Monthly Archives: October 2018

Home Page Featured News, Sports

NECC community gathers for 5k and fun

, and  

On Saturday, Oct.13 students, alumni and community members of the Merrimack Valley area alike gathered for Northern Essex Community College’s second annual homecoming. There were activities, pie eating contests, and the Campus Classic 5K Race, bringing out a large crowd despite the rain.

Features included food from Lucky’s cafe, beer provided by Newburyport Brewery and DJ artist Andy Schachat.

Participants of all ages for the campus classic 5k started checking in at 8:30 a.m. but didn’t start running until 10 a.m. The Classic 5k has become a huge hit throughout the years and there are more participants each year.

Freshman and runner Sophia Duphily did not let the rain stop her from participating.

“I have been running since I was about 4 or 5 years old,” she said, adding that she enjoys running because “it’s a great way to come out to different events like this to get to connect with your community.”

Kiley Broadhurst, who is currently studying communication, started running this past

Summer. She said she has wanted to do a 5k before and thought that participating in NECC’s classic 5k would a perfect opportunity to start. “

I’ve been considering doing a 5k for a while and it supports the school system,” said Broadhurst.

Due to the rain and cold, there were some hard points in the race Broadhurst had to overcome but was able to by going at her own pace and with the community cheering her on.

Coordinator of Orientation and Student Involvement in the Student Life Office Ariel Chicklis knows that “lots of work” goes into making an event like Homecoming happen at Northern Essex.

“We have a Homecoming committee with different people around the campus and they all have different tasks that they need to do to make something like this a success,” Chicklis said.

Some of the activities that the committee helped put together included a pumpkin painting table, make your own slime, and a caricature artist on hand.

“The thought is that we want students to feel sort of a sense of nostalgia once they graduate and that they want to come back for alumni weekend,” Chicklis said.

Some alumni at the event included Cheryl Goodwin, class of 1982 (who now works for President Lane Glenn) and Joe Ryan, class of 1977.

Both have seen the campus and community at Northern Essex grow and change, but being a part of the second ever Homecoming has both feeling overjoyed, with Goodwin saying “I am elated… the Homecoming  a  is a wonderful celebration to bring together faculty, staff, students and alumni like myself to bring them back on campus to reconnect.”

Ryan, who has previously taught classes as an adjunct staff member says “I feel honored, I’m a proud alumni of this great institution.”

Ryan continued by saying “I’m very very proud of Northern Essex. I’m proud to say that I’m a product of community college education.”

Homecoming is a new tradition at Northern Essex that many hope to see continue for years to come.

The Campus Classic used to be held on the first Saturday of May but was recently changed to the fall to accommodate with the Homecoming and bring in the fall season. Although the Homecoming is free the campus classic 5k is a fundraiser and all the proceeds support NECC scholarships and academic programs said, Sarah Comiskey, a communications specialist at NECC, served as a volunteer coordinator for this particular event

Everyone present who was involved with putting together Homecoming was pleased to see participants stay and enjoy the festivities they had to offer.

Although this year it was a cold and rainy day it didn’t affect the community, everyone still

enjoyed the actives that were going on, even though they were moved to the gym.

Victoria Gladstone a criminal justice major did not participate in the Campus Classic but did attend Homecoming.

Gladstone partook in the games that were provided such as ladder ball and corn hole.

She said she had noticed that the rain affected this year but that she enjoyed the day.

“I would recommend this to a friend even if they weren’t part of NECC,” she said.

The 5k and homecoming bring attention to show off the school, students faculty

and what everyday life is like at NECC.

group of runners outside running in the rain

Editorial, Home Page Featured News

Midterm musings

and  

The midterm elections are fast approaching, and candidates, celebrities and businesses alike are taking part in a nationwide push to energize the youth to become politically involved in the ballot box.

Though, in the turbulent social and political environment, perhaps more than ever, the young vote is disheartened, disgusted or disinterested in politics at all levels.

From a mass media so consumed with partisan trash talk and outrage mongering, to politicians turning to literal name-calling and twitter duels between world leaders, the political process can seem like a joke that isn’t funny anymore.

