February 2, 2012

Student Newspaper of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts North Adams, Mass.

The Beacon

Volume 75 Issue 1 Thursday February 2, 2012

theonlinebeacon.com

THE MCLA BEACON ONLINE BEACONMCLA

Final vote tonight

Women’s basketball wins against Salem

XMALIA at MCLA!

The Board will vote on whether or not to arm the Public Safety officers tonight at 5:30 in Sullivan Lounge. Managing Editor Andrew Roiter responds.

The extinction of species is the topic in this mixed-media performance from last week.

Commentary, page 14

Arts and Entertainment, page 6

Pilot program to lend bikes

Trailblazers knock down Salem State with 72-51 victory Sports , page 9

Governor emphasizes education in new budget 2.98 percent spending increase over 2012, increases funding for K-12.

By Andrew Roiter Managing Editor

Beacon Archive

A pilot bike share program, to be introduced this spring, will allow students to check out a bike, a lock and a helmet at the Freel Library for up to 24 hours.

Students, faculty and staff will be able to borrow a bike

by April

By Jess Gamari

Senior News Editor After many months of research and planning, the bike share program is getting ready to take off.

In March, there will be a soft opening ceremony for the campus community to test the bikes, as well as to learn about bicycle safety and the rules of the program.

“The bikes are multi-purpose and very sturdy so there won’t be a lot of maintenance,” said Caroline Scully, Chair of the Green Team and the Berkshire Environmental Resource Center sustainability coordinator.

“They will be equipped with baskets for shopping and, because they will be available overnight, they will have lights.”

About five to seven bikes will be purchased with department

donations on campus from Berkshire Outfitters, a bike shop in Cheshire.

The bike share program will allow students, faculty and staff to check out bicycles for recreation, exercise, shopping, community service, employment, internships, or exploring downtown without the expense of carbon output.

According to Scully, the official opening ceremony will be held in late April, weather pending.

Once operational, the program will allow students, faculty and staff to check out a bike from the library with an MCLA ID for up to 24 hours.

“Having Student Affairs run the program is really what’s making it happen. It will be running directly out of Spencer’s office and it wouldn’t be possible without him,” said Scully, referring to Spencer Moser, who serves as coordinator of the Center for Service and Citizenship in Student Affairs.

Moser said the program began as a strategic plan to help students get into the city as easily and environmentally as possible.

“It’s a service that many colleges offer. It’s a massive team effort,

with tentacles across the whole campus,” he said.

“Glenn Lawson and the library have really stepped up. They will oversee the check-out log book for the bikes which will be outside the library,” Moser added.

He is also grateful for Public Safety, Facilities, and the Outdoors Club, which has agreed to help store the bikes and work on repairs as necessary.

According to both Scully and Moser, Charlotte Degen, Dean of Students, did a lot of work to get the program up and running. Degen decided the best way to determine the success of the program was to declare it as a pilot program, which means this spring will be a trial period to see how the MCLA community responds to the program before it is declared official.

Last fall, senior Dan Celentano and Environuts President Jason Brown worked as interns for the program. As interns, they gathered information and worked on logistics for the program with the help of Degen.

BIKES, continued on page 3

Governor Deval Patrick released his annual budget recommendation for 2013 last week.

The $32.3 billion recommendation proposes a 2.98 percent increase in spending over last year. “[Governor Patrick] billed it as an education budget...I think it’s not a hugely funded education budget, but given the constraints of his revenue sources, it is significant,” Robert Bence, a political science professor at MCLA, said.

The budget puts an increased effort towards education, with special emphasis on K-12 and

community colleges. $4.1 billion would be allocated to K-12 Chapter 70, the state’s primary program for distributing funds to K-12 schools, a $145 million increase over last year.

“It’s not much of an increase, but it’s a signal that he wants to increase education,” Bence said.

The College’s response to the recommendation was critical of the funding for the Department of Higher Education, which remained unchanged from last year.

BUDGET, continued on page 3

Beacon archive

Gov. Deval Patrick, seen here with College President Mary Grant, and State Rep. Gail Cariddi, realeased his budget recommendation last week.

IN THIS ISSUE News World A&E Sports Science

2-4 5 6-8 9-11 12

Campus Comment 13 Letters to the Editor 14 Commentary 14 Comic & Games 15 Photo Essay 16

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News

Thursday, September 22, 2011

SGA Briefs Monday Jan. 30

– SGA tabled the previous week’s minutes (Jan. 23) because of grammatical errors.

– Foy reminded everyone about the Board of Trustees meeting today at 5:30pm in Sullivan Lounge, where they will vote on the arming of campus police. Foy said he hopes to see as many student leaders there as possible.

– Senator Jason Brown, Sustainability Sommittee chair, told SGA the development of a bike share program is in “full swing.” He and Senator Sarah DiMarino are both interning this semester to help develop the program.

– Last Thursday, Student Trustee Jaynelle Bellemore and President Foy traveled to Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester for a statewide Student Advisory Council meeting. The council, made up of students from every public college in the state, works to advocate for higher education. On March 8, representatives from all over the state will participate in a lobby day.

– Advisor Jennifer Craig spoke about “Wet Feet Week,” a chance for students to learn about clubs on campus. A club fair will be held Thursday, Feb. 9 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Marketplace. There will also be a showcase for performance clubs.

– Treasurer Peter Swain presented two supplemental budget requests submitted to the Budget and Finance Committee (BFC). Black Student Union (BSU) and Nexxus have both requested additional funds for events this semester. BSU is requesting $6,420 for a trip to a Broadway show, Black History Month, and an end of the year barbeque. The Budget and Finance Committee is recommending $1,400, as unforseen events held by BSU shifted funds away from events they had originally requested money for. Nexxus is requesting $1,284.90 for van drivers to their competition at Williams, Teach Our Campus How to Step Day, and uniforms. The BFC is recommending $100 for van drivers, since the club has $2,216 out of the $2,550 they received for this year.

– SGA approved to give $100 to Health Services and Athletics for a student-faculty eating disorder seminar. Williams, Southern Vermont, Berkshire Community and Simons Rock College are working with MCLA to fund the training sessions. SGA also approved $75 to the Berkshire Towers Advisory Board to help sponsor the Annual Valentines Gala.

Colleges given grant to begin assessment on student writers MCLA and BCC recieve grant to introduce new criteria to reevaluate the writing curriculum

By Holly Johnston Staff Writer

What do students need to know to be better writers? Starting this month the College will begin a formulative assessment on student writers.

MCLA and BCC were awarded a grant under the Board of Higher Education called the Advancing a Massachusetts Culture of Assessment (AMCOA) project and will introduce new criteria to reevaluate the curriculum across both colleges.

“BCC is a feeder school, which means more students come to MCLA from this community college than any other. It is important to let them know what they need before entering,” Associate Dean of Assessment and Planning Kristina Bendikas said.

English-Communications ProSunday 1/15 10:15 pm - Public Safety was called to the Amsler Campus Center for a report of Larcency/ Forgery/Fraud, Report was filed.

Monday 1/16 5:11 pm - Public Safety responded to an alarm trouble in the Flagg Townhouses. The alarm was accidental.

Tuesday 1/17 10:52 am - Public Safety was called to an incident of Larceny/ Forgery/Fraud at Cumberland Farms on Ashland St. A report was filed.

6:37 pm - Public Safety investigated a fire alarm trouble in the Flagg Townhouses.

Wednesday 1/18 1:55 pm - Public Safety responded to a Medical Call in the Brewer Perkins Lot and referred them to an outside agency.

fessor David Langston, also a member of AMCOA, articulated that any evaluation taking place should not arrive from an external source.

“We already know how to assess,” he said. “The problem that needs addressing is how the validity is communicated to an external audience.”

Bendikas assured that meetings would be held to take a look at rubrics that already exist, and to determine what the standards should be.

“We are taking a broader look at how students fair as writers.

We will support faculty work on student writing and have individual professors submit samples of student writing that will be [analyzed]. All samples will, of course, be scrubbed of names,” she said.

The first meeting for this writing

assessment will be held today, Feb. 2, 2012. This semester, samples will be turned in and the assessment will begin. Bendikas said by the end of May they should have the results of the project, and all should be wrapped up.

Stuart Fransman, a senior and English/Communications major felt the assessment was unnecessary.

“The student-professor relationship is so subjective that it makes no sense to do an overall evaluation,” Fransman said.

Another English/Communications student and senior, Michael Lattanzio said, “I feel that curriculum on every level will always be assessed for some sort of improvement.” His insights on the issue largely echo Professor Langston’s.

“You can get a decent class evaluation by looking at your final

paper at the end of the semester.

Add more evaluating to classrooms, and you clog up the whole process,” Lattanzio said.

Bendikas strongly made the point that this assessment cannot do anything but improve existing curriculum.

“It is a course embedded assessment. There is nothing extra or new being added and we are working with what we already have,” Bendikas said, “this month writing expert, Kathleen Yancey will be working with faculty.”

“We want every student to know what the expectations are of [him or her], and at what level they should be writing at. The project will be assessing sophomore through senior years, “she added.

Bendikas has a positive outlook on the assessment saying, “We expect greater writing after this.”

Friday 1/20 1:29 pm - Public Safety responded to a Medical Call from Hoosac Hall and transported the party to the hospital.

11:17 pm - Public Safety investigated reported suspicious activity on Ashland St. 11:39 pm - Public Safety responded to a medical call in Berkshire Towers, but no action was required.

ed to a disturbance in the Flagg Townhouse Phase One court yard but no action was required.

2:34 pm - Public Safety responded to a report of Disturbing the Peace in the Flagg Townhouses.

The subject was warned.

Wednesday 1/25 1:59 pm - Public Safety transported a party to the hospital in response to a Medical Call from the Campus Center.

Saturday 1/21 2:09 pm - Public Safety responded to an alarm in the Flagg Townhouses. The alarm was false.

5:35 pm - Public Safety responded to a fire alarm in the Campus Center. The cause of the alarm was unknown.

Sunday 1/22 1:13 am - Public Safey responded to a disturbance in the Campus Center Sullivan Lounge but no action was required.

