Nothing to do at NCC? Think again

Nothing to do at Nassau?  That's what a new NCC student told me she'd heard from a friend (from another school) about campus life. 

"My friend says people are nice at Nassau," she said, "but nothing very interesting happens here."

When I heard this, I had to wonder.

I had to wonder if my student's friend knew about the 70+ clubs (including a student government, student newspaper, photography club, ski club, creative writing club, jazz club, debate club, anime club, breakdancing club, computer graphics club, fitness club, and parent's club) that were active on campus this past year. 

I had to wonder if she knew about NCC's Intramurals program, which ran more than fifteen activities (racquetball, dodgeball, handball, basketball, etc.) in 2012-2013.

Or about Nassau's seventeen athletic teams, including a wrestling team that won a national championship, a tennis team that won a regional championship, and a lacrosse team that played for the NJCAA title.  

Did my student's friend know about this past year's Theatre/Dance Department  productions: "Intimate Apparel," "SubUrbia," "Hairspray," "The Comedy of Errors," and "The Emperor's New Clothes" (a children's musical)--ALL featuring NCC students?

Did she know about the high-profile people, like Sapphire, Rosie Perez, Common, Soledad O'Brien, Ralph Nader, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who have spoken on campus over the years? 

Did she know that Pulitzer-Prize author Sonia Nazario spoke here in March as part of the First-Year Experience program?  Or that the cultural program featured sociologist Michael Dyson talking about Hip Hop and social justice, Republican leader George P. Bush talking about Washington politics, and Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel speaking about gun violence?

I'll bet not. 

I'll bet she also didn't know that NCC's Art students displayed their work in the campus art gallery this spring, that Fashion students showed off original designs in the annual fashion show, that student musicians gave concerts on campus, that members of the Debate Club participated in (and won!) national competitions, and that students had their own news and music shows on the campus radio station. 

And finally, did she know about the important service projects NCC students take part in: food and clothing drives, prom boutiques,  environmental  cleanups,  fundraisers for disaster victims, health fairs, human rights campaigns, and homeless outreach?   

Nothing very interesting happens at NCC? 

For the record: No matter what your tastes or interests, there's PLENTY of campus life here.  And there will be plenty more activities this fall and spring.

Come see for yourself. 

                                  "Hairspray," spring 2013 production at NCC
                                                                                                                       (NCC Vignette)