All posts by Rachel Sarcione, Correspondent

Features

Student Loan Debt Burdens Learners

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debt
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Financial experts urge NECC students to start reducing their loan debt while still attending school.

According to U.S. News, the average college student graduates with around $30,000 in student loans.

Students who have entered into an unsubsidized loan may not be aware that they can start making payments on the 4.7 percent interest portion of the loan as soon as the money has been disbursed to their school. Therefore, if a full time NECC student was to finance their entire associate degree through unsubsidized loans, at around $1,800 per semester for two years they would end up paying approximately $10,000 in full term loan payments.

However, many students eagerly accept the full amount offered so that they “get money back,” not looking ahead to realize that by the end of their debt repayment, that extra money that they used to buy Christmas gifts or new clothes has just brought their academic debt up to around $13,000.

“I worry about students getting into long-term loans,” said NECC Professor James Sullivan. “You do want to establish credit, but once you start opening credit cards, it seems like magic money. But you don’t want to spend what you don’t have.”

On Oct. 13, just six days after many students received financial aid refunds, NECC held its third annual bank fair on the Haverhill campus. Although they were giving out free pens and plenty of literature on various types of accounts, many of the banks who participated in the fair do not offer student loans. With high tuition and the general cost of living, it may seem ironic for a college student with little to no disposable income to be putting money in the bank for later.

However, establishing a checking account (no matter how low the balance) could help students develop stronger budgeting skills.

“It’s hard to do but you have to live within your means,” said Sullivan.

“You’ve got to stay on top of any and all loans right from day one,” said NECC graduate Lisa Morelli, now CEO of Andover Federal Credit Union. “I can’t tell you how many times my members accidentally miss their student loan payment because they don’t read letters from their lender… because they’ve been getting the same statement since they graduated ten years ago. But the truth is, their account was transferred to another lender who did not have their account set up properly.”

Features

Curly Hair is Back

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After years of grueling hair-straightening regimens, NECC students are saving precious time by unplugging their flat-irons and embracing their natural curls.

“I save at least an hour when I wear my hair curly,” said NECC student Ana Guerra. “I would have to straighten it the night before and then re-straighten some of it in the morning.”

NECC student Constantine Photis fully supports his classmates to go natural. “If you were born with curly hair that conforms to the rest of your head and body, let it be curly. Just let it be,” he said.

Hairstyle trends seem to have a major shift every decade or so, making it difficult for some to give up their beloved mullets, poufy bangs or faux-hawks. However, today’s college students are on the cusp of an “anything goes” time for hair.  The ’70s gave us the feathered look of teen idol David Cassidy and Cher’s iconic, pin-straight look which was almost impossible to achieve at home — unless you trusted a family member to literally iron your hair on the ironing board in the kitchen. Keep in mind that the styling tools we use today were not stocked at the corner store.  By the end of the ’70s, the unisex Afro became a popular and highly sought after style. However, unless you were born with natural curls, the methods used to create the look were a lot more dangerous than a hot metal plate and involved strong chemicals.

Ah, yes. The perm. Although the wife of inventor Charles Nessler often had her hair accidentally burned off by his early, failed attempts, his cold-wave method for permanently altering the hair was a major trend throughout the ’80s (especially for “hair bands” like Bon Jovi) and is still used today.  Although Jon Bon Jovi’s music career survived the ’90s and beyond, perms started to fizzle out and with the release of 1995’s movie Clueless. Actress Alicia Silverstone had young women chasing after smooth, straightened locks. This trend that lasted 20 years and is finally on its way out.

Unfortunately, the media has had a tremendous influence on how people style their hair. NECC student Bianca Mercado is proud to wear her naturally curly on campus but has experienced emotional distress in the past over having curly hair due to constant images of smooth-haired “beauty” flooding TV and movie screens. “I was always so concerned with fitting in,” said Mercado.

Whether you feel that you need an invitation or not, with trendsetting celebrities like Beyoncé and Bradley Cooper showing us their au natural selves, some may find it easier to try to new things.  Professional hairstylist Jess Hamilton of Haverhill offered some helpful tips for students who want to sport their naturally curly hair on campus.

“Moisturizing products are essential for eliminating frizz and you’ve got to trim those ends at least every six weeks,” she said.

 

Campus Life

Deterring Sexual Violence on Campus

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Despite the ongoing crisis of sexual violence on college campuses, NECC remains one of the safest schools in the Northeast.

According to the National Institute of Justice, one in five college women and one in 16 men will experience some form of non-consensual sexual experience by the time they graduate.

Statistics provided by the Massachusetts government (www.mass.gov) show that 46 percent of victims are assaulted by an acquaintance and 21 percent by a friend. Only 19 percent are assaulted by a total stranger.

Anthony Branco, 19, is a student at Massachusetts School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and urges his friends to make safe decisions while attending parties on campus.

“Don’t ever accept a drink that someone else made and if you’re gonna get drunk; make sure you have a good friend with you at all times.” said Branco.

In a mass email sent out on Sept. 14, NECC students were notified that they are expected to participate in “HAVEN (Help Against Violent Encounters Now): Understanding Sexual Assault,” an online course designed to educate students and raise awareness of sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking. Students are required to complete part one by Oct. 9 and part two by Nov. 20.

