Th u r s day, N o v e m b e r 8 , 2 0 1 2

The BeaconStudent Newspaper of Massachusetts College

of Liberal Arts

North Adams, Mass.

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Volume 76 ◆ Issue 8

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‘Stereo Talk V’ looks at female politicians

Women’s Center’s event examines gender issues in politics

News, page 3 Sports, page 6

Cross country to compete in NCAA

FPA show to premiere next week

Men’s and women’s teams gear up for � nal tournament on Saturday

‘Scenes From an Execution’ to run Nov. 14-17 in Venable � eater

Arts & Entertainment, page 9

News 2-4Sports 5-6Arts & Entertainment 7-9Campus Comment 10Fun & Games 11Photo Essay 12

� e nation voted and the results are in. President Barack Obama will to serve his second term in o� ce.

At the beginning of elec-tion night, Mitt Romney stayed steadily ahead of his opponent. It was obvious that Romney was winning the popular vote; both candidates were neck-and-neck for electoral votes.

Once California’s results came in, Obama shot ahead, 40 votes above Romney. When Oregon and Ohio’s votes were accounted for, Obama’s victory was sealed, pushing him over the required 270 electoral votes to win.

Obama won seven out of the nine battleground states, which led to his victory. By the end of the night, Obama’s electoral votes sky rocketed to 303 while Rom-ney held 205.

Library Collections Assistant Melissa Segalla said she was elat-ed with the results.

“Obama gets to prove himself

another four years,” she said. “ It was unfair that he had to come into o� ce with what Bush le� for him.”

� e Senate race between Eliza-beth Warren and incumbent Scott Brown took a similar path. � e senate race was anticipated to be heated. For most of the race, Warren and Brown were battling to be on top. Although Warren stayed on top for the most part, at some points it was a tie. When all Massachusetts polls were of-� cially closed, Warren had taken the Senate seat.

“I am absolutely for Warren, her ideas can better the econo-my,” Segalla said.

� e Associated Press said when Warren goes to Washington, she will go there with the belief that there is a “lot of room for com-promise” when dealing with the most pressed issue: de� cit.

For the Massachusetts ballot questions, two of the three most talked about questions were passed.

OBAMA WINS PRESIDENCY

Incumbent Barack Obama col-lected 303 electoral votes Tues-day to defeat Republican can-didate Mitt Romney and win a second term as U.S. President.

According to the New York Times website, Obama was the clear winner, garnering 97 more electoral votes than Romney. However, the President received just 50 percent of the popular vote, three percent lower than in 2008.

“Tonight, in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America, the best is yet to come,” Obama said in his victory speech at around 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Obama captured victories in swing states Ohio and New Hampshire, as well as Massachu-setts, which Romney governed

from 2003 to 2007.Romney garnered a total of 206

electoral votes, winning many states across the south and mid-west.

“� is is a time of great chal-lenges for America,” Romney said a� er the loss early Wednes-day, “and I pray that the presi-dent will be successful in guiding our nation.”

Battleground state Florida was the closest race, with Obama edging out Romney by less than 50,000 votes. Obama earned 49.9 percent of the popular vote in Florida while Romney earned 49.3 percent.

However, the overall balance of power in Washington re-

mained unchanged as the Sen-ate remained Democratic and the House of Representatives re-mained Republican.

Republicans lost two seats in both the House and the Senate, but it did not e� ect the overall composition of Congress.

Among the new Senators are 19 women, the most ever in U.S. history. Among those is Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, the � rst openly gay person to be elected to Senate.

Obama’s victory all but ensures that his health care plan, a key point of debate throughout both candidates’ campaigns, will re-main in tact.

“While House Republicans continue to oppose it and may � nd ways to attack it legislatively, they now know that they do not have the ability to overturn it,” writes Peter Baker of the New York Times.

As of 3 p.m. Wednesday Flor-ida’s electoral votes had still not been counted, but it would not have been enough to sway the outcome of the election.

By Chris GoodellEditor-in-Chief

Former Maine senator George Mitchell will ad-dress the College and North Adams communities today in Church Street Center at 7 p.m.

The lecture is the second annual Michael S. and Kitty Dukakis Public Policy Lecture.

There will also be a benefit dinner at 5 p.m. with Mitchell and Michael S. and Kitty Dukakis in the Sammer Dennis Room in Murdock Hall. Tickets cost $250. Dean of Academic Affiars Monica Jos-lin said proceeds will support a very good cause.

“The donations will support public policy initia-tives at MCLA,” she said.

Mitchell is well known for his peaceful negotia-tions with foreign countries as the U.S. Envoy for Middle East Peace from 1995 to 2001. He was also the U.S. Special Envoy for Northern Ireland from 2009-2011.  

Joslin said Mitchell will speak about his ac-complishments in foreign conflicts. She also said Mitchell is ideal for the lecture due to his impres-sive background and experience.

“Former Senator George Mitchell is a remark-able person and internationally known for his peace-keeping initiatives,” Joslin said.

  Public Policy and Political Science Professor Petra Hejinova, who also served as the lecture or-ganizer, said students can learn quite a bit from Mitchell.

“We are hoping that students will have a better understanding of international conflicts,” she said.

Joslin and Hejinova said Mitchell is a very im-portant figure and holds an excellent reputation in his field.

“Early on in his career he had a reputation as a talented negotiator,” she said. “He is highly re-

spected.”In addition to the benefit dinner and speech,

students and staff will have the opportunity to en-gage in a question and answer session with Mitch-ell in Murdock Hall at 4 p.m. Joslin said this could be very valuable for students.

“The Q&A session is an amazing opportunity for students to ask questions and interact directly with Senator Mitchell,” she said.

Hejnova noted that this will be the only opportu-nity to truly pick Mitchell’s brain.

“It’s a little more intimate and students will be able to ask several ques tions,” she said.

Former Senator to address CollegeBy Ryan Flynn

Sta� Writer

Photo courtesy of mcla.eduFormer Maine Senator George Mitchell was a peace negotiator with the Middle East.

Photo by Derrick Z. Jackon/Boston GlobeBarack Obama speaks at a rally in New Hampshire on Oct. 18.

Photo by Jack Guerino/Beacon sta� Students take an MCLA van to vote in the Tuesday elections.

Campus reacts to elections

By Kelsey MariniSpecial to The Beacon

ELECTIONS, continued on page 4

“For the United States of America, the

best is yet to come.”

- Barack Obama

Faculty and sta� weigh in a� er Obama’s win

Thursday, November 8, 2012 News theonlinebeacon.com2

Weekend Weather 11/8 - 11/11Thursday,

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The Student Government As-sociation (SGA) is contemplating bringing back a student center for commuters and on-campus stu-dents. Sophomore Brendan Peltier, SGA

Senate Chair, said money and space are big factors in the decision to make a new center for students. “The key aspect is space and

there’s very little of that right now with the Center for Science and In-novation being built and Bowman in the works of being redone,” Pel-tier said. Hoosac Hall currently has a

space for students to unwind and hang out with friends, but not all students have access to this area. Students must live in the building or be signed in by a resident who lives there, otherwise the space is unavailable.

A new student center would bring together all students living on or off campus. “This is something I am work-

ing on personally because I think it’s well needed in the school for things such as building a commu-nity, letting students unwind from school, and a safe option for stu-dents at all times,” Peltier said. Sam Sears, a junior, said a new

student center would be beneficial to all students. “I feel upperclassmen should have

a spot to hangout. I think right now commuter students have a tiny room in Bowman with a couch. Sharky’s was better,” she said.SGA will continue discussions

in upcoming meetings about a student center that is accessible to all and provides entertainment in spaces other than the student resi-dential buildings on campus.

