Monthly Archives: May 2019

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Innovative hub

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New space opens on Haverhill campus

The student hub buzzed with excitement as students and faculty made their way into the space. The bright windows overhead cast down light as people found food and activities spread throughout the hub. An open house took place on the second floor of the Student Center on April 24 in Haverhill. The open house showed students and faculty how resourceful the hub is and the services it provides. Light upbeat music played in the background as people explored the space. The feeling in the air was filled with optimism and positivity.

Each study cube has its own computer and small door that slides if privacy is desired. These can serve as quiet study areas for students. Each study cube also offers a long desk space and a comfortable chair. Printers are connected to the computers and free printing is offered. In the middle of the hub, there is a common space. This space consists of comfortable chairs and couches arranged so conversation is encouraged. There is also a long table in the middle with chairs lined around it. There is food located in the back for students and faculty who need refueling. The food consists of a PB&J pop-up, bagels, frozen dinners, and a small food closet. A microwave and toaster are provided!

Karen Hruska, the Director of Counseling and Psychological Services, helped to create and promote the space. “The idea is that we wanted what we call a ‘One Stop Center We know a lot of the academic classes are in the Spurk building. But we can’t have everything in there. Because we have financial aid, admissions, the registrar, and advising here in the Student Center, the college decided to pull in some of the other student support services into this building so hopefully students don’t have to bounce around too much,” she said. Having all of these services close by will help students navigate the school better.

This new hub is unique in its own ways. One of the reasons the hub was created was because of student feedback. “Part of what I think makes the hub unique is that the focus is really on providing supports to students, but also offering something they wanted. Students told us that they wanted more spaces to study and lounge,” Hruska said. The hub creates a space where students can relax during their busy school days. This is especially important now during the last couple weeks of school. Finals week is quickly approaching and this hub will be very useful during that time. Faculty is also welcomed at the hub. “There are three faculty flex cubes. Part of it is that we know that faculty, especially adjunct faculty, sometimes don’t have enough space where they can both meet with students as well as prepare for their classes. So there are three spaces up here that are identified for faculty to utilize as well. They can meet with students in the space,” Hruska stated. These faculty flex cubes are also hooked up to separate faculty printers nearby.

Something else that this space can be utilized for is small events. “During the lunch time hours there can be different events and programs, such as yoga and coffee. It is a space that people could utilize as long as it is a relatively quiet kind of event during that lunch time hour,” Hruska said. Although it might not be the best for clubs or large groups to get together, the space is still great for study groups and a hang out spot.

There are many student services that outline the walls of the hub. One of them is the PACE program. This program is a student support service. About 250 students are currently in the program. Kristen Arnold, the PACE Director at NECC, said that the program helps students “persist in college, graduate with their associate’s degree, and move on to four year colleges.” PACE also helps students get scholarship money. Arnold said that one of the biggest benefits of having the hub is that it will make it “easy to refer students to other services because they are close by.”

Another service near the hub are the College Navigators. This service helps support new students. The navigators visit classes and host pop up workshops for students. They want to support students and point them in the right direction. They help students find the resources they need. Kirsten Kortz, the Director of the Office of Transitional Support for New Students, said the hub lets students have a “quiet but social study area.” And that this space has “been missing from the college. This space has a very different feel from the library,” she said.

Some other important services near the hub are The Career Center and Civic Engagement. The Career Center helps students explore different career paths and helps them land internships. It also helps students find jobs and change what their career is if they want to. Civic Engagement helps coordinate volunteer work and connects students with community resources. Ashley Moore, who works in The Career Center and Civic Engagement, as well as Janel D’Agata-Lynch, The Civic Engagement, Service-Learning and Community Resources Coordinator, attended the open house for the hub. D’Agata-Lynch said that she also helps students with food insecurities and “life stuff that comes in the way of school.” She said the hub makes services “more visible to students” and it gives students an “informal setting” to explore them.

“We care. We want students to succeed. It’s okay to ask for help!” D’Agata-Lynch stated.

“The hub brings people together. I had this in college and am excited to see this!” Moore said enthusiastically.

The hub gives students a place to study and interact. It also gives them a place to embrace the services that are open to them. These services include: Student Government, Student Life, The Veterans Center, The PACE Program, College Navigator, International Students, The Career Center, Counseling, and Civic Engagement. It is also right across from the bookstore. There will be a clothing closet put up over the summer in the hub. The space will also be open during the summer. The hub is open during business hours. Students and faculty are encouraged to check the new space out and utilize it to its full potential.

