Daily Archives: September 12, 2018

Features, Home Page Featured News

Parking change pays off

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far away shot of a parking lot with a row of cars. The parking lot looks like it had recently rained
Cars are parked in the Spurk building lot on Sept. 10. Photo by Mariella Mendez

This upcoming school year is all about change, and this one will have a big impact. Many students may not know that the school has officially changed the parking policy. This means students will have the freedom to park at any lot available for free.

After brief interviews with new students and returning ones, many said they were pleasantly surprised to hear the news, which they were not aware of.

Mileichali Minaya, 18, Psychology major is new to campus, and although the new parking policy does not exactly pertain to her directly because she doesn’t drive to campus, she was still pleased to know that NECC was taking initiative to help those who do drive to class.

Minaya says, “I don’t drive myself to classes but this will definitely benefit the student body.”

She brought up a good point saying, the closer you allow students to park, the better they can arrive to class efficiently and on time.”

The problem with the old policy seemed to be that students had to calculate arriving to class on time especially when they are parked relatively far from their building.

Although the Haverhill campus is pretty compact, walking from one end to the other is time consuming.

David Gardner, 19, Elementary Education major expressed joy upon hearing the news.

He says, that “although the cost of parking wasn’t too pricey to begin with, it was another inconvenient process that students had to go through.”

Gardner believes that this policy will be “smoother for us students, who pay enough already to attend school.”

Nineteen year old graphic design major, Susan Elias is a returning student who had positive comments about the new policy. “I drive to school on a daily basis, but I have never paid for parking. I wasn’t aware of the new change, I’m glad students don’t have to pay anymore, that’s awesome.”

“I approve of this policy because I don’t find it fair that students have pay for parking just to be able to get to class,” Elias said. 

“I think this will be great for the students and maybe more will feel better about driving to school instead of finding alternatives. This also reduces the fear of receiving a ticket for accidentally parking without a pass and will attract more students to our campus.”

New hang tags will be administered to students free of charge when they register for their initial semester. E

very semester, students will have to get stickers for their hang tags that indicates what semester you’ve registered for. The hang tags are interchangeable meaning you can switch in between vehicles. Any students attending orientation will receive their tags there.

Hang tags are to be displayed at all times and are to be hanged on the rearview mirror. If it is stolen or lost, students must report to Enrollment Services and Student Financial Services who administer a new one. T

he hang tags will be available in the Student Success Hub in the Haverhill Campus and the El-Hefni building (44 Common St) in the Lawrence Campus.

NECC faculty members can get their hangtags in the Public Safety pickup locations which are located in the Public Safety desk room in TC-122 in haverhill or at the Public Safety desk on 414 Common street in Lawrence.

Parking for visitors will be located in the Hartleb Technology Center parking lot and specific parking areas will be designated whenever there is an upcoming event. Parking on the Lawrence Campus will be located on 78 Amesbury St. Lot D, the Goudreault Lot C on 414 Common St. and the Dimitry A parking lot on 45 Franklin St. At Riverwalk there is parking on Merrimack Street across from the Riverwalk building.

Students or staff who park in handicapped spaces are not authorized to obtain a hang tag but are encouraged in case handicapped spaces are not prominently available.

close up picture of parking lot showing the ends of cars

Editorial, Home Page Featured News

Online censorship stifles discourse

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Recent actions by major social media   platforms heralds the restriction of free    expression and the collapse of partisan discourse

Social Media, for all the regulations, terms of service, and monitoring has largely been a wild place for a long time. There has often been simply too many comments, and too much content created every second of every day to be entirely locked down. However, this may be changing as self-described dissidents with relatively large audiences face finding themselves shut down and locked out of many major Social Media networks. 

Difficult issues are often magnets for zealots of many a stripe, and such a platform should be the front line of difficult discussions and the epicenter of our wider free and open discourse. But the danger of  a new, policed social media is that, these well-trafficked sites are increasingly not a place of free or open discourse at all.

“A threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” 
 – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

What might be the first major blanket-ban from silicon valley is the infamous radio show “Infowars” hosted by heavily-memed host Alex Jones. The New York Times reported on the 5th of August 2018 that Infowars podcasts had been removed from Apple, at the same time as the channel was deleted from Youtube and Facebook. The latest blow of this barrage came only two days ago when CBS news reported that the Infowars application had been banned from the App Store permanently.

