Monthly Archives: February 2019

News

Best Buddies recruitment

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Best Buddies program needs more students to participate

Image says "Best Buddies" at the top. Has two solid colored people with their arms around each other

Optimism poured into the room as ideas were bouncing off the walls. A group of dedicated students and faculty met Monday Feb. 4 in SC 106 to discuss the next steps of bringing a Best Buddies chapter to Northern Essex. Although some students have signed up to be a part of the chapter, more slots need to be filled for the program to stay.

It is recruitment time for the group and they are determined to make the program work out. “We need at least 10 students to sign up so we can move forward with the program,” Noreen Fantasia, the Program Assistant in the Career Center, said with a little worry in her voice. There are plenty of Buddies signed up for the program, but there needs to be more Peer Buddies (NECC students).

The Transition Opportunities Program (TOP) and the Macy Program has successfully integrated students with disabilities into Northern Essex. According to the TOP webpage, it is a program that is in collaboration with Andover and North Andover Public Schools. They help students transition from high school to college and jobs. The site states that “An integral part of the program is participation in activities and courses on the campus of Northern Essex Community College where students have the opportunity to integrate into a college campus. Students are able to access the sports and fitness center, library, book store and campus activities.” Deborah Regan, the Associate Director of the Learning Accommodations Center, pointed out that “we already have a population for the Buddies. We are very fortunate to have that on campus.” 

Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating bridges and friendships between people with disabilities and people without. They create opportunities and environments where friendships can develop and grow in schools across America. According to the Best Buddies website, it is the “largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” They have even teamed up with Tom Brady and Julian Edelman to create events for the Best Buddies participants and to help raise money for the program. 

Being a Peer Buddy means that you would be paired with a Buddy that has similar interests as you do. You would be in contact with them at least 3 times a month. These contacts can be over the phone or in person. The chapter will set up events that the buddy pairs can attend. 

There are 25 colleges in Massachusetts that have a Best Buddies chapter currently running. If Northern Essex starts its own chapter, it will be the first community college in Massachusetts to have a Best Buddies chapter. This is a great opportunity for the school and its students to be a part of. The dedicated team that is trying to bring the program to Northern Essex are facing the challenges head on.  If you are interested in learning more about how you can be involved in the program, please email Lucas Unger at 00305347@student.necc.edu or Deborah Regan at dregan@necc.mass.edu.

News

NECC music program

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Students and faculty weigh in

NECC’s unique music program and enthusiastic professors are helping students gain experience in a quickly changing field of study. Recent additions to the music program as well as transfer agreements with local four-year schools make the music major here appealing, but some students say they are unimpressed with the quality of the equipment.

“Northern Essex is one of only a handful of community colleges in the state to offer a music degree, and it’s the best,” said Dr. Christina Dietrich. Dietrich has a doctorate in music, and has been teaching piano and music theory lessons since 1994 at NECC.  Her experience as a music faculty member at Northern Essex, a piano instructor at Wachusett Community College, and co-chair of the piano department at Indian Hill Music School in Littleton gives her a unique perspective on the music degrees at many of the surrounding schools.

According to Dietrich, what’s different about this community college is that it has a full music major that’s transferable to many four year schools like UMass Lowell and Westfield State. “I wish that more people were aware of the music program here, so that more students could take advantage of the high quality instruction that we offer,” she said.

This semester, several new computers equipped with audio interfaces and studio monitors were added to the music room to replace some of the aging recording technology that was being used previously.

Joe Paquin is a student and multi-instrumentalist, who has taken five music courses during his two years at Northern Essex. In regards to the quality of his classes, Paquin said ,“I could tell that the program was kind of struggling, but the teachers really care about what they’re doing.” Paquin said that the resources and equipment at the music students’ disposal don’t match the enthusiasm that they have for their major. “Most of the equipment has seen better days. From an educational perspective, there are certainly some things left to be desired,” he said.

Music Technology student Troy LaBranche has been here for two semesters. LaBranche has a passion for music, so he came to NECC to learn as much as he could about it to get ahead in the music industry. “I see the music technology certificate as a way to accumulate the knowledge and skills that I’ll use as an audio engineer,” he said.

Student Chris Pitcher is only in his second week of school here, but has been playing music for the past 10 years. Pitcher loves playing trumpet and wanted to find an affordable way to get a degree in music studies. “I feel like the administration doesn’t really understand what’s necessary for students in our program- we shouldn’t have to fight to get our pianos tuned,” he said.

