The Berkeley Beacon
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
OPINION ARTS SPORTS Pro gamers don't play around College included in Literary District Captain keeps tennis team competitive The Berkeley Beacon Emerson College’s student newspaper since 1947 • berkeleybeacon.com Thursday, October 16, 2014 • Volume 68, Issue 1 Emerson community loses first-year student to provide the family with any support and Christina Jedra Beacon Staff assistance they may need during this ex- tremely difficult time,” Tiedemann wrote in Freshman Jocelyn Amelia Straus, a po- a statement to the Beacon. litical communication major, died in her In his Wednesday email, Pelton encour- dorm room Tuesday night, President M. aged students to take advantage of on-cam- Lee Pelton announced in an email to the pus resources at Counseling and Psycholog- Emerson community Wednesday morning. ical Services and the Office of Spiritual Life. Straus, a student in the honors program Staff from Counseling and Psychological from El Cerrito, California, passed away Services were available in the Multipurpose alone in her room in the Colonial Building, Room hours to meet with students Wednes- Pelton said. day afternoon. The cause of death will be determined by Over 20 students, faculty, and staff at- the Boston medical examiner, according to tended a nondenominational prayer night a press release from the college. for Straus on Wednesday night in the Bill “Several of my Emerson colleagues and Bordy Theater arranged by Phillip Roque- I visited with some of you who knew Joce- more, a freshman visual and media arts lyn and I want you to know that we all share major and Emerson Christian Fellowship your deep sense of loss,” Pelton wrote in his member. email. “She was a bright light taken from Aaron Halvorsen, an advisor for the this world far too soon. Words cannot ex- Christian Fellowship, spoke about main- press our grief.” taining faith amid of hardship. Boston police officers and EMTs, along “God sympathizes with us in these with Emerson police officers and staff times,” he said. members, responded to the incident late Roquemore encouraged attendees to Tuesday night, according to a Boston police split into small groups to talk and pray to- report. Three Boston Police detectives also gether. responded and conducted a further investi- “There are other people [at Emer- gation, the report says. son] who are going through hard times Pelton said details regarding a memorial and dark things,” Roquemore said. service will be announced soon. “I’d encourage you to enter into prayer Straus’ parents were contacted on Tues- and thoughtfulness towards them.” day night by Pelton, Dean of Students Ron Ludman, and the Boston Police, according Deputy News Editor Martha Schick con- to Andrew Tiedemann, vice president for tributed to this report. communications and marketing. “Both President Pelton and Dean Lud- man have had additional conversations [email protected] with her parents today, and plan to contin- @ChristinaJedra Students and faculty gathered in prayer and song on Wednesday to mourn Straus’s death. ue those conversations in the days ahead Jack Adams/ Beacon Staff College hires sexual assault Emerson STANDS THE FEATURE survivor advocate seeks student leaders Touring tap Dina Kleiner, Beacon Correspondent started on Tuesday, Oct. 14, and include Aubrey Gemmell-Nunez, Beacon Correspondent dancer returns ensuring the Violence Prevention and Re- Emerson has hired a survivor advocate as sponse center is approachable, creating new At open meetings for a new administra- to Emerson—as a resource for victims of sexual and dating ways to reach survivors, and equipping first tion-led program to combat sexual assault violence, according to Melanie Matson, di- responders with the tools to properly re- and abuse, attendees discussed ways to get student rector of violence prevention and response/ spond to trauma, Matson said. the wider college community involved in Danielle Herrera, Beacon Staff sexual assault response advocate. Greta Spo- Spoering said in an interview her past ex- preventing acts of violence. ering, the Violence Prevention and Response periences with student survivors was what The sessions on Oct. 9 and 10 were or- "[Students] Just last year, Leo Manzari was dancing center’s new hire, specializes in assisting lead her to come to Emerson. ganized by Melanie Matson, who became on stage at the Cutler Majestic Theatre with those who have experienced interpersonal “[It] was some of the most meaningful the college’s first director of violence pre- are the Maurice Hines and other renowned Broad- violence. work I’ve done,” Spoering said. vention and response in May and launched most knowl- way performers. Spoering’s duties as a survivor advocate the program, Emerson STANDS—Stand This year, he’s back in Boston—and hopes See survivor advocate page 3 Together, Act Now, Do Something—in edgeable to be back on that same stage—as a