The problem of censorship need not, certainly should not, be a partisan one. To silence discourse and narrow the viewpoint of the public to only “safe” and “accepted” ideas is a dystopian principle no matter who is enforcing it.

Certainly, such a character as Alex Jones is a negligible cost to most. Social media platforms decided to kick off a network they find disagreeable, what of it? Regardless of how we feel about social media, it has become an integral part of wider Western culture and monopoly-wielding corporations have taken it upon themselves to decide what is right or wrong for the individual to be exposed to.

Ultimately, this boils down to a question of comfortable restriction or uncomfortable freedom. Some are content to surrender their agency and personal decision making to a for-profit corporate entity that appears bent on quite literally washing the brains of the populace to be free of dreaded “hate-speech,” which is itself as indefinite and orwellian a term as they come.

Then, there are those that hold their self-determination dear, as a central pillar of the society they inherited from their forefathers. I count myself firmly among these individuals. I will happily sit across the table from even the most heinous of ideologies, and question them. There can be no greater tool against backwards or hateful ideas than forcing them to be proved or demonstrated. Stereotypes, slander and lies are best rebuked by having them spoken loudly and often, only to be challenged with just as much fervor.

If Infowars is not enough an indication of the moral policing that these networks have undertaken, explore an Instagram page that publishes Second World War history. Many such accounts have abandoned displaying German military paraphernalia, or satirically altering the infamous Swastika with the Facebook logo to avoid being deplatformed. These are in no way political accounts, they deal in real history that is essential to learn, if it is to be prevented from repeating. This is not a direct attempt to censor history, but rather a ghastly side effect of programs and algorithms that target any post with the aforementioned party emblem and flag the page for deletion.

Who is better prepared to understand and navigate a political environment divided along increasingly fanatical left and right wing factions? One who has been exposed to such imagery and context at various points throughout their life, or one who has only ever heard of the NSDAP or similar ideologies through the woefully underperforming public education systems across the country.

But these self-proclaimed defenders of all that is good and decent are apparently not interested in such exchanges. The cry out like a toddler that doesn’t want to have to walk anymore, why should we have to hear what we don’t like? Why not ignore other viewpoints and let history be rewritten and forgotten? What harm has forgetting history done?  The last thing I want is for some faceless organization to hold my hand as though I were a curious child eager to go try and pet tigers.  Ideas are not defeated by being silenced. Now martyred, what Jones has to say is now more vindicated than anything. Yes, these companies are out to silence opposition, to what end, I leave to his infinitely more intricate imagination.

Opinion

Starting off the semester right

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A few ways to stay healthy, stay organized and stay on schedule

From myself and all of us at the Observer, welcome back! I hope you had a restful and fun summer. For those who are just joining the Northern Essex community, Here’s a few ways you can own your first semester, and I hope this article can be useful to returning scholars as well.

Give yourself time. An oft repeated mantra is “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.” I have yet to find a situation as apt for this as a busy week mid-semester. Having twenty to thirty extra minutes in the morning to eat and get your things together can help the day begin without the headache.

For those who drive to campus, make sure to keep up with car maintenance. Few things can derail a day of classes as readily as a breakdown or similar holdup. While these sorts of things do happen, keeping a close eye on what needs to be done can minimize these distractions and keep you and your semester on a roll.

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As much as parents and professors will hammer this point, no one can emphasize the damage to your health waiting till the last moment will inflict as much as a fellow student who has routinely done themselves the disservice


 – Brennan Cooney

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Stay on top of deadlines. As much as parents and professors will hammer this point, no one can emphasize the damage to your health waiting till the last moment will inflict as much as a fellow student who has routinely done themselves the disservice.

Keeping a schedule for class assignments will help prioritize and finish well in time to stay ahead, get enough rest and maybe even have time to socialize in between. I personally maintain two schedule books, one of which is class-only material, and one which is class and everything else. Having the classwork in a book all it’s own declutters the assignments, and establishing a list by priority is far easier.

Be conscious of what food and drink you consume. Like so many working and studying people, I adore coffee. Coffee helps start us up in the morning, and isn’t necessarily bad for you. But, too much coffee, especially without anything else, will likely end in a sore gut and throbbing temples. Yogurt, toast and one good-sized fruit along with coffee in the morning is a fine balance, and can go along way to take a person from only awake to alert, satisfied, energized, and ready to go.

