Monthly Archives: October 2023

Arts and Entertainment

‘Renaissance World Tour’ breaks records

 

Award-winning American singer Beyoncé has just wrapped up her ninth concert tour, which has been breaking records left, right, and center. The tour opened in Stockholm, Sweden, earning $461.2 million over 5 months. In August, the tour became the highest-grossing tour by a female artist, which was previously held by Madonna’s “Sticky and Sweet Tour” in 2008, according to FOX. The ‘Renaissance World Tour’ has also become the highest-grossing tour by a Black artist in history, according to Evening Standard. 

 “It’s insanely impressive and deserved due to the work and energy she puts in,” NECC student and journalism major Demiya Silva said. “It’s extremely indicative of her talent.” 

 By the end of the tour, the “Cuff It” singer raked up $179 million for one month in 

August, making it the highest grossing one-month gross for tours since 1985 according to Billboard. The record was previously held a month before by Beyonce at $127.6 million in July according to Billboard. 

 Beyoncé’s seventh studio album “RENAISSANCE” was released on July 29, 2022, with  critical acclaim. The “Single Ladies” singer announced the “Renaissance World Tour” on February 1st, 2023, much to fans’ excitement.

“I’ve seen clips of it on Twitter and TikTok,” Silva added, when asked about her thoughts on the “Renaissance World Tour”. “It seems really entertaining and fun.” 

Along with making strides as an artist, Beyoncé has been making strides in the public eye, with Renaissance gaining attention online. Clips of the tour have garnered millions of views online, with fans expressing their enjoyment. 

“It’s one of a kind,” said Haverhill resident and Biology Pre-Med and Theatre Arts double major Max Popoloski, “A tour like it has never been done before.” 

The “Renaissance World Tour” has received critical acclaim from critics, many praising it for Beyoncé’s powerhouse singing and progressive themes. Vogue writer André-Naquian Wheeler praised the tour stating it “takes the idea of constant reinvention to unprecedented  heights”. Wheeler also praised Beyoncé’s wardrobe, in which different and intricate looks were shown throughout the tour. 

“Her artistry is so well credited and extremely well deserved,” said NECC student Lexi Tavares. “Her impact on the music industry is so impressive.” 

The “Renaissance World Tour has also been inspiring new trends online, specifically 

Beyoncé’s mute challenge. During her performance of Renaissance’s 5th song “Energy,” 

Beyoncé sings the lines, “Look around, everybody on mute,” leading to the entire stadium 

becoming silent. The challenge has continued throughout the tour, along with becoming a trend 

online. 

“The challenge seems really entertaining and fun,” Tavares added. “The clips I’ve seen 

online are super interesting.”

Home Page News Bytes, News

Presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson visits NECC

 
A man in a suit standing in front of a room speaking.
GOP presidential candidate former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks at NECC on Oct. 18. Photo by Observer Editor-in-Chief Kim Zappala

NECC students, staff and faculty were invited on Oct. 18 to meet presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson. 

Hutchinson, who is a former federal prosecutor, congressman, Bush II administration official and two-term governor of Arkansas, spoke in TC103. He is a 2024 candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. 

 Hutchinson with his Southern accent drawl, promoted his campaign to all those who attended and tried to persuade his audience to vote for him because he is running for the 2024 presidential election. Aware that he has competition with former president Donald Trump, he knew that he was considered the “underdog” of the Republican presidential candidates. 

However, that made him want to prove himself to NECC as it was a bold approach to encourage the predominantly middle-left wing ideologists that he can be a much better figure than Trump. 

Relating to the working-class people, he proceeded to talk about his upbringing, growing up on a farm and working in a factory. 

When he received a college degree in accounting, it wasn’t until he found out after he graduated that he wanted to go into law school. He found the reason for his potential career because he stated he “started reading cases he fell in love with.” He continues to share that he and his wife Susan Hutchinson had a double-wide mobile home in Arkansas raising their children, which is unlike most political figures who started from wealth. Hutchinson also provided information that made people feel safe and protective during his time as an attorney as he spoke about “serving our country in times of crisis in which I had to lead,” from prosecuting a neo-Nazi hate group in his home state of Arkansas. He proceeds to tell how he was wearing a bulletproof vest in this intimidating event and approaching the extremists, prosecuting them once they surrendered. 

Furthermore, he explained his position working under former President George W. Bush when Hutchinson was the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration. 

One month after 9/11 it was his “job to make sure that the United States was not attacked by terrorist groups again” and he was held responsible for securing the U.S border and transportation. This was his opportunity to display trust to his crowd with previous experience as he had also taken his example to a present approach speaking about antisemitism regarding the Israel and Palestine conflict that is currently happening. 

