All posts by Observer Staff

Uncategorized

In the stars?

and  

Students weigh in on horoscopes

According to www.independent.co.uk, 58 percent of 18-24-year-old Americans believe astrology is scientific.

Skepticism of astrology is decreasing. There are people who obsess over their horoscope, and some that look at theirs daily and truly believe and live by them.

“I believe in horoscopes, I love them and read mine everyday,” says Northern Essex student Emily Wood.

“There have been so many times when I’ve read my horoscope and it has been so spot on it’s insane, but I’m not blind to the fact that they are kept so vague to the point where it can be related to almost anyone’s life,” she said.

She also says that she sometimes saves photos of her horoscopes so that she can go back to see if the predictions ended up being correct.

However, there are people who don’t understand this belief.

It seems baffling to some people that others believe that the alignment  of the stars can determine your mood and how your day will go.

“I think they’re dumb, I never read mine and I don’t believe in them,” said Northern Essex student Justin Stanley.

NECC student Sarah Norton does not believe in horoscopes either,

She said she believes people use their horoscope as a safety net to get out of things.

It also brings comfort to people if they believe they are connected to the universe in that way, receiving enough of its energy that it is the answer to why we act the way we do and why we feel the ways we feel during certain times, she said.

“I think it just gives people excuses to use for certain behavior, like ‘it’s not my fault I’m so tired and moody, I’m a Cancer,’” Norton says.

Arts and Entertainment, Uncategorized

Give the gift of art

and  

Add a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts to your shopping list

The Holiday season is upon us.

The time of year where shopping centers are flooded with crowds and greedy hands, stomachs are fed, stories repeatedly shared, and gifts wrapped in kinds of ribbons, bows, and papers.

A time of year where the stress of finding a reasonable gift for a loved one is tense.

This year, instead of giving something tangible why not give the gift of a trip in Boston to visit The Museum of Fine Arts, a place that truly has something that can catch the eyes of anyone on your Holiday shopping list.

[pullquote]

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is home to nearly 500,000 art pieces from around the world.

[/pullquote]

Home to many beautiful buildings, treasures, and landmarks, The Museum of Fine Arts can also be found in the city of Boston.

Located on Huntington Avenue, the museum is home to nearly 500,000 art pieces from around the world.

Some pieces have hung in the gallery since the museum opened in 1976, and other pieces stay for decades, or just a few short months as exhibits are always changing.

According to the museum’s website, mfa.org, Museum director, Matthew Teitelbaum speaks of the current exhibits as, Winnie The Pooh exhibit as,“an immersive presentation as close as we could make it to entering the pages of the 1926 book Winnie-the-Pooh, with its gentle characters created by A. A. Milne and classic pen-and-ink drawings by E. H. Shepard. For lovers of books, book illustration, prints, and, of course, Piglet and Winnie-the-Pooh, this exhibition is a treasure trove.”

The French Pastels: Treasures from the Vault, “offers a rare opportunity to get up close with masterworks by 19th-century artists such as Degas, Millet, Cassatt, and Pissarro.”

“And finally (though there is more), ancient modes of communication are brought into the present day with the Chilean artist and poet Cecilia Vicuña’s ‘Disappeared Quipu,’ a magical journey through and with the artistic language of the ancient Incas.”

With paintings from Claude Monet, exhibits of Winnie The Pooh, love, ancient civilization artifacts, and much more, it’s hard not to win with gifting a ticket to the museum.

Making the situation a win-win situation, Museum ticket pricing go for $25 per adults, affordable for a college student.

Looking to tag along? Thanks to the Pozen Community College Program honored at the Museum of Fine Arts, students, faculty and staff get free admission to the museum with a valid NECC student ID.

Along with free admission, the museum also offers different privileges within this program, “Students with valid ID from a participating school are also eligible for a 10 percent discount on purchases made in MFA Museum shops, as well as $5 tickets for regularly priced films, lectures and concerts, and $10 tickets for Ruth and Carl J. Shapiro Celebrity Lectures and special film screenings. Tickets are available day-of, in person only, pending availability. Valid student ID is required, with limit of one ticket per ID, with some programs not included.”