“Sexual violence is an epidemic right now and it is going on everywhere,” said NECC student Samson Racioppi. “I don’t know if a 30-45 minute course will change that, but it’s a good place to start.”

In accordance with mandates of the Crime Awareness and Campus Safety act of 1990, all accredited colleges must make available to the public an annual report known as the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Safety Policy and Campus Crimes Statistics Act.

Information provided by the schools’ individual Clery reports compare 10 of the area’s campuses and show that both the Lawrence and Haverhill campuses of NECC have had zero reported incidents of sexual or relationship violence.

To view NECC’s current Clery Act report online, along with many helpful hints on campus safety, go to the Student Services tab on the NECC home page and access the information under the Public Safety section.

Before enrolling at NECC, Eileen Page, Human Services major, attended a four-year college where most people lived on campus.

“There were reports of sexual violence almost every week.” said Page.

Although NECC students live off-campus, the HAVEN course provides guidance for personal safety in many social or academic environments regardless of location.

“I haven’t participated in HAVEN yet,” said Page. “If it’s telling people not to sexually assault others, I don’t think it’s very productive, but I think if it’s more about empowering victims to report it, then I’m all for it.”

Students experiencing or witnessing a crime on campus are urged to alert Campus Security at (978) 556-3333 or call 911.

“We have to watch out for each other,” said Branco. “Don’t go anywhere alone.”

Students requiring more information about HAVEN can contact Justine Caron, Title IX Coordinator at atjcaron@necc.mass.edu or 978-556-3956.

“We have to watch out for each other,” said Branco. “Don’t go anywhere alone.”

Students requiring more information about HAVEN can contact Justine Caron, Title IX Coordinator at atjcaron@necc.mass.edu or 978-556-3956.

Number of On-Campus Sex Offenses Reported in 2014

(compiled from individual schools’ Clery reports)
Northern Essex Community College/ Haverhill     0
Northern Essex Community College/ Lawrence     0
Northshore Community College/ Danvers     0
University of Massachusetts/ Lowell     0
Southern New Hampshire University/ Salem     0
Massachusetts School of Pharmacy and Health Services/ Boston     0
Harvard University/ Cambridge     1
Merrimack College/ North Andover     7
University of New Hampshire/ Durham    21
Boston College/ Boston    23

 

Campus Life, News

Starfish Early Success

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Starfish copyNECC’s Starfish Early Success program is still accepting entries for the “Name the Starfish” contest. You may have seen the bright, blue mascot around campus, but soon we will know what to call that cheerful character.

On Oct. 19, NECC’s Lawrence Campus will hold the Health and Wellness Fair, where students will have a chance to fill out an entry form with their suggestion for the mascot’s name. This will be the last day for entries.

The Starfish Strategic Team will then choose the top five names from the entries and ask the entire student body to vote on which of the five names they like best. The deadline will be Nov. 8.

“Stay tuned for an email with instructions on voting,” said NECC staff member Deb LaValley.

The winner will receive a gift basket of which the contents are “still growing,” said LaValley.

The Starfish Early Success program is a way for professors to offer students direct feedback on their work in class, whether that’s praise for a job done well or concern about work that has not been completed on time.

Students can see this feedback through email notifications and on myNECC.

Campus Life

College Life and Campus Services Fair

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| NECC Observer
Sponsored by Student Engagement, the College Life & Campus Services Fair was held on the Haverhill campus on Sept. 16 and the Lawrence campus on Sept. 21 and ran from 11-1 p.m. in both locations.

The colorful tablecloths and balloons surrounding the smiling faces of the representatives created a warm and inviting atmosphere for learning about all the support systems that are readily available to NECC students.

“We connect students to all kinds of resources; social and academic,” said Deb Lavalle, a staff member representing the Student Success Center. “Even if someone needs help with their homework, that’s what we’re here for.”

Promoting the new Starfish Early Success program, the Student Success Center offered a free raffle and contest for naming the program’s mascot, a blue starfish. The winner of the contest will be announced in October and will receive a gift basket of which Lavalle said the contents are “still growing.”

Among the more than thirty booths at the fair were representatives from the PACE program, Alpha Beta Gamma, Veterans Services, Bacon Boardgamers, Dance Club, and the Counseling Center, just to name a few.

The Gay-Straight Alliance, represented by NECC student Gianna Derrico, was pleased to extend an invitation to all who wish to support LGBTQ+ students. “We want everyone to feel safe and comfortable,” said Derrico.

Andrea Spinelli, staff member of the Learning Accommodations Center, said, “I love doing these events, I’m always the first one to sign up.”

Spinelli enjoys assisting students with documented, diagnosed disabilities by connecting them with many different types of services. Anything from accessible furniture to peer note taking can be arranged for qualified students. “If you’re in the class already, why not earn some extra money by taking notes for a classmate?” said Spinelli. “You can get paid up to $125 per semester.”

Administrative Assistant Maria Hom was joined by co-representatives Joe Torres and Rob Wormald for the Wellness and Fitness Center, which includes a full gym with everything from free weights to treadmills and more. “Come utilize our facilities,” said Wormald. “We have a lot of attendance incentives, like free sweatshirts.”

Hom adds “It’s free to all students, all you need is your student ID.”

Those who attended the fair received lots of free gifts, such as pens and buttons, but it was the Italian slush provided by Biggart’s Ice Cream of Haverhill that left quite an impression on Hom. “It’s delicious!”