At the end of his speech, he made time to answer questions from students. 

Opinion

Why college extracurricular activities matter: How to include your activities on your resume

 

What are extracurricular activities and why include them?

Extracurricular activities are programs outside of your academics, like clubs, athletics, and honor societies. Your involvement in college extracurriculars can help you build your skills and confidence. Perhaps you:

• Were president of the Art Club

• Volunteered at the U-Knighted Fair

• Played on the volleyball team

• Participated in Alpha Beta Gamma, the National Business Honor Society

• Participated in a class project with another school from abroad

This experience can be helpful to include on your resume. Especially as you are beginning your career, your involvement as a college student can be included on your resume to demonstrate your great transferrable skills.

What to include?

You will want to include the experiences that show your skills and readiness for this new job. For example, if you were involved on the baseball team and applied for a tutoring job, you would want to show your transferrable skills, such as mentorship and collaboration skills. Your resume may include something like, “Mentored new players on the team, supporting 3 rookie players into starting roles” or “Collaborated with co-captains to organize pre-season workouts and bonding events”.

Remember: You can create a master resume with all this information. When you are ready to apply for a job, you can edit and remove less relevant content.

Which extracurriculars do you include to tailor your resume?

You’ve listed all of your extracurriculars…now what? It’s time to identify the skills you need for this job. You will want to review the job description for inspiration and pay careful attention to the job duties. Reviewing this description will help you identify keywords and responsibilities for this position.

In addition to reviewing the job, you will also want to check out the company, looking at its website and social media. This context will help you see the company’s values and priorities. Do they value teamwork? Do they want people who are problem solvers?

Where do I list my experience?

Where you list your extracurriculars will depend on the job application and your transferrable skills. Consider how your extracurricular activities are relevant to the application.

Here are three common options:

• Experience section: Including your involvement under an “Experience” section is a great way to show your transferable skills if you do not have paid work experience. Let’s say you are applying to a social media internship, you will want to include how you managed the Student Government’s social media accounts and increased their followers by 25% in a year – that would be super relevant for this role.

• Education section: You may consider this section if you are involved in an honor society or academic-related organization that relates to your future career. If you are involved in the National Business Honor Society and plan to pursue accounting, including this membership would be relevant.

• Separate section: You may decide to create a dedicated section for your experiences if you have multiple items that are relevant to the job application. This section could be titled “Leadership Experience” or “Extracurricular Activities”, whichever best reflects your experience. If you have work experience, avoid mixing your paid and unpaid experiences. Creating this separate section can showcase your transferable skills and help you highlight your extracurricular experience.

Key Takeaways

Your extracurricular activities can be an excellent way of showcasing your technical and soft skills on your resume. 

Remember: always consider your reader and tailor your resume. You want the hiring manager to read your resume to see why you are the best candidate for the job. Quality over quantity matters most!

Want resume feedback? Schedule a meeting with Career Services. Navigate is the most efficient way to schedule a meeting. You can also reach us by email: careerservices@necc.mass.edu.

Looking to apply for jobs? Check out NECC’s job board, Handshake: https://app.joinhandshake.com/edu

 

Opinion

25 reasons to not vote for Donald Trump

 

The 2024 election will be here before you know it. Unfortunately, Donald Trump will most likely be the republican nominee for president.  There are so many reasons not to vote for Donald Trump and here are 25 reasons NOT to vote for the disgraced former president.

1)      Trump was found liable for battery and defamation by a federal jury in New York for raping writer E. Jean Carroll in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. The former disgraced president had claimed that” he never met her” and “she’s not my type.” During his deposition, Carroll’s lawyer asked Trump to identify the people in a photo. Trump pointed to Carroll and confused her with his second wife Marla Maples. At the time the rape occurred Carol was 100% “his type.”  He was ordered to pay Carroll $5 million in damages but will owe more since the day after the jury found him liable he went on C.N.N. and defamed her all over again.

2)      Donald Trump has already been found guilty of fraud in a civil case in New York brought by Attorney General Letitia James. Trump would inflate his assets to get higher terms on loans based on his property value. Trump, for example, told banks his apartment in Trump Tower was 30,000 square feet. The reality is his apartment is only 10,996 square feet. Then the tax cheat would deflate the value of his property to avoid paying higher taxes. A.G. James’s is suing for 250 million dollars but what really has Trump upset is he is not on Forbes 100 richest people in America anymore.