Exhibits are always coming and going.

The current exhibits will be up until  early January, while the new exhibits will be coming as early as Dec. 13.

Upcoming exhibits include arts of Frida Kahlo, Gender bending fashion, Toulouse-Lautrec and the Stars of Paris, and more.

Matthew Teitelbaum, museum director asks “Please join us to learn and discover, engage and enjoy. And, of course, to share. The MFA is here for you.”

Home Page Featured News, Uncategorized

Dimitry work ongoing

and  

Renovations continue on Lawrence campus

View of the exterior of the dimitry building, the vew is obstructed by a fence
View of the exterior work on the Dimitry Building on Northern Essex’s Lawrence Campus. Photo by Andy Montilla

 

Renovations to the Dimitry Building on the Lawrence campus of NECC bgean in October in 2017. Located at 45 Franklin St., all renovations are set to be done in the month of March of 2019. Renovations include new windows, new siding, improvements to the parking lot, and a new landscaped outdoor space

NECC students are beyond excited as many students say  the Lawrence campus has already begun to look like more of a welcoming education center, with a more modern looking one stop center and bookstore on Common Street in Lawrence.

Communication major Victor Alcantara said the Dimitry Building previously didn’t offer much motivation for students “I think the renovations are great for the building, there wasn’t a whole lot to it,” he said. Alcantara goes onto say “I’m hoping when it’s done it will be a place students would actually like to have class in.”

[pullquote]

Renovations include new windows, new siding, improvements to the parking lot, and a new landscaped outdoor space.

[/pullquote]

NECC students will not only be motivated to attend classes in Lawrence but also feel like this is a much needed accomplishment for Lawrence.

Ivelisse Matos, a Business major at NECC states “with everything that’s going on in Lawrence, it’s good that we will have a new building that students will take pride in. It’s good for Lawrence to be known for something better than tragedies and violence.”

Due to renovations, the entrance and exits of the Dimitry building were moved to the Common Street side of the building and the parking for the Lawrence campus have also been relocated. This has caused some confusion for students.

Patrick Bezanson, a first year Criminal Justice major takes most of his classes on the Lawrence campus and it has been a bit confusing for him. “Parking isn’t too bad but if you’re not from here or familiar with the area it can be frustrating,” he said. Although the temporary parking has annoyed Bezanson, he cannot wait for routine parking come next semester. “Hopefully, everything is done by the time that the website states (March 2019),” he said.

After the $6.5 million renovations are done, students will be more than motivated to take classes on the Lawrence campus and will also take pride in getting their education in a renovated and revitalized building.

Editorial, Home Page Featured News

CNN anchor jumps the shark

and  

On Monday the 29th of October, CNN anchor Don Lemon sparked an outrage when he made comments on air that asserted that the greatest terror threat in the country is white men. According to the Washington Post, the comment in question was “… we have to stop demonizing people and realize the biggest terror threat in this country is white men…”

Lemon has since doubled down on this position, and CNN has not condemned his comments.

Though this level of rhetoric is not common on the Mainstream television circuit, anti-white sentiments are not uncommon on various internet outlets, even among some notable historic and established publications. When opinion writer Sarah Jeong was hired by the New York Times, many critics pointed out her blatant and vitriolic posts against white people on Twitter. In as many words, the Times chalked up her tweets to her personal opinion, and thus not their remit to control or criticize.

To this, I can only say that I agree heartily, New York Times. In the case of both Lemon and Jeong, I couldn’t care less about their personal biases or positions.

The issue is the common acceptance and even apologetics concerning anti-white bigotry in academia and the media, and the ferocious double-standard that accompanies it.

It is one thing to form theories about the interplay of race, sex, et cetera and discuss them.

But where the extreme left elements of the media and academia have erred is in treating the concept of white privilege as carte blanche to lambaste, blame, and villainize a massive swathe of the voting population.

