Professor Daniel Soucy, working from home.
The Mount Observer
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Shelley Nicholson, Director of the Brewer Center, works from her Elvis room, or “Graceland North,” with her feline co-workers Ragnar and Gwenny.
Worcester band showcases their evolving musical style
By Nicholas Papini
Assistant Editor
Image copyright Four Year Strong and Pure Noise.
The album artwork for Four Year Strong’s sixth album, Brain Pain.
Worcester native band Four Year Strong’s newest album Brain Pain is their best since Enemy of the World in 2009.
Brain Pain is the band’s sixth studio album and it oozes authenticity in both the sound and lyrics of the songs. Like the album title nods to, the music deals with heavy mental issues such as depression, anxiety, and identity crises. Pop punk as a genre is no stranger to emotional music, but Four Year Strong brings new angles to the genre with each of their albums.
By Abbi Rameau
Observer Contributor
Magdalen Bresee is a Legal Studies major in her fourth and final semester at the Mount. She is taking 3 classes this semester, and has set up her workspace on her bed at home. Bresee says that she is currently struggling with the transition from in person lectures to online instruction, particularly in her math classes. She said that she generally needs thorough visual walkthroughs to succeed in math.
On the other hand, Bresee enjoys the freedom to do work early in the morning and have the rest of the day to herself, rather than waiting until midday for class time. She feels that she is much more productive when she is able to pace herself. Additionally, most of her classes for her major are only offered online, so she is already used to the online format for her legal studies courses.
By Abbi Rameau
Observer Contributor
Corbin Grubb is an Engineering and Physics major in his fourth and final semester at the Mount. This semester he is taking four classes, and is doing his work from his desk at home. Overall, Grubb says he hasn’t struggled too much so far and thinks that he will be okay with the online format and will be able to teach himself from the textbook.
However, he misses his friends and the chalkboard from the Honors Program center where he previously did all of his homework. Grubb is also worried that he may not be able to stay focused as much as before while he works from home. Like other students, Grubb is also disappointed about graduation being virtual, but he understands that it is necessary with the current situation.
Student discusses possible solutions to the Massachusetts opioid crisis
By Dylan Quigley
Observer Contributor
The Massachusetts opioid crisis has been getting increasingly worse throughout the past ten years. According to Mass.gov, in 2010 there were 547 deaths from opioid overdoses, and in 2019 there were 2,023 deaths confirmed with more cases that still aren’t finalized. Since 2016, the death toll has flatlined at about 2,000 deaths from opioids annually.
Is there a way we citizens can start to decrease the death toll? As individuals, I think we are almost powerless, but a whole community movement to fight addiction might help things get moving.
Anna Allen, full-time student and Mount Observer web editor, works from her home office. Usually her cats aren’t allowed in the office, but Callie is polite and quiet while Anna is working!
Barr foundation strives to reform high school experience
By Magdalen Bresee and Dylan Hatch
Observer Contributors
Are you satisfied with your high school experience? According to a 2015 Gallup Student Poll, only 35% of high schoolers believe they possess adequate problem-solving skills, and only 33% of students feel they have a mentor who encourages their development. These alarming responses reflect the inadequacy of modern secondary education and prompt many to examine the specific elements that are failing students.
The Barr Foundation, in association with its 22 partnering communities throughout New England, including four school districts and MWCC in North Central Massachusetts, is leading the effort to renovate high school by learning from the thoughts and experiences of local students with the Portrait of a Graduate Grant.
The Rx and Visions staff “prepping for remote services in a responsible, socially distant setting.” Photo Courtesy of Visions Director Gaurav Khanna.
By Abbi Rameau
Observer Contributor
Anthony Haimila is a Liberal Arts major in his second semester at the Mount. He is currently taking 5 classes and doing work from his couch. Haimila finds it is strange working off campus because he is a social person and now he can’t do much socially. He is also worried about his Statistics class because they are moving to Zoom and he finds it hard to hear his instructor over the website.
As for graduation, Haimila feels disappointed for his friends graduating, and feels as time goes on the college could potentially re-evaluate and have an in person graduation, as the situation is constantly evolving.