All posts by Observer Staff

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Students share opinions on vaccine mandate

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Massachusetts Community Colleges have issued a statement saying students, faculty and staff will be required to be fully vaccinated by January 2022.

Students who don’t have the required documents for proof of their vaccination will still have the option to register for Spring Semester 2020 online.

The aim of this requirement is to “ensure] the safest learning and working environment possible for the more than 135,000 students we educate and train each year as well as our staff and faculty,” said the college presidents in a statement.

NECC students still have their own opinions in regards to the requirements.

“We live in a society where freedom is the goal and we don’t have as much freedom as they say we have. I think somethingl ike the vaccine should be our own choice like the flu shot,” said current criminal justice student Licinia Russo.

When crossing paths with other students such as Dahryl Ramirez and Lauren Fitzgerald on campus they have said that it’s a necessary action that could possibly change the campus in a positive way.

Granted that students have mixed opinions about the mandate, the question lingers in the air: will there be a rise in students’ appearance in class?

Russo, who is not vaccinated, said “People don’t want their world to stop… I have to do what I have to do to get my education. When the time comes will I do it, yes.”

Fitzgerald opened up about having her life stop when she had covid in November.

She said that she understands after her experience with covid and can see how the goal of the requirement is “to unite the campus again.”

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Dean tells Board of Trustees about efforts to revitalize music and theater

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The Northern Essex Board of Trustees met on Oct. 6 and heard a presentation given by Dean of Liberal Arts Amy
Callahan about how the college is trying to revitalize their music and arts program.

In recent years, the arts programs at NECC have been dwindling with the music program suffering
and the theater program degree closing four years ago.

However, as Callahan told the board, there has been a resurgence of both programs recently.

According to the presentation, enrollment in the music program at NECC has doubled in the last two years. Furthermore, despite there not being a full major for theater at NECC anymore, in February of 2020, NECC students won a number of
awards for their accomplishments in theater.

Plans are also underway to create a theater focus with a liberal arts degree in the future.

Later on in the meeting, a presentation was given about the SOAR program at NECC.

SOAR, which stands for Seize Opportunity Aspire to Rise, aims to lower failures in courses, raise GPAs and aid with assignment completion for minority students with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.9 and a minimum of 6 credits a semester.

Faculty and staff at NECC were also present at the board meeting to observe.

When asked about her objective with the board of trustees, Professor Sheila Muller said, “My goal for
the board every semester is to advocate for the college in their own circles and in the state.”

Later on in the meeting, the new budget for the 2022 year was unanimously approved by the board.

The president of NECC, Lane Glenn, gave a final report at the end of the meeting.

He said he is aiming for a 75% course completion rate at the end of the semester.

Home Page News Bytes, Sports

Expectations are high for the upcoming baseball season

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During the 2021 fall season NECC Baseball team is playing exhibition games. They practice a lot in the field and work out in the gym. They are doing everything that they can to be prepared for the spring. The NECC Knights is a Division Three team. They won the region championship eight times in school history, including seven straight times from 2012-2018. They also won their first ever district championship in 2018.

Coach Jeffrey "Jeff" Mejia
Coach Jeffrey “Jeff” Mejia Photo courtesy of neccknights.com

Jeffrey “Jeff”  Mejia is the NECC Baseball head coach and since he came in 2013, they were New England Region Champion six times, District champions five times, including five NJCAA World Series appearance. They were NJCAA World Series national runner up in 2016. In 2015 it was Mejia’s best season going 28-4. For this season coming up coach Mejia said he has “very high expectations.”

“We got a very talented team off to a great start this fall, arguably the most talented team we’ve had in a number of years. We (have) very high expectations, the goal is to win a national championship,” he said.

Coach Mejia and his staff are ready to bring back the trophy back to NECC for the first time since 2018.

Photo of Jared Coppola
Jared Coppola Photo courtesy of neccknights.com

Jared Coppola of Lynn is an infielder, a third baseman for the NECC Knights. Last season in 33 games he batted .361 with 17 RBI and a home run. This season they will play a full schedule and they’re doing everything they can as a team to prepare for the season.