Editorial, Home Page Featured News

Observer Editor-in-Chief bids adieu

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The first article I ever wrote was published in the Observer on October 18, 2017. The shortest of my portfolio, it nonetheless banished any doubt in my mind about my path and what I was setting out to accomplish.  I want to write, and I want to publish my work. Now, as time crunches in the last weeks of spring, and my classes wrap up for finals, my turn at the helm of this tenured and proud publication also draws to a close. Working as a correspondent, editor, and editor-in-chief have been proving grounds of my practice, and the end result is a portfolio that I am proud of and experiences that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I have found my professional  passion in opinion and editorial writing, which I will no doubt pursue wherever I next find myself. To explore and attempt to understand difficult social and political questions has been a driving goal of mine for a long time, but as I have delved into the issues facing our culture and the challenges that must be overcome, there has been a focusing of my explorations. In research, article and presentation I have focused on and addressed severe social ills from demonized masculinity to fake hate crimes that have divided American culture and led to the downward purity spiral that is rooted in a biased and ulteriorly motivated mass media.

As I part from this publication, I leave with this message for all newsprint, be it digital, broadcasted, or old-fashioned paper. The Truth is a loyal mistress, but also unforgiving. For the correspondent, editor, and publication that adheres as closely as possible to what is true and defensible, and makes amends to mistakes and breaches of practice, their credibility and reputations will grow with time. The Truth will prove to be their best defense against inevitable criticism. But for the gatekeeping mass media, wading in scandals and yellow journalism, their lost credibility cannot be regained. Once damned in the public eye, there is little hope for reclamation. One need only look to the social media presences of the old guard firms to see what crop they reap on the web. On CNN’s Youtube page, the very first video presented, as of the date of publication, has seven and a half thousand likes to fourteen thousand dislikes.

But this is not, as these same outlets claim, an attack on the free press. Rather, I firmly believe it to be the end of an era. The practice of Journalism being confined to a handful of multinational firms is being swept away by a tide of citizen journalists unlike the world has ever seen. There are a great many bold individuals the world over who are engaged in journalism at its finest, on the ground with camera in hand. From the Arab Spring, to Brexit, to the Berkeley Riots, it is private individuals sharing their own recorded content to the internet that are documenting and providing commentary on the events that affect themselves and others. The press has been returned to the free market, and publications will once again succeed or fail by their merits. As a result of this, network television channels are suddenly on a level playing field with every and any other publication. The seemingly perpetual downvoting and criticism are not a concerted effort of a single actor or party, but rather a grassroots rebellion against infotainment, stained and sullied that it is.

Even with this industry revolution underway, the state of Journalism can appear quite grim. While this may be so, nothing brings greater reassurance than my work done at the Observer. I have had the pleasure and privilege of working with and reading the contributions of many of my classmates, both editors and correspondents. The Observer has become a crew of vastly different perspectives, a balanced team able to write engaging and pertinent pieces across a wide range of topics. This honest and engaging environment extends beyond the newsroom as well.

Before attending NECC, I wondered what state of free speech I would find on campus. Would the college’s environment be receptive to challenging ideas and complex, difficult conversations? Two years later, I can safely say that NECC has proven not only to respect the principles of freedom of speech and expression, but to hold them in high regard. Events like the recent Speechapalooza reflect this respect for the principles that pushes culture forward, and to participate in and witness the passion and enthusiasm with which the event is received is in no small way refreshing.  The academic flame burns bright at this College, and I am glad and proud to have lent my work to it.

What comes next, I am not sure of yet. But these few years have been a growing experience in ways I could never have anticipated. But above all, I am proud to have worked for the Observer, and am glad for my editors, correspondents, and readers. Thank you. 

Home Page Featured News, Opinion, Slider

Do female students feel safe on campus?

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Women share their perspectives

Women’s public safety has been a huge topic of concern around the United States, and college campuses have been a main concern. Safety of students should be the first priority of Northern Essex, second is education, but is that the case? About 50% of public schools in the country have armed officers present, and Northern Essex is not one of them. While stories such as Brock Turner have been so popular in the media, female students safety has been more of a concern.

When talking to different female Northern Essex students about how they feel about their own safety here on campus, there were many different opinions. Vanessa Muthee, a 19 year old Northern Essex student seemed to not worry too much about her safety being threatened on campus… “I feel that NECC is comfortable environment for me, I’ve been to colleges where that wasn’t the case but i’ve never felt unsafe here.” Muthee has never felt her safety was threatened on campus and that is what we hope every student feels like.

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I feel that NECC is comfortable environment for me, I’ve been to colleges where that wasn’t the case but i’ve never felt unsafe here.
– Vanessa Muthee

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I then spoke to Zoe Clark Hanson who although said she felt safe on campus she has dealt with an unnerving classmate… “He was always staring at girls trying to make them uncomfortable and making creepy comments.” As a student myself, this seems to be a common issue and I encourage you to speak up and report any unnerving incidents to the public safety department here at Northern Essex. The contact number for public safety in Haverhill is 978-556-3689, in Lawrence 978-665-5939, or Riverwalk 978-659-1299.

