The Pennon for December 2011

In a decision that issomewhat unexpected, NorthShore Community College willnot be going forward with theproposed “pilot program” toarm campus police.

This program, createdby Campus Police Chief DougPuska, states that the “commandstaff” (top three ranked officers)would carry a weapon for a peri-od of six months, with evalua-tions taking place throughout,and then a decision would bemade whether or not to moveforward.

Four to five months ofresearch by President WayneBurton and his colleagues led toa decision that comes after care-ful consideration.

“I get concerned thatwe have many officers thatmigrate up the ladder, quicklymoving on to somewhere they

will receive more training, suchas a local police force. With thatkind of turnover, how can yoube sure they have the maturityand experience to make thejudgments needed when there’san incident?” Burton asked.“We just don’t have the capaci-ty.”

In a February 2011issue of the Pennon, ChiefPuska said, “We have, in myopinion, the best equipped, thebest trained, and the best staffout of all of the community col-leges out there.”

You may wonder whatkind of credentials Puska has.Over thirty-one years as a lawenforcement officer, includingthree years as a Special Policeofficer in Danvers, shouldanswer that question. Puska hasalso been a certified firearmsinstructor for 20+ years, and isthe author of the FirearmManual for the Manchester

Police Department.Among those that

agree with Burton’s decision notto arm campus police are theChair of the Arming CampusPolice Committee: Trustee,Elizabeth Hogan, AlumniTrustee, Dr. Donna Costa,Trustee Joanne Fortunato, VicePresident of Saugus Bank,David McCoy, former Trusteeand former chair of TrusteesFinance Committee, andWilliam J. Chemelli, Chair ofMiddlesex Community CollegeBoard of Trustees and formerBelmont Deputy Police Chief.

But many collegeshave already made the move.Massasoit Community CollegeChief Christopher Cummingsand his team have been armedfor over a decade now. They arethe only Massachusetts commu-nity college that has an armedcampus police department.

Community Servicecan be many things. It can be aform of punishment to atone forone’s missteps. It can be a

requirement of a government orschool to encourage citizens andstudents to help others.Foremost, it is a way of helpinganother person and, regardless

of the reasons that led one to it,a way to explore the depths ofone’s self.

Since Hurricane Kat-rina devastated the Gulf Coastin 2005 as the costliest storm inU.S. history, New Orleans hasbeen one of the largest impacted

cities in that region. Accordingto Census Bureau estimates,approximately 455,000 peoplecalled New Orleans (or NOLAas is commonly abbreviated)home one month before the hur-ricane hit. The following year’s

estimates had that figure at210,000 residents. The officialreport counted 343,829 in 2010,a 29 percent drop from the last

head-count in the year 2000.According to a 2010 study,approximately 50,000 homes inNew Orleans lay abandoned,more than 25 percent of allhomes in the city, with many ofthem being completely uninhab-

Few of us feel com-pelled to attend school eventswithout incentive. There isample reason why NSCC pro-vides these events. Events linkinformation between classes,completing a broad picture thatcan be applied to the workforce. They also provide extend-ed information on topics per-taining to our classes. Eventslike this one, for the BlackPlague, presented informationthat overlapped several topics.

Since my class had justfinished Chaucer, the reasonsfor me to attend were evident.The Black Plague was a majorinfluence on Chaucer’s works

and his daily life. During the14th century, the Plague killedoff 1/3 of the labor force, creat-

ing a demand. This demandgave light to the working class’importance; giving them lever-

age in a peasant rebellion. Fromthis arose the middle class, con-structing a different economy.

People also started to speak outabout their wages and condi-

• A Monthly Publication For The Students of North Shore Community College, Danvers, Lynn & Beverly, Massachusetts •

DECEMBER 2011

THE PENNONIS ONLINE AT:

northshore.edu/pennon

NOLA Service TripTo Make a Big Impact

Fall IDS Forumon the Black Plague

IINNSSIIDDEE::NSCC GetsActive!Page 2

Top TenSongs of2011Page 9

2 New ShortStoriesPage 11

Denise Kent“Class of2000”Page 16

BY NELSON BAKER

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

BY LYDIA WAHLFEATURES EDITOR

BY JESSIE PAIVAFACES IN THE HALL EDITOR

NSCC Unarmed

Kara Kaufman and Diana Davis

Members of NOLA

students working in New Orleans in 2010

As everyone gears upfor the last stretch of classes,labs, papers and exams, pleasetake a moment to be thankful foryour opportunity to be in schooland to hopefully have familysupport as well as the supportof all the staff here at theCollege. Personally I want towish everyone a pleasant holi-day and hope you enjoy theThanksgiving and upcomingWinter breaks.

If you have not regis-tered for your Winter/SpringJanuary semester please do soright away. Your advisor isexpecting to see you to sit downand review your academicgoals, your progress and theright course selection. Take

advantage of that opportunity.The Student Support andAdvising Center can assist youin finding out who your advisoris, as well as helping with advis-ing. Remember you must makepayment arrangements byDecember 7th at 5 PM or yourclasses may be dropped, andyou must pay or waive healthinsurance. The Web has fullinformation on all options formeans of payment.http://www.northshore.edu/financial_aid/payment_options.htmlhttp://www.northshore.edu/financial_aid/health_insurance.htmlCome in to one of theEnrollment Centers if you haveconcerns or questions on yourbill. There is also a group ofonline classes available to youin the January intersession

which can help you move for-ward to completion of your pro-gram in a more timely manner.Check those out when you areviewing course selection on theWeb page.

There are several char-itable collections occurring oncampus so watch for signs,notices and campus links. It isalways cheering when we try tobe thankful for what we do haveat this holiday time and remem-ber to help.

The Enrollment Cen-ters are moving to the NEWHeath Sciences and StudentServices building the week ofNovember 28th, so please visitus in our new and beautiful,green space ... but please bepatient as we transition to ournew location.Have a healthy winter!

PAGE 2 – NSCC PENNON

Deans CornerDR. JOANNE H. LIGHTDEAN OF ENROLLMENT SERVICES

The Student Govern-ment Association has developedmultiple goals for this schoolyear. One of the goals has beento put more of an emphasis oncommunity outreach in theareas where our campuses arelocated.

Our first inter-campus

community outreach initiativewas held on Saturday, October29, 2011 in Revere, MA. Fifteenstudents and faculty membersfrom both the Lynn and Danverscampuses participated in thebuilding of a children’s play-ground called Costa Park. Other

organizations and groups pres-ent included:• JetBlue Airlines (corporatesponsor for the park build)• Revere Neighborhood Dev-elopers (non-profit organizationgeared toward communitydevelopment)• KaBoom! (non-profit organi-zation dedicated to buildingparks around the country)• City of Revere official repre-sentatives• Revere High School• Local citizens

The Costa Park buildwas held from 8:00 a.m. toapproximately 3:00 p.m. Over200 volunteers were dividedinto multiple teams denoted bystickers with either Disney orcartoon characters on them.Each team was assigned a cap-tain to oversee details of thegroups’ progress. Members of

the organizations and groupspresent were randomly dividedup into teams with others fromdifferent organizations. Thisallowed NSCC students andfaculty to interact and becomeacquainted with other activeindividuals from various back-grounds. To sustain motivationand a positive atmospherethroughout the day, an outdoorDJ played up-beat, enthusiasticmusic which caused many vol-

unteers to dance during inter-vals of work! Lunch was pro-vided at the site at designatedtimes for each team.

The build day came toan end as all groups finishedtheir projects ahead of schedule.

A JetBlue Airlines representa-tive recognized NSCC studentsand faculty as being the mostenthusiastic and “danciest”group of the day. However,Costa Park is not finished! Thefinal phase of the park, Phase II,will be held in June of 2012,bringing the entire project tocompletion.

As a community col-lege it is important that weengage in development or vol-unteer initiatives in our sur-rounding areas. It not only givesstudents an opportunity to takewhat they have learned and uti-lize it outside of the classroom,it also reassures local citizensthat NSCC is a valuable asset inour community. Look for moreways that you can get involvedin our surrounding campusareas through volunteer initia-tives like this one!

BY CHRISTINA SIEBERTZSENATORSTUDENT GOVERNMENTASSOCIATION

NSCC students on the ride back from the Costa Park build

students and faculty event participants

NSCC Gets Active!

NOLA Service Trip Continued from Page 1

itable. These figures were gath-ered 5 years after the destructionand now, one year later, notmuch has changed.

With so many residentsstill displaced after 6 years theneed is as great as ever. TheLabor of Love Committee ofNorth Shore CommunityCollege, our very school, con-tinues to send volunteers toNOLA each year to assist withthe relief and rebuilding efforts.In attempt to qualify for thisservice trip, the essay and inter-view process endured is nerve-racking but to be selected is agreat honor. To help fund thevoyage, the students participatein several fundraisers includingYankee Candle sales, a benefitconcert given by the SqueezboxStompers (who also donatedenough CDs to distribute one toeach attendee!), a Comedy andPizza night at Prince Pizza, andstaffing the concession stand atthe school Performing ArtsCouncil’s 2011 production ofSinbad the Sinful. In addition toall this each student must pay aportion of their travel expenseand gladly do so, as each feelsprivileged to attend.

Moreover, studentsparticipate in an all-day trainingon Veterans Day, when theschool is closed and no otherstudents are found on the cam-pus. This training includesmany team-building activities,as the forthcoming journeypromises to be an experiencethat can shake a person at theircore. The importance of team-mates and togetherness isstressed by the student leaders(who direct most of the activi-ties). These student leaders havealready participated in the serv-ice trip the prior year and knowfirst-hand the challenges andrewards which will surface.Plus, the training prepares par-ticipants for sensible pointssuch as weather conditions, air-port and travel expectations, andpacking recommendations.

Other focal points ofthe training include a workshopcreated by the NationalCoalition Building Institute(NCBI) which is a leadershipdevelopment program dedicatedto the elimination of racism andother forms of oppression. Thisworkshop helps students tolearn about one another’s group

identities and to understand andrespect each person whetherthey regard the other as similaror different. Also, a film depict-ing the “FISH!” philosophy,which stressed serving others, isviewed by the students with aninteractive twist. FISH! has fourmain elements: 1) play (havefun with what you are doing); 2)make their day (serve and focuson the customer or person youare assisting); 3) be “there” (bein the moment, don’t get dis-tracted while transacting withone person); and 4) choose yourattitude (you have to get out ofbed everyday, choose to enjoyit!).

The NOLA expeditionwill transpire January 3 toJanuary 13 of 2012. We expectgreat success in rebuildinghomes for grateful residents justas has occurred for the previousfive years. If you wish to partic-ipate in the trip for 2013, keepan eye out for more informationin August/September 2012. Asalways, monetary donations areneeded and appreciated! If youwould like to donate, contactLisa Milso in Student Life.

