Memorial Day weekend proves to be a huge time for Boston music lovers every year with Boston Calling Music Festival. Boston Calling is a 3-day festival that takes place during Memorial Day weekend. Boston Calling is known to host some of music’s biggest artists, and 2024’s lineup is no exception.
The festival will kick off on Friday, May 24. The night is being headlined by Ed Sheeran and Leon Bridges. Other notable acts for the day include Reneé Rapp, who has become an incredibly popular artist as of recent. Young The Giant, Luke Hemmings and David Kushner will also be making appearances.
The festival continues on Saturday, May 25, when Tyler Childers and Trey Anastasio will be headlining. D4vd and Frank Turner will also be there that day.
Boston Calling closes out on Sunday, May 26. This day will be arguably the most stacked, with The Killers and Hozier as headliners. Megan Thee Stallion, Chappell Roan, The Revivalists and Alvvays are also performing on the final day of the festival.
Boston Calling takes place at the Harvard Athletic Complex, and runs from early in the afternoon until around 11 at night.
Throughout the weekend, performers will play on four different stages, all varying in size and capacity based on the size and popularity of the artist.
The festival has many partners, from Chase Bank to Dunkin’ Donuts to DoorDash. These partners are able to give the festival special perks, such as contactless paying with wristbands and special lounges for festival patrons with upgraded packages.
Boston Calling features plenty of food options for patrons, from El Jefe’s Taqueria to Love Art Sushi to Fomu Ice Cream.
When NECC students were asked about the festival, they gave differing responses. “I’ve never heard of it,” says 19 year old student Darianna Sanchez.
She was then shown the lineup and schedule of the event, saying that the festival “looks like a lot of fun.”
19-year-old student Shademah Robinson had heard of the festival, saying that she “would love to see Reneé Rapp,” as a fan of hers.
There is a lot of information about the festival to be found both on the official Boston Calling website and their social media accounts. Many photos from the weekend will be posted on the festival’s official Instagram account.
Paul McCartney and Beyonce photographed together. Photo courtesy of @paulmccartney on Instagram
March 29, 2024 was a huge day for the “Beyhive,” also known as the nickname for fans of popular artist Beyoncé.On this day, the thirty-two-time Grammy award winner released her eighth studio album, titled COWBOY CARTER.
The record found Beyoncé shifting her sound in a different direction, more inspired by country music.
The album’s tracks had many features, notably from artists like Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, and Dolly Parton. COWBOY CARTER received immediate critical acclaim, including a perfect score from both NME and Rolling Stone.
The second track on COWBOY CARTER is titled “BLACKBIIRD,” and is a cover of the Beatles tune, originally released in 1968.“BLACKBIIRD” is the only cover included on the record.
The cover not only uses original tracks from the 1968 rendition, but also features four Black country singers, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts.
These artists provide both lead vocals and harmonies on the track, breathing more life into the already impactful tune.
In addition to Paul McCartney’s original acoustic guitar track, Beyoncé’s rendition of the song contains orchestration and bass that the original “Blackbird” didn’t possess.
The original origins of the Beatles song exist within the political climate of the 1960s in the United States.
In a 2018 interview that McCartney did with GQ, in which he breaks down some of his most well known songs, he speaks on “Blackbird”. “I’d heard about the Civil Rights troubles that were happening in the 60s,” McCartney tells GQ. “in England, a bird is a girl, so I was thinking of a Black girl going through this; now is your time to arise; set yourself free; take these broken wings.”
On April 4, McCartney took to Instagram to post in appreciation of Beyoncé’s rendition of “Blackbird.”
“I think she does a magnificent version of it and it reinforces the civil rights message that inspired me to write the song in the first place,” McCartney writes on Instagram.
In his post, McCartney writes on how he received the information on Beyoncé’s cover.
“I spoke to her on FaceTime and she thanked me for writing it and letting her do it.” After stating how much he enjoys the COWBOY CARTER cover of the song, he continues, “Anything my song and Beyoncé’s fabulous version can do to ease racial tension would be a great thing and makes me very proud.”