There is very little pertaining to government or politics that has not been so consumed and divided by party and ideological loyalties as to become unrecognizable.  But the foundation, the dispersing of power to the citizenry is the essential component of the American Experiment, and the Enlightenment values which inspired it.

[pullquote]

The Constitutional Republic inverted the system. No longer was the law subject to the whim of the ruler, the leadership was to be constrained by the tenets of the law.

– Brennan Cooney

[/pullquote]

The American system of government was, in its time, a radical new path of statehood. Birthed in the age of Empires, Kingdoms, and Principalities, The Constitutional Republic inverted the system. No longer was the law subject to the whim of the ruler, the leadership was to be constrained by the tenets of the law. A document, living and able to evolve as society did, to progress alongside its people, written with the expressed and clear intent of protecting the inalienable rights of the Citizen.

But, the Constitution does not rule in a vacuum, and there are many legitimate criticisms of our political process, and it is worth exploring and weighing these concerns to determine the worth of political engagement.

Some would consider abstaining from the vote as a form of civil disobedience.

To refuse to engage with a system which is bloated and corrupt beyond measure. There is value in civil disobedience and certainly a valid reason to disengage from party politics in particular.

Although, the greatest merit of the Constitutional Republic is the sovereignty vested in the individual. To actively avoid the vote, even for political cause, is to voluntarily submit to the will of those who remain active.

Still more simply do not vote because it is not important to them. Policy, laws, taxes, it’s enough to put someone to sleep, once the talking heads on TV stop yelling at each other. Especially for someone harried by responsibilities, be they work, school, or family obligation. It is difficult to make someone see the value of something they’ve had since birth. The vote might seem pointless, and unimportant.

To this I can only say, it was important to the suffragettes. It was important enough to them to be arrested, and undergo hunger strikes and other acts of disobedience to make their voices heard.   It was important to the Civil Rights movement, who endured persecution and violence and decades of supression to achieve the vote. It was important to the French people, so much as to overthrow a centuries-old dynasty and rewrite their entire society from the ground up. Representation in government was important enough to our national forefathers, that they, farmers and dock workers, smiths and tanners, launched an insurrection against the most powerful military in the western world and enlisted foreign allies to break free of the yoke of Monarchy.

This is a political article, but there is no concern for who you decide to vote for, or why. The question I would leave you with is simply,

Would you care about your vote if someone ripped it away from you? If you don’t vote, they don’t have to.

Home Page Featured News, Opinion

NECC’s health services

and  

Does Northern Essex have adequate health services?

On a Friday morning of September 2016, then 19-year-old student Haley Abernathy was stepping off of a curb on NECC’s campus when she rolled her ankle and felt immediate pain. Abernathy had fractured her foot, and near by students called campus security. Abernathy quickly learned that NECC does not have an on staff nurse, and when the campus security guard came, she said they claimed it was a sprain, but she knew it was more than that. There wasn’t much they could do besides call an ambulance. Abernathy is aware that for a fractured foot a nurse would also not be able to do much in that situation, but she stated “campus security guards are not nurses, and having a nurse on site would have made the experience more comfortable and less traumatizing”.

Karen Hruska is Northern Essex’s Director of Counseling and Psychological Resources and according to her, having a nurse is costly, and data shows that most students on community college campuses were not utilizing their on site nurses, and preferred Minute-Clinics that accepted personal insurance over a campus nurse. Abernathy recommends having the nursing or EMT students intern on campus for health services but it is unclear how that would be implemented, and unpredictable how many students would utilize the service. Northern Essex does offer other Counseling services and community health services to its students that can easily be accessed.

Northern Essex offers free counseling service’s to any NECC student, the counseling is confidential and you do not need a referral. The type of counseling is what Hruska described as “brief short-term therapy”, but they can get referrals for outpatient therapists as well. Awareness for counseling services could always be higher as Hruska says, “people don’t listen until they need it”. To spread awareness of NECC’s Counseling Service’s they do classroom outreach presentations where they discuss things such as coping skills, anxiety and depression in students.

