do resent the results of the election.”

Ramsden in particular spoke to her fellow faculty members about the importance of education especially after the election.

“Education is the most important component at this point,” Ramsden said. She urged students to read, stay informed, and engage in discussion with their professors.

She also urged forum attendees not to let the election normalize the alt-right.

“We have to react at this point,” Ramsden said. “We can’t accept the alt-right as a movement. The alt-right are neo-Nazis.”

Student Government President Tim Williams spoke about what it’s like to be a gay man with two disabled parents.

To his constituents he urged their anger.

“I give you permission to be mad as hell,” Williams said. “We can stand in opposition to the hatred.”

He urged students to be active in politics by running for office or even just by coming to SGA meetings.

“Your voice matters. Now use it to help the people who don’t feel like they matter,” Williams said.

Sophomore Tyler Spencer took the floor as a Republican voice. He stated that on a campus like MCLA’s the voices of Republicans are often silenced, but from other Republican community members he’d spoken to (regardless of whether or not they had voted for Trump) Spencer stated that they all seemed interested in working with everyone else and helping to fight oppression.

Sophomore Alyssa St. Franc followed Spencer, after a silence.

She spoke as a student of color.

“We’re scared, we’re legitimately scared of Trump supporters,” St. Franc said.

While she appreciated the forum she thought more needed to be done. She pointed out that the timing was inconvenient for students who had class and that some students might not even feel safe enough to leave their dorms. She emphasized that professors need to be willing to initiate the discussions, and pointed out that the safety pins being handed out at the door weren’t enough to actually make students feel safe.

and their children to shout for Santa, so the large Christmas tree could light up the night sky. The Drury High School’s

band followed up with more Christmas classics to help North Adams settle into the festivities.

“A Life in Film in the Berkshires” A talk by Diane Pearlman

Executive Director Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative

Thursday Dec. 8, 5 p.m.

Mark Hopkins Room 110 All are welcome

Photo Essay

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Photo By Ron Leja Photo by Emily Gabert

‘Tis The Season(s)

Photo by Domonique Ackley

Photo by Domonique Ackley

Photo by Domonique Ackley

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Photo By Ron Leja

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