3)      Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington, DC, for conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential election, interrupt Congress and deprive Americans of their right to vote. Trump spread the big lie to make his supporters think the 2020 election was stolen. He summoned a crowd to the Ellipse and fired them up and told them to march to the Capital or they wouldn’t have a country. Five people died because of January 6 and 138 were injured, many severely.  Trump pleaded not guilty and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

4)      Trump was charged by a federal grand jury in Florida for mishandling classified documents from his White House and obstructing the investigation into them. He allegedly shared a classified map with visitors and stored boxes of records in his Mar-a-Lago estate, including in a ballroom, bathroom, and shower.  He could have completely avoided the indictment if he had just given back the documents when the National Archives asked for them back. You must wonder what the motive was for him not to give them back? Last week a billionaire, who belonged to the Mar-a-Lago club Trump owns, stated publicly that Trump shared our nuclear submarines capabilities with him.  Trump can not be trusted with American Secrets let alone the nuclear codes.

5)      Trump was indicted by a grand jury in Georgia for interfering with the 2020 election results in the state. He allegedly tried to pressure state officials to overturn Biden’s victory and used fake GOP electors to challenge the certification of the electoral votes. Four out of 19 of his co-defendants, Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis, Scott Hall, and Kenneth Chesebro, have already pleaded guilty and will have to testify in the co-defendants trial.

6)      On Trumps failing social media platform, Truth Social, Trump sends thinly vailed threats to witnesses that might testify against him in his criminal cases. Trump knows his base is capable of violence and his hope is that a Trump supporter will carry out acts of violence to those who dare go against him. He posts people’s information online to intimidate witnesses from testifying. People opposed to Trump receive death threats and need around the clock security.

7)      Trump has promised to ban the use of federal money to label domestic speech as “misinformation” or “disinformation”. This proposal raises concerns about freedom of speech and the ability to question the veracity of Trump’s statements.  This way he can not be held accountable for the misinformation he spreads. I guarantee that if elected he would limit democrats’ speech against him.

8)      The Silencing Science Tracker recorded numerous anti-science actions taken by the federal government under Trump, including censorship and hindrance of research. While the Biden administration has begun to reverse some of these changes, public distrust of science remains a challenge. Trump also intends to cut federal funding for universities engaged in “censorship activities,” further raising concerns about academic freedom.

9)      Trump recently stated that he beat President Obama in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. He also suggested that President Biden would lead the country into World War 2, incorrectly referencing historical events.

10)    Trump has made bizarre remarks, such as the claim that people need identification to buy bread or that women are having abortions after birth.  These statements have been criticized for their lack of factual basis and their potential to spread misinformation. It calls into question his cognitive skills.

11)   Another contentious aspect of Trump’s presidency was his administration’s policy of separating migrant children from their families. Although efforts have been made to reunite families, there are still children who remain separated today. This policy drew widespread condemnation for its impact on vulnerable children and families seeking asylum.

12)   Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has also been a subject of scrutiny. He infamously suggested that ingesting bleach could cure COVID-19, a statement that was widely debunked and criticized. Moreover, his administration’s response to the pandemic has been criticized for its lack of coordination and effective measures, resulting in a high number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States.

13)   It is a known fact that Donald Trump told over 30,000 lies during his four years as president. There isn’t a lie too big or too small for him to tell. One of the funniest lies he told is that he weighs 215 pounds and that he is 6’3” when he most likely weighs 240 and is only 6’2”.

14)   Trump will make sure that woman do not have the right to choose what happens to their body. He has praised himself for appointing Supreme Court Justices that overturned Roe v. Wade.

15)   Trump is nothing but a bully. He will throw anyone under the bus who are of no use to him anymore.

16)   Donald Trump aided and comforted the people who tried to overthrow the government. He waited hours to call the mob off and once he did call off the mob, he told them that they were “very special.” He even went as far as recording a song with the January 6 inmates that he plays at his rallies.

17)   Donald Trump has shown a fondness for dictators, as evidenced by his expressed admiration for leaders like Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping. Despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Trump claimed to have a good relationship with Putin. He also praised Xi Jinping’s intelligence and China’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, overlooking the negative consequences of his trade deal with China. Trump even refused to condemn Kim Jong Ung’s human rights abuses, describing his relationship with the North Korean leader as a “love affair”. This pattern of admiration for dictators raises concerns about Trump’s stance on human rights and his approach to international relations.

18)   Trump plans to fire federal officials who have he believes have been involved in disinformation efforts, means anything that Trump doesn’t agree with is misinformation.  He has stated that he wants to be able to fire civil servants who do not agree with his agenda. 

