The Centurion
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Shutdown!
The Award-Winning, Student-Run Newspaper of Bucks County Community College Volume 51 Issue 2
Week of October 8, 2013
www.Bucks-news.com
Twitter: @CenturionBucks
A fight between Republicans and Democrats over the emerging Affordable Health Care Act has caused the first government shutdown in 17 years, furloughing nearly 800,000 federal employees and temporarily closing several federal programs.
What’s Inside
Special Edition
Anothony DiMattia introduces us to the lies our parents told us.
Special Edition
Kelly Armstrong tells us how lies are more of a family affair than we think. Special Edition Luther Anderson fills us in on the state of the American Family in 2013. Special Edition
Although things look sunny in this picture of Capitol Hill, it is the complete opposite on the inside as Congress disputes over issues including, budgets, debt ceilings and the Affordable Care Act.
By: Sydney TaSey Centurion Staff
With the United States Government in one of the biggest deadlocks in 17 years, it has many students questioning how this recent shutdown will affect them and all of the federal programs that go on in Bucks. “I don't think it will affect me, but it will affect a lot of other people.” said Ali kuklinski, communications major.” Maybe it will not affect kuklinski, but she may be in the dark on what impact a
government shutdown might have. “A prolonged shutdown will show its effects in colleges across the states,” said kent Springfield, director of federal government relations at George Washington University. “during a shutdown, national parks will be closed,” Springfield said. “Some government payments, like GI Bill benefits, may be stalled in a prolonged shutdown. And if you are a student who has a federal work study job at a federal agency, you will
not be able to go into work.” Springfield also said that some faculty grants may be affected as well. “Most grants will probably be unaffected by a shutdown. However, there are specific cases in which faculty members may need to halt their research. Typically, this will be because they are conducting that work at a federal research facility or because they need guidance from the agency to proceed in their work.” On the bright side, students with federal financial aid
Centurion Staff
A 22-year-old Bucks student was arrested last week after allegedly phoning in a bomb threat to the college. Laura Thomas was arrested for allegedly making the threat on Oct. 2. Thomas, from Blooming Glenn, PA, made a phone call to Bucks County’s 911 Center just before 3:30 p.m.
Bucks-news.com
telling the dispatcher that the bombing would occur in two hours. Thomas then called the dispatcher again repeating the threat, police said, according to newtownpatch.com After the threat was made, Newtown Police met with campus security to identify the student associated with the cell-phone number. GPS tracking of the cell phone Centurion@bucks.edu
used helped police and securities determine the student was on campus. One student spoke out about the implications of the threat on the student population as a whole, “It’s kind of weird, but, in society today, we all seem to be desensitized to such actions,” said Connor McGill, 20, from Holland, a nursing major. “There was no evacuation
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Anthony DiMattia recaps the 2007 housing bubble’s effect on homeowners. PHOTO CredIT: WIkIMedIA COMMONS
should face limited problems with the shutdown. “Anticipate that there will be limited impact to the federal student aid application (FAFSA) process, to the delivery of federal student aid, or to the federal student loan repayment functions,” according to Federal Student Aid. There are students that are showing obvious frustration with the government shutdown, regardless of whether it affects them or not. “People are stubborn and
Bomb scare at Bucks By: Brian Kelley
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because we had a two hour window to work with”, said Mark Moore, the assistant director of security and safety. “We wanted to make sure it was a credible threat before we considered any additional activity.” Buck’s student reaction to the threat was one of sheer gratitude.
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Weather
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Monday- High of 76 with a 40 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms.
Tuesday- High of 69 with a 50 percent chance of showers.
WednesdayPartly cloudy with a high of 72.
ThursdayCloudy with a high of 69. Friday- Partly cloudy with a high of 69. Saturday-High of 76 and sunny Sunday- High of 75 and partly cloudy WeATHer COUrTeSy OF THe NATIONAL WeATHer ServICe
Visit us at Bucks Newtown Campus Rollins Building Room 127
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Federal programs on hold 2 BUCKS neWS Continued from page 1
aren't willing to see other sides,” Amy Lapsley, 20, nursing, said. “I don't think it should have gotten to this point.” But even with the obvious frustration, many seem to not understand what exactly caused the government to shut down in the first place. In the Constitution, it says that Congress has the job of approving spending bills to fund the government. If Congress cannot agree on a bill by the end of their fiscal year on Sept. 30, then the government ‘shuts down’- or stops some of the programs that many government officials call "non-essential" jobs. This includes workers in federal museums, national parks, stock markets, and workers in the Food and Safety
The week of October 8, 2013
Bucks-news.com
Administration. The estimated amount of furloughed employees totals 800,000 to 1 million federal workers according to the American Federation of Government employees. The shutdown is expected to be prolonged, based on the fact that republicans are adamant in their attempts to defund, or at the very least, chip away at the new Affordable Health Care Act, better known as Obamacare. “The job loss is not fair, they (the politicians in Washington) were secure, so they did not care who else it would effect,” Lapsley said. “They weren't seeing the other point of view.” President Barack Obama claims that he will get the government back up and running as soon as possible.
Bomb threat at college When the team called Congress can’t get along, things go foul.
CArTOON CredIT: dALLAS LUCe
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“It’s kind of scary, but I’m happy Bucks let us know that it happened, Megan krier said, 18, a business administration major from Levittown. I’m thankful that is was quick through the texting system.” Another student, Shannon Hedden, 20, a nursing major from Levittown spoke about the threat; “I’m pleased that is was dealt with appropriately. I’m happy that the first responders responded quickly and efficiently,” Police received a description of the student and the clothes she was wearing and arrested her at 3:59 p.m. The investigation indicated that there was no bomb. Thomas was then taken to police headquarters for further questioning. Around 7:30 p.m. Thomas was taken to Northampton Township Police department to be processed. Her bail was set at $100,000. When she was unable to pay the amount she was sent to Bucks County Prison. Students are advised to signup for emergency text alerts from Bucks to be aware of situations like this. visit bucks.edu/e2 for more information.
editor-in-Chief
Stephen Godwin Jr. Craig Miller Managing editor kelly Armstrong erich Martin
Web editor
Luther Anderson
advisor
Tony rogers
One of the college’s security SUVs that were swarming around campus last Wednesday.