2:26 am - Public Safety respond-

Contact us Email: Beacon@mcla.edu News desk: 413-662-5535 Business line: 413-662-5404 www.theonlinebeacon.com

Location: Mark Hopkins Hall, room 111

Editor-in-Chief Edward Damon

Copy Chief Jessica Wright

Managing Editor Andrew Roiter

Business Manager Jennifer Smaltz

Staff Writers Amy Cubello Jessica Gamari Andrew Hodgson Tano Holmes Holly Johnston Kayla Koumjian Skyla Seamans Nora Weiss

Senior News Editor Jessica Gamari Sports Editor Brendan Foley A&E Editor Mary Redstone

Ad Manager Dylan Glaser Web Editor Caleb Hiliadis

Advisers

Copy Editors

Jenifer Augur Gillian Jones Peter Seward

Megan Cooney Emma Farley Kristen Rubano

Design Editors Chris Goodell Stephen Kilduff

Photographers Will Casey Aaron Crawford Takeya Lee Carly Samach Serina Stimson Marissa Zelazo Videographers Ken Rodriguez Kyle Serino Ariana Tourangeau

Ad Reps

Cartoonist

James Courchaine Aaron Crawford Roz Cummings Jessica Fratus Jacob McCall

Aurora Cooper

Monday 1/23 10:34 am - Public Safety responded to a fire alarm in the Campus Center. The alarm was found to be accidental.

11:41 am - Public Safety investigated suspicious activity in the Bond St parking lot .

12:18 pm - Public Safety investigated a notification of emergency in Eldridge Hall.

8:25 pm - Public Safety rendered their services to an incident of Larceny/Forgery/Fraud.

Thursday 1/26 2:59 pm - Public Safety responded to suspicious activity at 277 Ashland St. The subject was warned.

Friday 1/27 1:34 pm - Public Safety responded to a disturbance in the Flagg Townhouses. The incident was referred to another agency.

11:30 pm - Public Safety responded to a Medical Call in the Brewer Perkins lot. The party was transported to the hospital.

Tuesday 1/24 9:39 am - Public Safety filed a report concerning an incident of Larceny/Forgery/Fraud in the Flagg Townhouses.

The Beacon is published Thursdays during the academic year and is distributed free to the College community. The Beacon is funded by the Student Government Association, the English/Communications department and from ad revenues.

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News

Thursday, February 2, 2011

SGA Special Elections will fill eight positions

By Amy Cubello Staff Writer

The Student Government Association (SGA) will hold special elections on February 15 to fill vacant spots on the student senate. Todd Foy, senior and current SGA president, said that when there are six to seven seats open, SGA calls a special election.

“We had a few Senators drop out last semester due to academic and extracurricular obligations,” said Foy. Nomination papers were due yesterday, February 1, but every matriculated student who has paid their student activity fee is encouraged to vote. Polls open on February 15 in Bowman Hall at 11am and close at 7pm.

Natasha Dalton, junior and current Parliamentarian, has been affiliated with SGA for three years.

She said the seats available include two SenateAt-Large seats, two Class of 2012 Senate Represen-

tative seats, two Class of 2013 Senate Representative seats, one special representation seat for the Greek seat and one Class of 2014 Treasurer.

“The results will be posted on the SGA bulletin board outside of the SGA office, which is located on the third floor of the Campus Center,” said Dalton.

Jacqueline Nash, a senior and Coordinating Vice President of SGA, adds that the transition of “bringing in newlyelected members to SGA will only help us flourish.”

Nash added, “As elected members, we are all there for the sole purpose of making student life better.

We are open to healthy debate and new ideas, as this semester SGA hopes to succeed just as much as the past.”

The students who are voted into SGA will hold their current position for the rest of the Spring 2012 semester.

FINANCIAL AID ANNOUNCEMENT IT’S TIME TO APPLY FOR 2012-2013 FINANCIAL AID! MARCH 1ST PRIORITY DATE! * Log onto www.mcla.edu/aid and click on Application Forms for the links to complete the Institutional Application for Financial Aid and for the FAFSA. REMEMBER TO CHECK YOUR FIRST CLASS COLLEGE EMAIL FOR ANY REQUESTED INFORMATION FOR YOUR FILE!! * Mark your calendar for the free FAFSA Workshop on campus on Feb. 1st, 6-8pm in Murdock 108; bring your and your parent’s PINs and tax information with you!

FILE EARLY AND DON’T MISS OUT ON MONEY! MARCH 1ST PRIORITY DEADLINE!

Attention MCLA Clubs!

3

Want to gather interest and bring in more members?

Looking to spread the word for an upcoming event?

Did you know that The Beacon offers you a

Free Ad!

That’s right! Each semester, your club or organization is eligible to run one free advertisement in The Beacon!

For more information, contact Dylan Glaser on FirstClass

Bike share program at MCLA moves forward BIKES, continued from page 1

Two additional interns, Sarah DiMarino and Peter Swain, were added this semester to handle marketing and implementation, respectively. Scully will serve as the advisor for the interns.

“I think [the program] is a unique way to get students to explore North Adams and the surrounding community,”

DiMarino said. “If we encourage students to explore other ways of transportation, then we can get them active in trying to reduce their own carbon footprint. We want community members and local businesses to be involved so we can all work to bring the students and the community together.”

The school recently received a letter from Mayor Alcombright giving his full support

toward the bike program.

In the future, MCLA hopes to work with the mayor to make North Adams a more bike friendly area. Moser and Scully agree that if the program is received well, additional bike racks and storage facilities will be added for students to bring their own bikes to the school.

proposal, the senate’s proposal, and the house’s proposal have been very close,” Stakenas said.

“But keeping in mind, that’s my opinion.”

“The legislature has always felt that they’re at least equal partners in the budget process, and some governors have been more successful than others in persuading the legislature to accept their [budget] recommndations,” Bence said.

“I think now, during difficult economic times, that the legislature is less likely to change the budget [recommendation]... they would prefer the governor take the blame for cuts.”

The budget contains a series of proposed cuts from public services. The largest of which are $30 million from Mass. Executive branch resulting in 400 layoffs, $15 million from the Mass. Department of Transportation. The closure of the Bay State Correctional Facility in Norfolk will save the state

$8.9 million.

“The closure is consistent with sentencing reform, the Administration’s larger Corrections Master Plan and efforts to strengthen the state’s corrections and community supervision programs. Sentencing reform will ensure the savings can be achieved without increasing overcrowding in other facilities,” the Patrick-Murray administration said in an official press release.

The recommendation proposes several alternative revenue sources to help balance the budget: $61.5 million from removing the tax exemption of candy and soda, $62.5 million from increasing the cigarette tax by 50 cents, $10.4 million from increasing taxes on cigars and smokeless tobacco, and $22 million from expanding the bottle bill.

For more budget details, go to www.mass.gov/budget/governor

BUDGET, continued from page 1

“Obviously, we feel very strongly that higher education is an investment and we would like the state to invest a little bit more in us,” College Vice President of Administration and Finance James Stakenas said. “More state appropriation means that the state is picking up a larger share of our operating costs and it means that students would be picking up a lesser amount of our operating costs…so we’d like it certainly to be more.”

Both Stakenas and Bence said they found it unlikely that there would be a significant difference between the governor’s recommendation and the final budget passed by the Mass.

Houses of congress.

“I think that the governor has a good understanding of revenue and the legislature will often look at revenue before they come out with the budget, but I think that in the last two or three year the governor’s

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News

Thursday, February 2, 2011

Series focuses on Art and Community Professor’s research topic of Press Release

NORTH ADAMS, MASS. – The College’s Berkshire Cultural Resource Center announced its “Tricks of the Trade” series for February will focus on “Integration of Art and Community,” in particular the relationship between local politics, the arts and the larger community.

The next installment of this series will take place Feb. 7-9, with three seminars to be held throughout Berkshire County.

The events are free and open to the public. All seminars begin at 6:30 p.m.

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in round table discussions with local politicians, state representatives and professionals. Questions to be addressed include, how do communities engage and embrace art and culture? What are the benefits? What are the downfalls?

How do our local politicians and community leaders view the role of art and culture in their communities? How beneficial art can be for a community and how to make the community aware of those benefits?

Panelists will discuss realized projects, as well as possible

future ones. They will talk about obstacles that may occur, such as community reluctance, as well as benefits and tangible improvement of public engagement and participation. All are encouraged to bring their own questions, thoughts and ideas.

In North Adams on Feb 7 at Gallery 51, a panel moderated

by Jonathan Secor will focus on North Adams and Northern Berkshire community. Panelists include Mayor Richard Alcombright; city councilors Nancy Bullet, David Bond, and Keith Bona; Christine Dobbert, Florida town administrator; and Veronica Bosley, director of North Adams Office of Tourism.

On Feb. 8, at Ferrin Gallery in Pittsfield, the series will highlight aspects of integration art and community in the City of Pittsfield and in the Southern part of the County. The panel will be moderated by Helena Fruscio, Massachusetts Creative Economy Industry director and former executive director of Berkshire Creative.

Panelists include newly-elected Dan Bianchi, mayor of Pittsfield, state Sen. Ben Downing and state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier.

On Feb. 9, at IS 183 in Stock-

Professor to speak on importance of recess

By Skyla Seamans Staff Writer Education Professor Dale Fink will be presenting on “Recess as Contested Terrain” Friday, Feb. 3 for the first Brown Bag Lecture of the semester.

His lecture will take place in Sullivan Lounge at 3 p.m. and is open to the public.

Last summer, Fink completed interviews with children from ages 9-12 to understand why recess is important to them and what their perspectives are when teachers use recess as a reward or take it away as a punishment.

“I think the most exciting part of my research has been conducting interviews with children from elementary grades,” Fink said. “There cur-

rently is no published research in which the voices of children appear on this topic.”

Other research on recess that Fink will summarize as part of the lecture includes how recess relates to obesity, bullying, ADHD, and if recess should come before or after lunch.

“The children I have talked with have had such powerful words to say about why they have lost recess,” Fink said. “I will be sharing these profound insights at the lecture and I hope my findings will promote more thought and discussion about the importance of recess and independent play.”

If anyone wishes to share their experiences on this topic, Fink encourages students to e-mail him via FirstClass.

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bridge, a conversation among professional of the art and community field will be facilitated by Megan Whilden, director of the Office of Cultural Development in Pittsfield. Panelists include Susan Cross, curator at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA); Kate Merrigan, UNITY program coordinator of Northern Berkshire Community Colation; and Sandra Newman, founder and executive director of Community Access to the Arts.

Tricks of the Trade is presented

by Berkshire Cultural Resource Center and co-presented by Ferrin Gallery and IS183 Art School.