By Amy CubelloStaff Writer

SGA looking into space for student center

“The key aspect is space and there’s very

little of that right now.”

-Brendan Peltier

The College called upon the Stu-dent Government Association (SGA) Monday night to consider contributing to the Sowing Seeds for Success campaign.Alumni Relations Coordinator

Brandon Pender asked SGA to con-sider developing an endowment to contribute toward the campaign over the next several years.“It’s about you using your re-

sources,” Pender said.Sowing Seeds for Success,

launched on Oct. 3, is a compre-hensive campaign with the goal of raising $22.5 million over the next three years, Pender said.

This money will benefit several different aspects of the College, from the new Science Center to athletics and more, he said.“This is a big three years we’re

about to go through right now,”

Pender said.President Jason Brown said he

supports the idea and asked the rest of SGA to carefully consider the possibility of creating an en-dowment.“I wanted the students to be in-

volved,” Brown said. “I challenge you all to think about this over the next couple of weeks.”

Public Safety update

According to Senator Adam To-bin, Public Safety is still on track to complete their arming process within the five-month window that ends in January 2013.Tobin delivered an update of the

arming of Public Safety during the Public Safety Advisory Committee report, and said officers are cur-rently undergoing the necessary trainings and certifications.“The efforts have been careful and

deliberate,” Tobin said. “[The offi-cers] are being safely trained.”He also relayed the findings of Joe

Charon, director of Public Safety, regarding the Clery Report, re-leased last month.“Most of the crimes [on campus]

have been crimes of opportunity,” Tobin said.

Cheer Club’s supplemental budget

The Cheer Club submitted a re-

quest for a supplemental budget to cover the costs of their coaches for next semester, but the initial request was denied by the Budget Finance Committee (BFC).“We have two coaches that our

club uses,” explained Cheer Club president Julia Buettner. Without certified coaches, the club will not be able to perform stunts or com-pete in competitions, she said. “I ask you guys to really put a lot of consideration into this revised budget.”Treasurer James Wetzel said the

request was denied by the BFC be-cause the club already had funds allotted for these purposes in their budget. Supplemental budgets are intended to cover the costs of unforeseen circumstances, he ex-plained.“It’s not that we feel they don’t de-

serve it – that’s not the case,” Wetzel said.“I would love to be able to write

blank checks,” he continued. “We just don’t have an endless amount of money.”The Cheer Club submitted a sec-

ond, reduced, supplemental bud-get request that SGA will review over the next few weeks.There will be no SGA meeting on

Monday due to Veteran’s Day. The next SGA meeting will be on Mon-day, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. in Murdock Hall room 218.

College urges SGA to contribute to fundraising campaign

Photo by Siyun Wu/Beacon staffBrandon Pender speaks to SGA about contributing to the Sowing Seeds for Success campaign.

By Chris GoodellEditor-in-Chief

“This is a big three years we’re about to

go through right now.”

- Brandon Pender

NEW YORK (AP) - Weather experts had good news for beleaguered Northeast coastal residents Tuesday: A new storm that threatened to complicate Hurricane Sandy cleanup efforts on Wednesday now looks like it will be weaker than expected.As the storm moves up the

Atlantic coast from Florida it now is expected to veer farther offshore than earlier projections had indicated. Jeff Masters of the private weather service Weather Underground says that means less wind and rainfall on land.

Even so, he said winds could still gust to 50 mph in New York and New Jersey Wednesday afternoon and evening.And Lauren Nash, a

meteorologist from the National Weather Service, said wind gusts might blow down tree limbs weakened from Sandy and cause more power outages. On Wednesday night, gusts may occasionally reach 60 mph in coastal Connecticut and Long Island, she said.Storm surges along the coasts

of New Jersey and New York are expected to reach perhaps three feet, only half to a third of what Hurricane Sandy caused last week, Masters said. While that should produce only minor flooding, he said it will still cause some erosion problems along the New Jersey coast and the shores of Long Island, where Sandy destroyed some protective dunes.Coastal Virginia could also get a

surge of two or three feet, causing minor flooding on the east side of Chesapeake Bay during high tides Wednesday morning and evening, he said.However, most of the storm’s

rain will stay offshore, with maybe an inch or two expected in Massachusetts and less than an inch elsewhere along the coast, he said.Up to an inch of snow may fall

in Northeastern New Jersey and the lower Hudson River Valley, weather service meteorologist Mike Layer said. Central Massachusetts and Western Connecticut also could get an inch or two of snow, according to Masters.

Associated Press

Good news for east coast

Nor’easter to be weaker than first

expected

“As the storm moves up the Atlantic coast from Florida it now is expected to veer

farther offshore than earlier projections

had indicated.”

Thursday, November 8, 2012 News 3theonlinebeacon.com

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As the political season comes to an end, the Susan B. Anthony Women’s Center addresses the misrepresentation and underrep-resentation of women in politics.

Tuesday night, students gath-ered in Murdock 218 for Stereo Talk V: Women in Politics.

Jennifer Craig, coordinator of student activities, moderated the discussion which was led by a panel composed of students Cath-erine Chaput, a senior, Stephan Rochefort, a junior, Stephen Kul-las, a senior, and consultant to the Women’s Center Ojae Beale.

“Women are 50 percent less like-ly to seriously consider running for office and 33 percent less likely to view themselves as qualified as men,” Craig said.

The discussion between the panel and the audience revolved around the disproportionate number of women in politics, the many possible reasons as to why this disparity exists, and the mis-treatment of women in the politi-cal field.

A recurring topic, brought up by the panel, throughout the discus-sion was the fact that gender roles play a big part in how women are treated.

“The thing that I find curious

about the 50 percent [of women less likely to run], is I think that it represents a confluence of a kind of old school thinking, cultural thinking, thinking in society that women really belong in the kitch-en and in the home,” Beale said.

The consensus of the panel was that, the political system is struc-tured so that women with families are deterred from entering poli-tics, as they would be expected to be homemakers and politicians all at once, with little help from their spouses.

The panel discussed labels that women are given whether out-right derogatory or more some more subversive, and which ones were possibly worse.

“If a pundit today were to call a woman [a derogatory name], he would be very obviously con-demned,” Kullas said. “If he were to say ‘What’s with her hair?’ I don’t think anyone would think twice.”

Another topic that arose was the focus on fashion and the objecti-fication of women who have en-tered the political field.

“I came across this article talk-ing about how Michelle Obama had given this great speech at the Democratic Convention and the next day, four morning shows were talking about her nail pol-ish,” said Corinne Blake, a senior

and Women’s Center office assis-tant.

Blake, along with the panel, saw a big issue where labeling and ob-jectification met.

“If they dress too feminine they’re labeled as slutty, there’s a huge focus on their clothes, but if they’re dressed not feminine enough they’re too masculine and they’re ‘ball-breakers,’” she said. “There are a lot of double stan-dards women have to face.

A number of other issues were touched upon such as biologi-cal differences between men and women being seen as a weakness, how often female politicians are often viewed with the stereotype of the nagging wife, and the dif-ference in pay between men and women.

“[The big problem is] this per-ception that they’re under quali-fied and it’s based on this tradition in this country and in the western world of disregarding women, and that’s just such a huge force that they have to deal with, they still have to deal with all of that before they can be seen as equiva-lent to men,” Rochefort said.