Lastly I spoke to Lexi Fontaine, Opinion Editor, who had  a lot to say on the topic… “As a female student I’ve never felt unsafe in any particular situation, however after I found out that there were only 2 security guards on NECC’s campus it made me question the safety of the school over all. A lot of college campuses where students live on them have their own police stations and complete own security system in place. I understand that since we are a community college and a commuter college that it is a different situation, but the safety and security of students should be the number one priority. For example we do have something similar to a ‘blue light’ system in the parking lot where if you ever feel unsafe walking to your car you can press the button to call the police, but these buttons are very poorly advertised. Many people don’t know we have them and could not tell you where they are which would not be helpful in an emergency situation outside. I think overall northern Essex could do a better job communicating with its students about public safety and our safety, and in general make students know that they are safe.” Although Fontaine has not had any eccounters that threatened her own safety, she still worries about the lack of security overall. She also stated that many students don’t know about the blue lights in the parking lot which is something all students should be educated about.

Public Safety should be Northern Essex first priority, female students safety is a huge concern in our country and should be something that is taken very seriously within this school. If you see or hear something, speak up and report the incident to the public safety department.

Opinion

Is security doing enough to keep us safe?

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SGA and Public Safety team up to better NECC’s safety

What was supposed to be a fun filled day, for some turned out to be stressful. NECC’s Spring Jam, which took place on April 10, was also the same day as College for a Day, when high school students could preview what it is like to be a student at Northern Essex, was a crowded, jam packed day. Student Government Association was tabling at Spring Jam to recruit and inform future and current students about SGA. Hannah Benning, SGA’s secretary and acting parliamentarian was one of the people tabling. While at Spring Jam, Benning described an occurrence at the event that left her feeling “helpless.” She said, “some of the high school students were stealing some of the objects off of the tables we had. I was surrounded by about 30 students at once, I was talking to one student who seemed interested in joining student government, but was distracted and felt helpless. When I looked over, some of the stuff off the table was stolen.” Security was not near the situation when it occurred, and Benning only saw them at the end of the event when they were taking down the signs.

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I do believe security needs to be changed in some way, shape or form

– Hannah Benning

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Student Government Association is advocating for change on campus when it comes to public safety and security. They have begun to take action by holding meetings with administrators. Student Governments main goal with public safety is to make sure that there is more transparency between public safety and the students, as well a better understanding tostudents of exactly what security’s capabilities are and are not. SGA held a meeting  on April 26 with Michael McCarthy, Northern Essex’s Vice President of Administration and Finance and Deborah Crafts Director of Public Safety/ Chief of Police. During the meeting it was brought up that a dispatcher has been recently hired for Northern Essex. Another part of the discussion included the blue lights we have on campus, which are currently out of service, but are in the works to be fixed and to get the phones replaced. The blue light system is in place for when students feel unsafe outside, if they are walking back to theircar, or feel like they are being followed etc.

The blue light contacts the Haverhill police. Public safety and security can walk you back to your car if you ever feel unsafe as well, it was mentioned. In emergency situations, evacuation maps and lockdown protocols are trying to be implemented as well While security and Public Safety are top priorities for NECC, there is still a lot that can be done to improve what is already in place. Benning, suggested having bag check protocols and also said that “I do believe security needs to be changed in some way, shape or form. Students are aware that public safety is here to help, it’s just that we need more trained officers and different ways to make sure students are safe on campus.” If you are ever feeling unsafe on campus you can always contact NECC’s Public Safety line for emergency situations at 978-556-3333 or dial 911.

News, Slider

Teaching safety

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What does active shooter training entail and is it effective?

With mass shootings seemingly becoming more and more common, many schools and workplaces have been holding active shooter training in order to better prepare employees and students  in the event that the unthinkable occurs. But do these trainings really work, are they doing more harm than good, and what do these trainings actually look like?

The Department of Homeland Security states “In many cases, there is no pattern or method to the selection of victims by an active shooter, and these situations are, by their very nature, unpredictable and evolve quickly.Resources such as posters and pocket guides raise awareness of the indicators of an active shooter incident and how to respond.”

Ashley Credit a student here at NECC says she attended part one of a two part active shooter training at the daycare where she is employed.  She stated “It was disturbing and I was terrified.” Credit reported that the instructor showed them two videos of actual mass shootings. These videos included the Columbine shooting in 1999 and the mosque shooting in New Zealand earlier this year. “Watching people’s lives end so brutally was horrific.”, she stated in regards to the videos. Credit chose not to attend the second part of this training which included instructors firing rubber bullets at teachers and staff members in order to simulate a real active shooter situation. She stated that the first part was so traumatizing she felt she would not be able to get through part two.

