Daily Archives: December 15, 2015

Arts and Entertainment

Viewers connect to Brian Alves “Alternate States of Being”

 

By Courtney Hanson

Correspondent

At 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1, Rhode Island artist Brian Alves presented his show, titled “Alternate States of Being.” The art exhibit reception was held in the Linda Hummel-Shea ArtSpace Gallery in the Harold Bentley Library on the Haverhill campus.

For students who missed the reception, or are interested in viewing the show, the exhibit will be on display through Dec. 19.

With students, friends of the artist and art enthusiasts alike, a gathering of viewers began exploring the show while awaiting Alves’s introduction, which began around 4 p.m.

The exhibit consisted of six separate works, spread out and arranged throughout the ArtSpace.

In an informal Q&A type of introduction to his works, Alves described his art, his background as an artist, the themes and elements which encompassed the show, and what inspired him to create. All the while, Alves encouraged the audience to participate, to ask questions, and share their thoughts on his work.

“I admire your honesty in answering questions,” said viewer Linnea Olson to Alves. “I don’t know if that’s always common with artists, so I really appreciate that.”

While Alves’s work revolved largely around the theme of identity, and integrated multiple layers such as culture and diversity, he encouraged the viewers to contemplate their individual take on the art.

“I hadn’t fully understood this piece until it was up on the wall, but somebody came through and started talking to me about it and they were looking at it in a very formal way.

He asked ‘What does this mean?’, and I said, ‘Well, what do you think it means?’, and that’s the best question, I think, an artist can ask because that’s what we want the audience to do… not just to admire but to have questions about it and to think about it,” said Alves.

Many viewers felt connections to Alves’s work but for a myriad of reasons.

Some simply appreciated the aesthetic of the work, some identified with the work because of its emotional expression, and some could relate to the societal and cultural implications which were felt.

For business major Erica Ariza, the aspects of society and racial separation were most prominently represented in Alves’s work.

“He’s mixing current events with what happened in the past,” said Ariza, describing her take on the work titled “Disconnected.”

“I bring to the table when I work in my studio these ideas that I’m carrying or observing in society and culture – the disconnect,” said Alves, describing the piece.

“In this, I was sort of projecting a disparity between black and white neighborhood. There was clear separation in terms of minority and the white population, and it’s disconcerting to me that this happens.”

Because of the “varied emotional aspects” which were expressed, Art and Psychology major Helen Shiepe felt strongly connected to several different pieces in the exhibit, particularly

a work titled “Bipolar.” This mixed-media piece included various depictions of the faces of wolves.

During his introduction, Alves described how the meaning of his work could be found both through his implications as well as the viewer’s own interpretations.

“I think about certain parts of my work as being more of poetry and that there’s meaning that I’m trying to convey but some of the underlying stuff that my viewer gets out of it is really what they bring to it — the connections they try to draw from it,” he said.

For individuals interested in connecting to or trying to interpret Alves’s work for themselves, the ArtSpace gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 2 to 9 p.m., Fridays from 2 to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 to 1 p.m. The exhibit will be on display through Dec. 19.

Arts and Entertainment

Fair held to showcase student artwork

 

By Alyssa Torres

Correspondent

Students in the Sculpture I elective course displayed their art in the Spurk lobby Thursday, Dec. 10 from noon to 5 p.m. Students were there to engage with others and describe the art they created this semester.

Student J. Saul Joubert said he enjoyed the class because it gave him the opportunity to display his artistic and creative side. “It challenged us to use three materials in one.”

Professor Dianne Pappas centered the course on the materials plaster, wood and metal. These materials could be mixed for some of the projects and limited for others.

The diverse sculptures at the fair featured three themes: multiples, legacy and failure.

Another member of the class, Natasha Sorenson, displayed her “legacy” sculpture that took quite a bit of time to create. She made a large turtle out of plaster, crafting the shell out of wooden shingles that were cut and pieced together.

“The first project was really hard because we couldn’t use glue,” Sorenson said.

The concept of the projects and the nature of the materials was a challenge for the students. This struggle forced the students to really think and make choices that would further their creativity.