There are also many health services in the community that students can access as well. Janel D’Agata-Lynch, Coordinator of Civic Engagement, Service Learning and Community Resources works with students to help them find things like referrals for medical services, other places they can go that will accept their insurance etc. D’Agata-Lynch also works on bringing more community resources to campus as well, such as the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, which is funded to help enroll people in Mass Health. She hopes to bring them on both campuses once a month. There was also a resource and service fair that came to the Haverhill Campus Thursday October 11 that invited non-profits to advertise their services as well as their volunteer opportunities, and on Monday October 15th on the Lawrence campus there was a Health fair hosted by Health professionals. D’Agata-Lynch feels that there’s “always room for improvement, however I feel we’re very lucky because there’s a lot of good health resources in this area that students can access”. To access other resources in the community you can always visit The NECC website, or call the 211 hotline for resource referral which is available 24 hours.

Home Page Featured News, News

Best buddies coming to NECC

and  

There will be an information session about Best Buddies held on Tuesday October 30 from 12:30 till 1:30 in B-Building room 303 on the Haverhill Campus. Best Buddies is a non-profit organization that brings opportunities to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). According to their website, they are “the largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities”. A participant with IDD is paired up with a student who shares the same interests and lives nearby. There are at least three contacts between the participant and their buddy. This could be over the phone or in person. When the participant and buddy meet up, they can engage in activities like going bowling or going to a sports game. Best Buddies staff members will monitor the progress and how the buddies interact together.

        A small group is organizing Best Buddies this semester at Northern Essex and are hoping to have it up and running by the Spring Semester. NECC will be the first community college in Massachusetts to start a Best Buddies chapter. Lucas Unger, an Electrical Engineer major, said that Best Buddies will bring people together and show people how to help in the community. He said that being a part of the program in high school was enjoyable and gave people a reason to be involved in the school and community. Deborah Regan, the Associate Director of the Learning Accommodations Center, said that the relationships built goes beyond the classroom. “People get caught up in differences,” she said. People are too focused on how others are different, but “differences enrich us,” Regan added.

[pullquote]

“the largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities”
 – Best Buddies Website

[/pullquote]

        “It’s not a chore to be in the Best Buddies program. It’s fun and it’s a great friendship that forms. It makes you feel like you’re helping someone out,” Unger said. Noreen Fantasia, Program Assistant in the Career Center, said that her son was in the Best Buddies program in high school. She said that it helped enrich his life and she saw it help both her son’s and his buddy’s confidence. It helps people realize that they can hang out with anyone and it’s not limited to a small group of people. Best Buddies will help the community grow closer together and It can help people from different backgrounds.

        According to their website, Best Buddies has impacted over 1,200,000 people in 50 states, 48 countries, and six continents. There are over 27,000 college students participating in the program around the world. Now, students at Northern Essex can expand that number.

Home Page Featured News, News

Volunteers sought to help with book

and  

Professor Rich Padova is recruiting students to help with research, writing

Northern Essex and UMass-Lowell history instructor Rich Padova is seeking NECC students who are interested in volunteering some of their time to assist in the research and writing of his third book, scheduled for release in 2020. 

Students will be able to set their own hours and work at their own pace this semester

Professor Rich Padova standing in front of a cardboard stand with newspaper clippings attached to it
Professor Rich Padova

and/or next, from any location. 

Student volunteers will also be publicly recognized and acknowledged in the book for their efforts.

In addition to learning advanced research skills and writing techniques, students will also learn about source selection, citation standards and editing, as well as historiography and, overall, the world of book publishing.

Padova’s  first book, First In The Nation (2007) is an account of his experiences on the campaign trail from 1980 to 2004 in New Hampshire’s presidential primary. 

His second book, Who Are They? (2017) looks at the lives of the second ladies (vice presidential spouses) of the U.S. from Abigail Adams to Karen Pence. 

The as-of-yet un-named third book will examine the lives of men and women who have unsuccessfully sought the U.S. presidency – some well-known and others not. 

This past summer, personal interviews were conducted with former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, former Massachusetts Gov. Mike Dukakis and former New Hampshire Sen. Bob Smith.

Students who are interested in learning more about the volunteer opportunities for the book or who have any questions may contact Padova at rpadova@necc.mass.edu or leave a message on his office telephone at 978-556-3297.