This program is made possible with support by AppelbaumKahn Foundation, Excelsior and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

For a full schedule of the monthly Tricks of the Trade workshops or to download a free brochure, visit [ http://www. mcla.edu/BCRC ]www.mcla.edu/ BCRC. For more information, (413) 664-8718. To register, contact Valeria Federici, BCRC program coordinator, (413) 663-5253 or valeria.federici@mcla.edu.

today’s Green Living Seminar Press Release

NORTH ADAMS, MA – Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts’ (MCLA) Green Living Seminar Series will offer a lecture on “Medicinal Plant Conservation” by Dr. Emily Mooney, assistant professor of biology at MCLA, on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 5:30 p.m. in Murdock Hall room 218.

The lecture, which is part of the spring semester Green Living series at MCLA, “Saving Biodiversity: Protecting species in Berkshire County and beyond,” is free and open to the public.

The aim of the series is to inform both students and community members about local and larger-scale efforts to protect species from extinction. This presentation is the second in a 12-week series that will consider issues of local and global biodiversity conservation.

Mooney’s research seeks to answer the question, “Why do we have a green world?” She is interested in the interactions between plants and their consumers, which includes human

harvesters. In the summer, she is stationed at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Crested Butte, Colo., where she serves as their coordinator of undergraduate research. Mooney holds a Ph.D. from West Virginia University.

This spring series will continue on Thursdays through May 3.

For more information, go to [ http://www.mcla.edu/greenliving ]www.mcla.edu/greenliving or contact Elena Traister at (413) 662-5303.

Every semester, MCLA’s Green Living Seminar Series hosts lectures by local, regional, and national experts organized around a central theme related to the environment and sustainability.

The Green Living Seminar Series is sponsored by EOS Ventures, Inc. and Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort and is a presentation of the MCLA Environmental Studies Department.

Thinking of Renting in the Townhouses?

If you REALLY REALLY REALLY are determined to spend the amount of money it will cost to rent a room in a townhouse, we can help... But.....

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That's in addition to the 42” HDTV in the living room …High Speed Wi-Fi …a dishwasher (other than you or your roommates) ...and, of course, winter break is included!!

We also have room plans that will cost less than a townhouse room and give you lots more living space still with many extras.

Financial Aid Depends on the Credits you take and is the same on or off campus

Boardman

(RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE MCLA LIBRARY)

664-9400

Singles or Any Size Group First to come has first choice of Apartments

Thursday, February 2, 2011

5

National/World News

Gingrich vows to Girl Scouts launch leadership establish colony on campaign for girls the moon by 2012 Organization aims to give girls confidence, create equal Associated Press COCOA, Fla. (AP) _ Newt Gingrich is promising to establish a permanent base on the moon by 2020 if he’s elected president.

Gingrich, the former House speaker, told an overflow crowd gathered on Florida’s space coast Wednesday that he wants to develop a robust commercial space industry in line with the airline

boom of the 1930s. He also wants to expand exploration of Mars.

The pronouncements appeared to thrill the crowd of roughly 700 people. Florida’s space coast is still suffering from a recent round of federal cuts to the space program.

But how would Gingrich pay for it?

The Republican presidential contender says he wants to offer prizes to help stimulate investment by the private sector.

Suspect in Iran missile plot to appeal to European court Associated Press LONDON (AP) _ Lawyers for a retired British businessman accused of plotting to sell missile components to Iran said Tuesday that he will ask a European court to rule on his appeal against being extradited to the United States.

Christopher Tappin, 64, faces charges in Texas over allegations that he offered in 2006 to sell specialized batteries for Hawk missiles for $25,000. He didn’t know then that his contacts were undercover U.S. agents, not Iranians, U.S. authorities say.

Tappin faces up to 35 years in jail if convicted in the United States, but he denies the charges and says he was the victim of a sting operation.

Two other men have been sentenced to prison in Texas for trying to buy and export the batteries, according to court records.

Tappin has unsuccessfully fought his extradition in Britain, where a judge ruled against him last year and two High Court judges said Tuesday that he lacked the legal basis to take his fight to the U.K. Supreme Court.

Lawyer Karen Todner said Tappin will instead lodge an appli-

cation with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, within a few days, and will ask the court to halt extradition proceedings until his case is heard.

Another Tappin lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald, had argued that under European human rights legislation, Tappin should not be extradited because he had to care for his sick wife.

U.K. judges have ruled that the severity of the charges against Tappin outweighed his right to not be extradited, but Todner said that the British government had agreed not to begin extradition proceedings for 14 days, to give Tappin time to lodge the European appeal.

Tappin’s case is the latest to expose trans-Atlantic tensions over the exchange of criminal suspects.

Lawyers complain that under ``fast track’’ extradition procedures introduced after the Sept.

11, 2001, attacks, the U.S. is not required to offer substantial proof of an allegation when seeking to extradite a suspect from Britain.

But in October 2011, a judge-led review in the U.K. found that extradition agreements between the United States and Britain are fair and unbiased.

representation of men and women in leadership roles Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) _ High school senior Fiona Lowenstein is not known for a lack of selfconfidence – after all, she once approached federal lawmakers for a sixth-grade paper on women and politics.

But running for student body president of Calhoun School in Manhattan last spring was a whole other matter.

“It was very, very nerve-wracking to put myself out there,’’ said the 18-year-old, who won the office. “I had these fears – will I be laughed at? Made fun of?’’

According to a study released Tuesday of how girls view the concept of leadership – commissioned by the Girl Scouts of the USA and conducted by GFK Roper – Lowenstein is far from the only girl to want to be both a leader and feel uncomfortable putting herself forward at the same time.

Through the survey of 1,001 girls ages 8 to 17, a portrait emerges of how young women see enduring barriers to their ability to assume leadership opportunities in a country where government and businesses are still dominated by men.

Among the key findings are that 3 in 9 girls think that while women can succeed in business, they rarely become corporate executives; and many believe they are more burdened by family than men as they try to succeed in their careers.

The results of the study were released as the Girl Scouts announced that it was throwing its clout behind a new campaign to cultivate the female leaders of tomorrow, saying too many girls are dropping out as contenders to be the next corporate executives or cutting-edge scientists.

The aim is to create equal representation of women and men in all leadership sectors of society within a generation.

Anna Maria Chavez, the organization’s chief executive officer, said girls are ready to lead but often don’t have the confidence to step up.

“We see that they have the potential to step into leadership roles,’’ she said. “They just currently don’t have the support system in place to take the next step.’’

The campaign is kicking off with a 12-month awareness campaign – including $76 million in contributed media – that will include a website, www.togetherthere.org, as well as public service announcements on posters and television.

In some of the advertisements, a girl is shown in a boardroom surrounded by middle-aged white men or depicted as a police chief sitting at her desk.

The Girl Scouts also has set a $1 billion fundraising goal for programs to support leadership development for girls.

The new campaign comes as the organization works to reverse a 14 percent decline in membership between 2006 and 2010. Last year saw the first increase since 2003, from 3,182,142 to 3,193,502 in 2011. There are about 25,000 Girl Scouts in New York.

Chavez said the campaign was not a membership drive.

“It’s really (about) changing the dialogue around the perception of girls and what they can accomplish,’’ she said.

The paucity of female leadership at the top of corporations – particularly in science, engineering and technology fields – has been well documented. For instance, last year’s Study of California Women Business Leaders by the University of California-Davis

found that women held 9.7 percent of top executive and board jobs at 400 of the largest publicly held companies in California, home of the tech engine of Silicon Valley.

“Most women at the highest ranks of leadership are faced with a choice of whether or not to put their family or work first. It’s almost impossible to do both well,’’ said Rachel Simmons, the cofounder of the Girls Leadership Institute and author of the book “The Curse of the Good Girl.’’

The government picture was no brighter in 2011. According to The White House Project, a national women’s leadership advocacy organization, the U.S. ranked in 72nd place below Rwanda and Cuba in women’s political representation.

Lowenstein, who attended Simmons’ Girls Leadership Institute and blogs for the organization, is keenly aware of the challenge facing women seeking political office, whether at the student body level or on the national scale.

She said that during the 2008 presidential election, she was disheartened by the way Hillary Rodham Clinton was portrayed, while at the same time inspired that a woman was being taken seriously for the country’s highest office.

“Hillary was often pegged as frantic or almost too invested in some sense or too emotional,’’ she said. “I feel like men are very rarely questioned in that way.’’

Catherine Steiner-Adair, a clinical psychologist and author of “Full Of Ourselves: A Wellness Program to Advance Girl Power, Health and Leadership,’’ said those images can be particularly powerful shapers of how girls view leadership.

“Every child, every girl, watches very carefully how women are really treated,’’ she said.

Obama wants small business tax, investment breaks Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Fleshing out a year-old initiative, the Obama administration wants Congress to enact or expand tax breaks for small businesses and remove barriers to startups, seizing on some existing bipartisan proposals that could win support even in the polarized climate of an election year.

White House officials say President Barack Obama will call on Congress on Tuesday to pass legislation that, among other measures, would eliminate tax rates on capital gains for investments in small businesses and extend for a year the ability of all businesses to immediately deduct all of the costs of equipment and software purchases.

The legislative package, which will be part of Obama’s 2013 budget proposal later this month, also would include a new 10 percent tax credit for small business that add jobs or increase wages in 2012.

In addition, the legislation would make it easier for new startup companies to raise money and to go public. It also would expand a government small business investment program from $3 billion to $4 billion.

“The president has made small businesses and particularly startups a key aspect of his economic growth agenda because he understands how much the newest and fastest-growing small businesses drive job growth in our economy,’’ said Gene Sperling, director of the White House National Economic Council.

The proposals borrow from past Obama initiatives and from bipartisan legislation that has either already passed in the House or is being proposed in the Senate.

Obama’s package includes proposals offered in the Senate by Democrat Chris Coons of Delaware and Republican Marco Rubio of Florida, and another plan by Republican Jerry Moran of Kansas and Democrat Mark Warner of Virginia.

White House officials would not disclose the total cost of the president’s package, but Sperling said it would be more than covered by proposals to reduce tax expenditures and by closed loopholes the administration will call for in its 2013 budget.

With the presidential election set to become the main political

preoccupation of 2012, the White House initiative is designed to take advantage of cooperative attempts

by Republicans and Democrats to find modest remedies to spur the economy. Most of those efforts have been overshadowed by congressional bickering, the Republican presidential primary and Obama’s growing attention to his re-election.

The proposals come a year after the administration launched a consolidated effort to spur new startup businesses with a highprofile White House event featuring scores of entrepreneurs, some of whom offered testimonials to the job creation possibilities that new businesses can bring to the economy.

Besides the tax breaks, a central element of the Obama package

is to assist new entrepreneurs by making it easier for them to raise money, reducing taxes on their startup expenses and removing securities barriers for new companies that have gone public.

