Press "Enter" to skip to content

Posts tagged as “election”

(Archive November 2017) Opinions Revisited: Iheb Klai Interviews Professors on Their Past and Future Thoughts

Three MWCC professors, who provided their opinions to The Observer right after the Nov. 2016 elections, offer their opinions about how the presidency is going one year later. 

Professor James Korman has been practicing law in Massachusetts since 1992 and  is a Political Science professor: “In term of outcome, the president was unpredictable“

How do you feel after one year from the elections?

“The vision and the plans are not clear; I do not know what he is going to do. Replacing Obama care was totally unsuccessful. The Congress did not pass any major laws and that was due to the goals and objectives of the president. Also, the idea of immigration reform is not successful at all.” read more

(Archive November 2017) Dr. John Fielding’s Thoughts and Advice for Millennials One Year After the Election

By Kelly Cacciolfi | Assistant Editor

Doctor John Fielding, who teaches History and Human Resources Management at Mount Wachusett Community College, said his advice for Millennials would be basically the same advice he gave in the Observer last year right after the Presidential election. Fielding said, “in some situations, it has gotten worse, a year after the election.”  

Last year Fielding was quoted saying, “You should not attack a man (or woman), but attack the content of their argument: understand your opponent’s argument, as by doing so you will be better able to counter that argument. Bottom line to everyone, whether a young Democrat or Republican, don’t despair. There’s another election in four years. Stick by your principles and hone your argument and stay away from personal attacks. Live to fight another day. The country won’t disappear despite who is elected”.   read more

(Archive November 2017) Reflections

Professor Elmer Eubanks’ Thoughts About One Year After the Election

By Kelly Cacciolfi | Assistant Editor

One year later after the presidential election, Elmer Eubanks, Business Professor, said that “Trump was trying to keep up the election promise but I don’t think everyone thought he would do what he said since all candidates promise one thing and do another”. However, Eubanks said the Presidency overall “is in disarray”.   

Eubanks predicts that in the 2020 elections that “there is no good candidate on the democratic side so unless someone comes on the scene that can give Trump a run for his money we may end up with another 4 years of Trump. Would like to see Marco Rubio run but I don’t think he would challenge Trump”. read more

(Archive November 2017) 2016 Presidential Election: One Year Later – Candace Shivers’ Addresses

By Kelly Cacciolfi | Assistant Editor

Candace Shivers, Associate Professor of Sociology and Human Services reflects on her thoughts from the November 2016 issue of the Observer where she was quoted saying this about Trump “I’ll be honest. I’m not sure what he could have said that would have made me vote for him”.   

A year later nothing has changed in her thoughts of how she voted in last November’s election. Shivers said, “it has confirmed people’s angst about Trump”.  read more

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

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

Every Time We Fall For It

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

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

MCAS: To Change or Not to Change?

Deciding the Future of the MCAS Graduation Requirement with Question 2

By Princess Yeboah | Assistant Editor

Photo by Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu from Unsplash

Question 2 on the election ballot addresses the MCAS testing requirement for high school graduation. This year, Massachusetts voters will decide whether to keep or change the rule that requires students to pass the MCAS to graduate. A “yes” vote would remove the requirement that students pass MCAS, while voting “no” would mean the requirement would still be in effect. According to the Rennie Center Education Research and Policy, the MCAS became a requirement to graduate in 2003. While some find this test motivating, some educators support keeping the test but without making it a graduation requirement. 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