freshman September. performing arts student at Emerson College. Matson said Emerson STANDS is meant about their Manzari spent his teenage years tapping to get students to talk about how the Emer- community" on famous Broadway shows and performing son community can raise awareness about on TV with his brother John. Now at Emer- sexual violence and form campaigns to en- — Melanie son, Manzari is focusing on his acting career courage preventative action. Matson, while his brother writes music and choreog- “Students are incredible leaders,” Mat- raphy in New York. son said in an interview. “They are the most director of Together, they form the tap dancing duo knowledgeable about their community.” The Manzari Brothers. Three students attended the first meet- violence At 15, Manzari and his older brother, who ing on Oct. 9, and one student the next day. prevention was 17 at the time, auditioned for Sophisticat- Matson welcomed them in with cookies, ed Ladies, a play in Washington, D.C. based pamphlets, and glow-in-the dark purple and re- on the music of Duke Ellington which ran rubber bracelets. sponse the entire year of 2010. Junior Amanda Canny said she was mo- Hines, the star and choreographer of the tivated to attend from personal experience show, saw the duo perform at The Duke El- handling an issue of violence. lington school in Washington, said Manzari, “One of my best friends was in an abu- and invited them to the audition. Spoering specializes in counseling survivors of interpersonal violence. • Jack Adams/ Beacon Staff See STANDS page 3 See Dancer page 9 Multimedia for the latest, follow & online The Beacon extras online /BerkeleyBeacon BerkeleyBeacon /BerkeleyBeacon A look at Dragtoberfest berkeleybeacon.com/videos @BeaconUpdate BerkeleyBeacon /BerkeleyBeacon news The Berkeley Beacon October 16, 2014 2 After 10 months, financial aid director hired News in brief privileged to become a member of the role is between September and December.” Former student requests more Brook O’Meara-Sayen community.” "We never Jacobs said she left the college on good time to refute lawsuit dismissal Beacon Correspondent As director, Olick said he will deal di- terms. A former student has requested more rectly with the student body in matters of highlight “I left Emerson for a position closer to time to file an opposing response to After nearly 10 months without a direc- financial assistance, ensure that the college the progress my home,” she wrote in an email to the Emerson’s motion to dismiss her law- tor, the Office of Financial Aid has filled complies with federal and state financial Beacon. “I had a baby in July 2013 and suit. this key vacancy. aid regulations, and oversee strategy for that we've it became a priority to find a position in On Oct. 9, the court approved a mo- James Olick, 38, was chosen to fill the the department. made." — my field where I could also be close to my tion for enlargement of time that Jillian position after a national search, accord- Olick said he is originally from Rhode family.” Doherty’s lawyer filed asking for an ad- ing to an emailed statement to the Beacon Island, attended the University of Rhode Jay Phillips, When the Financial Aid Office was ditional two weeks to respond. from Ruthanne Madsen, associate vice Island as an undergraduate where he re- without a director, Madsen said its staff “Given the complexity of the issues president for enrollment and student fi- ceived a double major in marketing and associate worked closely with her and that she raised in this claim and the Defendants’ nancial services. Olick announced on Oct. management information systems. He vice pres- distributed directorial functions among Motion to Dismiss, the additional two 1 that he would be heading the depart- also earned his MBA from URI. He is cur- them. The office also hired a temporary weeks will give the Plaintiff sufficient ment via Twitter. rently seeking a Doctorate in Education ident for staff member with financial aid knowl- time to properly respond to the Defen- Olick was formerly employed by John- from Northeastern University. facilities edge to assist during the busiest times of dants’ motion,” the motion states. son & Wales University in the Providence The position was left vacant after -for the year, according to Madsen. Two weeks ago, lawyers represent- school’s Student Financial Services de- mer director Kerri Jacobs left in December and campus Madsen wrote she was “thrilled” to wel- ing Emerson and four administrators partment, where he said he worked for 2013, and Madsen said the timing wasn’t come Olick to the college. moved to dismiss Doherty’s lawsuit, nine years. ideal for hiring. services “He has a deep knowledge of the many which alleges the defendants failed to Although Olick said does not officially “When the former director of financial facets of financial aid,” she wrote, “from properly prevent sexual assaults like start in his position until Oct.