This is the first semester this course was offered at NECC. Sculpture I is a second level course in three-dimensional foundations also taught by Pappas.

Arts and Entertainment

NECC Jazz/Rock Ensemble performs

 

Five music students make up the NECC Jazz/Rock Ensemble. Directed by music professor Mike Lecuyer, the Ensemble performed a concert on Thursday, Dec. 10 in the auditorium of the Hartleb Technology Center.

“This is the best group I’ve ever worked with,” said Lecuyer to the two dozen or so audience members. “I’ve never seen a group work harder and practice more and really embrace the spirit that is jazz music.”

Self-taught musician Ab Torres has been playing the piano since 2011. He favored classical music for most of that time, but is glad that he was invited into the jazz ensemble by the other musicians. He plays both the piano and the keyboards with the band and has really embraced the experience.

The group played nine jazz standards and the concert lasted about an hour. The group’s final song of the evening was “The Christmas Song” by Bob Wells and Mel Torme, arranged by Torres himself for the occasion, which the audience thoroughly enjoyed.

Sean Lavigne is a music major who has been playing the electric guitar for about seven years, but he got his start playing the baritone horn in his high school’s marching band. “It’s kind of like a mix between a trumpet and a tuba,” said Lavigne.

Drummer and percussionist Dominic Marraffa said that he always had a drum kit since he was a kid, but lacked the motivation to really learn how to play at first. After a life changing event, he decided it was time to make some goals and started taking lessons about a year ago.

“I knew I needed goals and something to drive towards so I started taking lessons and it changed my life entirely,” Marraffa said. “I practice for hours every day.” Unfortunately, he admits, he had to rent a storage unit to practice in.

“This is my first semester actually taking lessons,” said bass guitarist Richard Wildes, despite his experience playing the bass and electric guitar and dabbling with other instruments for about five years. He thinks the music department is really good and is surprised by how much he is getting out of it.

“Especially when you get to play with a bunch of nice young lads like these,” he joked.

The second drummer/percussionist in the group is Micah Puello, who said that he’s dabbled with drums, guitar and the piano but was mostly self-taught until coming to NECC.

“I’ve been playing with these guys and I’ve learned a substantial amount more,” he said, “and I’ve been turned on to the genre of jazz, which I’m really happy about, because it’s some great music.”

Lavigne said that his favorite part about being in the music department is meeting great musicians. “I’m in a band now with these guys, and that would have never happened if it wasn’t for this jazz ensemble.”

“One of the best ways to learn, I’ve found, is to surround yourself with people that are better than you. So I’ve accomplished that,” Wildes laughed, “and it has helped me significantly.”

News

Open forum allows for conversation

 

About 50 students, faculty and staff attended the “Academy Meet and Greet” on Dec. 2 in the Hartleb Technology Center. The event was held in response to questions and concerns raised regarding the appropriateness of the training activities recently taking place on campus, especially since the addition of the Essex County Sheriff’s Department. A casual lunch of pizza and bottled water from 11:30 – noon gave attendees a chance to meet and interact with each other outside of the usual structured setting.

After a brief introduction by NECC President Lane Glenn, a speech was given by NECC Police Academy Director Tommy Fleming, followed by a speech from Mike McAuliffe, the director of the Essex County Sheriff’s Department Academy. A current student officer and a recent graduate of the Academy, Claudia Maldonado, also spoke about her experiences.

“I couldn’t be more blessed,” she said about her time in training.

At the conclusion of the speeches, the audience asked several questions that covered a range of topics from racial tolerance and affirmative action to the role that the academies would play in the event of a campus emergency to specific questions regarding the curriculum and exam process.

With regards to student and faculty concerns about the Academy causing possible disruptions on the campus, Glenn said that prior incidents, such as the “finger gun” drill on the C lobby stairwell, were a learning experience and part of the adjustment period.

“Those things won’t happen again,” he said.

The academy directors concluded by declaring their commitment to transparency. Interested students are invited to sit in on classes or discuss the curriculum with the directors and McAuliffe expressed his willingness to arrange a tour of the Middleton jail for anyone who would like to go and even offered to arrange transportation.

