MWCC's Weekly e-newsletter

Friday, October 22, 2004

AS FLU SEASON BEGINS, STUDENTS SHARE THE ABCs OF PROPER HAND-WASHING

By Kimberly B. Caisse

Biology Professor Janice Barney’s microbiology students found out this semester that washing hands can be more fun than drudgery—just sing the ABC song or “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” while you lather them up with soap and water.

It sounds silly for teens and adults to do, but it’s a tip designed to encourage people of all ages to spend the appropriate amount of time washing germs off their hands—15 to 20 seconds.

Students researched hand-washing habits of people in the U.S. and proper techniques to prepare for their service-learning projects. The goal of each was to educate people about the importance of frequent and proper hand-washing.

One project involved a survey of 100 people at MWCC about what people know about hand-washing. Another, done in conjunction with BCT Professor Joel Anderson’s class, had students make two video about hand-washing. A third focused on raising public awareness by designing a display case about the subject. For the fourth project, some students developed the germ cultures seen in the specimen slides in the display case. (Near the end of the semester, another survey will be done to gauge the effectiveness of the public awareness campaigns.)

The fliers hung around campus that link preventing the flu with hand-washing also serve as reminders.

“I think that people don’t understand that friction, soap and water are required for a thorough hand-washing,” Barney said. “What people don’t see is actually how dirty the surfaces they touch are, especially common areas like door handles, ATM machines, money.”

All soaps can be classified as antibacterial, even those without “antibacterial” on the label, “because they all have agents in them that kill germs,” she explained. Alcohol-based hand-sanitizers also reduce germs on people’s hands.

“The goal is not to sterilize hands, but to reduce the number of germs on them,” Barney said.

The MWCC community—students, faculty and staff—have responded favorably to the public awareness campaign, she said. “I’ve heard from a wide variety of individuals. They say it’s about time somebody has done something about the simple things to prevent the spread of germs.”

Why wash your hands frequently?

The Center for Disease Control’s website says, “The most important thing that you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands. By frequently washing your hands, you wash away germs that you have picked up from other people, or from contaminated surfaces, or from animals and animal waste.”

Wash your hands often, according to the CDC, especially “before, during, and after you prepare food; before you eat, and after you use the bathroom; after handling animals or animal waste; when your hands are dirty, and more frequently when someone in your home is sick.”

What’s so bad about the hand-washing habits of Americans? Consider this:

According to the website www.washup.org, a survey done by Wirthlin Worldwide and sponsored by the American Society of Microbiology, found that many people passing through major U.S. airports don’t wash their hands after using public restrooms.

In August 2003, Wirthlin Worldwide observed 7,541 people in public washrooms in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Miami and Toronto. On average, 22 percent of the restroom users didn’t wash their hands. The worse offenders were those using New York City airport bathrooms—29 percent didn’t wash their hands. Meanwhile, only 4 percent of people using restrooms at Toronto’s airport didn’t wash their hands.

Over 80 high school teachers attended the High School Video Educators Conference this week at MWCC.

THAYER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S DIRECTOR SHARES HIS CRAFT WITH STUDENTS

By Kimberly B. Caisse

	Toshimasa Francis Wada, artistic director of the Thayer Symphony Orchestra, speaks about being a conductor to students who take Professor Sue Goldstein’s Art of Being Human class.

Conducting an orchestra and playing baseball have something in common, Toshimasa Francis Wada, artistic director of the Thayer Symphony Orchestra, told some humanities students and a few faculty members during a mid-day presentation Wed., Oct. 20.

Both require lots of practice to do them well, he said.

For a conductor, the most important thing to do is convey the mood of a musical piece to the musicians, Wada said. It takes years of study and practice to learn to do that with a conductor’s baton. The goal is to master the creation of the right “color,” or emotion, for each musical composition.

“That’s why conductors have to spend months studying” a musical score, he said. “It takes many, many hours to prepare for a musical presentation.”

Wada also said he knows how to play many instruments. “It really helps me know a little bit of each (instrument),” he said. “I can be more sympathetic and think about how I can help them (the musicians).”

Wada also shared a little history with the group. Hundreds of years ago, when conductors banged 6-foot tall sticks on the floor to keep tempo, a French conductor once banged his toe. It became infected, and he later died from the infection. “He’s the first casualty of conducting,” Wada said.