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the lies of our parents Bucks-news.com
Bucks news 3
The week of October 8, 2013
For many of us, it has been our parents that have guided us, nurtured us, and most of all, told us what we could and should do with our lives. But, are they always right? By: Anthony dimAttiA Centurion Staff
Mother knows best. Or does she? We learn from an early age to listen to what our parents tell us. And why not, they’re older and wiser. But, what if all that has been taught to us hasn’t always been the full truth? In this week’s issue of the Centurion, our staff will discuss the lies our parents told us. Everything down to the core of the American Dream may in fact be a sham in today’s society. The ideal American family: middle-aged father and mother with a couple kids and a dog in the backyard. Yet, how many households in the 21st century actually live up to these standards? A growing number of homes these days are led by young single mothers. As reporter Luther Anderson puts it, “That old (family) portrait would require a lot less paint.” Family and religion seem to go hand-in-hand. So would it be a surprise to find that the
America is a great place, but success may be harder to acheive than in years past
face of religion in the U.S. is changing as well? A large number of young American’s are giving up religion entirely “While some still keep the faith their parents preached, many have turned their backs on churches and other houses of God,” said reporter Craig Miller. Religion isn’t the
only thing young Americans are wary of. The perils of homeownership have left many millennials with a sinking filling. Those who bought before the 2007 economic bubble would be hard-pressed not to owe more on their mortgages than what their homes are worth.
PHOTO CREDIT: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
“The beautiful house with the white picket fence isn’t what it’s cracked up to be,” according to reporter Anthony DiMattia. How does a college-age American even get close to the dream of buying a home? Well, the obvious answer is to become a lawyer or get rich in the tech indus-
try. Not so fast, says reporter Kelly Armstrong. Even the architect that designs the homes doesn’t bring in enough work to afford them. And don’t even bother with the ‘Jack of all Trades’ majors like Liberal Arts or Humanities, she says. When it comes to not bothering with something, many young athletes are doing just that in sports with their parents in mind. What starts out as a game for kids turns into a parent’s obsession, says reporter Robert Knuckles. A growing number of adults are pushing children to play in sports to the point where kids have to lie to make their parents happy. “With all the lying that this generation has been exposed to it’s no wonder that Generation Y has evolved to become pretty good group of liars,” says Armstrong. Family, religion, homes, jobs, sports and society as a whole; just a few minor details our parents failed to explain properly. Join us, as we explore the lies our parents told us.
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Lying through our teeth 4 SPECIAL EDITION
The week of October 8, 2013
Bucks-news.com
Everybody knows lying is wrong, but when it comes to some familiar situations, people often excuse themselves with little white lies to help them avoid uncomfortable consequences. BY: KELLY ARMSTRONG Centurion Staff
Jason Schaffer, 21, 3-D art major, is sitting in one of the many lounges of the school, relaxing and conversing with a few friends. Suddenly, his phone buzzes to life. He fishes it out of his pocket and checks the screen to find that his mother is calling. He dutifully answers. The call is quick and to the point- and exchange of formalities, a “how’s everything been at work/school?” Then the mother asks how classes are. “I'm in class right now,” Jason says in response. “I have to go now though.” He quickly says goodbye, saying he needs to get back to the lesson and shuts his phone. He goes back to his friends and continues the conversation where it was left off. As college students, we probably lie a lot. From our childhood up to young adulthood, we all have memories of spreading those little white lies. Whether or not we were raised around the concepts of truthfulness, we can’t help, but let that little lie escape every now and again. The question is though, what do we all lie about and why? What do we lie about? In all honesty (pun completely intended), college students lie about a lot of things. Just to name a few: “I did my homework.” This lie is common amongst many students, regardless of their major or age. Some students, even when they have moved out and are as far away from their parents as they can be, they still get the occasional call asking if they are doing well in school and if they did all of their homework. Most of the time we do our homework, but then there are times when we know we can get it done (even though it hasn’t even been started) and just tell them it’s as good as finished. “I’ll be home by….”/ “I’m on my way home now.” We’ve all been at that pointA parent/friend/significant other asks when will we be home for the evening, but we honestly just don’t want to go
Lies are more a part of our lives then most of us would like to admit as they can get us out of difficult situations.