Home Page Featured News, News

Students react to online classes

and  

A new format of class is met with mixed results

Many college students at some point encounter the opportunity to take an online college course. Online classes are offered at most colleges, including here at Northern Essex.

A variety of online classes are offered including history, writing, math, etc.

Online classes can be very beneficial to people who may not have time to sit in an on campus class due to children or other time consuming responsibilities they may have. Maura McCarthy, a Northern Essex liberal arts student says, “Taking an online class was nice because I was able to go on at my own time instead of a specific time like an on campus class.”

As McCarthy states, online classes typically don’t have a specific time or day that you have to log on at. You just need to make sure that all your assignments are done for the due date. Most classes require that you spend a certain amount of time doing work for the class, but doesn’t have to be done all at once, it can be spread out throughout the week.

Although online classes can be good for some, others may not enjoy it so much. Another liberal arts student, Sheryl Contarino said, “ I felt like online classes were not for me. I am more of a hands on learner and if I have a question, I like to ask the professor in person versus having to email them and wait for a reply.”

That is one downfall when it comes to online classes.

All communication is typically done through emails.

Typically, the professor is usually good with getting back to their students as soon as possible but it could take a few hours for a response.

You could go and talk to your professor during their office hours as well but you don’t have that class time where you can talk to them in person if needed. You do a lot of group work as well between discussions and projects.

Sometimes during that group work it is found more difficult because you’re essentially working with people who you’ve never met before and all your communication is done through the computer. For people who like to be able to talk to one another in person, this can be very difficult for them.

Something that a lot of students think before they actually take an online class is that it is going to be much easier. That is false and is something you’ll realize very quickly.

A  nursing student, Courtney Barlow said “ I did awful in my online course. I felt that it was actually a lot harder than my on campus classes”. What most students don’t realize is that in an online class you sort of have to teach yourself. Yes, you have a professor and they’ll usually have notes for you. But, it requires you to read all notes, read the assigned textbooks, and make sure you have an understanding of it all. Online classes require a lot of your time and tons of reading. Although there are some benefits to online courses, there also is some downfalls.

Home Page Featured News, News

NECC partners with HC Media

and  

Offering video field production class

Experience is everything for a college student. The partnership between NECC and HC Media, give Communication majors that and more. Offering a video field production class and a chance to create a podcast that is professionally produced by the members at HC Media; the partnership works as a resume builder for students.

With the video field production class taking place at the new Harbor Place location, the class gives you a sight of what your career could look like in the future. The class takes place on an official news set with a beautiful backdrop of the new harbor walkway. The tv station has used this setup for current and prior video packages for local television in Haverhill, Mass.

While students are getting hands-on experience behind and in front of the camera, they are also learning the art of editing their work. Former student of the class, Kiley Broadhurst talks about how she benefited from the class “the course has given me the opportunity to work hands-on in video production and editing, while also allowing me to gain experience in the field.”

If a student does not want to work with the visual side of journalism, they are still getting the practice in asking the right questions to make enticing and interesting stories as journalists.

[pullquote]

“The Video Field Production class is a great jumpstart to your career…”
– Deidre Darling

[/pullquote]

Students are also gaining intangible traits that will help them in all aspects of life. Confidence, for example,  is something that the students are going to be able to build and take with them throughout their career.

Whether it is in asking their interviewees questions or creating their own content.

NECC student Deidre Grant, says “The Video Field Production class is a great jump start to your career, especially if you want to go into social media.”

Grant, also known as Deidre Darling; a local YouTube star from Reading, Mass goes onto say “because of this class I will learn more about how to edit and be able to create better content for my viewers.”

Not every student who takes the course is going to have a YouTube channel or be a content creator.

Carney Woelfel found the course to be one of the more valuable ones he has taken in his career at Northern Essex.

“The class gives all communication majors a huge advantage. It’s like having an internship built into your curriculum, which is always helpful,” Woelfel said.

For the students who grow a liking or have an interest for the video production side of journalism, there are opportunities that go further than just the classroom portion at HC Media.

