All posts by Jasmine Sanchez, Correspondent

Arts and Entertainment

Online entertainment keeps things positive

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After the world was affected by the great pandemic known as the Coronavirus (COVID-19), celebrities and other influencers have taken to the World Wide Web in order to keep the public positive during a time so rough.

Celebrities including artists Keith Urban and John Legend, actress Jennifer Garner and former First Lady Michelle Obama have taken use of the internet for good. From reading books, to live (via social media) free concerts, these celebrities have created just a little more positivity, just when the world needs it. John Krasinski, an actor from NBC’s, The Office, created a YouTube series titled, “Some Good News”.

He uses this platform to share strictly good news given the negativity surrounding our minds during this scary pandemic. He recently hosted, and invited celebrities to co-host virtually alongside him. The list of co-hosts included artists Billie Eilish, the Jonas Brothers, and Chance the Rapper, in an effort to make up for the loss of the prom for the graduating class of 2020.

Anna Forte, a graduate of Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School class of 2016 says, “I can’t imagine not having a prom. It’s something you just always assume is going to happen before you leave high school. You kind of take it for granted.” She continues, “I can’t imagine not having a ‘normal’ senior year of high school.  Unfortunately, a virtual prom is the best that a lot of seniors are going to get given the situation right now. It’s awesome that someone as big as John Krasinski is giving them that opportunity.”

Josh Gad, known for his voice of the fun-loving snowman, Olaf, from the Disney Frozen movie, took to Twitter to read books to audiences around the world. Gad stated in his live Twitter video, “So, since we’re all stuck at home right now, I figured we would have a little fun together.”

Campus Life

Speech-A-Palooza: The show must go on

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In light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, Northern Essex Community College’s Principles of Public Relations class has concluded that the sixth annual public speaking event, Speech-A-Palooza, will be held completely virtually over three days from April 22 through April 24 on social media platforms including Facebook and YouTube.
The Principles of Public Relations class had been working from the beginning of the 2020 spring semester to plan Speech-A-Palooza which has taken place on the Haverhill Campus for the past five years.
However, due to the recent actions put in place involving social distancing and the college’s closing in cooperation with social distancing, it left the class wondering if the event would still go on.
Professor David Rattigan, proposed to the class that they continue on with the event strictly online and use it as a learning opportunity. The class, not wanting to have put in all this work in vain, ate up the idea and are making arrangements to host the first ever online Speech-A-Palooza. 
Over multiple Zoom meetings, a video chat platform where all NECC classes are being held, the class has taken the opportunity to make the event a success. 
Event production member, Evan O’Connell said, “To be honest, Speech-A-Palooza might benefit from moving from in-person on campus to an online forum.  We are no longer focused on getting people in the door but instead now focused on getting people to watch the videos online.”  
O’Connell’s job includes reaching out to the media, like radio stations, TV stations, and newspapers, in an effort to get coverage of the event. “There has been significant coverage in the media about how colleges and students are adapting to virtual learning due to COVID-19.
We can use our experiences to leverage additional coverage for Speech-A-Palooza,” O’Connell continued.
Andrew Venditti, member of the Executive Committee of the event, had been in contact with the charity on the campus before the event was moved online. After the transition, Venditti continued to work with them and was introduced to the Emergency Fund that the college has set up.
The fund will cover laptop and/or internet access for online learning, tuition assistance and stipends (should students now be food insecure because of lost wages) and other needs that have come up because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 “We thought that Speech-A-Palooza would be a good opportunity and platform to spread awareness of NECC’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund,” Venditti said.
The event will continue to be put together solely by the students, and videos that are uploaded will be linked on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.