home yet. So we give them a time or just tell them we are on our way and we’re just stuck in traffic. The reasons why we do this are varied. Andrew Stapleton, 21, a liberal arts major, said that he would sneak pass his curfew in his senior year of high school to make sure his parents fell asleep and he could stay out later. “I didn’t want them to stay up worrying about me,” said Stapleton remembering how his mother would always say that she couldn’t go to sleep until he was home. Then there are those like Heather Scrip, 18, a liberal arts major, who once told her parents that she was on her way home when she was actually still at school doing make-up on one of her friends. “Of course I went to classes!” As immaculate as
we like to seem when it comes to our punctuality and attendance, there are many students like Schaffer. Some days we just don’t feel like going to classes. We could not be feeling well, we could be sleep deprived, or we just may not like the teacher and decide to skip a day. Schaffer said his main reason for skipping classes on some days is simply because he knows most of the material. “If I already knew the material we were going to cover, then I didn’t see much point in going that day,” he said. These lies don’t just start in college either. Any parent can tell you the list of lies their own children have told them at any given age. A 22-year-old medical assistant major at Bucks said that one of his most memorable lies was when he framed his brother for a bad thing that he did: “One time when I was young, I put a note on a door with curses on it and signed it by my brother.” When his parents got home though, they believed that the signature was the real deal. “He [his brother] got in so much trouble when our parents got home,” he said. Why do we lie? So with all of these lies we
tell, the question stands: Why do we do it? Is there something appealing about lying or are we all just carbon copies of Colonel Jessup’s “A Few Good Men” shouting “you can’t handle the truth!” until we’re blue in the face? “Lying really isn't easier than telling the truth,” said Wilma Starr, a psychology professor at Bucks. “However, we may prefer to tell a lie instead of the truth because we don't want to have to deal with the consequences of telling the truth. Depending on a child's relationship with his or her parents, parental disappointment could definitely lead to lying if a child believes [they are] valued for what he or she does instead of who he or she is,” said Starr. This seems to line up with a lot of students' thoughts. Many said that a big reason why they would lie to their parents is because they didn’t want to disappoint them or be punished. Some also stated that they just didn’t want to explain their situation to their parents. Do we lie because our parents lie to us? It seems logical. The parents tell us that we must tell the truth, but when they lie themselves or just decide not to tell us what is going on, we begin to think
PHOTO CREDIT: STEPHEN GODWIN JR.
it is okay to lie too. Parents are trying hard to keep children from lying though- this can be seen in many modern practices in parenting. One of those parenting exercises says that parents shouldn’t lie about things like Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy, so the children know the parents are being honest with them and are promoting their children to tell the truth. “The saying, “The apple doesn't fall far from the tree," is very true regarding lying,” said Starr. “Children model after what you do not what you say. If you tell your kids it's important to tell the truth but they hear you lie to someone, don't be surprised when you catch your kids lying.” Regardless of why we lie, it is a common occurrence in our lives. Whether it’s our parents teaching us to lie, or maybe even our friends, in the end, we all do it. It’s inescapable and there will always be a point in our lives that will tell us that lying is the easiest way out. But like most lies, they catch up to us if we lie enough. Until the day those lies do catch up though, many students will probably react the same way Jason does and regret absolutely nothing.
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New face of the American family Bucks-news.com
SPECIAL EDITION 5
The week of October 8, 2013
BY: LUTHER ANDERSON Centurion Staff
PHOTO CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
David Diaz, 27, and Nancy Marengo, 22, an unmarried couple, recently discovered that they were expecting a child. David and Nancy are homeowners and are in a stable position financially to raise a child even though their pregnancy was completely unexpected. After the initial shock of the pregnancy the young couple had very different reactions. “I was scared” Marengo said. David Diaz gave a typical strong man answer by saying, “Me, I was never scared.” Back in the “Leave it to Beaver” days, the standard family portrait consisted of a married mother and father along with two well behaved children with a beautiful dog playing in the background along a white picket fence. Now, 40 percent of all children are born to unwed mothers according to the most recent Census Bureau report. It seems the new portrait of the modern family requires a lot less paint. According to a recent USA Today poll, 49 percent of Americans believe that the best age to get married is between 26 and 30. “Kids cost a lot of money.” Rachel Torres, a 26-year-old mother of two, said. “Our grocery bill each month is crazy high, plus it seems like they grow out of their clothes every 3 months. I have to buy them both a summer wardrobe and we cannot afford it right now. We shop with coupons, do freebies, goodwill, thrift shops... We can’t afford brand new items all the time. I also had to buy
In American culture, it is becoming harder and harder to have ‘the perfect family’.
a second car so I could fit my groceries in the SUV and be able to take the kids out while Dan (Rachel’s husband) is working.” Daniel Rodriguez, a 29year-old single parent of four, said that young parents have this kind of trouble because they themselves are trying to get their life together. “At that age you’re not stable for yourself, and to be rushed to have stability because a child is coming is tough. In my case, I feel I missed out on having secondary education because it was
Some individuals are waiting to have a family, unlike families in the past.
important to make the child stable.” Not only is the financial side an issue for people in their mid-20’s age group, mental maturity is an issue as well. Rodriguez says “trying to raise your kids how you were raised was difficult... There’s a lot of parent involvement that’s in it so it makes it hard at that young age to actually be a parent and not feel that you’re just being a child yourself.” And it’s not just the face of parenting changing, the idea of marriage is altering as
well. Most believe that a person’s 20’s is the time when the dating pool is at its largest. Your mid 20’s are looked at as a time for couples to grow up together. Nearly everyone agrees that getting married as a teenager is not a good idea. “It’s better not to get married as a teenager,” says sociologist Andrew Cherlin of Johns Hopkins University. “Beyond that, I don’t think there’s an ideal age.” Sociologist Paul Amato of Pennsylvania State University co-wrote the book “Alone Together: How Marriage in America Is Changing.” The data that he gathered suggested that getting married later in life was the best option. “We found that the delay in marriage was actually a good thing and it actually improved the average marital quality by a fair amount,” he says. “Older marriages (30s vs. 20s) were more cohesive in the sense they did things more often together as a couple. And couples who married at older ages were less likely to report thinking about divorce or that their marriage was in trouble.” “People are postponing marriage until everything in their lives is working in order. The order means after you’ve finished your education, perhaps after beginning your career, and increasingly after you’ve lived with your partner. They’re postponing marriage until they think they’re ready
PHOTO CREDIT: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
for it.” The idea of their being a perfect age to get married seems to be a thing of the past. As of the most recent statistics given in 2012, the average age for women to get married is at 26.5 while the average age for a man to get married is at 28.7. These are both increases from 2007 when the average age for a woman to get married was 25.6 and 27.5 for men. Erin Krantz, a marketer out of Reading, would certainly be a proponent for getting married a bit later into one’s 20’s. “The older you are the more life experience you have...you’re not as stupid or think life’s a fairy tale anymore. Two financially stable adults with good credit should have lived together before getting married. You wouldn’t buy a car without test driving it and looking under the hood, if you can’t live with them, don’t marry them and have kids whenever you’re ready or they come if you want kids, I recommend pets instead.” But even though families are changing, it doesn’t mean there aren’t happy outlooks on them. Stephanie Houk, a 22 year old single mother of two, has a much more optimistic take on family;” A family is all about love and support. It’s not a mom and a dad and kids. It’s people who love unconditionally, support each other and stick together through thick and thin.”
