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The Mount Observer
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Creative Writing at MWCC
By Daniel Dow | Editor in Chief
Greetings MWCC students,
Moving forward, the Mount Observer will feature a creating writing section spotlighting students’ poetry and short stories. In an effort to drive creativity and to interact with our community the paper will also post a writing prompt each month that is selected at random by rolling writing dice. Dice will be rolled to create a prompt for each of the five w’s (who, what, when, where, and why); the author will then need to use each of the rolled themes in their creative piece, which should be around 1000 words. When completed, your pieces can be submitted to mountobserver@mwcc.mass.edu and the journalism team will choose the most relevant, creative, and polished pieces to publish. All members of the college are encouraged to participate in this activity!
By Wayne Jurgeleit | Observer Contributor
Francisco Ramos, Director of Community Organizing at NewVue Communities, speaks at the ALANA panel.
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
An interior view of the bus windshield, cracked by a light post.
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
Infographic describing the differences between CS, CIT, and CIS programs, as of July 2023.
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.
A Trans Perspective on the 2024 Election
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.
By Kent Yang | Staff Writer
Have you ever wanted to dive into the world of photography but felt held back by the cost? While it’s true how every few years there’s new state-of-the-art equipment on the market with the latest and greatest technology, buying used equipment is a cost-effective way to maximize value without compromising performance. While older gear may lack the latest features, they were once top-of-the-line and can still produce excellent images. Many people believe the misconception that you need to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on gear to get good images. Well, I’m here to tell you that’s not the case. In fact, you can spend less than $100 and still capture stunning images. This guide will show you how to get started with affordable gear, and I’ll share tips for practicing your skills without breaking the bank.
Hallacas: A Celebration of Family and Heritage in a Venezuelan Thanksgiving Way
Submitted by Régulo Moreno
Cooking a stuffed turkey for Thanksgiving takes time and preparation, but it’s a great way to bring the family together and share love and connection. In the same way, Venezuelan hallacas are a special dish that brings everyone together for a shared experience. While some people see food like stuffed turkey or hallacas as just something to eat, for my family, hallacas mean so much more. They connect us to our heritage, show our love, and are a tradition that has been passed down through generations. Each step – mixing the dough, preparing the filling, and folding the plantain leaves – connects us to our history and reminds us of our roots.
Grandma’s Perogi Recipe
Submitted by Elysian Alder
Ingredients:
Dough
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup water
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp salt
Potato Filling
- 1 1/2 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes
- 2 1/2 –3 cups grated cheddar cheese or cheese of your choice (adjust amount for desired cheesiness)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
- 6–8 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp sour cream
(Optional: Use onions, mushrooms, or drained sauerkraut instead of cheese. If using sauerkraut, skip the sour cream.)
Topping
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 1–2 sticks unsalted butter
(Optional: Use sauerkraut instead of onions.)
Directions:
Step 1: Make the Dough
1. Place the flour in a large bowl and create a well in the center. Add the water, egg, oil, and salt into the well, using a fork to incorporate the flour until a soft dough forms.
2. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic. Add flour as needed to prevent sticking.
What is the best class you’ve taken at the Mount?
Jordan Chila, 31, Professional Writing, Editor-in-Chief:
I have two that I’ve really enjoyed since being at MWCC. The first is the Journalism 1 class that I took with Professor Fuller. My second class that I really liked—which I didn’t think I was going to, to be quite honest—was my Speech class that I took with Professor Steele.
Elysian Alder, 27, Professional Writing, Editor-in-Chief:
I think that the class that has had the biggest impact on me as a whole was also Professor Fuller’s Journalism 1, and 2, and 3 class, but especially Journalism 1. But I think one of the best organized classes I’ve taken was last spring, and it was Professor Roche’s Massachusetts Poets class. I also really liked Women’s Literature, with Professor Pitkiewicz.
The United States Marine Corps Turns 249
By Kent Yang | Staff Writer
Nov. 10 marks the birthday of one of the world’s most prestigious and formidable fighting forces: the United States Marine Corps. On this day, Marines around the globe celebrate the history of past and current Marines through various traditions, most notably the Marine Corps Birthday Ball and the ceremonial cake cutting.
As Marine Corps tradition has it: “The first piece of cake is given to the Guest of Honor. Traditionally, the second piece is given to the oldest Marine, then handing the third piece to the youngest Marine signifying the passing of experience and knowledge from the old to the young of our Corps.”