MWCC's weekly e-newsletter

Friday, Sept. 16, 2005

OVER 1,200 ATTEND MWCC’S WELCOME BACK FEST

By Kimberly B. Caisse

Over 1,200 students, faculty and staff attended Mount Wachusett Community College’s Welcome Back Fest in the back courtyard and cafeteria Wednesday, Sept. 14.

MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino and Mike Goodwin of Party Vision Entertainment help students make their spin-art Frisbees.

Designed to bring new and returning students together, the Welcome Back Fest featured spin-art Frisbee, personal sign-making, personalized baseball cards, a barbecue and more.

The Committee for Activities and Recreation for Students (CARS), the ALANA (Asian Latino African Native America) Club and MWCC’s AmeriCorps VISTAs raised money for the American Red Cross’ Hurricane Katrina disaster relief effort.

CARS sold raffle tickets for a basket of commuter goodies, including a $50 gift card to Mr. Mike’s Exxon/Mobil in Winchendon, $10 in McDonald’s gift certificates and five Subway sandwich coupons. The ALANA Club handed out cotton candy and encouraged donations.

To the music of the award-winning Peruvian music of Inca Son, the largest crowd ever to attend Welcome Back Fest enjoyed a barbecue lunch, sitting at tables in the courtyard, on the back lawn or along the back stone wall.

Gimena Suarez, a first-year liberal arts  student, gets some cotton candy as ALANA Club vice president Iasha Rosario and Bryan Holt prepare more.		Jacqueline Rodriguez, a first-year student studying sociology and computer graphic design, draws a picture for a class. First-year students Juan Hernandez (auto-tech) and Jorge Colon (nursing) relax on the stone wall on the back lawn.		Members of the Student Government Association make personalized signs for interested students.

SGA AND ‘TRIVIA KING’ TEST STUDENTS’
KNOWLEDGE OF U.S. CONSTITION

By Kimberly B. Caisse

Students lined up at the Student Government Association booth in the cafeteria hallway and gathered in the South Cafeteria on Friday, Sept. 16 for a chance to answer questions about the U.S. Constitution and win prizes.

	Morgan White Jr. looks around the South Cafeteria for a student to answer his question about the Constitution.

MWCC’s Office of Student Life, financial aid office and Committee for Activities and Recreation for Students (CARS) hosted the college’s Constitution Day (a day before the national observance) as part of the college’s Decade of Civic Engagement initiative.

Throughout the morning, the SGA offered students a five-question quiz on the U.S. Constitution. “Our booth was full of prizes, and now we have only nine prizes left,” said Isaura Luna of the SGA shortly before 11:30 a.m. Students who answered two or more questions correctly could pick a prize. All students received a piece of candy and a pocket constitution just for trying.

The Man from TRIVIA, the professional billing of Morgan White Jr., put students’ knowledge of the Constitution—and other subjects—to the test from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the South Cafeteria. He handed out prizes to people who answered questions correctly. White is one of the premiere trivia experts in the U.S. and one of only a handful of persons who work full time on the field of trivia. He is also a fill-in host on WBZ NewsRadio 1030. Every third question he asked was related to the Constitution.

His questions included the following:

When did the representatives go to write the Constitution? May 25, 1787

How did the Blue Laws get their name? They were written on blue paper.

Who was the oldest person to sign the Constitution? Benjamin Franklin

Who is known as the father of the Constitution? James Madison

Who was the driving force behind organizing the Continental Congress meeting to write the Constitution? Governor Morris

When was the Constitution signed? Sept. 17, 1787

The Student Life Office prepared for Constitution Day by posting questions and information about it on bulletin boards leading to and in the cafeteria. Cake was served during White’s Constitution trivia game, and CARS continued to sell raffle tickets for the commuter goodie basket. The raffle raised more than $100 for the American Red Cross’ Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts.

Upcoming Campus Events:

• A transfer representative from Fitchburg State College will be at MWCC’s Gardner campus on Monday, Sept. 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. There are still several half-hour slots available. A transfer representative from Worcester State College will be on campus on Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for one-on-one 20 minute appointments. Pre-registration is required to meet with reps from both colleges. To register, contact Nancy Greenlaw in the Transfer Services, Advising & Counseling Center (room 134G) at (978) 630-9321 or ngreenlaw@mwcc.mass.edu, or Yong Sadler (978) 630-9568 (room 134).

