Bucks County Community College The week of October 3, 2011 Volume: 48 Issue: 2 Many Student loan clubs need students By: Manuel a. RodRiguez Centurion Staff though Bucks has a wide default rates rise array of clubs available, some students say the clubs are not being promoted much and that a greater variety of groups should be offered. But is that the fault of the college or of students who sim- ply take classes and then leave campus, and don’t take the time to get involved? Student life Director Matt Cipriano points out that the college currently offers more than 40 clubs, and that students can always start new clubs if they want. Cipriano said that “if you have an idea for a club, come to the desk and pitch it; after all, these clubs are for the stu- dents.” But, Cipriano added, while many students may have ideas, few of them take action. “We have lots of students come in with ideas with clubs but rarely do they come back The Financial Aid office in the Hub where the processing for the Financial Aid and loans start. Photo: huge Fegely and follow up,” he said. By: ChRiS aPPle repay their loans," education pool of funds.” he added that the Department of Centurion Staff Secretary Arne Duncan said in “nothing beats coming to a education eventually man- Kevin Barr, 18, a liberal arts a statement. community college for the aged to collect most of the major from holland, said hit by rising tuition costs According to calculations by first two years and then trans- money it was owed from the clubs seem to be “under the and a tough job market, the the Institute for College ferring to a four-year college.” defaulters. rug. to be honest, I just don’t number of college students Access and Success, in 2008 linksz also noted that “fed- But for students, the conse- think they are pushing them defaulting on their student the average debt for graduated eral Pell grants may be cut quences of default can be enough.” loans is on the rise. students who took out student out, which in turn a lot of severe - a damaged credit rat- Mike hunton, 21, a commu- According to Department of loans was $20,200 at public Bucks students rely on.” ing, greater difficulty in get- nications major from Bristol, education, at for-profit col- universities, $27,650 at pri- Brian Moran, interim presi- ting financial aid, and so on recalled that “they had like one leges and universities, 15 per- vate non-profit and $33,050 at dent and Ceo of the Ashley Ruszin, 18, a fresh- day in the cafeteria where they cent of student loan borrowers private for-profits. Association of Private Sector man journalism major, has so had tables set up and were defaulted in the first two years Bucks President Dr. James Colleges and universities, far taken out $5,000 in student handing out flyers but that’s of repayment, up from 11.6 linksz said, “we are all con- said in published reports that loans, and is worried about about all I’ve seen as far as percent the previous year. cerned that students take out ”We are disappointed to see being able to pay them back, clubs.” At public institutions, the loans that may be difficult to increases in … default rates since she makes mini- hunton said he just doesn’t rate was 7.2 percent, up from repay in the current climate.” for our students, as well as mumwage working at Dunkin have time to join a club. 6 percent, and at not-for-prof- linksz explains that “we students in other sectors of Donuts. her parents have said “I, personally, don’t really it private institutions, it was work hard at telling students higher education.” he added they won’t help her pay them have the time to. In high school 4.6 percent, up from 4 percent. not to take on more debt than that for-profit schools were back. “My parents didn’t even I was involved in a club or two "these hard economic times they absolutely need, even if it taking steps to provide stu- want me to come here; they but now it’s tough.” have made it even more diffi- is tempting to draw down dents debt counseling in order wanted me to get out of here,” cult for student borrowers to more money from an available to bring down the rates. she said. ▷ Continued on page 2 alSo inSide neWS enTeRTainMenT neWS SPoRTS Student government Steve’s Setlist Smoking on Campus Mens Soccer Review events Steve goes to the honda Civic Connor eckelmeyer reports on Stephen godwin Jr. reviews the Maureen Rouche tells what the tour in Camden, NJ with bands where students can and can’t light first win of the season for the upcoming events planned by the My Chemical Romance and up at school. men’s soccer team. SgA are. Blink-182. ▷2 ▷8 ▷9 ▷12 bucks-news.com [email protected] | our pictures: flickr.com/buckscenturion Weather on back page 2 neWS bucks-news.com The week of October 03, 2011 eclectic club lineup at Bucks Continued from page 1 Barr made the point that “the the same token, we need clubs clubs that are available aren’t that the students want.” enough. We should have a big- the Student life office is ger selection, for example a working on different ways to musical debate club would be show the benefits of being part Photo By hugh Fegely awesome. People would get of a club, such as like having Students signing up for clubs during the club recruitment fair. together and just talk music. some sort of notion on a col- even a car club would be lege transcript to show one’s just never got around to it. they just did not have the time. At that page you can also nice.” involvement. only one that really caught my Ironically, it seems that the find contact information for all though nursing major, Jake “Joining a club and having attention has to be the Martial people who believe they don’t of the clubs available. In addi- Curichiyil, 19, just wants “to your involvement available as Arts Club, I love that kind of have enough time are only a tion, the majority of the clubs get school over with,” he also an official transcript would be stuff.” footstep away from joining a have a Facebook page. If you believes that Bucks needs really good for students look- gallagher isn’t the only one club. want to start a club stop by the clubs that will appeal to more ing for employment,” said that has an interest in a club but Clubs range from the Student life office across students. “Why aren’t there Cipriano. “Besides, clubs are a never got around to joining Socratic Society to the Drama from the cafeteria and see more sports-related clubs? good time.” one. Many students inter- Club to even an Anime Club. Cipriano. everyone likes sports yet there Dan gallagher, 18, a cinema viewed showed an interest in you can see all available clubs isn’t anything like it.” video production major from the clubs themselves but not in listed at: Cipriano said he believes that trevose, said, “I’ve always joining one, either because the http://www.bucks.edu/life/cl “we can use more clubs but at considered joining a club but I selection available or because ubs/ Where do you hang? by: breanne Hillis puters. Centurion Staff For many students using the library is a better place to study every student at Bucks has for classes. their favorite place at school to Boyd, 20, an early childhood hang out with friends or study education major from for classes. Some students Newtown, said “I like to do my shared those favorite places homework and studying in the with the Centurion. library after classes. unlike my Whether you’re like Allison house, I am more concentrated Boyd and Ashley efkowitz, and focused at Bucks.” who enjoy hanging out in the Boyd also said she likes to gateway Center, or Chris spend time with her friends at tufano and Kristina gotschall y ugh egely school, when she has breaks Photo of students hanging at the Fireside Lounge. B : h F who prefer the Fireside between classes. 21, a graphics design major. either stays at campus to be dent finds a part of campus that lounge, there are plenty of there are many other options Kristina gotschall, 19, who with friends or goes to work. they enjoy socializing in or places to go.. to do on campus between studies video production, also Another Bucks student, studying, they tend to stick to each student has their own classes like going to the cafete- says that she likes to hang out Ashley efkowitz, 22, a child- those places without exploring style of learning and where ria for food, sitting at the tables with her friends before classes. care major from Ivyland, said others and this favoritism they do their homework. the near the café, or sitting outside. She likes to hang out in the she likes to hang out at the seems to continue with each library is a great place to study “When I am not in class, I Fireside lounge and often gateway Center before her following semester. or do homework. Although the usually workout in the school comes up to the gateway night class. When she has time Where’s your favorite spot? first floor of the library is cur- gym and spend time with building.