In a culture of ever-evolving music and trends, 26 year old Chappell Roan has recently been able to put her stamp on the music industry as of recent. Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, or Chappell Roan, is an up and coming pop artist that has made quite the splash within the last year.
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess is Roan’s debut record, released September 22, 2023. The album tackled Roan’s shift from her Midwest upbringing to the life of the queer scene in Los Angeles. This theme is one described in the track “Pink Pony Club”, in which Roan details the contrast between where she came from and the nightclubs in West Hollywood.
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess has other themes such as sexuality, discovery, and self-acceptance. Roan expertly matches topics with a lot of under-the-surface depth with amazing vocal performance and extremely fun deliveries.
An album highlight is the pop-anthem “Red Wine Supernova”, the second track on the record. In the song, Roan talks about her experiences developing relationships with other women. “I’m in the hallway waitin’ for ya/ Mini skirt and my go-go boots/ I just want you to make a move/ So slow down, sit down, it’s new.”
Roan also isn’t afraid to discuss her Christian upbringing and how it affects her grasp on her sexuality. In “Naked In Manhattan”, Roan sings “touch me, baby, put your lips on mine / Could go to hell but we’ll probably be fine.”
On September 13, 2023, Roan took to her social media accounts to announce herself as an opener for Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour. Roan and Rodrigo share a producer in Dan Nigro, causing a connection between the two artists.
During her stint in Rodrigo’s tour, Roan went on a small headline tour of her own in some cities in between the shows. For this headliner, as well as her headlining tour in 2023, Roan has invited local drag queens to perform as openers at the shows.
A large part of Roan’s brand is her campy and fun aesthetic, heavily inspired by the art of drag. She has told publications like NME that she considers herself to be a drag persona, and would want other people to think of her in that way as well.
Earlier this year, Roan posted a clip from a new song on her social media accounts, successfully teasing something new for fans. The song is called “Good Luck, Babe!” and was released on April 5. The track contains lyrics about a girl that refuses to accept her identity as a queer person. Roan sings “You could kiss a hundred boys in bars/ Shoot another shot, try to stop the feeling/ You can say it’s just the way you are/Make a new excuse, another stupid reason.”
The bridge of the song delves further into what the future of this girl may be if she doesn’t accept her own identity. “When you wake up next to him in the middle of the night/ WIth your head in your hands, you’re nothing more than his wife/ And when you think about me, all of those years ago/ You’re standing face to face with ‘I told you so.’”
“Good Luck, Babe!” has blown up quickly on social media apps such as TikTok, where people are posting videos dissecting the lyrics and relating them to personal experiences with the hashtag “goodluckbabe.”
Roan herself has even posted videos onto the platform of her and her friends performing a dance that she created to the track.
Roan has been able to tap into the queer music space and make serious waves within the last year. Her genuine relatability juxtaposed with her fun persona has played a huge role in her massive cultural appeal.
The album cover for “eternal sunshine.” Photo courtesy of Republic Records
Ariana Grande is a popular name that has consistently been on the public’s lips for years now, and the last few months absolutely have not been an exception to this. 2023 was a year full of controversy and rumors for Grande, with her having been filming for the movie adaptation of Wicked, the Broadway musical.
The root of the controversy was a new found romance with co-star Ethan Slater, known for playing Spongebob Squarepants on Broadway. Grande had been previously married to Dalton Gomez.
Even while Grande was filming for Wicked, loyal fans waited and wondered what the singer was going to do in her career next. In early January, Grande teased a new single, “yes, and?”, on her social media accounts, set to be released on January 12. The release of the song mostly met mixed reviews, with overwhelming support nonetheless.
Grande eventually announced her seventh studio album, eternal sunshine, which was set to be released March 11, 2024. Grande takes her public controversies and channels them into her new music. Eternal sunshine is an album that greatly deals with many topics that have been surrounding her as of late, including breakups, internet commenters and “situationships.”
