The Centurion The Award-Winning, Financially Independent, Student-Run Newspaper of Bucks County Community College

Volume 56 Issue 11 April 15, 2021 Bucks-News.com @Centurion_Bucks

RememberingGabriella Pirmann Christine Englehardt Centurion Staff

Christine Englehardt, a Bucks student who died while on spring break in Miami on March 18, is being remembered as a gifted student and a warm, caring friend by those who knew her. Englehardt, 24, was found dead in the Albion Hotel. Two men have been arrested in connection with her death. Englehardt graduated from Council Rock North in 2014. She began classes at Bucks to take the next steps in getting a career in health sciences. As well as studying to become a nurse, Englehardt also had aspirations to one day become a Spanish interpreter. According to her obituary, Englehardt was flu- Courtesy of Christine’s GoFundMe page ent in Spanish and could be heard of class. Christine spoke without biggest heart there was and her at the local Jules Thin Crust in She was full of positive energy singing or speaking in Spanish. hesitation and asked if I could laugh was nothing short of memo- Newtown. and was loved by all that came in Bucks Professor Arlene Toro, help her switch into an advanced rable,” wrote Englehardt’s friend, Jules Thin Crust posted a tribute contact with her,” it read. who was lucky enough to have Spanish level. That day, I knew Samantha DiFrancesco, on the to Englehardt on Facebook, “She The obituary went on to share Englehardt as a student, remem- I had one of the finest language GoFundMe page she organized was a shining light in our compa- a little more about who Engle- bered her as “charismatic and students a professor could aspire for the family. ny and will be missed immensely. hardt was beyond how she treated resolved.” to teach.” “She would do anything for a Her smile, her laugh, and her others. “Her linguistic performance According to Toro, Englehardt person in need and was always wonderful energy will always be “Christine was a huge fan of was impeccable from the min- was waiting to take the advanced fun to be around no matter what.” cherished and remembered.” Disney and the New Jersey Shore. ute students began to interact in Spanish class in the upcoming fall Another friend of Englehardt’s, Englehardt’s compassion and She spent countless summer days Spanish,” said Toro. “Her passion 2021 semester. Hailey Davis, remembered her in upbeat personality were further soaking up the sun at the beach. for learning Spanish was remark- A GoFundMe page was created a Facebook post. highlighted in her obituary. She loved animals and enjoyed an able.” to help Englehardt’s family. With “I can’t believe we didn’t get to “She lit up a room with her vi- active lifestyle.” Toro continued to praise En- an original goal of $20,000, it has say goodbye,” Davis’ post read. brant energy; her laugh was con- Bucks, as well as the surround- glehardt’s passion for learning, “I earned more than $60,000. “You’ve helped me through so tagious, just like her huge heart. ing community, mourns the loss will never forget she asked me if “Anyone who knows this beau- much.” She cared for people and would of such a bright soul. I could speak with her at the end tiful girl knows that she had the Englehardt was also a manager go out of her way to help anyone. New Facility Coming to Lower Bucks Campus

Courtesy of Bucks’ Website Will Supper economy in Bucks County. It is robotics, and more. There will These programs will guarantee who desire a career in manu- Centurion Staff estimated that locally there will also be certificate programs in that students who take part in facturing but cannot afford the be about 3,000 unfilled jobs in bookkeeping, Customer Service these courses will end up more tuition,” said Christina McGin- Construction has begun at manufacturing by 2025. Specialist, and Microsoft Office than qualified to enter the work- ley, the foundation’s executive Bucks’ Bristol Campus for a new Chair of the college’s Board Technology. force. director. facility to be used by students. of Trustees, David Breidinger, Some classes will be connect- Bucks has created a fund for Donating to the fund will not The $9.9 million facility is going said, “The past year has taught ed to businesses that are still in the facility and asks for all indi- only help give students scholar- to be the Center for Workforce us that traditional classrooms are their development stages. This viduals, alumni, and corporate ships, but it will also help pay for Development, which will hold changing. Students are now taking gives students the opportunity to partners who are interested in the the equipment needed for students classes to partner students with different paths to succeed.” be a part of a new era of manu- facility to donate to help get the to learn and become experts in businesses to gain experience in The facility will help students facturing. Due to the demand of building and the programs ready these new fields. The funding that field. explore new fields and give them employees in these fields, students for students to learn in. towards this facility will benefit The new facility will be used to hands on experience. Programs will be able to easily enter the “With this fund, the Center for the future of manufacturing in our train students in manufacturing included are metalworking, workforce after receiving their Workforce Development plans to community. fields, a growing sector of the welding, industrial maintenance, degree. provide scholarships to students