“Follow and discovermy Barcelona,” are lyrics thatare featured in a movie Iwatched as a child. I felt it was

a fitting title for my cultureproject because my boyfriendand I were fortunate enough toget on a plane and travel toBarcelona, Spain. So I wouldlike to ask you to follow me anddiscover the Barcelona that I gotto know and experience somuch of. Barcelona is truly anenchanting city where artistsand sculptors flourished, tapaswere introduced, and gypsiescried out soul wrenching songsthat bred a culture so differentfrom my own. It is unlike anyplace I have ever traveled to,and the streets seem to comealive at night. During the day,wandering around the cobblestone streets, I learned to appre-ciate a culture and lifestyle thatwas so far from home. I willshare with you my experiencesof Barcelona as well as the his-tory of this magical city.

Pablo Picasso saidthat, “Art washes away from thesoul the dust of everyday life.”He happened to find some inspi-ration for his art in Barcelona.He split his prominent yearsbetween Paris, France andBarcelona, Spain. Pablo oftenreferred to Barcelona as his truehome. I can see why he felt thisway. One the third day of ourstay, I set out to find the Pablo

Picasso Museum. It took a littlewhile seeing as how I got lostbut was well worth the trouble.We were not allowed to takepictures inside the museumwhich disappointed me. The

name Picasso is his mother’smaiden name and it was consid-ered an insult that when Pablostarted becoming famous that hedropped his father’s identity andclaimed that of his motherinstead. He often painted hiswomen into his pictures in vari-ous ways. It was thought thatthe women could see them-selves fade from his artwork, aswell as his heart, and witnessanother woman take shape oncanvas. Picasso might havebeen at the top of the artistscene in Barcelona, howeverthis Catalonian city was nostranger to artistic genius.Antoni Gaudi blessed this fortu-nate city with plenty of originalarchitecture and buildings thatwould amaze just about any-body. On our fourth day, we hadrented bikes and set out to findthe famous La Sagrada Familia.We had been warned of the ter-ribly long lines and huge mass-es of people all gathering to geta chance to tour the building.Luckily for me, I had done myresearch and read that the mostsplendid part could be seenfrom the sidewalk….for free.What is most interesting aboutthis particular work of art is

María Full of Grace isa movie that takes place inColombia and the United States.The movie was outstanding andgave me a new respect for boththe Spanish language and whatmany people go through whencoming to this country.

It was written anddirected by Joshua Marston, anAmerican screenwriter anddirector. Marston won theIndependent Spirit Award forBest First Screenplay CatalinaSandino (who plays MariaAlvarez) won Best Actress atthe Berlin Film Festival.

I heard many good

reviews about the movie andhave always loved foreignfilms. I watched this movie withmy boyfriend, who is fromColombia and had seen itbefore. We watched it withoutsubtitles while he translatedwords I did not know.

The movie depictsrural, lower-class life inColombia. The main characteris a 17-year-old Colombian girl,María Álvarez, who works invery poor and dismal conditionsat a flower plantation. Herincome is essential to her fami-ly, sustaining an unemployedsister who is a single mother.

María becomes preg-nant by a man she does not love.

After unjust treatment from herboss, she quits her job despiteher family's intense disapproval.Soon after, she is offered a posi-tion as a drug mule. In despera-tion, she accepts the perilousoffer, and ingests 62 wrappedpellets of cocaine and flies toNew York City along with herclose friend Blanca.

In the suspensefulscene when María arrives atU.S. customs, she is almostcaught by officials who are sus-picious of her movements. Sheavoids being X-rayed due to herpregnancy, and her story that thefather of her child paid for herair ticket gets her through.

The drug traffickers

meet and collect María and sev-eral other Colombian drugmules. The girls are heldhostage in a motel room untilthey pass all the drug pellets.Fellow mule Lucy becomes sickwhen a drug pellet rupturesinside her. The traffickers cuther open to retrieve the drugpellets, ultimately killing her bydoing so. María persuadesBlanca to escape with her whenthe traffickers go to dumpLucy's body, escaping with thedrugs.

They have nowhere tostay and ultimately go to Lucy'ssister's house. Eventually, shefinds out that Lucy was mur-dered and throws them out.Blanca and María return the

drugs to the traffickers andreceive their money. As they areabout to board the plane back toColombia, María decides to stayin the United States.

The movie had me onthe edge of my seat and I foundthat I understood many of thewords without needing to relyon translation. Although itseemed that they spoke fast attimes, I know that it is actuallynormally-paced dialogue.

I found the themes inthe movie to be heart wrenchingand moving. The bravery thattMaria has to stay in the UnitedStates where everything is unfa-miliar is inspiring. Millions ofpeople long for an opportunityto have a better life. The UnitedStates is not perfect, but it offersbetter promise than inColombia.

Although drug traffick-ing is a serious and deadlycrime, it is easy to sympathizewith the character and under-stand the options she weighedwhen becoming a drug mule insearch for a better life for her-self and unborn child.

In the movie, the view-er sees the process of pelletmanufacturing, gag control toingest the drugs, the conse-quences of unintentionallyexpelling one, and the appallingrepercussions of a pellet that hasburst.

Drug trafficking is adangerous business. However,for those who make minimumwage, work extensive hours,and still can’t make ends meet;the amount of money you canmake by being a drug mule canbe too great a temptation to passup.

It was impossible to sitthrough the film and not beaffected by the characters. Theirpredicament was tragic andunfortunate but it is easy to seehow innocent and vulnerablepeople can be lured into thedrug world by the promise of abetter future.

Overall, I thought thismovie was a great story anddepicted the trials of an ordinaryLatin American girl coming toAmerica.


SSlliiccee ooff CCuullttuurree

BY JULIA JOHNSON

Maria Full of Grace(María llena eres de gracia)

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Catalina Sandino Moreno

“Seguir y DescubrirMi Barcelona”

BY SHANNON HORGAN

The Picasso Museum

Students may havenoticed from the countdown to asmoke-free college and our newHealth building that NSCC isgoing green. To parallel thiseffort, North Shore has also ini-tiated new environmentallyfocused courses.

Inspired by thePresident’s climate agreement,it requires participants to geartheir facility and curriculumtoward improving the environ-ment. Two professors in particu-lar, Greg Repucci, JoeModungno, and their coordina-tor Barbara Ikalainen have beenrallying teachers to join theenvironmental education force.They’re heading up the newGreen Curriculum class’ debut-ing spring semester.

The project started in2008, having a slow start butnow has thirty teachers andspans sixteen departments.Unfortunately this project is fac-ing a shortage of teachers.However, this means goodthings for students.

Professor Modugnopointed out that with thesecourses you will be signing upwith teachers who are creative,motivated, and enthusiastic. Theteachers who jumped right inare passionate about this topic.These teachers have reshapedtheir courses to meet certainrequirements, and have investedtheir time in educating studentshow to protect their environ-ment to prepare them for a newwork force. Here are some ofthe advantages students will getfrom taking these courses:* Students can complete theirrequired classes but with anenvironmental twist* A variety of new unique cours-es * Intro to Sustainable Living* Environmental Ethics* American Environmental His-tory, etc...See Below* Advantage above studentscoming from other communityor state colleges who haven'tinvested in this education* Puts students in league withlarger universities and collegeslike those in Boston* In some cases can get you out

of the classroom (working for anon-profit organic garden, arequirement in one of Repucci’sclass’)* Education on current issues,dangers to society, and possiblesolutions* Learn how to save money foryourself and your work place* Work places can hire someonewho is not only versed in theirprofession but also with envi-ronmental issues companies arefacing* Work with like-minded stu-dents motivated to make a dif-ference* Gain perspective on Dem-ocratic, activist, and worldlyresponsibility

When signing up forthese classes, make sure youreally scan the course descrip-tions. As of now there is no wayto filter them on our CourseSearch or anything that makesthem stand out. It should also berecognized by teachers at thebeginning of the semester andthrough their syllabus that theyare participating in GreenEnvironment Courses. This is

where education is heading. “We need environmen-

tal literacy,” Modugno said. AndRepucci’s idea is that the morethis spreads the bigger differ-ence can be made. However,Modungno’s quote from DavidOrr’s book “Earth in Mind”really hits the issue. Orr said,“By what is included or exclud-ed, students are taught that theyare part of or apart from the nat-ural world.”

This quote reflects howimportant it is that NSCC hasdecided to include natural worldeducation in its facility. Facultyvigor and Northshore’s invest-ing will ensure that students willget a step up in society and thework place.

Green CurriculumCourses offered at

NSCC:

* Composition 1* Composition 2: Literature andthe Environment* Computer Systems Develop-ment * Principles of Macroeconomics

* Materials Science* Advanced ESL Writing 1* Technology of Food Proces-sing* Environmental Science* Graphic Production * History of World Civilization1 * History of World Civilization2* Understanding Nutrition* Artistic Vision OL* Music and Healing* Introduction to SustainableLiving* Exploring the Landscape ofSustainability* American Literature 1:Colonial Period to the Civil War* American Literature 2: CivilWar to Modern Age* Literature of the AmericanPeoples 1: American IndianLiterature* Introduction to Sociology* Race, Gender, and Class* Speech* Environmental Ethics* American Environmental His-tory* Introduction to Statistics* Great Religions of the World


Students and staffreturning to NSCC campusesafter the holiday break willnotice a big difference. Smokingwill be prohibited in any build-ing or outdoor area owned orleased by NSCC, includingindoor facilities, campusgrounds, walkways and parkinglots. NSCC’s smoke-free policywill apply to all students, staff,faculty, contractors, vendors andvisitors. The only place thatsmoking will be allowed is inpersonal vehicles.

Many college depart-ments have been working thisfall to ease this transition to thegreatest extent possible. HealthServices offered and will con-tinue to offer a series of infor-mational sessions to help smok-ers quit. Workshops explore var-ious options available to quitsmoking including the use ofmedication, online support, self-hypnosis, tips to minimizeweight gain, reduce stress andincrease your success.

NSCC Health ServicesCoordinator Brianne Duffrenewed her hypnosis certifica-

tion and has been working withstudents and staff to help themprepare for the change.“Hypnosis is a natural state of“focused concentration.” Rec-ognized by the AmericanMedical Association, this safeand effective technique has beenproven to create positive changein one’s life. Instructions aredelivered to the subconsciousmind through the use of positivesuggestion. Focus areas couldinclude smoking, stress, obesityand other problems. Hypno-therapy enables the individual tochange habits, reduce stress andachieve goals which otherwisemight not be obtained throughordinary awareness,” Duffexplained.

The decision to gosmoke-free is an active responseto the fact that tobacco smoke isa proven health hazard to bothsmokers and non-smokers alike,and that tobacco use is the lead-ing cause of preventable deathin the United States. PresidentBurton says, “We are makingthis change because the collegeis committed to creating andproviding a safe and healthy

educational environment for allpeople who study, work andvisit our campuses. Creating asmoke free environment is alsoin keeping with the college’score values and strategic direc-tions of accessibility for all,respect and sustainability.