Lead single “yes, and?” details Grande’s relationship with the people online that speculate about the private details of her life. “Now I’m so done with caring/ What you think, no, I won’t hide/ Underneath your own projections,” Grande sings on the track.
As a whole, eternal sunshine mostly finds itself within simple production and melodies, rarely breaking away from the R&B style that fans have come to expect from Grande. The record proves to rely not so much on vocal ambition as sharing a story through more of a soft vocal delivery.
An album highlight is the melancholic “we can’t be friends (wait for your love),” in which Grande details a relationship that, while causing her pain, has been integral to the development of her character. “Know that you made me/ I don’t like how you paint me, yet I’m still here hanging.”
Even students at NECC see the impact in Grande’s massive return. Jalayne Medina, an 18 year old Psychology major, recognizes how Grande has affected her life. “I like Ariana Grande a lot,” Medina says. She is also quick to state that Grande was a “big part of (her) childhood.”
Grande’s career has had many moving parts throughout the years, with beginnings performing on Broadway and acting in Nickelodeon sitcoms playing a big part in her eventual mainstream success.
Boygenius (Phoebe Bridgers from left, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker) celebrate their three Grammy award wins Photo courtesy of xboygeniusx on Instagram
Award season is in full swing, an exciting time for enjoyers of all things entertainment. The 66th Annual Grammy Awards were held on Sunday, February 4th, and proved to be an important night in the music world.
Of all discourse surrounding the award show, one of the most prevalent topics has been the role that women have played in making the Grammys what it was. As stated by host Trevor Noah in his opening monologue, women artists were all over the list of nominees for the night, even covering seven of eight nominees for Album Of The Year.
Throughout the day, the major successes of women started during the Premiere Ceremony, in which awards for non-major categories get presented. The Grammys introduced a brand new category this year, Best African Music Performance. This award was presented to Tyla, a young South African up and coming artist, for her song “Water”. “‘What the heck?!’ she declared once on stage. ‘This is crazy, I never thought I’d say I won a GRAMMY at 22 years old,’” the Grammys website states.
During the official Grammys ceremony, the wins for women certainly didn’t end. Taylor Swift won the award for Best Pop Vocal Album for Midnights, which happened to be Swift’s thirteenth Grammy award. During her acceptance speech, Swift announced her new studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, which is set to release on April 19th.
Swift later in the night went on to win Album Of The Year, also for Midnights, making her the first musician to have won four Album Of The Year awards.
Along with a performance of “What Was I Made For,” Billie Eilish’s contribution to the “Barbie” soundtrack, Eilish won the award for Song Of The Year for the track. While accepting the award with her brother and music partner, Finneas O’Connell, Eilish heavily contests her win, pointing out the seemingly stacked category. “I’m shocked,” Eilish states during her speech.
During the ceremony, SZAaccepts the award for Best R&B song for “Snooze” off of her album SOS, also nominated for Album Of The Year. She is seen with her phone in her hand while accepting her award, having only just changed from her performance of “Kill Bill” earlier in the night.
SZA tells People Magazine “It’s the culmination of everything. Of the moments leading up to that, even Lizzo and not realizing what was happening and being lost. Then I saw her and I was like, ‘Oh.’ I was realizing what was happening,” in reference to Lizzo, a long time friend of hers, presenting her award.
Victoria Monét wins the award for Best New Artist at the award ceremony. “My roots have been growing underneath ground, unseen, for so long, and I feel like today I’m sprouting, finally above ground,” Monét states in her emotional acceptance speech.
The Grammys also proved to be a big night for supergroup Boygenius, (pictured Phoebe Bridgers from left, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker) as they won three awards in Award season is in full swing, an exciting time for enjoyers of all things entertainment. The 66th Annual Grammy Awards were held on Sunday, February 4th, and proved to be an important night in the music world.
Of all discourse surrounding the award show, one of the most prevalent topics has been the role that women have played in making the Grammys what it was. As stated by host Trevor Noah in his opening monologue, women artists were all over the list of nominees for the night, even covering seven of eight nominees for Album Of The Year.
