The Slate 2-13-24

SGA offers opportunities for leadership on campus

The Student Government Association (SGA) is glad to be back in the full swing of things for the spring semester. As we enter this semester, we are proud to announce new opportunities for all students to join SGA in our pursuit of representing every individual on campus.

We held our first public meeting of the semester on Feb. 8 in CUB 119. All senators in attendance gave reports on upcoming events and projects. MSA Senator McArthur encouraged all SU students to attend Black History Month events.

Official nomination petitions for SGA officer positions were due to the SUSSI Fiscal Office on Feb. 12. Candidates are required to attend a meeting on Feb. 15 at 4:30 p.m. in CUB 201. The candidates are permitted to campaign immediately following the meeting.

We invite all Shippensburg University students to attend the candidate speeches on Feb. 22 in McFeely’s Cafe at 5 p.m. We also encourage all SU students to participate in voting for their SGA officers. Elections will be held through

SGA

ShipLink (CampusGroups) as usual and will be open from Feb. 26 at 8 a.m. to Feb. 29 at 4 p.m. As we get our committees up and running for the spring, SGA will host an open interest meeting for students who would like to chair a committee. The meeting will be held in CUB 201 on Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. There are currently four vacant committee chairperson positions: the Academic Affair Committee, the Campus Safety and Facilities Committee, the Information and Technology Committee and the Sustainability Committee. SGA is looking for motivated students who want to make a difference in expanding their campus community to chair these committees. For any questions regarding the open positions, please contact SGA VP of Internal Affairs Kennedy Holt at SGAVPInternal@ship.edu.

As budget season continues, we would like to remind all students and advisors that serving SU students’ best interest is our top priority; however, we also like to remind everyone that we are working with a deficit in our budget. In short, there is more funding requested from student groups than we are able to collect from Student Activity Fees each year.

If you have any questions for SGA, please do not hesitate to reach out to your senator or any member of the Executive Leadership Committee.

provides updates

at first spring 2024 public meeting

Allyson Ritchey / The Slate

SGA President Harun Pacavar speaks about Black History Month events.

Ian Thompson News

Editor

The Shippensburg University Student Government Association (SGA) held its first meeting of the semester this past Thursday. Despite not reaching quorum, the meeting included reports from all senators and officers in attendance.

SGA President Harun Pacavar gave an account of his involvement in PA Governor Shapiro’s College Day of Action and Budget Address. Shapiro has announced his plans for a massive investment in higher education.

The plan, if passed, would have huge implications on

Shippensburg and the larger PASSHE system.

VP of Internal Affairs Kennedy Holt announced that she would be holding a general interest meeting to help fill remaining vacancies in committee chair positions. The meeting is scheduled for Feb 15 at 5 p.m. in CUB 201. Residence Hall Association Senator Isabelle Schannauer reiterated the resident assistant application deadline of Feb. 16. “If you have any questions, I would love to answer them,” Schannauer said. Those interested can also email ShipRA@ship.edu IFC Senator Ethan Sommer announced that the group is currently hosting a “Can Wars” canned food drive. Each chapter has a box in the CUB Great Hall. The winning chapter will be decided at the IFC All-Stars basketball game on Feb. 29. Activities Programming Board President Nicole Baumgardner gave updates on APB’s programming events so far this semester and teased others that are upcoming. One of these is a Build-A-Bear event scheduled for Feb. 16 at 9 p.m.

Niszczak Managing Editor

2024 is shaping up to be a year of renovations for Shippensburg University. The campus is expecting continued refurbishments of its residence halls and a possible redesign of Kriner Hall, but the largest project set to begin this summer is the multi-year Franklin Science Center renovation.

Franklin Science Center (FSC) was built in 1970 and underwent a partial renovation in 2002 that targeted HVAC and electric upgrades. At the time, there were minimal upgrades to the building’s interior. Conversations surrounding more thorough renovations to FSC were brought up as early as 2010, but due to delays and budgetary issues, a finalized design contract was not completed until 2022.

The groundbreaking is not expected until August or September, but the initial transition for FSC faculty members took place within the last week. Psychology professors will be moving their offices in waves to Wright Hall and will completely relocate this summer to minimize any inconvenience to students. The psychology student lounge, labs, graduate assistant spaces and department office will remain untouched until the semester ends.

Five faculty members have transitioned so far, and another five will make the move this week, according to psychology department Chair Suzanne Morin.

Throughout discussions of how renovations would impact the psychology department, Morin prioritized finding another pocket of campus where her faculty could remain together.

“Keeping all my faculty in the same spot makes it easier for students to still have contact with us,” Morin said. “Not only that, but they’ve also given a space in Wright Hall where we can continue to do our research, so working with students on research isn’t going to be impacted.”

Wright Hall has primarily been used by adjunct faculty and is not home to any one department, so psychology is not “kicking out” any of their colleagues, Morin said.