• MWCC's Art Department will present an exhibit of kiln-formed glass pieces by artist Lynn Latimer in the East Wing Gallery through Tuesday, Oct. 11. Latimer graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 1975 with a degree in painting and started Latimer Glass Studio in Easthampton in 1976. She said, “The glass and carving allow me to combine these elements of color, images and textures. I have found inspiration in the paintings of Klee and Miro, old frescoes, the aesthetics of Japanese gardens, and more recently through exploring primitive art-carvings, textiles, and painted surfaces from around the world, as well as the subtle color shifts and patterns in hand woven rugs.” For more information, contact Professor Joyce Miller at (978) 630-9221 or jmiller@mwcc.mass.edu.

• Also hanging in The East Wing Gallery until Saturday, Oct. 15 are the paintings of MWCC art program graduate Joe Feinsilver (’05). An artist reception will be held on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the gallery. All are welcome to attend. Feinsilver, now a student at Mass College of Art, was commissioned over the summer to paint a design on the Wachusett Chamber of Commerce’s AppleArt! apple sponsored by MWCC. For more information about the exhibit, contact Professor John Pacheco at (978) 630-9184 or jpacheco@mwcc.mass.edu.

• MWCC is assisting the American Red Cross of North Central Massachusetts with its response to Hurricane Katrina. The Red Cross has expressed an immediate need for volunteers to field incoming phone calls and fill out paper work. Interested volunteers can e-mail their name and contact information to MWCC AmeriCorps VISTA Amanda Landry at alandry@mwcc.mass.edu. She will forward a list of volunteers to the Red Cross. The Red Cross will provide an orientation for prospective volunteers in the areas of need in the hurricane disaster area at the Volunteer Expo on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Contact Landry for more information about the expo.

• A planning committee is forming to host a fundraising effort and/or event for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The college plans to raise at least $5,000 in this effort. To join, send an e-mail to Assistant Vice President of Public Affairs Lea Ann Erickson at lerickson@mwcc.mass.edu.

• The Lifelong Learning Institute for Enrichment (LIFE) Program at MWCC is accepting submissions for the its annual writing contest in conjunction with the Writer’s Conference it will hold in October. Poetry and short fiction are the genres, and two winners will be announced, one in each genre. For more details, visit the LIFE website: life.mwcc.edu.

• MWCC will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Monday, Sept. 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the commons area. To sign up, visit Health Services in room 133. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information, contact Marianne Stoy at (978) 630-9136.

• The Greater Gardner Community Choir will hold sign-up and first rehearsal for the fall semester on Monday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. Under the direction of Diane Cushing, the choir meets Monday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m, in room 182 at MWCC. Music for the fall semester includes classical and contemporary holiday selections such as “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” “Gesu Bambino,” “March of the Kings,” “Winter Wonderland of Snow,” “Hodie Christus Natus Est.” A holiday concert is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 16 at the college. A $20 music purchase fee is the only cost associated with joining. For more information, contact Professor Gail Steele at (978) 630-9162 or gsteele@mwcc.mass.edu.

• On Wednesday, Sept. 21, MWCC’s Admissions Office will host the annual New England Association for College Admission Counseling College Fair. The fair will run from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Fitness & Wellness Center and is open to the public. It is geared toward high school juniors and seniors from the college’s service area. Also that day, the Admissions Office will host the NEACAC Two Year College Committee’s annual luncheon entitled “Opening Doors for All Students” in the North Cafeteria. The luncheon will feature best practices for recruiting and supporting under-prepared, at-risk and disabled students. For more information, contact the Admission’s Office at (978) 630-9110 or admissions@mwcc.mass.edu.

• In observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, MWCC’s Office of Student Life will host the traveling Latino Heritage Museum’s “Latino Heritage 101” exhibit, a multimedia tribute to Latinos, Hispanic scientists, inventors and other historical Hispanic pioneers, at the college’s Gardner campus on Wednesday, Sept. 21. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibition features over 100 artifacts that highlight the contributions of Latinos in the fields of science, aerospace, communication, medicine, agriculture, transportation and engineering. It also represents pioneers in politics, education, entertainment, sports, media, cinema and literature. Video documentaries round out the presentation, highlighting achievements in history not normally taught in schools. Admission is free. For directions or additional information, call Greg Clement at (978) 630-9252.

• Theatre at the Mount will offer a new series of classes for individuals who would like to learn to tap dance or to brush up their tap dancing skills. Nicole Couture, who has choreographed many TAM productions including the recent “Babes in Arms,” is the instructor for the four new classes. “Begin to Tap,” for teens grades 9 to 12 and adults with little or no tap experience, will run on Wednesday nights from 7 to 8 p.m. beginning Sept. 21. “Begin to Tap,” for students in grades 4 to 8 with little or no tap experience, will run on Saturdays from 10 to 11 a.m. beginning Sept. 24. For teens and adults with some tap experience, “Brush up Your Tap” will be offered from 8:15 to 9:15 p.m. on Wednesdays beginning Sept. 21. “Brush up Your Tap,” for students in grades 4 through 8 with some tap experience, will be offered on Saturday mornings from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. beginning Sept. 24. Each program is 12 weeks long and costs only $100. To register, contact the Theatre at the Mount box office at (978) 632-2403 or contact Professor Gail Steele at gsteele@mwcc.mass.edu.