“ I definitely think we have a few kids in this team that can be potential draft picks as long as we do the right things in school in the weight room and we come to practice with the mentality to get better every single day,” he said.

Coppola and his teammates looking at the future a dream to become reality that they been dreaming for a long time that is to get drafted to play pro.

Photo of Clay Campbell
Clay Campbell Photo courtesy of neccknights.com

Clay Campbell of Goffstown, N.H., is an infielder, a shortstop for the NECC Knights. Last season in 34 games he batted .371 with one home run and 30 RBI. He also can run as he has speed in the bases in 22 opportunities to steal, he got caught three times with 19 stolen bases.

He mentioned that time management is a big key to being a student athlete.

“Especially with online classes I specifically took online classes so it will be easier to be able to do my other responsibilities as well as baseball so it’s really just sticking to your time schedule and getting the work done when you can,” he said.

Todd Tringale
Todd Tringale Photo courtesy of neccknights.com

Todd Tringale of Saugus is a starting right-handed pitcher for the NECC Knights. Last season in 12 games he made 10 appearances with a four and one record on 50 innings pitch he strikeout 78 with giving up one home run and a 2.16 ERA.

We all know what happened last year with coronavirus and it was difficult for teams  to adjust.

“Practice last year in the fall season it was tough …. The game schedule was really hectic it was little off than the other years, I mean we were piling as many games as we possibly could and you know obviously I mean with the mask mandate it was different back then and going through all of that it was though,” he said.

Look out for the NECC Knight’s baseball team. This team is very talented, very resilient and they don’t give up.

After conducting an interview with them I have no doubt in my mind that they are going far this season into the post season and possibly winning a championship.

We all know that Coach Mejia has been coaching the baseball team since 2013 and the fact that he mentions that this team is the most talented team in a number of years really stands out.

It means a lot not just for the school but for the community as well. It shows how they are a great team and how they work together as a whole and I don’t have any doubt in my mind that they could possibly end up winning a championship. That’s how good they are going to be. This team is going to be exciting to watch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home Page Featured News

NECC announces new COVID-19 vaccine policy

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COVID-19 vaccine flyer in the Spurk Building at the Haverhill campus. Photo by Isa Grullon

 

On Sept. 20, the 15 community colleges in Massachusetts announced that there will be a vaccine requirement for students, faculty and staff starting in January 2022. Students who are not vaccinated will be able to take online courses. Read the full announcement here: https://www.necc.mass.edu/current-students/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/home/COVID_Statement_from_Presidents-092021.pdf

NECC will hold a two free vaccine clinics this in October. The first clinic will be held in the Dimitry Building lobby on the Lawrence campus on Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. to noon. The second clinic will be held in Haverhill on Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to noon in the D Building lobby.

The Observer is interested in hearing your thoughts about this requirement. Get in touch with us at observer@necc.mass.edu.

For more details and the most up-to-date information on NECC’s COVID-19 response and policies visit: https://www.necc.mass.edu/public-safety/coronavirus-information/

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Staff profile: Pam LaBella – assistive technology specialist at Northern Essex Community College

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Haverhill resident Pam LaBella has always been passionate about helping people throughout her career, and understands the importance of providing support to people so they can succeed in their future endeavors.  

Whether she is helping young students after school with their homework, training career professionals, or helping college students adapt to different types of Assistive Technology, she knows what it takes to help individuals work around their challenges.   

 LaBella, who is originally from Exeter, New Hampshire, started her education at Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill, Mass. She later transferred to Worcester State University in Worcester, Mass. At Worcester State, LaBella studied education, and later graduated with a degree in teaching.  

 After graduating college, LaBella was hired at Lucent Technology (formerly Western Electric) in North Andover, Mass. According to LaBella, employees were required to undergo training sessions based upon their specific job, so they could perform job tasks more effectively. LaBella initially worked in the training department, but was later promoted to training coordinator for a larger department. In this position, LaBella would schedule mandatory training classes the employees were required to attend.  