“Our small business agenda has a specific focus on removing the barriers that have for too long blocked startups and entrepreneurs from getting the financing they need to accelerate their growth and hiring,’’ Sperling said.

One of the Obama provisions would increase the amount of money that can be raised through small public offerings that don’t require companies to undergo an extensive Securities and Exchange Commission registration process.

The limit for such “mini public offerings’’ would increase from $5 million a year to $50 million.

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Thursday, February 2, 2011

Blues and Funk Fest Returns North Adams

A&E

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Two-day festival starts Friday at PUBLIC Eat and Drink and continues Saturday at MCLA’s Venable Gym

Photo by Carly Samach/Beacon Staff

Freshman Denis Sinclair views one of the paintings on display at Gallery 51’s student-curated exhibit Visions from the Edge.

Photo Courtesy of Jonathan Secor

New York based MC Blitz the Ambasador will be performing at the Blues and Funk Fest on Sat night in Venable Gym.

By Mary Redstone A&E Editor

It’s lucky number seven for MCLA Presents’ annual Blues and Funk Festival. The festival is expanding two nights for the first time this year and is branching beyond the campus borders.

The festival starts tomorrow at the downtown restaurant and bar Public Eat and Drink at 9 p.m. The College’s Jazz Band will open for Misty Blues, featuring members from the Berkshire area. This will kick off the night, paying homage to some of the greatest female blues and jazz musicians throughout time.

“We kick it off old school style with Gina Coleman and Misty Blues, channeling the great women of the blues – from the great Etta James, who we recently lost, to Bessie Smith. Gina and the band will bring their interpretations of the great women who have signified the blues,” Jonathan Secor, director of special programs at the College, said in a press release.

Saturday night brings the festivities back to campus. At 7:30 p.m., Venable Gym will host Blitz the Ambassador, a Ghana-born, New-York-City-based MC, composer, and producer. He blends both musical style and language in his performance, from old-

school hip-hop to funk, and from English to West African.

“He is truly an amazing performer,” Secor said. “With a lightning-fast mind, the political boldness of Chuck D and the sixth groove sense of Fela Kuti, Blitz the Ambassador calls on old school hip hop and shifts between English, West African and Ethiopian jazz, never stumbling over his words and messages. You don’t want to miss this party.”

Opening for Blitz, at 7:30 p.m. will be the MCLA Jazz Band, MCLA’s Allegrettos and The Smokey Wambas.

For single-night tickets, general admission is $10, alumni cost $8, faculty and staff cost $5, and it is free for MCLA students and MCLA Presents! members. A special price of $15 is offered for tickets to both nights for general admission.

To purchase tickets, call 413662-5204. To become a member of MCLA Presents!, call Jocelyn Merrick at 413-662-5193.

For more information about the event, contact Jonathan Secor through email at jonathan. secor@mcla.edu or by phone at 413-664-8718. More information can also be obtained from www. mcla.edu/About_MCLA/Community/bcrc/mclapresents/

MCLA students curate Gallery 51

Visions from the Edge exhibit put together by MCLA’s Arts Management students

By Tano Holmes A&E Writer

A barrage of colors greets visitors to Gallery 51 as the MCLA Arts Management class, taught by Professor Tony Gengarelly, presents Visions from the Edge.

“This gallery represents a full semester’s worth of work by the students,” Jonathan Secor, director of special programs at the College said.

Visions from the Edge is an art exhibit that opened last Thursday and will be open until Feb. 19.

It displays the artwork of 11 different artists, all of whom are affiliated with Pure Visions Arts, an art gallery and studio based in the neighborhood of Chelsea which is in Manhattan, New York.

The Arts Management class took a field trip last semester to Pure Visions Arts to determine which art would be displayed at Gallery 51.

“We got to meet some of the artists, and there was such a large

selection of artwork at Pure Visions Arts,” said Jessica Atanas, a student in the Arts Management class. “It was cool because Pure Visions Arts is not just an art gallery, but an operational studio as well, where the artists often come to work. We researched all the artists as well as their work and came together to decide which ones would be displayed here.”

“This is one of my favorite exhibits [the Arts Management class] has had here,” Laura Pettengill, a junior and an employee of Gallery 51 said. “I like that there is a lot of untitled work, which for me is more art for art’s sake, as opposed to art with a message. For me it’s more personal.”

The gallery contained a variety of artwork, including an extremely intricate piece by Barry Kahn.

The piece had geometric shapes in a wide variety of colors, as well as human faces worked into the patterns.

The gallery’s main contributor

was Jessica Parker, an honorary graduate of MCLA and a Williamstown resident. She has an eight-year-old relationship with the College. She also has a book written about her work called Exploring Nirvana: The Art of Jessica Park, which was published by the College in 2008.

There were more socially-minded works featured by c\various artists in Gallery 51. One artist in particular was Leon McCutcheon, an African American painter whose main influence is jazz music. His works on display included African Americans in different situations in America, such as southern African American women going to church in fancy attire, or the face of a black man with the words ‘poor,’ ‘city,’ and ‘black’ written around him.

Many paintings created an interesting contrast of images by incorporating urban landscapes, especially New York, and country landscapes together.

WJJW is streaming online!

Head to audio.mcla.edu for Listening links and Programming Schedule

A&E

Thursday, February 2, 2011

Comedy Stop’s first event a success Johnny Cardinale entertained students last Thursday night in Sullivan Lounge

By Mary Redstone

A&E Writer Johnny Cardinale stood in the center of a temporary stage in Sullivan Lounge last Thursday night and asked that fearful question of the audience – how many of you are graduating, and do you know what you want to do after you graduate? He looked right at me.

I had never actually been put on the spot by a comedian before.

“Well, I’m a writer,” I told him.

He asked what I write. “Anything really,” I responded. I saw a look in his eyes that could only mean one thing: I was about to be part of a joke.

“I’m sure that will look great on your resume´,” he said. “What do you write? Anything? Alright, here’s a menu; show me what you’ve got. ‘Extra cheese, fifty cents.’ Brilliant!”

No one was off-limits during Cardinale’s hour-long comedy set, from the students in the audience to the founding fathers to his oddly accurate impression of Channing Tatum. Not even the setting of Sullivan Lounge was safe from Cardinale’s sharp commentary.

“Is that a high-tide mark?” Cardinale asked as he pointed to the two-toned pillars in the room.

“And they even found curtains to match!”

Cardinale found a seemingly endless string of jokes in the topic of Italians, from their gestures to the way they speak. Being Italian himself, he drew upon actual family members and experiences such as the unfamiliar feeling of not feeling obligated to clean his plate.

Like many comedians before him, Cardinale opened his act with jokes about North Adams.

Later, he mentioned the hip-hop genre and asked the audience, “You guys have hip-hop out here, right? Has it made it this far west yet?”

Cardinale then recommended that people go back and revisit terms for “drunk” that haven’t seen the light of day in quite some time, citing The Drinker’s Dictionary for terms that should be brought back.

“The thing about drinking though,” he said, “is that if you say anything with enough enthusiasm you can use it to talk about being drunk. ‘Dude, I drank so much last night, I was reupholstered!’”

He joked for a while about men and women, and how he thinks women have it so much easier than men.

“You see a lady bug and think how cute it is,” he said, “if it was a man bug you would be terrified.”

For the last portion of the eve-

ning, Cardinale took out his guitar. While comedians like Dimitri Martin write funny songs to be played on the guitar or other instruments, Cardinale used his guitar to make fun of music.

He explained how all guitar players need to do to impress girls is to play on two certain strings and sing with an airy voice and use only vowels. To illustrate his point, he began singing a satire of Snow Patrol’s hit song “Chasing Cars.”

He made fun of Nickleback as well, singing one of their songs in a nasally whine and then explaining that he sang exactly that way at a karaoke bar and received nothing but compliments.

As his final bit, he revisited a joke about tattoos that he had made earlier. He asked audience members if they had tattoos, and what they were. I reluctantly raised my hand.

“Oh, the writer has a tattoo,” he joked. “Just what are you writing anyway?”

“I’m covering this for the school paper,” I said.

“Oh, that’s awesome. I thought you just weren’t paying attention and were writing poetry or something based on my act.”

theonlinebeacon.com

7

After surgery, Adele to perform at the Grammys NEW YORK (AP) _ Adele is nominated for six Grammys, and she’ll be on deck to collect anything she wins: The 23-year-old singer is set to perform at the awards show.

Adele had surgery on her vocal cords last year, and the Grammys will be the first time she has performed live in five months, The Recording Academy announced Tuesday.

Her sophomore album, ``21,’’ has sold more than 6 million cop-

ies in the U.S. It is nominated for album of the year and best pop vocal album. The CD has three singles that have hit the No. 1 spot on the Billboard chart, including ``Rolling in the Deep,’’ which is up for record and song of the year.

The Grammys will air live Feb. 12 on CBS from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Adele will also perform at the BRIT Awards on Feb. 21.

Colbert’s PAC raises over $1 million NEW YORK (AP) _ Stephen Colbert’s sway in the U.S. presidential election might be a joke, but he’s got some real financial muscle.

The comedian disclosed Tuesday that his Americans for a Better Tomorrow ``super’’ political action committee has raised a staggering $1.02 million. PACs were required to submit their financial reports to the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday.

In a letter to the commission, Colbert was quoted as saying, ``How you like me now, FEC?’’ Colbert raised the money by asking for donations from viewers of ``The Colbert Report.’’ He has used the PAC to highlight what he considers the absurdity of campaign finance law and, in particular, the 2010 Supreme Court ruling that allows corporations and unions to raise limitless money to run campaign ads. ``We raised it on my show and used it to materially influence the elections _ in full accordance with the law,’’ Colbert said in a press release. ``It’s the way our founding fathers would have wanted it, if they had founded corporations instead of just a country.’’

When Colbert earlier flirted with running for president, he legally transferred control of his

PAC to Jon Stewart of ``The Daily Show,’’ as the so-called super PACs are supposed to remain independent of the candidates. On Monday’s ``The Colbert Report,’’ he elaborately hunted down Stewart to regain his PAC presidency.

Colbert said Tuesday that the PAC is considering yet another name change to: John Colbert Cougar Super MellenPAC. On ``The Report,’’ Colbert has portrayed every turn of the screw in the life of a political action committee, going through the law with his attorney, Trevor Potter, former Federal Election Commission chairman.

Thus far, his PAC has created a handful of television ads, including an over-the-top negative ad against Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, and an anti-players ad during the NBA lockout.

