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Posts tagged as “campus life”

Your Head’s in the Game

By editorialteam on February 23, 2024

Princess Yeboah’s Success

By Jordan Chila | Observer Contributor

Photo courtesy of Princess Yeboah

Princess Yeboah arrived at the Mount in the fall semester of 2023 with the tough decision to make about whether she wanted to pursue a creative future in writing or a clinical career in nursing. Yeboah grew up in Baldwinsville and attended Monty Tech in Westminster for high school. Yeboah, a basketball enthusiast and person of faith, made her family very proud when she graduated in the spring of 2023. Initially, she had a strong desire to join their health technologies program; however, Yeboah ultimately ended up taking business technology. read more

Profile: Julian Anderson

By editorialteam on December 27, 2023

The “Parking Lot Selfie Guy”

By Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

Photos courtesy of Julian Anderson, collage by Elysian Alder

Julian Anderson is the 20 year old Media Arts and Technology (Audio Concentration) major who took the Mount’s new Student Feed app by storm when he decided to kick off the semester by posting a selfie of himself sitting on the trunk of his car. The caption? ‘Parking Lot Selfie, Day 2.’ 

“I knew at first people might approach me, asking me if I was the guy who posted selfies in the parking lot, but I wasn’t that nervous,” said Anderson. “It was more for me than it was for anyone who liked following along with my selfie journey.” read more

Beyond Critique

By editorialteam on December 27, 2023

Director of Assessments Amanda Henrichs’ Mission to Cultivate Joyful Learning 

By Katie Holgerson | Assistant Editor

Photo courtesy of Amanda Henrichs

Amanda Henrichs has been the Director of Assessments at the Mount for about 2 years and uses they/them pronouns. Originally from Oregon, Henrichs reflected on how different their life was in the Beaver State, mentioning that they were “milking goats and making porridge.” They explained the geographical distinctions between Oregon and Massachusetts, noting that Oregon experiences more rainfall and is “always gray,” with mountains for skiing and even a desert known as the High Desert on the other side. Henrichs recommends visiting Crater Lake, describing it as “incredible, it’s an old volcano that is filled in.”  read more

Elf the Musical

By editorialteam on December 27, 2023

Spreading Holiday Cheer for All at the Mount

By Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

Photo by Laura Cavanaugh via Theater at the Mount

On Saturday, December 2nd, Mount Wachusett Community College’s Theatre at the Mount (TAM) put on a spectacular performance of their holiday show, Elf: the Musical, a stage adaptation of the hit 2003 film of the same name.The musical follows Buddy (David Allen Prescott)—a human raised by the elves (who are “Happy All the Time,” according to the show’s opening number) at the North Pole—as he sets out on a journey to New York City in search of his real father…and his true identity.  read more

Food for Thought

By editorialteam on November 19, 2023

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

Wanted for Questioning

By editorialteam on November 19, 2023

Community Reflection on the Manhunt for Aaron Pennington

By Sam LeMay | Observer Contributor

Aaron Pennington remains the figure of interest in the troubling events that unfolded on October 22nd. The incident, which involved the fatal shooting of his wife, Breanne Pennington, and his subsequent flight, has prompted students and staff at the Mount to reflect upon their sense of security in the area. As of this issue’s publication date,  the latest press release from Massachusetts State Police indicates that they have suspended their search, confirming that although they haven’t found him, they are assuming he is still alive until a body is found. On the morning of October 23rd, an email from MWCC Student Services reached the student body, advising them to immediately contact authorities if they encounter anyone matching Pennington’s description. read more

Profile: Puneet Kumar

By editorialteam on November 19, 2023

A Journey of Determination from India to the USA

By Kent Yang | Observer Staff Writer

Within the diverse cultures of Mount Wachusett Community College is Puneet Kumar, a 19-year-old biology major. One year ago, when he was just 18 years old, Kumar left his home in Punjab, India and started his journey to America, bringing with him not just his cherished cultural heritage but also his profound determination to achieve his dreams of becoming a doctor, more specifically: a neurosurgeon. Kumar has always wanted to be a doctor, explaining that his reasons were “ … not just for a good standard or passion but also for love and better understanding for the people I treat. I chose neuroscience because the brain has the most complex structures which runs the whole body … I just wanted to learn the complexities of the brain and spinal cord to fulfill my dream.” read more

Profile: Arlo Caisse

By editorialteam on November 19, 2023

Gateway Student Talks ‘Opportunity’ and Community at the Mount

By Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

Arlo Caisse has been one of Mount Wachusett Community College’s many dual enrollment students since they started the Gateway to College program in the fall of 2022, when they were just 16 years old. “I was homeschooled my whole life up until I started here at MWCC as a Gateway student,” said Caisse. Both Caisse and their sister are first-generation college students, and their sister is a former Gateway student herself. “My sister was the biggest reason I chose to go to college. I wanted to learn, and I needed to learn some important things…things I could have learned at home, but my sister encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and try something new.” read more

A Double-Edged Sword

By editorialteam on October 21, 2023

Balancing the Benefits and Ethical Dilemmas of AI

By Kent Yang | Observer Contributor

Artificial Intelligence and applications of AI, such as Machine Learning, have ushered in a new era of technological advancement, transforming industries and enhancing our daily lives. However, this enhancement also comes with an ethical double-edged sword. While AI offers tremendous benefits, it also raises ethical concerns that demand thoughtful consideration.

AI technologies offer the potential to revolutionize the workplace by automating tasks, thereby enhancing efficiency, productivity, and reducing on-the-job injuries. However, this advancement also brings forth concerns related to job displacement. According to a report from the World Economic Forum, by the year 2025, AI may lead to the displacement of approximately 85 million jobs. But it’s also expected to create 97 million new roles as well, which perfectly illustrates the double-edged nature of AI’s impact on employment. read more

Reflecting on DEI Initiatives with Chief Diversity Executive Stephanie Williams

By editorialteam on October 18, 2023

‘The Need is Always Going to be There’

By Cody Nathanson | Assistant Editor

The Mount’s continued ambition to make students feel included and develop a sense of campus belonging is still an ongoing process. Like many colleges during COVID-19, MWCC followed in the greatly renewed wave of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives by hiring for a new position: Chief Diversity Executive. A position Stephanie Williams has held since April of 2022.

“When we’re talking about creating inclusive environments and breaking down systems that serve a dominant group and culture and not the rest, the need is always going to be there,” Williams explained. Her position provides a top-down oversight of MWCC’s policies and programs through the lens of DEIA principles, but when it comes to fostering a front-facing sense of belonging, it remains a part of a larger need. In a 2022 research survey, 64% of college students acknowledged their campus’ support of DEIA principles but shared the sentiment that there was still room for improvement. read more