Throughout the day, the major successes of women started during the Premiere Ceremony, in which awards for non-major categories get presented. The Grammys introduced a brand new category this year, Best African Music Performance. This award was presented to Tyla, a young South African up and coming artist, for her song “Water”. “‘What the heck?!’ she declared once on stage. ‘This is crazy, I never thought I’d say I won a GRAMMY at 22 years old,’” the Grammys website states.
During the official Grammys ceremony, the wins for women certainly didn’t end. Taylor Swift won the award for Best Pop Vocal Album for Midnights, which happened to be Swift’s thirteenth Grammy award. During her acceptance speech, Swift announced her new studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, which is set to release on April 19th.
Swift later in the night went on to win Album Of The Year, also for Midnights, making her the first musician to have won four Album Of The Year awards.
Along with a performance of “What Was I Made For,” Billie Eilish’s contribution to the “Barbie” soundtrack, Eilish won the award for Song Of The Year for the track. While accepting the award with her brother and music partner, Finneas O’Connell, Eilish heavily contests her win, pointing out the seemingly stacked category. “I’m shocked,” Eilish states during her speech.
During the ceremony, SZA (pictured) accepts the award for Best R&B song for “Snooze” off of her album SOS, also nominated for Album Of The Year. She is seen with her phone in her hand while accepting her award, having only just changed from her performance of “Kill Bill” earlier in the night.
SZA tells People Magazine “It’s the culmination of everything. Of the moments leading up to that, even Lizzo and not realizing what was happening and being lost. Then I saw her and I was like, ‘Oh.’ I was realizing what was happening,” in reference to Lizzo, a long time friend of hers, presenting her award.
Victoria Monét wins the award for Best New Artist at the award ceremony. “My roots have been growing underneath ground, unseen, for so long, and I feel like today I’m sprouting, finally above ground,” Monét states in her emotional acceptance speech.
The Grammys also proved to be a big night for supergroup Boygenius, comprised of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus, as they won three awards in the rock and alternative music categories. “Music saved my life. Everyone can be in a band, this band is my family,” Baker emotionally says during the group’s acceptance speech for Best Rock Performance for “Not Strong Enough.”
Having won the award for Best Pop Duo/Group performance earlier in the day with her SZA collaboration, “Ghost In The Machine,” Bridgers became the person to walk away with the most Grammy awards of the night.
Later in the evening, Boygenius was asked about their perspectives on women in rock music. Bridgers uses this time to publicly denounce former Grammy CEO Neil Portnow and his previous statements regarding women winning Grammy awards. According to Associated Press, Portnow is currently being sued for sexual harassment charges. “To him I’d like to say, I know you’re not dead yet, but when you are, rot in piss,” Bridgers states.
rock and alternative music categories. “Music saved my life. Everyone can be in a band, this band is my family,” Baker emotionally says during the group’s acceptance speech for Best Rock Performance for “Not Strong Enough.”
Having won the award for Best Pop Duo/Group performance earlier in the day with her SZA collaboration, “Ghost In The Machine,” Bridgers became the person to walk away with the most Grammy awards of the night.
Later in the evening, Boygenius was asked about their perspectives on women in rock music. Bridgers uses this time to publicly denounce former Grammy CEO Neil Portnow and his previous statements regarding women winning Grammy awards. According to Associated Press, Portnow is currently being sued for sexual harassment charges. “To him I’d like to say, I know you’re not dead yet, but when you are, rot in piss,” Bridgers states.
Student success is dependent on many factors, with the most obvious being the effort of the student and the resources given to them. Some of these factors can be less obvious and completely individual to the student.
The University of Maryland Global Campus cites music’s fundamental benefits towards the academic success and mental well being of college students.
“One study found that people who listen to music in either a casual or focused way had higher scores for mental wellbeing and reduced levels of anxiety,” UMGC says.