19)   Trump has never shied away from making bold and controversial statements, and his recent speech was no exception. Two weeks ago, he made the audacious claim that he not only defeated President Obama in the 2016 election but also in the 2020 election. This statement, however, is factually incorrect, as President Obama served two terms and was not a candidate in the 2016 or 2020 elections. Trump’s assertion seems to be a misrepresentation of the truth, perhaps driven by his desire to maintain a sense of victory and relevance. Furthermore, in his speech, Trump went on to suggest that President Biden’s policies would lead the United States into World War 2. This statement is not only misleading but historically inaccurate. World War 2 took place between 1939 and 1945, decades before any of the mentioned presidents were in office.

20)   Trump made an incorrect reference to Jeb Bush being the one who initiated U.S. involvement in the Middle East, rather than his brother, George W. Bush. While Jeb Bush may have had a role in his brother’s administration, it was indeed President George W. Bush who ordered military action in Iraq and Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It is crucial to rely on accurate information, especially when discussing significant events and the actions of political leaders.

21)   If Donald Trump were to be elected again, democracy as we know it will be over. There might not be another election because he will make himself president for life. There will no longer be a peaceful transfer of power. Every election he doesn’t win will be deemed rigged or stolen.

22)   The Trump Administration’s failure to respond effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic has been marked by a series of missteps and inadequate measures. Despite being warned about the potential severity of the outbreak, the 

administration downplayed the threat and failed to take aggressive action. Instead of prioritizing public health, the administration focused on controlling the message and prioritizing economic and political considerations. 

This lack of preparedness and delayed response has been attributed to internal divisions, a lack of planning, and the president’s own instincts. As a result, the US has suffered a significant number of preventable COVID-19 deaths. 

The administration’s response to the pandemic has been widely criticized for its failure to protect the American people. He couldn’t even encourage the use of masks because he didn’t wat to wear one because it made his orange make-up come off.

23)   Trump’s remarks about ingesting disinfectants to cure Covid 19.  The suggestion became symbolic of the chaotic handling of the pandemic by the Trump administration.

24)   In recent times, there has been a concerning rise in divisive rhetoric by Trump surrounding the issue of migration. 

One particularly alarming statement that has gained attention is the claim that all migrants are rapists, thugs, or murderers. Such a sweeping generalization is not only inaccurate but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes and fuels fear and prejudice. It is essential to recognize the individuality and diversity within any group, including migrants. To paint an entire community with such a broad brush is both unfair and unjust. It is crucial to approach the topic of migration with empathy, understanding, and a commitment to promoting inclusivity and respect for all individuals.

25)   The former President has collaborated with a group of inmates involved in the January 6 riot at the Capitol to release a song called “Justice for All.” The track features Trump reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, while the inmates sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” 

These are only 25 reasons why the twice impeached, four time indicted, sexually abusive fraudstersshould not be president. I am sure there are plenty more.

Opinion, Uncategorized

Unraveling Israel vs. Palestine

 

 On October 7th, 2023, Hamas militants unleashed one of its deadliest attacks in Israel in years. As of October 21, about 1400 Israelians have been killed from the attacks from this terrorist organization and they claim that they will stop at nothing until their one goal is reached, “The destruction of the State of Israel”. Since then, many governments have rallied behind Israel, which has been continuously dropping bombs on Gaza, flattening neighborhoods, and killing at least 4300 Palenstinians. Professor Stephen Russell, an NECC faculty member, says that he is “shocked at the level of violence that we have been seeing.”. But why is this all happening?  

On October 23rd, I attended a presentation that was being given to the faculty and students at NECC by history Professor Stephen Russell, where he gave us background on what is really going on between Israel and Palestine and how it all led up to this point. Professor Russell talked about how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict dates back to the end of the nineteenth century. In 1947, the United Nations decided to partition Palestine into two countries, the Jewish state of Israel, and the Arab state of Palestine. Israel agreed to the partition but many Arab residents felt that this partition unfairly favored the Jewish population and violence soon broke out.  

In 1948, the state of Israel was established. Almost immediately the Arab league, a group of surrounding Arab countries, rejected this partition and attacked. This is known as the First Arab-Israeli war, Israel fought back and after 9 months of conflict, its armed forces occupied a lot of  the land designated to the Arab state of Palestine. The original plan for a Palestinian state was dismissed. This was a big victory for many Jewish people, but approximately 720,000 Arabs fled or were expelled from their homes and many took refuge in the Gaza strip and the West bank. Tension between Jews and Arab muslims in the region would continue for decades.  

 Fast forward to 2006, a militant Islamist group, Hamas, won the Palestinian legislative elections and it started to govern the Gaza strip. This terrorist group were known for their violent methods such as suicide bombings and calling for the destruction of Israel. Hamas and Israel have been violently clashing ever since. The purpose of this isn’t to condone or justify these kinds of actions, but to understand why it happened because if we don’t, it’s more likely we will never see an end to this.  