Tuesday’s FEC filing also revealed the donors who gave more than $200 to Colbert’s PAC. Among them are Gavin Newsom, lieutenant governor of California (who gave $500), Bradley Whitford of the ``The West Wing’’ ($250) and ``Hot in Cleveland’’ star Laura Sangiacomo ($250).

Colbert is yet to say what else he intends to do with the money.

DANA POINT, Calif. (AP) _ Legendary rocker Neil Young has taken his campaign for higher-fidelity digital sound to the stage of a technology conference. He says a giant of technology was on his side: the late Steve Jobs.

Young says the Apple co-founder was such a fan of music that he didn’t use his iPod and its digitally compressed files at home. Instead, Young says, Jobs listened to vinyl

albums, which are well-known to have better sound.

Young told the ``D: Dive Into Media’’ conference Tuesday that he spoke with Jobs about creating a format that has 20 times the fidelity of files in the most current digital formats, including MP3.

He speculated that if Jobs had lived longer, he might have tried to create a system that used this higher-quality format.

Neil Young: Steve Jobs listened to vinyl Photo by Carly Samach/Beacon Staff

Johnny Cardinale entertained students last Thursday night in Sullivan Lounge. His routine included straight-forward jokes, impressions, and jokes on his guitar making fun of other songs and musicians.

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A&E

Thursday, February 2, 2011

theonlinebeacon.com

XMALIA informs and entertains C. Ryder Cooley brought attention to the disappearance and death of animals using music, video images, and theatrical performances.

By Nora Weiss

Mary Redstone A&E Editor

We’re gonna need a bigger boat I have always been a fan of testing things out before comitting to buying them. Free sample of ice cream at Cold Stone before I order? Yes. Trying on clothes before buying them? Of course. Watching trailers and clips of a movie before renting the DVD? Absolutely.

I like to take the same approach when dealing with music too; if someone mentions a band to me or I read about an up-and-coming band and I want to check them out, I’m not going to blindly buy their album and risk having them be something I absolutely hate.

This is honestly the main reason why I love the internet. There are so many ways to discover new music and check it out before buying the album. However, the increasing threat of bills like SOPA could potentially kill this method of listening to bands before you buy them.

Most recently, music streaming website Grooveshark.com has c ome under fire for potentially infringing on copyright laws. They are being sued by major labels Sony, Universal Music, and Warner Music.

However, Grooveshark claims that they are protected by the Safe Harbor Provision in the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) which states, “service providers are not liable for the storage of material, at the users’ direction, that resides on a network or system operated or controlled by the service provider.” This is based also on whether the server had knowledge of the illegal content, the server received any financial gain directly from this content, and upon notification the server removed the content immediately.

Currently, Grooveshark is indeed protected under this provision, unless the courts decide to use two anonymous blog comments posted a few days ago. The comments claim to be from an employee of the website and state that they were encouraged to upload music themselves. If these are accurate, Grooveshark would no longer be under protection of the DMCA. They have options however; they can obtain a license similar to that of Pandora or pay a flat fee to account holders of copyrights. These are actually options they could have used all along, and why they didn’t is a mystery.

I use Grooveshark nearly every day, and I in fact pay $3 a month as a premium user. If they end up having to shut down, I can confidently predict a drop in musical awareness and profit on major labels. Without websites like Grooveshark and YouTube, where else can you discover great music you’ve never heard before?

A&E Writer MCLA Presents! started this semester off with another encapsulating performance: “XMALIA.” It’s a word that is hard to pronounce, never mind understand.

However, professional artist C. Ryder Cooley brought definition, as well as beauty to the stage in Venable Gym last Wednesday as she performed a tribute to the multiple species who have met an unfortunate demise.

Pronounced “zi-mahlia,” Cooley and her crew portray the devastation of many species of animals that have gone extinct over time, from specific kinds of sheep to giant deer. Cooley presented music, video images, and intricate aerial work. With ropes and sheets hanging down from the ceiling, Cooley swung in slow motion over the audience, playing her small guitar with animal heads attached to her shoulders.

Yes, animal heads.

“XMALIA’s” goal was to bring attention to the disappearance and death of so many animals; animals that posed no threat, but still were brought to a very bitter end. Cooley brought the audience to a haunted still as she flew above them all in remembrance of the dodo, giving a noble tribute to the bird many are so quick to label stupid.

“It’s kind of chilly,” said junior Laura Pettengill. “The show has

Photo by Serina Stimpson/Beacon Staff

C. Ryder Cooley brought extintion to life on the stage in Venable Gym last Wednesday night. this eeriness about it, but it was meaningful. She [Cooley] is letting people know animals are being harmed.”

The emotional message of Cooley’s performance was just that; to remind people that despite the

increasing trends of veganism, vegetarianism, and animal rights, many creatures are still in danger.

Some harm is being done by humans, but there is inevitable harm through changes within nature and how it transforms throughout the years. Yet Cooley does not call for immediate change, or despair in hopelessness. Instead, she causes those who see her fly through air to be grateful for what they can experience, for tomorrow those wonderful things may not be there anymore.

“I have a good relationship with Ryder,” expressed senior Shannon Costello, an arts management student who interned this past summer with DownStreet Art. Costello helped to manage a gallery dedicated to Cooley’s visual

art. “It’s really interesting to experience her multiple talents, as she is an inter-disciplinary artist.”

MCLA Presents! has a full schedule for February, including the 7th Annual Blues and Funk Festival, a two-night extravaganza of modern blues, jazz, and hiphop. The first night takes place this Friday, Feb. 3 at Public Eat & Drink on Holden Street featuring local artist Misty Blues to give jazz a modern twist. Saturday night highlights African-born, New York-based rapper and producer Blitz the Ambassador spitting out politically-fueled rhymes with an old-school flow. For more information, check out www.mcla. edu/presents and get acquainted with some entertainment.

Madonna, LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, Cee-Lo Green...

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Go to theonlinebeacon.com To participate in our poll And after the game Come back and take our post-show poll Photo by Serina Stimpson/Beacon Staff

C. Ryder Cooley brought an awareness of animal extintion through art, performance, music, and moving images.

Look in next week’s issue for your results!

Sports

Thursday, February 2, 2012

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9

Men’s basketball drops to Salem, ends three game winning streak Currently rank third in MASCAC conference with 4-3 record as season enters home stretch

By Ariana Tourangeau Staff Writer After starting the season off with five straight losses a championship for the Trailblazers seemed far-fetched. That is, until they beat the first place team, Bridgewater State, during a home game on Jan. 25th.

Although it was a rough start for the team, each player stepped forward and started playing for the win.

The Trailblazers finished thier last six games on top with four wins and two losses.

“We got great chemistry now and we all got one goal and that is winning conference,” senior Tyrell Mosely, who plays the position of guard said.

The Trailblazers finished their last six games on top with four wins and two losses. On Jan. 10 the team played Salem State, lost the game with a final score of 76101. Vernon Cross, a junior and forward, scored a high 17 points and Jamal Brown, a senior and forward, with a high of nine rebounds.

Photo by Will Casey/Beacon Staff

Chris Harris charged by Bridgewater during Wednesday’s 85-80 victory. The Trailblazers are 4-3 in conference play this season.

The Trailblazers came for the win against Worcester State with a score of 76-65 at a home game Jan. 14. Jamal Brown had 19 points and 11 rebounds.

The Trailblazers then fell short at home against Westfield State with a score of 68-70 on Jan. 17. Senior Guard Michael Young took the highest points of the game with

15 points and also tied with Jamal Brown for the highest rebounds with 7 rebounds.

At Framingham State the Trailblazers won with a score of 68-

59 on Jan. 19. Jamal Brown lead the team again with a high of 25 points and 14 rebounds.

Basketball, continued on page 10

Women’s basketball knocks Salem State down with 72-51 victory

By Andrew Hodgson Staff Writer

The MCLA Women’s Basketball team sits in third place currently in the MASCAC with a record of 11-9 (4-3 conference). The team is coming off two big wins against Sage and MASCAC rival Salem State. When asked about the teams recent success in an email interview, coach Holly McGovern said, “Our players caused disruptions of Sage’s offense through defensive pressure and rebounding.”

Last Saturday Sage was unable to crack MCLA’s defense for most of the game. The frustration was visible throughout the gym as Sage struggled in both a halfcourt offense and had any hopes of transition points smothered by the constant pressure by MCLA defenders.

Although in the second half they were able to push the tempo more, once the Trailblazers established their half-court defense the game crawled as Sage attempted over and over to get good shots from inside the paint. With Jen Wehner

and freshman Tashari Rainwater disrupting traffic through the middle, Sage’s offense could only be described as stagnant.

“We go into our games wanting to determine the tempo of a game.”

McGovern explains this important aspect of the team’s game, “We go into our games wanting to determine the tempo of a game.

Our players have the ability to change from an up-tempo style of play, into a half court setting without becoming disorganized.”

On the offensive side Sage was overwhelmed by the Trailblazers offensive rebounding. In the second half Sage tried a 3-2 zone look to disrupt the Trailblazers offense.

In response, the Trailblazers hit a handful of three-pointers to further extend their lead.

Photo by Will Casey/Beacon Staff

WOMEN, continued on page 10

Jen Wehner stretched to try and claim the rebound while teammates rushed to help.

10

Thursday, february 2, 2011

Sports

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Senior captain Chris Harris leads Trailblazers through the good and the bad

By Kayla Koumjian Sports Writer

Few collegiate athletes have been key players in turning an athletic program around within their four years at MCLA. This is not true for Chris Harris, captain and senior forward of the men’s basketball team.

“He’s been here for four years, he was a part of a bad team, but then the next years team kept improving,” explained teammate Ray Viches, a sophomore.

“Chris was a key role in the team improving every year,” Viches said. Harris played in all 24 games, and started in 23 of them his freshman year. He averaged about 30 minutes per game and lead the team in steals during his first season.

During Harris’ freshman year, the men’s basketball team’s overall season record was 1-24. Instead of giving up on his team, Harris strived to make it better.

Now, the men’s basketball team is 7-13 overall and 4-3 in the MASCAC conference. “We have really turned the program around since then,” said Chris Harris.

Harris has always had a passion for basketball. He has never played another sport competitively before.

He started playing at the age of seven, but it took him a few years

before he became competitive.

“I really started to improve my skills once I hit the seventh grade,” explained Harris.

He went to high school at John D. O’Bryant in the Boston area.

During his time there, he played on the varsity basketball team for three years.

While in high school, Harris tore his ACL the summer going into his senior year.

“I still played my senior year,” Harris explained. “But after the season was over I had surgery and started rehab for my knee,” Because of his injury, Harris wasn’t positive if he would play at MCLA or even at college at all.