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Bucks-news.com
The week of October 8, 2013
Career Services speaker series presents
Careers in U.S. Immigration Occupations for Criminal Justice Majors Featured Speakers: Desiree Nicholls and Laurette Brush – Border Control
Thursday, October 24 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Founders 239 • Newtown Campus Bucks County Community College
career@bucks.edu • (215) 968-8195 bucks.edu/careerservices
Bucks County Community College Newtown • Bristol • Perkasie • Online
Where to learn. Where to return. 13179
Homeownership hell
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Bucks-news.com
The week of October 8, 2013
SPECIAL EDITION 7
Many homeowners are finding out that owning a house post-recession is not the paradise they initially thought it would be. With troubles such as high mortgage and foreclosure looming overhead, there are still many obstacles to overcome. BY: ANTHONY DIMATTIA Centurion Staff
PHOTO CREDIT: WIKI COMMONS
When Dan Bondanza, 30, bought his first home he believed he was making the responsible decision. “I bought a house so I could build an asset. Then the market fell apart.” Bondanza is one of the 9.7 million or 19.8 percent of residential homeowners in the U.S. that are underwater on their mortgages, according to a June report in the Wall Street Journal. A housing boom from 2004 to 2006 inflated the housing market until the air was let out in the fall of 2007. Unfortunately, buyers during that span were left with homes that were worth less than what they actually owned on their mortgages. Like his parents and generations before him, homeownership was one of the key steppingstones to adulthood and the cornerstone of the American dream. “(Our parents) bought a smaller house then lived in it until they couldn’t live in it anymore. And then they went with a bigger house and then a bigger house, (etc.),” he said. “I bought my house at the top end of the market unfortunately.” In 2007, Bondanza purchased his 1,000 sq. ft. house for about $140,000, which was in his words, “a hell of a deal” at the time. The plan was to start small and find a bargain then build equity and move on, he said. “I figured I would be here at most three years and then be able to sell for close to $200,000 with the way (the market) was going,” he said. “And then...the market tanked.” “The next thing I knew I was underwater on my mortgage very quickly.” In Pennsylvania alone, there
Due to the housing bubble of 2007, many homeowners have to put their houses up for sale to make ends meet.
are roughly 1.9 million home mortgages that total just over $252 billion dollars. Of these mortgages, 9.6 percent are currently underwater, causing home values to drop 7.7 percent after values hit their peak in the mid-2000s, according to data collected in February by Marketplace.org. “Now today because the market is so poor you can buy a really nice house right from the start, but when I got in I bought a smaller house.” After graduating from West Chester University, Bondanza quickly found employment teaching honors mathematics at Sun Valley High School in Aston, Pa. With steady employment assured, Bondanza figured it was a perfect time to invest in a home. “I bought a house. I didn’t want to piss away my money renting anymore.” By all indications Bondanza did everything he was supposed to do. He went to college, earned a degree, found success in a steady job and bought a starter home. “I thought the whole thing was you bought a starter home and then you flipped it. Then you bought a little bit
bigger home then flipped it. You built up that way,” he said. So, where did it all go wrong? “There has been a drastic change in (the market) the last few years,” said Susan Evangelista, a New Jersey realtor of 37 years. “Because of the market, most people who bought a house in the last five years are underwater.” Recently, Evangelista helped close a “short sell” deal on a house in Roselle, N.J. for $140,000 less than seven years after it was purchased by the same owner for $525,000. It’s one example of homeowners across the nation that have seen their homes values shrink in half since the housing bubble burst. “Fortunately, interest rates have dropped to rates that haven’t been seen in nearly 40 years,” Evangelista said. “The interest rates are back where they were, but it’s harder to get (approved) for a loan now.” While current interest rates might be at their lowest in years, the cost of houses is still astronomical in comparison to past decades.
This is a familiar site for a many homeowners, as their mortgages have proved to be too much.