News

Anime Club offers unique hangout

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The NECC anime club offeres a place to relax, have fun and explore different genres and styles of anime

Northern Essex’s Anime Club gathers for their seventh straight semester of games, fellowship, music, and of course, anime. Running from 2:30 to 3:30 every Tuesday in room E350, students join to take part in a half hour game session, followed by the viewing of a weekly anime episode. Games can vary from trivia, guess the song, Pictionary, or charades. Each week the first episode of a different show is shown with the goal in mind of introducing club members to as many different genres or styles of anime. The range of anime showcased is palatable, including new and old anime, comedies, thriller, mystery, parodies, action, dramatic, or a mix of all the above.

This melting pot of style is something that club president Jason Almanzar, a senior majoring in criminal justice, looks to capture with the club’s activities. Almanzar calls anime “a growing culture of its own people” where fans can explore new things through one another and wants to reflect this in games and shows that can appeal to the die hard or casual fan.

This atmosphere has attracted students like Liberal Arts major Maire Hughes, who has become a regular at the club since starting at Northern Essex in September of 2018. Hughes says she keeps coming back both to learn about other anime and to hang out with members of the club.

Club coordinator Jiay Shida, a computer science major, aims to maintain the friendly atmosphere students stay for. Shida thinks it’s important to have a relaxing and casual environment for people with similar hobbies to spend time and get to know one another. Overseeing creation and running the games each week, Shida says he loves to see students laugh or joke with one another over friendly competition, and that the anime club is the perfect place for that, in his eyes.

 

News

Intern shares experiences

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Medical assisting student got hands-on training

NECC has many great opportunities, especially for internships.  One program that is growing is the Health Care Program. NECC student Estephany Guillen recently spoke about the opportunity she was able to have during her internship.  Guillen got an internship as a medical assistant at an OBGYN office. Before she was able to get into this program she had to take classes in order to get her trained for the role she was about to jump into. They needed a certain amount of training.

Before Guillen was able to get into the program she had to take classes like human biology, medical terminology, intro to medical assisting, medical assisting 1 and 2, clinic lab procedures, medical office administration and medical assistant practice. She had to learn the skills necessary. She explained to me how her classes got tested, the class practiced on each other by completing tasks such as, taking vital signs and just overall treating their assigned classmate as a patient. If they passed these tests they were all sent to different practices to do their internships. Estephany stated “these classes really helped get the knowledge and experience needed before walking into an office. The clinic labs are what helped me the most because it’s exactly what you do when you get to finally do an internship.”

These classes helped Guillen gain the knowledge in all bases needed, they got to practice on classmates, which is great the school enables students to do that because a lot of people in our generation work better hands on!  She got to learn the technical stuff by studying the terminology and the administration and practice parts before she got to do it on real patients.Guillen explains how “different it is to study on real patients because everything you have been learning and studying finally falls together.

It all starts to click when you’re starting to work with real patients, you begin seeing how the textbook falls together with your hands on work as well.”  Guillen explains this was a great experience and something she believes everyone should have the opportunity to do because she didn’t realize how much knowledge would be behind all the hard work she has put in and it is great to hear her story and to hear how much she has grown into her study.

Guillen’s internship is now over and she was recently hired to be a full time medical assistant at the office she began her internship at.  It is actually funny because in the beginning she did not want to do an internship at an OGBYN it was not her preferred practice.  She has started to love the study and is excited for her great opportunity and job NECC has helped her receive and cannot wait for her next journey!

Arts and Entertainment

Marvelous movies

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NECC’s most anticipated Marvel movies of 2019

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) flew into theaters over 10 years ago and is still beloved throughout the world, including here at NECC. In 2019, there are three new films slated to continue the series; Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, and Spider-Man: Far From Home, all of which are anticipated amongst NECC students and faculty.

Starting in 2008 with Iron Man, the film gained the acclaim of critics and casual moviegoers alike and was a box office hit. Since then, the series grew to include 20 films grossing over $17.5 billion worldwide according to Box Office Mojo, a wide variety of characters, and an Academy Award contender with 2018’s Black Panther. With a history like that, NECC students are eagerly awaiting the release of these three films.