To prepare for new Wright residents, campus partners have been working to repair and replace old furniture, paint the walls and design a research space for psychology students to use on the second floor of Wright Hall.

Morin also has plans to update both physical and online directories and install signage — including a large

Elizabeth Peters Editor-in-Chief

If there is one thing I am good at, it is being myself. That sounds like a nobrainer, but it has taken me a solid decade to truly work out who I am in relation to my own nature, those around me and my role in society.

Having a deep knowledge

Science departments prepare for upcoming Franklin renovations

welcome banner — to make psychology’s presence throughout the building known.

When early renovation talks were occurring, it was decided that psychology would relocate because its courses are not as tied down to the laboratories as other departments.

“It’s convenient to have our teaching space and our research space together, but we were one of the most portable and frankly, we volunteered,” Morin said. “We have, I think the home court advantage to be out of the chaos doing our thing with our students and continuing to build community with the new students coming in.”

In the summer 2023 edition of the SU Magazine, a story on the FSC renovations estimated a timeline of roughly August 2024 to January 2027. If all goes well, this is still the estimated timeline, but as Morin said, the psychology department is happy to be situated in another building in case issues arise or the project takes longer than expected.

Phase 1 will involve the renovation of the south side of the building and is expected to take roughly 14 months, according to Bruce Herring, SU assistant director of Planning and Engineering. Phase 2 will then continue from roughly January of 2026 to spring 2027.

For now, the other departments in FSC are staying put and will see their operations impacted later this year.

Only half of the building will be under renovation at a time, and the biology and chemistry departments will share the remaining space.

“Most of our lecture courses will be held in other buildings, but our labs

of who you are is key to having a good relationship with other people, whether they are strangers, romantic partners or friends. You should take the time to evaluate who you are to yourself, especially with a certain, semi-painful holiday coming up next Wednesday.

Step 1: Describe Yourself to Yourself

I love a good list, so take a little time and write out every word you would describe yourself as exemplifying. Every word. Once you have like 15 words, go over each one and identify why you think it applies to you. For example, I always use

will continue in FSC,” biology department Chair Sherri Bergsten said. “We have been working together, with support from the administration, to figure out how to best share spaces in FSC so that we can continue to offer all of our laboratory courses, and that faculty and students can continue their research during the renovation.”

While psychology’s home base will remain in Wright Hall, it will follow suit and will also hold several courses in Shippen Hall, Dauphin Humanities Center, Huber Arts Center and other available spaces across campus.

When the renovations are complete, Morin is excited to see the modernity of a space that will be more inclusive and will allow the sciences to interact more with the community and involve them in research.

“I’d really like to see improvements in the lab spaces along with the accessibility of the building, especially in lab spaces,” junior psychology major Amanda Holmes said. “Even having an accessibility entrance located closer to the elevator would be wonderful to see. I’d like to see improvements in the lecture hall seats, so that it can be more inclusive of bigger body types.”

Planned upgrades to FSC include “modernization to the laboratory and teaching laboratory portions of the building, modernization of classrooms and computer labs modernization of faculty offices” and “incorporation of collaboration spaces as part of the hallways throughout the building to facilitate student interaction and help with hallway congestion,” Herring said.

the term “loyal” to describe myself because I am very devoted to those around me.

I always have my friends’ backs, through thick and thin. I also would use the words “smart” and “artistic” to describe myself because I know that I have a strong education and love to create (check my silly GPA and minors list). You can also use words like “sibling,” “worker” or “friend.” There is no wrong answer for how you describe yourself.

Remember this list is for you, but if you want to ask a friend their thoughts go ahead. It can be helpful to

learn how they see you as well, and a true friend would love to let you know their thoughts.

Step 2: Make A LikesDislikes List

Is it a little silly to make a list of these things because you kind of just know them? Yes, but it does help you breakdown your own opinions visually. Include everything on this list (because it should only be seen by you), and I mean everything: likes, dislikes, phobias, passions, people’s names, etc.

Katie Huston SGA VP of Finance

Connor

Adam Beam / The Slate

The Franklin Science Center will begin renovations this summer. Psychology faculty began moving their offices over the past week.

Love Lines

Dear Tinyurl Enjoyer, You have cracked my shell, causing all my gooey bits to spill out. I cannot thank you enough for your kindness, boldness, and honesty. As the days grow longer, I want nothing more than to spend more of that time with you. Each day that passes brings us one day closer to spending the rest of our lives together — and I could not be happier.

- Bernard

Dear Hannah,

You have brought so much love and light into my life, I’m so lucky to call you mine! Happy Valentine’s Day my lovey dove! Forever your goober, Lil

Dear Adam, happy valentine’s day i love you so much!! - Karlie <3

Dear Connor, Roses are red, without you we’re blue, so glad we’ve been blessed with a mother like you <3 - Grace and Caitlyn

Dear Grace, Keep slaying the day away lovely little slater. Life is yellow with you in it.