Median home values adjusted for inflation nearly quadrupled over the 60-year period since the first housing census in 1940, according to recent date from the census report. In 1970 the median home value in the U.S. stood at $65,300 which would eventually balloon to $119,600 in 2000. For example, Evangelista purchased her New Brunswick home in 1976 for $45,000. She estimates that even in today’s rough economy the same house would list for about $200,000. Evangelista’s own property taxes have increased nearly 700 percent since she moved in nearly four decades ago. “Higher property taxes have made it harder for struggling homeowners to avoid default,” she said. “That’s the way it is now. The economy is different. Also, job stability isn’t what it used to be,” she said. “It used to be you worked until you were 65 then retired with social security. Many people don’t have that option anymore.” Unfortunately, outside of refinancing through the Home Affordable Modification Program - the White House’s signature effort to assist struggling borrowers in the wake of the financial crisis and Great Recession -- or using the short sell, there aren’t many options for homeowners trapped by their mortgages. Bondanza’s two bedroom home sits along a quiet street in the tiny neighborhood of Parkside just outside the city of Chester. “It was the nicer end of the cheaper area.” However, as the economy worsened many living in middle class homes like Bondanza’s quickly saw their home values plummet. “The gap between the lower and middle classes closed substantially and all of a sudden all those houses that
PHOTO CREDIT: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
were in nicer neighborhoods on the boundaries are no longer the case,” he said. “It’s like there is upper class and then everyone else.” Bondanza’s housing woes are also compounded by cutbacks at work. Like many states across the nation, Pennsylvania public schools are facing increasingly tighter budgets which may lead to problems as PennDelco’s contract with teachers expires next year. In the end, the district will eventually be forced to raise taxes again on residents. “The district that actually pays me will continue to charge me more money as I earn less money.” In January, Bondanza began saving roughly $250 after refinancing his mortgage through HAMP. “That was a pretty big help,” he said. “But there was about four years where, because of increased taxes, my mortgage kept going up and up and up but the value of my house was going down and down and down.” However, since the program essentially requires homeowners to reinvest for another 30 years Bondanza may find it difficult to sell when the time comes. “In the short-term it looks like a good deal but at the end of the day I’m now back in for another 30 years of my house,” he said. “You take it because it’s a great deal right then and there, but you’re just praying that it will work out for you in the long run.” Bondanza compared the deal to a two-year cellphone contract. While that new iPhone may look attractive now, its technology will certainly be outdated before that contract expires. “If you take HAMP, that’s it. You get the one bailout,” he said. “If (HAMP) doesn’t work out for me, that’s it. I’m done.”
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College majors or major mistakes? 8 SPECIAL EDITION
The week of Oct 8, 2013
Bucks-news.com
While many say that college can take you anywhere, there are some majors that seem to only take you to little to no job opportunities with few means to pay off the load of debt accumulated in college. BY KELLY ARMSTRONG Centurion Staff
PHOTO CREDIT: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Jake Wasserman, a 23-yearold psychology major, stares at the whiteboard at the front of the classroom. A cloud of numbers and letters is scattered across the board. He frowns at the foreign equations although he learned about these the other day, they never seem to stick. He tries not to stress too much about this because he’s never been able to remember anything concerning math. Trying to pass an algebra class with dyscalculia can be tough. Dyscalculia, also known as math disability, is when the individual has difficulty in learning and comprehending arithmetic. “It’s like trying to relearn math all over again every day,” Wasserman said about his learning disability. Wasserman’s disability is the very reason he wanted to be a psychology major in the first place: He wanted to be able to help children with disabilities like his own. However, that journey will be nothing short of an uphill climb. The unemployment rate is still causing problems and most if not all college graduates are having trouble finding a job. Although this issue has been around for quite some time, it seems even more prevalent now with more people going to college to try and make more of themselves as a worker and an individual. However, personal growth and personal wealth are on different sides of the spectrum with some jobs. With information gathered from Georgetown University and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are seven majors you might want to reconsider if you are looking for a job after college: 7) Law and Public Policy: Shocking, right? Starting off the list is none other than Law and Public Policy (AKA: the kind of major your parents want you to have). According to Georgetown University, Law and
Public Policy majors face an 8.1 percent unemployment rate. Now, before anyone shouts “Objection!” there is an explanation for this. In simplest terms: it’s oversaturation. With people becoming lawyers, there isn’t as much of a need for them. So, being the educated lawyers they are, they take jobs such as paralegal duties— leaving all of those paralegal majors out of a job. It doesn’t look like this will be changing much in the future, either. The field will only grow about 10 percent by 2020 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 6) Computers and Mathematics: Another shocking pair of majors on the list. Computers and Mathematics majors are tied with an 8.2 percent unemployment rate. Even though every teacher you have ever had says that math and science is the place to be, this statistic says otherwise. Like the Law and Public policy major, this number is due to the oversaturation of the job market. Although businesses need mathematicians and computer-savvy people, most of these businesses already have a team of techies and accountants taking care of it. With more coming, businesses don’t know what to do with the newest graduates. These jobs will be experiencing an average growth rate by 2020 Computer and Information Technology will grow 18 percent and Mathematics will grow 16 percent, so there might be some hope yet. 5) Recreation: If you were thinking of organizing programs and activities for volunteer agencies or recreation centers, you may want to think again. Recreation majors have an 8.3 percent unemployment rate overall. With the sour economy, people aren’t exactly willing to spend time and resources to have fun. This, of course, only hurts those who are in jobs that center on nothing, but having fun. Recreation majors will have something to look forward to though as the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 19 percent increase
Students quickly learn that every major is not a guarantee for a successful career.
in the recreation field by 2020. The amount of growth for the job is average. At least the field won’t be disappearing anytime soon. 4) Social Science: A lot of people that go to college know that psychology and sociology are tough fields. The statistics seem to say so as well. Social Science majors face an 8.9 percent unemployment rate after college. A lot of this has to do with the fact that employers do not know what to do with psychology and social science majors. Studying for focus groups is always a must, especially when it comes to a product. With sociology and psychology being a popular field in colleges, it can be hard to get the job you want. The sociology field will experience an 18 percent increase in growth by 2020 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. An average growth rate, but at least there will be more of a chance for positions in the field. 3) Liberal Arts and Humanities: Another popular field in colleges. Liberal arts and humanities is a commonly taken field. The “Jack of all Trades” major, if you will. With taking a field that makes you do a little bit of
Even after college, many students are left with the feeling of uncertainty when it comes to their futures.
