MWCC's weekly e-newsletter
Friday, April 14, 2006
Global Warming, Energy Conservation, Focus of First Project Earth event at MWCC
By Janice Battista
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Congressman John Olver |
Two leading advocates for renewable energy use presented sobering statistics about the environmental impact of America’s unquenchable appetite for fuel to an audience of over 50 during Mount Wachusett Community College’s first annual Project Earth event on April 10. Efforts to conserve energy and harness more power from renewable sources such as wind and agricultural products could lessen the severity of the impact, but only with greater support nationally and within homes and businesses, they said.
U.S. Congressman John Olver, co-chair of the House’s Climate Change Caucus, and energy analyst Alan Nogee of the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Clean Energy Program, explained the damaging effect America’s dependence on fossil fuels such as coal and oil are having on the earth, including global warming that is the result of unprecedented amounts of carbon dioxide emissions released into the atmosphere.
“I believe that climate change will prove to be the greatest environmental challenge of this century, Olver said. “Although that may be a bold statement to make just six years into the new century, this is the 800-pound gorilla, as far as the 21st century is concerned.”
Olver said that one of the greatest challenges is changing attitudes and habits about energy consumption. Energy consumption in the U.S. accounts for one-quarter of the entire world’s usage, yet the U.S. represents just five percent of the world’s population, he said. We also release the highest amount of carbon dioxide emissions per person - 20 tons. Western Europe, by contrast, at eight percent of the world’s population, accounts for 18 percent of the world’s energy consumption and produces eight tons of CO2 per person. China, representing 20 percent of the world’s population, accounts for 11 percent of the world’s energy consumption and produces less than 3 tons of CO2 emissions per person.
The Union of Concerned Scientists and others advocate increasing the country’s renewable energy use to 20 percent by 2020, which would reduce the country’s reliance on foreign energy sources, create twice as many jobs as the fossil fuel industry, and significantly reduce pollutants into the atmosphere.
There is much the average citizen can do to make a difference, the speakers said, including buying energy efficient appliances when it comes time to replace their old ones. Simply replacing standard incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs will save 75 percent electricity. “If every U.S. household made that switch, it would save the same amount of energy that 30 conventional power plants produce,” Nogee said.
In addition, utility companies such as National Grid allow customers to select “green energy” sources for their electricity, and two websites, cleanenergychoice.org and green-e.org, provide additional information about electricity options.
Citizens also can log on to the Union of Concerned Scientists’ website at ucsusa.org for more information and to sign up for “Energy Net,” which sends alerts and updates about pending state and national legislation.
The presentation, part of MWCC’s What’s Next Speaker Series, launched the college’s first annual Project Earth event in recognition of Earth Day 2006. Earlier in the day, 20 children from the Boys and Girls Club of North Central Mass., Fitchburg Clubhouse, visited the campus to learn about energy conservation.
Historian James Loewen Sheds Light on ‘Sundown Towns’
Award-winning author and historian James Loewen set straight a number of errors and omissions perpetuated for decades in history textbooks during a presentation Tuesday, April 11 in the MWCC theatre that attracted approximately 150 educators and students. The author of “Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong,” Loewen explained reasons behind the historical inaccuracies and steps educators can make to assure students receive more accurate information, including encouraging students to seek out and read original documents widely posted on the Web. Loewen also read excerpts from his latest book, “Sundown Towns,” which tells how thousands of communities in America excluded African, Chinese, Jewish, or Native Americans between 1890 and the 1970s, and how some still do. This type of racial exclusion is often equated with the Jim Crow South, but Loewen explained that the sundown town was actually a Northern invention created by waves of lynching and riots in many states north of the Mason-Dixon line. Presented by the Teaching American History Program, the lecture was sponsored by MWCC, Fitchburg Public Schools and Fitchburg State College.
