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Posts tagged as “campus life”

MWCC Mascot Changes Go to Vote

Lions, (No Tigers), or Bears. Oh, My!

By Jordan Chila | Editor-in-Chief
with reporting by Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

Image from MWCC

From Nov. 11–20, 2024, Mount Wachusett Community College held a vote to decide whether to replace its current mascot, Marty the Mountain Lion. Marty became mascot back in 2016 and has had updated designs over the years. The college’s marketing department feels the school could revamp the identity of the mascot to be more tailored to the spirit of MWCC, while some in the community expressed reluctance to see Marty retired. read more

How High Schoolers in Central Mass Are Getting Diplomas at MWCC

By Benjamin Heffner | Observer Contributor

Image from MWCC

In June 2024, Bryce Caron graduated from Gardner High School with not only a high school diploma, but college credits as well under his belt. Caron earned his college credits through the North Central Massachusetts Early College Academy, a division of MWCC’s Early College & Dual Enrollment Department. He is now continuing his studies at Springfield College majoring in Psychology with two minors in Athletic Coaching and Sports Analytics. “Dual Enrollment really helped me get an understanding of what to expect at a college level and made the transition from high school to college so easy. I was able to make so many meaningful connections and spend the time I would have spent stressing on the small things with friends,” Caron said. read more

Student Profile: Ian Dolan

Trombone and TV

By Melanie Mitcheson | Observer Contributor

Photo courtesy of Ian Dolan

From trombone practice to filming TV news, Ian Dolan has an impressive range of skills. Initially interested in computer-generated imagery (CGI), Dolan, a 19-year-old Mount Wachusett second year student, now works at his town’s cable access outlet, where he conducts interviews and films the nitty gritty of his local town meetings. Dolan has a full schedule. His five MWCC classes and two workdays
with Templeton Community Television (TCTV) don’t leave him much time for his passion: the tenor trombone, a rewarding chance encounter that all started back in elementary school. read more

Student Profile: Samuel Nieves

From Dance Instructor to Social Club CEO

By Kent Yang | Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Samuel Nieves

Entering the diverse doors of Mount Wachusett Community College is an ambitious student by the name of Samuel Nieves. Nieves is a full-time student pursuing a degree in Business Administration. He grew up in Andover, Massachusetts where he was raised by his Irish grandmother, but has been living the past eight years of his life in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Nieves comes from a heritage which blends both the Puerto Rican culture and Irish culture. As a proud first-generation American, Samuel Nieves is determined to meet all of his goals. read more

Student Profile: Dakota Potter

By Desiree Leader | Staff Writer

Dakota Potter, a 29-year-old Liberal Arts Major from Keene, New Hampshire is not your average community college student. Potter, in his last semester at the Mount, will be graduating in May. He will be transferring to Bridgewater State University for the spring semester, where he was recently accepted into their Archeological program; but that is not what makes him different from your traditional college student.

Potter has a gift for the English language – a gift he has been nurturing since he was just a child. “I got my start when I was really young,” he reflected, mentioning that he was quite a precocious reader. At just five years old, he was reading (and comprehending!) the Harry Potter book series, and he started writing stories when he was eight or nine. “They weren’t very good,” Potter admitted, ”but I had the passion for it.” read more

Spooky Season at the Mount

How Students Celebrate Halloween Traditions

By Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

As the leaves begin to change and the fall season settles in, candy, costumes, jack-o’-lanterns, and haunted houses begin to make their comeback—some of the familiar staples of Halloween, celebrated every year on October 31.

The holiday may have its roots in ancient Celtic traditions, particularly the pagan festival of Samhain (pronounced “Sow-in”), which celebrated the transition from the lighter half of the year to the darker half, marking the end of summer and the changing of the seasons, as well as a time when the “veil” between our earthly realm and the spirit world is said to be at its thinnest.
While Halloween today is often a gloriously whimsical time for tricks and treats, scary stories, pumpkin picking, and dressing up, it actually shares some similarities with how ancient celebrants of Samhain may have observed their holiday. read more

Voter Registration Closes This Friday

MWCC Community Can Look to Brewer Center for Registering Before Deadline

By Jordan Chila | Editor-in-Chief

Photo by Tom Hill Jr.

The 2024 election is fast approaching, and surprisingly, not every state offers same-day voter registration. Massachusetts is one of those states, with a voter registration deadline of October 26, 2024. There are several last-minute ways to register: by mail, in person, or online. Since not everyone in the community is registered, take advantage of the right to vote and register today.

Massachusetts is among the 28 states that don’t offer same-day voter registration, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get your vote in before the deadline. MWCC students can register in person at their local election office or by mail. For those who are registering to vote by mail, be sure that the registration form is postmarked by the deadline date of October 26, 2024. For an even simpler option, there is also the option to register or vote online. Where exactly is one able to find the online registration form? Well, the commonwealth of Massachusetts provides the link here: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/. It takes about five minutes, and all that is required is valid identification. read more

Students and Faculty Weigh in on Upcoming Psychedelics Vote in Massachusetts

By Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

Image by Alan Rockefeller, from Wikimedia Commons

This November, Massachusetts voters will decide on several statewide ballot questions, including Question 4, the limited legalization of certain natural psychedelic substances, also known as the “Natural Psychedelic Substances Act.” The proposal would legalize and regulate the supervised use of certain natural psychedelics—such as psilocybin, DMT, mescaline, and ibogaine—for adults 21 and older.

In 2020, Oregon became the first state in the nation to legalize psilocybin, commonly known as magic mushrooms, in 20 of its most populated cities, opening more than 20 service centers to administer the drug, according to NPR. read more

MWCC Students Provide Thoughts on 2024 Presidential Debate

By Benjamin Heffner | Observer Contributor

Former president Donald Trump (R) and Vice President Kamala Harris (D) shake hands at the September 10th presidential debate.

Last month’s debate on September 10 between former President Donald Trump, a Republican, and Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, marked the first—and potentially the only—chance for voters to see both candidates on stage discussing key issues facing the nation, including immigration, taxes, the economy, abortion, and foreign policy.

Students Matthew Infantino, Sarah Vargas, and Oren Cohen gave their thoughts on the debate.

Matthew Infantino joined MWCC in the fall of 2024 and is studying Environmental Science. He is 44 years old and offered up his insight to the presidential debate by answering the questions below. read more