everything, most employers don’t know what to do with you when you try and apply for a job. This clearly shows too. Liberal Arts and humanities has a 9.4 percent unemployment rate for recent graduates. With the varied nature of the degree, there is no focus on individual skills unless it is clearly specified. It’s so varied in fact, that there isn’t even a specific projected growth for the field. However, common jobs for this degree are as Computer System Analysts, Historians or Nurses. Regardless of the variety that the major has, it’s a double-edged sword in the end. 2) The Arts: This is the major everyone and their grandmother warned you about. Although making art is a creative and satisfying experience, the numbers say it’s one of the toughest fields you can get into. Georgetown University says that The Arts have an 11.1 percent unemployment rate to contend with when it comes to recent graduates. With an unemployment rate like that, even some of the most talented artists can be rejected by employers. With the high unemployment rate and the slow growth of commonly desired jobs like Multimedia Artists and Animators (only 8 percent growth), art majors have a lot of work to do before they can get the job they really want. But even with the high competition and even higher unemployment rate, the arts are still not in the number one spot. 1) Architecture: With a 13.4 percent unemployment rate for recent graduates, architecture is the field of study a college student wants to avoid. This is truly a product of the times. With the housing bubble bursting and the economy going into recession because of it, most architects found themselves out of a job. People just weren’t buying houses, so there was
PHOTO CREDIT:WIKI COMMONS
no need to build any more. However, with the economy slowly recovering, there just may be hope for the poor architecture majors. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the field to grow 24 percent by 2020- a very fast growth rate compared to recent years. With such bleak numbers, students can’t help but ask “is there is some light at the end of the tunnel?” Many are looking for a small reminder that it isn’t as bad as it seems- and there is. Sharon Stephens, Director of Career Services at Bucks says that students should simply “study what they love, and the opportunities will begin there.” Stephens speaks from experience when she says this. She graduated college with a psychology degree. She didn’t do it because she thought it would take her to an immediate job, but because she loved the subject. Although money is an important factor many students consider, Stephens says “passion for the subject should come first. Look for what you want and the money will come after that.” Not only does the past hold the hope for the future, there are many current students that stay positive despite the negative outlook projected for their specific majors. Rianna McIntyre, 20, a fine arts major knew that when she chose her major she was in for a lot of work. Ever since middle school, she has had a love for art and intends to make a career out of it. “No major is a guaranteed job today.”Rianna says. She expressed that she remains hopeful despite this fact. “You just have to keep trying; you’re not going to get what you want right away.” So, in the end, when it comes to people like Wasserman, a college student trying to make his way in the world, there may be hope yet.
Religious revolt
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Bucks-news.com
The week of October 8, 2013
SPECIAL EDITION
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Although parents try to raise their children in the same faith as theirs, many young people today have recently been rejecting these notions of following their parent’s faith.
BY: CRAIG MILLER Centurion Staff
As we grow from being children into young adults, so do our beliefs in religion. Students detail their shifts from believing to not believing and vice versa in an age where uncertainty is common. For Thomas Gartner, raised Roman Catholic, every Sunday consisted of church. If church was missed, a visit to Confession that following Saturday was necessary. “The commitment was rough because I was forced to do it,” admits the 20-yearold Gartner, who has stopped going to church altogether. “One time I was made to go to church even when I was on crutches. It was painful and a waste of time. That’s about as extreme as it got, but after a while, I schemed for ways to get out of going without my mom knowing,” confessed Gartner. “Sometimes I would go to a mass at a different time than my mom and act like I was going, but just joyride on my bike and, eventually, in my car.” Angel De Santos, 18, a liberal arts major and freshman at Bucks, explained how it “became a routine,”almost a habit to go to church. Then one day I sat down and really thought about what I was really doing. I started asking questions and doing my own research.” It’s always good to ask questions especially when it deals with a system of belief. Interestingly enough, it seems not enough people ask them as Santos and Gartner have. “As of now, I know there’s something out there but I’m still not sure what. I just know it’s not exactly how it was told to me,” said Santos. Once Gartner was “old enough to comprehend what was going on with the religion as a whole, I started to doubt the demand and tradition of it all.” However, he does believe that his “mother really ruined it (for him), forcing it upon me since I was a child.” According to USA Today, religion is on the decline: people who consider themselves Protestant have waned from 53 percent to 48 percent in the last five years, while 1 in 3 people under the age of 30 state they have no religion. Gartner explained how he feels that “people like having a higher figure to look up to for support and a religion is
the easiest place to turn to. Others like to be independent of that and dictate their own lives.” But, not all young adults find themselves closing the hymnals. Some go through the exact opposite. Alex Anderson, 19, a student at Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry—located in Reading, California--under Pastor Bill Johnson, went through his own discovery of religion. Anderson went “from being someone who was addicted to the feeling of being high from marijuana, or drunk from alcohol, who constantly lied to leaders, lived a double life, and somewhat depressed. To, a man; I now know who I am. I love myself and I love others well. I live life from a place of positivity and hope, and keep my focus on the goodness of God; that’s the greatest miracle I have ever seen.” Anderson expressed how he has never felt more in tune with Christ. However, Anderson also admits there have been times when he questioned his faith. “Sure, who hasn't? I think its human nature and healthy to question. Not from a place of disbelief but from a place of curiosity.” In the U.S., the Pew Research Center found that 78.4 percent of the population consider themselves Christian. Of all the people on Earth, it is estimated that just over a third practice Christianity. On the school’s website, Bethel states their mission is “to equip and deploy followers of Jesus Christ who passionately pursue transformation in their Godgiven spheres of influence,” and for Anderson, it was an awakening that made him realize he wanted to spread the gospel. “True fire and passion to spread the gospel is bred from a true encounter with God. I believe that God is alive today and speaks to His children, heals the sick and raises the dead. I have encountered God continually and He is so good I cannot contain His message, which is simply love,” said Anderson. The reasons for these shifts in beliefs seem to all boil down to people just trying to figure themselves out. According to the Huffington Post, worshippers who have expressed a confidence in their religious leaders have seen a drop from 35 percent
A Catholic Church in Zanesville, Ohio.
in 1970, to 25 percent today. Undoubtedly, some of this drop in confidence can be attributed to the scandal in the Catholic Church over priests who have sexually abused children. “The Holy Spirit, His manifest presence is literally the
greatest feeling of euphoria that you could ever experience. I am now adicted to that,” said Anderson. “It’s been about four years or so since I went to church and it doesn’t bother me at all. I still consider myself a part of the Roman Catholic
PHOTO CREDIT: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
religion even after going through all of the problems with my mother growing up, but I will never put my children through that or ever believe so strongly in a religion as my mother does,” said Gartner in closing.
