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Posts published in “News”

MWCC Menstrual Equity Concerns

Pizza with the President Event Shines Light on Period Product Availability at the Mount

By Sam LeMay | Observer Contributor

The Pizza with the President event, held last November at the Mount, became a platform for a crucial discussion that had perhaps been overshadowed by the daily bustle of campus life: the accessibility of period products in the women’s bathrooms and the lack thereof in the gender-neutral bathrooms. Currently, most women’s restrooms on campus appear to require a 25-cent fee for machines that dispense period products.

The issue at hand is the spontaneity of menstrual cycles–a biological occurrence that often chooses its own timing, catching individuals off guard during a quick visit to the bathroom. “Usually, I bring stuff with me, but [sometimes] I forget,” said MWCC student Elise Stone when asked about her experience. Many people don’t habitually carry period products with them at all times, resulting in an issue when faced with the sudden onset of menstruation. read more

Supporting Every Student

Senior Mental Health Counselor Leeanne Hadsel’s Commitment to Student Wellness

By Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

Leeanne Hadsel stepped into the role of mental health counselor at Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) in the fall semester of last year, following a vacancy left by the previous counselor’s departure in the spring semester. With over a decade of experience in behavioral health and a background in trauma-informed care, Hadsel brings not only a wealth of knowledge in her field but also a special connection to the Mount, considering it an integral part of her personal success. Having taken classes at MWCC in the past to complete her remaining credits after experiencing difficulty at a traditional 4-year school, Hadsel stated,“The Mount provided the very-needed second chance to believe in myself and my desire to be educated. It was such a privilege that opened up a lot of doors for me. So I’m excited to become a member of the community again and work with students that have faced adversity and are trying to educate themselves and better their lives.” read more

Let’s Go on a Trip

MWCC Prepares for Upcoming School Trip to Iceland

By Katie Holgerson | Observer Contributor

Have you ever wondered what studying abroad opportunities MWCC has to offer for its students? Well, this year students at MWCC have begun to prepare for their upcoming trip to Iceland in May 2024. Students will leave on May 16th and stay in Iceland until the 23rd. This trip is organized by Professors Michelle Valois and Heather Conn, who have planned an exciting and fulfilling experience for the students.

This will be the second year that MWCC has offered the Iceland trip. Discussing the inspiration behind choosing Iceland as the destination, Valois explained, “I was with Professor Conn at the meeting, and she teaches geology, and I love mythology. And I don’t know who said it first. I think she said, ‘I’ve always wanted to go to Iceland,’ and I said, ‘Oh my God, I’d love to teach about Norse mythology.'” Students had the opportunity to enroll in a course taught by Valois and Conn, focusing on Iceland, its geological structures, its history, and its mythological views. This course serves as a foundation for students before going on the trip. read more

CES 2024: Coding Simplified

By Kent Yang | Staff Writer

Kicking off this year is the biggest tech event of the year, CES 2024, also known as the Consumer Electronics Show. CES is an annual trade show typically held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, featuring the latest advancements in consumer technology. It all began in 1967 in New York City when organizers held the first CES. Among the 200 exhibitors were notable attractions such as pocket radios and TVs with integrated circuits, which were groundbreaking at the time and contributed to drawing in over 17,000 attendees. Since then, the CES has continued to serve as a global stage for innovation. read more

It’s the Holiday Season

An Examination of the Holidays Celebrated (and Not Celebrated) at the Mount

By Desiree Leader | Observer Contributor

The holiday season is happening all over the world. Eighty-five percent of people in the United States will be celebrating Christmas–everywhere you look, there are lights, trees, and Santas. As a matter of fact, in America, Christmas is celebrated 14 times more often than Hanukkah, and the ratio of people celebrating Kwanzaa to Christmas is 1:49. Although Christmas is the most popular holiday in America, it is clearly not the only one. Despite the Mount taking steps to be inclusive, some people feel that more could be done.  read more

Troubling Times

MWCC Community Considers Responses to Middle East Conflict

By Amal Elkhoury | Observer Contributor

Following the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7th, the MWCC community is considering how best to navigate the difficult discussions that have arisen. Students must balance the emotional toll of a foreign battle with their academic challenges, and many National Guard members are anxious about being called out to fight. However, MWCC President James Vander Hooven has not yet issued an official statement for impacted students. 

When asked why, Vander Hooven said, “I readily acknowledge that I have not specified an event. I also did not send a message specific to the war in Ukraine or conflicts in Africa. But…the mental health of our students and employees is extremely important to me.”  read more

A World Where You Define: Intel 14th Gen Processors

By Kent Yang | Staff Writer

Intel 14th Generation Processors, code name is Raptor Lake-S is a consumer class processor built on Intel 7, previously known as 10NM Enhanced Super Fin. Keep in mind all transistor densities aren’t equal, Intel’s 10NM node is similar to TSMC’s 7NM node. Intel 7 boasts a range of impressive features such as Xtreme Tuning Utility and more.

(XTU) with AI assistance simplifies overclocking with the click of a button. By analyzing the CPU voltages, motherboard power settings, thermals, and other settings, the AI assistance then formulates the best overclock settings for your PC, giving you an extra boost of performance for free! In comparison with Intel’s 13th Generation, Intel claims it is up to 18% better at multi-threading and up to 23% in gaming performance against the leading competitor, which would be AMD’s Ryzen 7950X3D.  read more

AMD Resurrects Sought-After HEDT Processors

By Kent Yang | Staff Writer

It’s no secret that AMD listens to their customers, and they have yet again. With the revival of High-End Desktop processors from AMD, the Ryzen ThreadRipper targets prosumers and enthusiasts while ThreadRipper Pro 7000 is aimed at enterprise customers. Both ThreadRipper series are built upon TSMC 5NM and are for the sTR5 socket. 

The AMD Ryzen ThreadRipper 7000 includes an 8 Core Complex Die Layout on the TRX50 Platform. A Core Complex Die or CCD is a cluster of 8 CPU cores that share access to a common L3 cache. A test conducted by AMD shows the 7980X is between 4% to 94% better than competitor’s Intel Xeon W9-3495X depending on what application is being tested. They were made available on November 21st, 2023. The AMD Ryzen ThreadRipper 7000 series consist of the following: read more

Industry Leading Power Efficiency Showcased at Apple Event

By Kent Yang | Staff Writer

After boasting that hard work isn’t hard at all when you’re on a Mac, Apple introduced their new lineup of ARM based processors: the M3 Family. Ever since switching from Intel Processors to ARM Processors a few years ago, Apple’s aim has been to have a long battery life while keeping performance quality consistent while both plugged in and unplugged. Not only have they succeeded in this endeavor, they’ve also become an industry leader when it comes to power efficiency. Notably, the M3 family is also the first chip to use a 3-nanometer lithography. The M3 Family are listed below: read more

Food for Thought

Investigating Food Insecurity at MWCC

By Desiree Leader | Observer Contributor

According to the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, 1 out of 7 people in Massachusetts receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps. Food insecurity is a global issue, and it is no different at the Mount.

With a recent reduction in additional supplemental benefits, the local demand on food pantries is at an all-time high. According to Pam Guild, President of the Board of Directors at the Wachusett Food Pantry in Sterling, there has been a major uptick in recipients during and since the COVID-19 pandemic because “prices are going up all over for basics.” read more