In a recent poll of 28 NECC students, Captain Marvel received 4 votes, Spider-Man: Far From Home gained 9 votes and Avengers: Endgame received 15 votes, making it NECC’s most anticipated Marvel movie. Premiering March 8, is Captain Marvel, starring Brie Larson and Jude Law. Centering on American pilot Carol Danvers who, according to IMDB, is caught between two alien civilizations at war with one another and gains astonishing abilities as a defender of the galaxy.

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In a recent poll of 28 NECC students, Captain Marvel received 4 votes, Spider-Man: Farm Home gained 9 votes and Avengers: Endgame received 15 votes, making it NECC”s most anticipated Marvel movie.
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As Marvel’s first female led entry in the MCU, many are comparing this to DC’s 2017 female led film, Wonder Woman. “(Captain Marvel) is Marvel’s answer to Wonder Woman” said Lucy Russell, a Liberal Arts major. Journalism/ Communication Professor Amy Callahan, while not a huge fan of Marvel, is also excited to see another powerful female superhero portrayed on screen.

April 26 brings Avenger’s: Endgame, the follow up to 2018’s box office hit, Avenger’s: Infinity War, in which the superhero team, the Avengers, must team up with their various allies to attempt to defeat intergalactic menace, Thanos. All their might was no match for Thanos who, with the power of the Infinity Gauntlet, merely snaps his fingers and causes the death of half of all life in the universe.

Endgame picks up after these events, which the Avengers must pick up the pieces in the aftermath of the universe changing event. While not many details are known as of yet, the surveyed students are clearly looking forward to this installment. Closing out the three films is Spider- Man: Far From Home, premiering on July 5. As a sequel to 2017’s Spider- Man: Homecoming, the follows teen Peter Parker in his continued adventures as Spider-Man while he continues to balance his responsibilities as a student and superhero.

Having a long history in comics, film, and television; Spider-Man has garnered many fans over the decades, including Journalism student Andrew Venditti. “(Spider-Man) is the coolest superhero,” said Venditti.

Arts and Entertainment

Cupid’s Day

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Free movie and dinner for NECC students on Feb. 14

Valentines Day poster advertising a free dinner and a movie to NECC students. Poster has a heart with an arrow on it

Single or coupled up? Northern Essex Community College is hosting a dinner and movie night February 14th. Put on by Student Government this event is sure to bring people together on this holiday. Room 103 in the Tech center will be playing Valentine’s Day a romantic comedy for this occasion and featuring dinners such as shrimp, steak tips, chicken kabobs and a vegan option all providing sodas, salad, and dessert.

Students with an ID come free, there is a free of $7 for non-students, and faculty. Dinner seating starts at 4:45 p.m and the movie will be showing at 6:30 p.m. Vee Smith created this event, she is always about giving back to the school and making students’ time at NECC more enjoyable.  She was able to advertise this event with bulletin board posting throughout both campuses.

Aaron Lehner, a member of student life did not have much involvement with this particular event but has done past events such as the farmers market, welcome week tabling, and STEM meet and greet.  “I think it’s a good way for people to celebrate V-day and also possibly meet other people if they are going alone,” Lehner said. This event is part of student life’s film series which takes place once a month each semester and with this month is Valentine’s Day they thought it was a great idea to merge the two together.

Planners hope there will be a good amount of students and faculty joining for the dinner and movie event. Events like these are put on to appreciate NECC and to get students involved with as many activities as possible.  Valentine’s Day is to appreciate your loved ones, you don’t need a date for this particular event. President of Student Government Abby Tannant, she is bringing her best friends to celebrate this occasion. “Valentine’s day is not just for couples,” mentioned Tannant.

Not only is Student Life putting on a dinner and movie for Valentine’s Day,  but Student government will also be hosting their yearly Valentines Day scholarship fundraiser in order to help student scholarships.

From 10:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m treats and prizes will be displayed from $1 to $5. Tannant who has been a member of student government for two years now has said that being a part of student government was the best decision of her life, getting to be involved with campus life and that she has made so many friends from it.

“We will also be having a sexy talk expert there to talk to students if they have any questions.” said Tannant.  “This gives people a place to celebrate Valentine’s day when they might disregard it,” said student Carl Squatrito.  Both events will have love filled in the air as well as promoting bonding throughout the community.