Find ways to decompress. Like any well-oiled machine, the hard working student will build up pressure over time. From class to class, from assignment to assignment, even when everything is done on time and all is going well, still the pressure is there. It is essential to find two or three ways to let off this steam and come back to a more slow, calm state of mind.  Approaching difficult situations from a cool, and collected mindset is not only immensely beneficial to the student, but also shows others a well-composed individual who is capable of challenging themselves and living up to high expectations.

These are only a few methods I hope can help start the semester off at a good pace.

 

News

Journalism instructor attends multimedia training

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Observer adviser participated in Dow Jones News Fund program

Mary Jo Shafer of Lynn, a Northern Essex Community College adjunct journalism/communication professor and advisor to the “Observer,” NECC’s student newspaper, attended a week-long Dow Jones multimedia training academy designed for educators teaching in Hispanic-serving institutions.

She was one of 12 journalism instructors from around the country to attend the ninth annual academy, funded by a grant from the Dow Jones News Fund. It was held at the University of Texas in El Paso.

The intent of the program is to assist journalism educators in acquiring new skills in digital storytelling that they can use to prepare the next generation of Latino college journalists to make them more competitive in the media industry. The educators practice news reporting using a variety of digital equipment, software programs, and platforms.

“It’s important that NECC’s journalism program is always seeking up-to-date skills for our students,” said Shafer.

“The trainers at the academy understand what educators need to learn about new and emerging technologies to better prepare their students for the fast-changing future,” said Linda Shockley, deputy director of Dow Jones News Fund. “This quality of instruction, at absolutely no cost to participants and their universities, is priceless.”

The educators were from diverse teaching backgrounds including print, photojournalism, broadcast, as well as other platforms.

“This program was pretty amazing,” said Shafer. “I am already benefiting from the hands-on skills gained. It will immediately make a tangible impact on my students. It was truly one of the best trainings I have ever attended. I returned feeling energized, equipped, and inspired. I was interested in attending this program because of its experiential nature and its focus on Hispanic Serving Institutions.”

Northern Essex offers an associate in arts option in journalism/communication. Students are provided with an opportunity to experience what it is like to work in the communications field.

The program provides basic courses and practical experience for careers that could include jobs with newspapers, magazines, publishing, television, or radio.

For additional information contact Shafer at mshafer@necc.mass.edu

News

Grad honored by Lawrence City Council

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Jinette Galarza was presented with a citation for academic success and leadership

NECC Graduate Jinette Galarza was presented with a citation for academic success and leadership. (Left to right) NECC President Lane Glenn, NECC graduate Jinette Galarza, Councilor Estella Reyes, Councilor Marc Laplante

The Lawrence City Council presented Lawrence resident and Northern Essex Community College graduate Jinette Galarza with a special citation based on her academic success and demonstrated leadership at its August 21 meeting.  The citation was presented by Councilors Marc Laplante and Estella Reyes.

A liberal arts major, Galarza graduated from Northern Essex with high honors in May and is currently enrolled in the Commonwealth Honors College at UMass Lowell, majoring in history with a minor in Arabic studies.  After earning her master’s, her goal is to be a high school history teacher and teach in her city.

“The necessity is great and there is great potential in our Lawrence youth,” she says.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Galarza, now 32, moved to Lawrence when she was 10 years old.  She attended middle school in the city and went on to graduate from Essex Agricultural School in Danvers.

After high school, she joined the workforce to help support her family which included her mother and her stepfather, who recently passed away.

Galarza is active in her church serving as a youth leader for the past 10 years and participating in seven missionary trips to poverty-stricken areas in Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, China, and Western Sahara.

It was through her work as a youth leader that Galarza discovered she had a talent and passion for teaching, and through her missionary trips that she found she loved learning about other cultures.

“Community service led me to my calling,” she says.

Most people would find juggling full-time college and full-time work enough of a challenge, but not Galarza.

She has served on the Student Senate, as a presidential ambassador, and as a student orientation leader; served as campus life editor for the “Observer,” the college’s student newspaper; and recently organized Northern Essex’s first Renaissance Fair, which brought hundreds of people to campus.

Features

NECC welcomes new director of public safety

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Deborah Crafts was recently hired at NECC

Northern Essex introduces a new position this year that was recently filled by Deborah Crafts, who has been hired as the Director of Public Safety.

Crafts has had a variety of experience from Northeastern University where she worked for the Northeastern police department full time while still attending as a student.