• MWCC Entrepreneurial Resource Center at the Devens campus will host a seminar on “Designing Ads and Marketing Materials” Thursday, Sept. 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. The cost is only $40. Paul Lambert will be the presenter. For more information and to register, contact Lisa Derby Oden at loden@mwcc.mass.edu or (978) 630-9548.

• MWCC will present a free seminar “Starting/Expanding Your Small Business - Today and Tomorrow” Thursday, Sept. 22, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. in room 127 at the Gardner campus. Presenters represent banking, small business organizations, small business owners and the Massachusetts Bar Association Speaker’s Bureau. This free seminar will assist small business owners and those planning to start a small business with information critical for starting, growing, financing, and protecting their ideas and their business. This seminar is free, but pre-registration is requested. To pre-register, contact MWCC Enrollment Services at (978) 630-9123. For more information, contact Denise Whitney at (978) 630-9124.

• Students will get a chance to celebrate the grand opening of MWCC’s new Student Life Center, at the entrance to the Robert D. Wetmore Center for Innovation in Design, Technology and Resource Development on Monday, Sept. 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will feature Grupo Fantasia, which has won many awards in Latin categories, including Boston's 1993 Expose Award for Best Spanish Band (1993), runner up in the Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce Award for Education (1999), and The 2003 Boston Music Award Nominee for Best World Class Act. Brazilian culinary delights of “Delicias Bakery” of Leominster will be served. For more information, contact Greg Clement at (978) 630-9252.

• As part of the college’s Decade of Civic Engagement initiative, a debate entitled "Censorship and the First Amendment" will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 11:30 to 12:20 p.m. in the North Cafeteria. Guest speakers will include Ronal Madnick, director of the American Civil Liberties Union - Worcester chapter, Associate Professor Jim Korman, and Director of Grant Management Dr. John Fielding. The college’s new student newspaper, The Mount Observer, is co-sponsoring this event. The moderator will be Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment Management Ann McDonald. Panelists will discuss censorship in the academic environment, particularly in the MWCC classroom and on the web, such as in blackboard discussion groups. For more information, contact Assistant Vice President of Public Affairs Lea Ann Erickson at lerickson@mwcc.mass.edu or (978) 630-9322 or Associate Professor Susan Goldstein at sgoldstein@mwcc.mass.edu or (978) 630-9344.

• MWCC Foundation, Inc. will honor Jim Garrison, president and CEO of Instron Corp. in Norwood, as the 2005 Harold E. Drake Jr. Citizen of the Year Award recipient at the Annual Foundation Dinner Thursday, Sept. 29 at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Conference Center in Fitchburg. Outstanding MWCC students who receive foundation scholarships also will be honored. To attend the dinner, contact Diane Hamilton at dhamilton@mwcc.mass.edu or (978) 630-9387. Tickets are $75 per person. The event begins at 5:30 p.m.

• Help stock the near-empty shelves at the Gardner Community Action Committee food pantry by donating items to a food drive running from Monday, Oct. 3 to Friday, Oct. 14. Nursing students Taunja Golding and Kim Shea are coordinating the drive for their service-learning project. Drop-off boxes will be placed around MWCC’s Gardner campus: near the library entrance, the commons area, student life offices and the cafeteria. Other businesses and organizations participating in this special food drive include Heywood Hospital, Gardner City Hall, Sacred Heart School, Gardner Boy Scouts, Ash-West Youth Hockey League, Gardner Fish & Gun Club, Gardner Chamber of Commerce, Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District, Gardner Public Schools and Enterprise Bank & Trust Co. in Fitchburg. The CAC asks for donations of non-perishable items in non-glass containers: cereal, jellies and jams, spaghetti sauce, canned tomatoes, crackers, soup, pasta, juice, baked beans, canned meats and canned vegetables. Money donated to the pantry is used to buy meat, eggs, cheese, baby formula and other refrigerator items. For more information or to make a donation, contact Golding at (978) 827-4410 or Shea at (978) 297-1157.

Lea Ann Erickson
Assistant Vice President of Public Affairs
Mount Wachusett Community College
Phone: (978) 630-9322 Fax: (978) 630-9561
cell: (508) 517-5202
lerickson@mwcc.mass.edu

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