From an article that appeared in the Guardian in may of 2017, titled “Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race.” to Buzzfeed’s 2014 piece “22 reasons why straight white boys are actually the worst,” in the socialite circles of the United States, it has been chic for a few years to denounce straight white men and boys. 

It is not difficult to see that the narrative has been entirely derailed. Whatever serious discussion might have been had concerning race is being drowned in the one sided mess of lowball humor and stereotypes, which coincidentally enough is precisely what these same outlets proclaim to be engaging in resistance against.

This became coupled with extended campaigns of censorship by the gilded halls of Silicon Valley conglomerates like Apple, Facebook and Google against political and cultural opponents and a ruthless pursuit of anything that could be construed as hate speech.

There could not have been a better catchphrase for this blatant doublethink than Lemon’s quote: “… we have to stop demonizing people and realize the biggest terror threat in this country is white men…”

There is no break, no “but,” no attempt to create an exception. This despite the sentence doing a complete about-face halfway through. Which one is it? The fact an anchor on a major news network was able to make this sentence and be dead serious says more about the state of affairs than any number of articles could.

The United States has undergone several moral panics in the past, including two Red Scares in the 1920’s and 1950’s, the Satanic Panic of the late 90’s, the moral panic of the 2010’s will probably go down as the Social Justice or Intersectional Panic.

When elite, cloistered and out of touch circles of intelligentsia were so determined to combat systemic racism and sexism that they began preaching racism and sexism.

 

It is not difficult to see that the narrative has been entirely derailed. Whatever serious discussion might have been had concerning race is being drowned in the one sided mess of lowball humor and stereotypes

Home Page Featured News, Opinion

Anti-Semitism in 2018

and  

Trying to move forward from a tradgedy

In light of the recent attacks on The Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh many thoughts are on the country’s mind and hearts lie heavy. Regardless of political affiliation, it should be easy for us to agree that this hate crime was a tragedy that we can only hope will never be repeated. It is unfortunate reality that we must face that while we can hope, mass shootings in American society have become alarmingly more prevalent. Hate crimes and mass shootings are seemingly going hand in hand, but it is the year 2018, how is something like this possible? How is it that anti-Semitism could still be happening in modern American society, have we not put the problems of tragedies like the Holocaust in the past? When 11 Jewish citizens were shot and killed by a hate filled man with a gun, it is apparent that anti-Semitism is not just an idea of yesteryear.

[pullquote]

How hard can that be? Saying Nazis are bad?
– Barack Obama

[/pullquote]

In a 2016 study done by Pew Research, the Majority of Israeli Jews said that anti-Semitism is very common (64%) or somewhat common (35%) around the world today. That leaves about 1% who feel that anti-Semitism is not too common. Just 1% of an entire ethnic group feels that they are not discriminated against, not just in America, but in the world. The survey also asked whether they thought anti-Semitism was increasing or decreasing, and 76% responded with saying they believed anti-Semitism was on the rise. This is the sad reality many Jewish people must face even in modern times.

Some people believe that it is today’s political climate that leads to tragedies such as these. Often time politicians will rely on hate filled words against their opponent to gain voters rather than discuss their own policies. President Trump is a scorching topic in any political debate, and Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life synagogue had a message for Trump himself, according to CNN saying “Mr. President, hate speech leads to hateful actions. Hate speech leads to what happened in my sanctuary, where seven of my congregants were slaughtered. I witnessed it with my eyes.” Many of Pittsburgh’s citizens protested President Trump and First Lady Melania’s visit to the synagogue after the shooting all together. And in a video found on the New York Times website, Reverend Susan Rothenberg, a Presbyterian minister went viral for screaming at President Trump’s motorcade as it went by saying, “Let the families grieve! This is our neighborhood! You are not welcome here!”