The staff members are always looking for volunteers from the class to help out on camera when creating content for the town of Haverhill and actually choose the top two students in the class and offer them a paid internship at the company.

The opportunities to get into video production and gain experience are endless for Communication majors at NECC.

Arts and Entertainment, Campus Life, Home Page Featured News

Performances stand out in Top Notch production

and  

‘Stupid F*cking Bird’ production

The Top Notch Players Theater performed their fall 2018 production of  “Stupid F*cking Bird” by Aaron Posner. Under the direction of Professor Brianne Beatrice and Sarah Durning, it ran opened on Oct. 5 and closed Oct. 13. With the theater’s past productions such as “Almost Maine”, “Love/Sick”, “Last of the Red Hot Lovers” and “The Odd Couple”, it should come as no surprise that the students and staff put on yet another fantastic production.

The play is a contemporary adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull” written in 1895. The show focuses on a struggling playwright, Con (played by Carlyle Bien-Aime), who rampages against the art created by the generation before him. “He is a

performer standing on a platform with arms fully extended outward
Samantha Wheatley as Nina performing Con’s latest work. Aaron Lehner, Campus Life Editor

tortured artist who wallows in self pity and existential angst.” says Bien-Aime. “He has a lot he wants, but most important is to get Nina to love him.”

Con’s girlfriend Nina (Samantha Wheatley) is an aspiring actress, and becomes infatuated with the renowned author Doyle Trigorin (Armando Belliard-Harmon).  He is dating Con’s mother Emma (Dierdree Glassford), an aging Hollywood actress who is an overbearing presence in Con’s life. The show takes a cynical, yet insightful look of today’s view on the arts, what it really means to be in the moment, the past versus the present, and discovering what the true meaning is to it all.

“You see a lot of things you wouldn’t see in a typical play,” says Durning. “The characters are self-aware they are in a show, and they talk a lot of how art relates to us now.” There are many moments throughout where the characters break the fourth wall to address the audience.

Con explains to the audience that he is as aware of their presence as they are of him. He elaborates by pointing out to a random member that they looked at the actor’s biographies in the program to see if they have done any other stuff in theater.

Besides the writing of the show, the performances of the actors are what made the show really stand out. Beatrice holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theater from Salem State University and Masters degree in Acting from Pennsylvania State University. She stepped in as theater coordinator in spring 2017 with the retirement of Jim Murphy and Susan Sanders. She teaches at NECC, but she has also taught at UMass Lowell, Merrimack College and Salem State.

Students said they have received excellent experience from her either being on or off the stage.

“Being in theater has helped me become more confident in communicating and performing,” says Bien-Aime. “It’s shown me how to be more professional and help with being able to work with a team.”

Stage Manager Matt Brides had never worked in technical theater until he started working with Beatrice. He says  that everyone on board is very professional during rehearsals.

“They know what to do without me telling them,” says Brides. “We collaborate on lots of projects which helps to make the show work as a whole.”  Brides was also in charge of the lighting design for this production. He used different colors to emphasize the mood of each scene such as pink to highlight feelings of love and desire. “Scenes without light are great, but there’s that small edge that the lights give that make the show go from great to amazing.”says Brides.

“I had previously stage managed and acted in past productions,” says Durning. “But this was the first time I had been a co-director rather than an assistant. She let me take the reins when I could and I am very grateful learning from her.” Durning says she plans to pursue a career in theater specializing in directing and possibly for film.

Actors and crew were visited by Esme Allen who was a respondent from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. The respondent’s job is to review what they had seen before and during the show, and two actors are nominated to compete for the Irene Ryan scholarship. Durning says that Allen praised much of the acting, the sound design, and had even stopped taking notes at one point to watch the show unfold. Many of the cast and crew members have been selected in the past to participate inthe festival. Bien-Aime, Durning, and Brides were nominated back in the spring year during “Love/Sick.” The nominee results for this show are yet to be announced.

Top Notch Players’ spring production will be “Good People” by David Lindsay-Abaire. The audition date is Dec. 4 from 1 -3 p.m. For more information, email Beatrice at

bribeats@gmail.com.