Campus Life

LGBTQ Holocaust Remembrance

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The Gender & Sexuality Alliance present crucial lost history to NECC

International Holocaust Remembrance Day was celebrated on Sunday, Jan 27 this year, commemorating those who lost their lives during the Holocaust in World War II.  This year the Gender and Sexuality Alliance club at NECC presented their own take on this with the LGBTQ Holocaust Remembrance on Wednesday Feb 6. The GSA meets every Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in room C104.

“GSA strives to bring acceptance, educate, give support, advocate for the queer community and its allies regardless of gender and sexuality. [It is] a safe

chart showing different german prisoner markings, the pink one was for homosexual prisoners
German Concentration camp prisoner markings. The pink triangle was used for homosexual prisoners Photo by thepinktriangle.com

and progressive space.” says GSA President Colby Patrie. Patrie has been the president of the club for three years, and does many of the presentations covering a wide variety of LGBTQ subjects. This time he covered the history of the LGBTQ community in World War II and how they faced ridicule, prejudice, and imprisonment by the Nazi Party.

The erasure of LGBTQ culture began in Berlin in 1933 where the Institute of Sexology, founded by Magnus Hirschfeld (1868-1935), was attacked by Nazi Youth and about 20,000 books and journals were destroyed, as well as 5,000 photos. With the revision of Paragraph 175 of the German Criminal Code that made homosexual encounters between men illegal, this made the LGBTQ community extremely vulnerable.

The persecution of homosexuals began with the murder of Ernst Röhm (1887-1934). He was a close friend to Adolf Hitler and was openly gay. However there were rumors being spread about them that they were gay, and that Rohm was attempting to overthrow Hitler. Röhm was described as a “hard macho” gay and despised the effeminate gays. After he was killed, Hitler used Röhm’s sexuality as justification to send homosexuals to concentration camps. Also because they could not reproduce, gay men were seen against the plan to create a “master race.”

Between 1935 and 1945 an estimated 100,000 homosexual men were arrested. Between 5,000 and 15,000 were confined to concentration camps after about 50,000 were convicted and sent to prisons. Homosexuals were identified with a pink triangle on their uniforms.

Until 2002, homosexual concentration camp prisoners were not recognized as victims; they were put on sex offender lists just for their sexual orientation. An apology was addressed that year by the German government. Since then there have been memorials placed around the world honoring the homosexuals who lost their lives in the Holocaust. There have been memoirs and plays written by survivors such as “Bent” by Martin Sherman. The documentary “Paragraph 175” shows historian Klaus Müller interviewing several survivors of the persecution of homosexuals.

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“Every student comes into college knowing what the holocaust was, and having a general idea that it included persecution and genocide of Jewish people….but few are aware that other groups were included in this genocide, including LGBTQ people.”
– Kristi Arford

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“I wanted to educate people that the Holocaust wasn’t just about Jewish people; gays were also persecuted even after the liberation and not many people know that. I didn’t even know they were a part of it until a few years ago,” says Patrie.

Throughout the presentation, students reported that when learning about the Holocaust in high school or before, they were not aware that the Nazis also imprisoned people in the LGBTQ community. “In sophomore year of high school I learned in depth about concentration camps, but I didn’t know it affected anyone [else] besides the Jews.” says Kaily Burke, a student and member of GSA.

So what could this mean about the way history and the LGBTQ community have been represented? A large part of it could be blamed on historical censorship. The students at the presentation discussed and agreed that the education system in the United States has actively deterred its students from learning about anything LGBTQ related, its history, and figures. The saying, “History is written by the winners” here is no cliche, as today’s internet uncovers the obscure facts that the victors tried to erase. Kristi Arford, Anthropology Professor and GSA Adviser, said that during college in the 1990’s was when she learned that the LGBTQ community were victims in the Holocaust.

A slideshow, showing the LBGTQ flag with a pink triangle
The opening slide to the presentation, honoring the LGBTQ lives lost in World War II Photo by Aaron Lehner

“I think the lack of awareness [seen] at the Holocaust presentation clearly indicates a need for high schools and colleges incorporate these topics into the curriculum! Every student comes into college knowing what the Holocaust was, and having a general idea that it included persecution and genocide of Jewish people….but few are aware that other groups were included in this genocide, including LGBTQ people,” says Arford.

From speculation of historical figures to analyzing documents and stories, this topic alone could have its own article. Arford says that the main trouble with spreading this information is the lack of attendance in these kind of presentations. “I think it’s important for faculty to encourage students to attend these presentations. Often requiring students to go and/or offering incentives like bonus points is the only way to actually get students to attend, unfortunately. Hopefully we faculty can work together to find ways to encourage greater attendance to these events, or even to incorporate these topics into our courses!” says Arford.