Bucks County’s A Day in the Life Gun Control Can the Phillies COVID Cases on of a Teen With in the U.S., Make the Play- COVID-19, pg. 3 the rise, pg. 2 pg. 4 offs? pg. 6 INSIDE 2 Centurion April 15, 2021 Bucks-News.com @Centurion_Bucks Local News STAFF Bucks County’s COVID Numbers Rise Editor-in-Chief Alyssa Moore Managing Editor Gabriella Pirmann Graphics Manager Olivia Ruddell Advisor Tony Rogers

Letters to the editor: Email your letters to : [email protected] Letters should be limited to 500 words. They will be edited for spelling, space and malicious or libelous statements. Letters must be the original work of the writer and must be signed. For identification purposes, letters must include the writer’s full name and telephone number.

Andrew Coates Centurion Staff As vaccines continue to be dis- tributed and are made more readi- ly available around Bucks County, COVID-19 cases continue to go Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons on an upward trend. date or increasing the capacity at With restrictions being some- between March 23 through April weighed in on why she thinks Throughout the country, the stores and restaurants. what eased throughout the state, 5 was 3,785 reported cases. cases are suddenly rising. “I think vaccine has been actively dis- In PA, the state has begun to Bucks County and the Phila- It should be noted that the it might be a combination of ev- tributed for months thanks to the ease restaurant and retail store delphia area has seen a rise in acting Secretary of Health in PA, eryone going back to school and TrumpEVENTS and Biden administrations’ restrictions starting Easter Sun- COVID-19 cases as of late. Alison Beam, mentioned a trend more people thinking they can be efforts in working to end the day, according to Governor Tom According to the Bucks County in which many PA residents are out and about since restrictions pandemic. Wolf’s website. Seating capacities Health Department’s website, not seeking COVID tests. This have been lifted,” Horn explained. President Biden made a promise at restaurants has been raised to since the beginning of March makes it harder to get accurate Horn went on to say that in per- to the American people to make 75 percent, as well as other busi- through April 6, the 7-day case numbers regarding how many son school attendance might open the vaccine available to adults ness restrictions, like alcohol sale average has gone from 155 to cases are currently in the state. other issues like close contact before May 1, but on April 6 he curfews, have been lifted. 280, showing an upward trend. The total number of deaths in during sports, and improper mask moved the availability date to Indoor gathering limits have Before the rise of cases in the county is 1,183 as of April 6. wearing while around others. In April 19. With growing optimism, been raised to 25 percent and out- March, the numbers for the On the flip side, the number of PA addition to school, Horn men- some states have been easing up door gatherings have been raised county were on a downward trend residents who are fully vaccinated tioned that she has seen more peo- on safety protocols, such as no to 50 percent. Mask mandates are since mid-December. The total was almost 2.5 million on April 6. ple going out in groups at places longer enforcing the mask man- still in place throughout the state. case numbers for Bucks County Bucks student Kayla Horn like restaurants lately as well. Should Vaccines be Mandatory for Students?

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

John Madden variant COVID-19 vaccines. be at-risk than students. will offer online learning for those University and a member of the Centurion Staff Some are concerned about the A poll by Gallop showed that uncomfortable with returning to Connecticut vaccine advisory An increasing number of possibility of the vaccines being as of March 2021, 69 percent of campus. committee, said, “Expanding to universities, such as Northwest- rushed and ineffective. Americans had either gotten the President Joe Biden originally open eligibility will lead to that ern and Rutgers University, are There has also been questions vaccine or were willing to receive declared that all Americans would initial rush of eligible individuals requiring students to get the surrounding the side effects the vaccine. This is up from the be eligible to receive the vaccine who have been champing at the COVID-19 vaccine in order to and possible long-term risks of 52 percent of Americans who by May 1, but revised the dead- bit to get the vaccines, navigating return to campus in the fall. the vaccine. With most college fell into that category in Sept. line to April 19. This came after the system, signing on the minute For some people, this hasn’t students being young adults and 2020. Interestingly, 72 percent of the Biden Administration declared they’re eligible. Very quickly, posed much of an issue, but there not part of the at-risk group when Americans favored the vaccine in that they were averaging over 3 really in a matter of weeks after are other students who are uncom- it comes to COVID-19 infections, May 2020. million vaccinations daily as of each state moves to open eligi- fortable with the decision as they it is fair to wonder why this man- Bucks, as of now, is set to late, compared to the 1 million bility, we’re going to shift to a are concerned about the long-term datory vaccine policy is becoming resume in person classes in the daily back in Jan. very different phase in the vaccine effects of the vaccine. the new norm for universities. fall with smaller class sizes, about It’s expected that the supply of rollout where we will have plenty Vaccine hesitancy is something However, mandatory vaccina- 50 percent capacity. Currently, vaccines will be greater than its of doses available.” that has grown in recent times tions also adds a layer of protec- the college has not mandated a demand in the near future. with the rapid production of the tion for school faculty and staff, COVID-19 vaccine for new or Jason Schwartz, assistant who generally are more likely to returning students. The college professor of health policy at Yale 3

