Posts published in “News”

(Archive May 2018) An Empty Place at the Table

By editorialteam on February 20, 2025

By Alexa Nogueira | Observer Contributor

A table set to honor 22 victims of domestic violence.
Photo by Alexa Nogueira

YWCA(formerly “Young Women’s Christian Association”) Domestic Violence Services arranged a display on April 2 to serve as a remembrance of those who have been victims of domestic violence.

The display remained up for the remainder of the week and can be found in the Arthur F. Haley Academic Center.

According to the YWCA, domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women. But for every story we hear about the victims of domestic violence, there is a seat left empty at the dinner table that no one talks about. This display is a tribute to those who have lost their lives to domestic violence within the past year in Massachusetts and shows seats at the table that have been left behind. read more

(Archive May 2018) Behind the Scenes of Graduation

By editorialteam on February 20, 2025

The Best of Times and Worst of Times

By Michele Walsky | Assistant Editor

Previous graduates show their enthusiasm for the commencement ceremony.
Photo courtesy of MWCC

Congratulations graduates! May 16th is looming near and while the “Pomp and Circumstance” march silhouettes your success, none of this would be possible without the smooth orchestration of the college staff. Yet, even flawless plans go awry.

From academic advisors, alumni and Dean Jason Zelesky, the choreographing A to Z’s involve everyone in between. According to Assistant Dean of Students Greg Clement, it starts with the procession of paperwork in the records office. From there grades are finalized by faculty, and about 100 volunteers collect tickets, control crowds, guide guests, help groom graduates and arrange the reception. read more

(Archive May 2018) Tree Removal Shines a New Light on Parking

By editorialteam on February 20, 2025

By Christine Nelson | Observer Contributor

Clearing behind the Garrison Center began early in the semester, and continues as Summer arrives.
Photo by Brianna Stevens

Alan Cumming is a force behind much of the landscape events and changes to our 296 acres that make up the Gardner campus.

Cumming initiated the idea of removing trees from behind the daycare to solve a variety of problems. The area was attracting a number of different animals, including an “eight-foot long rat snake,” Cumming said. The school was interested in adding light, as well as access to the back of the building. Eliminating some trees also offers added safety, as the police can now see into that area. read more

Know the Protocol, Know Your Rights

By editorialteam on February 14, 2025

College Community Addresses Concerns About ICE

By Desiree Leader | Staff Writer

A “red card”, modeled by a student, listing rights and suggested protocols regarding ICE agents. These can be obtained on-campus through the SGA and the Brewer Center.
Photo by Tom Hill Jr.

Many people at the Mount are expressing concern regarding President Trump’s lift on the 2011 directive which prohibited Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from arresting suspected undocumented immigrants in sensitive places, such as schools and churches. On January 30th, MWCC President Vander Hooven sent out a memo sharing the previously established protocol in case of a visit to the school from outside law enforcement. The memo advised students and staff to refer outside law enforcement officers like ICE to the President immediately. Two weeks later, the college gave the greenlight for on-campus distribution of the “red card,” an informational document on legal and constitutionally protected rights. read more

Out with the Old and In with the New

By editorialteam on February 14, 2025

The Mountain Lion Gets a Makeover Courtesy of Hired Graphic Design Firm School Branding Agency

By Jordan Chila | Editor-in Chief

MWCC started the process of implementing a new mascot in the fall of 2024 with a vision that embodied the school’s mission. Students and faculty were asked to vote on various animals and in the end the mountain lion stuck. However, it did receive a makeover. MWCC Marketing department hired the design firm School Branding Agency to create three options that students voted on between January 27th and 30th. Phase 3 is soon approaching.

The results for the new mascot design were announced February 5, 2025. Design option 1 will be the new face of the school. According to the marketing department, 576 people voted and of those 70% were students. Stephanie England, Director of Marketing, weighed in on student response. She comments, “As of January 30, over 300 students have participated in the voting process, showing just how much they care about shaping MWCC’s mascot.” read more

ESL and ELL Students at MWCC are Making a Significant Impact

By editorialteam on February 14, 2025

By Régulo Moreno | Assistant Editor

English as a second language (ESL) students at MWCC significantly impact the college, other students, their families, and the local economy. Their language skills and cultural knowledge can benefit local businesses and industries; strengthening the region’s economy, particularly in areas like Gardner and Leominster.

Professor Bolaños, Associate Professor of ESL, said, “Being bilingual isn’t just a cool skill to have – it’s a major advantage in today’s job market.” With one out of three students speaking a language other than English, the campus is buzzing with linguistic and cultural diversity. Through specialized programs like ESL for Business and ESL for the Medical Field, MWCC tailors language learning to meet specific professional needs, allowing students to transform bilingualism into a tool for success. read more

Fractured Focus: Tech and Time Management

By editorialteam on February 14, 2025

By Melanie Trottier-Mitcheson | Observer Contributor

Social media, emails, texts, news, AI, games: access to technology can be a daily source of distraction. Mount students reveal their strategies to stay focused.

The typical college student’s routine day is punctuated by a series of buzzes, pings, and alarms from a device. This barrage of digital noise, studies show, takes a toll on human attention spans. University of Texas at Austin professor and writer Steven Mintz quotes a Microsoft study finding that the average human attention span decreased from 12 seconds in 2000 to 8 seconds in 2013. Humans now pay attention for a shorter time than a goldfish. read more

MWCC’s Learning Success Center: A Free Resource Overlooked

By editorialteam on February 14, 2025

By Princess Yeboah | Assistant Editor

Correction 2/20/25: A previous version of this article stated that the LSC was a place for library research. Library research is strictly found through the Library which is a separate department from the LSC.

Mount Wachusett Community College’s LaChance Library Learning Success Center is a central resource to the campus community, but can be misleading to students of being strictly a tutoring center, which is totally not the case. Located near Trio and Student Support Services on the Gardner campus, and located near Enrollment Services on the Leominster campus, It’s a service that all students have full advantage of. Ranging from assistance to research papers, mathematics classes, print and digital resources, the list is endless. The Learning Success Center is not just for students who are struggling in classes, it is an invitation to the whole MWCC community to have special access to resources to better equip students for success inside and outside of the classroom. read more

(Archive April 2018) Commit to the Commonwealth Commitment Program

By editorialteam on February 5, 2025

By Zach Pavlosky | Observer Contributor

Transfer counselor Sarah Pingeton provided details on the Commonwealth Commitment Program, how beneficial it is for students, and the steps that are being taken to broaden eligibility.

Pingeton described the Commonwealth Commitment Program as “a statewide initiative where students can transfer to a four-year university.” There are currently 12-15 active students enrolled in the program. Pingeton said, “It’s a program that students have been really interested in…I think it represents a good opportunity for students.” read more

(Archive April 2018) Professor Expresses the Consequences of Plagiarism

By editorialteam on February 5, 2025

By Zachary Pavlosky | Observer Contributor

Michelle Valois, Creative Writing and English professor.
Photo by Brianna Stevens

Michelle Valois, a Creative Writing and English professor, shared her thoughts and experiences with plagiarism, and why she thinks students resort to plagiarizing.

When asked how she views plagiarism, Valois said, “It’s important to treat it seriously.” Valois stressed that, if caught, it shouldn’t be “just about punishment” but also “about education.” If a student is caught plagiarizing, Valois believes it is more important to teach that student why what they did is wrong rather than punishing them outright. read more