Glenn’s speech centered around the logic of using community college campuses for the training of police officers. He said that he was contacted by the Methuen chief of police regarding the lack of space available in which to train police officers in Massachusetts, and a plan was created to bring in the first class of student officers last year. This relationship opened the door for another agreement to be reached with the Essex County Sheriff’s Department this semester.

Post 9/11, said Glenn, the increase in desired security led to the addition of many more options in the field of criminal justice which Glenn would like to see offered at NECC. Currently, in Massachusetts, police officers are not required to have a college degree. The requirements include a high school diploma, academy training and sometimes a civil service exam.

But according to Glenn, student officers who have access to higher education are more likely to take advantage of it which would, by definition, lead to better trained officers in the field. Glenn discussed a proposal for a future plan that involves building a 100,000 square foot structure in Lawrence to house future classes of the NECC Training Academies and public safety training. The building would be shared with the Lawrence Police Department, but the project needs $70 million project in funding and is in the early stages of planning.

Students and faculty expressed varied reactions to the Meet and Greet. Some felt that the school had addressed most of their concerns, while others still felt that there were questions left unanswered.

“I think, in general, I feel a little better about it,” said student Katie Formosi. “From a club president point of view, I wish they’d given a heads up about taking over Lecture Hall A. On the other hand, they did say they were learning from complaints.”

Features

Spotlight: Being Muslim in America

 

Esraa Sadeek moved to the states from Alexandria, Egypt at the age of 3.

Sadeek is now 22, an alumna of NECC, a current Psychology and Victimology major at Endicott College and a single mother to her son Jaden, 3.

“I was raised in a strictly Islamic household,” she said. “I am very open about my faith and have no shame expressing that I am Muslim.”

Amidst the pride in her upbringing, Sadeek does not deny facing adversity.

“The last few months people have displayed more hate and anger towards me when they find out I am Muslim,” said Sadeek, referring to her interactions after the attacks carried out by ISIS, or ISIL. Sadeek went on to say, “ISIS is not Muslim.”

Sadeek said that the garb she wears on normal days garners a different reaction than her attire for special occasions.

“I wear a hijab on Islamic holidays and people absolutely treat me differently,” she said.

She said it is her belief that society has been conditioned to have a strong disliking towards those of the Islamic faith. She added that the belief that women in hijabs are inherently oppressed could not be farther from the truth.

“It is appalling how much some extra fabric on your head can change people’s views on you,” she said.

Meredith Gunning, a philosophy professor at NECC, has been teaching a world religions course since 2005. She said she first became aware of widespread Islamophobia in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and offered education as an antidote to ignorance of other faiths.

“I do think it’s really important to study other religions. We live in a globalized world, we also live in a diverse culture in the U.S.,” said Gunning.

With regards to terrorist organizations that use the banner of their faith to justify brutal violence, Gunning said that this is not an indication of the entire religion’s beliefs and that anyone can “cherry pick” from any religion or sacred text to do heinous things.

“I prefer to call them Daesh, because ISIL gives them too much credibility,” said Gunning. “There’s direct things in the Quran that could be used to counter terrorists who kill, supposedly, in the name of Islam.”

Gunning would also like to clarify that — like fellow Abrahamic religions Christianity and Judaism — Islam may have started in the Middle East, but is, in fact, a worldwide religion and the fastest growing religion in the world.

“There will be more people belonging to Islam than Christians in under a decade,” said Gunning.

After 19 years in America, Sadeek still faces problems as an immigrant. “I struggle to provide my son and I with many things,” said Sadeek. “I work my butt off as a full time student and employee … to give him the best life possible.”

With a stable home, a full-time job and the commitment of going to college, one might get the idea that Sadeek feels secure. Unfortunately, the mounting tension against Muslim practitioners — quite visible in the media lately — has left her with a sense of unease.

“I fear that my son and I will pushed out of this country that we call home because of the bias and stigmatization the Islamic (community) is going through,” she said.