Bucks-News.com @Centurion_Bucks April 15, 2021 Centurion COVID-19 A Day In The Life of a Teen with COVID-19 Emme Oliver Centurion Staff It’s a Tuesday morning. I wake up and my throbbing headache is gone, but I still can’t find the sliver of motivation to get myself out of bed. I sip my fruit punch flavored Gatorade of which I cannot taste. The steam from the humidifier comfortably cools my face and I groggily drift back to sleep. A couple hours later, my eyes open again. Sun rays shine through my window, illuminating my pillow. My mom knocks on my door and enters, wearing two masks, and asks if I’m hungry. I say no, because what’s the point of eating if you can’t taste it? I sit up in bed and check Snap- chat, seeing pictures of my friends running through the tall grasses of the backwoods of Playwicki Farm. Dread fills me and soon enough I’m laying back down on my side coughing and sniffling. Eventually, my mom brings me soup and a fresh cup of water. When I have to use the bath- room, I put two masks on and slide my feet across the hard- wood. I take a hot shower and let the steam rise and fall off my Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons congested chest. I start feel a little better, but most of me is still in care of me when I was sick, but my friends that I hung out with According to the CDC, since country from, NBC to Fox, have a foggy haze. My mom is in the my father as well. just a day before I got my positive the beginning of the pandemic, covered the amount of teen and kitchen cooking dinner that she My mom was vaccinated early, test result back. teenagers and other school-age young adult partying. A study will place on the table I can’t eat as she works in the health field, I asked my friend Kai about children have been abundant conducted through my Instagram at. She says she wishes she could which allows her to feel comfort- how they felt when I was diag- spreaders and catchers of the account shown that 45 percent give me a hug. able with going out to dinner and nosed virus, “May–September 2020, respondents had COVID-19 at That is what it was like for hugging her mother for the first “I was just like, s—t is she average weekly incidence (cases one point. 10 days when I was diagnosed time in months, but ultimately gonna be okay? I was also really per 100,000 children) among ad- As someone who has had with COVID-19. Thankfully, my made her the designated caretaker worried because I live with my olescents aged 12–17 years (37.4) COVID-19, I encourage you to symptoms were not severe and when my dad and I got sick. grandparents who are very high was approximately twice that of wear your mask, be safe, and if I recovered quickly. My mom Luckily, my mom and brother risk so I had to quarantine in my children aged 5–11 years (19.0).” you’re feeling sick, get tested. worked tirelessly to not only take did not catch the virus, or any of room for a bit,” they said. News outlets all over the How High School Students Feel About Returning To School

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons David Scott dents have about this ‘socially at Pennsbury who, before the been a big part in helping flatten one another for six hours a day. Centurion Staff distanced’ return to in person pandemic, was involved in many the curve of the pandemic. If this One of the biggest counter- Neshaminy High School learning. Students are worried of the school’s drama productions. information is being withheld points on the part of the schools recently reopened its doors for about missing out on highly antic- She isn’t sure how she feels about from the students, it could further has been that not all students will full 5 day, in person classes and ipated events like prom, and with the way her school is handling the slow the return to ‘normal’ life. be returning at once. However, the students have mixed feelings little word from the school district “’rona-restrictions.” “We’re back hybrid right now, from the perspective of those who about it. about the matter, it’s doubtful that “They don’t tell you if someone but we’re going all in on the attend it, it seems as if almost “I don’t know why we took this there will be one at this point. who was in your class had it,” [April] 12th,” said Caldera. everyone is back. long,” said Dominic Vacca, 18, Pennsbury High School has Caldera said. “There’s been a few Caldera talked about how like “Main street (Neshaminy’s senior at Neshaminy. “Central been following a similar hybrid cases in the school, both students Neshaminy students, Pennsbury biggest hallway), looks almost Bucks has been back for a month model to Neshaminy since Feb. and teachers, but if it’s a student, teens also felt the hybrid ‘model’ exactly like it did before the shut- now and there’s still no word on 2, and by next week is planning the school doesn’t notify anyone could’ve started sooner for them. down,” said Anthony Tamanini, prom.” on sending students back fully as in class with them.” Realistically it’s hard to imagine 18, another senior at Neshaminy. Vacca’s words echo similar well. This was shocking to hear con- 3,000 high schoolers maintaining “There’s like no social distanc- concerns that Neshaminy stu- Olivia Caldera, 18, is a senior sidering how contact tracing has a 6 feet (3 feet now) distance from ing.” 4