Regardless of political affiliations or leanings we are all human, and should want to protect and care for one another. According to the Boston Globe in a speech in September former president Obama was quoted as saying “We’re supposed to stand up to discrimination. And we’re sure as heck supposed to stand up, clearly and unequivocally, to Nazi sympathizers. How hard can that be? Saying that Nazis are bad?” In a country that has already experienced many hardships and landmarks such as the women’s suffrage movement, and the civil rights movement, or even more recent movements that are still dividing the country such as the Me too movement or Black Lives Matter, it is almost implausible for one to think that a hate crime like this could happen. We should have already moved past this, but if we haven’t we should at least take the steps to try to move in a forward direction, not backwards. Many college campuses have Hillel’s which are safe havens for Jewish Students, and there are local synagogues in the area for Jewish community members such as Temple Emanu-El on 514 Main St, Haverhill, which held a Peace Shabbat Service on Friday November 2 in grievance of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. As a country and as a people we can move past this and do better to eradicate anti-Semitism.

News

Late knight study sesh

and  

Student Life event included extended hours for libraries, computer labs

On Monday October 29th a late-night study session was held in the library, computer lab and in the second floor of the student center. The “Late Knight Study Sesh” was an event organized by the student life office. Stephanie Haskell Coordinator of Social Justice and Student Leadership, staff responsible for the event said, “the main reason we thought of this event was so students can have a quiet place to study for midterms.”

Students were provided with longer access to computers, quiet spaces in the library as well as breakfast themed treats; waffle bar, cereal, granola bars, Keurig Coffee Station, water, and a hot coco bar in the student center. In addition to the treats, there were also activities available if students wanted to

students standing around table with white table cloth eating snacks
Students enjoying snacks at Student Center Photo by Jaritza Hidalgo

take a break from studying, the activities were gentle yoga and trivia BINGO. Study supplies, and study tips & resources were available as well if needed.

The Late Knight Study Sesh was created in a short time noticed compared to other events in NECC. Academic technology assistant David Arivella thinks that the Late Knight Study Sesh was a “decent idea that was not advertised well.” He said that the number of students in the computer lab was not that much different from the regular days, with the difference being that the student center was still open at 8pm when it is usually closed by 6pm. Arivella added that “the event would of have been more successful in a four-year college” and that there is low attendance because NECC is a community college and people prefer to be home at such a late hour.

        The student life office is starting to prepare for the same event to happen before finals “we are going to talk as a team to make it work and do a Late Knight Study Sesh before the finals” Haskell said. She added that there will be more time for advertising, and “hopefully” a broader selection of food and drinks can be provided. NECC student Kevin Galva 23, and Ashleigh Demaris 21, said they would be open to the idea of coming to another late-night session like this one before finals.

When spoken to students that knew about the late night studying session, they thought it was a good idea. Galva 23, and Demaris 21, found out about the fact that the library would be open until 12 from a friend, they discarded the email that was sent to students because it did not stand out from the normal announcements. Demaris added “I do wish that the lab was open regularly at least till 10 pm” and Galva said, “yes I would come to a late study session happening before finals.” After 9:30 the number of students was lower, but there were still students working in the computers and studying by themselves in the quiet areas of the library and in the student Center.

Campus Life, Uncategorized

“Saltonstall” recalls Haverhill history

and  
student dressed up in a colonial costume
Liberal Arts Student Aileen Corniel portrayed Goody Coo
two men dressed in colonial outfits
Doug Brendel as Nathaniel Saltonstall and Les Tarmy as Rev. John Ward. At the John Ward home in Haverhill, MA Photo by Punctuate4.org
A sign promoting a play. The sign has a picture of a deep red sky and a noose
A sign for the play outstide the John Spurk (C) building

 

 

He deserves to have his story told for the sake of memrory.
– Michael Cormier, Playwright

This weekend, Northern Essex Community College lent out the Chester Hawrylciw Theater to Punctuate4 Productions debuting their new play “Saltonstall”.

Written by playwright and former attorney Michael Cormier and director Myriam Cyr, the work portrays Nathaniel Saltonstall, a distinguished Haverhill judge who was invited to sit on the Court of Oyer and Terminer during the Salem witch trials, where he stood against the formidable Judge William Stoughton.

Saltonstall was the only judge to recuse himself from the trials after witnessing the madness that took place. The play ran through Thursday Nov. 1 to Sunday Nov. 4.