While no immediate solution was found for these issues the panel concluded that if status is-sues between men and women are taken out of the picture, politics will follow suit.

By Nick ArenaStaff Writer

Women’s Center examines gender issues in politics

MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS 375 Church Street, North Adams, MA

The Commonwealth’s Public Liberal Arts College 413-662-5185 www.mcla.edu

MCLA 2nd Annual Michael S. and Kitty Dukakis Public Policy Lecture

GEORGE J. MITCHELL

SENATOR

Global Diplomat, Peace Negotiator, and Leadership Expert

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 7 PMMCLA Church Street Center

Free and open to the public.Proceeds will benefit public policy initiatives at MCLA.

The Public Policy Lecture is made possible through the generosity of the Ruth Proud Charitable Trust.

Puerto Rico considers U.S. statehood

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) _ Puerto Ricans were facing a fundamental question on Elec-tion Day: Should they change their ties with the United States?

Citizens in the U.S. island ter-ritory cannot vote in the U.S. presidential election, but many were excited to participate in a referendum that could push the territory toward statehood, greater autonomy or indepen-dence.

Car horns blared and party flags waved as voters headed to polling stations, many carrying umbrellas against the blister-ing tropical sun as temperatures neared 90 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees centigrade).

The two-part referendum first asks voters if they want to change Puerto Rico’s 114-year relationship with the United States. A second question gives voters three alternatives if they do want a change: become the 51st U.S. state, independence, or “sovereign free association,’’ a designation that would give more autonomy for the territory of 4 million people.

“Puerto Rico has to be a state. There is no other option,’’ said

25-year-old Jerome Lefebre, who picked up his grandfather before driving to the polls. “We’re do-ing OK, but we could do better. We would receive more benefits, a lot more financial help.’’

But 42-year-old Ramon Lopez de Azua said he favors the cur-rent system, which grants U.S. citizenship but prevents Puerto Ricans from voting for president unless they live in the United States, and gives those on the is-land only limited representation in Congress.

“Puerto Rico’s problem is not its political status,’’ he said. “I think that the United States is the best country in the world, but I am Puerto Rican first.’’

Both President Barack Obama and rival Mitt Romney have said they supported the referendum, with Obama pledging to respect the will of the people if there is a clear majority. Any change would require approval by the U.S. Congress.

The island also is electing legis-lators and a governor, with Gov. Luis Fortuno of the pro-state-hood New Progressive Party seeking a second term. Fortuno, a Republican, is running against Alejandro Garcia Padilla, whose Popular Democratic Party favors the status quo.

Associated Press

Thursday, November 8, 2012 News theonlinebeacon.com4

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By Lauren CoffeySpecial to The Beacon

Question 1 passed. Now, vehicle manu-facture companies must provide the di-agnostic and repair information to any potential buyers. Starting with model year 2015, all background information must be available to dealers and repair facilities to reduce any case of fraud.Question 2, the most heated question on

the ballot, did not pass. By the end of the voting it was a close 49 percent yes to 51 percent no for the “death with dignity” law.Question 3 passed but the votes were fair-

ly close. By passing this question, medical marijuana is now legal and can be pre-scribed to patients who qualify. “Question 2 was a tough issue but I want-

ed it,” Segalla said. “And I voted no on Question 3 with the concern of what will happen with drugs being regulated.”

Campus reacts to elections

ELECTIONS, continued from page 1

Those who didn’t want to stay awake on election night woke up yesterday morning to a sea of blue. President Barack Obama will have another four years in office. The question many are now asking is,

“How are things going to change?” History and Political Science Professor Jim Cana-van had a lot to say on the matter. “President Obama’s victory underscores

the point that the country has changed. No longer will white male voters constitute the bloc that elects the president,” he said. “That said, with the U.S. House continuing with a Republican majority, and the U.S. Senate without a Democratic super-majority, it ap-pears that the status quo will hold.” News outlets were buzzing over more than

the presidential election. Elizabeth Warren was announced as the winner of the Mas-sachusetts Senate race, beating incumbent Scott Brown by eight points last night. Results of the Massachusetts ballot ques-

tions were also announced. Question 1, the availability of information on motor vehi-cle repairs, passed by a landslide with an 85 percent approval rate. Question 3, allowing the use of medical marijuana, was also ap-proved. However, the issue addressed in Question 2, “death with dignity,” was not. Many states, similar to Massachusetts,

passed new laws into their legislation. “Direct democracy, voting in referenda,

has resulted in some interesting new state policies and laws - legalizing recreational marijuana in the Northwest and gay mar-riage in Maine and Maryland,” said Po-litical Science and Public Policy Professor Robert Bence. “These state initiatives will aid the continuation of national debates.” Massachusetts was not the only state to

pass laws related to marijuana. Both Wash-ington and Colorado became the first states to legalize the drug for recreational use. “One of the things that I found particu-

larly interesting was that you can see how demographic changes in the American electorate that first appeared in 2008 have really continued to impact politics today,” said History and Political Science Profes-sor Ely Janis. “We have also seen some big changes taken place with more states sup-porting gay marriage, in Wisconsin you had the election of the first openly gay U.S. senator in Tammy Baldwin, and there is the possibility in New Hampshire of an all female federal delegation.”Between Obama’s second chance and new

state laws being implemented, the country is in a state of transition; but for now, it is a game of waiting.

College’s top 10 ranking fixed online

U.S. News and World Report corrected MCLA’s missing recognition on their year-ly online publication of the Top Ten Public Liberal Arts Colleges. The former list of only nine colleges be-

came a full list of ten when their IT depart-ment fixed the issue a couple of weeks ago. The rankings had been officially published in the September issue of the magazine, but MCLA remained unlisted in the online publication.The college had been in constant contact

with U.S. News and World Report, accord-ing to Denise Richardello, vice president

of External Affairs. The organization con-tinually apologized for the online trouble.“We’re happy they finally fixed it,” Rich-

ardello said. “They took care of what they needed to do” “Having that recognition two years in

a row of what we’ve already known to be true is significant,” she said, adding the sig-nificance of MCLA being recognized as a top public liberal arts school in a national magazine.MCLA rightly joins four other institu-

tions from the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC) holding posi-tions in the top ten, meaning COPLAC consortium members represent half the colleges on the list.

The COPLAC conference has 27 mem-ber institutions. Other members of the COPLAC conference were also eligible for rank in the national magazine, Richardello said. According to the recognition of U.S. News and World Reports rankings, MCLA is also part of the top five schools in CO-PLAC.“The fact that the College is the public

liberal arts college of Massachusetts is rec-ognition in itself,” Richardello said. “It’s a great distinction. We work very hard, and put in our best work every day.” “The rank is a cumulative effect, based

on the work of everyone,” Richardello said, stating this is something students and fac-ulty should be proud of.

By Marc LatourStaff Writer

How will things change?

Thursday, November 8, 2012 Sports theonlinebeacon.com 5

Andrew HodgsonSports Editor

Senior Ryan Shewchuk’s per-sonality is something that shines both on and o the soccer eld; he plays the game from the heart.

At the age of three, Shewchuk developed a love for soccer. He also played basketball, baseball and hockey, but it was soccer that rose above everything else.

“I always picked soccer. If I had other games on the same day it was always soccer rst,” Shew-chuk said. “It’s just something that I always wanted to do over every-thing else. Instead of sitting at home and watching TV, I would be in the backyard kicking a soc-cer ball.”

