Observer Department: Opinion


ICE operations raise questions

Innocent American citizens are being taken away detained, and in some cases killed during ICE operations.  These incidences have shaken communities and raised questions about accountability, use of force and civil rights in the United States. One of the most disturbing stories was the detainment of Liam Ramos who was…


Comics by Narjis Musa

A drawing of a knight giving another knight a Valentine.


Getting started with your career: Five resources you can access right now

Building a career can feel like an overwhelming, long-term project, but you don’t have to figure everything out at once. College is one of the best times to ask questions, meet people in different fields, and get a feel for what you might want to do. Even small conversations or…


Invest in your career this winter

Congratulations – you made it to the end of the semester! Whether you’re starting a winter class, working, prepping for spring semester, or doing a bit of everything, now’s a great time to invest in your future. We’ve pulled together some career resources you can start using right away. Pick…


Looking forward to spring theater production

NECC Theater will be taking on Angels in America by Tony Kushner.  To say I’m excited is an understatement.  NECC is a multiple award winning theater program and I can not wait to see how they create this production.  Angels in America is a Pulitzer Prize winning play about the…


On shame and guilt

“I wouldn’t want my money to go toward perpetuation of privilege,” declared Larry Summers, speaking to students at Northern Essex Community College on October 2, 2019, less than two months after the death of his alleged “wingman,” Jeffrey Epstein.  The recent release of a trove of emails from the Epstein…


Getting ready for finals

A pencil drawing of an NECC Knight with a book bag with pencils, pens, notebooks and it says NECC Commons and NECC Library on it.


Start searching for an internship

Internships are a great way to start exploring your career while you’re still in college. You don’t need tons of experience – just your coursework, curiosity, and willingness to learn. Whether you apply online or reach out to a company on your own, internships give you a chance to gain…

A cartoon drawing of a human hand typing on a laptop with the word Internship to the left with job-related icons next to it, such as a microphone, magnifying glass, book, pencil and lightbulb


Uncertainty remains as Supreme Court rejects appeal on marriage equality

On Monday Nov. 10, 2025, the Supreme court declined a petition brought forward by Kim Davis, a former Kentucky County Clerk who gained national attention after failing to sign marriage licenses for same-sex couples.  The petition was to revisit the decision made on Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark decision that…


Raising awareness for those suffering with CRPS

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 20.4% of U.S. adults (50.2 million people) experienced chronic pain in 2019. This means that about 1 in 5 adults in the United States lives with chronic pain, according to the CDC.   Conditions such as complex regional…