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The Online Beacon

The Student News Site of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

The Student News Site of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

The Online Beacon

The Online Beacon

The Online Beacon

Get Inspired by Mya Linsky, Student Editor with Spires

Get Inspired by Mya Linsky, Student Editor with Spires

Ainslie Lafko, Editor-in-Chief April 25, 2025

A pencil rests against a notebook page. A camera lens is adjusted for the perfect shot. No matter what form of art a person is creating, it always starts the same: a creative mind restlessly considers...

Jack Black stars in "A Minecraft Movie".

“A Minecraft Movie”: A Mindless Fun Block-Buster

Kyle Manzolini, Staff Writer April 15, 2025

There was a time in Hollywood when any time a studio tried to adapt a beloved video game into a movie, it would be cursed, ending up up unanimously panned by critics, audiences, and fans alike. Last year's...

Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega co-star in "Death of a Unicorn".

Death of a Unicorn: A Funny and Gnarly Creature Feature

Kyle Manzolini, Staff Writer April 6, 2025

A24, as a studio, has garnered massive respect from movie critics across the nation. In the time since they became more mainstream, they have still held onto their keen eye for making artsy, bold, filmmaker-driven,...

MCLA's latest Benedetti Artist-in-Residence, Wendel Patrick.

Wendel Patrick Brings Innovation to MCLA as 2025 Benedetti Teaching Artist Fellow

Anna Najimy, Web Editor March 22, 2025

MCLA and MOSAIC recently announced that acclaimed composer, producer, and multidisciplinary artist Wendel Patrick has been selected as the 2025 Benedetti Teaching Artist Fellow. For those unfamiliar,...

Freel Library's Valentine's Day Event Spreads the Seasonal Love

Freel Library’s Valentine’s Day Event Spreads the Seasonal Love

Ainslie Lafko, Editor-in-Chief March 12, 2025

As the bitterly cold month of February trudged along, one special holiday kept the hearts of students all across MCLA’s campus warm: Valentine’s Day.  Just days before, on Wednesday, February 12,...

A forked stick along the trail to the water, walked by the artists as part of "Women Walking to Water," the latest exhibition at MCLA's Gallery 51.

Women Walking to Water: An Artistic Reflection on Nature, Ritual, and Transformation

Anna Najimy, Web Editor February 22, 2025

"Women Walking to Water", a new exhibition at MCLA's Gallery 51, brings together the work of six artists - Suzi Banks Baum, Brece Honeycutt, Melanie Mowinski, Sarah Pike, Lori Spencer, and Jessica Yurkofsky...

The 97th Academy Awards: This Year's Oscar Noms

The 97th Academy Awards: This Year’s Oscar Noms

Kyle Manzolini, Staff Writer February 20, 2025

For film lovers, the excitement of Oscar nominations announcement day can feel like Christmas. Just like Christmas, however, you might end up with a handful of unexpected (or unwanted) choices. This...

The Gender and Sexuality Center's event advertisement.

GSC’s Gents Collaborate with Television and Film Society to View Fight Club

Traizen Griffith, Staff Writer December 10, 2024

Despite its name, “Don’t Talk About Fight Club," a recent event here at MCLA, left attendees empowered to discuss it. The "Fight Club" movie showing was organized by the Gender and Sexuality Center’s...

MCLA Theater's cast of "Measure for Measure" in action.

Medieval to Modern Politics: MCLA’s Measure for Measure production

Fallon Maloney, Staff Writer December 9, 2024

While preparing for their premiere of Measure for Measure, a classic from William Shakespeare, MCLA’s theater students found the medieval context of the play shifting into something much more relatable...

Students gather by the temporary Rage Room outside the Amlser Campus Center.

Breaking Stress: How MCLA’s Rage Room Helped Students Tackle Midterms

Karen Yamada, Staff Writer November 3, 2024

Midterms at MCLA are a notoriously stressful time for students. With multiple exams, assignments, and projects demanding attention, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. This year, MCLA introduced a unique...

All equipment used while investigation MCLA. From left to right: 3 EMF readers, vibration box, communicator, and another EMF reader

The Night of the Paranormal

Lucas Smith, Staff Writer October 31, 2024

With the spooky season upon us, students all across campus are eager to get into the spooky spirit. However, what if the "spooky" is real, and inhabiting MCLA right now? On October 19th, two professional...

Mannie McBride, Chief Editor of Spires, announces the next poet up to the stage.

Spires Open Mic Night Brings Artists Together

Fallon Maloney, Staff Writer October 30, 2024

Hot cups of coffee, pastries, music, and poetry. What sounds more welcoming than that? This past week, in the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation here at MCLA, there was a lively celebration...

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