- Caitlyn

Dear Matt, Janet, and Bailey, My chosen family in this life and the next. Forever blessed to have you all. My heart is so so full because of you three. Love you forever bbgs. - Caitlyn

Dear Charles, happy 14th birthday month, dingus! - Mara

Dear The EIC of 2022-23, Your ability to slay is what keeps me going every day. I am so glad we are friends – from never-ending pasta, impulsive baking with almond flower, and Sonny Angels. Thank you. For it all. - Elizabestie

Dear Connor Nini, Your buns poke out of your jeans. Love you bun bun!!!

Dear Maglet, Every time we talk, I am more and more grateful to know you. I don’t know who I would be without your Bars, the Cat clap, or our deep conversations at 9 am on a Sunday. Thank you for being my friend. - Fellow Ex-Shadow Hunter

Dear Joey D, Can’t help falling in love with you!!!!! - Reagan G

Dear Nick Frittelli, Hello! You’re doing so good in school! I love you so much! Happy Valentine’s day! I’ll be with you again soon! Love Jenna!

Dear Piper Kull, Happy Valentine’s Day! I love you and I can’t wait to see you :•) Love Noah <3

Dear Shadison Mively, I luv u with my whole heart. Bach Monday’s 4 lyfe <3 Love Pookie Sky

Dear ashley, the world is a brighter place with you in it. i don’t know how i got so lucky to know you. i love you forever, maddi

Dear James, I love you Happy Valentines Day <3 - Paige

Dear caitlyn, it’s such an honor to know you and i hope you know you’ll always be loved by me. xoxo, maddi

Dear caroline, i’m so glad we met and i hope the most beautiful things happen to you. i love you forever caro!! xoxo, maddi

Dear kayce, you’re one of the kindest souls i’ve ever met. i’m SO grateful to know you! xoxo, maddi

Dear Chick-fil-A girlies, thanks for making work fun (as fun as it can be) and I’m glad we have each other’s backs on those bad days! I couldn’t ask for a better group to work with! love you guys!!

- Kayce (your favorite coworker, duh)

Dear aidan, thank you being my best friend always, i love you!!

- emma

Dear Jenna Cornell, I love you more than you could ever know and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

- Kam

Dear Tammy in the CUB, You are officially this campus’ number one fan! Thank you for always supporting us and keeping up with everything we do. You make us all feel special even on our worst days.

- Your Campus Kiddos

Dear Maggie McGuire, Thank you for being so kind and funny. You never fail to make me laugh with your odd little moments! The time we’ve been together has been some of the best in my life, and I can’t wait for more! Happy Valentine’s Day!

- Ben Beck

Dear Elizabeth Peters, We are in love with you.

- Rhea Ripley & bbno$ (together)

Dear Narcissa, I can’t believe this is my last love line “advertising” all the love I have for you! Thank you for being my bestest pal through college and for all the TGI Friday’s trips, parallel plays and generally always humoring my dumb little ideas. Sending love this Valentine’s and always (duh)!

- Snookipuss

Dear Addy, You’re the Theresa to my Gerry. The Phaedra to my Bergalicious. The Mayim to my Ken. A true bestie.

- Connor

Dear Drager, You say you’re “too old” for romance, but we still love you!

- Slaters

Dear Slate Dad, Through it all, you have kept me and this show going. I cannot imagine how this would’ve gone if you had not said yes in June. I am so excited to watch what you do in the future because on our advisor you are doing things bigger than I could’ve dreamed. Love you so much, my son.

- Slate Mom

Dear Slate Mom, I still wonder how I got to this desk and why you asked me to take on this year with you, but I’m so glad you did. I have and will continue to learn so much from you, and I don’t want you to leave.

- Slate Dad

Dear A, I love you. I’m so happy you’re in my life. Forever yours.

- M

Dear Megan Sawka, You are the sweetest friend to have and I am so glad we’ve been brought closer together! My day is made whenever I see your smile when I walk in to class, and I love how I never stop smiling when you’re around. I think we make a great team and I couldn’t be happier to have a friend like you in my life :)

- Madi

Dear Skylar (Skylo Ren), Our friendship is my favorite thing! You always keep me company and I love our adventures together. You give me support when I need it and the greatest music recommendations too. To many more sleepless nights, Sheetz runs, and Bachelor Mondays <3

- Shadison

Dear Miss Caitlyn, Happy Valentine’s Day baby girl Caitlyn! I love you so much and I’m so proud of all that you have done!

- Miss Grace

Dear Connor, My life was falling apart until I met you!!

Xoxo, Bestie Trustee ;)

Dear Rylee S, Best (friend) I Ever Had - Reagan G

Dear Jeremy Satyawanputra, I hope you find your perfect milk white maiden this Valentine’s Day.

