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
“Hidden Creek” Documentary Sparks Curiosity at MCLA
“Hidden Creek” Documentary Sparks Curiosity at MCLA
October 10, 2025
9/11 Survivor Michael Hingson Inspires MCLA Students with a Message of Resilience and Trust
9/11 Survivor Michael Hingson Inspires MCLA Students with a Message of Resilience and Trust
October 5, 2025
The Beacon and Beacon Web News editors Fallon Maloney, left, Kate Zelkowitz, top center, Ainslie Lafko, bottom center, and Anna Najimy, right, in The Beacon office, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Freel Library.
A Fading Light, Extinguished: A Letter from the Editors
May 2, 2025
A passing woman looks into Berkshire Art Center in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where Berkshire Immigrant Center is located.
Trump’s 2025 Immigration Agenda: A New Era of Borders and Policy
April 25, 2025
Murdock Hall, built in 1897, is the oldest building on MCLA's campus.
MCLA Enrollment Decline: Can the College Reverse the Trend?
April 25, 2025
Cynthia August, right, held by her mother Ginny, in 1971.
The Passing Grades: Navigating Loss and Grief in College
May 2, 2025
Sheri Stanton's office door decorated with quotes and a sign showing support for LGBTQIA+ students.
Inside TRIO Student Support Services: A Day in the Life of Sheri Stanton
May 1, 2025
A portrait titled “Anonymous in RED” from the “Portraits in RED” series. (ACRYLIC PAINTING BY NAYANA LAFOND)
Crimson Narratives: Amplifying MMIW Voices
May 1, 2025
The North Adams Public Library, located in the heart of the city on Church and Main Street.
Beloved yet Not Funded: The Fight to Keep North Adams’ Public Library
May 1, 2025
Elise Cross, Fred Ferris, and Denise Maselli make a difference for MCLA students everyday in their roles as support staff on campus.
Invisible and Impactful: Meet MCLA’s Dedicated Staff
April 30, 2025
North Adams Hosted Its Annual Fall Foliage Parade
North Adams Hosted Its Annual Fall Foliage Parade
October 17, 2025
Get Inspired by Mya Linsky, Student Editor with Spires
Get Inspired by Mya Linsky, Student Editor with Spires
April 25, 2025
Jack Black stars in "A Minecraft Movie".
“A Minecraft Movie”: A Mindless Fun Block-Buster
April 15, 2025
Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega co-star in "Death of a Unicorn".
Death of a Unicorn: A Funny and Gnarly Creature Feature
April 6, 2025
MCLA's latest Benedetti Artist-in-Residence, Wendel Patrick.
Wendel Patrick Brings Innovation to MCLA as 2025 Benedetti Teaching Artist Fellow
March 22, 2025
Sophomore forward Addam Brunner (#19) on the ice at Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Skating Rink in North Adams.
MCLA Athletics: The Start of a Cinderella Story?
April 3, 2025
A team photo of the 2023-24 MCLA Women's Basketball team. The 2024-25 season would be cancelled in large part due to a lack of players on the roster this year.
No Season on the Court: MCLA Announces Cancellation of 2024-25 Women’s Basketball Season
November 17, 2024
Trailblazer Brandon Balcazar '19 clinched a win for MCLA in the final home game of the season for the Men's Soccer team.
A Last-Minute Masterpiece: Men’s Soccer Seals a Home Win with a Final-Second Goal
November 14, 2024
Cheyenne Laszo steps into a new role at MCLA this semester as Head Coach of the college's Esports team.
Welcome MCLA’s First Esports Coach: Cheyenne Laszlo
October 19, 2024
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
October 18, 2024
Let’s Talk About Storage: What Every Student Should Know About Flash Drives, HDDs and SSDs
Let’s Talk About Storage: What Every Student Should Know About Flash Drives, HDDs and SSDs
November 5, 2025
Battling the Traditions of Gender: Fragile Masculinity
Battling the Traditions of Gender: Fragile Masculinity
October 27, 2025
Elise Cross, Fred Ferris, and Denise Maselli make a difference for MCLA students everyday in their roles as support staff on campus.
Invisible and Impactful: Meet MCLA’s Dedicated Staff
April 30, 2025
Jack Black stars in "A Minecraft Movie".
“A Minecraft Movie”: A Mindless Fun Block-Buster
April 15, 2025
Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega co-star in "Death of a Unicorn".
Death of a Unicorn: A Funny and Gnarly Creature Feature
April 6, 2025
Photograph by Beacon photographer Johnluke Kunce.
Photo Gallery: 2023 Nostalgia Night
October 21, 2023

The Online Beacon

The Online Beacon
Dr. Birch recently spoke with The Beacon about the issues being faced by the Comm. department, as well as potential solutions. (Photo from mcla.edu)

Professor Birch and The Beacon: Discussing the Relationship Between MCLA’s Student Newspaper and Professors

Angelina Clark, Web Editor • October 31, 2023
“We have a community of people, and that community needs to be served effectively,” Birch highlights, “and what I’m interested in seeing is that this isn’t a question of it anything other than good journalism, with good writing, with good storytelling, observing all of the First Amendment rights that people have to address all stories in an open and transparent way.”
41 Years and Counting, LeSage Reflects on Experience at MCLA

41 Years and Counting, LeSage Reflects on Experience at MCLA

Lily Richard, Arts and Entertainment Editor • April 23, 2023

Sometimes your dream job could be right under your nose, maybe even in your own hometown, and sometimes it takes going away and coming back to find it. “I really enjoyed working with the students...

*BACON* CSI to be Donated to the Communications Department

*BACON* CSI to be Donated to the Communications Department

Jillian Currier, Co-Editor-in-Chief • April 6, 2023

Disclaimer: The Bacon is the April Fool’s Edition of The Beacon. The following story is purely for entertainment and is NOT meant to be taken as a serious news story! After many months of back-and-forth...

BWN 10/27/22

The Beacon • October 31, 2022

Welcome to the second episode of Beacon Web News. In this episode, BWN reporter, Isabel Mazzola, prepares to take on midterms at the Midterm Monster Mash Study Night, and attend the 5th annual Day of Dialogue....

Dr. Birch recently spoke with The Beacon about the issues being faced by the Comm. department, as well as potential solutions. (Photo from mcla.edu)

Birch Reflects on Communications Department’s Struggles, Urges College to Show More Support

Nicole Lemire, Co-Editor-in-Chief • October 31, 2022

MCLA’s Communications Department is facing numerous challenges including a lack of professors and removal of essential technologies by the college, says one MCLA professor. Currently, there are...

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