Shewchuk said his mother would always tell him ever since he was born he had a soccer ball in his hand. Shewchuk said the support of his family and friends is what keeps him going.

“My parents always showed their support. � ey went to every game that they could,” Shewchuk said.

In middle school , even a broken leg couldn’t stop Shewchuk’s de-sire to play the game.

“My will to keep on playing was what made me go back into the game with a broken leg,” he said.

Shewchuk, along with two of his closest friends, was named captain of the soccer team during his senior year of high school. He then chose to pursue the sport in his college career because giving up the sport was not an option.

Aside from MCLA, Shewchuk was recruited by three other col-leges: Nichols, Western New Eng-land University and AIC.

Adam Hildabrand, coach of the Men’s Soccer team, said he was lucky to get Shewchuk as a player.

“It was rare that I would beat WNEC’s coach with recruiting,” Hildabrand said. “� ere were very few times where we would recruit the same person and I would get them on my team.”

Hildabrand said Shewchuk showed he was a respected and

hardworking player and he want-ed someone like that on the team.

Shewchuk has his own pre-game ritual to make sure each game goes well. Every morning on game days he eats an egg sand-wich on a bagel and tries to eat fruit or something light for lunch. Before leaving for every game, Ryan’s housemates wish him luck and wear his warm up jerseys to every game.

All of these things are important to Shewchuk, but one thing stands out more than most: he has to eat a bag a Skittles before every game.

“Last year I had a bag of Skittles before a game and I played really well that game, so ever since then I have to eat a bag of Skittles be-fore each game,” Shewchuk said.

As a co-captain, Shewchuk puts his team before everything.

“He is sensitive to the needs of the group and he puts them rst,” Hildabrand said. “He makes sure everyone is okay.”

� e team’s bond is strong on and o the eld, though Shew-chuk said this didn’t show in the records.

“Our chemistry is powerful and we all play really well together,” Shewchuk said. “We just didn’t get as many wins as we deserved.”

Hildabrand agrees the team didn’t get dealt the best hand this season.

� is year was de nitely our best year, so far, it just didn’t show in records” he said. “Each captain is a di erent type of teacher and it really brings the team together.”

Hildbrand said Shewchuk, as a captain, is a big part in who the team is now and whom they will be in years to come.

“� e graduating class, along with previous graduating classes, have set a foundation for the team that will hopefully lead the team in later years, to a championship,” he said. “On a personal level, Ryan is fun to be around. He has a great personality and it’s something we as a team will truly miss when he is gone.”

Shewchuk hopes to go into the criminal justice eld, speci cally the K-9 unit a� er graduation.

“Ever since I was little I always wanted a dog and my mom would never let me have one. She said if I was in the K-9 unit I could keep the dog,” Shewchuk said.

Shewchuk said he will miss his team a� er he graduates, but hopes to visit as much as he can and keep the relationships he has made with each and every team-mate. Soccer will not end for him with graduation. Shewchuk wants to be a part of a men’s soccer league a� er college or nd some way to keep the sport in his life.

Jamie Morrison is a man with two passions, basketball and the Native American culture. � is semester he was given the opportunity to ful ll both all while making an impact on the lives of those who work with him.

Morrison, coach of the Men’s Basketball team, has recently been accepted the position as the director of Native Tribal Scholars, a program under the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe.

“I’m Native American, my family is, and we have a strong passion for our culture,” Morrison said. “I have worked in several native communities since graduating college, but I have been removed from that a bit since coming to MCLA. � is was a chance to get back to my community. It’s a best of both worlds for me.”

Morrison said the Native American Scholars is similar to a pre-college academic prep program, which focuses on getting native American students enrolled in college with plans to graduate.

� e year-round opportunity includes a six-week summer residential program o ering academic classes, workshops, college visits, and eld trips, all incorporating the Native culture.

Although Morrison accepted the full-time position, he will still continue to coach basketball at the College.

“I really enjoy sports and athletics and helping these guys be better players, students and men,” Morrison said.

Morrison’s method of balancing both jobs is to manage his time and responsibilities wisely. He does aknowledge that balancing the team and his new job may create new challenges.

“I think it’s a situation that will work out well, but will have to re-evaluate at the end of the year to see if it’s something I and everybody involved wants to continue,” Morrison said.

Having previously worked for the Indian Center in Boston, Morrison said it feels good to reconnect with old friends through his new position.

� e Trailblazers are hoping to improve on their 8-19 record last season. Tehy open the season at home on Nov. 19.

I can’t keep my head in sports today.

Tuesday night was a bigger night for America than many people have yet to realize. Of course the tooth-and-nail bout between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney was the main event. And it was blood, coming down to districts in Ohio and Florida. In the end, Obama earned another term.

But across the country, things are changing. After being on ballots 32 times across the coun-try, gay marriage rights passed by popular vote in both Maine and Maryland, and possibly in Washington, a historic victory for gay rights activists.

On the West coast the change came on a different front. Wash-ington and Colorado have of-ficially legalized marijuana for recreational use. In Colorado, Amendment 64 removes crimi-nal penalties for marijuana pos-session in adults 21 plus. The amendment also allows adults to grow up to six marijuana plants. Washington’s Initiative 502 also removes all criminal and civil penalties from adults. In Wash-ington marijuana regulation will fall under the liquor control board.

While marijuana remains il-legal at the federal level, these two states are using a powerful weapon in the fight for their citizens’ right to use marijuana: safety in numbers. The DEA is unlikely to keep up enforcement with an entire state with poten-tial “grows” of up to six plants in a home.

The country is in a state of flux. The economy is still a quagmire, the NHL is locked out again, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin rocketed into relevance with a historically dominant 251 yard, four touchdown per-formance against the Oakland Raiders last weekend.

The Obama-Romney race was the only exciting heavyweight fight we are likely to see anytime soon, unless “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather decides to take on Manny Pacquaio.

Senior Profile: Ryan Shewchuk

By Ariana TourangeauSports Writer

Photo by Kayla Degnan/ Beacon sta�

Senior Ryan Shewchuk goes head-to-head with a player from Westfield.

Morrison:coaching and culture

By Kayla DegnanSta� Writer

The only fight

worth watching

“� is was a chance to get back to my community. It’s a

best of both worlds for me.”

-Jamie Morrison

Thursday, November 8, 2012 Sports theonlinebeacon.com6

The sixth-seeded Women’s Soccer team lost in the quarter finals of the MASAC playoff to third-seed Bridgewater State (8-8-2) last week in a 4-0 loss.

The two teams were meeting in the conference tournament for the second time in the past three years. The Trailblazers end the season with a 7-11 record.

The scoring for the Bears began with sophomore Emily Lane at 23 minutes. A shot by junior Erica Jonasson was turned away by Trailblazer goalie Danielle Heinsohn only to have the ball rifled into the net by Lane.

Mackenzie Hatfield got the Bear’s second goal at 38 minutes, kicking the ball above Heinsohn’s outstretched hand.

The last goal of the first half was scored by Erica Jonasson for the Bears at 43 minutes on a breakaway.

In the second half, junior Olivia Creonte scored the fourth and final goal for the Bears at 64 minutes with an assist from Lane. They held off the Trailblazers for the last 25 minutes of the game.

Bridgewater dominated the match with 25 shots to MCLA’s nine.

For seniors like Kasie Harrington of the Trailblazers, the hard loss was the last game of their collegiate career.

“It's sad that the season ended, but I am so proud of everyone and the

hard work we all put in,” Harrington said. “I'm truly going to miss it, I loved every minute of my four years playing and I am grateful for all the memories made and the relationships that were formed.”