- Aubree Myers

To all the girls I’ve had a crush on before, Just know that I still love all of you equally. Some more than the others. I miss you all.

- Theodore

Dear RA Pookie, I NEED AND WANT YOU SO SO SOOOOOO BAD - RA THEOS GF

Dear Matthew Slobodzian, We are meant to be pookie wookies <3 p.s. let’s shift!

- Cinnamon

Dear Luke Rainey, Do not come!

- Charlotte (‘s web)

Dear Ty, If you ask - Winky winky

Dear Miss Tammy in Reisner, Thank you for being such a supporter! I have always looked forward to eating at Reisner because of your kindness every time I come in. I will miss you very much. Happy Valentine’s Day!

- Liz

Dear Snookipuss, I am so happy that we have stuck together through all the ups and downs. Thank you for remaining in my life. I appreciate you so much. (When are we going on the trip to THE Olive Garden that you promised two years ago in the love lines).

- VP of Valentine’s Day

Dear my number one supporter, my love, I’m sorry I’m a terrible writer, that is your strength, not my own. You mean so much to me, and I thank you for being there. You brighten my world and bring so much happiness. Thank you for giving up your time for me, I hope I can give you more in return.

You’ll always be the nipple of my eye.

- A bad writer

Dear Carrie (Mother) Sipes, We appreciate all the support you do for our department. You put the CJM in CJM - Carrie Just Mothering. <3

- Comm/Journ Kids

Dear PRSSA, SUTV and WSYC, Keep doing all that you’re doing. Happy Valentine’s Day!

- The Slate

Dear SGA, Thank you so much for supporting us not just on Valentine’s Day, but throughout the year. We truly would not be able to deliver this weekly service to the campus community without you. We can’t wait to celebrate another year together!

- The Slate

Don’t Get the Apple Vision Pro, Yet

Nick Behr Staff Contributor

The Apple Vision Pro is the most recent device released by the tech industry giant Apple Inc. The device has already gone viral with videos with hundreds of thousands of views.

The videos depict users of the Apple Vision Pro driving, working and walking around cities while using the product.

Some of the people in the videos depicting the act of driving while wearing the headset were allegedly arrested as shown in the videos.

This led to a comment from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, “never use Apple Vision Pro while operating a moving vehicle, bicycle, heavy machinery, or in any other situations requiring attention to safety.” While this is a clear issue, many videos were likely staged to garner internet attention. The most popular video showing a person using the Cybertrucks Tesla autopilot to drive while using the headset was confirmed by the creator, Gizmodo, to be a staged video where no one was actually arrested.

If there is not much proof of the Apple Vision Pro being used in

dangerous situations, why have an article on it? The Apple Vision Pro could still be a danger and it is not actually that useful and should not be purchased by most people, especially college students, quite yet. The high price point is a huge reason why this product will not be bought by the average person.

At a price point of $3,499, the headset at 256 gigsbyte (GB) is not a good option for anyone making the average salary in America. There are also several add-ons to the product that should just be a feature normally. This seems to be a consistent problem with Apple products. ZEISS Optical Inserts are used to improve vision through the Apple Vision Pro, which is a useful feature that is advertised for the main product. However, one can only get that feature with another purchase of $100.

The Apple Vision Pro also does not come with a case even though the product can be easily damaged due to its large size. A case for it runs you another $200 and other addons include a Light Seal to block out stray light for $200, if you lose the battery that costs $200, and the holder for the battery costs $50. You may also need more storage with an increase to 512 GB at $3,699 or the

one terabyte option at $3,899. All features can end up costing you over $4,500 due to tax and shipping costs.

Aside from the extreme cost of the Vision Pro, the practicality of the product is just not there yet. Despite all the videos of people walking and supposedly using the Vision Pro, it is not possible to walk and use it. The maximum distance one can move with the device is 1.5 meters or around 5 feet, according to Apple’s website. The use time on the Vision Pro is also not ideal for most people. The average screen time a day is around seven hours, and the Vision Pro battery life only lasts around two to two and a half hours. This is inadequate for most, especially if it is being used for jobs and meeting calls as advertised.

The Apple Vision Pro is an overall good product, but nowhere as useful or compact as the sci-fi devices in books and movies are. The product is too expensive for the average person, and Apple is clearly hiding the full cost of the product through separate additions. The technology is not there yet for the futuristic technology most people want, but at least it is getting closer each year. Maybe buying the Apple Vision Pro 5 will be well worth it.

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The Slate Speaks: Modern Dating

In the realm of modern dating and relationships, the landscape has shifted significantly from traditional norms. Gone are the days when societal expectations dictated that men should always make the first move or foot the bill. Instead, a more equitable approach has emerged, recognizing that relationships thrive on balance and mutual understanding.

One outdated notion that has begun to fade is the expectation of men to initiate every romantic advance. In today’s society, women are equally capable of expressing their feelings and taking the lead in pursuing a relationship. This shift challenges the stereotype that men should bear the sole responsibility for initiating romantic endeavors.