“I had always been interested in the Salem witch trials over the years and ran across Nathaniel Saltonstall [story] from Haverhill.” said Cormier, a Haverhill native himself. “I wondered what kind of man would do this while others didn’t. He deserves to have his story told for the sake of memory.”

As a former attorney, Cormier said that he had felt a kindred spirit with Saltonstall and his moral dilemma. “I can relate to Nathaniel’s feelings of how to reconcile what I’ve been taught and immersed in the society I live in with hypocrisy around him.” says Cormier. “People I knew as good people I see now having terrible flaws in them and I’m asking myself,  ‘How do I handle them?’ Manipulation of truth, perceptions about people, hatred, all of it is just as important today as it was prominent back then.”

“Because of Michael, the show is a beautiful melding of research and imagination. He learned so much about the Salem witch trials; where the record is blank he has filled in.” says Doug Brendel who portrayed the title character. “Michael’s command of every detail is wonderful. He can say with authority what’s right and what’s wrong. Saltonstall was the attention getter, big shot in Haverhill court, a socialite, leader and judge, he was looked up to. My portrayal of Saltonstall needs to be accurate for the history, and to be true to Michael’s vision because (his) vision is true to history.”

Punctuate4 Productions is a new theater company made by members of Black Box Lab at Stage 284. Director Myriam Cyr and PR Specialist Linda Greenstein are among the co-founders along with Patricia P. Jamison and Cat Stramer. All the founders have professional backgrounds in theater, and have a focus on producing new works around the New England area. “Saltonstall” is the company’s first effort.

Cormier had met Greenstein through his wife whom Greenstein was doing a story on for the Eagle Tribune. “He had trouble doing research, because there’s not a lot of documentation from the 17th century,” said Greenstein. As a result of networking, she directed Cormier to the Buttonwoods Museum to help him with his research. Buttonwoods was originally Nathaniel Saltonstall’s estate. The play makes several references to historical locations such as John Ward’s property and the worshiping oak.

Greenstein’s son Noah, a NECC alumnus, had met Cyr through an arts and theater internship he was doing through the school. He was recruited in Cyr’s production of “Mary Poppins” where he was the prop master, and has worked with her in other productions. Later he appeared in an equity reading of “Saltonstall” at the Buttonwoods Museum’s annual meeting in June 2017 and equity staging at the Community House of Hamilton.

Several NECC students (both current and alumni) appeared in the play, one of which was Liberal Arts student Aileen Corniel of Lawrence. She made her theatrical debut in the Top Notch Player’s production of “Last of the Red Hot Lovers” and landed the role of Goody Cooper and Martha in an open audition of “Saltonstall”.

“Theater is a collaboration more so when you’re a college student. One person has to do most of the work for everyone, but professional theater has people doing multiple roles, and keeping in touch with important people.” Corniel says. “You go through more and different steps to get things done. I’ve learned a lot from watching other professional actors and their process. I’m so mesmerized in watching Myriam direct during rehearsals, and seeing [actors] apply her directing into their performance, it helps me learn and grow as an actor.”

Punctuate4 owes its thanks to Jeff Linehan and the college trustees for bringing the show to NECC. “Linehan felt that since it was a Haverhill story, he thought it was important that the production debuted in Haverhill.” says Greenstein. Linehan is also the treasurer of the Buttonwoods Museum, and first saw the show at the Buttonwoods meeting last summer.

The production was moved to the Chester Hawrylciw Theater Oct. 25. where they did dress rehearsals and built the set. “I think they [NECC] should host productions more often; it brings lots of good publicity to the school, lots of positivity.” says Corniel. “People don’t even know we have theater and they come to see a show like this; it has made other people and organizations be aware of space we have.”

“It was a great way for NECC to connect with the greater Haverhill community, it was great having so many people come to the theater for the first time,” says Greenstein.

Cormier says his next play will be about the Bread and Roses strike in Lawrence back in 1912, led by the Industrial Workers of the Word consisting of immigrant and female workers.

It is expected to be finished by next year.

Refreshments at the play were served by the Commonwealth Honors students as a fundraiser.