Posts tagged as “opinion”

(Archive February 2019) Knowing Write Where to Start

By editorialteam on April 3, 2025

By Brittany Eldridge | Observer Contributor

MWCC’s Literary Arts Journal, *A Certain Slant*, which is compiled and released annually.
Photo by Thomas Hill Jr.

Three local writers shared their advice on seeking a career as a professional writer.

Michelle Valois, English professor, stressed the writer’s need for supports such as professors, friends, and relatives. Students can discover other supports through online communities or by starting their own writing groups. Supports can provide students with advice on where to send work as well as feedback on how to improve their work.

Student writers can be proactive by starting their own book clubs. Valois suggested meeting with a group of writers at a library or coffee shop. She also advised that students choose and discuss books in a book club of the same subject matter they wish to write in. read more

(Archive February 2019) Making the Case on Becoming Vegan

By editorialteam on April 3, 2025

By Gabriela Villa | Observer Contributor

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Cows, used to produce milk and meat products, are one of the many kinds of animals people attempt to protect by switching to a vegan lifestyle.
Photo by steve p2008 from flickr

I went vegan when I was 19 and I have been vegan for 5 years. Like most people, I wasn’t born a vegan. I was raised having meat, dairy or eggs with every meal.

I didn’t go vegan because I liked the taste of meat or cheese any less than anyone else. I actually loved the taste of cheese and meats.

Whenever someone brought up veganism, like most people, I thought, “I could never do that!” I claimed I loved cheese too much, and to most of society that was an acceptable excuse. read more

(Archive February 2019) Recycling: The Drastic Plastic Issue

By editorialteam on April 3, 2025

By Cassie Roy | Observer Contributor

Two projects, Larry the plastic bag sea turtle (above) and the giant plastic water bottle (below) can be found on campus. Each promotes awareness of the growing problems with plastic pollution.
Photos by Thomas Hill Jr.

The sign explaining Larry the plastic turtle
Photo by Thomas Hill Jr.

Plastic- we all know it, we all use it, we all buy it, but that’s the problem.

According to plastic-pollution.org, over 8.3 billion tons of plastic resides on our Earth. A study conducted in 2013 showed that an average of approximately 299 million tons of plastic gets produced and added onto the growing pile of waste each year. That same study estimated that by 2025 we would be able to line one hundred plastic bags per foot along every coastline on Earth. That’s about 372,000 miles of land covered in waste that will take over five hundred years to be broken down and recycled back into the Earth. read more

(Archive December 2018) Test Taking Aids for Breathtaking Grades

By editorialteam on April 1, 2025

By Dylan Cernoia | Observer Contributor

With finals rapidly approaching, Henrietta Martin, a tutor, shared some advice on how to study for and take tests.

When studying for a test, Martin suggested that students always check that the notes they have been taking throughout the semester are accurate, either by talking with the professor or a fellow student. She also suggested that if a student is attempting to memorize something for a class, they use flash cards or another form of visual aid.

Martin also encouraged students to break up their studying over a few days. Students trying to cram all of the knowledge in on one day tend not to remember it all, she explained. Martin also suggested that students find a friend either inside or out of the class to quiz them on the subject. read more

(Archive December 2018) Face Your Fear: Tips on Giving a Speech

By editorialteam on April 1, 2025

By Dylan Cernoia | Observer Contributor

Picture this: You have a massive speech to give and close to 100-125 people are there waiting for you to come out and speak. You shuffle your notes, take a few steps out up to the podium and, just as you are about to speak, you freeze.

According to The Washington Post, around 25% of Americans are fearful of such a scenario. I have been doing public speaking for about 10 years and I was involved with several different speech tournaments throughout that time. I’d like to share some tips that I have learned through my many failures and successes. read more

(Archive December 2018) #MeToo Movement: Awareness on Campus

By editorialteam on April 1, 2025

By Briana Shelly | Observer Contributor

The #MeToo Movement has approached its one-year anniversary and is continuing to touch the lives of both men and women throughout society every day. Many people may have thought that this social movement was going to die down, however, they are sadly mistaken.

Originally brought to light in 2006 by social activist Tarana Burke, it was brought back by actress Alyssa Milano last year on Twitter when it became a trending topic.

The impact that this movement is having is affecting all of us, not just the victims and the predators. According to an article in the New York Times, 201 men have either lost their jobs or major roles due to sexual harassment or advances. There have been 124 replacements: 54 women and 70 men. read more

(Archive December 2018) ADHD Students Want Change ASAP

By editorialteam on April 1, 2025

By Gabriela Villa | Observer Contributor

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) often struggle with the kind of focus required for traditional school work.
Image by amenclinicsphotos ac on flickr

Hyperfocus, hyperactivity, the ability to think multiple thoughts at once, and spontaneity are the markers of creative genius, so why do we treat ADHD children like a problem?

Children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) are challenging parents, teachers, and the entire educational system to rethink the way learning is conducted.

We currently have an educational system that forces children to focus on only what it wants them to focus on, stealing their focus away from what could make them passionate, happy, and creative. read more

(Archive December 2018) Shopping for Christmas? You Don’t Want to Miss This!

By editorialteam on April 1, 2025

By Brittany Eldridge | Observer Contributor

With the holidays rapidly approaching, professors and students provided advice on how to create low-cost holiday gifts using skills they learned in their classes.

Leslie Cullen, a Graphic Design Professor, said that graphic designers can use their graphic design software and fine art skills to customize t-shirts, greeting cards, mugs, bags, blankets, calendars, and virtually anything. Students can design their own greeting cards and print them on cardstock at their homes or by using a printing website such as cafepress.com or personalizationmall.com. If the student has a family member with a favorite character or particular interest, then they can design a t-shirt based on that interest and print them through a printing website or local shop. read more

(Archive November 2018) Like Father, Like Son

By editorialteam on April 1, 2025

By Zach Pavlosky | Editor in Chief

As the #MeToo movement swept away Hollywood heavyweights such as Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey, men in positions of power soon began to question the future of their respective careers. Actors, writers, producers, directors, CEOs, the guy running the craft services table (you never know) were all struck with the same panic inducing thought – “Am I next?” Whether it was a simple hand on the shoulder or a compliment that came off as just a bit too flirtatious, the movement had a seemingly endless supply of ammunition to use against those who abused their power. As the reshaping of the Hollywood power structure forged on, the movement set its’ sights on a new male-dominated medium – news and politics. read more

(Archive November 2018) President Trump: 2 Years Later

By editorialteam on April 1, 2025

By Mark Revesai | Observer Contributor

President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence
Image by Shealah Craighead

Students from the Gardner and Leominster campuses offered their opinions on how they feel about President Trump two years after his election.

A total of 69 students were asked a series of questions related to the current administration. Students were first asked if they were registered to vote. Nearly half of those who were polled, 34, were not registered to vote. Being uninterested in politics, thinking their opinion doesn’t matter, and not being a U.S. citizen were some reasons for them not being registered. read more