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The week of October 8, 2013
Bucks-news.com
Check out these UPCOMING EVENTS! FREE Events Brought to you by Student Programming Board
Schedule of Events Wednesday, October 30 • 12:15 – 1:30 pm Joel Meyers, Comedian/Magician Thursday October 31 • 12 – 2 pm Halloween Party Wednesday, November 20 • 10 am – 3 pm “Picture This!” Thursday, December 5 • 12 – 2 pm Holiday Party All events are held in Gallagher Hall
Bucks County Community College Newtown • Bristol • Perkasie • Online
Where to learn. Where to return. 13183
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Nothing was the same BY: ROBERT KNUCKLES Centurion Staff
Rap artist Drake paints in broad strokes and appeals to many in his third, and newest studio album, “Nothing was the Same.” Ever since early 2013 fans could not wait to get Drakes album with the release of his first single “Started from the Bottom.” Almost two years ago Drake released his second studio album “Take Care.” “Take Care” was a great album and was a critical darling but the rapper himself believed that he could do a lot better and “Nothing was the same” proves just that. “Nothing was the same” addresses the more personal side of Drake where he talks about how he got into music industry and rose to fame, his family, past relationships that he regrets and more. The first record on the album titled “Tuscan Leather,” a six minute long intro verse with no hooks just displays his lyrically genius with words such as “This is nothing for the radio. But they’ll still play it though. Drake is never afraid to express his feelings and Bucks
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student Mustapha Kunter studying liberal arts likes that about the young rapper. “I listen to anything by Drake. He feels more comfortable about on album then he did on his last album.” Ladies will love Drake’s melodic grooves as he sings lines like “Next time we talk I don’t wanna just talk I wanna trust” with confidence. Of course ladies are already loving his second single “Hold on We’re Going Home.” But not everyone is a fan of his love songs Bucks student Jasmine Gonzalez studying business doesn’t like about the album. “It was too emotional. Overall message is too repetitive,” Gonzalez said. “I’m getting tired of the romance.” Another Bucks student KC Gayney studying psychology agrees with Gonzalez. “The album is too depressing. I like ‘Worst Behavior’ and ‘Pound Cake’ though.” On the song “Too Much” with singer Sampha, Drake was not afraid to talk about his family problems due to his fame talking about his Mom saying “Hate the fact my mom cooped up in her apartment telling herself.
The week of October 8, 2013
That’s she too sick to get dressed up and go do s***.” Drake ends the album with “Pound Cake/Paris Motion” which is a two part song featuring rap legend Jay Z. Drake attacks the people who bullied him through high school. “My classmates, they
went on to be chartered accountants. Or work with their parents, but thinking back on how they treated me. My high school reunion might be worth an appearance. Make everybody have to go through security clearance.” Overall “Nothing was the
same” is Drakes best album by far and Bucks student Jabari Pinnock studying liberal arts agrees, saying “I’m a fan of Drake and I believe this album shows his growth and I also think that people that don’t listen to Drake might like this album.”
One of rap’s hottest stars is coming into the limelight again with his latest album “Nothing Was The Same.”
PHOTO CREDIT: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
11 ENTERTAINMENT
THE WEEk IN TV/MOVIES/MUSIC/BOOKS TV
Monday 10/14 How I Met Your Mother - CBS - 8:00 Sleepy Hollow - FOX - 9:00 The Castle - ABC - 10:00 Tuesday 10/15 NCIS - CBS - 8:00 New Girl - FOX - 9:00 Person of Interest - CBS - 10:00
THEATER
MOVIES
MUSIC
Wednesday 10/16 Toy Story of TERROR! - ABC - 8:00 Modern Family- ABC - 9:00 CSI - CBS - 10:00
Thursday 10/17 The Big Bang Theory - CBS - 8:00 Sean Saves The World - NBC - 9:00 Scandal - ABC - 10:00 Friday 10/18 Undercover Boss - CBS - 8:00 Shark Tank - ABC - 9:00 Blue Bloods - CBS - 10:00
Sunday 10/20 Once Upon A Time - ABC - 8:00 The Walking Dead - AMC - 9:00 The Good Wife - CBS - 10:00
“The House of Hades” Written By: Rick Riordan
This book is the sequel to “The Mark of Athena”. At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy's instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea's forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, how will they escape afterwards?
Release Date: 10 October
Don Jon (R)
Jon Martello is a handsome man. His buddies call him Don Jon. Barbara Sugarman is a beautiful, good old-fashioned girl. Raised on Hollywood movies, she’s determined to find her Prince Charming. They struggle against media culture and false fantasies to find true intimacy in this comedy.
Directed by: Joseph Gordon-Levitt Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johannsen Release Date: 27 September
“Doomed”
BOOKS
Written by: Chuck Palahniuk
Madison Spencer, the liveliest and snarkiest dead girl in the universe, continues the afterlife adventure begun in Chuck Palahniuk’s bestseller Damned. Just as that novel brought us a brilliant Hell that only he could imagine, Doomed is a dark and twisted apocalyptic vision from this provocative storyteller.