Although the underclassmen aren’t leaving the team, they still share the same feeling of losing teammates. They are a team that possesses great deal of love and spirit.

“I have been part of the program for four years with those girls and I wouldn't change a thing,” said junior Brianna Dandurant. “It's

crazy how much each of these senior girls have grown since our freshman year.”

They know that everyone on the team is a good athlete and always use the best of their abilities.

“Even though we lost the senior game I wouldn't change that game at all. Everyone gave their all and that's all that matters,” Dandurant said.

The Trailblazers will hang up their jerseys until next season. Until then, they’ll be getting ready for another season of Blazer Fever.

The 2012 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Cross-country championships were held on Saturday, Nov. 3, at Mount Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown, Mass. Both the men’s and women’s teams competed in the event.

In front of a large crowd bundled up against a blustery and cold morning, over 100 colleges and 800 student-athletes from all over the Northeast made the trip to Saturday’s event, hosted by Williams College and the ECAC.

Middlebury College won the women's championship with a final team score of 31. Drew University senior, Jennifer Van Wingerden, took first in the women's championship with a time of 22:54.

The Trailblazers finished in 37th place in the championship with a score of 245. The Trailblazers were paced by Dani Sylvester's time of 27:49. Monica Conlin and Claire Simmons were right on her heels and finished in second and third for the team.

Amherst College won the men's championship with a final team score of 44. Sam Haney,

a senior from Tufts University won the men's championship with an individual time of 26:22.

The MCLA Trailblazers

finished 30th in the field of 43 teams with a score of 252. Anthony Cancilla paced the Trailblazers with a 94th place

finish, covering the distance in 28:59. Keith Desilets was the next Trailblazer across the finish line as he crossed in 30:28.

Both squads finish their season on Saturday at the NCAA New England Regionals, hosted by Westfield State.

Photo by Jack Guerino/ Beacon staffThe Trailblazers try to get a good start at the ECAC tournament on Saturday. Over 800 athletes participated in the men’s and women’s race.

Cross-country competes in ECAC championshipsBy Andrew Hodgson

Sports Editor

Women’s soccer fall to BearsBy Chris Oxholm

Sports Writer

Third seed Bridgewater State overwhelm Trailblazers, 4-0

On Monday, MASCAC conference officials announced the conference honors for the fall season, as teams across the state wrapped up conference tournaments and prepared for the NCAA III tournaments.

Seven Trailblazers made the all-conference squads for their hard work this season.

In volleyball, Framingham State’s Andressa Fernandes was named player of the year for the second straight year. Fernandes terrorized the MASCAC this year, earning 438 kills and 314 digs. Her efforts led the Rams to their first MASCAC title and helped earn them a birth in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Representing the Trailblazers on the second-team all-conference squad is junior co-captain Julia Christian. Christian led the Trailblazers with 222 kills and 164 digs.

For men’s soccer, Salem State’s Eryk Fernandez took the player of the year honor. Fernandez finished the year with 14 goals and four assists, and looks to add to his total in the MASCAC Championship game. The Trailblazers are represented on the second-team all-conference by senior forward Jake McCall.

McCall led the Trailblazers with seven goals on the season, adding two assists as well.

On the women’s soccer side, Westfield State senior forward Kayley Miller took player of the year due to a dominant 20 goal and nine assist season. Westfield took the MASCAC tournament title and remains undefeated (18-0-1) as they look forward to the NCAA III tournament.

The women’s soccer team had five players honored by the conference. Three Trailblazers made the first-team all-conference. Junior Jen Ferrari made the team even being sidelined by an injury for a few games. She ended the season with ten goals and two assists for 22 points. Four of her goals sealed victories for the Trailblazers. Sophomore back Tina Klich was also recognized for her contributions to the team this year. Junior goaltender Danielle Heinsohn allowed only 36 goals this season while making 161 saves to earn her spot on the all-MASCAC squad.

The second-team all-conference included junior midfielder Lindsay Borbolla and sophomore back Ashlee Scofield. Borbolla posted five goals and nine assists for 19 points this season. Scofield had two goals and one assist in the 2012 campaign.

Seven Trailblazers earn MASCAC honors

By Andrew HodgsonSports Editor

Photo by Jack Guerino/Beacon staffKeshia Devoe makes a run towards Mount Holyoke’s goal.

Thursday, November 8, 2012 Arts & Entertainment theonlinebeacon.com 7Lewitticisms: A flowing tribute to Sol Lewitt

Life imitated art at Williams College’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble’s (CoDa) sold-out performance of “Lewitticisms” at Mass MoCA on Thursday, Nov. 1. This was not a typical dance

show occurring on a stage while the audience sat and watched; it was interactive. Approximately 50 attendees were led upstairs and given packets with either a red or blue line at the top that indicated which dancers to follow. The crowd watched in hushed

silence as barefoot female dancers in red, grey, and white dresses, along with a single male dancer, moved to calming music in front of

walls of grey, black, and yellow art.CoDa’s movements were

described in the program as “integrating the foundational techniques of modern and ballet with contemporary and popular forms of movement.”In front of the neutral colored

walls of “Sol Lewitt: A Wall Drawing Retrospective” exhibit, the dancers made fluid, ballet-like movements while bouncing and flitting to Bach.Meanwhile, surrounded by bright

orange, red, and blue walls, the music and dancing turned loud and dramatic. Movements became erratic during a solo routine for “A Not-Straight Line” in front of “Wall Drawing 793B.”“Lewitticisms” was performed

last spring at Williams College, but according to Erica Dankmeyer, co-artistic director and choreographer of CoDa, art was displayed on the floor where the dancers performed, and the ensemble gained many new dancers who were unfamiliar to the routine. “We had the bones of it at last

spring’s show, but there was a lot of restaging and scraping things that didn’t go with the art,” said Janine Parker, co-artistic director and choreographer. While the directors explained

the ensemble had been rehearsing for about two and half months, the dancers only got to practice at MoCA three times before performing.The routine that earned the most

smiles and laughter from the audience was “Duet,” featuring two of the dancers performing to Etta James’ classic song “At Last.” The girls were dressed in multicolored ‘70s-style dresses that contrasted against the black and white geometric art, “Wall Drawing 792,” behind them. They moved slowly to the music, sharing playful smiles with the audience and each other, making it one of the more interactive performances.“I think it was a really creative

use of the space,” said Courtney Parker, an MCLA alumna and asssistant to the managing director of performing arts. “It’s nice to see what’s happening with a local connection.”The final performance in

“Lewitticisms,” featured the dancers moving with long, silk pieces of fabric matching the bright yellows, oranges, reds, and greens that adorned the walls, earned a long stretch of applause by the audience before the crowd exited the Ruth E. Proud Charitable Trust Gallery, which hosts the Lewitt gallery.A musical performance by Karl

Larson was scheduled to follow “Lewitticisms” but was cancelled because Larson could not leave New York due to the damage cause by Hurricane Sandy.“Sol Lewitt: A Wall Drawing

Retrospective” was installed in Mass MoCa in 2008 and, according to Mass MoCA’s website, will be on view through 2033.

Josh Simpson is an internationally-renowned glass artist. His work is currently on display at MCLA’s Gallery 51. For descriptions and information on more art exhibits in North Adams, see page 8.

Photos by Jess Gamari/Beacon staff

Photos by Takeya Lee/Beacon staffWilliams CoDa performs at Mass MoCa. For more photos, check out the Photo Essay on page 12.