“College administra-tors understand the process ofachieving a 100 percent smoke-free environment will take timeand patience,” Burton said.“NSCC is committed to encour-aging and assisting students andstaff who wish to overcometheir dependence on tobacco byoffering cessation programs anda wide range of supportive sys-tems.

“The ultimate successof this policy will depend uponthe courtesy, respect, and coop-eration of users and non-users oftobacco products. All staff, stu-dents and faculty membersshare the responsibility of creat-ing a courteous atmosphere ofself-enforcement,” PresidentBurton concluded.

The Countdown is On…..NSCC Going Smoke-Free January 2012!

New “Green” Curriculum Courses Available

BY LYDIA WAHLFEATURES EDITOR


North ShoreUncensored

Vodka SoakedGummy Bears

The North ShoreUncensored column in theNorth Shore CommunityCollege Pennon Newspaperprovides educated harm reduc-tion responses and alternativeoptions to students who haveany questions related to sex,drugs, alcohol or any otherhealth concerns sent anony-mously to([email protected]). All responses concerning harmreduction, health, and safety fol-lows NSCC’s commitment totheir students and their wellbeing. If you have any questionsplease send them to the columnaddress. Your personal informa-tion will not be shared with any-one and you have the choice asto whether or not your questionwill be published.

Question:I have just recently

heard of a new trend where youcan actually soak gummy bearsin vodka. Can you tell me moreabout this and how it became sopopular?

NSU:Thank you for bringing

the vodka soaked gummiestopic into discussion for NorthShore Community CollegePennon readers. Vodka soakedgummy bears or any other type

of gummy treats are quicklybecoming a popular and cheapway to consume alcohol withoutthe intense alcohol taste.

There are tons ofvideos on YouTube showinghow to make the tasty treatswith only two ingredients need-ed- vodka and gummies. Thegummies can take shapes ofbears, worms, bottles, or justabout any other gummy shape.The gummies soak up the vodkaand become plump and extrajuicy.

The news and parentshave continually discussed theirconcern around students gettingdrunk at school with whatseems to be a simple averagetreat. However, even before thegummy soaked vodka fad therewere just regular fruit slicessoaked in vodka- such as orangeor apple slices. Students willalways find ways to consumedrugs and alcohol at school andthe question will be whether theschool penalizes the students orassists with discussions aroundsubstance use.

It is pretty simple tobecome drunk off of these cuteshaped gummies. So if you aregoing to consume alcohol in anyway, shape or form it is suggest-ed that you do it in a safe placewhere you cannot be arrestedfor public intoxication or possi-bly injure other people. Also,make sure you mix and createyour own drinks, gummies, orfruit slices. It is possible theymay still be laced with date rapedrugs.

that, Antoni Gaudi never got tofinish it. He died before it wasdone and it has taken over 100years to build….and it is not fin-ished yet either. Barcelona has abeauty all its’ own and I’d liketo thank Picasso for discoveringit himself and Gaudi for takingan active part in it.

One of the most com-

mon things to do when visitingthe city is take a tapas tour.Tapas are Spanish style appetiz-ers and a tapas tour is you pay aset amount and start off at onebar and have a drink over tapasand then advance onto anothertapas bar and so on. My favoritedish ended up being PatatasBravas, which is potatoes with aspicy sauce. According to leg-end this tradition started whenone of Spain’s kings was sickand had taken to eating smallmeals between wine. When hegot better he announced that no

taverns could serve wine with-out serving a little snack or“tapa.” Overall the tapas tradi-tion caught on and I foundmyself missing my PatatasBravas.

Another thing I missafter returning home is flamen-co. Flamenco is a style of musicthat became inspired by gypsies.

It originated in Andalusia, Spainbut it is still very popular inBarcelona. We managed to gettickets to a show at LosTarantos, which is the cities old-est flamenco club. I felt like Ihad stepped into another placeand time. It started with themjust playing the music for fla-menco with a special guitar anddrum. A woman clapped herhands to the beat as well asstomped her feet to the tune.Then a woman dressed in a longblack dress that emphasized hersmall waist and made her feet

disappear beneath the billowingskirt stepped out onto the stage.She began the traditional fla-menco dance and I believeeveryone’s breath in that roomstopped and just watched her.We watched her dance to a styleof music so different and roughto the ear than any other. At thesame time it was harmonious,that she could dance to thismusic that sounded like wound-ed gypsies crying out in thenight. It was a cultural experi-ence I won’t ever forget. Idownloaded a few flamencosongs when I returned home, soI could always remember theway that woman danced to thegypsy’s song.

“You can breathe in themusic the city makes”, lyricsfrom the same movie I watchedas a child. I could not havepicked a better way to describeit; I fell in love with this city andI think anyone who sets footthere will too. The culture is sodifferent from America that theyenjoy life in a way that I don’there. They can leave their hous-es late at night after a siesta andbe out till three in the morningand there is always something todo. The city almost neversleeps. I hope you enjoyed myBarcelona as much as I didmyself and it is definitely aplace to see for yourself.

tions. As Controller of Customs,Chaucer had a front seat to theeffects of The Black Plague onhis culture and in-turn his litera-ture. Nothing but this diseasecould have made it clear howirrelevant social stature was.The Plague attacked every classof people, unbiased to wealth orposition.

For those that missedthe presentation, here are somehighlights: The Black Plaguesurvives today as YersiniaPestis. Presently, the Plaguedoes not escalate because ofmodern science, antibiotics, andour immune systems. However,the very same Plague that pro-vided grotesque pictures in ourhistory classes is the very samethat exists today. As we learnedin the presentation it was ourimmune systems that devel-oped, not the virus.

Back in the old days,people believed things like badair, astrological signs, theJewish people, and even an evileye from someone could bringthe Plague on you. These out-landish ideas were precededwith even more logical reme-dies: bleeding people till theypassed out, breathing good air,quarantine, fleeing the area, andeating or not eating excessively.

The presenters, Professors KaraKauffman and Diana Davis,were able to tie in several edu-cational aspects into their pres-entation. They touched on theirown subjects of history and sci-ence. Through these topics, stu-dents can see how the Plaguehas affected literature, econom-ics, and public speech.

These presentationsdemonstrate how a subject wethought was irrelevant to ourmajor could be very influential.Diana Davis dutifully showedus some beautiful pictures ofbulbous sores indicating thePlague. Kara Kaufman has avery interesting map thatdemonstrated the Plague’sspread. This inspired manyquestions in the audience.

As we watched thePlague consume the map, oneplace smack dab in the middleremained untouched, Cracow.One man stood and said hebelieved this was due to theregion being left out of the traderoute. This man also asked whythe Plague came to a stop. Davisanswered that some people werealready starting to fight it offand boost their immunity.Kaufman and Davis created anengaging presentation, educat-ing an academically diverse

group. I caught up with

Professor Kaufman at the end ofthe presentation with one ques-tion in mind. What inspired youand Professor Davis to createthis presentation? I believedthere must be some sort ofincentive from the school andmused that they were assign-ments thought up by the Dean.However, she started by tellingme that their offices were notorganized by departments. Thisexplained the history and sci-ence collaboration. As odd asthis seems, by doing this NSCCconnects its teachers outside oftheir field. This inspired Davisand Kaufman to create this pres-entation in which they foundcommon ground.

Thank you to Profes-sors Kaufman and Davis forputting together this event. Theevent provided information rel-evant to several classes and aninteresting and realistic insightinto the experience. It is a testa-ment that the event is relevant toso many classes.

Forums can be useful to stu-dents with essays, finals, or forextra credit. You can check outNoodle Bib, on our librarieswebsite, for help with citing.

Fall IDS ForumContinued from Page 1

Mi BarcelonaContinued from Page 3

The Museum of Art and the Magic Fountains of Montjuic

Being a smaller institu-tion, there is much more oppor-tunity to get to know people.North Shore CommunityCollege has always encom-passed that traditional close-knitfeeling where everyone seemsto know each other, making it afun, easygoing place that youdon’t always want to leave atthe end of the day. VictoriaPasciuto, advisor of studentactivities, is quite the leader,and quite the professional, butshe embodies a kind, yet moti-vating spirit that has kept thattradition alive.

When Pasciuto was astudent at NSCC, she was urgedto join the Pennon by John Duff,the advisor at the time. Sheimmediately loved it, and soonbecame Editor-in-Chief. “It gotme out of my shell,” Pasciutoadmitted. “It was really a coolexperience.”

After graduating with aLiberal Arts degree, Pasciutoreceived a bachelor’s in Historyat Gordon College. By this time,she had become attached to col-lege life. “It was what initiallyshaped my desire to become a

Higher Ed professional,”Pasciuto said. Soon after, atSalem State College, shereceived her masters in HigherEd. She was only 23.

During her time in col-lege, Pasciuto had been a tutorat NSCC, as well as a tour guideand an orientation ambassador.She was then given an opportu-nity to work in the institutionaladvancement office, where she

was “exposed to a multitude ofopportunities.” She worked inareas dealing with outreach,politics, and fundraisers. When the advisor positionopened, Pasciuto jumped at thechance. She now overseesProgram Council, the Pennon,Project Unity (formerly theWomen’s Center), and justrecently, the Student

Nothing says winterlike a cup of hot chocolate bythe fire and nothing is as perfectas a complete picture. Completeyour winter scene with anadopted cat curled up by the fireand make everyday this winterand in winters to come full oflove. Each day will be like apicture print by Currier and Ivesand all you have to do is simple,adopt an adorable cat.

This month I have fea-tured two cats who can mostcertainly be adopted separatelyas they do not even know eachother. Ashy and Heather are justtwo of the 38 cats PAWS cur-rently has in their all volunteerfoster home network.

Ashy

About Ashy* Status: Available for Adoption(adoption info)

* Species: Cat* Rescue ID: C110086* General Color: Brown * Color: Bicolor* Current Age: 5 yrs 10 mths(best estimate)* Declawed: No* Housetrained: Yes

More about Ashy

Ashy is a fun, inde-pendent female dancing queen-who loves to frolic and is insearch of her life-long dancingpartner(s). “I am comfortable inmy own fur and know my likesand dislikes. Words to describeme include playful (I love agood game of fly stalking),adventuresome (surprising for acat, I do enjoy playing in water),happy, and affectionate. I preferloving on my terms and willdefinitely let you know when Iwant more or less. Ahhh, whatcan I say but nothing wrongwith a female that knows whatshe wants. That being said, Iwould do best in a home with"older" children.

“My talents includejumping to the highest spot inthe room as I love the view fromup there and my now famoussquiggle dance. I will definitelylet you know how happy I am tosee you by squiggling around,almost to the point off falling

out of my seat (check out myvideo).” You get bonus points as mymatch if you:1. Can turn on the faucet so Ican play2. Enjoy a good squiggle dance3. Have some high places inyour house

Heather

About Heather* Status: Available for Adoption(adoption info)* Species: Cat* Rescue ID: C110146* General Color: Gray andWhite* Color: White with gray patch-es / Bicolor* Current Age: 9 yrs 7 mths(best estimate)* Declawed: No* Housetrained: Yes* Good with Dogs, Good withCats, Good with Kids

More About Heather

Heather is an affec-tionate lady who appreciates acozy spot to sleep in, a goodmeal, and a daily dose of lovingfrom her human companions.Having lived all her life withher brother, Toby Too, shewould love to find a home thatcan take both of them.However, she is also open tobeing the only cat in the house-hold, or a companion for anoth-er laid back kitty.