Release Date: 8 October
Miley Cyrus
New Album “Bangerz” 8 October
Paul McCartney New Album “New” 15 October
Black Milk
New Album “No Poison, No Paradise” 15 October
“Doing Hard Time”
Written by: Stuart Woods
When Stone Barrington embarks on a trip to Bel-Air to check in on some business and personal concerns, he expects a relaxing break from the fast pace and mean streets of New York. But trouble never takes a vacation, and it has a way of finding Stone. A case that had seemingly been resolved has returned in full force—with lethal results. And this deadly situation makes for strange bedfellows when Stone finds himself teamed with the least likely ally...a gentleman of unique abilities, who can fly below the radar and above the law
Release Date: 8 October
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Field of broken dreams SPORTS
Bucks-news.com
Parents often pressure their children into sports--like little league--but, sports are clearly not for everyone.
BY: ROBERT KNUCKLES Centurion Staff
Children often play sports from a young age. however, many children do not choose this lifestyle, and instead have it thrust upon them by their parents. Chelsea Coulton, steve swiggum, karl schmieder and Brittany rotanz have all been “victims” of their parents forcing them to play sports. each of them has a different story regarding their own circumstances. “my dad wanted me to do soccer and nothing else,” Chelsea Coulton, a sophomore at Bucks said. “i started playing when i was five until i was 14, so it lasted for nine years.” Coulton cites academic and financial pressure for her father’s desire for her to continue with soccer. “One reason was that he wanted me to get a scholarship for when i go to college so that he wouldn’t have to pay for anything,” Coulton said. “also, my dad lived with a lot of girls when he
BUCKS SCORES Men’s Soccer September 26 Bucks 1-4 Manor
September 28 Bucks 4-0 Lehigh Carbon October 1 Bucks 1-2 Northampton Women’s Soccer October 1 Bucks 0-1 Bergen
October 3 Bucks 3-1 Montgomery
was younger, so he pretty much wanted a boy when he had me and he wanted to brag about me to the other parents. i hated when he did that and i also hate it when he yelled at me at the side lines.” “my dad asked me one day if i wanted to play soccer and i said no, and he understood, but i think he was acting when i told him i didn’t want to play. Besides, my mom wanted me out of it. i was really happy that soccer was over. some people thought that even if my dad didn’t push me i’d still play, but nah. i probably would not have played at all. Or maybe just once.” “the sports i played were soccer and baseball, but i can’t remember why i played those two sports. i really liked baseball not so much soccer,” said steve swiggum, a business major at West Chester swiggum’s mom didn’t really care about him playing sports. Just like Coulton, his dad pushed him into it. the
younger swiggum was about five or six when he started playing. he played until he was 11 or 12. But just like Chelsea, steve didn’t want to continue playing. “my dad didn’t take too well about me not playing mostly because he invested money in it, swiggum said. But i was never any good at hitting so why stick with it?” the difference between swiggum and Coulton is that steve actually enjoyed playing baseball. “i really liked playing baseball, i wish i stuck it though,” swiggum said. “if i was any better at the sport i would still play, especially now.” “i got more interest in baseball now than i did when i was younger. i hated seeing the Phillies lose year after year and then i couldn’t really find motivation for it. i was actually getting an interest in football, but my mom would never let me do it.” karl schmieder is a junior at Lasalle University. his dad wanted him to play baseball as well. But schmeider was
The week of October 8, 2013
more into wrestling at the time. “my dad pushed for it really hard but my mom didn’t really care either way,” schmeider said. “the way i am now i wouldn’t do anything outside of wrestling if i could live my life over.” “i wasn’t all that into baseball that much. i enjoyed it a lot my sophomore year of high school, but hated the coach i had junior year so i stopped after that. my dad was pissed about me quitting baseball, but i didn’t care. i don’t really like baseball all that much anymore. my dad keeps saying i was good enough to play in college but who knows. i wish i had pursued wrestling more intensely. i was good at baseball, but i like wrestling more.” it seemed as if everything could’ve been better for him if he stayed with wrestling but that had been troublesome for him as well. “honestly, i got so fed up with my school. i just wanted to graduate and get out of
WORLD SERIES CONTEST
the 2013 World series starts Wednesday, October 23, and the Centurion is running a school-wide contest. if a student accurately predicts the World series matchup, with the winner in the correct amount of games, the winner will receive a $30 itunes giftcard. if there are multiple winners, they will be drawn out of a hat. send your predictions with contact info in person to the Centurion office located at rollins 127 or via e-mail at czm1993@gmail.com.
PhOtO Credit: Wikimedia COmmOns
there and wrestling took up a lot of weekends, which was my free time. But right now i’m fine with everything. i plan on joining the military and they teach you that stuff anyway so it’s all good.” Brittany rotanz is a sophomore at shippensburg University. she shares her story of her father wanting her to play softball. Just like the others, her dad pushed her into playing the sport, he was more into softball then she was. her mom wasn’t so harsh with the pressure. “i never really liked softball,” rotanz said. “i started hating it like five years into it when i was five-years-old. i finally convinced my dad to let me stop playing nine and half years into it.” my dad was sad when i told him i wanted to quit playing. But it helped that i just gave up trying and kind of sucked at that point. But, he took it better than when i stopped going to CCd.”
PRO SCORES
Philadelphia Flyers October 2 Flyers 1-3 Maple Leafs October 5 Flyers 1-4 Canadiens
Philadelphia Eagles September 15 Chargers 33-30 Eagles September 19 Chiefs 26-16 Eagles
Editor Craig Miller is predicting a Braves-Tigers matchup with the Tigers winning in six games.
PhOtO Credit: Wikimedia COmmOns
Contest ends on Oct. 15.
October 6 Eagles 36-21 Giants