Emerson College’s student newspaper since 1947 • berkeleybeacon.com
Thursday, October 21, 2021 • Volume 75, Issue 8
@berkeleybeacon // @beaconupdate
COVID cases fall, uncertain future ahead, expert says Frankie Rowley & Camilo Fonseca Beacon Staff
A “Yoga with Hillel” poster was vandalized with antisemitic rheotirc in 2 Boylston Place. Hongyu Liu / Beacon Staff
‘We don’t feel safe’:
Emerson Jewish community reels
from yet another antisemitic incident Frankie Rowley Beacon Staff
Emerson’s Jewish community reacted with grief, anger, and mourning after antisemitic graffiti was found scrawled on an event poster for Hillel, the college’s Jewish student organization, on Friday in an elevator lobby in 2 Boylston Place. The poster, which advertised a “Yoga with Hillel” event, was defaced with language that “mockingly invoked the Holocaust in relation to Jewish individuals or organizations,” according to a community-wide email from Interim President Bill Gilligan condemning the vandalism. Those responsible for the graffiti have yet to be identified, Gilligan said. “It made me really sad,” said Jordana Meltzer, a junior theatre education and performance major who serves as president of Hillel. “It sucks because we don’t feel safe as Jews at Emerson and that’s pretty sad. Emerson is definitely like, ‘We’re a very accepting community,’ and we’re not.”
Friday’s incident marks the second time in recent years that antisemitic vandalism has struck Emerson. In January 2020, four swastikas were found in a Piano Row stairwell, prompting a condemnation from the college and the student government association. The college never identified the individual or individuals responsible for the incident. Shortly after the graffiti was publicized on Monday evening, Hillel announced that it would hold a gathering for Jewish students and allies to meet in solidarity—a safe space for Jews to air their grievances and heal from the trauma of the most recent incident. “On a campus that doesn’t talk about antisemitism or hasn’t talked about antisemitism in the fourteen years that I’ve been here, I really appreciate your actions—coming together and stepping out of your homes brave and proud every day,” said one professor in attendance at the event, who did not provide her name. “It gives me a lot of hope.” Though the college issued a public condemnation of Friday’s incident, students highlighted that issues of antisemitism persist on campus. Graffiti, Pg. 3
COVID-19 cases have plummeted at Emerson in recent weeks, after the return of students to the Boston campus brought about a surge in positive tests at the beginning of the fall semester. However, college administrators and health professionals alike are still wary of rolling back those pandemic restrictions still in place. In the seven-day period from Oct. 14 to Oct. 20, Emerson reported only two positive tests and a positivity rate of 0.14 percent—a stark contrast from the first weeks of the semester, when the college saw a marked increase in positive tests despite the community vaccination mandate. Associate Vice President for Campus Life Erik Muurisepp suggested that the relative lull in positives reflects the diligence displayed by community members in following the college’s COVID protocols outlined at the beginning of the academic year. “What it means is that folks have been following restrictions, following protocols, policies, and all of that, which is huge,” said Muurisepp, who serves as the college’s “COVID Lead.” “That certainly means it’s being followed on campus and off-campus.” Though Emerson relaxed many of its restrictions over the summer, thanks to the nationwide vaccine rollout, many protocols remain in effect. The college had previously committed to reviewing its COVID policies on Sep. 17, but ultimately chose to keep a mask mandate and strict no-guest policy in place amid the surge in cases. A month later, that surge has given way to a period of relative calm. College officials, Muurisepp said, are still open to revisiting their policies. “We certainly could look at adjusting restrictions, adjusting practices—if we get to a point where we feel that is in the best interest of the community,” he said. Emerson continues to cooperate with health officials at Tufts Medical Center as well as the mayor’s office, Muurisepp said. He also reiterated that the college will continue to require masks until Boston lifts its own city-wide ordinance. COVID, Pg. 3
Armed suspect arrested at Rotch Field
INSIDE THIS EDITION SEAL Director set to take position at Harvard Pg. 2 Op-Ed: ‘Pick me’ girls reflect mysoginitc upbringing Pg. 4 Op-Ed: Youtuber Keemstar is a Bogeyman Pg. 5 Eight fun things you should do on Halloween this year Pg. 7 Men’s soccer team player featured in iPhone ad Pg. 8
56
positive COVID-19 tests Ernest Fields, 37, was taken into custody after hours of negogiations with police proved unsuccesful. Marcus Cocova / Beacon Correspondent
Camilo Fonseca Beacon Staff Police arrested a male suspect at Emerson’s Rotch Field on Tuesday evening, after an hourslong standoff closed the South End athletic grounds as well as much of the surrounding neighborhood. The armed suspect, identified as Ernest Fields, 37, arrived at Rotch Field at 9:41 a.m. bran-
dishing a firearm, according to Boston Police Department spokesman Officer Andre Watson. Police had previously named Fields, sought for two separate incidents of threats and armed robbery, to the city’s Most Wanted list on Sep. 28. Students received an alert from Emerson at 9:53 a.m., warning of an “armed person with unknown intent” at the college’s South End athletic green. Two hours later, the college sent another message advisingcommunity members to continue avoiding the area, while confirming
that the Boston Police Department was on the scene. As officers cordoned off the area, hostage negotiators—supported by the crisis-trained clinicians of the Boston Emergency Services Team—opened a dialogue with Fields. “They spoke through the majority of the day, from around 9:50 a.m. to just before 5:00 p.m.,” Watson said to The Beacon. “The negotiations were not successful.” Standoff, Pg. 2
39,000+ tests completed
.14%
positivity rate