Please check out thePAWS web site athttp://pawswakefield.rescuegroups.org or visit us on Facebookthere are additional photos ofboth of these girls and videos ofAshy.


Paws Picksof the Month

BY TANYA GREEN

Spotlight CornerNSCC Staff

BY NELSON BAKER

Victoria Pasciuto

Unarmed Continued from Page 1

When I asked how he felt abouthis team being armed comparedto when they were not,Cummings replied, “We don’tthink anything of it.”

With news of campusshootings on the rise, it is a no-brainer that the safety of the col-lege should be most important.Shouldn’t the next logical stepfor all institutions be to takeheed of these tragic stories ofcampus shootings and preparethemselves too?

Dan Baer of the DailyItem recounted in a February16, 2008 article that DistrictAttorney Jonathon Blodgett wasonce against arming of campuspolice in schools. Blodgettdecided to amend his views,stating, “Times have changed.”

President Burton ack-nowledged something veryimportant back in a FebruaryPennon article. He said, “Rightnow, if there is a shooting oncampus, our police are orderedto immediately exit the buildingand then call local police. Thattakes time.”

An incident takes justminutes to become a seriousproblem, and if those minutesare wasted by ordering our ownofficers to get out of the build-ing, away from the situation, itcould mean more are hurt.There is no guarantee that alocal officer will arrive beforethe damage is done.

Christine Hauser of the

New York Times stated thatSeung-Hui Cho, the shooter atVirginia Tech, killed 30 peopleover a 9-minute span, firingover 170 rounds, and this wasafter killing two others at a near-by dormitory.

There are, at all times,officers on hand here at the col-lege, and it is not an enormouscampus. Officer assistance isreadily available. “We know thebuilding, we know the people,and we are here,” Chief Puskasaid.

Despite being a highlyrespected college with a calm,cool atmosphere, there havebeen at least three NSCC stu-dents that were arrested forhaving “an arsenal of weapons.”They are described in Puska’s“Pilot Project,” along with aLynn Campus officer being shotat three times on March 3, 1997.This incident took place withinthe MBTA building where noone was hurt, but the shooterwas never caught.

Also stated in the PilotProject is a quote from DanversChief of Police Neil F. Oullette.He said, “The Danvers PoliceDepartment clearly wouldrespond to any call on yourcampus, but the time it wouldtake for responding units toarrive may result in the needlessdeath of student and faculty.”

On February 28 of thisyear, a malfunction in the NSCCspeaker system triggered a false

alarm. An automated messageannounced there was a shooteron campus. According toPresident Burton, local policearrived just minutes later,though the exact arrival timecannot be determined becauseboth the Danvers and StatePolice have no record of it.

“There are many rea-sons why a call is not logged,”said Trooper Todd Nolan of theMassachusetts State Police. “Itcould just be that there was acallback, because it was a falsealarm.”

President Burton notedin a Board of Trustees meetingthat there are “more problemsthan plusses,” concerning thearming of campus police. ThePilot Program was supposed tobe a work-in-progress, with reg-ular evaluations conducted.Changes by Burton himselfcould be implemented upon hisrequest.

Other campuses haveworked through their own“problems” in their transitioninto arming their campus police.Many would argue that, now,they are safer institutions.

Timing is important.Maybe it is not the right time forNSCC to arm campus police.We must rely on those above usto make the right decisions, andthese kinds of decisions arenever easy to make. As saidbefore, the safety of the collegeshould be the biggest concern.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Government Association. Eachorganization has its own list ofobjectives and needs, and sheclosely supports them accord-ingly. She also works withJoanne Light, Dean ofEnrollment, coordinating thePresidential Scholars program,and finally, organizes the tour

guide committee.It’s always interesting

to discover what someone is allabout, what makes them whothey are. Pasciuto likes to havediscussions about things that“really make you think deeply.”

“I like having heated conversa-tions just for fun,” sheexplained. Pasciuto is also awriter, and feels that “the powerof the written word is amazing.” But what really motivates herare the students. “I love seeing astudent a little nervous, and alittle scared, and then later see-

ing them walk across the stageat graduation,” Pasciuto said.She works tirelessly, encourag-ing her students to challengethemselves at all angles. “I likebeing able to think outside thebox and push the boundaries ofmy own comfort level.”Knowing what this has done for

her, she pushes her students todo the same. Pasciuto certainly seems to havecirculated a lot of that “deepthinking” that has become a sta-ple in her life. New ideas con-tinue to emerge from her stu-

dents, with new challengesbeing taken on, and though thisgives her even more to do, it hasalso given her satisfaction. Shecalls it “good stress,” and itreminds her that she must bedoing something right. Victoriais truly a valuable asset to thiscollege.


We need your written opinionsto fill up this page!

Send us your opinion about anything! Up to 500 words. Preferably in MS Word Document.Send to [email protected] It will be edited for spelling and grammar. Opinions and editorials

are not necessarily those of The Pennon.

Spotlight CornerContinued from Page 6

From the cradle to thegrave, our lives are driven byhow we perceive the worldaround us. We are born to abright, illuminating explorationof endless exotic objects andunusually interesting big peoplewho seem to be everywhere.Gradually, we become familiarwith those objects and get toknow the people surroundingus. Yet, as we grow into youngadults, we confront more andmore unknown wonders, ideas,relationships. But then some-where along the way, most of usare hypnotized by the tradition-al construction of an aging man– that we must follow the orderof procedures and grow old, too.That we have no choice but tofollow suit, because that is sim-ply the way it is. And then thatsearch for wonder, for some-thing new, begins to tragicallyfade away. But this is a disheart-ening ruse, and many of us havebeen fooled, blinded from thetruth.

As a teenager, it wasdifficult to see the elderly haveso much trouble simply walkingfrom their car to the front doorof a restaurant. I watched withmy stomach tightly bound, hop-ing that they would make itinside safely, and not trip andthen collapse to the hardground, breaking... everything.The thought of becoming likethis later in life terrified me, andI tried and failed to avoid payingparticular attention to older peo-ple; they fascinated me. Ithought, there must be someway to grow old, but not growold. I had to find out, so I beganasking questions.

Over the next tenyears, I made it a point to talk topeople about this topic, and con-tinued to pay attention to whatpeople said around me concern-ing the issue of aging. One mid-dle-aged man stated, ratherangrily, that it is just not possi-ble to slow the aging process bycontinuing to work out, or thatolder people could maintain anykind of real strength and agility.He affirmed that I will find outmyself when my time comes,and then I will understand.Another man, only 33,

announced during a Taekwondoclass, “ I can’t do it like I couldwhen I was 25. What I wouldn’tgive to be that age again.” Areyou kidding me? At 33 yearsold? By saying this, he hasalready begun to give up on hisabilities, and is locked into aself-created life-long downwardspiral.

The human body is noself-lubricating mechanicalwonder, but it can sustain along, healthy life so long as youtake care of it. We all know thatour bodies change whether welike it or not, but it is very grad-ual, and can be slowed, adaptedto, or if you are truly motivated,improved, with age. Many peo-ple have proven this, includingTsutomu Tosaka, a Japanese

bodybuilding champion, who, at74, looks amazing(Vikingbodybuilding.com).

Not all of us aim tocompete, but people like Tosakashould prove to the world thatanyone is capable of living nodifferent than when they were25. It should make little differ-ence that the Japanese areknown to be healthier and moreactive then Americans. Whyshould we make excuses in thefirst place? We can always learnto eat healthier, and make moreof an effort to find the time to beactive.

After all, being activeis what makes us really feelalive, isn’t it? Maybe it is themost important thing we can do,because when we feel strongmentally and physically, whenwe feel capable and aging hasn’tdistorted our way of thinking,

then anything is possible. Evenif we are successful, feelinghealthy in these ways will instilleven more passion into what wewant to accomplish. It will keepthat fire burning.

In an article by JeffryLife, M.D., Ph.D. titled “Fitnessto Stay Strong at Any Age: Howto Stop Getting Old,” he talksabout how he went from“exhausted to exhilarated,” andat 72, feels better than ever. Helearned that his hormone andtestosterone levels were verylow, and he countered this prob-lem by taking the right supple-ments. Just as a schizophreniccan find the right pills that willregenerate normal chemicalactivity in the brain, a person ofany age can counter many defi-

ciencies with exercise and, ifnecessary, supplements.

Who wants that sad-ness that seems to create a darkcloud over so many people asthey age? Who wants thatsilence and loss of creativity andimagination? Who wants to feelweak, frail, and helpless? Noneof us do, of course, and we canoften avoid all of these things.The truth is inside you, not whatyou see around you. It beginswith the decision to want to liveyour life like you always didbefore, and the will to take thatfirst step outside your front doorin the morning and look up tothe sky as that brisk, startlingwinter air hits your face. Is theresomething out there for you?The answer does not depend onyour age. It depends on you.

The Excitement of Life: At Any Age

BY NELSON BAKER

Tsutomu Tosaka, 74 years old

Left to right, from bottom: Konstantine Papageorgiou, HudsonHenriques, Victoria Pasciuto, Ryan Nolan, John Hruska, and NickLovasco at the Capitol in Washington, DC.

John Hruska, Victoria Pasciuto, Nicole Saraceno, and CarloLovasco at a NACA conference

We saw DustinHoffman in “Tootsie”; ThenRobin Williams in “Mrs.Doubtfire”; and now AdamSandler in “Jack & Jill.”

Sandler’s brand of comedynever seems to get old. Youalways see him getting punchedin the face or picking fights withother characters, and he willstill be the family man.

However, withSandler, it is always the samecomic laughs and the same face;he does not challenge himself totake different approaches in hismovies. Not to mention, healways recruits his usual pals tobe in his movies, like AllenCovert, Rob Schneider, PeterDante, and others.

This marks the seventhtime that Adam Sandler andcomic director Dennis Duganworked together and they areeither making movies that aregetting worse or Sandler justhas a special gift with scoring atthe box-office. “Just Go WithIt” and “Grown-Ups,” the lasttwo movies they did together,grossed over $200 millionworldwide, but “Jack and Jill”only made $25 million its open-ing weekend.

This time, Sandler por-trays twin siblings JackSadelstein, the family-man andLA advertisement executive,and Jill Sadelstein, the annoy-ing, single twin sister. Yeah!You get to see Sandler in adress.

The story takes placeduring the holidays where Jackhas to suffer another painfulvisit from his twin sister, whocomes to LA every Thanksgiv-ing and tends to drive Jackcrazy. Oh yeah! Jill also has a

bad habit of overstaying herwelcome so she ends up spend-ing the remaining year with hertwin brother, his beautiful wife,and their two kids. By doing so,Jack sees an opportunity forhimself at work.