As for the Syrian refugees, she said America should allow them in. “Provide the refugees with a means to succeed such as English lessons, resources to receive enough food and temporary housing for a month, until they can get a job on their own,” said Sadeek. “That does not mean to give them free housing, 5 years of food stamps, a business and the world on a silver platter.” She understands that there is a level of struggle to overcome as an immigrant, because she saw her family go through it.

Gunning said that certain politicians’ “grandstanding” against the Islamic faith has not helped matters; for example, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz’s calls for a complete halt to Muslim immigrants, legal or otherwise, only helps to perpetuate irrational fear.

Gunning said, “Part of Islamophobia is claiming that those who are Muslim plan on taking over the whole world and forcing people to convert to Islam.” Americans using another’s religion against them as grounds for a ban, are falling victim to the effects of Islamophobia, and forgetting about our constitutionally-granted right to freedom of religion, said Gunning.

Ray Florent, a third-year Elementary Education major, has witnessed Islamophobia in class with Gunning. During Gunning’s world religions class. Florent recalls a particular student’s malice towards Muslims.

“She would say things like, ‘All Muslims are terrorists’ and ‘They all hate Americans,’” said Florent. One student, a Muslim whose identity was not provided for his safety, was so upset by this woman’s remarks that he left and never returned.

“I have friends who are Muslim,” said Florent. “No one deserves that kind of treatment.”

As for Sadeek, she is raising her son as a Muslim and has no plans of backing down to the criticism, still keeping her hopes up for the future.

“Everyone deserves to go to bed at night with the peace of mind that the sun will rise and they will still be breathing,” she said.

Opinion

Contemporary Affairs on terrorism

 

On Nov. 25, the Contemporary Affairs Club met in C110 to discuss terrorism. Contemporary Affairs is a student organization that seeks to inform people about current events, history, politics and contemporary thinking. Stephen Russell is the faculty adviser of the club as well as a history professor here at NECC.

Russell showed the group a video on empathy, which talked about understanding other people’s cultures and how they think differently than we do. I found the video to be very interesting. It made me see the world differently.

“The video shows how people … not only think differently than us but (helps us) understand why they think that way. We don’t have to agree, though,” Russell said.

Samson Racioppi is also part of the Contemporary Affairs club.

“This is by far my favorite club. This was the first meeting that wasn’t much of a debate,” Racioppi said. “The video puts you in their shoes, which helps you understand why they do what they do.”

It saddens me that there is so much hatred in our world today but when I watched the video, it sort of helped me understand that while other cultures are different from ours, that doesn’t make them “abnormal” or “deviant.” We should refrain from judging or making assumptions about other people.

Opinion

Students unsastified with Jitters

 

By Jake Soroghan

Correspondent

NECC is a community college, and therefore does not always have the same amenities that a four-year institution has. It makes sense the tuition is less, so obviously not as much can be offered. There are less sports teams, the athletic complex is smaller, there are no dormitories and on the whole there are less events around campus.

This is all to be expected; students know the situation coming in. Even with these expectations, though, there’s one issue on campus that seems to irritate practically all students: the food situation. On campus, outside of vending machines, there are only two places to get food. The first is the One-Stop Center’s bookstore, which is essentially a mini-mart. With various snacks, drinks and microwaveable sandwiches, it serves its purposes as a way to get quick food cheaply.

On the other side of campus, there is what is supposed to be the school’s “cafeteria,” but calling it a cafeteria probably gives it too much credit. Run by NexDine and located in the Spurk building, this poorly-run café has little in the way of options and is excessive on the prices. The options for substantive meals come down to pre-made sandwiches in plastic containers and often old Papa Gino’s pizza, if pizza can even be considered substantive.

Andrew Wooster, an English major, said he’s tired of paying so much for the poor-quality food. “The sandwiches are old and skimpy, the pizza is $2.50 for a slice and besides that there ain’t anything else to eat. There’s always two or three employees in there and they do nothing but sit around all day.”

Dissatisfaction is a common theme among students. Ernie Ewusi, a Radiology major, said he no longer gets any food at NECC. He either brings his own, or if he’s in the mood, orders out.

“It just doesn’t make sense to get food here,” he said. “The only thing they have going for them is convenience, and even the vending machines are expensive.”