More recently, a conductor using a plastic baton to lead an orchestra had the baton go through his hand, he said. Wada added that he uses a wood baton because it will break when the point comes in contact with his other hand.

“Conducting can be dangerous, life-threatening,” he said lightheartedly, prompting his audience to laugh.

Wada's visit was organized by three English faculty--Michelle Valois, Susan Blake and Sue Goldstein--who all teach a section each of the Art of Being Human class. The class introduces students to the humanities disciplines, including art, music, philosophy and architecture.

MWCC student Melissa Pierson tries to keep her balance during the Fatal Vision demonstration, which simulates the affect of alcohol on coordination, Wed., Oct. 20. Campus police officer Tim Desmaris looks on.

Campus Events:

• As part of the college’s Works in Clay exhibition series, the works of Gardner artist Sonya DeConinck, an advanced ceramic student at MWCC, will be on display in the East Wing Gallery outside the Theatre at the Mount through Thurs., Oct. 28. Inspired by nature, DeConinck has experimented with low-fire clays, such as terra cotta and Massachusetts white, as well as a stoneware clay body. She often creates work on the potter’s wheel, or hand-builds the piece, and then carves into the surface. Hanging in the East Wing Gallery until Fri., Oct. 29 are the oil paintings of Elizabeth Solley Caine. For more information, call Joyce Miller at (978) 630-9221.

• As part of the “One Book, One College” program, students, faculty and the public are invited to the showings of the film “Talking to the Wall: The Story of an American Bargain” on Fri., Oct. 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in room 127. For more information, call Michelle Valois at (978) 630-9364.

• Tickets are on sale for Theatre at the Mount’s only performance of the children’s musical “How to Eat Like a Child” on Sat., Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. Based on the book by Delia Ephron, the show is adapted by John Forster and Judith Kahan with music and lyrics by John Forster. Tickets are $3 and may be purchased at the Theatre at the Mount box office or online at http://theatre.mass.edu. The box office phone number is (978) 632-2403.

• The theme for National Physical Therapy Month is “Get Fit for Life.” The public is invited to join the physical therapy assistant students and faculty in a Fun Run/Walk on Mon., Oct. 25 at 11:30 a.m. in parking lot D. Participants will run or walk about three miles. A $5 donation is encouraged; all proceeds will go to the Jimmy Fund. Sign up on Thurs., Oct. 14 in the college bookstore lobby or contact Margaret Jaillet at (978) 630-9292.

• The “One Book, One College” program includes a panel discussion on the living- or minimum-wage issue and the working poor on Mon., Oct. 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the North Cafeteria. Southern New Hampshire resident Wayne Monroe and MWCC student Regina Lovell will share their experiences with employment, housing and health care. State Rep. Christopher Donelan (D-Orange); Sheila Dansky, MSW, a social worker at North Central Human Services; Ellie Goderre, RN, manager of the Winchendon Health Center; and Director of Civic Engagement and Outreach Amy Casavina Hall also will sit on the panel. The public is invited to attend. For more information, call Michelle Valois at (978) 630-9364.

• A public discussion of “Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America” by Barbara Ehrenreich is scheduled for Tues., Oct. 26 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in MWCC’s Murphy Conference Room. Students, faculty and the public are invited to attend. Ehrenreich takes jobs as a waitress, hotel maid and house cleaner, among others, to learn first-hand the plight of the working poor. She documents her experiences in “Nickel and Dimed.” A thousand MWCC students will read the book for the fall semester’s “One Book, One College” initiative. For more information, call Michelle Valois at (978) 630-9364.

• The unique financial considerations of running a small business will be discussed in the workshop “Taking Control: Financial Management for the Small Business Owner” on Tues., Oct. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. at MWCC’s Devens campus. Topics participants will learn about include protecting their business future, planning to offer employee benefits and retirement plans, buy-sell agreements with business partners and much more. The cost is only $50. For more information, or to register, call the Devens Applied Manufacturing Center at (978) 630-9569.

• MWCC’s admissions office will host Discover MWCC Expo on Wed., Oct. 27 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Gardner campus. This event gives prospective students a chance to learn about MWCC’s majors and student-oriented services, meet with admissions, financial aid, academic support, advising and career services counselors, learn how transferring to four-year colleges and universities is done and more. Attendees also will tour the campus. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, or to pre-register, contact the admissions office at (978) 630-9110 or admissions@mwcc.mass.edu.