 In 2002, LaBella was hired by Northern Essex Community College to work in the Center for Accessibility Resources and Services (CARS) Department as an assistive technology specialist, a position that she greatly enjoys.

“There are two things about my position that I enjoy. I love working with students, exposing them to different types of assistive technology software, and explaining how they will benefit from this software. I also like the variety in my position, as I can do many different things outside of Assistive Technology as well.”  She said.

 During this same time, from 2002 to 2013, LaBella worked at Haverhill’s Discovery Program, an after school homework support and enrichment program, which provides academic support to elementary and middle school students.  

 LaBella has also organized and co-hosted multiple accessibility and resource workshops at Northern Essex, including a note taking workshop, and a workshop on using brainstorming software to help students plan and organize their written work.  

 LaBella is also responsible for maintaining several databases that she has created for the Center for Accessibility Resources and Services (CARS) Department. Specifically, LaBella maintains a database that keeps track of the assistive technology devices, as many are loaned out to students. She also uses an alternative textbook database that she created, so that she can track alternative textbook files for students.  

 LaBella further explains that she has had many memorable experiences throughout her career, but one in particular stands out that happened in her current position.

“I recall one experience where I was working with a student to review her Alternative Textbook accommodations. The student started to cry because she was incredibly happy that she could have this accommodation in place that would allow her to easily access course materials, something that was a challenge before.” She said.

Outside of work, LaBella has many hobbies and interests. She enjoys sewing, doing crafts, doing puzzles, baking, and spending time with family. LaBella also enjoys spending time outdoors, where she can often be found hiking on woodland trails in North Conway, N.H.    

Editor’s note: If you or a student you know needs help with accessibility, please contact the Center for Accessibility Resources & Services by calling 978-556-3654 or emailing centerforaccess@necc.mass.edu. 

Arts and Entertainment, Slider

Art club information session

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NECC art club flyer on a bulletin board at the Dimitry building in Lawrence. Photo By Isa Grullon

On Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021, at 7 p.m., the art club held a special information session for all students to attend at Northern Essex Community College.

Tiffany Esmerio, the coordinator of orientation and student transition at NECC hosted a total of four students via Zoom. Esmerio introduced various methods used in creating as well as skills and ideas for artistic creativity. During the event students participated in art exercise activities and discussed possible ways and materials needed to create art. 

Promptly at 7 p.m., “Hello, everyone welcome to the art club information session.” Esmerio said, “Tonight we are going to introduce different kinds of things and ideas to do art.” She went on to introduce herself and gave everyone else the opportunity to talk about themselves. Esmerio went on discussing possible ways and ideas to create art.  

The meeting activities focused on Bullet Journal workshop. Materials and supplies used were a journal or notebook, a pen, a ruler, and extra items such as stencils, washi tape, stickers, and watercolors. 

At the meeting, everyone had the chance to express what they think about art. Each of the participants said good things about art. They told how art helps them with mediating, helps them concentrate, stay focused, and improve their creativity. 

 The meeting was a total success everyone learned and knew how to create their own bullet journal at the end. 

Arts and Entertainment, Slider

Yoga studio in downtown Haverhill to host class with live music

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One amazing spot located in Downtown on Washington Street, is The Yoga Tree. This beautiful yoga studio offers various yoga classes every day throughout the week, as well as lots of yoga-related special events. Tomorrow night, Yoga Tree owner Ally Vallieres will teach a yoga class as local singer-songwriter Liz Bills performs live in the studio. Liz Bills is a full-time musical performer, and recently released an album, Liz Bills & the Change, which can be streamed wherever you listen to music. The yoga class that Ally is teaching during Liz’s performance is happening Friday night , Sept. 24, at 6:00, more details can be found at www.yogatreestudio.com. The NECC Observer recently had the chance to chat with both Ally and Liz discussing their upcoming collaboration as well as The Yoga Tree in general and Liz’s music. Check out the interview below!

Ally Vallieres

Shaun Hood: I know that The Yoga Tree has been holding lots of special events recently, and I can see that there are many more to come. What is it specifically that you cherish about these classes with live music that makes this coming Friday night so special?