Blue Marble: The Universe of Josh Simpson

By Haley CostenA&E Writer

Thursday, November 8, 2012 Arts & Entertainment theonlinebeacon.com8

Harlequin and the Allegrettos came together for the first time to put on William Finn’s Tony Award winning musical, “The 25th Annu-al Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

The proceeds from the show went to benefit a $500 scholarship for one child to attend Barrington Stage Company’s “KidsAct” pro-gram.

“Art should never be the thing that goes away when times are tough,” said Jay Cottle, a senior.

The show was directed by Brittney Gerber, a junior, with the vocals directed by Cottle.

Gerber is also one of Harle-quin’s co-presidents, as well as a co-music director for the Allegret-tos. Cottle is one of the founding members of the Allegretos, and directs their gospel choir section. He is currently in charge of public relations for the club.

“We are very pleased to put on something so great together for such a great cause,” Gerber said to the audience.

All members of the cast par-ticipate in both the Allegretos and

Harlequin. The show featured a plethora of

high-energy musical numbers, quirky characters, and simple, but effective choreography.

For an extra dollar, audience members had the opportunity to be selected to join the cast on stage as a guest speller. These guests in-cluded seniors Amanda Monick and Jackie Coughlin, as well as Celia Norcross director of Student Development.

Joel Praino, a senior, as the ex-convict comfort counselor, Mitch Mahoney, led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Sophomore John Geary, as the delightfully deadpan Vice Principal Douglas Panch, explained the rules.

As each cast member was called up, Ms. Rona Lisa Peretti, played by senior Jessica Jean-Charles, gave comical tidbits about each speller’s life.

Hannah Sterrs, a junior, adorned in mismatching clothes, a bandana and superhero cape, played the hyperactive homeschooler, Leaf Coneybear. When called up to the mic, she sang a poignant song (“I’m Not That Smart”) about how her family has little confidence

in spelling abilities, with her silly antics and gestures lightening the mood.

Freshman Callen Gardner may be new to the Church Street Cen-ter stage, but he stole the spotlight as William Barfée, last year’s fi-nalist with awful allergies and a touchy personality. Gardner’s jazzy number (“Magic Foot”) provided a great deal of laughs in the audience as he shuffled around the stage and ended with a chorus line.

Even in larger group numbers, the cast never missed a beat or decreased their energy. The song “Pandemonium” got everyone up on their feet, dancing and singing wildly about the unfairness of luck in the spelling bee. The cast sang strongly and tightly, never missing a beat despite the chaos.

The show was filled with several comical comments.

Sophomore Courtney McLaren played Logainne SchwartzandGr-ubenierre, a politically aware per-fectionist with a speech impedi-ment and two sassy, overbearing fathers who make her victory their main priority, played by Praino and Jordan Cohen, a senior.

Sophomore Lauren Feeney

played transfer student Marcy Park, who appears to be all busi-ness, is just overwhelmed with stress. In a moment of crisis, she encountered Jesus, played by Co-hen, who gave her advice.

Jon Kinney, a senior, played Chip Tolentino, a boy scout and last year’s spelling bee champion. His only demise was his inability to control his adolescent urges, as Coneybear’s sister, Marigold, in the audience, distracted him.

After a brief dispute with Mitch Mahoney, where Chip refused to leave the bee and accept his com-plimentary juice box, he returned to the stage during a snack break, passing out candy to the audience and singing about his “unfortunate erection.”

Melody Rolph, a junior, played the socially awkward Olive Ostro-vsky, who made friends with her dictionary because her parents were never home. Rolph sings an emotional number, featuring Cot-tle and Gerber as her parents (“The I Love You Song”), where they give her words of encouragement and love even though they are far away.

A variety of characters and voic-es came together very nicely for

a quirky show, balanced out with both upbeat and touching num-bers.

“I really enjoyed it, “ said recent alumni, Tim Range, “They bal-anced out acting and singing very nicely, and the music didn’t over power the singers.”

Keifer Gammell, another alumni, said, “The combination of the two clubs was definitely a good idea.”

“I’m very happy the Allegretos and Harlequin came together,” Kinney said. “We’re the two big singing clubs on campus, so it works out very well.”

Sophomore Lynn McEaney was also very impressed with “Put-nam.”

“This show really emphasized the cast’s acting and singing abili-ties, and comedic timing,” she said. “I was blown away by their talents, and I know the whole audience was blown away, too.”

Just a 10 minute walk from campus, downtown North Adams is filled with new galleries and exhib-its for every art fan’s taste.

Studio21southLocated on Eagle Street, right across from Desper-

ado’s, this small gallery showcases artists from the Berkshires, New York, and the rest of the Northeast area.

“We have had a lot of shows that have shown an industrial genre” said Gallery Coordinator Jaye Fox. “We did a show re-imaging New York City.”

Inside the gallery, visitors will find everything from New York City bridges and old iron manufac-turing factories to scenes from back roads in Berk-shire County.

The original location of the gallery was in the same mill building as the popular Frog Lotus yoga studio.

“We used to be up at the Beaver Mill,” Fox said. “We’ve been getting a lot more traffic at our new lo-cation thanks to street traffic.”

“Our visitors are about 70 percent New York-based, 20 percent Boston-based, and only 10 percent local,” Fox said. “We’d love for more locals to come in.”

Something to note about the gallery is its eccletic mix of frames. Studio21south has everything from black to wood to unframed work on their walls.

Frank Curran, one of the featured artists in, cur-rently has his work collection entitled “Ruins in Summer Light” on display at Studio21south. The

paintings feature scenes from an old iron works fac-tory and the surrounding area.

NAACO GalleryLocated at the corner of Route 8 and Main Street,

the NAACO (North Adams Artist Co-Op) Gallery is collection of local and national artists featuring multiple mediums.

“NAACO Gallery was started in 2008 as part of Downstreet Art,” said Colleen Williams, co-director and curator of the gallery. “It ran for four month’s time and at its conclusion, the director and treasurer disbanded and the business ended.”

The following year, the gallery was brought into Downstreet Art and was resurrected by Williams, her partner, painter and figurative artist, Nestor Val-des, and a number of other members.

“Most of our artist-members are New England re-gional,” Williams said. The artists come from as far as London, England and as close as right down the street in North Adams and Bennington, Vt., she said.

“We hold monthly receptions for our new exhibits, always held in conjunction with MCLA’s Gallery 51 exhibitions,” Williams continued. “We try to have a broad appeal with a varied selection of work, some-thing for everyone!”

The mediums used in NAACO’s artwork are split right down the middle with a healthy balance of fine art, including painting, photography, mixed media, and craft media, which pertains to anything from handmade clothing, to bowls and wine stoppers.

Artist Franco Pellegrino blend a mix of pop art colors with natural subjects such as trees for bright prints.

Galleries offer variety of art in downtown North AdamsThe Downtown Saunter

With November comes beautifully crisp autumn days. These days can be spent walking around downtown’s many galleries.Here’s how to do it:

• Start at the Mohawk marquee, a piece of North Adams history that has been part of Main Street since the mid-1930’s. Stop into PRESS and Gallery 107, but the focus here is on the street art.

• Walk down Main Street and check out the “Wall of Sound” by Roger Savre and David Poppe, a sculpture made completely of CD cases.

• Across the street is a brightly colored bus stop known as “Bus Stand,” which was designed by Victoria Polermo.

