Observer Department: News

Speechapalooza goes online, collects donations for student relief fund

, , and

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…

Children face homeschool blues

and

In these troubling times, education for the young has taken a new form to accommodate the circumstances, though not all of it is welcome. Some students find themselves using new online tools to learn while others find their parents becoming their teacher. Alicia Togue, who has children in both fifth…

The essential worker: A view from the frontline

and

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…

Face masks mandated in Massachusetts

and

On May 6, the use of mandatory masks took effect throughout the state of Massachusetts. The order, executed by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Barker, requires residents to wear a face covering in public places when they cannot socially distance themselves. The request applies to all employees, customers and public transport companies…

NECC students aren’t waiting around: Innovative services flourish during pandemic

and

On March 24 at 12 p.m. Gov. Charlie Baker asked the whole state of Massachusetts to stay at home and not go out in public unless absolutely necessary. Massachusetts residents, along with almost the entire United States, have been advised to stay at home for over a month, and wait…

Education behind the screen: Students reflect on remote learning

and

As quarantine continues and the world seems to be on pause,  education also continues. Although students are no longer allowed to physically attend schools until the upcoming fall or possibly longer, students are still required to do online schooling, assignments are posted on websites such as Blackboard, Google Classroom, and…

Students share how COVID-19 has changed their lives

and

2020 has already been quite a year. Many disasters have happened along the way, and most importantly this COVID-19 pandemic. No one expected this, especially at this large of a scale. As a Northern Essex student not only has my academic life been affected greatly but my personal life as…

Pulitzer Prizes announced

and

This year's 104th Pulitzer Prizes announcement, which has honored excellence in journalism and the arts since 1917, was initially scheduled for April before being postponed until May 4 and delivered virtually. In the past the announcement has come in late April and since 1984 Pulitzer winners have received their prizes…

Are ‘murder hornets’ cause for concern?

and

As if living through a pandemic isn’t anxiety inducing enough by itself, social media rumors are now being spread about a mysterious “murder hornet” that has migrated to the United States. In late 2019 two bees were spotted in Washington, later determined to be Asian giant hornets, the world’s largest…

A conversation with student trustee Courtney Morin

and

Courtney Morin serves as the Northern Essex Community College Student Government Association's Vice President of Haverhill and also as the Student Trustee on NECC's Board of Trustees. In recent SGA meetings, she and Stephanie Haskell, a member of NECC's staff and the advisor to the SGA (a position whose holder…