Posts published in “News”

If You Can’t Stand the Heat…

By editorialteam on April 26, 2024

Aging HVAC System Disrupts Budget as Well as Student Focus

By Kevin Hayes | Observer Contributor

With an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system that has sections more than fifty years old, facilities management and students are both quick to acknowledge the daily in-classroom consequences that the current HVAC infrastructure at the Mount presents. In terms of dollars, the financial implications could be staggering. However, there is also a cost for students, inhibiting their potential ability to focus in the classroom, which could put pressure on the college to move sooner rather than later. read more

PFAS Pollution

By editorialteam on April 26, 2024

Forever Chemicals Threaten Westminster

By Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

In February of 2022, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) found that private drinking water wells in homes along Bean Porridge Hill Road in Westminster had PFAS levels 50 times what state regulations consider safe to drink. “PFAS have been found in at least 169 public water systems in 95 cities and towns, and most of them have exceeded the state’s legal limit,” explained Madison Latiolais, a community organizer working for Community Action Works, an environmental nonprofit based in Boston that provides training and resources to communities and individuals with environmental concerns. “Westminster has some of the highest levels of PFAS in Massachusetts,” she added. The contamination concerns in Westminster prompt the question: How does Mount Wachusett Community College address water safety? read more

Faith, Compassion, and Determination

By editorialteam on March 22, 2024

The Values of MWCC Student Sabrina Alonso

By Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

Photo courtesy of Sabrina Alonso

Sabrina Alonso, a 29-year-old student majoring in human services at Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC), is driven by her passion for helping others. “Ever since I was younger, I always naturally had compassion for people,” said Alonso. “I love to make people’s lives easier as much as I can, even if it is something simple like listening to them.”

Originally from Uruguay, South America, Alonso moved to the United States at the age of 7, bringing with her a strong sense of determination and empathy instilled by her mother. “The most influential woman in my life is my mother because 22 years ago, she came to the U.S., leaving her birth land behind to give me a better future,” she shared. “She’s the most influential woman in my life and my best friend.” read more

Need Input!

By editorialteam on March 22, 2024

LaChance Library Prioritizes Student Experiences for Library Services

By Cody Mercarter | Observer Contributor

The LaChance Library is the go-to place for a quiet study spot, with chairs and tables scattered throughout and shelves towering over even the tallest people at MWCC. Students seem to have no say in what books come in or what they need the most. But that is soon changing.

According to Robert Koch, Assistant Dean of the Collaborative Learning Commons, “We’re going to come up with a user experience board at the entry to the library. When you come in, there will be survey questions and opportunities to tell us more about what you need, not just in terms of the books, but in terms of the space and the services.” Koch has only been with MWCC since November of 2021, but he has always tried to put the students first, and this experience board demonstrates that. read more

You’ve Heard of AI Photos; Get Ready for AI Movies with Sora

By editorialteam on March 22, 2024

By Kent Yang | Staff Writer

Imagine a technology so advanced that words can conjure breathtaking worlds, complete with sights and sounds mirroring reality. Well, now it’s possible, or at least it will be soon, with Sora by OpenAI.

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company that aims to ensure artificial intelligence will benefit all of humanity. Sora is an artificial intelligence model capable of translating text into videos up to 1 minute long, simulating the physics and dynamics of our reality. This AI model not only comprehends text but also grasps its nature and how it exists in the real world too. read more

MWCC Menstrual Equity Concerns

By editorialteam on February 23, 2024

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

By editorialteam on February 23, 2024

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

By editorialteam on February 23, 2024

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 editorialteam on February 23, 2024

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

By editorialteam on December 27, 2023

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