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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

A Not-So-Warm Welcome Back: Heating Repairs Leave Students in the Cold 

A Not-So-Warm Welcome Back: Heating Repairs Leave Students in the Cold 

Ainslie Lafko, Editor-in-Chief February 21, 2025

On January 19, residents of MCLA's Flagg Townhouses moving back onto campus after winter break were met with an unwelcome surprise: many units had little to no heat. Heating line failures in multiple apartments...

President Trump signs executive orders on January 22, 2025, to roll back federal diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

A New Era for DEI: MCLA’s Path Forward After Federal Policy Changes

Toni Basil, Staff Writer February 18, 2025

On January 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order, aimed at dismantling what he described as “radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferences.” The order says Americans...

Graphic created by Anna Najimy

Scrolling to a Standstill: The TikTok Ban and Its Impact on College Students

Anna Najimy, Web Editor February 11, 2025

In recent months, the debate over the Chinese-owned, short-form video-sharing app TikTok has intensified, with lawmakers citing national security concerns and users, many of whom are college students,...

Governor Maura Healey visited Bridgewater State University to announce the filing of the BRIGHT Act on January 21st.

Healey Files BRIGHT Act to Modernize Public Higher Education in Massachusetts

Tonimarie Basil, Staff Writer February 9, 2025

In a bold initiative to transform public higher education in Massachusetts, Governor Maura Healey has introduced the BRIGHT Act, a comprehensive piece of legislation designed to modernize campuses across...

MCLA's Murdock Hall

MCLA Faces More Instability, Thanks to State Funding Reductions

Kate Zelkowitz, Copy Editor February 7, 2025

In a meeting on December 12th, as students finished their finals and packed up to leave campus for winter break, President James Birge informed the college’s board of trustees that MCLA is facing a loss...

Michael DeMarsico (right), with his family. DeMarsico passed away unexpectedly on November 17.

MCLA Mourns: Remembering Michael DeMarsico

The Beacon November 20, 2024

On November 17th, the MCLA community was rocked by the loss of one of its' own. Michael DeMarsico, a beloved member of MCLA’s facilities department, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday evening, leaving...

Student Financial Services Clerk, Becky Lincoln, processes paperwork at MCLA’s SFS office in Eldridge Hall.

The FAFSA Fiasco: What Happened Last Year?

Kate Zelkowitz, Web Editor November 2, 2024

As college students across the country wind up for the 2025-2026 FAFSA cycle, the aftershocks of the ’24-’25 FAFSA are still ringing in their ears. Last year’s FAFSA cycle, or Free Application for...

On August 28, MCLA officially announced the partnership with officially licensed vender, Influxer.

NIL Comes to MCLA with Partnership of Influxer

Owen Brown, Editor-in-Chief October 22, 2024

Since the NCAA introduced the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Plan for student athletes to earn a profit from their identity, hundreds of schools throughout the country have partnered up with companies...

MCLA Athletics Teams Up with TicketSmarter: A New Era of Ticketing and Fan Experience Begins

MCLA Athletics Teams Up with TicketSmarter: A New Era of Ticketing and Fan Experience Begins

Karen Yamada, Staff Writer October 21, 2024

MCLA Athletics officially announced a new partnership with TicketSmarter, a leading ticket resale marketplace, on October 3, 2024. This exciting new collaboration marks a major step forward for MCLA Athletics...

Mat Gover '27, of Atkinson, NH, won this year's MASCAC golf tournament, earning back-to-back titles.

MCLA Golf’s Stellar Season: Gover Leads All-Conference Honors

Brigh Cote, Staff Writer/Social Media Manager October 18, 2024

Just days after the MCLA Men’s Golf Team became MASCAC runner-up for the second straight time, the MASCAC released their all-conference awards. The Trailblazers are set to bring home quite a few awards...

The War on Drugs: Berkshire Harm Reduction Visits MCLA

Ainslie Lafko, Copy Editor October 4, 2024

96,700. That is the number of people across the United States who die each year as a result of a drug overdose.  7 out of 10. That is the amount of overdose deaths that are specifically caused by opioid...

Reclaiming Lost Narratives: MCLA Day of Dialogue 2024

Reclaiming Lost Narratives: MCLA Day of Dialogue 2024

Karen Yamada, Staff Writer October 2, 2024

The MCLA Day of Dialogue is an annual event that emphasizes campus-wide participation in a unique day of alternative education, where traditional day classes are suspended, and campus members are encouraged...

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