For the past 16 years, the life of the Palestinians in Gaza has been described by the secretary general of the United Nations as “Hell on Earth”. Gaza has been under an Israeli siege so severe that it’s often called “the world’s largest open-air prison”. Cutting off their food supply, and fuel resources, and controlling them to a point where many people that were born in Gaza have never even left, or have seen a fellow Palestinian from the West bank.  It has been so severe that the UN had warned Israel back in 2012 that if the policies in Gaza didn’t change, this tiny strip of land and the most densely populated places to live on Earth that now holds 2.3 million people, would become unfit for human living by 2020. It is difficult navigating through this conflict without knowing both sides of and having an understanding of why everything is happening, rather than just picking sides like social media wants us to. 

After the presentation I had asked Deyanarah Gutierrez, an NECC student, what she had heard/seen about this war prior to the presentation and she said, “The presentation was the most information I’ve gotten so far. Most of the stuff I have seen are from social media like the pictures and video compilations of  the violence, and stuff I haven’t been able to get out of my head. It’s hard to process what’s going on.”

I had asked another NECC student, Chris Drew, the same question and he said “I saw people post pro this side and pro that side, and saw my friends take a stance and I would read it and I’m like I don’t even know what’s happening.”. This just shows how important this presentation, even though it was only 25-30 people in the room, was so important. Now the ones that were there have a better understanding of what is happening and can inform others without bias what is really going on.  

The only thing we can hope for is that the violence comes to an end soon, because at the rate that Israel is going at, it is scary thinking about the future of Gaza. We hope for peace even though we know it is hard to achieve based on the history between the two, it is something that we have to keep hoping for.  

Professor Stephen Slaner shared these thoughts with an email to  the Observer after the talk.

“Prof. Russell’s comprehensive talk October 23 on the war in Gaza seriously understated the gravity of the present situation,” Slater wrote.  “While it is true that nuclear weapons are not being considered, Israel’s policy amounts to genocide.  Here is an assessment by respected journalist Seymour Hersh:  “Netanyahu’s attitude, as assessed by the intelligence analysts, I was told, amounts to a determination ‘to wipe out Hamas.’  One knowledgeable official told me that ‘Gaza City is in the process of being turned into Hiroshima with no nuclear weapons used.'”
“One step that can be taken is to urge our Congressional representative to support H.Res. 786: Calling for an immediate deescalation and cease-fire in Israel and occupied Palestine.  The bill has one sponsor and 17 co-sponsors,” Slaner wrote. 
Editorial

Conflict in the Middle East

 

It’s heartbreaking that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas is entering its second month, with no sign of a lasting ceasefire. The war has killed more than 5,000 people, displaced more than 1 million, and caused widespread damage to infrastructure and livelihoods in Gaza and Israel.

The conflict erupted on October 12, when Hamas militants crossed into Israel through a tunnel network and launched a surprise attack on several military and civilian targets, killing more than 1,300 Israelis and taking hostages. Israel responded by launching a massive aerial and ground offensive against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, killing more than 3,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians. 

The attack by Hamas was seen as an attempt to break the 14-year blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt on Gaza, which has severely restricted the movement of goods and people in and out of the coastal enclave. Hamas also said it was retaliating for Israeli actions in Jerusalem, where tensions had been rising over the planned evictions of Palestinian families from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah, a neighborhood claimed by Jewish settlers

Despite several attempts by regional and international mediators to broker a ceasefire, the fighting has continued unabated, with both sides exchanging fire and escalating their attacks. Israel has expanded its targets to include high-rise buildings, media offices, hospitals, schools, and tunnels used by Hamas. Hamas has increased its rocket fire towards Israeli cities, reaching as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. 

     The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated dramatically, with shortages of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies. The UN estimates that more than half of the population of Gaza needs humanitarian assistance. Many people have fled their homes and sought shelter in UN-run schools or other public buildings. The UN has warned that Gaza is on the brink of a “catastrophic situation” and called for an immediate end to the hostilities. 

Israel has also faced internal unrest, with violent clashes between Jewish and Arab citizens in several mixed towns. The violence has been fueled by incitement from extremist groups on both sides, as well as by social media posts spreading misinformation and hate speech. The Israeli police have arrested hundreds of people for rioting, arson, assault, and vandalism. 

The prospects for peace are dim, as both sides seem determined to continue fighting until they achieve their goals. Israel says it wants to degrade Hamas’s military capabilities and restore deterrence, while Hamas says it wants to end the blockade on Gaza and secure the rights of Palestinians in Jerusalem. 

The international community has expressed concern over the escalating violence and urged both sides to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians. The U.S., Israel’s main ally, has said it supports Israel’s right to self-defense but also called for a de-escalation of tensions. The U.S. has also announced a $100 million aid package for Gaza, which will be delivered through Egypt.