Prior to joining the Northern Essex staff she also had prior experience working at Bentley University and MassBay Community College as a temporary director.

Crafts states that the position  at Northern Essex interested her because she “really enjoys working at a community college.”

She is particularly excited about this position because she gets to create her own department from scratch.

photo of debra standing in the public safety office
New NECC Director of Public Safety Deborah Crafts Photo courtesy of NECC Newsroom

Crafts is entering this school year full of ideas.

 

When asked about any potential changes she’d implement on campus she replied, “One of the first things I would do is ask you, what do you think is needed here. And that’s what I’m doing right now, is I’m really talking to people. I’ve been here two months and there are people who have been here for years. I’ve been at seven institutions and they’re all different, and have different needs, so generally speaking right now I am just going out and searching for what people want on campus.”

Not only is Crafts looking to keep both the Haverhill and Lawrence Campuses safe, but she says, “philosophically, we’re in an educational institution so part of my role is to educate, so that students not only feel safe here, but also feel safe at home or at your first job.”

She is aiming to implement workshops and informal events for students and faculty to provide tips and tools so that everyone feels control of their safety.

She also wants the public safety department to be a space for students to go to if they feel unsafe about any aspect of their lives whether it be at school or at home.

According to Crafts,  smaller changes can make big differences on campus, like communicating with one another if someone sees something that seems out of place.

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One of the first things I would do is ask you, what do you think is needed here. And that’s what I’m doing right now, is I’m really talking to people….
– Deborah Crafts

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Eventually she would like to implement access control, where students are able to enter buildings with their ID cards as a form of access.

She says she would also like to see more forms of security in and around the buildings and staff who can stay vigilant of areas as well as educating and preparing students.

Northern Essex has also issued a new Public Safety Space in the Spurk building in room 110.

The room next door will be the Public Safety Communications Office and will be equipped with video feed, and emergency backup power.

Crafts is hoping to include a centralized form of communication in which someone would be in the communications office throughout the day to answer calls as a dispatcher would, inc ase of an emergency.

Students also have the freedom to contact the Public Safety Office if they feel they need an escort to their car.

Many students attend night classes or stay on campus during later hours and therefore can have security walk them over to their vehicle.

Northern Essex will be releasing their annual security report, also known as a Clery report on October 1, which provides any crime statistics on campus.

Students have full access to this report and should update their knowledge of campus crime.

Students should always remain aware of checking any emails regarding the Public Safety Department. To report a medical or safety emergency on campus, students should dial 911 as well as notify the Public Safety Office by calling (978)-566-333 or ext 333 from an on campus phone

Sports

Jeff Mejia named assistant athletic director

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Baseball coach takes on new role

Northern Essex Community College Athletic Director Dan Blair has announced that baseball coach Jeff Mejia has joined the department on a full-time basis as Assistant Athletic Director effective August 14th.

In a restructuring of the department, Mejia’s primary roles will consist of supervising the colleges Fitness Center (which is currently undergoing a renovation), serving as the department’s recruiting/retention coordinator and academic liaison and assisting with athletic compliance.

Additionally, Mejia will assist in scheduling, departmental fundraising and the strategic growth of the Knights athletic program.

Mejia will continue to serve as the college’s baseball coach where he has amassed a 142-78 (.672%) record in seven seasons and produced 11 All-Americans and 37 First Team All-Region selections.

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am looking forward to this expanded role within the athletic department and working across campus to continue the growth and success of our athletic program…
– Jeff Mejia

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“Jeff’s success on the field speaks for itself and his skillset will be a tremendous asset to the entire athletic program on a full-time basis.

As we continue to grow and enhance our overall program I look forward to incorporating his expertise as we serve the students of the Merrimack Valley and beyond,” said Blair

Mejia added, “I am both excited and humbled to take the Assistant Athletic Director position at Northern Essex Community College.  I am looking forward to this expanded role within the athletic department and working across campus to continue the growth and success of our athletic program within our Northern Essex community.”

Mejia holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Salem State College in Sports Fitness and Leisure Studies, with a concentration in Coaching.

He also served in the United States Army and served in Operation Desert Storm.

He and his wife Colleen currently reside in North Reading with their two children, Jeff Jr. a sophomore on the UMass-Lowell baseball team and Isabella a freshman at Clemson University.

Northern Essex Community College competes as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and sponsors nine varsity intercollegiate sports including baseball, men’s basketball, golf, softball, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country and men’s and women’s track and field.