According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel in their Pulitzer Prize winning series on the Parkland shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, 34 people were shot however no one was shot on the second floor which begs the question, what did the students and staff on this floor do right?

The Sun Sentinel stated, “In Viswanathan’s second-floor class, the door knob rattled as teacher and students huddled tightly in a taped off corner, lights out…She had locked the door before class that day. Weeks before, she had taped off part of the classroom next to the door to serve a “safe space” or “hard corner” for students to hide.” The Sun Sentinel noted she had little training but her instincts were what saved lives.

NECC liberal arts: writing major and Observer Features Editor Mariella Mendez has attended multiple active shooter training awareness courses throughout her time in high school and more recently for her job at a local middle school. Mendez stated, “ I think the new algorithm and process they have for active shooter training is helpful and personally it made me feel prepared at the time, however no one is really ever prepared for that kind of situation and sometimes the rules of active shooter training may go out the window.”

Mendez reported that she practiced what is commonly known as The A.L.I.C.E. drill which in an acronym for, Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. Mendez stated that part of the training she attended included, “A faculty or staff member /police officer would walk around with a fake gun…they made it seem as real as possible.” Mendez works with kids grades K-8 and says they’ve all done ALICE training at least once.

She stated, “ I do think active shooter training should be done. Yes, instructors will have to change their language and approach depending on different age groups but I think it’s essential because these tragedies are happening more and more frequently.”

However, many people are not so keen on teaching young children these drills fearing it may be too scary and anxiety inducing. Kenneth Trump, President of the National School Safety and Security Services, a Cleveland-based national consulting firm specializing in school security and emergency preparedness training, stated that schools shouldn’t train young children in ALICE response when school shootings, typically the focus of such drills, are statistically rare. He also stated that ALICE “preys on the emotions of today’s active shooter frenzy that is spreading across the nation.

Erin Earley a student here at NECC and former teacher said she also experienced active shooter training. “They came in and we were told to go into our building, hide and  lockdown and when the alarm went off you had to find your way out without getting caught. Some attempted to escape others chose to stay.” She also stated that there wasn’t and helpful instructions on how to get out of the building.

“There weren’t any guidelines given we had to figure it out for ourselves but for the most part people stayed calm,” Earley reported,  “it was helpful in terms of being aware our surrounding but it was difficult getting the kids out and keeping them same. They didn’t go over a waiting spot or what our policy should be or any final details.”

Active shooter training is becoming increasingly popular but almost no studies on its effectiveness have been carried out.

News

Talk focuses on sexual assault awareness

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Three speakers talked about prevention and assistance for victims

April is sexual assault awareness month and NECC welcomed three guest speakers on April 4 in the C building, lecture hall A, to talk about how the issue of sexual assault can affect us here on campus and what Northern Essex can do to help victims. Denis Champagne of the Amesbury Police Department, Kate Sanzo, the Adult Counselor and Outreach Speaker at YWCA, and Liz Trelegan the Title IX Investigator here at Northern Essex. The event began with a reminder that, according to Rainn.org sexual assault occurs every 98 seconds and that the intention for events like these is to encourage reporting and to give victims ready access to every resource available to them. The panelists talked about what consent is and Trelegan, the Title XI Investigator here at NECC, offered up the famous YouTube video “Tea and Consent,” which likens asking for consent for sex to be treated with the same rules as when you ask someone if they’d like tea.

three people talking at a table
Kate Sanzo, the Adult Counselor and Outreach Speaker at YWCA, Liz Trelegan the Title IX Investigator here at Northern Essex, Denis Champagne of the Amesbury Police Department, recently spoke at NECC. Photo by Patricia Gosselin

“Northern Essex’s policy of consent is defined as informed, voluntary, and mutual and it can be withdrawn at any time,” says Trelegan. Kate Sanzo, the Adult Counselor and Outreach Speaker at the YWCA says that “consent has no gray area. “It’s Important to know that silence is not consent,” says Sanzo. She says they are moving from teaching “no means no” to a “yes means yes,” approach. Denis Champagne is a detective that works onsexual assault crimes for the Amesbury Police department, his mother also worked for the Salisbury Police Department for 20+ years investigating these crimes. Champagne’s concern is how sexual assault maintains being “one crime that’s still so underreported,” he says. Champagne says, “that’s why conversations like this are so important, we’re trying to open up doors (for survivors), this is not an easy conversation for anybody.”