Egypt, which shares a border with Gaza and has close ties with both Israel and Hamas, has been leading the efforts to mediate a ceasefire. Egypt has also opened its Rafah crossing to allow humanitarian aid and wounded people to enter or leave Gaza. However, Egypt’s role has been complicated by its strained relations with Turkey and Qatar, which are allies of Hamas and have been vocal critics of Israel.

Other regional actors, such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates, have also been involved in trying to end the conflict or aid the affected populations. Iran has warned Israel to stop its attacks on Gaza or face consequences in the region. Saudi Arabia has condemned Israel’s actions in Jerusalem and Gaza and called for a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue. Jordan has sent medical teams and supplies to Gaza and hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for talks. The UAE has sent an aid plane to Gaza and expressed support for a two-state solution. 

The UN Security Council has held several meetings on the crisis but has failed to issue a joint statement or resolution due to disagreements among its members. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire and a revival of the peace process based on a two-state solution. 

Israel does not want a ceasefire because they believe that will give Hamas time to rest and recharge.

It is sad to see all the civilians from Israel and Palestine caught in the middle of this conflict that are being killed, kidnapped, or displaced. There are so many innocent lives being completely ruined by no fault of their own.  The sad truth is children make up half the citizens in Gaza who have been killed or displaced. You have to wonder what’s the point of all this bloodshed. Let’s hope for peace in the middle east sooner rather than later. 

 

 

 

News, Slider, Uncategorized

Kindness Rocks in liberal arts

 
Painted rocks over a table
A sampling of some of the Kindness Rocks created during a recent event in the Center for Liberal Arts. Photo courtesy Faculty Adviser Mary Jo Shafer

The Center for Liberal Arts, located in C209, is a space reserved for liberal arts students to study, do homework, and even just chat.  The comfortable chairs placed around the room and the free snacks, as well as the Coordinator, Sarah Regan-Kelly, make the environment quite welcoming.  So, it is no surprise that many creative events that bring the community together are held here.  On Thursday October 5th from 12 to 1:30 PM, the Kindness Rocks event was held. The Kindness Rocks event invited students and faculty alike to create and design their own kindness rocks for a kindness rock garden. A kindness rock is a decorated rock that can be anything from a positive and uplifting message to a colorful drawing or design and everyone was allowed to make as many as they liked. As it read on the flyer, the garden is meant to spread messages of hope and kindness to everyone at NECC. 

In C209, rocks of all shapes and sizes were spread out along a table with a variety of paint markers (and cupcakes).  Everyone was given free rein to let their creativity shine. Groups of students gathered around every desk, table, or otherwise flat surface with their rocks, and the room bustled with conversation. Paper plates were used as placemats to keep the room clean, and markers were passed from hand to hand as everyone’s ideas came to life.  The event was coordinated by Professor Clare Thompson. “I do Kindness Rocks with my English 101 students at the beginning of every semester,” she said, “And then I decided I wanted to create an entire kindness rock garden.”  You may even be able to find her students’ kindness rocks scattered throughout the campus. Lily Dewar, an Early College student from Haverhill Highschool who attended the event, said she “loved the idea as a whole and the positivity of it.”  She also really enjoyed the event from an artist’s standpoint, although she found the small canvas to be a bit challenging.  Other students expressed similar sentiments of the event as they painted. Regan-Kelly holds many such events in the Center for Liberal Arts. She encourages anyone and everyone to come check them out. 

Home Page News Bytes, News

AI exploration during STEM week: Is artificial intelligence a reliable source?

 

STEM week at NECC began on Oct. 16 and went through Oct. 20. STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, during STEM week the academic centers at NECC provide an opportunity for students to brainstorm and discuss their future academic plans, explore career opportunities, and gain exclusive knowledge in the field of Science,Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

On Tuesday Oct. 17, learners met in the Center for Liberal Arts, room C209 to learn about the benefits of AI for career exploration. 

The event was hosted by Katie Yeaton-Hromada who is the NECC Career Services and Internship Program coordinator. 

A few NECC students were asked to pass around three different colored sticky notes to every learner in the room which were used to answer three introductory questions about AI. 

The one question being what is AI and what are some examples of AI? The students were then told to put each sticky note in a different area around the room where students were able to see their peers’ answers. 

Most of the students in the room were aware of what AI is and many students had used artificial intelligence apps like ChatGPT, Alexa and Siri while a few other students had not ever thought of having the need to use it. 

“I know about it but I do not use it,” said Luna Cordero a student at NECC. 

Students were then informed of different ways of using AI, or artificial intelligence, that can be used in a beneficial way. 

