MAY 2011
THE PENNON IS ONLINE AT: northshore.edu/pennon
Class of 2011 Commencement Speaker
Nobel Prize Winner Visits NSCC
• A Monthly Publication For The Students of North Shore Community College, Danvers, Lynn & Beverly, Massachusetts •
D avid Antin, a liber-
BY DEBBIE SCARFO
graduation ceremony. Antin, who plans on continuing his education for his bachelor’s
David Antin
al arts student at North Shore Community College, has been chosen as commencement speaker for the class of 2011’s
degree in social work at Salem State University, was thrilled to be chosen as the student speakCONTINUED ON PAGE 15
A Reading From January Gill O’Neil crowd was A full captured by the
BY DEBBIE SCARFO
stirring poetry of January Gill O’Neil, North Shore’s Visiting Writer this past month. I had the luxury of sitting front row, transcended by January’s rich, singsong voice as she began with “How to Make a Crab Cake,” a poem weaving life’s complexities with that of a recipe; intricate yet simple. This is only one of the many inspiring poems you will find in her debut book “Underlife,” revealing the mysteries that transpire behind the scenes of ordinary life. Many of January’s poems are food-based; reminding her
INSIDE:
of the comfort of her childhood home in Virginia. She magically threads life’s themes of love, sex, motherhood, family, race and work with a candid yet graceful honesty that only January can create. She describes the sweet seduction of new love in “Sugar,” and the deliciousness of her infant daughter’s toes in “Tangerines.” January possesses the amazing ability to transport the reader to a place inside themselves, to their unconscious. This awareness is depicted from her disappointment and disgust of her father’s alcoholism in the provocative “Drinking,” to the raw, carnal lust in the exposed “Sex and CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Farewell From the Editor Page 2
Peter Diamond, D r.recipient of the
BY NELSON BAKER
Nobel Prize for 2010 in Economic Sciences, spoke about the labor market and answered questions at the Lynn Campus on April 20. Sharing the honor of this unparalleled award were co-recipients Dale T. Mortensen and Christopher A. Pissarides. Diamond received his PhD at MIT in 1963, and in 1966 he came back and has been a professor since. In 1997, he was named an Institute Professor, which is the highest honor MIT faculty can receive. He has writ-
ten influential books, received prestigious awards and fellowships, and was nominated in 2010 to serve on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Bank. Diamond is a regular speaker at numerous colleges
and universities. “I get an invitation by email to speak a day. This is one I jumped at the chance because I am really appreciative of the quality of education North Shore Community College has provid-
Bennett recited. Tanya Green, who is not a newcomer to the NSCC Talent Show, played the violin,
Another singer, Kleber Costa, chose the song “You Raise Me Up,” by Josh Groban. As good as Groban is, Kleber, at times,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Talent Show 2011
BY NELSON BAKER
A
nother Talent Show in the books for NSCC, and this one did not fail to make its mark. Something that typically happens at concerts, performer David Kent came out and asked the audience which song we wanted him to play. He gave us two choices: “What I’ve Got,” and “Bad Fish” by Sublime. The audience chose “Bad Fish.” His voice was remarkably similar to the original, but his talent with the guitar was what really impressed the judges. Andre Bennett performed a monologue, but started it off by singing a short piece. He had great stage presence and a powerful voice. “How much do I owe? My son, Jesus, paid that bill a long, long time ago,”
“Endless Days,” a New Short Story Page 9
Talent Show winners Lev Neyman, announcer Richard Joseph, Jill Sabina, and Michelle Melendy one of the many instruments she was able to hold his own with knows well. Soulfully singing him. the song “Taking Chances,” by There were two Celine Dion, was Leanna Faro. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
“Scream 4” Review Page 10
Summer Movie Preview Page 11