Students at NECC have shared their personal ties to music, and how it contributes to their academic and personal enjoyment.
Darianna Sanchez is a 19 year old business major, as well as a first year student at NECC. When asked, Sanchez was quick to refer to herself as a “music enjoyer,” consuming music most often through Apple Music. Sanchez states that she listens to music “most often either when (she’s) doing homework or when (she’s) in the car driving.”
Sanchez isn’t the only NECC student that cites music as a means for academic success. Shademah Robinson, an 18-year-old student at NECC, also listens to music as she’s at home doing work.
She uses Spotify or SoundCloud to consume the music she enjoys. Additionally, Robinson listens to music “at school, and sometimes at work,” to help her with productivity.
Music can have an impact on students beyond educational achievement. Sanchez states that she enjoys R&B music because she “loves the way that they sing on those songs,” in addition to hip hop. She cites her favorite artists as Drake, Sza, Bryson Tiller and Brent Faiyaz.
Robinson shares an admiration forR&B, with an additional interest in rap. She also listens to Drake and Sza, but enjoys music from Kehlani, Jhené Aiko, Bad Bunny. Robinson lists her favorite songs as “Pipe Down” by Drake and “MONACO” by Bad Bunny.
When asked what she likes about these songs, she states that “when (she’s) going through a rough situation, songs like that can lift (her) mood and get (her) out of that negative headspace,” she states.
For Sanchez, music can convey powerful emotions and recover important memories. Her favorite song is “No Crezcas Más” by Tercer Cielo. The song reminds her of her step dad who passed away a few years ago. “Whenever I think about him, I go back to my quinceñera videos, and this is the song we used for our father-daughter dance,”she says. Sanchez’s stepdad had dedicated the song to her.
Sanchez relates to the overall messaging of the song, as it discusses the difficulties fathers go through when they see their daughters get older. “I feel like girls go through a lot when they grow up,”
Sanchez shares when discussing the song’s meaning to her. The song starts with the lyrics “Y pensar que te cargaba en mis brazos, el día de ayer/ Tan rápido ya quince años, no puede ser,” which, in English, translates to “And to think I was carrying you in my arms yesterday/ So quickly and already fifteen years old, it cannot be.”
“The power of music” is a phrase that sparks introspection from NECC students. “I feel like music can be used for anything,” says Sanchez when asked about this phrase.
“I personally use music to communicate with others.”
Sanchez also touches on music’s relatability, as well as her general enjoyment when listening to it. She is quick to refer to music as “fun.”
When asked the same question, Robinson has to take a second to think on music’s impact. In a general sense, she describes music as “a mood lifter” within her life.
“Music is a way of connecting people,” she states. “It makes me feel better.”
Robinson also acknowledges the way music can spark conversation between individuals. “You can talk to people about music and songs can have a lot ofstories to them.”
Have you ever felt like you were put on earth for one very specific reason? For 24-year old Zyel Silva, according to his blurb on the Chinatti Realty website, this reason is “to improve the quality of the lives of those around (him).” Silva is an up and coming real estate agent based in Haverhill, Massachusetts. His charming personality and bright attitude have aided Silva in being able to sell many houses in his short time as an agent so far. He started when he was only 21, a fact that is difficult to pick up on considering his passion and dedication when discussing his profession.
When Silva is asked about what first made him think about pursuing real estate, he looks up, mind likely clouded with nostalgia from his younger years. “I saw what my dad was doing in the industry, fixing up houses and flipping them,” he says. He then shares that he knew he didn’t exactly want to follow in his father’s footsteps, believing that being an agent might be a more fitting role for him.
Silva’s first steps into the world of real estate were on what he calls “Youtube University.”
He was able to gather information and hone in on what he specifically wanted to accomplish in the field. He is quick to cite both Ryan Serhant and Grant Cardone as inspirations in real estate. Silva specifically touches on Cardone, a “huge real estate tycoon,” and his interesting outlook on real estate, and how “he just made everything seem so possible.”