For example, asking AI what are some career options a person could qualify for with an associate degree in communications? 

During the exploration it was emphasized how important it is to remember that AI shouldn’t be one’s final destination when researching for career opportunities and information. 

“AI is a starting point, not your finish line,” said Yeaton-Hromada.

Students and those who use AI should “always check for accuracy, bias information, watch out for lies and (students should ) never share personal information with any artificial intelligence data,” she said. 

At the end of the presentation students were introduced to a few reliable career exploration resources that can be used instead of AI. 

Pathful Explore is one resource shared that is a career exploration and preparation tool with informative interview videos and career assessments. 

NECC students can create a free account by using their NECC student email. 

Massachusets STEM week is organized by the Office of Education Executives and the STEM Advisory Council. STEM week is known as a statewide effort that is made to bring knowledge and interest to all students in hopes to encourage students to envision themselves in STEM education and employment opportunities. For more information on career exploration resources email and book an appointment with NECC Career Services and Internship Programs coordinator Katie Yeaton-Hromada.

Home Page Featured News, News

Artificial intelligence: Friend or Foe?

 
A woman sits and looks at a computer screen where there is an image of her cyborg face on the computer screen.

Kim Lyng, liberal arts professor and program coordinator and Performing Arts and Communication Department Chair, looks at an AI version of herself on the computer in her office in the Spurk building. Lyng recently debated this “AI Kim” on the impact of artificial intelligence on educatioin in an event organized by CIS Professor Devan Walton. Photo by Editor-in-Chief Kim Zappala

AI promises to revolutionize the way we do everything, including coursework, but NECC faculty and some students have concerns about this future. 

With a new semester underway, and new developments in generative AI technology made public at a regular pace, these concerns are renewed around our campus.

Professor Devan Walton, who teaches computer and information science courses here at NECC, says that other faculty reach out to him regularly. 

“Probably twenty distinct emails, and double that in-person. They express a lot of anxiety about AI, they’re anxious about the future. This could be the end of everything. So, I ground them in reality.”

What is that reality? 

Many of us are familiar with programs like ChatGPT, a generative text model that can generate text based on written prompts you feed it. Students and teachers alike worry about its ability to write essays. And these fears aren’t without merit, Walton says. “Depending on the model, you can make work indistinguishable from a top-mark student.” 

The only issue is when the AI experiences what experts call “hallucinations,” where the AI generates content that is demonstrably false. 

But advances in the programming and training of these models makes them more and more accurate with each iteration. 

“More sophisticated, paid models, the rate that it creates false content is much lower, except in math,” Walton notes

Educators aren’t alone in having concerns about AI. 

Olimar Gonzalez is a Nursing major at NECC, who says that using AI to write a paper is plagiarism. 

But it’s also become more prevalent in everyday life. 

“When I did a Muhammad Ali essay, I looked up stuff on Google, and it started to type up an essay.” She also said that she had an English Composition professor that made his students turn in all their papers on Turnitin to check all their written work to make sure it wasn’t written by AI.

Lauren Iannitelli is a Nursing major that works at Mass General, and says that she has used ChatGPT to study. Even then, though, she’s wary of its uses. “I feel it could turn on us in a way. I like the idea, but taking over jobs, I don’t think it should do that” Iannitelli says. “They advertise AI at my hospital. What if we can’t afford it, and we’re left without people that know what to do?”

Gonzalez agrees. She says “Now there’s a machine that does the chest compressions. And there’s the EMT guy, waiting for the machine to do it instead of doing it himself.”

It’s important to note the benefits AI tools can have in the classroom, professor Walton says. “It can identify weaknesses in an activity or curriculum” he says. “You can give ChaptGPT an assignment, ask it to make it more accessible, and it can answer that.”

As technology advances, what can we as a community do to address it? Walton believes that AI tools and their use will become an inevitability. “I think as it becomes more accessible, it’ll become the norm to expect students to collaborate with AI. AI collaboration will expand the types of problems we can address in the classroom. This AI future might not be great, might not be bad, it’s hard to say. When people say it’s bad, I understand that. But I also hope for a future where students can use it to tackle larger problems, and lead to a brighter future.”

So what does he recommend? “One thing I recommend people do is try using these tools. Most people with a lot of anxiety haven’t used them. Having used them and understanding their limits and capabilities can help.” 

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Simple fermentation for better health

 
A woman speaks in front of a screen.
Emily Makrez recently finished NECC as part of STEM Week to talk about fermentation. Photo by Daniela Valdivia-Terres

A speaker recently vistied NECC to share how she left her office job and dove into the fermenting world for good.