Similarly, conventional advice once cautioned against discussing politics or religion in relationships. However, in an increasingly polarized world, understanding each other’s beliefs and values has become essential for building a strong foundation. Whether considering the future or raising children, couples benefit from open and honest conversations about their worldviews and expectations.

Furthermore, societal guidelines dictating the pace of a relationship — from declaring love to moving in together — have become increasingly obsolete. Instead of adhering to external timelines, couples are empowered to navigate their relationships at their own pace, guided by mutual consent and understanding. While some may argue the person who suggests a date should foot the bill, others find value in the timeless notion of being pursued. Yet, in a world where gender roles are evolving, the idea of a “Pride and Prejudice” romance may resonate with both men and women alike. The traditional notion of relationships being imbalanced, with men shouldering the majority of responsibilities, is gradually being replaced by a more equitable dynamic. Today, it is not uncommon for women to take the lead in initiating dates or expressing affection, fostering a sense of equality and reciprocity in modern relationships. As society continues to evolve, so too do the dynamics of dating and partnership, embracing a more balanced and inclusive approach for the benefit of all involved.

Photo courtesy of Flickr

The Apple Vision Pro has recently been released to the public, and already it has garnered controversy after videos posted to social media show users being reckless, and in some cases, flat out dangerous.

Adam Beam/The Slate

Addressing accessibility in response to Slate Speaks

If you were one of the individuals who could not attend this year’s MLK March for Humanity and felt upset with the university’s lack of prioritization, I want you to imagine for a moment if this is how you feel every day. Every day there are events you cannot attend or classes you are late to. Maybe you physically cannot go to things because they are being held in inaccessible areas like many events are. Perhaps you cannot go to things because you have more pressing things to address like doctors’ appointments. I bet the FOMO would be so real for you. Being able to attend events — physically, on time or even at all — is a privilege.

In last week’s online publication of The Slate, members of the organization raised concerns of accessibility of events on campus after overwhelming discontent with the overlapping of the 36th Annual MLK March for Humanity and other mandatory engagements like sports practices, honors college meetings and pep band rehearsal. The article “The Slate Speaks: The accessibility of events on campus” brings to light issues of prioritization on campus under the guise of accessibility without acknowledging a larger issue of accessibility for students with disabilities.

As an able-bodied white woman, I will say that I am fortunate to have been able to attend this year’s March for Humanity. I skipped a lot of my other commitments to be there, but I am so glad I did. (If you are reading this and expected me elsewhere, I apologize.) Joanna McClinton, Pennsylvania’s first female Speaker of the House of Representatives, is such an electrifying orator. However, if we are going to talk about accessibility, let’s talk about accessibility for people with disabilities, a community often left out, even if not intentionally.

The issue many people had with the timing of the MLK March is an issue some people deal with every day. People with disabilities have a unique relationship with time. Some people may need extra time to accomplish things; that does not mean they cannot do it at all. In life, we have norma-

tive time, which is the seemingly normal segmenting of time that we just have to deal with. For example, at Shippensburg University, classes are set up so that students sit in class for 50 or 75 minutes and they get 10 or 15 minutes to get to the next one. Even though this is the way life is set up, this does not work for everyone. Time, in and of itself, is a social construct.

Within the disability community, there is a phenomenon called crip time, crip being a reclaimed word by the disability community and is being used in a theoretical sense, not a slur as many people still use today. Crip time is an accommodation associated with time. To crip time, as a verb, would mean to have flexible standards for punctuality and allow for extra time to do something, unlike current normative time standards. For example, this could look like giving more time to get to classes. People with disabilities sometimes physically take longer to get places or have additional tasks to complete that take up time such as doctors’ appointments.

Beyond this, I want to talk about the MLK March specifically. Structurally, this event was held in the oldest building on campus on the second floor at one of the farthest points on campus. Additionally, the event featured several speakers, but there were no American Sign Language translators or transcriptions for those who may have needed accommodations like that. The event then moved outside for a march of a considerable distance from Old Main Fountain to the Ceddia Union Building. I’m not sure accessibility was thought about for this event. Many events open to the public may just be open to the able-bodied public.

However, this is often not done out of maliciousness. It is more thoughtlessness. People do not tend to think of accessibility unless they are directly affected, which is likely to happen one day. Newsflash — anybody can become disabled at any time.

I am thankful I am able to attend events as I please and write my thoughts in a platform, because not many people can do the same.

As Martin Luther King Jr. said in his letter from Birmingham Jail, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Attending a university comes with highs and lows. College is a privilege; to be able to afford college and do well is difficult. Though college is both unaffordable for many and stressful beyond belief, it is very important to remember that with the opportunities we receive in college, our world is our oyster.