After properly researching real estate, Silva took a 40 hour real estate class, quickly followed by the two tests required for one to get a real estate license. He made it a point to deeply look into different brokerages before picking the one that he felt was best suited for him.
Silva has a deep admiration for his profession, but is able to admit the challenges that go into what he does. He smiles when asked about potential struggles when it comes to real estate, knowing that it could be a loaded question. He simply states that “this business isn’t for everybody.” Buying or selling a house can prove to be an emotional process, whether through memories or sentimental home items. “You have to be educated on how to find creative solutions,” he said.
Silva describes that he at times feels attached to his phone, never wanting to miss calls that could come at seemingly any time, including over the weekend and later in the day. “I’m dealing with some of these people’s largest purchases of their entire lives, and that carries a lot of weight.”
Silva graciously discusses some of his proudest moments from his time in real estate so far. He highlights how he has been able to learn more, and to show love for his community. His profession often bleeds into his personal interests in this way, attending summer festivals, car shows, and other exciting events in his area.
“The biggest accomplishment for me has been the ability to grow within myself,” he says.
He acknowledges certain changes that he has made in not only his conversational skills and convictions, but also his general demeanor. “I used to not watch what I said,” he says when asked to expand on his old behaviors. Through real estate, he has learned that the words you say can affect everything, in business as well as everyday life.
Silva has also been able to share his passion with people that could be greatly affected by what he has to say. “I’ve had the opportunity to go on the radio, as well as to speak at schools.”
Silva is quick to point out the fact that many of his successes have been made possible with mentors within real estate that he’s had. He talks about Jason Posnick, his sales manager, and how he taught Silva about “asking the right questions to uncover motivation.” Max Inouye is also brought up by Silva in the discussion of mentors.
Inouye is a friend of Silva’s, as well as what he would describe as a “master salesman.” Silva praises Inouye’s ability to “keep things simple”, and also admires that he’s “put (him) in the hot seat a few times.”
Silva’s parents have proven to be ultimately supportive of his endeavors in recent years. “I was excited for him, he’s got the personality for it,” his mother and NECC alum Maria Silva says. “He was telling me about a deal today, it was great!”
Peter Silva, Silva’s father, has not only gone to some of his open houses but has also “lent him contractors as well as installed smoke directors.”
Silva’s best advice for anyone thinking of pursuing real estate is to “just shadow!” He acknowledges the way in which someone can learn by shadowing, as there are many professions and intricacies within real estate.
Anyone can keep up with Silva from his social media, where he posts not only real estate content, but also food and lifestyle within his community. His instagram is @cantmatchzyel.
Editor’s Note: After learning about profile writing in Journalism I class, Observer Campus Life Editor Demiya Silva was inspired to write this portrait of her brother.
A bulletin board on Haverhill Campus highlights a wide variety of activities on campus. Photo by Campus Life Editor Demiya Silva
Northern Essex Community College has shown to have a continued interest in engaging its students in all aspects of being an NECC Knight. This is true whether through the college’s various clubs and organizations, honor societies, civic engagement, as well as many other opportunities the campus provides.
The NECC website encourages students to “try new things and connect with people from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds.”
“There are clubs to join, events to attend,” says the website’s “Clubs & Organizations” page.
NECC students, even if not personally engaged in campus life, are aware of the seemingly infinite opportunities for students.
Roy Francis, a 19 year old biology major in his first semester at NECC, is no exception to this idea. “Typically I get a text on my phone since I signed up for alerts,” Francis says when asked how he usually receives information about events or clubs on campus. He also states that he “see(s) (opportunities) in (his) email.”
Jalayne Medina, an 18 year old first-year student and psychology major, shares similar sentiments to Francis in that she sees things regarding campus life “on (her) email.”
A bulletin board on the Haverhill campus highlights the importance of voting. Photo by Campus Life Editor Demiya Silva
NECC has various bulletin boards posted around all buildings on campus. These boards contain not only clubs and events, but also important resources in many fields. Specifically, there are boards about being an informed voter, as well as being registered.