• College and university representatives will visit MWCC at various times during the fall semester. Those scheduled visits are: Fitchburg State College, Wed., Oct. 27,10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in Enrollment Services; Mount Holyoke College, Mon., Nov. 1, 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., in the Murphy Conference Room; Smith College, Mon., Nov. 1, 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., in the Murphy Conference Room; Wellesley College, Mon., Nov. 1, 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Murphy Conference Room; UMASS Lowell, Wed., Nov. 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Transfer Services table; Fitchburg State College, Wed., Dec.1, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in Enrollment Services. Students interested in meeting with representatives scheduled to be in Enrollment Services must register with Nancy Greenlaw for a half-hour appointment. She may be reached at (978) 630-9321.

• The Fitness & Wellness Center at Mount Wachusett Community College will be hosting a Spin-a-thon for Diabetes on Sun., Oct. 31 from 7 a.m. to noon. The spin-a-thon will consist of five one-hour spinning classes. To reserve a bike and a class time, call the Fitness & Wellness Center at (978) 630-9212. A $20 donation is requested. All proceeds will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation to support their research in finding a cure for diabetes.

• A “Succession Planning for the Family-Owned Business” workshop will be offered at MWCC’s Devens campus on Tuesday, Nov. 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. Business succession from one generation to the other is a process, not an event. This workshop will focus on two key areas in this process: the transfer of power and transfer of asset. The cost is only $50. For more information, or to register, call the Devens Applied Manufacturing Center at (978) 630-9569.

• MWCC’s admissions office and the College and Preparation Programs (CAPP) will host the annual Junior Symposium Wed., Nov. 3 for high-school juniors from Winchendon, Clinton, Leominster, Fitchburg, Murdock, Gardner and Lunenburg. Speaker and author Jeff Yalden will start the day’s activities at 8:30 a.m. with a keynote address in the theatre. For more information, call the admissions office at (978) 630-9110.

• Jeff Yalden will return to MWCC at 6 p.m. Wed., Nov. 3 for a free presentation of “The Essence of Leadership” to MWCC students, staff and the general public in the North Cafeteria. Yalden will take attendees on a journey of self-exploration as he describes the essence of leadership and the responsibilities that go along with leading others. For more information, contact the admissions office at (978) 630-9110.

• A free seminar, “Starting/Expanding your Small Business Today and Tomorrow,” on Thursday, Nov. 4 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. in MWCC’s Room 127 intends to guide the small business owners through decisions that will make their planned or existing business more profitable and secure. Area business experts will lead the seminar, which is being co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Association. This seminar is open to the public. Pre-registration is requested. To pre-register, call MWCC Enrollment Services at (978) 630-9123. For more information, call Jack Hughes at (978) 630-9340.

• The second annual Wachusett Writer’s Conference, sponsored by The Gardner News and hosted by MWCC’s Lifelong Institute for Enrichment (LIFE), will be held Sat., Nov. 6 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Colonial Hotel, 625 Betty Spring Road, Gardner. A pre-conference gathering at the hotel on Fri., Nov. 5 begins at 7 p.m. Leominster author R.A. Salvatore will be the keynote speaker. Registration for the conference cost only $75 and $10 for the pre-conference. For more information about the writing contest or the conference, contact Lorraine Wickman at (978) 630-9176 or lwickman@mwcc.mass.edu.

• The deadline to apply for the next certified nurse aide training course at MWCC’s Orange campus is Monday, Nov. 15. The class will run from Tuesday, Nov. 30 to Friday, Jan. 14. Most classes meet in the evening. The cost is $650. Applications are available at Quabbin Valley Health Care, 821 Daniel Shays Highway, Athol. MWCC’s Orange campus is located in the West River Health Center, 450 West River St., Orange. For more information, contact Alice LeBlanc at (978) 630-9220 or am_leblanc@mwcc.mass.edu.

Lea Ann Erickson
Director of Community Relations
Mount Wachusett Community College
Phone: (978) 630-9322
Fax: (978) 630-9561
cell: (508) 517-5202
l_erickson@mwcc.mass.edu

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