Champagne’s training and relevant experience allows him to remove the “taboo” stigma surrounding sex crimes and he says he wants survivors to be able to come to him for help. “Are barriers coming down? They are,” he says, regarding the ways the police department has progressed in handling these crimes over the years. “Being open and available and having these conversations — being more visible,” is what helps bring in more victims willing to report, he says. When it comes to getting help for the victims Champagne says that “maybe the best thing for that victim isn’t prosecution.” He says that he’s ready to go at all times, in terms of prosecuting an abuser but he understands that avenue can be scary to victims. “I’ll do whatever you want, but you gotta talk to me,” says Champagne. His abundant resources and connections with various programs and groups are designed to help survivors even if they don’t want to report, he says. Champagne says that he can help with covering basic needs like shelter, food, childcare, transportation, even legal advice.

“Make them better today than they were yesterday,” he says. “My job is to do no harm, be there for them, and put them in contact with whatever agencies I can”, he says. Champagne says that these crimes are the biggest invasion to a human and that if he “can help a survivor get their life back, it’s the greatest reward in (his) field.” Sanzo works for the YWCA as a counselor and speaker. Sanzo says “the portrayal of mostly female victims (in the media) does significantly work against different members of our community” mainly victims that identify as LGBTQ or male. Which she notes as part of the reason for underreporting. Sanzo is part of a trained crisis intervention team, which operates as a 24-hour hotline to be available to victims constantly. Sanzo says they can aid in the process that comes with reporting, like being their moral support at the police station or at the hospital. “We can’t intervene, but we can be in the victim’s sight and just offer that comfort and that peace that they do have people on their side,”  says Sanzo. Sanzo says they can also refer lawyers, offer weekly or monthly check-ins, assist with emergency housing, along with workshops and trainings which aid in prevention.

When it comes to the process of reporting at NECC, Talgente says anyone can file a formal complaint, but it’s not a necessity for her to begin an investigation. Legally if she’s made aware of an allegation, even verbally, she and her department have to act. “We can provide the student with resources available in the college”, says Talgenete about NECC students that are survivors of sexual assault. NECC offers escort services, schedule accommodations, absence accommodations for court dates or medical appointments, they can even help if you’re suffering because of long-term absences says Trelegan. NECC also offers free mental health services on both the Lawrence and Haverhill campus. When reviewing cases where the perpetrator is a student, Talgente says they don’t look for violations of the law, but rather violations of NECC policy. So, they will use any and all evidence brought to them like texts or emails, but they cannot subpoena phone records says Trelegan. “We’re very open to hearing what students need and working around that,”  says Trelegan. “We don’t want people to leave school. We want them to stay and be successful and we want a safe environment, so we try to make accommodations for people to feel safe,” says Trelegan.

Arts and Entertainment

Advocates push for revived theater major

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While students can still study theater at NECC, they can’t get a degree in it

A movement to reinstate the theater arts major at NECC seems to be gaining traction. Led by Brianne Beatrice, an NECC theater and communications professor, and supported widely among students, the movement is calling for the option to pursue an associate’s degree in theater arts to be made available to students once again. Beatrice says that, since shortly after the theater arts major’s initial cancellation, she has been working to rebuild the theater program at NECC and that reinstatement of the theater arts major is a necessary part of the endeavor. According to Beatrice, re-establishment of the degree and appropriating more funding towards NECC theater would not only benefit students seeking to major in theater arts but also the Northern Essex community as a whole. And she is not alone in her views; the enthusiasm of students involved in NECC theater, says Beatrice, and a recent poll of NECC students both appear to illustrate that her cause is widely-supported.

Some members of the NECC theater community, however, including NECC theater professor Deirdre Budzyna, say that cautious optimism should be practiced and that the college should not rush to reinstate the major until some of its financial detriments have been resolved. After such issues are mitigated, says Budzyna, reinstatement would be a very valuable achievement to pursue. Beatrice, who has taught theater at multiple Massachusetts state universities, says that one of the most important reasons to reinstate the theater arts major is NECC’s well-known role as being a financially-accommodating and exploration-encouraging bridge (due to how low NECC tuition is in comparison to most four-year colleges) in students’ academic careers:

“NECC is a place where students can financially afford to attain an associate’s degree and also have the opportunity to dabble in the world of theater, to see if theater is the right career for them . . . to decide if they want to continue their education in a four-year institution. The wonderful thing that I can answer, as an educator, is that a lot of the credits students attain at Northern Essex can be transferred into their major at any four-year state school.”

The Northern Essex community, and not just those directly connected with NECC, argues Beatrice, would also greatly benefit from the re-establishment of the theater arts major and more funding being given to NECC’s theater division: “Since the major was pulled, the community has wanted the artistic outlet the program once was and wanted to see more theater at NECC. It drew a great crowd and had a wonderful following for so many years. And now this local theater, this local community, is gone and I think that a lot of people want to bring it back to support theater at a collegial level.” Beatrice believes that rebuilding the theater program is impossible without the extrinsic motivation theater credits could provide, saying, “It’s really hard to get students to want to participate when there’s no carrot at the end of the stick, when there’s no degree. I can only build a program if there’s a degree at the end of it.”