The GSA has other events planned within the month to present more topics within the LGBTQ community. Their next presentation is about self love. Topics such as accepting oneself, how to watch out for red flags in a relationship, and open discussion about what people like about each other what they would want to change will be addressed.

There will also be a presentation about Queer Black History at the end of February to celebrate Black History Month.

For more information about the GSA and its events, you can contact club advisers Kristi Arford (karford@necc.mass.edu) or Lisette Espinoza (lespinoza@necc.mass.edu).

 

Features

A look into Lucky’s

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Food vendor came to NECC in August 2018

Lucky’s Pizza and Pasta at the Haverhill campus offers a wide variety of food and beverage options for students and staff. Open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lucky’s is located on the first floor in the C Building, room C-111. Lucky’s came to NECC in August 2018 after a few previous companies had residence of the popular cafe spot. The captain of the ship is Melissa Merrill, who has been the manager-on-site for 10 years. With her co-captain, Joey Hopkins, the two serve students and staff delicious foods with a smile everyday.

Merrill enjoys the interactions she has with customers, she says “I think the students are wonderful, I truly have no complaints.” The atmosphere of Lucky’s is quite inviting, with large east facing windows that allow beautiful morning light to greet each day. The space is large and open with “foodie” wall decor and beautiful succulent plants sprinkled throughout the room. The majority of students are on campus during the morning hours, so Lucky’s breakfast menu is quite extensive.

It is of course the most important meal of the day. Quick breakfast snacks include fruit cups, muffins, bagels, english muffins, apples, protein bars and yogurt cups. Egg and cheese sandwiches on bagels and english muffins are popular items (bacon or sausage can be added). Or try “The Lucky Breakfast”: scrambled eggs, sausage links, bacon, and home fries (all items could be ordered individually).

The south wall has all refrigerated foods and drinks, with an item and price menu hanging above. Drink options include apple and orange juice, milk and chocolate milk, sodas like Coke, Sprite, Ginger Ale, and Sunkist, and energy drinks like Powerade Zero and Monsters. Some of the cold food options include garden and caesar salads, and Italian and buffalo chicken sandwiches.

Lucky’s is open to taking suggestions from students and staff. Business major, Freddy, thinks they should carry all the flavors of Mt. Dew, “the blue one in particular” he says. Notice a handwritten “date of preparation ” on the packages of the fresh foods Lucky’s offers, this indicates the day the items are prepared. But no need to worry, these refrigerated foods are prepared fresh daily, and are donated to The Emmaus House Donation Center the next day if they are not purchased, according to Hopkins.

In the middle of the room there is a buffet style “grab-and-go” hot bar. These hot items include french fries, chicken fingers, hamburgers, pasta dishes, pizza by the slice, and “Lucky’s Daily Special,” which on a recent visit was sweet Italian sausages with peppers and onions.

Like the refrigerated foods, these hot food items are prepared fresh daily and are donated the next day if they are not purchased., with “date of preparation” written on their packaging as well. At the end of the hot bar is the cash register, with great candy and chip selections like Fritos, Doritos and Hot Cheetos.

Many of these hot and cold fresh food items are prepared off-site by cooks employed by Lucky’s, but Merrill says she  would actually enjoy more in house cooking. She says “If the space allows, I’d like to cook on site. I prefer it rather than pre-made foods.” They have a few appliances behind the counter to heat and toast foods, but larger appliances like a flat top grill could allow for more foods to be made in house.

And for the coffee and tea lovers out there, New England Coffee distributes their array of hot and iced beverages to Lucky’s. The entire west wall is dedicated to New England Coffee options. There’s a hot chocolate machine, freshly brewed lemonades and fruit punches, an iced coffee station, brewed coffees with exciting flavors like French Vanilla, Gingerbread Cookie, San Francisco Dark Roast and Breakfast Blend, finishing with an assortment of green and black teas at the end.

Andrew Venditti, journalism major, says “I like the San Francisco Dark Roast. I’ll get a cup every so often, it’s pretty convenient.” Communications major Brennan Cooney, editor-in-chief of the NECC Observer, says he  prefers anything that isn’t decaf. He jokes “I need an IV drip of coffee so I like whatever Lucky’s has to offer.”

