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MWCC Student Newspaper The Mount Observer Commemorative Issue Highlights the Fitchburg Abolitionist Park

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Left to right, Faculty Advisor Katie Fuller, Graphic and Interactive Design Professor and Department Chair Leslie Cullen, Elysian Alder, Graphic and Interactive Design staff member Tom Hill, Anya Ezechukwu, Gateway to College Resource Specialist David Thibault-Munoz, and Isabelle Mascary.
Left to right, Faculty Advisor Katie Fuller, Graphic and Interactive Design Professor and Department Chair Leslie Cullen, Elysian Alder, Graphic and Interactive Design staff member Tom Hill, Anya Ezechukwu, Gateway to College Resource Specialist David Thibault-Munoz, and Isabelle Mascary.

Mount Wachusett Community College’s student newspaper the Mount Observer and Graphic and Interactive Design students joined forces this spring to design and develop a commemorative magazine for the Fitchburg Abolitionist Park.

Titled “Underground”, the publication cover and internal design elements were created by MWCC Class of 2023 Graphic and Interactive Design student Anya Ezechukwu, with support on internal layout from the Mount Observer staff.  The Mount Observer editorial team included Editor-In-Chief Isabelle Mascary, Assistant Editor Elysian Alder, and Contributing Editor Kai Johnson.

“Commemorating the abolitionists that came long before us is crucial for understanding the historical context of slavery and abolitionism and continued efforts to combat racism,” noted Johnson. “The Abolitionist Park serves as a powerful symbol of the community’s values and the hope for a more equitable future.”

The twenty-eight-page publication tells the story of the Fitchburg Abolitionist Park development, from its conception by MWCC students researching the history of Fitchburg’s role in the fight against slavery, through its construction and unveiling in June 2022, and the Park Board’s future plans. Copies will be available at the park on Saturday, June 17 from 1:30 to 4:30 during their Juneteenth Celebration.

The Mount Observer, founded in 2005, is the official campus newspaper for Mount Wachusett Community College. The Mount Observer is entirely student written and edited and publishes four issues each semester.