Jack’s current job cri-sis is trying to get Al Pacino toappear in a Dunkin Donutscommercial to feature their new“Dunkaccino.” Cappuccino! AlPacino! So trying to convincehim, Pacino then falls for Jilland then Jack uses her excuse tostay in LA so Pacino can say“yes” to Jack’s commercial.“When I look at her, I see me.”Al Pacino, referring to the factthat he grew up in The Bronxand that is where the characterJill is visiting from.

It is one thing thatSandler is playing two roleswhich doubles the laughter, butall the celebrity guest appear-ances as themselves is an evengreater part of the hilarity.Names like Regis Philbin,Shaquille O’ Neal, Drew Carey,Michael Irvin, Johnny Depp,and of course Al Pacino.

It is hard picturingPacino in an opera with a voicelike his while thinking of hisunforgettable “Scarface” role.At the end of the movie, we seethe Dunkin Donuts commercialwhere he is singing and jumpingon and off the front counters. Ijust died from laughter. It is justhard to see him in a comedyafter years of playing men ofpower and/or great authoritylike “Heat” or “Donnie Brasco.”How was he convinced to star inthis movie? I am stumped.

$25 million; AdamSandler; double the acting; AlPacino on stage; this movie washorribly funny.

Birth Date Name Age December 3, 1985 Amanda Seyfried (In Time) 26December 4, 1949 Jeff Bridges (Tron: Legacy) 62December 13, 1989 Taylor Swift (Back To December) 22December 17, 1975 Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil) 36December 21, 1948 Samuel L. Jackson (The Avengers) 63December 29, 1972 Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes) 39January 5, 1975 Bradley Cooper (The Hangover) 37January 7, 1964 Nicolas Cage (National Treasure) 48January 13, 1966 Patrick Dempsey (Grey’s Anatomy) 46January 17, 1962 Jim Carrey (Yes Man) 50January 28, 1981 Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings) 31January 31, 1981 Justin Timberlake (In Time) 31Facts:- Announcements have been made for Milla Jovovich to appear in a fifth Resident Evil movie; releasedate has been set for September 14, 2012.- Nicolas Cage is making a comeback for Ghost Rider fans with a sequel coming out February 17, 2012.- The Farrelly Brothers have stated that they are going forward with a second Dumb & Dumber, and hope-fully that means reuniting Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels together.- Reminder: Patrick Dempsey announced that season eight of Grey’s Anatomy will be his last one for him.


Celebrity Birthdays (Decemeber/January)BY NICK STILIANOS

Jack and JillMovie Review

BY NICK STILIANOS

Pan’s LabyrinthMovie Review

This is a fairy taletelling a fairy tale. You have towatch it to understand that. Themovie takes place in Spain,around 1944, during the fascisttimes.

The main characterOfelia is sent with her pregnantmother to live with her newstep-father. He is the captain ofthe Spanish army. He is thecharacter in this movie that youlove to hate because he caresabout no one but himself and hisarmy, kind of like their SpanishHitler.

One night, Ofeliameets a fairy who takes her toan old faun in the middle of theLabyrinth. A faun is a forestgod. The faun tells her she is aprincess and that she has tocomplete three very hard tasksto prove her royalty. If she failsjust one task, she will neverbecome a princess and see herreal father, The King.

Guillermo Del Torodirected and wrote this movie.Anybody that has to sit andwatch any movie with subtitlesmay think it’s going to be bor-ing, but trust me, this movie isworth seeing a few times.

The theme of Pan’sLabyrinth mixes reality and fan-tasy, and shows what happens

when they cross sides. It alsotouches on the ability to findyour true home through all theobstacles life throws at you.

When Ofelia goes onthe three tasks, the movie startsto get really good and you findyourself forgetting that you arereading subtitles.

The characters in thismovie really keep you interest-ed. There are humans, fairies,and forest gods, and a creaturethat has no eyes and talks with aweird accent. The faun is astrange, magical creature whoguides Ofelia to the fantasyworld. This is the character withno eyes.

Captain Vidal, Ofelia’sstep-father is a cruel person. Heshows no sympathy and showsno emotion. All he wants is tohave his son with Ofelia’s momso he can raise him to become agreat soldier, just like him.

Other characters thatplay key roles are Mercedes andDoctor Ferreiro. Mercedes isVidal’s housekeeper. She reallyhates him and hates the way hetreats people, especially herbrother. Doctor Ferriero assistsMercedes, who aids the rebelsbehind Vidal’s back. After wordgets around that he has beenhelping the rebels, Vidal shootshim.

This movie jumps backand forth from fairy tales towars to action. It makes youwant to watch it again. I readreviews online about the end ofthe movie, and that a lot of peo-ple cried in theaters.

The fact that this is afairy tale telling a fairy talemakes it a unique movie. I rec-ommend this movie to anybodyEven though it has subtitles, youwill forget that they are there tenminutes into this movie.

BY CHRIS CORRICELLI

Faun

Pale Man

Adam Sandler, as both Jack, and sister Jill


My Top Ten Songs of 2011Battlefield 3Video Game Review

Battlefield 3 is the lat-est game released by developerDICE and publisher ElectronicArts. Announced in February ofthis year, Battlefield 3 was oneof the most anticipated first per-son shooters of 2011, and close-ly followed by many first per-

son shooter fans. Touting a beautiful

destruction-based engine, cine-matic campaign, and innovativemultiplayer, many thought itwould be the best first personshooter to release this year. Allin all, Battlefield 3 is an amaz-ing first person shooter and oneof the must-buy games of 2011.

Battlefield 3’s multi-player option is the main attrac-tion in this game. Make no mis-take, this game’s multiplayerdoes live up to the hype, if youknow what to expect. Battle-field 3 is a slower-paced gamethan many of its competitors,and even in team deathmatch, itis not a run-and-gun shooter. Itrequires some degree teamworkand cooperation to win, witheach of the four unique classesplaying their respective roll.Battlefield 3’s best mode is con-quest. In this game mode, theobjective is for your team tocapture and hold as many objec-tives as possible. Each team hastwo hundred and fifty “tickets,”each representing one soldier’slife. When one team runs out oftickets, they lose.

To add another layer ofdepth, the team with fewer heldobjectives slowly loses tickets.With tanks, jets, helicopters,and jeeps to use as attack andtransport vehicles on land, morethan sixty weapons to use, fullydestructible environments, andhuge, well-designed maps madefor this game mode, conquest isan amazingly fun game modewhere Battlefield 3 truly shines.

Conquest, however, isnot the only great game modefor Battlefield 3. There is alsorush mode, where the objectiveis to either arm, or defend frombeing armed, multiple sets of 2charges. Each set of charges isconfined to a small area of themap you are playing on, makingthe action much more frequentand heavy than in most of theconquest maps.

The attacking teamstarts out with 75 tickets; if theyrun out of tickets, they lose. Ifthey successfully destroy the 2objectives, they move on to thenext set, continuing in this pat-

tern until they have destroyedall of the sets, winning thematch. This is a smaller gamemode with smaller maps, fewervehicles, and more concentratedaction. It is also superb andimmensely enjoyable to play,but some of the maps aren’tdesigned for rush and conse-quently are not quite as enjoy-

able to play on. Also, the scaleof rush is smaller than conquest,given the greatly reduced maparea and fewer vehicle count.Scale is one of the main benefitsof conquest and, to an extent,the game, as whole. Battlefield3 also features team and squaddeathmatch, modes in which theobjective is for your team/squadto get the most kills. These arenice additions; good for playerswho are less interested in objec-tive-based modes and just wantto kill people.

The campaign, while anice diversion from the multi-player, is nothing special. Itdoes contain an interesting, ifnot derivative story, in whichyou play primarily as a mannamed Henry Black, a sergeantbeing questioned about his timein the military. You experiencethe story in the form of recollec-tions and descriptions of keyevents.

The story mode, whilevery cinematic and at timesthrilling, is also linear and thedestruction is very limited incomparison to the multiplayer.Usually taking around 6-8 hoursto play through, It’s somethingthat is amusing to play, but isdefinitely of the game’s ultimateweaknesses and pales in com-parison to the game’s superbmultiplayer.

Battlefield 3 also fea-tures a very enjoyable co-opmode, in which you and a part-ner work your way through var-ious levels similar to the cam-paign, albeit more free anddiverse. It’s a nice addition thatadds a fair amount of replayvalue to the game.

Battlefield 3 is anamazing overall package. Withtruly superb multiplayer thatwill hold your attention formonths, an enjoyable, if under-whelming, single player mode,and fun co-op, it’s an amazinggame that is among the best tocome out this year. I wouldwholeheartedly recommend thatanyone who is even somewhatinto shooters buy this game. Ona scale of 1-10, I would give thegame a score of 9.5.

BY CALVIN GIL

#10. “Making Promises” –Indigo Girls

Amy Ray and EmilySaliers formed the folk rock duoIndigo Girls in 1985 and haveenjoyed a long and successfulcareer, selling over 7 millionalbums worldwide while active-ly supporting several politicaland environmental causes.“Making Promises,” off theirnew album Beauty QueenSister, is a testament to thesingers’ genuine talent. Ray andSaliers have a real gift forenchanting harmonies andevocative lyrics that pull you inand keep you listening.#9. “Sad Song” – The Cars

One of 2011’s mostpleasant surprises in the worldof music was the return ofBoston’s own New Wave pio-neers, The Cars. Known forsynth-heavy pop classics like“Just What I Needed” and “MyBest Friend’s Girl,” the bandparted ways in 1988 but reunit-ed in 2010 to record Move LikeThis, their first album in 24

years. Lead single “Sad Song”hit the airwaves in March and,with its danceable groove andprominent synthesizer, foundthe band picking up right wherethey left off.#8. “I Might” – Wilco

Alt-rock act Wilco hasbeen plugging away since 1994,when it sprang from the ashes ofthe band members’ previousgroup Uncle Tupelo. The grouphad a sizable radio hit this yearwith “I Might,” the first singlefrom their latest offering TheWhole Love. The song starts offwith a brisk, jangly rhythmbefore ramping up with heavilydistorted guitars, a merry-sounding organ, and an artfullyplaced xylophone. #7. “Options” – Gomez

Perhaps the catchiesttune of the past 12 months cameto us via Gomez, the Englishindie rock outfit behind songslike “See the World” and“Airstream Driver.” Althoughbetter known in the UK, wherethey’ve had a string of hits, the

band has gained a followingstateside, cracking the Billboard200 with each of their last fouralbums. “Options,” off their 7thLP Whatever’s On Your Mind,is a whole lot of fun, sportingrollicking verses, an energetichorn section, and a soaring cho-rus.#6. “Faster” – MattNathanson

Nathanson, a Mass-achusetts native, seems to havefound the perfect recipe forbreezy, uptempo pop-rocktunes. He scored a big hit in2008 with “Come On GetHigher,” but the singer has actu-ally been active in the music bizsince 1993. “Faster,” the firstsingle off his 2011 albumModern Love, is a delightfulconcoction of choppy guitarriffs, a salsa-esque beat, andNathanson’s exuberant croon-ing.#5. “Lost In My Mind” – TheHead and The Heart

