Students were outraged and
frightened following an incident
where private student
information, including social
security numbers, was leaked
from a Bucks server and
accessed by a search engine.
Social security numbers can be
used to take out loans, apply
for credit cards, and steal a person’s
identity.
Students wanted to know
how the leak could occur.
“I don’t understand how this
could happen,” Karen Forth,
19, a business administration
major from Feasterville said.
“Don’t they have security to
protect our identities? I
thought my information was
safe when I gave it to Bucks.”
Forth received a letter in the
mail from Bucks that
explained the incident.
About 10,000 students may
have been affected by the leak.
Bucks sent out letters, e-mails,
and even set up a hotline for
people who may have been
affected.

“I’m outraged,” said Chris
Dunkerley, 21, general education
major from Newtown.
“This needs to be taken very
seriously.”

Irina l., 22, a chemistry
major from Trevose, and
Kaitlin V., 23, a biology major
from langhorne, both refused
to give their last names to the
Centurion after hearing about
the incident. “I was already
very protective of my personal
information” V. said. “I’m
pissed off.”
“I’m worried,” l. said as she
looked at V. and frowned.
“I feel terrible,” said Craig
Berdomas, 19, a liberal arts
major from langhorne. “I have
zero credit as is and that would
really screw me over if my
identity gets stolen.”
many students demanded to
know who was responsible for
the accidental leak of private
information.
ryan rightley, 18, a fine arts
major from levittown, also
received a letter in the mail
from Bucks concerning the
leak. “I don’t want my information
out there,” rightley
said. “I want to know how and
why this happened.”
Bucks has said the leak was
the result of human error.
“I don’t blame Bucks,” said
Berdomas. “People should
blame the person responsible,
although more care should
have been taken handling our
information.”
Berdomas said that “It’s like
leaving a box half open and
walking away. People are
going to look. It’s just human
nature.”
Berdomas said the information
should have never been
kept on a server that could be
hacked into, but should have
been in paper files.
Kelly Pietrusewicz, 18, a
psychology major from
Warminster, said she was “Not
surprised this happened at
Bucks. I hope no one takes my
identity.”
Aside from a hotline set up
by Bucks for those affected,
some students wondered how
the college would help them if
their identity was stolen.
“Is Bucks going to reimburse
me if my credit gets ruined?”
Dunkerley said. “I’m pissed
off and I want to know what
Bucks is going to do about it.”
Brook robertson, 18, an
english major from
Warminster, said, “There needs
to be more protection. Bucks
needs to step up its security
because this is not good. I’m
worried.”
many are questioning the
way Bucks handles personal
information.
one student, honnah
eichelberger, 19, a health and
physical education major from
Warminster, said, “It’s weird
how they use my social security
number.
“one time I had to log into a
computer on campus and they
made me say my social security
number out loud,” Eichelberger added.