Her campaign to reinstate the theater major as quickly as possible (immediately, if achievable) currently relies on the voice of students and the community, and she reports that, “There is still such great interest in the program. We need to strike while the iron’s hot. “ She is referring to the communal excitement around the national award Gwynnethe Glickman recently received for her performance in NECC’s Stupid F*cking Bird.” “Let’s bring the jury back … The students are the strongest supporters, the greatest advocates … And so many in the liberal arts division (referring to NECC faculty members) believe there should be more theater at NECC.” Emphasizing her belief that the community would support bringing the theater arts major back, Beatrice adds, “I have never once encountered an interpersonal dialogue with a soul who said that we shouldn’t bring the degree back.” When discussing what must be done in order for the the theater major reinstatement to occur, Beatrice states that the final decision lies in the hands of higher-ups, specifically the President and Vice-President of NECC, but that NECC students and faculty members should still use their influence by spreading the word about reinstatement and by discussing how the theater program can be helped.

And, on a conclusive note, Beatrice tersely showcases her optimism on the matter: “I am 100% confident the major can be brought back. I have hope.”  Beatrice’s hopeful attitude may be realistic, says a recent poll of 126 randomly-selected NECC students. About 94% of respondents said they supported bringing back the option of pursuing an associate’s degree in theater arts to NECC. Still, though, there are some community members who make the case that other efforts must be undertaken before reinstatement can become reality. Budzyna, as mentioned prior, is a part of this group. She contends that, “Ideally, in any liberal arts college students would have the opportunity to major in theater, music, or dance. As someone who is committed to the arts, I feel strongly that that should be a part of a liberal arts education. That said, I think, in today’s financial times, it is really challenging to keep programs open that aren’t sustaining themselves financially.”

She says that considering that many people she knows “have benefitted from taking theater classes,” she has mixed feelings on the issue: “Many of my students and my own children benefited from the amazing work that was done at Northern Essex. But, I think, realistically, in order to re-establish a theater program we would need to have somebody who was actively seeking out people who want to be theater majors. It’s such a difficult issue to discuss. I would love for there to be a theater program at Northern Essex. I think students who aren’t theater majors benefit so much from taking theater classes, but I also realize that you have to have a certain number of students to make a program viable.”

Budzyna would be excited at reinstatement, she says, but adds that students must be enrolled in theater classes for the theater arts degree to be made available again. If the college, according to her, were to see an increasing level of student enrollment in theater classes and more student and community interest in the theater program (two factors, incidentally, Beatrice says are necessary for reinstatement to occur), perhaps the theatre arts major could be available again. So Budzyna, like Beatrice, feels that reinstatement could be done, but also thinks that the process would be gradual and take persistence: “All of us, the faculty, are working so hard to retain the students that we have and to attract new students and I think that (reinstatement) isn’t an overnight solution. I think it will take time.”

Arts and Entertainment

Festival fashion

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Students give their thoughts on Coachella

Festival fashion used to mean flowing dresses and flower crowns. Now, those are nowhere near enough to stand out at Coachella, the be-all-end-all event for festival style. Many of the festivalgoers who swarmed the stages in Indio, Calif., were scantily clad. Some of them skipped clothes altogether, passing off bikinis or lingerie as a full outfit. And don’t forget about the hair and makeup. Loose waves, braids, and mini-buns were popular hairstyles. Natural, minimal makeup appeared to be the trend (or everyone had already sweated off their fully contoured faces) with lots of jewels, glitter and flash tattoos to spice things up. This year Coachella started on Friday, April 12 and ended on Sunday the 21. Coachella is one, if not the biggest music festival of California, with music artists, food, and VIP events. Just tickets alone can cost up to $1,000 and that’s not including airfare if you are traveling, or hotels, or if you want merchandise and food.

One of the most important aspects of Coachella is fashion. Student Sophia Marcus always enjoys watching Coachella videos on youtube and looking at the new trends. Although she’s never been it would be an unforgettable experience. Every year, thousands flock to the desert wearing some of the year’s wildest fashions. And while festival wear has become something of a parody of itself — we never need to see another sheer or knitted kimono paired with denim shorts again — this year welcomed an upgraded, futuristic take on the overdone boho-chic bore. Face jewels are the new flower crowns, metallics and sequins have taken over knits and fringe, and high-waisted swimsuit-like bottoms are giving legs all the attention. These are some of the eye-catching pieces that take over both weekends. “Everyone should be able to express themselves with their clothing without judgment,” says Marcus.