AV: Special events are an opportunity to have fun, unwind, and gather together with community in a different way from what we’re accustomed to. It’s different from meeting friends out at a restaurant or bar; in the studio, you feel seen, supported and loved. You feel like you’re part of something greater.

SH: Is there anything in particular that you like about Liz’s talent that you think makes her such a great fit for this event?

AV: First of all, she’s an incredible vocal talent. More importantly, Liz has this sort of magical presence both on stage and on her yoga mat. She’s a dedicated yogi and can really read the energy of a room, which is such an asset to a live music yoga class. We’re able to combine our talents to guide students through a beautiful physical and spiritual adventure.

SH: How is The Yoga Tree doing in terms of class attendance and/or the business aspect of things right now considering the current state of the pandemic?

AV: Our community is incredible. We’ve been really lucky in that our studio is spacious so even though we’re still spacing and limiting the amount of people we register for each class, we’re still able to provide a consistent yoga practice for so many Merrimack Valley yogis. The pandemic is nowhere near over and we’re still navigating the challenges that come with that but I’m excited for what the future holds for The Yoga Tree.

SH: Is there anything else happening or coming up at The Yoga Tree that you’d like our readers to know about?

AV: We’ve got a lot going on! Aside from our weekly class schedule, we host a variety of special events each month. We’re hosting a Reiki Level I training in October and a 200 hour teacher training that will begin in the Winter of 2022. Additionally, you’ll see a few retreat opportunities for 2022. Visit us at www.theyogatreestudio.com to check out all of our offerings!

Liz Bills

SH: Tell us about the ideas behind, and the process of creating, your song, “Wi-Hi.” Also, what do you have to say about the cultural relevance of that song, especially times like today when so much of our day-to-day lives involve screens?

LB: So I wrote the song actually before the pandemic, which is funny, but I wrote it to express my own issues with social media and cell phone addiction, which I think we all struggle with – whether we’re aware of it or not – at some level. For me, the more that I’m on my cell phone – which can be a problem for me – the less present I am with myself and my wants and my needs and my body. So I become more anxious, maybe more depressed, more overly stimulated.

It’s also this idea that, as human beings, we weren’t designed to take in so much information. So for me, it’s that my nervous system is often in a state of fight or flight because of just too much information. So that’s why I wrote the song. I would say right now, it’s a great time in our culture, in 2021, to be talking about this. I’m not anti social media or anti cell phone or anything like that. I just really believe that it’s a great conversation to have about having boundaries around social media and cell phone. Perhaps, in the morning when you wake up, you don’t have to go on your cell phone right away and check all your emails. Or at night, you can decide, “Oh, I’m going to put the cell phone away at 9:00 PM and read.” So it’s just little things like that, that we can talk about as a culture and a community to make sure that we feel present and happy.

SH: Is there anything that you like in particular about singing at The Yoga Tree? Does it feel different when your audience is moving through a yoga practice throughout your performance?

LB: Yeah, it is different. I’m known for being a very high energy performer and we play a lot of festivals where I’m jumping and screaming and dancing. So when I’m playing at a yoga class, it just gives me the space to really relax and to sing softer, which is nice. I would say it’s just slower, more relaxing, softer, a vulnerable side of myself that I can share in the yoga studio.

SH: Is there anything that you’re currently working on or that you have coming up that you’d like our readers to know about?

LB: Well, I just released a new record in August. So right now, we’re playing all those songs and it’s available on all major streaming platforms, and the band right now is just working on a theatrical set that we will be able to show everyone this coming festival season. So in the spring and summer, we’ll have a full theatrical experience that you can, not just enjoy the music, but really enjoy a lot of visuals and theatrics. So we’re excited to share that next year.

Liz Bills can be found on Instagram @lizbills, and The Yoga Tree can be found on Instagram @yogatreehaverhill.