An indie-folk act fromthe Pacific Northwest, TheHead and the Heart formed in2009 and have made quite aname for themselves in the twoyears since, singing to Sub Pop

Records, earning the title“Seattle’s Best New Band” froma local magazine, and perform-ing on Conan O’Brien’s late-night show. If you haven’t heardany of their music, “Lost” is anexcellent introduction to theband’s sweeping, wistful soundand graceful harmonies.#4. “Barton Hollow” – TheCivil Wars

An alt-country duohailing from Nashville, TheCivil Wars burst onto the scenein early 2011 with their debutalbum Barton Hollow and wonpraise for their full-bodiedsound. From the moment itopens with a powerful harmonybetween singers Joy Williamsand John Paul White, the titletrack goes right for the jugularwith a gritty, snarling rhythmthat, for a band named after a19th-century conflict, soundsappropriately rustic.#3. “Calamity Song” – TheDecemberists

Portland-based indie-folk rockers The Decemberists

made a big splash this year withtheir sixth LP The King Is Dead,which peaked at #1 on thealbum charts in February. Whenpicking my favorite song fromthe album, it was a tough callbetween “Calamity” and themelancholy “Down by theWater,” but in the end the for-mer’s thumping beat, catchyguitar hooks, and oddball com-bination of apocalyptic lyricsand a sunny melody won meover.#2. “Pumped Up Kicks” –Foster the People

If you were near aradio at any point this past sum-mer or fall, odds are you heardthis creepy little ditty a time ortwo. Featuring dark lyrics, aprowling bass line, and infec-tious bullhorn vocals, “Kicks”became that rare crossoversmash, receiving heavy rotationon rock stations before climbingthe pop charts. Seeminglyinescapable by September, thetune peaked at #3 on the Hot100 and has become a staple ofpopular media, appearing ineverything from Entourage toFright Night.#1. “Someone Like You” –

AdeleWith two #1 singles,

13 weeks atop the Billboard200, and over 10 million albumssold, nobody had a more suc-cessful 2011 than British singer-songwriter Adele. Already a ris-ing star after winning the 2009Grammy for Best New Artist,the 23-year-old diva’s famereached new heights with hersophomore album 21, and it’seasy to hear why. In an age ofmanufactured pop stars andgrating, Auto-Tuned choruses,Adele’s heart-wrenching lyricsand soulful voice are at oncetimeless and a breath of freshair.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

“Holdin On To Black Metal” –My Morning Jacket“Perfume” – The Old 97’s“Helplessness Blues” – FleetFoxes“From Above” – Ben Folds“Na Na Nothing” – MikeDoughty

BY ANTHONY HARRISPOLITICAL SCIENCE EDITOR

Clockwise from the top left: The Cars, The Decemberists, Foster the People, Adele

PAGE 10– NSCC PENNON

WWRRIITTIINNGGCCRREEAATTIIVVEE

“Merry ChristmasNahant!”A Euology An Exhibit of

LandscapesBY DEB SCARFO

On silent shores she stands, breaking me down to soft grains, crystallized cold from tides of time. For years, I dug my feet in to see how far I could go.Wiggling her warm between my toesI would brush her off, but she stuckin broken clumps, for better or worse, sickness and in health, itchyon my skin, ruining my lunch of leisure.So different were we. I remember the days she shined warm gold. I drankher in greedily, for she came but oncea year, if I was lucky. So transient she wasin those days. She would bring her chairof red, add fluffy whites, making it pretty-in-pink. Today, only brilliant blues prevail leaving sand in my eyes, grittystill after all these years. A child shouts,don’t step on a crack, you’ll breakher back. Help me jump higher, standtaller and I will rise above hercrashing crests—banging breakers full speed ahead. So cautiouswas her devotion. She chose to tread lightly, her head bobbing; the pearlmarble shot into my inner circle.I guess I was not meant to beher diamond in the rough. She should have known to blow the whistle when I driftedout too far, for now I may never return.Nor shall she, for her shine has been stolenby seagulls kept still by broken wings that never healed. She searches the wind these days, I imagine, for golden nuggets left behind by strangers she chooses over me, abandoned again. Our castle crumbled long ago,stomped on by angry combers walking by,witnessing our deck of cards sinking. Now, soft sand sifts through my fingers, stone-smooth.

BY MARY ANN HONAKER

The landscapes didn't do it for me.I liked the fallen tree in the rocky glen,the massed weeds with sun-nicked leaves,the startled winter trees black against bleached light and snow,the pale sunless sunsetmirrored in frozen rivulet.

But I wanted to walk into a fresh world. The rainjust ceased; colors bright, clean.Pearled petals and leavesbowing to let sliptears then tremblingup again. Instead my eyes left

the same as my eyes before.I can haze the distant hillson my own, can peer offand lose any definite horizon.I can step back and castit all in golden glow.This I know, painters,thisI know

so teach me insteadthe love of one leaf.One leaf bitten throughby bug. One leaf the light loves so, and frankly spineswith shine. Teach me

how lovely the shaded underside.

BY ROZI THEOHARI

The last verse of a Longfellow poemdedicated to Nahant

Seven nights before ChristmasIn the evening – December 19, 2009—the roadsOf Nahant—flashing with lights—The annual Christmas Parade—deafening Full of cheers, car horn noises, carol melodies.Nahanters salute from the walkwaysIn front of their decorated wreathed doors…

On such a night –a Christmas PartyAt the almost 200-year-old Jenkins’ Hill HouseInvited Islanders celebrating…Seated near the fiercely burning fireplaceI am attracted by a huge lady’s portraitIn a large gold ornamental frame.Her dress striped green and grayWith a delicate white lace open collar,Wearing a diamond brooch. She looks at me with dark brown eyesHer face rose-red from the fire’s waves:“Welcome to the Jenkins’ house”—her voiceechoes—“If I could, I would be playing this mahoganypianoAs I once did on Christmas Eve.By chance, as a ghost, as a little birdI fly tonight in awe!—to the Christmas tree Where the unseen ghosts of this aged houseBecome the white angelsEnjoying the party from their green perches…A cup of the red Christmas wassail punch—the oldstyle,I have the desire to drink, to wish:Blessed are you Nahanters tonight in this placeThe past is never dead!”

I elbow through the crowd—the party guestsIn the three big living rooms,No music, no dance. Only conversations.Cavaliers’ red pants and bow ties; elegant ladies inbackless gowns—Standing, stepping, meeting and toasting eachotherWith crystal wine glasses—meanwhile chattingand laughing…

There are antique objects in this museum houseLike old and new telephones—cellphones that menPut in their pockets—the wiggling-blue lightsshineLike a handful of fireflies…The past never dies:A perpetual Christmas memory on the rock islandIn the 21st century dawnAnd centuries from now.Merry Christmas Nahant !

BY ALMA HOXHAJ

I, who had no way but to strive,I, who had no chance to shine,I, am brave not to cry,because you are the star that made me survive,I, who believe in dreams,I tell you today, you have wings,You need to find a way to fly,because we are lucky to be alive,I, who had no chance but to strive,I say to you it's time for you to shine.

It’s Time For You To Shine


There’s this dream thatI have often. I can’t shake howreal it feels or the hurt in mychest once I wake up.

There is a young girlrunning around, giggling in alarge field. A field full of flow-ers of every color and variety Icould imagine. The sunlightilluminates every patch of flow-ers and sends its love with kiss-es of warmth on a fragile frame.

I keep chasing her, andwhen she escapes my sight, Ijust follow the tinkling ofchimes that her tiny laughterresembles. Only, no matter howlong I follow her in this sunnyfield, she never tires and I can’tseem to catch her. Then aftersome time, the sound of her

laughter stops and I can’t recov-er it. It’s suddenly silent and Ifeel like I can’t breathe.

Somehow I know som-ething has happened to this pre-cious little girl. There aren’t anyclues but I can sense it in everylast piece of my heart. I strainmy ears each time, every night,just waiting, wishing, hoping, tobe surprised for once with thereturn of her laughter.

Only it doesn’t. Nomore flickers of her dainty dressacross the field or her hair flow-ing freely down her delicateback. No more crinkles at the

corners of her beautiful browneyes as she laughs when I chaseher. It was almost like an inno-cent game of tag or hide andseek. Only, now I’m not “it”anymore and she’s not hiding.She’s just gone as easily andquietly as she appeared.

In my dream I continueto wander the field with falsehope and open ears but I know Iwill never find her because itwas only a dream and my visionof this child is only that; avision. Her soul is nowhere tobe found because it never got achance to exist. This doesn’tchange the fact that at somepoint, I witnessed her and Inever saw her sadness in beingone of the many lost lights inthis world.

This young girl nevershowed any awareness that shewasn’t “real.” She was just aperfect little girl with probablyher father’s eyes and her moth-er’s heart playing in a prettyfield.

I eventually wake upand the presence of this littleangel never disappears. Herimprint never fades away. So Ihave no choice but to cherish itand wait for a reoccurring nightwhen I am once again enchant-ed by her laughter and then dev-astated by her silence.

This DreamBY SHANNON HORGAN

The windshield wiperssmacked against the window ofthe officers’ car. He could feelthe tension, anxiety, and fear ofthe criminal in his back seatpiercing through him. It filledthe car and threatened to shootthrough the windows after suf-focating them.

“I can’t believe this,”the criminal said.

The officer said noth-ing. Taking a deep breath, hesearched his lungs for a sense ofrelief but found none. Hestopped slowly at every stoplight, driving as carefully and asslowly as possible.

“Are you going to sayanything?”

The officer shook his

head in response. He heard thecriminal slump back in the seat,resigned from their attempt. Heflicked down his turn signal,cringing at the noise he hadmade, knowing it could bringdanger.

“Don’t ignore me,” shescreamed from the back, bang-ing her hands against thedivider.

The officer jumped inhis seat but regained compo-sure. He should have just madethe turn, maintained the silencebut he didn’t want to break thelaw.

The woman in the backstared into the rearview mirror.Her eyes were red and baggy,exploding with blood vessels,vibrant against her pale skin.Her anger toward him rippled inher pores and shot from her eyes

to his head, giving him aheadache. “I can’t believe this,”she said again.

The police officerfocused on the rain drops ahead,reflecting in them the precedingweek. On the rain drops he sawthe missing persons report. Hesaw all the places he hadsearched for her, and finally, theplace where he had, against thewall of an alley, saw her shoot-ing heroine into her veins evenas he approached.

The call had come atabout three in the morning buthad not woken him. He hadbeen up all night racking hisbrain. Where is she? The ques-tion carved train tracks into hismind that he didn’t think wouldever go away.

He carried her slumpedin his arms. She had smiled athim while caressing his beard.

“My hero, my hero-ine,” she said.