• Continue down Main Street and take a right onto Holden Street. The mural on the left, “That’s Gneiss” by Melissa Matsuki Lilli, is part of a new initiative to bring more artists to North Adams by Downstreet Art. Lilli is also a local artist from North Adams.

• At the end of Holden Street, take a left down Center Street. On the right there is a series of pillars featuring the work of Christina King and nine students from Greylock Elementary. These pillar murals were modeled after the famous Arnold Printwork dolls from the turn of the 20th century.

• Head back toward the center of town and create an original gallery tour!

• There are many more galleries and exhibits in North Adams that are open year round.

For more information on other galleries, visit www.downstreetart.org.

Allegrettos and Harlequin join for ‘The Putnam Spelling Bee’

Photos courtesy of Cale HoughStudents from both Harlequin and the Allegrettos perform a joint show.

By Shannen AdamitesA&E Writer

By Michael FeloniA&E Writer

For another perspective of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” check out Aya Lanzoni’s article on-line, which includes a review of the question and answer session with the playwright.

Thursday, November 8, 2012 Arts & Entertainment theonlinebeacon.com 9By Michael Feloni

A&E Writer

Jonathan Secor has been a part of the MCLA community for a number of years, and continues to handle what seems like endless responsibilities with arts management at the College. Secor’s latest endeavor for MCLA Presents! was a concert featuring the internationally renowned artist BelÓ, a musician from the island of Haiti.

“He is essentially the Bob Marley of Haiti, he’s a superstar,” Secor said. “He’s Haiti’s ambassador to the world for disabilities and the environment.” One of the main reasons MCLA Presents! wanted to bring BelÓ to North Adams specifically was to show him, and the rest of the world, what small towns look like in the U.S.. Along with a concert, BelÓ also held an event with the Allegrettos and went around campus and spoke to various classes. Secor, along with being an integral part of arts management at MCLA, is the man in charge of the College’s own Gallery 51. “I have a really great team, here,” Secor said of Gallery 51 and MCLA Presents!. “We all work very well together and they’re such a great help.” Secor also assisted in revamping the North Adams Artist Co-Operative (NAACO), a gallery featuring local and national artists on Main Street. “Jonathan Secor was looking to resurrect the Co-Op,” said Colleen Williams, curator of the NAACO gallery in downtown North Adams. “I had participated

as one of its artist-members… We realized what a success it was…” “Jonathan Secor has been an extraordinary partner of the Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) Department,” said Art History and Museum Studies Professor Tony Gengarelly. “His leadership in cultural events is felt all over Berkshire County.” According to Gengarelly, Secor has played an integral part in arranging national and international trips and events for FPA students for years. He also expressed how difficult it is to see the leap MCLA has made in the past several years without Secor. “He is brilliant and affable, a marvelous colleague with whom I have had the honor and pleasure to work with,” Gengarelly said. “I took Performing Arts Management with Jonathan in the spring of 2012,” said Hannah Sterrs, a junior. “At the end of the semester, we put on ‘Rock the Block,’ which had an attendance of over 1,000 people.” Sterrs continued to express how big a part of things Secor is in making things happen around campus and in town. “Although, we as a class put together the event, it wouldn’t have been possible without Jonathan,” Sterrs said. “Jonathan pushes us, in a healthy way, to be the best we can,” Sterrs continued about Secor’s work as an educator. “Because he has so much experience, he uses that to teach us how, we too, can be successful.” “Working with Jonathan really opened my eyes to the arts management world,” said Melody

Rolph, a senior. “He has done an incredible amount of work within the field and has done it with poise.” “Not only does he teach multiple classes at MCLA,” Rolph continued, “but he works with BCRC, focuses on everything MCLA Presents!, interviews people for BHIP in the Spring, plans and coordinates the special arts management trips, works on community engagement through

the arts and much, much more.“ Secor works hard to get things done and stands up for what he believes, she said. “Sometimes I think that Jonathan is a hidden gem within the Berkshires,” Rolph continued, “… but other days I see him saying hello to the general North Adams folk as they walk down the street and I realize that he has a very special place here.”

Tano HolmesA&E Editor

Jonathan Secor: An arts maverick

The Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) Department’s MainStage will perform Howard Barker’s “Scenes from an Execution,” Nov. 14 through 17.

“‘Scenes from an Execution’ is the story about the great Venetian painter Ana Galactia, played by senior Jackie Coughlin, who is commissioned to paint the notorious Battle of Lepanto, a one-thousand square foot canvas which is never seen,” said Lily Urquhart, a junior. “It bounces between trial and error of an artist’s life to create the spectacle drawn in her sketchbook.”

A “Conversations in Catastrophe” discussion about the politics, art, and war represented through Barker’s play will take place on Nov. 15 at 4:30 p.m. Director Laura Standley, students, and professors from art, English, and history will join together to discuss these heavy topics, as well as their impact on the work.

“An underlying theme could be female strength. Even today, it is somewhat hard for a female painter to become famous or ‘god-like,’” Urquhart said. “That, and when you have a program, look

at the characters and [see] how the actors have portrayed them to get a sense about who these people really are in relation to one another.”

“You really can’t see anything coming until it’s in front of you,” she added.

“Scenes from an Execution” will show in Venable Theatre on Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. and continue through Nov. 17, with a student matinee on Nov. 16 at 10 a.m. and a matinee at 2 p.m. The event is free for MCLA students, $5 for faculty and staff, and $10 for general admission.

‘Scenes from an Execution’ to premiere

By Aya Lanzoni A&E Writer

Photo by Kayla Degnan/Beacon staff

Photo by Jess Gamari/Beacon staffSecor stands in front of display at his office in Gallery 51

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The United States of America has long held

itself up in the world’s eye as the shining example of what a good democracy should be.

Yet we, the voters, only have two viable options for the president of the United States. Our political system in the United States is completely controlled by two parties, the Democrats and the Republi-cans.

Not only do we lack a variety of options for candi-dates, but having a two party system is exceptionally bad for progress. Look at the way policies and laws have been implemented by a single party when they have a president in office or control of the Senate. The opposing party attempts to overturn all proposed bills. This is a pattern of imple-mentation and reversal. The republican desire to over-turn Roe V. Wade is a prime example.

Additionally, many people whose views differ from the two main political parties do not have a real way to vote for their values. This is evident in the lack of power the Green Party has. While it does exist, they have no members in the House of Representatives or the senate, and thus issues of the environment are left as minor discussion topics for democratic and republican politicians.

There are many democra-cies that have more than two parties in the world, and they seem, by most indicators, to be fairing significantly better than the United States. Japan and Germany both formed new democracies after World War II, whose constitutions were written mostly by Amer-ican generals and politicians.

Germany currently has six main political parties which control their parlia-ment (Bundestag) while Japan has 15 different parties represented in their congress. Both these countries have better healthcare, longer life expectancies (Japan has the longest in the world,) use a higher percentage of green energy (Japan and Germany combined produce 77% of the worlds photovoltaic energy), and have far more advanced education systems.

These are by products of a government system that al-lows for progress and not for back and forth politics which keep our country behind the global curve.

Thursday, November 8, 2012 Campus Comment theonlinebeacon.com10How do you feel about the election results?

“I knew Obama was going to win because I am taking U.S. Public Policy with Robert Bence and the results were pretty similar to the actual results for the elections.”

- Raj Ishmael, 2015

“I was not really surprised. I knew Obama was going to win because I knew a lot people didn’t agree with Romney.”

- Osakpolo Igiede, 2015

“I am pumped because I get to keep my marriage rights and we will not be regressing in time.”

