Posts published in “Opinion”

(Archive November 2017) 2016 Presidential Election: One Year Later – Maldonado’s Take

By editorialteam on January 28, 2025

By Kelly Cacciolfi | Assistant Editor

Geraldo “Jerry” Maldonado, MBA, Assistant Professor of Business said “I do believe that President Trump is working to fulfill all of his campaign promises. This is somewhat unusual. Most Presidents promise A, B, and C. They deliver B, Y, and Z” a year after the election.

With it being a year after the election Maldonado said this about how he feels the presidency is going to date: “I think President Trump is doing well. Unemployment in 2009 was about 10% in the United States and 9% in Massachusetts. Today, the unemployment rate is below 5% and below 4%, respectively. In 2009, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was about 6,600. Today, the DJIA is over 23,000. Consumer Confidence Index is also very high, along with the Business Confidence Index”. read more

(Archive November 2017) Waitressing Myths

By editorialteam on January 28, 2025

By Cassie Roy | Observer Contributor

Waitressing- a long standing profession for the charismatic and hard working. Although this job can be a dream come true for those in need of fast cash, it can come with some difficult nights. Customers tend to believe that their food taking a long time, coming out wrong, or their drink not tasting good is the server’s fault, which is not true, and most of the time the server is as frustrated as the customer.

Customers thinking like this can affect the way they view waitresses as well as the way they tip. Another common belief is that waitresses make a base pay. As this may be true for small family owned cafés, it is actually the opposite for chain restaurants. read more

(Archive November 2017) Sexual Assault and You

By editorialteam on January 28, 2025

Looking at the Harvey Weinstein Case

By Ashley McHugh | Observer Contributor

In today’s age, rape culture is booming and people are turning a blind eye to what is happening. In the wake of the allegations made by actors in Hollywood against Harvey Weinstein, along with other large Hollywood names, such as Bill Cosby, it is time I told my own story of my own sexual assault and what these new allegations mean not only for me but for other women as well.

Harvey Weinstein is a movie and TV show producer who, according to The New York Times, assaulted 24 women since the 1990’s. Some of his accusers you know by first glance, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ashley Judd, to name a few. On October 10, an explosive piece by Ronan Farrow in The New Yorker, detailed a more gruesome story, describing a deeper pattern of sexual harassment, intimidation, and, in several instances, rape. read more

(Archive October 2017) The Non-Traditional Student Stare

By editorialteam on January 9, 2025

By Kelly Cacciolfi | Assistant Editor

My name is Kelly, I am a 43 year-old non-traditional student, and this is my final semester here at the Mount. Each semester starts the same way for me: scared to death of my classes, hoping I have great professors, finding my classrooms, and trying to balance home and school life seamlessly. The first three weeks are always the hardest for me in just trying to find the time to balance everything that needs to get done.

I have noticed on our MWCC campus the other non-traditional students and how sometimes they have the same look in their eyes as I do. I call the look the Non-Traditional Student Stare. In the middle of the semester, our stares become, “phew I am halfway there”. By the end of the semester, I feel as though our stares become those of “I did it and see the end in sight”. Thank goodness I am not alone and neither are you. read more

(Archive October 2017) President Vander Hooven on the State of DACA

By editorialteam on January 9, 2025

By Brianna Stevens | Assistant Editor

At the beginning of September, President Vander Hooven stood with a statement opposing the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. The statement was issued by Community College heads around Massachusetts, and the head of Boston Public Schools.

“We remain committed to meeting the needs of every person who walks through our doors looking to learn and achieve, regardless of their immigration status. We stand together to fight for the continued protection of all the young people with and eligible for DACA,” the statement reads. read more

(Archive October 2017) What Travelling has Taught Me

By editorialteam on January 9, 2025

By Iheb Klai | Observer Contributor

Travelling, anywhere by any means, can be an incredibly rewarding experience.
Photo by Tauseef Ali Khan https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Travelling_is_life~.jpg

I have been travelling the last two years around 8 countries from different continents. Whether by train, car or airplane, travel is always a pleasurable experience that makes me gain more benefits than any other thing. That is why I personally encourage students to take such decisions and gain life-long benefits.

My last trip was for almost two months during this past summer vacation. I went to Greece for a volunteering internship and a discovering mission at the same time. Mainly, it was the best experience I have ever had all my life. Every time I travel I feel new personality inside me, more mature, more confident, and just starting to learn my fourth language. read more

(Archive May 2017) 100 Days and Hopes of Making His Friends Richer

By editorialteam on January 8, 2025

By the Editorial Staff

President Donald Trump
Source: 15 Dec 2016 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Donald_Trump_official_portrait.jpg

Over the past 100 days, since President Trump took office, it seems as though nothing good has been accomplished for the American people, foreigners, and the environment.

During his campaign, Trump promised he was going to build a border wall between the United States and Mexico, repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, create jobs and tax cuts. He made it seem like he was going to take care of all these issues within the first 100 days of his presidency, and then vacation the next 1,360 days, in hopes the country would run itself. In an interview with Reuters, Trump said, “I thought it would be easier.” read more

Every Time We Fall For It

By editorialteam on December 19, 2024

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%. read more

The Few, the Proud, the Timeless

By editorialteam on December 19, 2024

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.” read more

(Archive May 2017) Thoughts on Graduation

By editorialteam on September 10, 2024

By Courtney Wentz | Editor-in-Chief

Graduating from high school was not as exciting or scary as graduating from MWCC is turning out to be.

Some people will be looking for a new job in their chosen field, some will be transferring, and some might decide to get another degree. Whatever it is, we will all begin a new chapter in our lives. Change can be terrifying because it is new, unfamiliar, and unknown.

It would be great, if I could continue hiding in the newsroom, covering the chalkboard with story ideas and editing tips, filling the white board with inspirational quotes, and the computer with sticky notes of things to do. I am going to miss our weekly meetings and rushing to get articles done for the deadline. read more