Features, Home Page News Bytes

Before I’m gone: A photo essay

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This project is something that was born out of my own fears. It is a realization. It is a hard pill to swallow. It is a truth, that I (and many) need to face. This project was birthed from the knowledge of knowing that I won’t be on this planet for a long enough time that it’ll matter. I grew up with an irrational fear of death to the point that it would get in the way of my daily life. I’m not sure if my fear stemmed from ignorance, and knowing what happens when I stop breathing, or if it stems from not wanting to leave this world without accomplishing the things I still want to accomplish. “Before I’m Gone” is a love letter to all of the individuals that I had the pleasure of meeting. It’s a love letter to the conversations that we had and serves as a celebration to the moment in time and space we shared. These little conversations that I have with individuals serves as a reminder that they existed much before I was even an idea. Hearing stories from before my existence somewhat makes me accept the concept that I do not matter, and death is inevitable. It forces me to face my own mortality. There was a time before me, and there will be a time after me.

Portrait of Josselyn Fernandez in her apartment
Portrait of Joselyn. She was “having a bad hair day, so excuse the outfit/hat.” Photo by Bryan Fernandez

 

“I came to this country with a luggage full of dreams, but what I dreamt of being might’ve been too much. I dreamed of going to school, I dreamed of having a good job. I dreamed of opportunity. But I crashed into the reality of life, and how hard it actually is in this country. Back home (in the DR) I ran offices, and I had subordinates. My first job here (in the US) was in a factory, standing for hours. So that humbled me. But it was very discouraging, as I thought it’d be a lot easier. From the outside looking in, it looks magical. Everybody made it seem like if living here was easy. And everything was easy. But that is not true. This country might give you more opportunity, but it’s still not easy.”

 

 

 

A potted plant in an apartment
One of her many plants Photo by Bryan Fernandez

“I went to school for a bit, but I let go of school. Life got complicated and I had to tend to other things. Now, I’m a mother. But I’m happy. So happy. My best gift in life is being able to say that I am your mother. I regret a lot of things in life but the only thing I do not regret is having you. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’ve said that since the day I found out I was pregnant.”

Photo of bedroom door in apartment

My mother’s room. If she’s not out and about, she’s in her “love cave.” Photo by Bryan Fernandez

“I think it’s important to accept that not everything happens the way you planned it. I want to believe that sometimes if you ended up doing what you planned, you wouldn’t be as happy as you thought you would have.. does that make sense? What I’m trying to say is, sometimes where life takes you is much sweeter than you were going. So yes, I do think that some things are out of our control, but maybe that’s for the best. But with that being said, I do still think that if you really want to do something, you should try. I think it’s better to know you tried, and it didn’t work out, than having to wonder what if your entire life.”

 

Josselyn Fernandez reading on her couch in her apartment
Joselyn Fernandez Photo by Bryan Fernandez

I wish I could include the film shots I got of her but I couldn’t get them developed in time. But this is my world. My motivation. My reason for the things I do every single day. This is my warrior, and my queen. This is my beautiful mother.

Features, Home Page News Bytes

A student with her eyes on radiologic technology degree shares her NECC journey

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Current student, Kali Bergeron, 20, of Salem, N.H., is spending her second semester at Northern Essex.

Bergeron is in her prerequsite year of her general health and science courses, with the goal of getting into the radiology program and eventually becoming a radiologic technologist. Bergeron explains her path to radiology technology and her experiences at NECC.

Bergeron is the youngest of three siblings. She played soccer in elementry school and high school.

“I was disapointed Northern Essex didn’t have a soccer program, because I played since I was little,” said Bergeron. She was at NECC in the past playing basketball. She is currently employed at Northeast Rehabilitation Center in Salem N.H. working in housekeeping. I worked with her there as well, which is how I met her.

A graduate from Salem High school in 2019, she left that fall with the intention of training to join the National Guard as a Criminal Justice major at the North Greenville University in South Carolina. After one semester Bergeron lost intrest in criminal justice and returned home to Salem, N.H., and her job at Northeast Rehab.

Bergeron strugled to find hours in the dishroom so she shifted her attention with Housekeeping.