When Lucky’s Pizza and Pasta replaced the former cafe, unfortunately some items left with the company, too. Human services major, Natalie, misses the pudding that was offered. Natalie says “They were really good, but once the switch happened, they took them away.” She’d like to see Lucky’s bring them back. Merrill says “I’ve seen three changes in ownership since I started here 10 years ago.”

Corporate Chef and Nexdine were the two previous employers, but something just seems right about Lucky’s Pizza and Pasta residing at NECC. However, one thing remains a constant issue with Lucky’s, students say – their hours of operation. Although the majority of students are on campus in the morning, many attend night courses and are at the school well into the evening dinner hours. Lucky’s is open from 7  a.m. to 2 p.m., so students who are on campus later than 2 p.m. don’t have acces to Lucky’s offerings.

Melinda, Natalie’s PCA, would like Lucky’s to adjust their hours of operation, as Natalie has classes until 6 p.m. Melinda says “We’re here past 6 p.m. so we have to plan accordingly. It makes sense why they accommodate the morning hours, but we’d like them to stay open for students later in the day.” Attached to Lucky’s is a large dining room with high and low tables to accommodate all. Room C-109, this break room is perfect to enjoy a meal or as just a place to relax in between classes. With a television, vending machines, books and magazines, it’s a popular hang out spot, with great people watching through the large windows, too!

Features

NECC fights food insecurity

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Multiple initiatives hope to help students

Northern Essex Community College has taken initiatives this spring semester in hopes of reducing “food insecurity” among their students. Along with the “monthly mobile farmers market” which allows students to get free and fresh produce, they also offer  “pop-up” stations throughout campus that will allow students to go and make a sandwich whenever they’d like. According to an email announcement that was sent out on February 5, the stations will be located in most of the academic and advising centers on campus.

The email also specifies that students may request “gluten free bread and nut free spread.” NECC will also be introducing “Smart Meals,” which allows students to receive a “single serving deep frozen meal that students can sign out and microwave.” Students will be able to go to the Welcome Desk in Haverhill’s Student Center or in El Hefni in Lawrence and request a meal. Many students on campus shared their thoughts and opinions about these initiatives on campus and their eating habits throughout the semester.

Susan Elias, 20, Graphic Design major shared that she hasn’t purchased anything from the Lucky’s Cafe on campus but she probably will in the near future. Elias said, “I haven’t gotten around to going because I usually have long breaks in between classes so I tend to go home and eat instead of staying on campus and grabbing something here.”

She also expressed that she very rarely brings snacks or purchases things from the vending machines and “just recently found out that the farmers market is free here at NECC.” Elias was not aware of the new initiatives and says, “I think it’s great that the school is providing these options. There’s probably some people who struggle to find a meal or go a long time without eating due to back to back classes so I think many will appreciate this.”

Samantha Walkowicz, is a 20 year old Psychology major at NECC. She says she’s eaten at the cafe, but doesn’t “eat there often” because she’s usually not on campus for long.  She also has never used the vending machines and doesn’t bring snacks with her. Walkowicz says, “ I did not know about and have never been to the farmers market at NECC,” she said.  Walkowicz was among many students who were unaware about the PB&J pop-ups.

“I was not aware of the initiative for student food insecurity but I think it is great that NECC is providing access to more food on campus,” she said. Soleidi Aragones, 19, is a Criminal Justice Major. She shared that she’s eaten at Lucky’s once and typically buys food at the bookstore. Aragones says she brings snacks to school on a regular basis and uses the vending machines often.

Aragones was also unaware of the free farmers markets and has never attended one. She didn’t know about NECC’s food insecurity initiatives and says, “I think these are great ideas. We as students sometimes don’t even have time to eat, or bring lunch to school, especially if we’re on campus.” Not only will Northern Essex be providing more access to free food, with these station, they continue to provide free food at meetings and events.

On February 13, from 12:30 – 1:30 pm, there will be free pizza at the “Knights, Bites, and Insights” meeting on the second floor at the student center HUB. Northern Essex also emailed an announcement on February 11, that the Lawrence YMCA, is open to free access for Northern Essex students. The YMCA also provides Food Services. According to the email students can stop by the Lawrence Campus Express Desk in El Hefni or the Student Life Office on the Haverhill Campus for a YMCA Voucher. Faculty and staff can obtain a Voucher from Patty Bradford in Human Resources, located on the Haverhill Campus in B-219.