I have never felt that you could not make a living without college. I do not know many people in my family nor family friends who have gone to college. Many of them have made a good living without it, and some of them have not. I have always been grateful to my parents and grandparents for making me feel proud of the person I can be. Moreover, I celebrate any hard work that anybody puts in to reach their goals.

The fear of disappointment is major during higher education. Students feel the insatiable urge to satisfy everybody, oftentimes besides themselves, to ensure that others feel proud of them. Nevertheless, there will always be mistakes or lack of motivation. We cannot be perfect. During my college experience, I have noticed that there are people of authority who want what is best for us, and others that crave a “power high” of being in charge.

I am lucky to say that I have experienced professors who put my future in their best interest. I am a student journalist, and I have always seen the effort and ability my professors have to help me succeed. I am not coddled, but they provide me with benefitting exposure and harshness that will allow me to adapt to the real world once I am presented with an opportunity of work. I do not take criticism personally, and I understand that professors would not teach if they did not have an interest in the lives of their students.

With this being said, there are authoritative figures who crave the idea of having power over their students. It is no secret that because they have a high degree to their name, they feel that they can say and do what they want without repercussions. I find this disheartening, as most of the time their students are only doing the most that they can. There is always a reason behind the behavior of a student and a professor, and I think this needs to be looked at in closer detail.

Evidently, there are many mental and physical effects that can stem from attending college. Having a constantly changing schedule, feelings of anxiety and depression, unfamiliarity of a home base and being entirely independent can play a role in the actions of a college student. It is taxing to be on your own, and it takes effort to try hard for yourself. Some professors — even though they’ve been to college — do not understand the intensity of overload a student can feel. Due to this, they use imperfections

Reflecting on World Hijab Day

As Muslim women around the world celebrate “World Hijab Day” on Feb. 1, I wanted to share my experience as a Muslim girl who has been wearing a Hijab for the majority of her life.

I began wearing the hijab at a very early age. So early, that I cannot even remember when I “officially” put it on. People often assume that since I, and other girls, chose to put it on at an early age, then we must have been forced. But in reality, it was a conscious choice that many of us made on our terms.

Since middle school, I have always been one of the only hijab-wearing students in the school, and most likely the first visibly Muslim many have come across. Due to this, I was met with curious questions and remarks regarding my hijab. I also felt as if I had to speak and

carry myself a certain way, as if I was a walking figure of my religion. I knew that people would reflect my actions upon my religion.

My earliest memory of seeing myself represented in pop media was on the cover of a graphic novel. The book displayed a hijab-wearing character on the cover. I wasted no time walking over to the shelf it was displayed on, overloaded with excitement. I immediately took the novel home and eagerly showed it to my family.

At that time, hijab-wearing content creators or popular figures that now exist on all social media platforms were not prevalent.

Whenever we were represented, it was always in an inaccurate, Islamophobic way in which the character takes off her hijab to feel “liberated.”

Defying social norms is one of my favorite aspects of being a hijabi.

I like that I do not conform to the

ideas that society imposes on women, especially when it comes to appearance. Additionally, I like that I am resisting the social pressure to remove my hijab despite their persistent efforts to spread false narratives and stereotypes. Rather, I feel empowered to continue wearing it to disprove their ideas.

Fast forward to today, I am thrilled to see Muslim women take up leadership roles while wearing their hijabs unapologetically. We continue to stand firm in our identity and be true to who we are as we are faced with all the obstacles, false stereotypes and doubts that people have about our intelligence. As I reflect on my journey as a hijabi, I want to also commend all hijab-wearing women around the globe, especially ones living in Western countries because it is not just a display of faith, but it is a display of resilience and strength.

against students.

I am the first person to say professors deserve to be praised for the work that they put in, the dedication they put into their teaching and the ability they have to educate young people. However, I do believe that because of these abilities, they are harder on the people they instruct. I am under the impression that when people come to college, they — or their family — are paying for their education. With these ideas considered, I feel that there are rules that need to be rethought.

The difference between respect and disrespect is clear. While in class, the consistent usage of cellphones, speaking while the professor is speaking and leaving the classroom for long periods of time is disrespectful. Nevertheless, there are scenarios where all could be justified. If students are paying to go to college, there should be no complications. If a student does not want to pay attention, there should be no offense taken. A professor’s job is to teach students who want to be there. Their job is not to confront those who will not pay attention. Unless a student is noticeably disruptive, those with authority should not demand full attention. I live by the rule: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” If there is a clear issue, it should be taken care of privately. When students are embarrassed, they will try to prove their behavior as correct regardless of accuracy. If a professor utters unnecessary comments toward their students, they are doing an injustice to the students’ futures. Nothing will make a person more unmotivated than their instructor treating them as unworthy. If a student needs a computer to complete their assignments or take notes, there should be no predicament with their ability to do the work they need to do.