“I couldn’t find enough hours in the dishroom, so I was intrestd in trying housekeeping like cleaning patients rooms,” said Bergeron.

Working as a housekeeper is what drove her to radiology.

“I enjoyed working around the patients while cleaning their rooms and helping them when they needed it,” Bergeron said.

A radiologic technologist works with a variety of  equipment responsible for diagnosing injuries and illness with such as X-rays and MRI.

This is Bergeron’s first year since enrolling at NECC in January 2020. “I chose Northern Essex because it was the only school close by home to offer a (radiologic technologist) program,” she said.

COVID-19 did not really affect her classes at NECC.

“The pandemic really hasn’t affected my learning, I wasn’t living on a campus unlike Greenville,” she said. “Online clasess are easy for me. Plus I am only taking two courses so I can still work. I’m taking a chemistry course right now. The program requiers a lot of chemistry and science.”

 

 

Features

Two neurology students share their thoughts on a year of pandemic learning

 

Ryan Partland, a neurology student who has been attending university in Denver, Colorado throughout the entire pandemic, is eager to return to a full workload of in-person labs, demonstrations and lectures coming up in August.

Partland’s girlfriend, Liliana Morris, who was studying neurology alongside him prior to the pandemic, traveled home to Haverhill, Mass., in April of last year. She has been taking classes fully remote since then, and is terrified of launching back into the intense workload so soon.

Partland, a wired, brilliant student with a mind that flits and eloquently dances between a thousand different points at once and eyes that follow, graciously took the time out of his 26-hour work day to briefly explain to me what the life of an up-and-coming neurological disorder specialist has been like during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In an interview taken a week before final exams, Partland said, “I’m in an accelerated program, right? So I started off with a lot of difficult classes from the get-go. Now, taking eight classes at once mostly through Zoom lectures, has been beyond difficult. There’s no words for it. I don’t really sleep too much; maybe a few hours every few days? There’s three labs a week, and the rest is on-line. I can’t just drop classes either, or I won’t graduate on time. I have a job lined up, you know?”

Partland’s university is planning on returning certain degree programs, such as his, to full in-person learning in the Fall. I could not reach a spokesperson of the university for comment and couldn’t find anything on their website. The callback to in-person learning seemed to be an unofficial statement announced to students within certain degree paths.

On the prospect of a return to basic learning, Partland said, “Honestly, it would be a blessing. I have a year left, right? I want to pack as much [learning] as possible into the last couple semesters I have, comfortably. This seems to be the only way I can do that.”

As our interview drew to a close the question of whether this was a shared thought came to mind, especially for students who weren’t on campus. Unfortunately I’d run out of time, but he directed me towards his long term girlfriend, Liliana, who’d been accepted to the same accelerated program, but was taking the same classes from home, in Haverhill, Mass.

In an interview over coffee, Liliana Morris, who shared the same unnatural characteristic of exploding into a new idea before finishing the first, second or third, explained her fears over the “rapidly approaching” Fall semester.

“It’s been almost a year since I’ve attended a lab, taken part in an experiment, or anything else at the college. I’ve adapted to my [on-line] classes now. I’m excited to go back, but nervous. I had to take courses in the Summer, and will again [this Summer] to prepare myself for the shift back, but its still nerve-wracking. How will things be different, the same? Will I be ready? i have no idea to tell you the truth. I don’t like not knowing how things will be changed. [It] makes anxious thinking about it, even now,” Liliana said over tentative, hasty sips of her triple shot espresso.

She tried best to explain the differences between her and her boyfriend’s work, but she quickly bypassed any language I could understand or accurately write down, denoting mostly to scientific language, mile-a-minuteexplanations, and, believe it or not, charts and diagrams scribbled out on stationary from her bag. As she delicately put it as we were wrapping up the interview, and i accepted with finality, it was beyond my comprehensive ability.

From my tentative interviews with two similarly brilliant yet overworked minds, the only conclusion I could gather was that I didn’t have what it takes to keep up with the inner-workings of stressed, sleep deprived pre-med neurologists.