“Coach Morrison called me but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to play because I was still recovering,” Harris said.

Luckily enough for the MCLA’s men’s basketball team, Harris eventually decided to play for the Trailblazers and has worked to become the team’s top scorer and captain.

Harris is also a leader to many of his teammates.

“He’s a good captain. He doesn’t lead vocally, but he leads by example,” Viches said.

Last season Harris averaged just less than 13 points, and over five rebounds per game. He also started 25 of the team’s 27 games, lead the team in steals, was the second leading scorer, and was second in

assists.

This season, Harris has started every game for the Trailblazers so far and is averaging more than 10 points, and almost five rebounds per game.

He also leading the team in assists, along with leading the team in steals. Harris has lead the men’s basketball team in steals every year he’s played.

During this present season, Harris achieved the high accomplishment of scoring 1,000 points total during his career.

Harris felt great when he scored his 1,000th point.

“It felt amazing, he said. “It shows that hard work pays off.”

His teammates were also very proud.

“I was happy for him,” Viches said. “He was very humble and modest when he scored his 1,000th. He didn’t boast about it.”

For this season, Harris’ main goal for him and his teammates is to win their conference title.

“In order to achieve our goal we have to continue to play good defense and play together as a team,” Harris said.

The men’s team plays their next game at Worcester State on Saturday, February 4 and their next home game is against Framingham St. on Saturday, February 11 at 3:00 p.m.

Photo by Will Casey/Beacon Staff

Chris Harris recently scored his 1,000th career point for MCLA.

Men’s basketball struggles for conference lead BASKETBALL, continued from page 9

At a home game on Jan. 21 against Fitchburg State, the Trailblazers took another win with a score of 84-79. Brown led once again with the highest points and rebounds of the game with a total of 22 points and nine rebounds.

The team took a strong lead of 11 points to Bridgewater state on Jan. 25. Jamal Brown converted a turn around jumper with 19 seconds left, tying the game, and bringing the team into overtime.

He led the team to a victory of 8580, scoring a total of 26 points and 10 rebounds. This victory brought the Trailblazers back from a rocky start and into a four-way tie to hopefully end strong with a comeback season.

“We tend to get down on ourselves when things aren’t going well and we can’t afford to do that,” coach Jaime Morrison said.

“Our failures in the first semester are what are helping us now in the second semester. We are a little mentally tougher now and we know that we can do it.”

The team now stands at a 4-3 record in conference and a 7-13 record overall. With six more games left and a total of eight seniors, the team will need to maintain this confidence and energy to come out on top.

“We have more confidence.

We can play with anyone in the

league,” Morrison said. He added that he believe in his eight seniors as leaders, “We’ll go as far as our seniors take us. If our seniors play well then we’ll do well and if they don’t then that’ll hurt us.”

“We have more confidence. We can play with anyone in this league,” says Coach Morrison.

The team may be led by those seniors, but Morrison also stated that the team is a “collective effort.” With three juniors, three sophomores, and one freshman the men’s basketball team has what other teams may lack: depth.

“The younger guys are coming around,” says Morrison.

Each player contributes his own strengths. Tyriq Rochester, a sophomore and forward, brings energy and leadership to the team.

“I am a good rebounder,” Rochester said, “and I work hard to help us be better as a team.”

Rochester finished five games with the highest rebounds and has a total of 82 rebounds this season.

The positive energy from the fans is also a contributing factor to the Trailblazer’s success.

With a huge turnout from fans at games, the team feeds off of the energy from the crowd.

“We’re playing at home a lot with great crowds, and that always helps,” Morrison said.

Now in a four-way tie for first

place with Bridgewater State, Salem State and Westfield State, the Trailblazers have one thing on their minds: winning.

The men’s basketball will next play on Saturday, travelling to Worcester State. Their next home

game will be on February 11th, when the team will find themselves going up against Framingham State.

Photo by Marissa Zelazo/Beacon Staff

Tyrell Mosley was all focus as he flew by Bridgewater defense on Wednesday’s victory.

11

Thursday, February 2, 2011

Sports

theonlinebeacon.com

Lady Trailblazers improve MASCAC standings WOMEN, continued from page 9

Brendan Foley Sports Editor

Super Bowl When the Patriots won their first Super Bowl title, I was just eleven years old. I remember that season very well, with Brady’s impossible emergence as a powerhouse quaterback dominating every conversation, whether it was in school hallways, friend’s houses or hockey lockerrooms. It was an incredible moment, even moreso if you were one of the older generation who had suffered through decades of the Patriots bringing up the rear in conference standings.

That season was like the Promised Land, the glorious payoff for the lifetime of devotion and waiting.

The world has changed in ten years, and one need only look at the New England Patriots to see just how drastic a decade’s influence can be. Where ten years ago the Patriots were a pack of underdogs struggling to even be taken seriously against the big bad Rams, they’ve evolved into football’s version of the Yankees.

But it goes deeper than that. The 2002 Super Bowl meant something, in a way that Sunday’s game, however entertaining and involving it may be, could never hope to ever equal it.

Because the 2002 Super Bowl was one of the first truly ‘normal’ moments in the days after the 9/11 attacks. For one day at least, it seemed like the craziness of the past four months could fade into background and we could simply celebrate two teams giving their all for the right to be called champion.

And then there was that Half Time show. U2 came out, and when they launched into their classic “Beautiful Day,” I think that was the moment when 11 year-old me started to believe that things could be OK again, that maybe, just maybe, we could pass through these bad times and find something good again. That was the moment where I started to think that America could be America through anything, any storm, any trouble.

Or something like that. I mean I was 11 and it was late. Ten years is a long time.

What will this Super Bowl mean, if anything? When we watch sports, we ascribe our own values and problems onto the teams on the field and see their battles as our own.

What does it mean to be a Patriots fan in 2012? Or a Giants fan?

I know what the teams are playing for, but what are we watching for?

The team never looked back, cruising to a 23 point lead.

The success of the team’s starters has allowed younger players to get some experience on the court.

Toward the end of the first half the Trailblazer’s star point guard Alie Dobrovolc, who led the team with 26 points and 12 rebounds, quarterbacked for the second squad while stars like Jen Wehner and Lucy Tremblay cheered on their teammates.

On Tuesday Jan. 31st the Trailblazers went head-to-head with Salem State. Both Wehner and Dobrovolc put up double-doubles to lead the Trailblazers to the win.

This win was particularly gratifying for the Trailblazers as Salem State had beaten MCLA in the MASCAC opener, 76-87.

MCLA’s defense was once again the trump card for the team, holding Salem State to a dismal 27.5 field goal percentage. The Trailblazers offense was able to exploit the Salem defense, they shot 42 percent including three 3-pointers from Lucy Tremblay.

On Saturday, the Trailblazers will travel to Worcester State in hopes of extending their winning streak to three games. The last time the team had put three wins in a row, was back in early December. That winning streak was followed by an ugly four loss streak.

February will prove if the Trailblazers defense-first philosophy can pay off. In February the Trailblazers play five games, all of which are MASCAC games and four of which are road games. If the Trailblazers can make a run to end the season, they could easily climb the MASCAC rankings though Bridgewater sits with a commanding lead atop the MASCAC with a 7-1 conference re-

Standings

(As of Press Time)

Men’s Basketball salem bridgewater westfield MCLA worcester framingham fitchburg

All

Conf

13-7 11-8 13-8 7-13 6-14 8-13 10-9

6-2 6-2 5-3 4-3 3-5 2-6 1-6

Women’s Basketball bridgewater salem MCLA westfield worcester fitchburg framingham

All

Conf

13-6 9-12 11-9 11-10 9-12 14-5 11-9

7-1 5-3 4-3 4-4 3-5 2-5 2-6

Women’s Basketball 2/4 @Worcester 3:30 p.m.

2/7 @Westfield 5:30 p.m.

2/11 Framingham 1 p.m.

2/14 @Fitchburg 5:30 p.m.

2/18 @Bridgewater 1:00 p.m.

Men’s Basketball

Photo by Marissa Zelazo/Beacon Staff

Strong defense has allowed the Trailblazers to compete with the top teams in the MASCAC conference. cord.

If the Trailblazers can continue to play stifling defense and continue to improve, the end of the season could prove to be an exciting and successful one.

“We have put an emphasis on

our on-ball defending and contesting more shots in the last few weeks. We still need more development in those areas,” McGovern said about the recent team focus.

2/4 @Worcester 5:30 p.m 2/7 @Westfield 7:30 p.m.

4/11 Framingham 3 p.m.

2/14 @Fitchburg 7:30 p.m.

2/18 @Bridgewater 3:00 p.m.

The 2012 Beacon Staff ’s Super-Duper Super-Accurate Super Bowl Picks Ed Damon: Liverpool: 101

Manchester United: 100

Amy Cubello: Pats: 27

Giants: 24

Andrew Roiter: Giants: 24

Pats: 17

Skyla Seamans: Pats: 42

Giants: 0

Mary Redstone: Giants: Forever fumbling Pats: ALL THE POINTS

Stephen Kilduff: Giants: 12

Pats: 3

Jessie Wright: [insert sports team here] will beat [insert other sports team here] Chris Goodell: Pats: 34

Giants: 24 Brendan Foley: Pats: 31

Giants: 21 Jennifer Smaltz: Pats: 45

Giants: 34

Gillian Jones: Pats: 24

Giants: 36 Megan Cooney: Patriots win in a close one Paul LeSage: Patriots by 9 Dylan Glaser: Giants: 27

Pats: 20

12

Thursday, February 2, 2011

Science

ACLU says teaching Obama administration says creationism is new national forest rules unconstitutional protect watersheds, wildlife Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana’s top lawyer said Thursday that a bill pending that would allow schools to teach creationism in science classes clearly violates the U.S. Constitution and invites legal challenges.

U.S. Supreme Court precedents “going back many years’’ have established the unconstitutionality of teaching creationism in public schools, Ken Falk said.

“The idea that somehow our state legislature can trump the Constitution just doesn’t make sense,’’ Falk said in a news release issued by the ACLU. “When lawmakers propose legislation they clearly know will end up in the courts, it wastes valuable time and resources, disrespects the legislative process and confuses an already complicated issue.’’

The Senate Education Committee voted 8-2 Wednesday to send the bill before the full Senate despite experts and even some senators saying teaching creationism likely would be ruled unconstitutional if challenged in court. The bill’s prospects for advancing to the House weren’t certain Thursday. Next Wednesday is the deadline for bills originating in the Senate to win approval from the full chamber.

Falk said the U.S. Supreme Court in its 1987 case Edwards v.