This is the root of the problem; due to its convenience, students are often compelled to buy the overpriced food here because they don’t have the time or gas money to leave campus to get food and come back for their next class.

Erik Goulet, a Physical Therapy major, says that’s a problem for him every day he forgets to bring food from home, or there is no food at home.

“If I can’t pack a lunch for myself on a given day, I have to go hungry for the whole day. I don’t have enough money to get the expensive food at the café, and am always short on gas, so driving somewhere isn’t an option.”

Expanding the cafeteria to include a wider array of hot food options would solve a few of the current problems.

One, it would simply give students more filling and healthy options. Secondly, if the cafeteria was making its own hot food, the prices would go down.

When nothing but pre-packaged sandwiches and pizza are sold, the prices have to be more expensive because a middleman is involved.

When food is made on site, there is no middleman and therefore prices go down. NexDine either needs to increase the quality of their services or NECC administration need to find another company who can address the need of the students to fill that role.

Opinion

MS: living on both sides of the coin

 

A wise frog once said, “It’s not easy being green,” and although I can’t relate to Kermit the Frog’s plight, I can say for myself it’s not easy having an invisible illness.

Some may ask what that means, and that’s why the news editor is writing an opinion piece this week.

During the last staff meeting, Kim Whiting, editor-in-chief of the Observer, sat across from me as we spoke about the lack of verbage handed to able-bodied people to converse with those of us not afforded the luxury.

I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in May 2013. MS is a chronic neurological disease that affects the myelin in the nervous system. For those of you that have taken a psychology course here or back in high school, you may remember that the myelin are the protective coating around the pathways in the brain and spinal cord. MS deteriorates the myelin and causes the neurons that transmit signals in your nervous system to misfire.

To put it into simpler, more relatable terms: Imagine driving on the highway. The highway represents the pathways in your nervous system, your car is the signal to be sent and the driving conditions represent your health. You would like to take the next exit, which just happens to be an overpass. Depending on how poor the driving conditions are, you might end up missing the exit or getting on and having the overpass fall right out from underneath you.

Either way, you’re not in the best shape for getting to your destination.

On most days I look and act like any other 20-something college student. I take five classes, I work three jobs, I love going out with my friends and taking selfies with my dog. I look healthy for the most part, which is what makes my MS an “invisible” disease. While people see me as healthy, they don’t know I also just happen to be a self-proclaimed “walking pharmacy,” with seven different medical specialists and at least four appointments every month.

Then there are the days when my disease isn’t invisible.

Trust me, it’s awkward for me to walk around when I have my cane. I get a lot of weird looks from people whose minds I can’t read but whose faces scream, “What’s wrong with her?”

While speaking to Kim, she mentioned that it comes from a good place when people ask questions, even if they do hurt to answer.

My least favorite is, “What happened?”

I usually follow this up with, “It’s just my health acting up,” because it’s not like I fell and hurt my ankle or sprained something. My body is just deciding that it doesn’t want to function properly. This is something I’m currently riding out for an unknown amount of time.

Of course the hardest thing to hear is, “Get better soon.”

I know this is the most ambiguous, well intentioned thing a person can say to another, but it’s hard to hear when it’s not an option. Yes, I can lose the cane in a few days. The damage, however, going on in my brain and spinal cord is permanent and intermittently ongoing.

With the stress of finals and work, I recently had to miss some school, use my cane and have some tests done. Coming to campus with my cane is always a nerve-wracking experience. As a someone who doesn’t broadcast my condition, I just know someone is bound to ask questions, which is not worth the anxiety because it could potentially make my condition worse.

Of course everyone wants to say, “Just don’t think about it … It doesn’t matter what other people think.”

This is easier said than done. I’ve gone to school with breakouts, a rip in the crotch of my jeans and without makeup. I really don’t care in that way, this is another thing entirely to overcome.

I can’t speak for all of the invisible illness fighters in the world, or even on campus, but I can speak for myself. When you see someone with a cane, a walker or a wheelchair, don’t stare.

Hi, human being here just trying to go about my day.