Centurion Apriil 15, 2021 Bucks-News.com @Centurion_Bucks News Gun Control in the United States Will Supper Centurion Staff So far in 2021 there have been 126 mass shooting within the United States. The U.S. is where most of the world’s mass shoot- ings take place. There have been more than 2,500 mass shootings in the U.S. since July 2020. Why is America home to so many shootings? There are many factors that contribute to the con- stant gun violence that takes place in the U.S. One factor is that the U.S. has more guns within the country then it has people. The U.S. owns about 45 percent of the world’s privately held firearms. America also has the most civilian owned firearms in the world. The U.S. is one of few countries that has the right to bear arms within the country’s constitution. Many gun owners within the U.S. would not like to see any further restrictions on firearms. Countries like the United Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Kingdom have more restrictions Kutztown student Ryan Poust mental hyper fixation.” tions on gun ownership have when it comes to gun violence, on gun laws than the U.S. Since said, “I feel like mass shootings A way to solve problems like lower gun related deaths than most of the gun related deaths in the restrictions took place in the and gun violence in this country these without taking away every other states. America has six the U.S. are suicides. U.K., gun violence went down, is a minefield of a conserva- American’s right to bear arms times as many firearm homicides Many citizens do not want to but there was an increase in crime tion. While many people think would be to add restrictions on then Canada, and almost 16 times lose their rights to own and use using weapons such as knives, it’s a right to defend someone’s who can and cannot own a gun. as many as Germany. firearms in the U.S. With mass machetes, axes, acid attacks, and property, some take the concept of Stricter background checks and Homicides are not the only shootings happening often enough others. these rights too far. I think there frequent tests on the gunowner’s problem when it comes to gun vi- throughout a year, there is going This shows that taking away the is a bending of morals and values mental state could help eradi- olence, the easy access to firearms to need to be some sort of change people’s right to bear arms in the when it comes to mass shoot- increases the risk of suicides as within the country to help create U.S. might not work as well since cate gun violence in the U.S. ings because the perpetrators are Studies have found that states well. As the media focuses solely a safer environment for us to live people will find other ways to use normally full of hatred or another on murders and mass shootings in. violence. within the U.S. that have restric-