The association hadmade his insides burn but hestill set her down gently in theback of his car. The memoriesprompted him; he rememberednow why he had to do this.

He pulled in front ofthe station. “I can’t believe thiseither, my own wife,” the officersaid.

He saw her eyeschange from sympathetic toashamed in his mirror as he gotout, opened the door for her onelast time, and then walked herinto the station.

On The JobBY LYDIA WAHLFEATURES EDITOR


New Gender-Neutral Bathrooms on Campus

Bathroom and Locker Room UseAll students may utilize bathroom or locker room facilities on campus that are designated as gender-neutral. Students are permitted to use bathrooms or locker rooms on campus that are gender specificbased on the gender designation contained in the student’s College records.

Changing Biographical DataIn order to change one’s legal name on College records, a student must present a certified copy of acourt order indicating a legal name change has been granted. As for changing one’s gender designationon College records, a student must provide a certified copy of a court order showing the change of gen-der, or other legal identification, such as a Massachusetts driver’s license, reflecting the student’s newgender. If a student presents evidence to the College that the student’s name, gender or other biograph-ical information has been legally changed, the College will recognize that change in its records and inthe application of its policies.

This information was taken directly from the President’s Council meeting on 9-16-2011

The Halloween party at North Shore CommunityCollege was a great time and we would like to thank everyonethat came to the event.

World AIDS Day Event Join us for the third annual World AIDS Day event on Thursday, December 1st in the Lynn gym in col-laboration with Lynn Community Health Center, Health Services and Program Council. From 11 AM -12 PM, our renowned speaker, Sarah Rial, who is a native of Sudan, will discuss AIDSand gender as it relates to the African community. The co-founder of the African WomenEmpowerment Group, Sarah is the Program Director for My Sister’s Keeper, a grassroots humanitari-an organization focused on education in southern Sudan. In December of 2010, Hilary Clinton present-ed Sarah with the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights for her important advocacy work withthe underserved. From 12 – 1 PM, honor World AIDS day by designing a free t-shirt to take home with you. Also, free and confidential HIV testing will be offered throughout our event. We look forward to seeing you there.~ Health Services

Health Services would like to thank all of the NSCC nursing students andinstructors who assisted us with our free fall flu clinics for the collegecommunity. From intake to administering over 200 flu vaccines, you dida great job. Thank you one and all!

~ The Health Services team

LPN nursing students:Front row (left to right)Jamie Elliott, Michael DiVecchia

Back row (left to right)Ellen Bussone (nursing instructor), Eunice Njai, Wendy Jeter, SheilaSavia

RN nursing students:Front row (left to right)Manyya Choum, Brian Hurst, Carlos Diaz

Back row (left to right)Norene Gachignard, nursing instructor, Victoria Soto, JenniferFernandez, LeeAnn Reynolds, Nicole Leger

Strategies for Quitting SmokingWant to quit smoking? Need some help? Health Services is sponsoring two free educational events tohelp you succeed. A health educator from Harvard Pilgrim HealthCare is coming to NSCC twice toteach you about strategies to help you quit: Monday, December 12th 2-3 pm LE-305 Lynn campus

Wednesday, December 14th 12:30-1:30 pm DB-208 Danvers campusDon’t forget that the college is going smoke free as of January 1, 2012. Be sure to take advantage ofthis free resource for the college community while there’s still time. Also, feel free to stop by DanversHealth Services DB-108 and Lynn Health Services LW-126 for additional support and information.~ The Health Services team

Greg and Braylon FordDonna Rosado and family

CClluubb DDiirreeccttoorryyAAFFRRIICCAANN SSOOCCIIEETTYY:: LOVE MAYAAAVVIIAATTIIOONN:: JOHN KREEFTBB GGLLAADD:: TIFFANY MAGNOLIABBIIOOLLOOGGII CCAALL SSCCIIEENNCCEE CCLLUUBB:: SCOTT STIMPSONCCHHRRIISSTT OONN CCAAMMPPUUSS:: TIM WHITMANCC IIVVIICC EENNGGAAGGEEMMEENNTT:: LAURIE MESSINACCRRIIMMIINNAALL JJUUSSTT IICCEE:: CONSTANTINE SOURIS

& ANN KOSHIVASEECCOONNOOMMIICCSS && FFIINNAANNCCEE:: MOONSU HANEENNGGIINNEEEERR IINNGG:: MARY BETH STEIGERWALDFFOOOODD SSCCIIEENNCCEE && SSAAFFEETTYY:: GREG REPPUCCIFFRREENNCCHH && SSPPAANNIISSHH CCLLUUBB:: IRENE FERNANDEZMMAARRKKEETT IINNGG:: PATRICIA MANNINENMMEEDDIIAA CCLLUUBB:: JJ IIMM HHAARRRR IINNGGTTOONNMMUULLTTII --CCUULLTTUURRAALL SSOOCCIIEETTYY:: ESPY HERRERA

ANKANA BARUAMMUUSSLL IIMM AASSSSOOCC IIAATT IIOONN:: YUSEF HAYESNNUURRSSIINNGG CCLLAASSSS FFRREESSHHMMAANN:: LINDA GOODALENNUURRSSIINNGG CCLLAASSSS SSOOPPHHMMOORREE:: LORINDA LATVAPPHHII TTHHEETTAA KKAAPPPPAA:: FRED ALTIERIPPHHIILLOOSSOOPPHHYY CCLLUUBB:: FRED ALTIERIPPOOEETTSS && WWRRIITTEERRSS:: JOE BOYDPPRREE--MMEEDD CCLLUUBB:: RAY PARKERPPSSYYCCHHEEDD FFOORR PPSSYYCCHH:: KRISTIN ERBETTAQQUUEEEERR SSTTRRAAIIGGHHTT AALLLLIIAANNCCEE:: ANNE TABET AND

VICTORIA PASCIUTORREESSPPIIRRAATTOORRYY CCAARREE:: LEN LEBLANCSSOOTTAA:: PATRICIA BANKS

RUTH DELISIOSSTTUUDDEENNTT AARRTT CCLLUUBB:: JAMES CHISHOLMSSUURRFF CCLLUUBB:: SEAN HANLONVVEETTEERRAANNSS CCLLUUBB:: MIKE SMITHWWOOMMEENN IINN TTRRAANNSSIITT IIOONN:: MARGARET FIGGINS-HILLYYOOUUTTHH GGRROOUUPP UUNNIITTEEDD :: ALEXANDER GUZMAN

OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonnssPPEENNNNOONN:: VICTORIA PASCIUTOPPEERRFFOORRMMIINNGG AARRTTSS CCOOUUNNCC IILL:: MATTHEW WOODSPPRROOGGRRAAMM CCOOUUNNCCII LL:: VICTORIA PASCIUTOSSTTUUDDEENNTT GGOOVVEERRNNMMEENNTT:: VICTORIA PASCIUTOWWOOMMEENN’’ SS CCEENNTTEERR :: VICTORIA PASCIUTO

Join Program Council!

THIS GROUP PLANS AND COORDINATES A VARIETY OFSOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMS FORTHE ENTIRE COLLEGE COMMUNITY. PAST ACTIVITIES HAVEINCLUDED AIR BRUSH T-SHIRTS, PSYCHIC READINGS,

AND MASSAGE THERAPY.FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT VICTORIA PASCIUTO

AT (978) 762-4000 X5471 [email protected].

AAtttteennttiioonn CClluubb AAddvviissoorrss aanndd MMeemmbbeerrss!!Information about your club

can be featured here!This is your page and if you want other peopleto know about your club or what your club is

doing, then contact [email protected]

LE219 X.6693DB366 X.5592LW229 X.6622LW288 X.6288...................................LW366 X.5512DB366 X.5419DB367C X.5418DB367 X.5456LW321 X.6650DH216 X.4375DB367A X.5442LE306 X.6665LE307 X.2159LW113 X.6274LW113 X.6274DB367B X.5414DH206 X.4438DH206 X.4427DB267H X.5556DB267H X.5556LE232 X.6238LW112 X.6683DB367E X.5580DH106 X.4051DB125 X.5471DH203 X.4170DH 203 X.4174DH 223 X.4168DB366A X.5548 DB367E X.5467DH106 X.4368DB366B X.5515LW157 X.6601

DB125 X.5471LW172 X.6228DB125 X.5471LW125 X.5471DB125 X.5471


Club News

Happy Holidaysfrom the Pennon!

Thank you to everyone for theirvalued interest and support in the studentnewspaper. We will be looking forward tothe new year, with new readers, sugges-tions, ideas, submissions, and members.The next issue will come out February 1st.As usual, all submissions need to be sub-mitted by the 15th of the month. January15th is the next deadline. See you soon!

Dear Students and Members ofour community,

The Student Govern-ment Association would like togive you a brief overview ofevents, projects, and initiativesthat we have completed or arecurrently developing. Pleasekeep in mind that our meetingsare held on both campuses, andare open to everyone. You mayvoice your opinion on any of theitems below, or bring new itemsto the Student GovernmentAssociation's attention. Have ahappy and safe holiday season.The Student GovernmentAssociation has been workingtoward accomplishing the threegoals set forth in their 2011-2012 Strategic Plan.

Community Outreach:SGA members have...- Helped to lead students toRevere to rebuild Costa Park- Asked clubs and organizationsto donate $10 to Ma Dukespizza to help offset the cost ofserving Thanksgiving daymeals.- Arranged to volunteer duringthe holiday season at MapleStreet Church in Danvers, andare encouraging other studentsto join in.

Student Engagement/Issues:- Sustainable Savings Card -being developed, will give stu-dents discounts at local busi-nesses that are committed toenvironmental stewardship.- Adaptive Lab - members havebeen asked by a student toreview the adaptive lab’s hoursof operation.- Attendance Policy - a subcom-mittee has been established tomake recommendations to andwork with the Academic PolicyCommittee to hopefully reviewthe current attendance policy- President's Council Meeting -hosted an open forum to fostercollaboration between club andorganization Presidents.- Service Awards-a subcommit-tee has been established to cre-ate and propose a new designfor the Service Awards.- Gender Neutral Bathrooms-passed a resolution to supportthe QSA in their mission tobring gender neutral bathroomsto the campuses.- Consistent contributions to thePennon- Impromptu SGA commercialin front of the U.S Capitolbuilding that can be found onour SGA Facebook Page wall.

Recruitment/succession plan-ning:- Scholarship- in the process ofdesigning and developing anSGA scholarship program toencourage incoming highschool students to join and pro-vide an incentive for active par-ticipation in SGA.- Facebook Page, to Like search“NSCC Student GovernmentAssociation”- Tabling in Lynn- Bulletin Board with memberprofiles- Encouraging club Presidentsto send a representative to SGA

SGA Chief JusticeKonstantine Papageorgio hasresigned from his position as heand his family will be relocatingto Florida. Konstantine playedan important role duringSmoking Committee delibera-tions. He will be missed by allof us, and we wish him well inall of his future endeavors.Members of the SGA who wishto be appointed to the open posi-tion will go through a reviewprocess with Dean Holmes andSGA advisor Victoria Pasciutobefore such an appointment.