Probably you have tried pickles or had a salad with a vinegar-based dressing like Italian dressing. If so, you have already enjoyed the taste of fermented vegetables on your palate, and your digestive system rejoiced about that. 

The science behind fermenting food and its consumption is so valuable that during the STEM week, one of the stellar presentations was “Fermentation and you,” by Emily Makrez, an expert in this matter.

After Makrez’ presentation and Q&A’s, she taught how everyone could make their own fermented veggies at home in a simple way. On top of that, the audience delved into a mouthwatering taste test in the TC Building on Haverhill Campus, on Oct. 18.

Why fermented food is beneficial to us

It helps our digestive system enormously! According to Makrez, fermented food unleashes the nutrients as they help to break down the nutrients to digest better. 

Digestion starts by chewing and mixing every bite with saliva. Every bite should last at least 30 seconds to activate the full process. However, most people chew for between 15-20 seconds. Adding fermented food, like kimchi or pickles, makes it accessible to absorb all the nutrients of everything we eat. 

Also known as “good bacteria,” fermented food enhances our nutrition. It produces vitamins such as B1, B2, B3 and the list goes on. Also, some of them produce enzymes that have been researched for cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer’s. 

Not eager to add them to your diet yet, then try having just a tablespoon of vinegar daily or drinking Kombucha instead of soda. Same as fermented vegetables, they are great for detoxification. In addition, they can break down certain pesticide residues. 

They are good probiotics. Fermented foods increase the diversity of microbes in your gut, restore the balance of bacteria, support your digestive health, and decrease inflammation.

Favorite fermented food 

Koji grows on beans or grains like rice with Aspergillus oryzae (a kind of mold.) It is found in Japanese food products, like miso, soy sauce, sake, or mirin. Koji is Makrez’ favorite. She shared the history, where to find it, and how to use it. She called Koji the “Edward Scissorshands of Food Molds” because it produces enzymes that break down carbohydrates and proteins.

Makrez explained the process of vinegar and how she made her own combinations with ginger or celery for instance. She shared some of her delicious creations with the audience. 

Start DIY fermenting

Makrez is passionate and knowledgeable about fermenting and fearless to try new libations and mix all kinds of vegetables macerating in a jar. 

She also loves teaching.  Makrez broke down in simple steps how to start to ferment but first, she suggested starting with root vegetables, like beets, carrots, radish, etc. These kinds of vegetables are easy to ferment. Celery, potatoes and fruits are good options too.

How she left the job she hated to attune to nature

With a psychology bachelor’s degree, and a master’s degree in community social psychology of UMass Lowell, Emily Makrez was working in the “real world” in a job she “hated.” 

About five years ago, tired of it, Makrez questioned what was important in her life. She arrived at the conclusion she wanted to connect with nature and the environment and focus on climate change. 

That is when she went for a second master’s degree, this time in alternative medicine at Bastyr University, in Kenmore, Washington.

While still working, Makrez started farming, taking care of the soil, trying to create a nice biodiversity ecosystem in her farm home in Dracut. Looking for ways to preserve the large number of vegetables she grew, she tried canning, but it did not work, so fermentation came into play. She fell in love with this sustainable way to preserve food, and the opportunity to create products that help people to improve their health. 

When she finally quit that depressing job, a year ago, she surrendered to the experience of fermenting food and its benefits. Her parents asked her “are you sure you want to be a farmer? Are you going to leave your salary job? Do you really want to do this?” Makrez with bright eyes and a happy smile said “Yes! I wanna try at least.” She added, “It feels really good but it’s also scary!” 

Makrez turned her house into a laboratory where she combines and measures every recipe with precision. She later sells them through her business “F-Word Farm.” By the way, the “F” is for what she stands for: Farming, Foraging and Fermenting. 

Her brand labels bottles of vinegars like the sweet and lightly acid, Heirloom Red Celery Vinegar made with celery she grew herself. 

Makrez is a multifaceted businesswoman now. Her farming has extended to loofa sponges, all kinds of tomatoes, peppers, onions among others. Her produce and F-Word Farm products are placed in local restaurants and local businesses that she has partnered with. She also participates in Farmer’s Markets. And now, her family fully supports her.

“I’m doing too many things, but I love the education part of it,” noted Makrez. 

She enjoys teaching about any subject related to fermentation in hands-on workshops. 

She has been teaching in libraries and senior centers, but now she is starting to teach team building through working in groups creating their own fermented foods in the corporate world. It is definitely a great and healthy way to strengthen a work team relationship. 

Curious about Emily Makrez and/or the Fermenting world? Follow her on Instagram as: @fwordfarm or don’t miss her next Farmer’s Market on Oct. 29 at the Rockingham Mall, Salem, New Hampshire, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m..