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College community gathers for fair

The photo is a wide shot of NECC students on the Haverhill campus outside looking at club tables and getting information.
Students could look at different available clubs at the campus life fair.

The College Life and Campus Services fair was a sea of blue, yellow and white

The event, hosted by NECC’s Student Engagement Center on Sept. 10, aims to help students learn about the various services, activities and clubs at NECC. It was very well attended.

The fair helps students get accustomed with their new college and do their best in the new environment. “Data says if students are connected to their college they are more likely to succeed,” said Dina Brown the Director of Student Engagement.

Students can speak with representatives from clubs, organizations or services they may be interested in, and receive more information. While visiting at the different tables the students even receive freebies from the advisors at the tables.

The Tutoring Center had their entire schedule posted at their table, with all the dates and times for certain programs they can help with. Selena Torres, a criminal psychology major, was happy to find this table. “It’s great to know when they are available ahead of time so I can work it into my schedule,” said Torres.

Jasmine Polanco, a liberal arts major, was working the Presidential Student Ambassador table. She said, “It is so much fun teaching all the new students about all the fun that can be had at Northern Essex, the students are finding it very helpful, they like how interactive it is with all the clubs.”

One of the popular tables had students pose for a picture, which was put on a cereal box. 

Students could be the fourth member of Snap, Crackle and Pop from Rice Krispies.

“People love the cereal box photos and the air brush pennants, the staff making them work very quickly and are very creative with what they are doing, and everyone is laughing and enjoying the final product,” said Donna Passemato, an exercise science major.

Duane Sherman, a creative writing major, is new to the school this semester. It was the first event he attended at NECC as a new student and was very happy to see everything that NECC has to offer. “It’s a great way to get acquainted with a new campus.” Sherman had not yet signed up for any clubs but was still looking around and receiving all the information and freebies the clubs and organizations were giving away.

Robert Ewusi, an accounting major, has volunteered at the fair for the past three years and really enjoys helping out the students. Ewusi said he expects that is going to help a lot of great things happen for students.

Some additional information students could receive at the fair were internships now offered at NECC, Top Notch Players, The Gay Straight Alliance, jobs at UPS and more. 

While visiting all the representatives students could also collect stickers for a bingo board and when it was filled enter in a drawing for a special prize. There also were hamburgers and hotdogs from “Dina’s BBQ” and free slush.

“I collected all the stickers and got to enter the drawing” said, Joshephine Sebagisha a biology major. Students seemed to have a lot of fun collecting the stickers. “My friend and I kept comparing to see who was going to fill their card first,’ said Sebagisha.

 

CoOL is cool

Council members of CoOL sit around a table and deliberate.
The CoOL council met on Sept. 17 to discuss the upcoming semester. | NECC Observer

College isn’t just for young adults anymore. NECC has a volunteer organization known as the College of Older Learners, or CoOL, for people 50 or older who want to remain intellectually active.

“I was teaching at the college, and I did a sabbatical on lifelong learning and came up with this model with my cohort Peter Spellman who also helped me start it,” said George Medelinskas, co-founder of CoOL and former NECC teacher.

CoOL was founded in Feb. 2011 and has so far offered 85 different seminars. Seminars are $30 each, and they run for two hours a class for six weeks. The seminars run during both fall and spring semesters.

Teachers of seminars are paid a $10 stipend, and the rest of the money generated goes to NECC.

“It’s a volunteer organization,” said CoOL council chair Nancy Clark, “there’s a lot of work and time that goes into it, but it’s great that the college gives us the space and time.”

“The goal was to get people to stretch,” said Medelinskas. “By that I mean if you’re not good in science, maybe take a climate change course. “If you’re really shy, take the senior theater course.”

“School isn’t just for younger people,” said Clark. “Or middle aged people. It’s for older people.”

To register for a seminar, go to http://www.necc.mass.edu/community-engagement/cool/registration/.

Contact coolnecc@gmail.com with any questions.