- Chris Cozzaglio, 2016

“I think now the republicans would have to re-evaluate and reform the Republican Party platform for the future.”

- Dominick Cooper, 2015

“It was good I guess. I was sad that Scott Brown didn’t win for Senate. But I am certainly glad Romney didn’t win.”

- Devon O’Dowd, 2014

“I am really excited and very happy. After seeing the results I got a sense of hope for change for this nation.”

- Charrise Davis, 2014

Compiled by Dennise Carranza/Beacon staff

The Beacon

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I would like to express my disappointment regarding the article, “Question 2: Death With Dignity,” especially the section regarding arguments against Question 2.

By interviewing the same professors for both sides of the argument, perception is skewed and the arguments against the question seem weaker than those

in favor of the question. It would have been beneficial to

interview someone that actually believes in the immorality of the question rather than two professors who have expressed their support for it.

Even though I have infinite amounts of respect for Professors Silliman and Johnson, their affirmation of the question in the

first of the two articles gives the perception that the arguments against Question 2 are less valuable.

Also, there was no mention of the major concerns of Question 2, such as the fact that not all patients need to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, the fact that a doctor need not be present during the ingestion of

the “treatment”, or the fact that doctors cannot predict the exact amount of time a patient has left to live.

With such a serious issue that affects the lives of many people, a more balanced argument should have been given by The Beacon staff.

-Stephan RochefortClass of 2014

Coverage of ballot Question 2 unbalancedLetters to the Editor

Driving through Williamstown these last few months since my return from service in the South, I have become re-acquainted with the nuances of Northeast-ern cause mobiles. These cars carry bumper stickers that are largely indicative of Northeast and West Coast thoughts and ideals, not exactly the sentiments I saw more commonly on dis-play in Tennessee. That is fine, because the diversity of our re-gional political differences helps make our Republic strong. That noted, the Veterans in uniform with whom I served during my 22 years of service never focused on political differences. They never publicly stated political positions while in uniform. They never used the uniform for cause other than service to our great Republic. This Veterans Day,

just following a highly partisan election season, I am proud that loyalty, unity, and liberty are still the cause of our military; that the less than one percent of the population serving in our armed forces serves during a time of global conflict with distinction, pride, ethics, and sacrifice.

That is a small amount, less than one percent. The hope that we will be able to maintain cur-rent levels of security with so few - or even fewer - in uniform is one that every American shares, but such hopes deny the lessons of history. Historical reality does not support the premise that we can guarantee liberty and secu-rity with so few at war forever.

Now back to bumper stickers on cause mobiles. One particular set of bumper stickers that I saw a few months back here in town,

struck me as a contradiction. There in front of me as I drove down Rt. 2 was this stereotypical northern red rusted 90s Subaru Outback plastered with causes: stickers such as “unity with Hai-ti,” and “Save Darfur.” However, also on the rear panel were two stickers that I found in conflict with those very sentiments. On display just inches below “Save Darfur” were bumper stickers reading “Stop American Imperi-alism” and “End wars.” This na-ive contradiction hit me with a jaded familiarity. Veterans have come to understand that this odd disparity of American desire to stop oppression with minimal violence often sends our mili-tary into harm’s way, and that the public’s second guessing begins before boots even hit the ground.

Thankfully, our Veterans sel-

dom did or do second guess their role in our service. Our military as always lawfully follows the orders, guidance, and policy as commanded by our duly elected civil authority. Service members do their jobs; and without our military, the largest humanitar-ian assistance organization cur-rently on earth, our government, would not be able to project power - power that is required to create security, transport goods and services to those in need, and support the common good around the globe.

Navy veteran to deliver speech in WilliamstownHoward Carter is a full time MCLA student who recently retired from the U.S. Navy. This is the beginning of a

speech he wrote and is giving in Williamstown for Veteran’s Day.

To view the rest of Howard Carter’s speech, visit us at

theonlinebeacon.com

The speech will be given at 11 a.m. at the American Legion at 117 Latham St., Williamstown

Thursday, November 8, 2012 Fun & Games theonlinebeacon.com 11

Weekly HoroscopesAries: March 21-April 19You may find it a little harder than usual to get along peaceably with your friends -- but any fights should be playful, not serious. Your great energy keeps you from going over the line.

Taurus: April 20-May 20You can ease any tensions today -- so sit down and help people come to agreements! Your natural diplomacy makes almost any situ-ation seem resolvable, so make sure you’re in the right place.

Gemini: May 21-June 21Your closest friends are harder to read today -- but they aren’t trying to keep anything from you! It’s just some downtime that’s crucial to any intense relationship, so don’t make too much of it.

Cancer: June 22-July22You need to drill down and pay careful attention to the small details of your work today. If you’re not working, that could mean that you need to go over your home budget or clean up.

Leo: July 23-Aug. 22You are feeling somewhat downbeat today -- but not depressed! You just would rather have a quiet day and night to yourself than have to frolic with your people, and they should understand that.

Virgo: Aug. 23-Sept. 22Your organizational skills save the day! A problem is quickly solved -- or never arises in the first place -- thanks to your deep awareness of where things are and how they should be. Congratu-late yourself!

Libra: Sept. 23-Oct. 22Today is perfect for doing absolutely nothing -- if you can swing it! That’s not to say that every action is sure to end disastrously, just that sometimes you need to hang loose and let your energy recharge.

Scorpio: Oct. 23-Nov. 21A tiny bit of new information comes your way -- and changes every-thing! You can feel your plans coalescing around this new wrinkle, and everything should go smoothly from here on out.

Sagittarius: Nov. 22-Dec. 21You need to know that people aren’t actually trying to drive you in-sane today, so treat them with some measure of tolerance! They may have their own problems, but it’s probably best to just shut the door.

Capricorn: Dec. 22-Jan. 19People need to hear from you -- so reach out! It may require a bit of finagling to connect with some of your far-flung friends, but that’s a small price to pay to keep your relationships alive.

Aquarius: Jan. 20-Feb. 18Try to focus on the small stuff today -- otherwise, you may be at a loss when things start to get weird later tonight or tomorrow. It’s not a disaster, but the details are sure to really matter this time.

Pisces: Feb. 19-March 20Your closest relationships all need a wee bit of adjustment today -- or maybe you’re just more readily noticing small problems? In any case, you’ve got what it takes to make things right.

Horoscopes courtesy of Yahoo.com

Cartoon by Jackie Coughlin

Evacuation and lockdown: preparing for the worst...

Votes and Vets!

AMERICA ASSISTED SUICIDE BIDEN BIG BIRD CONSTITUTIONECONOMY ELECTION ELECTORAL

FOREIGN POLICY FREEDOM GANJA HOUSE IMMIGRATION JOBSMARIJUANA OBAMA

POPULAR PRESIDENT RIGHT TO REPAIRROMNEY RYAN SENATE VETERANS DAY VOTE

Word Search created on PuzzleMaker.com

Thursday, November 8, 2012 Photo Essay theonlinebeacon.com12

The CoDa dancers perform their final set in front of “Saturating II: Waning.”

CoDa peforms in front and in between the late Sol Lewitt’s art work.

Community members view the CoDa performers from all angles.

Willams Dance Ensemble at

MoCAPhotos by Takeya Lee

A Williams student involved in CoDa performs a solo in front of one of Sol Lewitt’s paint wash pieces.

Dancers perform a modern piece in front of Sol Lewitt’s Wall Drawing 792.