This year outfits have gone so far to just about wearing almost nothing or covering yourself in just body glitter and showing off your torso. Coachella is a place where you can wear almost nothing and get away with it because everyone else is wearing just about nothing as well. “If you feel offended then you’re boring” Marcus explained. This years artist line up was Black Pink, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Kanye West, Bad Bunny, and much more. Even these artists go all out for Coachella, as well as top celebrities such as Kylie and Kendall Jenner, Winnie Harlow, Shay Mitchell, and Cardi B. Coachella was first introduced to support small upcoming artists but now it has taken its turn on fashion. Many fans of Coachella even have multiple outfits throughout the day than just one. With the rise of social media finding the latest trends to wear is hard by searching “Festiville looks” on Pinterest or Instagram. Former NECC student Cassie Ellson has heard criticism about Coachella in regards with the prevalent environment of culture appropriation to kids wearing Native American headdresses just because it looks “Cool” “I think partaking in other cultures is important but there needs to be a base level of knowledge to what is and what isn’t appropriate,” explained Ellson.

This season cowboy boots became a big hit, from big celebrities to famous youtubers wearing them. The trend peaked when stores such as H&M and Forever 21 sold them with their festival collection. Country music is also popular in the culture as well such as the song “Old Town Road” with special guest featuring Billy Ray Cyrus which makes the cowboy trend more popular. The Coachella Valley weather is dusty and extremely dry; prime cowboy country. Cowboy boots are one of the easiest ways to get a little bit country and can be paired with the midi dresses and skirts that everyone is loving this season. Marcus said she would wear something bold such as a bright green dress with pink boots “Definately something fun and colorful,” says Marcus. Other trends that have been approached at this extravagant festival are biker shorts, mesh dresses, fanny packs and oversized jackets. These are known as street style fashion, outfits without all the glitz and glam but still, make an impression. Ellson has been to multiple music festivals before like Boston Calling and Vans Warped Tour so she likes to dress for the warmer weather by wearing shorts a band t-shirt and maybe a hat. “Anything too extravagant gets soaked in the sun or washed away by sweat,” says Ellson Ellson would actually want to attend Coachella but not for the fashion because of what event that is going on and whos playing. “Despite all the crazy shenanigans it would be the perfect place for me, I love large music festivals,” said Ellson.

Campus Life

Speechapalooza

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A free speech forum for students by students

Northern Essex Community College’s annual Speechapalooza was held April 23, 2019. The event ran from 12:30 to 2:30 in Lecture Hall A and it was fully stocked with free pizza, snacks and water. Since its debut in 2015, this event celebrates student speakers involved in Public Speaking or Public Presentation-intensive classes, giving speeches about a variety of topics to a wide audience. Speechapalooza was created and sponsored by NECC’s Liberal Arts: Communications/Journalism Program and continues to be organized by students enrolled in Principles of Public Relations (COM113). Observer Arts and Entertainment Editor Deidre Grant is one student in the PR class that has had the opportunity to be involved with Speechapalooza. She was one of two MC’s and promoted the event through her Twitter account as well as creating a montage video. “Speechapalooza went really well, I believe this was the best (one) so far. As an MC I was able to encourage the audience to use #speechapalooza on twitter.” says Grant.

This year is the second time Grant has participated in Speechapalooza. Last year she had given a speech about her YouTube channel “Deidre Darling” in which she creates makeup tutorials and reviews makeup products. As of now she currently has 170 subscribers. Grant also won the best tweet contest and got a $25 visa gift card. Principles of Public Relations is taught in the spring semester by Professor Amy Callahan, program chair of communications. Its purpose is to introduce students to the role, processes, and practices of the field of public relations. It explores the development and contemporary impact of the academic and professional field in all its forms. Students are taught how the profession is practiced today in governmental, nonprofit, and corporate sectors, and the impact public relations has in the mass media. 

Speechapalooza is meant to give its PR students the opportunity to exercise the knowledge they acquired throughout the semester. “The communication program has made me find what I love which is writing and broadcast journalism. I wasn’t sure what I wanted but I’m glad I chose to be a part of the communication program.” says Grant. From tips on how to travel on a budget to pitching a movie idea, students are free to present on a topic that they are passionate about. For Liberal Arts student Anthony Adams, he had made a speech on “Your Moment of Zen” where he gave advice on how to achieve zen, providing personal anecdotes. “I had read the book ‘Zen Flesh, Zen Bones’ and I fell in love with it. I decided that I would give a persuasive speech about it in my Public Speaking class with Reese Charest. I believe that even without the religion aspects of it, there are many good things about zen, it brings joy to people.” says Adams.

