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Posts tagged as “Trump”

President Trump’s Department of Education Downsizing Concerns Students and Faculty

By Princess Yeboah
Assistant Editor

Front facade of the U.S. Department of Education building in Washington D.C.
Photo by Andy Feliciotti from Unsplash

On March 20th, 2025 in office President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order on the US Department of Education that will completely shut down federal funding millions of students rely on.  According to President Trump his act of signing the executive order is essentially “returning education, very simply, back to the states where it belongs”. In addition to its closure, 50% of DOE staff were placed on administrative leave effective  Friday, March 21st. The DOE is the agency of the federal government that establishes policy to administers and coordinating most federal assistance to education. It also assists the President in executing his education policies for the nation and in implementing laws enacted by Congress. At MWCC, where many students rely on aid from programs such as Pell grants and loans, both faculty and students feel upset and fearful about this major change.  read more

(Archive November 2018) Like Father, Like Son

By Zach Pavlosky | Editor in Chief

Donald Trump Jr.
Photo by Gage Skidmore

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 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

President Trump Addresses Congress and the Nation

By Desiree Leader | Staff Writer

President Trump’s official 2025 portrait
Image from whitehouse.gov

On March 4, 2025, President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of congress in the Capitol Building. The speech started at 9:14. P.M. and the gathering resembled a pep rally with chants of “USA” coming from the Republican section of the room as the president appeared, exclaiming, “America is Back!”

The Democrats also showed camaraderie amongst themselves, with most of the women wearing shades of pink to express concern over the new administration’s policies concerning women. Many of the Democrats also held paddles bearing phrases like “Musk Steals,” “Save Medicaid,” and “Protect Veterans” in silent protest of the Trump Administration and its policies.  read more

Zelenskyy’s White House Visit in Context

By Holden Baird | Observer Contributor

President Trump and Vice President JD Vance clash with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy during meeting in Oval Office on Feb. 28, 2025.

You may have seen coverage of the recent meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which has since drawn intense reactions from both sides of the political aisle. The controversial meeting and the wider conflict between Ukraine and Russia encompass one of the most consequential of ongoing world affairs, and it could have significant future ramifications.

What is happening in Ukraine?

The Russo-Ukrainian War initially began in February of 2014 when Russia invaded Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula. At the time, Ukraine was experiencing intense political upheaval that resulted in the ousting of Viktor Yanukovych, their then pro-Russian president. Russia defended their action as one taken to support the region’s pro-Russia separatists; Western powers viewed the occupation as an effort to maintain Russia’s influence within the Ukrainian government. read more

(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