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Social media in the time of COVID-19: How the pandmic has changed the way we use social media in 2020

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    Social media has been part of our daily lives since the early 2000s. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way many of us use it.   Gyani Pradhan Wong Ah Sui, 18, of West Newbury, is in the NECC Exploratory program. He uses Snapchat, Instagram, and WhatsApp.   Prior to the current pandemic he used social…

Our civic duty: An overview of the 2020 election

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The long awaited election of 2020 is finally upon us. This election is high stakes, and many substantial changes could result from it. While the official Election Day is on Nov. 3, due to the pandemic there has been an influx of mail-in voting and early voting at the polls.…

NECC students get out (or mail in) the vote

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With Election Day near, voting is especially critical. If you’ve already voted, whether you mailed it in or went to the polls, you’re good to go. But, if you haven’t it should be your top priority. 2020 has been a rollercoaster of a year, what with the global pandemic and…

How students plan to spend Halloween during COVID-19

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As Halloween begins this upcoming holiday season, many celebratory plans have been negatively affected (or even canceled) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dressing-up in costumes for communal “Trick-or-Treating” and attending chilling “Haunted Houses” are only a couple among the countless cancelled festivities of this beloved Holiday, causing a sense of…

Educators discuss the challenges of online learning

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Since March of this year, students have had to adjust to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But teachers and professors have had to adjust as well. While many educators at NECC have taught online classes prior to 2020, they are now forced to adjust their teaching to exclusively…

Creative outlets help NECC students during COVID-19

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Since March of 2020, the spread of COVID-19 has forced NECC students into the isolation of their homes. Despite these difficult times, many students have found the use of creative outlets to be extremely beneficial for their creativity and mental health. Creative outlets are unique to everyone and can be…

College in the era of COVID: Students navigate remote learning

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Since March 2020, NECC students have found themselves enrolled in a crash course in remote learning.  For many students this would be their first experience taking classes exclusively online.  Erika Rivera, 19, a journalism and communications major from Lawrence, had never taken an online class before the coronavirus outbreak as she prefers to learn in person. “Being at home makes it…

Pandemic impacts fall sports schedule

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The fall sports season looks different this year for NECC's athletes, coaches and fans. Cross country and esports are participating in regular activities this fall but other sports have had their seasons adjusted or moved because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  “In the fall semester, all of the NECC's athletic programs…

Speechapalooza goes online, collects donations for student relief fund

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Northern Essex Community College students hosted an online public speaking event, called Speechapalooza, on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube from Wednesday-Friday, April 29-May 1. (Pictured is Dylan Musgrave participating in the event.) The event helped collect donations for the college's Student Emergency Fund and was attended by hundreds. The fund provides laptop…

The essential worker: A view from the frontline

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Shopping centers, restaurants, parks and any other place where social gatherings could take place are now shut down until further notice, unless deemed essential by the government.   Being an essential worker during this COVID-19 pandemic can be very stressful. Many workers are scared to bring it home. Sadly, because thousands of…