Along with delivering speeches, Speechapalooza raffles off prizes to audience members. This year’s prizes were gift cards to Lexie’s Restaurant, Dunkin’ Donuts, Whole Foods Market, and a $25 visa gift card for best tweet.  Social Media plays a large in role in promoting Speechapalooza; PR students used their own accounts to broadcast the event and encourage free speech. Throughout the course of the event, the audience is encouraged to make tweets tagging the event #speechapalooza. Then at the end of the event, the MC’s and audience decide on which tweet is the best. Some other students who presented at Speechapalooza were Nurilys Cintron who got things started by showing a video of their ‘Semester at Sea’ from 2015. Cintron gave a speech about their travels and how you too can travel the world on a budget, highlighting some common spending habits among college students and a how-to on prioritizing spending.

Kerry Malloy presented with “How to be Happier.” In it she presented on how she keeps her happiness bar full by appreciating every moment of life, as well as giving personal insight on the things that keep her happy.  Observer editor-in-chief Brennan Cooney with his speech “Vital Masculinity” challenged our notion of what we believe to be masculinity and how the phrase “toxic masculinity” is harmful to men. “… we need to stop lecturing boys as though they were bullies that need to be reformed, and instead teach them to stand up for persons weaker than themselves,” he said. William Robert Tapley presented the audience with “The Climate Change Solution.” He changed the attitude in the room immediately when the audience burst into laughter at his suggestion to cut down the population by killing everyone named “Bill” with the hashtag #killthebills.

Emir Alagoz’s speech was an informative look at Turkish media mogul Acun Ilicali who rose to fame and fortune only after humble beginnings and several hardships. Alagoz, a proud Istanbul, Turkey native also used a moment to draw attention to Amy Callahan and ask for a special applause, crediting her with getting him in front of a crowd speaking “broken English,” said Alogoz.  Jocelyn Avila’s speech “Minorities in Media” drew attention to the lack of representation of Latinx individuals in the media. Avila’s speech was a heartfelt look at how underrepresentation harms POC and how constantly not seeing people like her in the media made her feel like she had to change her appearance to fit in.  Sean Curtis’s speech “Start Your YouTube Channel Today” also encouraged the audience to start their own channels but for a different reason. Curtis loves playing video games and he said gaming reminds him of spending time with his grandmother. Curtis asks the audience if they have interests that are hard to explain to family or friends, several hands rise, and he encouraged them too, to start a channel.

Aallyhia Cruz used her speech “Arichella x Beychella” to discuss the performances of Ariana Grande and Beyoncé at Coachella. Cruz did her research and supplied an in-depth look at both women’s performances and the struggles that they each faced around their performances.  The final speech, a film pitch by Jon Holewinski had the audience in stitches as he weaved a movie together complete with potential actors and even plans for a sequel. Holewinski’s speech was animated and entertaining as he acted out several scenes in the future film along with voices of his characters like Ray Warpzone played by Channing Tatum and Mrs. Applesmile played by Halle Berry. Holewinski assured the audience that “with the star studded cast it’ll pay for itself in the first week,” he said. His last slide is an image of Uncle Sam that says, “I Want You to pay for it please.”

A slide showing someones grandma

A slide showing a picture of someone

Slide showing uncle sam saying "I want you"

Photos by Aaron Lehner

Features

Spring Style

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Students describe their sense of fashion as the warm weather approaches

Everyone is ready for summer, and as finals kick in and the semester comes to an end we are ready to receive and soak up the nice weather. Students all over campus enjoy dressing up and not having to layer up as the warm weather approaches. On campus students were asked how do they mostly describe their style. This is what they had to say. “The way I describe my sense of style I would have to say that it really depends on my mood. I would say for sure that my style is different from everybody else, because I like to stand out.” Say’s Ana Gomez, a health specialization major here at Necc. Although her everyday style depends on how she’s actually feeling she definitely considers herself different. “I like wearing different pieces of clothing and creating unique pieces, for example cutting pants and shirts. I don’t like to look like everyone else. I like to be unique, but I am always open to telling people how I styled whatever it is I’m wearing,” says Gomez.

Other students are more in between  casual and simple when describing their sense of style.   “My sense of style is mostly on the comfortable sporty side. My style describes my personality. Comforting and laid back. I like to be comfortable most of the time, but when it’s time to dress up I try my best to mix it up between casual and cute,” says Janilka Gonzalez, a student involved in our EMT program here at NECC. There were also students who didn’t really describe their style in a particular way “ I don’t really  have a style whatever I think is cute, I buy. It can either be very girly one day, and then I can look like a skater the next,” says Lisbeth Pita, a business transfer.

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I don’t like to look like everyone else. I like to be unique,

– Ana Gomez

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Whether you have a way to describe your style or you don’t it’s fun to be different and creative and to just be you. Plain, creative, casual, unique is what makes everyone different and that is the fun in fashion. There are no rules to how you want to express yourself.