 

Campus Life, Uncategorized

NECC grad’s success story

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Exploring Jasmine Chazulle’s struggle and her achievement

From Beauty School and unemployment to being in NECC’s graduating class of 2014. While Jasmin Chazulle is not a recent NECC graduate she is still well known by many faculty members and possibly some current students on campus. If anyone remembers any events thrown by Student Life and being persuaded to participate in any wacky games by a very energetic and loud person, then you have come across Jasmin Chazulle or Jazzii as some would call her.

In many ways Chazulle was apart of NECC for almost 9 years. She started NECC in the Fall of 2008 and continued to stay even after she had already graduated in the Spring of 2014. During her six years of being an NECC student she majored in Accounting and then later decided to change her major to Computer Science. She also participated in a few clubs on campus as well such as; P.A.C.E, Student Senate, and she was also a work study for Student Life. “P.A.C.E helped expand my possibility of receiving more education, the Student Senate helped teach me the ways of brown-nosing and networking and Student Life helped me become the women I am today”

Even though after graduating from NECC with an associate in Computer Science Jasmin later went on to receive her bachelor’s for General Studies with a concentration in Small Business at Southern New Hampshire University. But Chazulle’s story it isn’t as straightforward as one may think. While going to school part-time Chazulle  also became a mother to now a 4-year-old Benjamynizaak. Unfortunately, Chazulle  was never able to have that one-on-one time at SNHU that she wanted but it did however create a new challenge for her. She took advantage of Southern New Hampshire’s online degree program and taught herself the material every chance she got. “It took almost 2 years of hard work and understanding. When my strong suit was being more visual instead of teaching myself that was the hardest. Looking for help for a certain subject when I didn’t have a car back then to travel to campus really took a toll but when you put your mind to it and really try to understand the concept, I felt like Southern New Hampshire really knew what they were doing.”

By Spring of 2017 Chazulle had graduated Southern New Hampshire with her bachelor’s and had decided to move even one step further and achieve her master’s degree at Cambridge College for Business Administration. While Chazulle is mostly on Cambridge College’s Lawrence location, working as a Program Coordinator for Playworks. Playworks is a nonprofit organization that originated in Oakland, California to help improve the lives and well-being of children through play. Chazulle’s main responsibility is to organize recess for the kids by teaching them a game and showing them how to play safely so they can have certain tools for life. “Once I got myself into it, it broke me in to the fact that they are why I wake up in the morning, because I know these kids, because I was one of them,” she said.

Chazulle hopes that in her advocacy at Playworks that she changes the lives of the kids she teaches and gives them the hope of being something greater than their situations or what anyone else tells them they are.

One of Chazulle’s current projects for Playworks was raising money for her junior coaches to go to a conference to be recognized for what they do in their afterschool program that teaches kids leadership skills, fun and safe games that they can use in life, confidence, and how to use their words to be more assertive and not aggressive. In one afterschool program that Jasmin hosts on Thursdays from 3 to 430 she used to have 4 students and after some time it became at max capacity of 15 because even the kids are realizing how Playworks is helping them. “I have 15 students under my belt and every one of them knows I’m an open book, they understand that this is who I am. There are no excuses, they don’t care so they understand that if coach is in pain and is sick and is still here than so can I.” While Chazulle juggles getting her master’s, being a mom, a teacher, and renewing her beautician license she still reminds herself of what she truly wants to do both personally and professionally. Her personal goal is to hopefully acquire a master’s in dance so she can educate the youth. She would also like to start her own nonprofit organization for troubled youth so she can get the opportunity to show them that they can better their life by investing in themselves.

“I want to tell these students yes, I was born and raised in Lawrence. I grew up in poverty,” she says. “I know what it felt like to be scared. I know what it is not to have food. I know what it is not to have good clothes or clean clothes. I know what it is not to have the brand-new sneakers. I know the pain and suffering you must feel. Hear the gunshots from across the street the inappropriate noises at night. Yes, I do know, and I was there. But that is not an excuse to act that way, it is for you to become better and preform better in your community, so your community could flourish.”

Towards the end of the interview Chazulle had some encouraging words for any current students at NECC left with her till this day from Student Senate, “Education leads out ignorance. The more education you get the more you will understand the past, the present and the future.”