By Wayne Jurgeleit | Observer Contributor
On Monday, November 9, The ALANA Club of MWCC hosted a panel discussion called “They Take Our Jobs and Other Myths About Immigration.” Facilitated by club president and MWCC student Ixtel Thibault-Muñoz with a guest Zoom appearance by famed author, historian and Dr. Aviva Chomsky, the event featured a diverse group of speakers answering questions about their immigration experience. The club organized the panel in direct response to the increase in incendiary rhetoric on the topic of immigration and aimed to host a more humane, informational and enlightening conversation around panelists sharing stories and thoughts on their personal experience.
By Benjamin Heffner | Observer Contributor
Three MWCC students were injured on November 26 after they were struck by an oncoming MART bus. According to a statement released by Campus Police, at approximately 7:50 AM, the MART bus was attempting to make a turn near the Lot B bus stop when the students were struck.
Samuel Nieves, who was on the bus at the time of the incident, said that as the bus was turning, it suddenly accelerated onto the curb, colliding with students and hitting a light pole, causing the windshield to crack. The bus hit the students from behind as they were walking on the sidewalk heading to class. “It was like a horror movie,” Nieves said. He added that the bus driver was the same one he saw every morning and that he never noticed any problems.
By Kent Yang | Staff Writer
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in Information Technology is projected to grow by 13% from 2020 to 2030—significantly faster than the 8% average for all other occupations. So, let me ask you this, do you want to be at the forefront of this boom and potentially even lead it? Or do you want to be at the consumer end of things?
At Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC), the Computer Information Systems (CIS) and Computer Science (CS) programs, led by Chairperson and Professor Tina Wilson, serve as pathways to careers in the thriving tech industry.
By Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief
“We’re sorry for the wait. We’re experiencing high demand for LGBTQ+ support and are connecting you to a national crisis counselor.” For many in the LGBTQ+ community, these were the harrowing words that greeted them when they reached out to the national suicide hotline on election night for support. And they weren’t alone.
The Trevor Project, a nonprofit dedicated to crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth, reported a staggering — and deeply troubling — 700% increase in crisis contacts the day after the 2024 election, with election-related conversations spiking by 5,200%.
By Régulo Moreno | Observer Contributor
Is being called a hero enough to embody heroism truly? Or does real heroism come from being willing to share your experiences with humility?
Take John Blombach, for example. At 77 years old, he’s not just a mentor and academic consultant in the Learning Success Center located in the Mount Wachusett Community College library. He’s also a shining example of lifelong learning, who went from signing up for classes here at the Mount at the age of 60 to currently being enrolled in law school.
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