Aguillard struck down a Louisiana statute that required instruction on evolution to be accompanied by teaching on “creation science.’’ The court found that the Louisiana statute had no identifiable secular purpose, but that the “pre-eminent purpose of the Louisiana Legislature was clearly to

advance the religious viewpoint that a supernatural being created humankind.’’

In committee debate Wednesday, Sen. Scott Schneider, R-Indianapolis, said there are legitimate questions about the theory of evolution and that many scientists agree with the concept of intelligent design, the theory that life on Earth is so complex it was guided by an intelligent higher power.

“What are we afraid of? Allowing an option for students including creation science as opposed to limiting their exposure?’’ Schneider said.

Senate Education Chairman Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn, said he knew of nothing in state law that prohibits public schools from teaching creationism. He said he sponsored the bill because he believes creationism should be taught among the theories on the development of life and that the proposal wouldn’t force any changes in schools teaching evolution.

Some committee members suggested that they would support amending the bill in the full Senate to instead encourage schools to teach about the world’s religions in literature or history classes. Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, voted in favor of the bill even though it called its current form a “lawyer’s dream.’’

Falk said that since public school curriculum must always serve a secular educational purpose, religion can be taught if the purpose is to examine religion’s role in history, art, literature, society or other secular subjects. He said religion can only be taught in an objective, unbiased manner that does not promote or criticize any particular religion or set of beliefs.

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Obama administration says new rules to manage nearly 200 million acres of national forests will protect watersheds and wildlife while promoting uses ranging from recreation to logging.

The new rules, to replace guidelines thrown out by a federal court in 2009, are set to take effect in early March. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the rule change on Thursday.

Vilsack said in an interview that the rules reflect more than 300,000 comments received since a draft plan was released last year.

The new rules strengthen a requirement that decisions be based on the best available science and recognize that forests are used for a variety of purposes, Vilsack said.

“I think it’s a solid rule and done in a collaborative, open and transparent way,’’ he said.

The guidelines, known as a forest planning rule, will encourage forest restoration and watershed protection while creating opportunities for the timber industry and those who use the forest for recreation, he said.

Vilsack, who has pledged to break through the logjam of political conflict over forest management, said the new regulation’s emphasis on science and multiple uses should allow it to stand up to likely court challenges from environmental groups or the timber industry.

“I am hopeful and confident that it will stand scrutiny,’’ he said.

Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said the guidelines would allow land management plans for individual forests to be completed more quickly and at a lower cost

Cancer survivor suspended from school over long hairstyle Associated Press

who have lost hair. He needs 10 inches.

BURTON, Mich. (AP) _ A Flintarea teenager and leukemia survivor has been suspended from school for growing out his hair to donate to cancer victims.

Officials at Madison Academy, a charter school in Burton, say J.T. Gaskins’ reason for growing out his hair is admirable. But his hair is in direct conflict with school policy that requires it to be “off the collar, off the ears and out of the eyes.’’

The 17-year-old senior has already missed 51/2 days of school.

“This is something I want to do, and I feel very strongly about it,’’ Gaskins told The Flint Journal, referring to his plan to eventually cut his hair and give it to Locks of Love, which makes wigs for kids

Gaskins was diagnosed with leukemia as an infant but has been cancer-free since age 7. His mother, Christa Plante, said the school should allow long hair if boys pledge to get it cut and donate it.

“We’re not asking them to dismiss the policy. We’re not asking them to do away with the dress code. We were simply asking for a compromise,’’ Plante said. “We could turn this into such a positive learning experience.’’

Madison Academy referred calls to Will Kneer, executive director of the Romine Group in Utica, which manages the school. He said the school board considered the issue Monday but decided to keep the policy for now.

Gaskins’ hair isn’t very long yet.

Kneer said he proposed Gaskins use styling gel, put the hair in cornrows or simply comb it to comply with rules.

“I need his hair out of his eyes and off the collar,’’ Kneer told The Associated Press on Friday. ``I really want this boy to be back in school. I feel like combing his hair wouldn’t be a big concession. He doesn’t have hair down the middle of his back. It’s an inch over his collar.’’

Kneer said the school has been sending work to Gaskins’ home while he’s away from classes.

As a cancer survivor, Gaskins said he shouldn’t be told he can’t grow his hair when he’s trying to help others with the disease.

“Self-confidence,’’ he said, “is really what you need to beat the disease.’’

than under current rules, which date to the Reagan administration.

Several attempts to revise the 1982 planning rule have been thrown out by federal courts in the past decade. Most recently a Bush administration plan was struck down in 2009. Environmentalists had fought the rule, saying it rolled back key forest protections.

The Obama administration did not appeal the ruling, electing to develop a new forest planning rule to protect water, climate and wildlife.

Under the new rule, forest plans could be developed within three to four years instead of taking up to seven years, as under current guidelines, Tidwell said.

“We really can protect the forest at lower cost with less time,’’ he said.

The new regulation also should give forest managers more flexibility to address conditions on the ground, such as projects to thin the forest to reduce the risk of wildfire, Tidwell said.

“We’ll be able to get more work done _ get more out of the forest and create more jobs,’’ while at the same allowing greater recreational use, Tidwell said. Recreational use of the forest has grown exponentially in recent years.

Like Vilsack, Tidwell said he is optimistic the new plan will stand up to scrutiny from environmental groups and the timber industry, both of which have challenged previous planning rules in court.

“I’m optimistic that folks will want to give it a shot,’’ Tidwell said.

The 155 national forests and grasslands managed by the Forest Service cover 193 million acres in 42 states and Puerto Rico. Balance between industry and conserva-

tion in those areas has been tough to find since the existing rules went into effect three decades ago.

At least three revisions of the rules have been struck down since 2000.

The planning rule designates certain animal species that must be protected to ensure ecosystems are healthy. However, the rule became the basis of numerous lawsuits that sharply cut back logging to protect habitat for fish and wildlife.

Meanwhile, the timber industry has continued to clamor for more logs, and conservation groups keep challenging timber sales, drilling and mining projects.

Tom Partin, president of the American Forest Resource Council, a timber industry group, said his members will review the final rule to see if it follows a federal rule to manage forests for a diversity of plants and animals _ not in a manner that places a single use or species above all else.

Jane Danowitz, U.S. public lands director for the Pew Environment Group, said national forests are the source of drinking water for one in three Americans, are home to fish and other wildlife and are an economic engine for local communities across the West.

“Faced with unprecedented threats from industrial development, these national forests need strong national protections,’’ she said, adding that the new framework for forest management appears to reflect comments from scientists, the business community and conservation advocates.

“The plan now has stronger safeguards than what was originally proposed. That said, the true test of this plan will be how it’s implemented on the ground,’’ Danowitz said.

Center for Science and Innovation construction update In Friday’s “Notes and News,” President Mary Grant said the next phase of construction on the Center for Science and Innovation will begin in February. The Administration expects the pouring of the building foundation and footings, but specific dates will be determined based on the weather.

Web cams are capturing the construction progress. To see time lapse photos from three different spots on campus, visit www.mcla.edu/CSI.

Skyla Seamans Columnist

My column each week will feature a feminist issue I feel needs to be brought to the attention of readers. I am an office assistant at the Susan B. Anthony Women’s Center and my columns will help bridge the gap between students and the topics we are tackling as a staff to bring about gender equality.

The Women’s Center’s first event of the semester was a screening of a fabulous documentary, which was featured at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

13

Commentary

Thursday, February 2, 2011 More than 70 people shuffled into Sullivan Lounge to watch the Women’s Center’s screening of the documentary Miss Representation on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

By the end of the film, the audience was livid.

Stories from teenage girls and interviews with activists, entertainers, journalists, and politicians were weaved with strong statistics to unveil the way media portrays women.

Journalist Katie Couric was one of the many stars featured in the film.

“I worry about how much pressure my daughters feel in a society that features anorexic actresses and models and television stars,” Couric said to the camera.

“We get conditioned to think this is what women should look like.”

The media’s bombardment of distorted images of women depicts one narrow idea of beauty, which has led young girls to believe the most important quality of a woman is how she looks.

According to the documentary, 53 percent of teen girls say they are unhappy with their bodies and depression among women and girls has doubled from 2000 to 2010.

Jennifer Pozner, the founder of

the advocacy group Women in Media and News, talked about the consequences of overly sexualizing and exploiting women.

“The fact that media are so derogatory to the most powerful women in the country,” she said, “then what does it say about media’s ability to take any woman in America seriously?”

While women make up 51 percent of the population, they only hold 17 percent of positions in Congress, according to the film.

While 2,319 men have served as governors, only 34 women have held the same title.

“When girls look to the media for models they can achieve in the real world, they see newspapers and TV anchors talking about female politicians’ haircuts and fashion choices,” Pozner said.

“And then they turn to reality TV, where they are told that the only route to power is through beauty and humiliation. So what are girls to think about what’s possible for them?”

During a post-film discussion facilitated by Psychology Professor Maria Bartini, senior Hawa Umarova said she knew there was an issue with media’s representation of women but never realized how serious and negative it was.

“I think it is ironic how the countries we are at war against have more female leaders than we do,” Umarova said. “We are trying to teach them how to be a democracy when we should be learning from them instead.

I think another women’s movement is well overdo.”

The United States is ranked 90th in the number of women who hold governmental positions compared to other countries around the world.

“Change needs to start with each individual person first,” Umarova said. “We need to boycott shows that negatively stereotype women and we need to think before we say something harmful about another person.

By educating others on these issues, we can begin to change how the media presents women.”

Sophomore Kodi Sullivan talked about the backlash men receive when they show emotions other than what is deemed masculine. If men show sadness or if they cry, they are seen as weak.

Media misrepresentation affects men as well, he said.

“Girls are just as tough as boys are,” Sullivan said. “Until the world begins to see this, our media will not change.”

Campus Comment What do you think of the Campus Center renovations?

“Well being an employee, you can interact with people more whereas the info booth and where it was, there was no traffic.”

- Lola Francisco ‘15

“I really like the marketplace and the info booth is really helpful.

The Starbucks is ok.”

- Thamar Jean Federstin ‘14

“I personally like the new Campus Center. The architecture is really unique. The structure is convenient however the quality of the services is the same.”

“I think the facilities is better but not the food. Hopefully when Subway comes, food will be better.”

- Alex Jamal ‘14

“I do like the new Campus Center however I think the cafe should be bigger. It seems smaller than last year.”

- Maria Perez ‘13

“I think it looks really nice. And Starbucks is better than Green Mountain.”

- Haley Costen ‘15

- Unique Burton ‘13

Do have know a hot story The Beacon should cover?