Also, don’t be so quick to make an assumption that something “happened.” Instead of demanding answers about a possibly traumatic event, how about asking someone how they’re feeling?

Even if they’re using the assistance because of a car accident, a skiing incident or they fell down the stairs, how about you just ask, “How do you feel?” instead of, “What happened?”

How about, only if you mean it, “I’m here if you need anything,” instead of the command, “Feel better.”

One day I’m the tall brunette and the next I’m the cripple who’s faking it. People can holler all they want about the world becoming too politically correct, but step into the shoes of someone who lives both sides of the coin.

For more information on MS visit www.nationalmssociety.org.

Editorial

50 shades of black

and  

In reviewing a recent issue of Entertainment Weekly, I noticed that the pictures all look so very perfect. Not a single blemish or fat roll or misplaced hair. Every tooth is straight and white, every eye is shining brightly and all of the skin is glowing. Clearly, Photoshop is used heavily.

While that in itself may pose an ethical dilemma given what we know about the effects of body image on the world’s youth, I was struck by an even deeper concern when I came to an article titled “Shondaland,” which included a large picture of Shonda Rhimes surrounded by Ellen Pompeo, Viola Davis and Kerry Washington.

All four are beautiful women to begin with and this picture was no exception. The racial diversity displayed in the picture would, on the surface, appear to be a testament to how far our society has come with regard to racial integration, but I was struck by how the use of lighting in this picture seemed to lighten the black women, especially Shonda Rhimes, to the point that she almost appeared white. I wondered about that because I didn’t remember her being so light-skinned.

Did the photographer use lighting to make her appear less black? Did the editors Photoshop the picture to diminish the contrast between Pompeo and the rest of the group? Did they think their audience would be uncomfortable with an article about mostly black people?

Out of curiosity, I Googled Rhimes, Washington and Davis and the result of my search was actually quite interesting. The thumbnail images on the Google search page showed each woman depicted in drastically different lighting, making them look much darker or lighter, depending on the setting and the publication. The use of creative lighting and editing was obvious when the pictures are viewed side by side. I had to wonder if this is a deliberate whitewash. If so, by whom? The photographer? The editor? The managers?

This may be an example of a publication that would diminish the appearance of race if they feel that they are catering to an audience with less racial tolerance. In this way, the publication can claim to be embracing racial diversity while easily handling those members of its audience who are still uncomfortable with such things. It’s as if they’re saying, “Don’t worry, they’re only a little bit black.”

Editorial

Happy Holidays

and  

Every year at this time, social media starts to blow up with posts from people who are angry because they would rather say “Merry Christmas” than “Happy Holidays.” New this year, I’ve seen memes that called red Starbucks cups an attack on Christmas and “Holiday Trees” an attack on the American way. This strikes me as a strange thing to say here in the U.S., where capitalism is the rule of the land.

Starbucks may save a penny by omitting fancy text and graphics on their cups. They may save a minute of production time or a bit of ink. Maybe the person placing the order just didn’t want to bother. Saving time and cutting corners are the main priority in every other aspect of business, so why should this be any different?

Perhaps, you could argue, having the largest possible target audience to market your product to is the most important thing in a retail business. Which brings us around to “Holiday Trees.”  A few more people may buy a Spruce for the living room if the sellers can convince them that it’s not just for Christmas anymore. What does a tree have to do with the birth of Jesus anyway?

Instead, they can say, it’s more of an all-purpose tree that can be used to celebrate a variety of holidays. Nobody really knows what those other holidays are, yet, but over time, a decorative tree may be adopted by other cultures or religions in order to make this true. Maybe the Pastafarians will have trees hung with ornaments shaped like Flying Spaghetti Monsters and colanders.  Good news for tree growers everywhere.

For myself, I choose to say “Happy Holidays” because I was raised in Needham, which has a large Jewish population. My grandmother explained to me at a young age that saying “Merry Christmas” to a person who does not celebrate Christmas is just silly. Not because they may be offended, but because it’s simply a waste of breath to say something that, by definition, excludes the person you are saying it to.

I’m not worried about offending anyone. I just choose to include every person from every walk of life in my wishes for a wonderful holiday season.