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Centurion April 15, 2021 Bucks-News.com @Centurion_Bucks Sports The Top 3 Overrated NFL Prospects Michael Tarapchak Centurion Staff When you think about the 2021 draft, what comes into mind? The players? Your team? Hanging out with friends? All of these things are what makes the draft such a great time, not only for the play- ers, but also for the fans. When talking to longtime NFL fan Jonathan Gaberial, 20, he dis- cussed why he enjoys the draft. “When I was a kid, I would al- ways watch the draft with my dad. Even though I didn’t know what was really going on I still enjoyed hanging out with him and bonding over football. My dad and I were always happy to have the draft be- cause that meant football season was coming back,” said Gaberial. One of the most interesting parts of the NFL draft is learning about the players coming into the draft and making your own as- sumptions about how good they’ll be. Putting yourself in the shoes of your favorite team or as an NFL scout can make the process very interesting. For our pleasure, I put togeth- Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons er the top 3 overrated prospects coming in the 2021 NFL draft. receiver who now plays on the be a great “project player.” which seemed to decrease his speed. The players to view will be edge. This is something you don’t “If he finds the right coaching draft stock. Second, reports came Collins made his name known Miami Edge Gregory Rousseau, hear often. Standing at 6’7” and staff, he might be something out about his attitude and off-field for being able to out jump college Penn State Linebacker Micah a huge wingspan, Rousseau is a special, it all depends on the fit. problems. Finally, teammates also cornerbacks and catch 50-50 Parsons, and Michigan Receiver freak. The reason he is picked If he were to land on a team like came out with a few interesting balls. This unfortunately isn’t how Nico Collins. to be overrated, is although he the Browns, he’ll be a great player choice words for Parsons. You’ll the NFL plays; pro quarterbacks Although these players are has all these crazy measurables, to play alongside Myles Garrett,” likely see Parsons stock fall to won’t throw balls into coverage. listed as overrated, that does not he’s still very raw at the position. said Peligi. mid first round by draft time. Unless Collins can make a change mean that they’ll be a bust in the Rousseau is not yet technically LB Micah Parsons was project- WR Nico Collins, a projected to Tight-End, I don’t see him per- NFL, it simply means that they sound to be elite at his position. ed a top 5 pick this year before 3-4 round pick, and is a 6’4” forming well at the next level. may not be as good as projected. When talking about Rousseau the season started, and then it all receiver. Collins, however, is very DE Gregory Rousseau is quite with NFL fan Asher Peligi, 19, he seemed to go downhill from there. slow for the position and it’s very the athlete; he’s a converted believes that Rousseau is going to First, he opted out of the season hard to see him transfer to NFL Can the Phillies Make the Playoffs This Year? Chris Warren Centurion Staff After almost a decade without postseason baseball, Phillies fans believe that this is the year they can make it to October. “If they’re going to make the playoffs, it’s going to be this sea- son,” WBCB producer Mike War- ren said. “Between bringing back JT and DiDi, as well as adding some much-needed depth to the bullpen, this team can compete in what is now a very competitive division.” The Phillies had a lot of moves to make this offseason, especially now that teams within their divi- sion have become buyers instead of sellers. Between the Mets trad- ing for phenom Fran- cisco Lindor, and the Washington Nationals having yet another busy offseason, the Phillies needed to check off a lot of boxes if they wanted to compete for a spot in the playoffs. They checked off their first box by resigning the “BCIB” (Best Catcher in Baseball), J.T. Realmu- to. On top of that, they re-signed shortstop to a Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons two-year deal, giving the Phillies If the bullpen was even below One aspect of this team that can say they had a good 2020. Our team’s success starts and lineup a couple more mainstays average instead of historically gives fans high hopes is the of- Not only did he make his major stops at the $330 million man. He for the near future. bad, the Phillies would have made fense. When healthy, they have a league debut last season, but the may not start off strong, but his Their offseason work wasn’t the playoffs last season. This time, core of Andrew McCutchen, Rhys former first round pick out of summer numbers will surely make done yet, as they went on to bring the Phillies bullpen is looked at as Hoskins, , J.T. Real- Wichita State was even a finalist up for the slow start. He’s too in a plethora of relief for a strength, not a weakness. muto, , , for National League Rookie of the good of a baseball player, and too a bullpen that was historically bad Although the bullpen took and DiDi Gregorius to build the Year. much of a professional not to do in 2020. most of the blame for last season, lineup around. Simply put, the kid can hit. If so. After all, that’s why we made “Oh, it was bad, really bad, and the starting rotation still needs “If it wasn’t for the offense, he can build off of what was a him the face of the franchise. I wish I was exaggerating,” jour- improvement. and postseason contention wouldn’t very impressive rookie season, he All in all, if the Phillies do nalism major Xander Weinstein provide one of the have been in the picture,” said could be a mainstay on this team what they’re supposed to do, they said. “We were playing a 60 game best 1-2 punches in the sport. student Noah Vradenburg. “I just for years to come. should (key word: should) make season where every single game Even has taken a step hope that we can build off of last “I really liked what I saw from the postseason for the first time counts, and we were let down too up over the last couple of seasons, season’s offense now that we have the kid last season,” said business since 2011. many times by our bullpen.” having earned himself the third the pitching to support it.” major John DiVeronica. “I hope There are plenty of outside If the Phillies’ comment spot in the starting rotation. With this core batting 1-7, it he wasn’t a one season wonder, factors that can change this sections weren’t spammed with It’s the back end of the rotation will be tough for most starting and lives up to his potential. It’s team’s outlook, and a contested “Sign JT,” they were spammed that starts to raise question marks. pitchers to get through the lineup not often that we get to see a play- division won’t make things any with endless complaints about Over the years, it’s been a carou- more than twice. Even at their er from our farm system flourish easier. A Wild Card spot might be how terrible the bullpen was. sel of mediocrity when filling out worst, most of these guys know before our eyes.” this team’s best shot at October Enter Jose Alvarado, Archie that back end of the rotation. This how to work at-bats and draw Up until this point, Bryce Harp- baseball. Bradley, and Sam Coonrod. It season, it’s up to lefty walks, is the epito- er has been minimally mentioned. It hasn’t happened for a while may not seem like much on the and veteran to me of that. His contributions to the team now, but for the first time in a surface, but these three could put a bow on what can be consid- Alec Bohm might be one of the this season, however, will be the long time, the Phillies have a prove vital for the team’s success. ered a solid starting rotation. few people in the entire world that furthest thing from minimal. chance to make the playoffs.