Leominster’s John Wright crowned “Idol at the Mount”
Twelve solo finalists sang their hearts out in front of a full house on Friday, April 7 at MWCC, competing for the title “Idol at the Mount.” The genres spanned the generations from pop to classical to show tunes. But in the end, the opera of Jonathan Wright mesmerized the audience, which cast the winning votes for the Leominster resident.
The benefit event for United Way of North Central Massachusetts got started with a group performance of “Season of Love” from the musical Rent. Each of the twelve, who were selected from 52 that auditioned in February, sang a solo tune for the audience and three judges.
The difficult task of narrowing the field to the top three for the audience went to Diane T. Cushing, a music professor at Keene State College, Toshmasa Francis Wada of the Thayer Symphony Orchestra and David Lasky, music director at St. Celica’s Church and former music critic.
In addition to Wright, the other two top vote getters included Julie Smith of New Salem, who took second place and Eric Wefald of Boylston who rounded out the top three. All three took home cash prizes of $1000, $500 and $250 respectively after the audience voted for their favorite performance.
“Congratulations to all the finalists, who did an outstanding job. Not only did we get to hear some incredible singing, but we were able to help the community,” noted United Way President Phil Grzewinski.
The event, which sold out in less than two weeks and included corporate sponsorships, raised approximately $30,000 for United Way’s Community Care Fund which addresses 65 health and human services programs in the community.
Jonathan Wright performed the Neapolitan standard, “O Sole Mio.” He attended Boston University School of Music and also trained with Ingol Ivan Oak at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Julie Smith of New Salem, a teacher’s aide and coach at Mahar Regional High School, sang “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” and Eric Wefald of Boylston, a minister at Good Shepherd Church of Westboro, serenaded the audience with “A Bit of Earth” from The Secret Garden.
Marketing/event planner Ethan Caouette of Westminster rocked the audience with Aerosmith’s “Cryin.” Retired barber David DeCoff of East Templeton sang “Stars” from Les Miserables. Head Start teacher Fatima Elmi of Holden belted out Carole King’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” Classically trained, Seoul, Korea native Angela Hwang of Hardwick performed Puccini’s “O Mio Babino Caro.” Broadway soloist, Boston Conservatory of Music grad Ira Leighton of Holliston sang “Le Jazz Hot” from Victor/Victoria. Karissa Mahoney of Salem, NH, a musical theater major at Keene State College performed “And All That Jazz.” A teacher at the New England Center for Children, Gary Martin of Worcester delivered “This Is the Moment” from Jekyll & Hyde. Regional theater veteran Joan Syriopoulos of Fitchburg performed “A Piece of Sky” from Yentl. John McWilliams of Westminster sang “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables.
The competition was sponsored in part by Aubuchon Hardware, Bovenzi, Inc., Ronald M. Ansin, BHR Life Companies, Colonial Hotel, Fitchburg Savings Bank, Fitchburg State College, Unitil, GFA Federal Credit Union, SimplexGrinnell, Wachusett Mountain, Mount Wachusett Community College, Concrete Solutions, Workers’ Credit Union, Heywood Hospital, John Robert Powers, Fidelity Bank, Upside Sound, The Buffer Zone, Lajoie’s Used Auto Parts and Akin Automotive.
United Way of North Central Massachusetts serves the communities of Ashburnham, Ashby, Ayer, Barre, Devens, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Harvard, Hubbardston, Leominster, Littleton, Lunenburg, Pepperell, Shirley, Templeton, Townsend, Westminster and Winchendon.
Other MWCC News :
• Massachusetts Chancellor of Higher Education Judith Gill, Mount Wachusett Community College President Daniel M. Asquino and North Shore Community College President Wayne Burton will host a state-wide dialogue on “Civic Engagement Across the Commonwealth” at Mount Wachusett Community College, Wed., April 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. College Presidents and Service Learning Leaders from across the Commonwealth will discuss the role of Massachusetts public higher education in civic engagement and economic development. The event will feature remarks by Keynote Speaker, Professor Kenneth Reardon, Cornell University, noted Service Learning/Economic Development authority. His research interests focus on community-based planning in severely distressed urban neighborhoods, alternative approaches to community development, urban social movements, and municipal government reform. We are proud to be hosting this important dialogue on our campus," said Asquino, "There are so many interesting initiatives on all of our campuses. I look forward to a spirited discussion about our future."