“I usually see the awareness months (on the bulletin boards), like how October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month,” Francis says.
Medina also shares that she has seen posters for this month of awareness, much like Francis. Francis also explains how he has found information about the conflict in Palestine and Gaza on bulletin boards. This has helped him to be more informed on this conflict.
Feelings on if there are possibly better ways for students to receive information have shown to be mixed. Francis answers “yes and no” to this question. Medina says that she “think(s) it’s good the way it is,” when asked the same question.
Francis brings up how he once saw someone with a table in the Spurk building. This person was talking about being registered to vote. “If someone was talking about (events on campus), people would be more inclined to want to know,” Francis says. He believes that seeing “the face” of certain events could help to visualize what being a part of the event could be like for a student.
Pride and representation for the LGBTQ+ community has become an increasingly important issue in our country. There are many laws currently being proposed nationwide that put members of the community at serious risk.
At Northern Essex Community College, the GSA, or Gender and Sexuality Alliance, according to the “Clubs & Organizations’’ page on the NECC website, “provides an environment for students inside and outside of the LGBTAI+ community to be comfortable in their identity, have insightful conversations, and find peace in a truly accepting community.”
Cheryl Wilson, a disability services specialist at NECC’s Center for Accessibility, is currently in her second year of being the adviser of the GSA.
“It’s an important club that couldn’t not happen,” Wilson said.
Wilson acknowledges the many LGBTQ+ students at Northern Essex, hoping they will be able to find the club.
When asked if she feels the community is well represented on campus, Wilson shares that “the heart is in the right place.”
Wilson has concerns regarding the current social climate right now, saying “it’s extremely important that everyone feels safe here.”
Wilson is not the only person that emphasizes the importance of a club like the GSA on campus.
Colby Patrie is an art and psychology major at NECC, as well as a longtime member of the GSA.
“It’s just something I always did,” Patrie says when asked what inspired him to join the club.
He further shares that he had a part in creating the GSA at his high school.
To Patrie, the importance of pride in a college setting is in the ability to feel safe within one’s surroundings, as well as “talking about (pride) as if it’s a normal conversation, because it is.”
To Dakota Iversen, a liberal arts and psychology major, as well as a longtime member of the GSA, “coming to college and being able to see that you’re welcomed here makes college a far more pleasant experience.”
Iversen talks openly about the safe space that the GSA created for her, stating that “last year (she) was still in the closet entirely.”
This experience slightly parallels that of business transfer major Lirianni German, a new member of the club, who “decided to join GSA to at least try to find people that (she’s) kind of like.”
“It taught me to be proud of what I am, and not to change,” German says when asked about the impact that GSA has had on her over such a short period of time.
Allyship, as defined by Center for Creative Leadership, is “actions, behaviors, and practices that leaders take to support, amplify, and advocate with others, most especially with individuals who don’t belong to the same social identities as themselves.”
The question “What can people who are not part of the communities do now to be better allies?” was met with varying reactions, including a “what a doozy,” from Iversen.
“Learn from (LGBTQ+ people’s) experiences,” she expands.
“Allyship is in actions and taking steps to educate yourself, being aware of rights and laws that are currently going on,” says Patrie, who also promotes the use of more inclusive language when discussing trying topics in the community.
Wilson speaks on the importance of supportive faculty and staff, saying that she “would love to see safe space stickers around campus and in classrooms, but only if they’re actually a safe space.” Wilson recognizes the fact that it would be harmful for non-inclusive spaces to have stickers that promote a positive environment.
GSA is doing more than just discussing the importance of their club.
They had a widely successful table at the U-Knighted Fair at NECC’s Haverhill campus, during which they gave away various pins, stickers and resources for useful and educational information.
They have also been discussing opportunities for different events that the club could host, including possible performances from queer artists at NECC.
The GSA meets on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. in C210.
For more information about the club contact Faculty Adviser Cheryl Wilson, cwilson@necc.mass.edu.