Submit a Tip online anonymously! theonlinebeacon.com/storytips

Ed Damon

Editor in Chief

Well, here we are again with a whole new Beacon staff.

And once again, we have an Editor-in-Chief writing their inaugural column. I’m as excited as you are. (I promise next week will be more exciting.)

The Beacon has set a bunch of goals for the semester.

Our executive board wants to do more breaking news coverage. With our web site, we can do this. It makes it so much easier to distribute news this way.

We also have four Twitter accounts. Follow our main one, @BeaconMCLA. You can also follow my musings under my Twitter handle, @ BeaconMCLA_EIC. To hear from our Arts and Entertainment editor Mary Redstone, follow @BeaconMCLA_AE. To follow managing editor Andrew Roiter check out @ Andrew_Roiter When we say we welcome letters to the editor, we mean it. The Beacon has a limit of 500 words, but any constructive, civil commentary is welcome regardless of length. Did you see something this week that you disagree with? Write in and tell us. Did we make a mistake?

Let us know. I know I’ve made mistakes before, and appreciate it when people let me know so I can learn.

And I can’t forget one of the newest features of our web site – the Beacon Submita-Tip form. Do you know a hot story The Beacon should cover? Something that we haven’t covered that we may not have heard? Use this form to tell us, anonymously if you wish.

The Beacon is the student voice of the campus. By using every medium available, we hope to accomplish this.

These mediums make it possible to reach out to the campus community, and keep a constructive dialogue going about people are intersted in.

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Thursday, February 2, 2011

Andrew Roiter Managing Editor

Given that this is an election year, anyone reading this has been told thousands of times some version of what I am about to say. Regardless, I will continue to stomp my feet and holler until someone takes this seriously. Your vote, and even more basic than that, your voice is a right in this country. And while most people certainly haven’t forgotten this fact, the cynical tendencies within us have downplayed the importance of getting out there.

And I can understand, I really can.

While there are many students who come from the four corners of the planet, and some who hail from battleground states, the majority of the students here come from states that have, since 1992 (aka, most of our lives), voted Democrat in the presidential races, the exception being New Hampshire which voted for Bush in 2000.

So anyone who voted Republican or Independent may feel that they wasted their time.

I’m not going to try to convince those who feel nationally disenfranchised that they’re not. Nor am I going to harangue the Electoral College system. I am simply going to stress the importance of involvement in local political matters. On a smaller scale, each voice is louder and more likely to be heard.

You are one of 2000-someodd voices at this institution.

I implore you. I beg you.

Come to the MCLA Board of Trustees meeting tonight at 5:30 in Sullivan Lounge.

Commentary Tonight the Board will have their final vote on whether or not to arm the Public Safety officers with firearms. Show up in numbers they can’t ignore. Fill the room to capacity and line the hallways.

Give your opinion. Say it there, say it later, or post it to Facebook, Twitter, or Tumblr.

Write in to the Beacon about it.

If you agree with their vote, regardless of what it may be, cheer, get excited, do something to show that you care. If you disagree with their vote, please stay calm, but you sure as hell voice your disaproval.

You have a voice. Demand that it’s heard.

Environment of South Florida class a great opportunity Jessie Wright Columnist

Every once in a while, MCLA and its faculty offers a truly unique learning experience for its students. Professor Dan Shustack’s Environment of South Florida class, which took place over the course of nine days during winter break, was one of these rare opportunities.

Though not an Environmental Studies major myself, I had the good fortune to possess a love of travel and nature, a most thirsty thirst for knowledge, and some financial aid refund money that was just begging to be spent on something other than the normal gamut of rent, bills, and crack cocaine. Food. I meant food.

So I ponyed up the cash and, instead of spending the rest of my break eating leftover Christmas candy and catching up on Game of Thrones like I was planning to, I went with eight relative strangers to camp and road trip through a

state known for mosquitoes, theme parks, and more mosquitoes. It was kind of like The Breakfast Club with less detention and whining and blatant stereotypes and more alligators.

I hate to sound so (to coin a term)… Hallmalarkey, but it was the best decision I’d ever made. I did things I’d always wanted to do, and things I’d never dreamt of doing. From snorkeling in open water to canoeing alongside alligators in the Everglades and everything in between, I was taken completely out of both my element and my comfort zone. It was exhilarating.

Dan had been planning this class since Spring 2009, and it showed. Imagine if every professor had this much dedication to teaching? Or, even better… if we students showed as much dedication towards being taught? How awesome would that be?

I’m sure you’ve had this said to you countless times, (whether you’re the greenest freshman around

or, like me, a grizzled veteran), but taking this class really drove it home to me: your college experience is what you decide to make it.

I hear so many people complain that MCLA sucks and I can’t help but wonder: “Maybe you’re the one that’s sucking?”

I mean, if you don’t put any effort into learning or having a good time during your four-to-six years here… well, then you are not going to learn anything, and you’re certainly not going to have much fun.

Anyway, Dan Shustack will hopefully (fingers crossed) be offering Environment of South Florida again in another two years.

For those of you who will still be here at this fine establishment, I wholeheartedly recommend it with every single fiber of my being. It will change your life.

Editorial Part of the front page of our first issue is an update on the bike share program at MCLA. In case you missed it last semester, several students began working with Dean of Students Charlotte Degen, the Sustainability Committee and Center for Service in researching this program.

The seeds of this idea were planted a few years ago, when a group of seniors proposed a possible bike share program as a service learning project. The idea didn’t get off the ground right away, but it wasn’t forgotten.

That a trial period of the bike share is coming

to MCLA is a perfect example of what students can accomplish. Sometimes, a plan isn’t initially realized. Whether it be because of lack of funding or not enough immediate interest, it may take a while for a project to get into motion.

The Beacon would like to applaud those who put hours of research and planning into the new bike share programming. We’d love to see more student-run initiatives sprout up around the campus in the future.

Letter to the Editor Fellow Students: Tonight the Board of Trustees will convene to discuss the topic of arming the Campus Police. I extend a personal invitation to each and every one of you to attend tonight at 5:30 p.m. in Sullivan Lounge.

As the Student Trustee, I promise to whole-heartedly make your voice heard and represent you to the best of my ability.

I would like to thank all of you for putting forth the effort to be educated, actively involved in and for participating in the referendum vote. With an astounding 455 votes and SGA taking an official stance, I could not

be more honored to represent you, the student body, for taking these initiatives.

Last, but most certainly not least, I extend my thanks to Chief Charon and his team for dedicating countless hours of their time to this issue.

See you all tonight.

Sincerely, Jaynelle Bellemore, 2012 Student Trustee

The Beacon welcomes letters to the editor. Submit your letter to the Editor to MCLA Beacon Mailbox on FirstClass or beacon@mcla.edu.

Letters can be up to 500 words.

See our policies on page 2.

Thursday, February 2, 2011

15

For Fun

Horoscopes

Aries: March 21-April 19 The most important relationship in your life is the one you have with yourself, and that becomes clear at the start of the week -especially if you find yourself projecting disowned parts of your own life onto people around you.

Taurus: April 20-May 20 Try your best to boost your feelings of security today, no matter how down you may be this morning. The good news is that you can feel better about money, love or almost anything else with just a little effort!

Gemini: May 21-June 21 Do you have a budget? Can you stick to it? Now is the time to find out – you’ve got to stretch every dollar, even if you feel rich.

Money is tighter than you think, so find a way to hold onto it.

Cancer: June 22-July22 Your energy levels are through the roof today, so get out there and tackle some new projects.

You ought to be able to take care of almost anything you put your mind to. Enjoy the boost!

Leo: July 23-August 22 You are feeling a strong urge to do something new – but you can’t figure out why. It’s a good time to let your subconscious mind take over and guide you the rest of the way to your goal.

Comic by Aurora Cooper This Week in MCLA History February 4, 1988 A bill that would bring a Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA) cleared the House and made its way to the Senate. The bill was eventually passed and brought the world’s largest contemporary art museum to North Adams.

Sudoku Fill in the empty cells, one number in each, so that each column, row, and region contains the numbers 1 through 9 exactly once.

Virgo: August 23-Sept. 22 You need to exercise your social energy today – which could mean anything from hitting a party to finding a new friend at the train station. You feel more connected to others.

Libra: Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Try not to worry too much if things don’t go the way you want them to – you’re just in a weird stage right now, but you should be able to get past it as long as you can find a way to keep your cool.

Scorpio: Oct. 23-Nov. 21 You may find yourself even more driven than usual – which is really saying something! It’s a great time for you to step up and make sure that your people are all on your side and doing their part.

February 4, 1993

Sagittarius: Nov. 22-Dec. 21 You need to get in deeper with your friends or loved ones today – your energy doesn’t let you tolerate superficial nonsense. Try to get your people to engage with you on a more intense level.

The Board of Trustees approved a plan to purchase property on the corner of Blackinton and Church Streets. According to Thomas Jones, vice president of Administration and Finance, these brick buildings would be used “to move the Admissions Office and also for apartments for married couples or faculty that need a place to live.”

Capricorn: Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Your home needs some better stuff – or maybe just some TLC. Your energy is just right for making your living space into something sweeter, so spend the time and money to make it so.

February 3, 2000 A former Dean’s list student at MCLA was found guilty of assault of another student and sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison. The assault took place in the firelane by the Flagg Townhouse Complex after one student insulted the former girlfriend of the other. The victim was struck in the face with a shod foot and suffered several lacerations, a broken nose, and a broken eye socket.

Aquarius: Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Get over the latest round of problems – it’s all just details, really – and move on to something bigger and better. Just because today isn’t all that great, that doesn’t mean you have to suffer tomorrow!

Courtesey sudoku.au.com

Pisces: Feb. 19-March 20 You’re feeling the urge to put on a show or host a party – so get to it! Your emotional energy is perfect for getting people together and making them see how great life can be.

Horoscopes courtesy of Yahoo.com

16

Thursday, february 2, 2012

Photo Essay

theonlinebeacon.com

Returning and new students of MCLA sit on benches, walk to and from classes and hang out relishing in the sunny day after a few days of rain.

Windows now enclose the former patio, which was expanded into the Marketplace.

The newely renovated Marketplace in the Campus Center is open after being closed-off for several months.

Campus Center Marketplace Is Complete

The building’s newly reovated bookstore.

Photos by: Aaron Crawford

An open-spaced balcony area occupies where the staircase once was.

The addition boasts finely crafted wooden fixtures and lighting, as well as new seating areas down below.

ARAMARK employees operate the school’s new Starbucks kiosk.