• In celebration of Patriots Day, Holocaust survivor Stephan Ross will share his inspiring life story on Thursday, April 20 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the South Café. Incarcerated in Poland at age 9, Ross rotated through 10 Nazi slave labor and death campus from 1940 to 1945 until he was finally liberated from the infamous torture camp Dachau by the U.S. 7th Army on April 29, 1945. He was brought to America in 1948 at age 16 under the auspices of the U.S. Government Committee for WWII orphaned children. He is the founder of the New England Holocaust Memorial on Boston’s Freedom Trail. The presentation is sponsored by the Campus Crusade for Christ Club.
• An artist’s reception in honor of Petersham artist Janet Palin will take place Saturday, April 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. “Looking Out,” a collection of landscape pastels by Petersham artist Janet Palin are on display in the East Wing Gallery through April 28. An artist’s reception will take place Saturday, April 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Auditions for the upcoming Theatre on the Mount production of Urinetown, The Musical, will take place Sunday April 23 at 6 p.m. and Monday, April 24 at 7 p.m. in room 182. An uproariously funny and irreverent new musical, Urinetown comes to the Theatre on the Mount this summer. Interested thespians may contact Professor Gail Steele for more information at (978) 630-9162.
• The MWCC Alumni Association invites all alumni and 2006 graduates to attend the State of the Alumni Association Address on Thursday, April 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the North Café. MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino will deliver the keynote address. During the evening of casual dining and networking, alumni will have an opportunity to learn about upcoming events and projects and reconnect with faculty and former classmates. Free pizza and a cash bar will be available. Reservations are requested by calling Association President Missi Sargent at (978) 630-9273 or Alumni Director Melanie Patterson at (978) 630-9594.
• Ten MWCC students attended the National Association of Television Program Executives’ (NATPE) Student Career Workshops at WCVB-TV Channel 5 in Needham on Saturday, April 2. The Broadcasting and Telecommunications students received important and practical information about jobs in all aspects of the industry, including engineering, sales, PR and news, and were encouraged to pursue internship experiences. MWCC was the only two year college in attendance and had one of the largest group of attendees. Other schools attending included Harvard, BC, BU, Emerson, Stonybrook and UMass.
• MWCC’s annual Spring Fling and Freshman Reception on Wednesday, April 12 was a rousing success, with hundreds of current students and incoming freshmen taking part in numerous free activities throughout campus, including a concert by guitarist John Rush, crafts, caricatures and a barbecue. The unveiling of the college’s new mascot, the MWCC Mountain Lions, received an enthusiastic response.
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Lyndsie DeCologero |
• Nearly 100 print and web designs created by MWCC students were on display during the annual Computer Graphic Design Exhibit and Awards Ceremony, which took place on Thursday, April 13. Lyndsie DeCologero was presented with the Best of Show award for her project, “Leonardo Montage.”
• Congratulations to the Friends of the Practical Nursing Program on establishing the college’s first Alumni Chapter. Judy Giacoppe, Assistant Director of Nursing, Melanie Patterson (’01), Director of Alumni Affairs, and Kathy Panagiotes (’81), Assistant Professor LPN Program, Orange Campus announced that the group’s first official meeting this week produced a number of goals and ideas, including mentoring, outreach and tutoring for current PN students, community outreach, social events, support and information sessions for bridging into the RN program, fundraising and class reunions. The chapter, comprised of members of the PN classes of 2004 and 2005, will meet again on Thursday, May 4 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the Gardner campus.