Students’ comics on exhibit

The Haverhill Public Library is currently hosting an art exhibit featuring original graphic novels created by NECC students. The work was produced during the spring 2014 semester class entitled “Art and Literature of the Graphic Novel,” a learning community course co-taught by professors Ginger Hurajt and Marc Mannheimer.
In this project, students wrote and illustrated short graphic stories, which were then compiled into the first volume of “Tales From the Valley.” This 44 page book is a collection of 21 of these stories and was produced and published on the Haverhill campus.
“The hardest part was learning to transfer what you’ve written into a picture that still tells the same story,” said Benjamin Pintor. He has been doodling illustrations for as long as he can remember, though he previously had little experience with writing his own story for which to provide the illustration.
Pintor is currently majoring in general studies with a focus on art and industrial design. He enjoyed the project and plans to pursue a career that allows him to use his artistic talent.
Also featured is Dylan McDougall, an art major who was inspired at a very young age by a brother who was always drawing. As well as a love for drawing, McDougall found poetry to be an invaluable outlet when experiencing difficult times throughout his life.
McDougall is currently preparing to launch his own original clothing line called “Smile Just Because,” which will feature designs transferred to t-shirts and hats, for starters. While he is not clear about exactly what his long term career plans are, he said “my biggest goal is to change the world.”
Currently a liberal arts major, Yosmarlin Infante didn’t realize she could draw until she took a high school art class at the age of 14. As she improved, she began to look for ways to incorporate her love of drawing and her love of film.
Her favorite part of the class is that she finally learned how drawing can be connected to her career plans. “As an aspiring film producer, I can use my own storyboards to pitch my own ideas.” she said. Infante plans to transfer to the film program at Fitchburg State College after graduation.
A reception was held on Sept. 11, 5 to 7 p.m. in the library’s Johnson Auditorium, allowing visitors to purchase the book and meet the artists and view the storyboards they created. Artwork will remain on display along the second floor gallery at the Haverhill Public Library until Sept. 30.
To purchase a book for $5, or for more information, contact Marc Mannheimer at mmannheimer@necc.mass.edu.

Women’s sports teams struggle with membership

Whether playing or watching, sports are a great way to come together over a common goal: to beat the opposing team.
Unfortunately, some of the sports at NECC have had trouble filling their rosters. Volleyball may not even be able to put a competitive team out there this year. Students’ schedules are full, their resources are limited, and for any number of reasons not every team can draw enough student athletes to the court.
At NECC, the women’s teams — which include softball, volleyball, basketball and track and field — have had trouble drawing interest.
“It’s kind of sad to see the potential talent walking all around the campus,” said Sue MacAvoy, the NECC athletic director. “If people are interested, they need to come by.”
Many students may think that joining a team is going to impact them academically. MacAvoy says this just isn’t true, pointing out that, often, teams come together to study as a group. They do this to build camaraderie and also for academic support.
The Athletic Department also works with the college to put on different workshops for student-athletes throughout the year, to help with time management and studying. MacAvoy also points out that she has all the lists of the various tutors on campus, and she is quick to point any student in the right direction the minute they feel they are having academic issues.
Transportation is another big issue among all college students, not just student athletes. Potential athletes may feel like they not be able to make it to every practice and/or game due to lack of transportation. MacAvoy says that the NECC shuttle service operates throughout both cities and travels to both campuses. It also runs into the evening, meaning athletes will still be able to get home from practice. The NECC shuttle is free for anyone with a valid NECC ID.
The main issue, according to MacAvoy, is that many athletes coming from Division 1 high school athletics in the area are burnt out. They don’t want to play sports anymore.
It’s common in highly competitive high school sports for student athletes to lose the drive to compete after graduating. MacAvoy goes on to detail how she’s spoken with many athletes who simply say they played too much between high school, AAU teams, and travel teams. The sports they played took up all their free time, and they just didn’t want to do it anymore.
There are many obstacles to building teams, but things are already beginning to turn around. The creation of the softball team shows that there are a growing number of women who want to compete, and after a one-year hiatus, the women’s basketball team appears on track to come out and compete right away. This doesn’t mean the battle is over by any means, but it’s a start. MacAvoy isn’t stopping anytime soon, constantly recruiting and spreading the word about college athletics.
When asked how she appeals to potential student-athletes, MacAvoy said, “Just like the classes are different from high school, and the school is different, so are the sports here at Northern Essex.”
The softball team plans to begin practice for their fall scrimmage season this week. The basketball team still has a tentative schedule for the time being. This doesn’t mean that students shouldn’t come try out, though. MacAvoy and all the coaches urge anyone interested in playing to contact the athletic office as soon as possible, or stop by practice any time. The Athletic Department is located in the Sport and Fitness Center on the Haverhill campus.