College is a game of fair or unfair. This life is hard for everybody involved; it will never be easy. There will never be a solution where everybody is equally as motivated, stable or willing to put forth exemplary effort. Everybody has different priorities, and some of those priorities include the indication of holding students to a lower pedestal.

Every university should provide a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment to people who want a higher education. As I was growing up, I never saw myself going to college. With the help of professors, the institution and opportunities I was provided, I realized that life was about more than a “power high.”

Give power to those who want to learn. It should not be socially normal to treat younger — or older — people as inferior. Our powerful authority should be self-worth, and our “power high” should be inclusion of all. Without the acceptance of uncontrollable personalities, we cannot positively instruct. Power is a construct.

Yusra Aden Staff Contributor

Allyson Ritchey Multimedia Editor

Reagan Gardenhour Staff Contributor

Photo courtesy of Flickr

Adam Beam/ The Slate

Allyson Ritchey/ The Slate

Ship Life

‘Gospel’: Black spirituality through sermon and song

Mara Eberle Staff Contributor

In honor of Black History

Month, members of the community gathered in the Ceddia Union Building to learn about the importance of sermon and song at the WITF Gospel preview screening and discussion on Thursday night.

The event was equipped with a preview screening of the new docuseries “Gospel,” with a panel of pastors and performances from Shippensburg University’s Harmonic Voices of Truth Gospel Choir.

“We are going to have church tonight,” exclaimed Marquis Lupton, host of the event and Shippensburg University alum, as he kicked off the night. Lupton went on to introduce the Harmonic Voices of Truth Gospel Choir, who brought a lively energy to the room as they sang. The choir showcased a real-life example of what the docuseries is all about — the importance of gospel music.

The preview screening of “Gospel” began shortly after the choir performance. The screening included excerpts from the four-

origins of gospel choirs, the production of gospel music and the historical value of song dating back to slavery in America. The docuseries also shines a light on names such as Mahalia Jackson, C.L. Franklin and more.

Throughout the screening, the audience was energetic and full of life. Members could be seen nodding,

discuss the evolution of gospel music through the years. Each brought up slavery in America and how important it is to remember where the words we sing now originated. Johnson brought up the importance of the choir sound amidst the modernization of hymns and church music. NiangDinkins also touched on

“We have to take an interest in each other’s history and each other’s story,”

Joshua Robertson

Senior Pastor of the Rock Church of Harrisburg

singing and raising their hands to praise God. This continued as the Harmonic Voices of Truth returned to the stage after the screening to perform again. By this point in the event, attendants were excited and ready to listen, just in time for the panel discussion.

Lupton invited the panelists, Elder Jamae Johnson, Joshua Robertson and the Rev. Dr. SimmieRay L. Niang-Dinkins to the stage to discuss the topics in the

the gospel’s connection to slavery. He discussed the usage of call and response during that time in America and the foundation music will always have in the Black church.

Later, Lupton asked the panel to debunk misconceptions about gospel and the Black church. This allowed the panelists to talk about a different aspect of the Black church and how all are welcome. Robertson revisited a moment from

able to ask questions of their own. One audience member had words to say about what the Black church has been able to show him.

“We need to get the white gospel music and the Black gospel music together to speak the gospel,” the audience member said.

When asked what they hope the audience takes away from the documentary, the panelists discussed the importance of educating one another on these topics.

“We have to take an interest in each other’s history and each other’s story,” Robertson said. “Gospel music gives you a [...] view of the Black experience in America.” Robertson went on to talk about how the Black experience is ultimately tied to nations across the globe and how it is important to examine everyone’s history.

After the panel discussion was over, it was revealed that Diane Jefferson, director of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA), requested for the panelists to sing. Niang-Dinkins and Johnson eventually gave in and sang a cappella, and the audience began singing along and gave a standing ovation.

Fashionably Slate: Romanticizing outfits

Reagan Gardenhour Staff Contributor

Valentine’s Day — a day that is filled with glitz and glamor. Though we often associate Valentine’s Day with partners, romantic relationships and giftgiving, there are plenty of other positives to the holiday. Whether you are single or in a relationship, Valentine’s Day will always have your back in terms of fashion. Who doesn’t enjoy being impressionable?

Fashion is much deeper than clothing. Fashion holds the power to make us feel worthy, confident and appreciated. Fashion indicates that we know how to express ourselves and do what makes our brains feel satisfied. Fashion is widely accepted regardless of who you are.

Stereotypically, Valentine’s Day centers around the colors pink and red. Though anyone is free to dress in whatever colors they feel the most confident in, the most evident colors of Valentine’s Day are premeditated. The holiday is about gracious hearts and safety, and red and pink symbolize those feelings. As of 2023 and 2024, Valentine’s Day has taken over many aesthetics. Some of the most apparent aesthetic categories the holiday would fall under are “coquette” and “clean.”

on February 15th and get the 50% off sweets you deserve.

