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