Student senate seats now open

Student senate is currently looking for more members. There are five available seats in the senate. Nomination petitions for eligibility must be turned in by Sept. 19. Contact Dina Brown at dbrown@necc.mass.edu for more information.

Student Senate meetings are held every weds. from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in room A112 on Haverhill campus in the library and room L244 in Lawrence. The meetings are united through a video conference.

Top Notch Players post cast list for fall production of front

Congratulations to the cast of “Front!”

Judith Gently – Hannah Heckman-McKenna
Frank Gently – John Rodgers
Angie Gently – Katie Formosi
Tom Gently – John Gray
Joan – Kiara Pichardo
Brian & Flag Soldier + – Gabby Cordero
Alister + – Benigno Agusto
J.C. Smuts – Rob Mantegani
Mr. Mann – Christian Doyle
Mrs. Briggs – Ally Catanzaro
Mr. Briggs – Conor Miller
Mrs. Hilyard + – Kelly Schwing
Viv + – Patricia Ramirez
Sir Charles & Frakker – Michael Ross
Lucy & Mrs. Kyme – Rossibel Kurz
Aussie Soldier – Paul Kelly
Angie’s Soldier – Trevon Gilcrist
Nellie + – Ari Crawford
Mira + – Sarah Bird
Sheila + – Stephanie Bisono
Bela – Luisa Jimenez

Opinion: #internetslowdown

Sept. 10 was the #internetslowdown when many websites shared their opinion on the net neutrality decision that will be made my Tom Wheeler and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Sept. 15.

Net neutrality is the assurance that the internet remains free without effecting loading speeds. Internet service providers, or ISPs, should not be allowed to block or limit websites of their choosing.

Some corporate owned sites like Netflix are against the loss of net neutrality because they would have to pay money to have loading speeds suitable to the needs of their sites. Netflix prices would likely go up if net neutrality were threatened because Netflix is a streaming site that relies on fast loading speeds. They may have to pay extra money to get the speeds they want from ISPs.

The #internetslowdown movement sent the message that many sites do not want to pay “protection money” for faster speeds and that the internet should remain open to all.

If net neutrality is effected or eliminated, some sites may be slowed down to the point where they are unusable or blocked altogether. Students may not be able to access the sites they can normally access.

 

Donation run Keurig brewer

A Keurig brewer and several varieties of coffee and tea are shown
The Sport and Fitness Center on Haverhill campus now has a donation run Keurig brewer. Photo by Faith Gregory

The Sport and Fitness Center on Haverhill campus now has a Keurig brewer that provides free coffee, tea or hot chocolate to students.The brewer is located in the front lobby and accepts donations to keep it running.

A snack bar is also available to students in the Sport and Fitness Center.

There are no hours posted saying when the snack bar is open, and the Keurig brewer was not in the Sport and Fitness Center when the snack bar was closed.

It is currently unknown who is sponsoring the donation-run Keurig machine.

Upcoming NECC varsity meetings and tryouts

Following are the upcoming NECC varsity meetings and tryouts available to all enrolled NECC students.

Volleyball: currently running practices Mon. through Fri. from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Stop by practice on the Haverhill campus by the Sport and Fitness Center if interested

Baseball: tryouts are Saturday, Sept. 6 at 9 a.m. on the baseball field on Haverhill campus

Softball: meeting on Monday, Sept. 8 at 3 p.m. in the lobby of the Sport and Fitness Center on Haverhill campus

Men’s basketball: meeting on Monday, Sept. 8 at 4 p.m. in D129 (Sport and Fitness Center) on Haverhill campus

Women’s basketball: meeting on Monday, Sept. 15 at noon in D129 (Sport and Fitness Center) on Haverhill campus

Track & field: Meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 5 p.m. in the lobby of the Sport and Fitness Center on Haverhill Campus