Campus Life, Home Page Featured News

Homecoming brings community in

and  

An eventful and fun day, NECC’s second annual Homecoming was a big hit!

On Saturday October 13, 2018, Northern Essex hosted its second annual Homecoming at the Haverhill campus. The whole day was packed with a plethora of events from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ranging from the volleyball game, pie eating contest, pumpkin painting, magic show, and of course the Campus Classic 5K. Homecoming was open to current students, faculty, their families, and alumni who were able to reconnect with the old days. Although the weather was quite rainy, homecoming turned out to be a great success anyway. The day kicked off with the classic 5K with adults and children from surrounding areas participating. The majority of the events took place in the Sports and Fitness Center, and the different departments of the school each had a table in the Spurk Building. There was lots of food and merchandise that were bought and sold.

All photos by Aaron Lehner

a group of runners outside in the rain running the 5k
A group of runners participating in the Classic 5K
Professor mike setting up a magic trick on a table in the gym
Professor Mike Cross demonstrates one of his famous magic tricks
NECC table displaying photos and archives
The NECC Library puts out display of archives and photos
cartoonish drawing of a dog with an oversized head
Student Connie Bodemer gets a caricature done of her dog
Newburyport Brewing Company has a table setup where they are serving beer
The Newburyport Brewing Company serving a variety of beer
two people siting at a table in costume wearing prison chains
Noah and Linda Greenstein promote community play “Saltonstall” which will premiere at NECC Nov. 1
a table displaying decorated pumpkins
A display of pumpkins that were painted and decorated throughout the day
students behind a table serving concessions
(From left to right) Students Joe Paquin, Alan Jackson, Lindsay Cohan, and Matt Day serve consessions
Lawrence Police officer in the gym kneeling next to a dog
Officer Picard of Lawrence Police Department with Oliver the dog
Features, Home Page Featured News

Study public speaking in Greece

and  

New class trip offered to NECC students

The International studies office has created a new study abroad trip opportunity to Greece, for students at NECC. The trip will have a 14-day span: starting from May 24 to June 14 of 2019. The Study abroad trip will enable students the opportunity to hike the Mycenaean Ruins, visit Poseidon’s temple, swim in the Mediterranean Sea on a 2-day trip to the coast, Visit the Acropolis, explore connections between public speech today and roots of western civilization.

The trip requires student to meet for 4 Saturday classes before the trip departure. “This trip will feature Public Speaking, as Greece has a rich history surrounding the topic,” said Alicia Iola of the International Studies program. The trip fulfills public speaking (COM 111), communications, humanities, liberal arts and free elective courses. Alicia Iola said, “Currently we are still registering students for the Spring 2019 trip to Greece.”

The estimated cost for the trip is $3,600. Financial Aid can be applied to help cover the trip cost. For a student to participate in the trip, they must have an individual meeting with a financial aid counselor. Rosalba Conde, a NECC financial aid counselor, said that the financial aid that was applied to the course would travel with the student as well, but usually does not cover airfare. Conde also said, “related and outside scholarship of the program can be applied to trip.” If interested in looking for scholarships, students can search specific ones to study abroad with CEA. Their need-based scholarships, awards $500-$1,000 per student if deemed qualified.

When Interviewing students about the trip they were quick to say yes to the trip if the cost would be covered by financial aid and if other scholarships could help lower the cost of air fares. Student Katherine Garcia, 21, said that she would take the chance to travel to a new country; hesitant she wondered how that would happen with her work schedule. After giving it some more thought she confidently said, “If my job refuses to give me the days off, I would demand them.”

[pullquote]

“If my job refuses to give me the days off, I would demand them.”

– Katherine Garcia

[/pullquote]

Benny M. Cruz, 22, didn’t show interest in the trip and said, “I don’t know if this would be beneficial for me.” Cruz added “I am looking to get a certification in web design and web hosting, and I am not too crazy about school or traveling with people I don’t know.”

The study abroad trip is open to any NECC student that enrolls in the course. There will be other opportunities in the future for study abroad trips to different countries. The International studies office works together with NECC faculty members to create new ways to experiences courses. Iola said, “We have established relationships with third-party providers abroad and run popular trips multiple times.”