North ShoreCommunity Collegeand The PerformingArts Council present…

The Fantastic Voyage of Sinbad the SailorA Winter Panto*mime

Written and directed by Matthew Woods

December 1, 2, and 3 at 7 p.m., alsoDecember 3 at 3 p.m.

At The Neal Rantoul Vault TheatreAt Lynn Arts, Inc.25 Exchange Street, Lynn, MA 01901

Tickets: $7 general admission$5 students and seniors (with ID)children 10 and under free

For more information or to reserve tickets inadvance, please contact Matthew Woods [email protected] or call 781-593-6722, x 6228

PAGE 14 – NSCC PENNONdents and past encounters withthe female student. She doeshave a class with the party threedays a week in Danvers. Thestatement given to Officer Salvoreports that an assault has takenplace, along with harrassment.All information will be handedto the first-shift OIC.

10/26/2011 10:32amLYNN CAMPUS:A student was escorted off cam-pus. He has been verbally tres-passed and must speak to theDean of Students prior to return-ing to any NSCC campus orcampus property.

10/26/2011 3:13pmDANVERS CAMPUS:A student reports his vehiclewas struck while parked in Lot3. After investigating it wasdetermined that the accidenthappened elsewhere.

10/27/2011 7:53pmLYNN CAMPUS:A professor called to report anodor coming from the radiator.Cpl. Eam was dispatched to thearea. Upon arrival, the odorturned out to be the heat of theradiators turning on.

10/28/2011 3:49amDANVERS CAMPUS:A single motor vehicle accidenttook place at the Topsfieldrotary on the ramp. State Policewas notified. Officer Defelice tostandby until State Policearrives. State cruiser arrived at3:55am. Officer Defelice

cleared the scene at 4:00am.

10/31/2011 12:24pmLYNN CAMPUS:A male student walked out ofthe gym with a book in hand. Hewas then observed going intothe cafe, and then leaving theeast end of the building, holdinga coffee. When questioned byOfficer Scouten, the partyadmitted to taking the coffeefrom the cafe.

11/3/2011 5:10pmLYNN CAMPUS:A professor called for the foorsto be opened and also reported afew arguments outside the maindoors. Officers responded andmet with MBTA police who hada dispute with pedestrians at thecorner of Broad St and MarketSt. Lynn PD was notified, but-then told to disregard requestdue to parties moving along. Allparties cleared.

11/3/2011 8:04pmLYNN CAMPUS:An officer stated he saw a dis-pute between two parties in themain lot. The parties seemed toseperate and went to their vehi-cles to leave. They then began tohorseplay in their vehicles.Parties were spoken to and thenall parties cleared.

11/4/2011 10:17amLYNN CAMPUS:Officer Lt. Cook reported thefire alarm was vandalized and isnow taped up.

11/4/2011 12:34pmLYNN CAMPUS:A female student reported that amiddle-aged man wearing ablack zip-up sweater and bluejeans approached her while shewas in her parked car with thedoor open. He asked her forchange. The main lot and sur-rounding areas were checked.The individual was not located.

11/5/2011 12:28pmLYNN CAMPUS:A student reported her vehiclewas parked at the MBTA garageand broken into. Another stu-dent approached the controldesk and reported she witnesseda party breaking into her vehi-cle. It was further discoveredthat numerous vehicles werebroken into.

11/7/2011 4:19pmDANVERS CAMPUS:A party reported another partywas attempting to sell backbooks in her office. Involvedparty was checked for in-houserecords. No information wasfound. License check revealed adifferent address. Check ofparty’s license plate returned nomatching record.

11/9/2011 2:42pmDANVERS CAMPUS:A party reported a male wearinga baseball cap with dark cloth-ing is possibly in possession of aknife. The party was located andit was found that the knife isused at his work place. He wastold to return it to his vehicle.

10/19/2011 5:31pmLYNN CAMPUS:Officer Martocchio reports twodisruptive persons arguing infront of the CPD office at the T-station. The transit police wasnotified and said they wouldsend an officer. Sgt. Thomasalso arrived on scene to assist.Sgt. Thomas notified dispatch tocancel request for transit police,as both parties went on theirway.

10/20/2011 9:38pmLYNN CAMPUS:An officer reported that at the T-station there were two women

stating that they were being har-rassed by a male party andneeded assistance. MBTA wasnotifed and arrived on scene at9:45pm. The report was for-warded to the Dean of students.All parties cleared.

10/26/2011 6:57amLYNN CAMPUS:A student approached the deskand informed Officer Salvo ofan ongoing issue she is havingwith another student. OfficerSalvo informed the OIC(Officer Khoun) of the situation.Officer Salvo had party write astatement explaining all inci-

Book Buy BackNSCC Bookstore8:30 AM-3:30 PM

Day Classes End

Book Buy Back NSCC Bookstore8:30 AM-3:30 PM

PAC presentsThe Fantastic

Voyage of Sinbadthe Sailor The NealRantoul Vault Theaterof Lynn Arts 3&7 PM

Pool Tournament Danvers Student LifeLounge10: AM-2:00 PM

SGA MeetingDB208 & LW307

2:00 PM-4:00 PMPAC presents TheFantastic Voyage ofSinbad... 7:00 PM

StudentGovernment

Association Meeting DB208 & LW3072:00 PM-4:00 PMBook Buy Back

Queer StraightAlliance MeetingDB208 & LW3071:30 PM-3:30 PMBook Buy Back

Ping PongTournamentDanvers Student LifeLounge10:00 AM-2:00 PM

Karaoke DayDanvers Student

Life Lounge12:30 AM-2:30 PM

Program CouncilMeeting

DB208 & LW3072:30 PM-4:00 PMEvening Classes EndBook Buy Back

Program CouncilMeetingDB208 & LW3072:30 PM-4:00 PM

Queer StraightAlliance MeetingDanvers Student LifeConference Room1:30 PM-3:30 PM


December 2011December 2011SSUUNN MMOONN TTUUEESS WWEEDD TTHHUURRSS FFRRII SSAATT

NSCC Fall/Spring 2011/12 ScheduleImportant Numbers

CONNECTING ALL DEPARTMENTS: Lynn: (781)593-6722 Danvers: (978) 762-4000 Beverly

Cummings Center (978) 236-1200

Math & Writing LabLynn x6254

Danvers x5417Hawthorne x1544Computer Lab

Lynn x6296Danvers x5569

LibraryLynn (781) 477-2133

Danvers (978) 762-4000x.5526

Book StoreLynn (781) 477-2127

Danvers (978) 762-4046

Weather Hotline(978) 762-4200

PC = PROGRAM COUCILWC = WOMEN’S CENTERPTK= PHI THETA KAPPA

SGA = STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Events are Subject toChange

PAC = PERFORMING ARTS COUNCIL

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28

Winter/Spring pay-ment dueDec 7, 2011

Day classes endDec 16, 2011

Evening classes endDec 19, 2011

Final Exam period,day classes onlyDec 19, 2011 to Dec21, 2011

Grades due by noonJan 3, 2012

Grades postedJan 6, 2012

January Intersessionclasses run Jan 3,2012 to Jan 28, 2012

Martin Luther KingDay - no classesJan 16, 2012

Low enrolled coursescanceled Jan 18,2012

Classes begin, dayand eveningJan 23, 2012

Deadline to withdrawand receive 100%refund of tuition/feesfrom 15-week classesJan 23, 2012 to Jan29, 2012

Deadline to withdrawfrom 15-week classesand receive 100%tuition only Jan 30,2012 to Feb 5, 2012

Deadline to changefrom audit to creditor credit to auditFeb 10, 2012

President's Day - noclasses Feb 20,2012

Deadline to petitionfor spring graduate& ensure name inprogram Mar 9,2012

Evacuation Day - noclasses day orevening Mar 16,2012

Classes in sessionMar 17, 2012

29 30 31

Book Buy Back at the NSCC Bookstore this month will be as follows:December 13-15, 16, 19-21 from 8:30 AM-3:30 PM

Book Buy BackNSCC Bookstore8:30 AM-3:30 PM


Alumni Corner

Faces in the Hall

BY JESSIE PAIVAFACES IN THE HALL EDITOR

Attorney Denise Kent is a graduate of NSCC’s paralegalprogram. Denise returned to campus recently to present at NSCC’sParalegal Employment Panel on November 16th, 2011. At the event,she told current paralegal students about the “excellent foundation”the paralegal program had provided her and said that she regularlyrelied on every one of the classes she’d taken here. While a studenthere, Denise was placed in an internship at a Lynnfield law office.When the internship ended Denise was hired by the firm, and shecontinued to work there as an estates & trusts paralegal while pursu-ing her bachelor degree at Gordon College and eventually her lawdegree at Mass School of Law. Today Denise runs a thriving gener-al law practice in Hamilton, specializing in elder law.

Denise has described her experience at NSCC as “positive-ly life changing” and says she felt supported and encouraged by pro-fessors Jane Levesque and Ellen O’Donnell. “These two womenwere excellent role models and offered me a glimpse into the futureand the successful woman I could become with discipline and hardwork.” While pursuing her paralegal degree, Denise was a non-tra-ditional student with work and family obligations. She was working,raising her son and caring for her ailing mother. Denise said the pro-fessors at NSCC gave her valuable support in continuing her aca-demic journey and that they understood the difficulties inherent inbalancing work, family and higher education, and yet still chal-lenged students to be their best.

In addition to presenting at the Paralegal Panel, Denisemaintains her connection to NSCC by serving on the paralegal advi-sory board and providing internship opportunities at her law office.

BY SANDRA ROCHONALUMNI COORDINATOR

Denise Kent

Denise Kent, Class of 2000

Question: How are you involved on campus?

“Being a part of TRiO has helped me getmore involved with the school. Lastsemester I volunteered to read to elemen-tary school kids. This semester, I sold cup-cakes to raise money for a hat-and-mittendrive. Working at Student Life gives memany opportunities to get involved.”

“I’m pretty much involved. If I find aninteresting club I’d try my best to find thetime to get in it. My schedule doesn’t allowany time for clubs right now. I’ll try to getin for next semester or next year.”

“I’m more involved than I expected to be.A lot of it just sort of happened. I makesure to be at every PACE card event. I’minvolved with MASSPIRG, the MediaClub [as treasurer], the Philosophy Club,and QSA. We’re hoping to start anAdventure Club soon. A lot of it just hap-pened and caught my interest. I’d say I’mpretty involved.” “I’m president of the Media Club; I

work with MASSPIRG, QSA, andPhilosophy Club. I didn’t plan onavoiding [extracurriculars] but I didn’tplan on them. I just went to Fall Festand signed up at as many tables as Icould, to get on all the email lists andsee what happens. And the Media Clubis always looking for new members!”

Michelle Bolduc

Alyssa Brewster

Kaitlyn Heathman

Donovyn Pickler

Documents

The Pennon for December 2011