Taurus (April 20 - May

20) The Ten of Cups in Reverse - Taurus may be having a particularly chaotic Valentine’s Day. Watch out for other people meddling in your relationship. A piece of advice: do not listen to what your potential mother-in-law has to say.

Gemini (May 21st - June

21st) The Ten of PentaclesYou’re in luck, Geminis!

changes are coming, so define your path through communication. Otherwise, your path will be defined for you.

Leo (July 23 - August 22nd) The Hanged Man - Leo, take a step back and assess your romantic relationships, because the stars are saying this is not the one for you. Why waste your time? The right one is out there somewhere, but it’s time to reassess. Stock up on Ben and Jerry’s this week,

to your partner to reel in the most intimate connection possible.

Scorpio (October 24November 21) Seven of Cups - Take off the rose-colored glasses, every red flag looks white under tinted shades. You are between two people and now is the time to make a decision. Stop thinking and trust your gut.

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21) King of Swords in Reverse - You are

Two of Cups represents new beginnings. You either need to break up with your current partner, or a new one is on the horizon. Either way, the future is looking promising compared to the past.

Pisces (February 19March 20) Two of Swords - It’s time to cut the cord, because Pisces cannot continue to keep stringing potential love interests along. Either get with it or get out, but do not invest in red roses for a thorn.

romantic and fascinating. For further explanation, an example of coquette would be the album “Born to Die” by Lana Del Rey.

Clean

The clean aesthetic has lived in several people’s heads for years. It is exactly what it sounds like — neutral, sleek and classy. The clean aesthetic is based on neutral colors that include pastels, beiges, tans and whites. Lots of pajama sets and matching sets are implemented. With a matching set, you will always be ready for the day. In terms of Valentine’s Day, matching sets are popular because skirts, dresses and sweatsuits can be seen as romantic, flirtatious and affectionate.

Along with this aesthetic, makeup and hair is important to consider. Slicked back hairstyles, wavy curls and curtain bangs are admired within this look. With a clean aesthetic, attraction will follow wherever you go. Short and clean nails, a lip oil and light “soap brow,” or eyebrow gel pulling the eyebrow hairs upward, will qualify you for the desired aesthetic.

Coquette

The coquette aesthetic is a favorite from several people. A major factor of this favoritism stems from the fact that bows, lace, fruit and jewelry are primary indications of the aesthetic. Additionally, coquette can fall into several other subcategories; some of the categories can be “dark coquette,” “light coquette,” “pink coquette” and “academia coquette.” Dark coquette offers a more grunge side of fashion, while light coquette includes plenty of whites and beiges. Pink coquette is the usage of several pink shades and academia coquette is amongst the grunge aesthetic with more old-school variations.

In terms of Valentine’s Day, all of these aesthetics are wonderful. Each of the intricate styles offer romantic views of what different personalities consider loving. Shakespeare is one of the most notable and prolific romance writers of all time. He had a darker aesthetic than many, but it was just as iconic.

The implementation of bows, lace, fruit and jewelry have made an enormous impact on several generations. Bows are seen as flirtatious, and lace is seen as seductive — in an innocent way. Fruits are seen as edible, and jewelry adds detail. Some of the most popular patterns and items in terms of fruits are strawberries and cherries. In addition, the use of gold jewelry and pearls have popularized. With these aesthetic indicators, it is evident that coquette follows a guideline of

Instead of feeling the need to acquire a specific look, the “clean” look can take you miles. With your friends, significant others or family, you are guaranteed to make an impression with the polished look. Though there is no legitimate description of what a clean aesthetic may be, the easiest explanation is to look spotless — spotless can be your own version. Remember to always be authentic.

The aesthetics provided for a Valentine’s Day look are simply suggestions based on previous trends. I believe that the most important part of Valentine’s Day is selflove and appreciation for one’s existence. No matter how you dress, look, act or appear to others, you will always be a romantic and irresistible entity that everybody should love.

Fashion provides a sense of self-fulfillment that many do not understand. The ability to individually indulge in a holiday — unfortunately stigmatized for the need of others’ validation — is a wonderful attribute. Valentine’s Day provides a chance to complete the second part of a New Year’s resolution, which is the implementation of your goals.

Instead of expecting flowers from others — or expected to give flowers to others — give them to yourself. Buy yourself the corset. Get yourself a box of chocolates. Do your makeup. Get your car detailed. Do your nails. Buy a new hoodie. Tell yourself “I love you.”

I hope your day is filled with love, romance, value and acknowledgment. Let today wash away any of your insecurities and realize your eternal worth.

To my readers, you are my forever Valentines.

Drum Tao is on a roll at Luhrs Luhrs Center cruises through ‘The Change’

Drum Tao, a Japanese drum and dance ensemble, came to the Luhrs Performing Arts Center on Tuesday night and wowed the audience with their remarkable talent. Eleven performers played various instruments — taiko drums, shinobue, koto and syamisen.

The show took an intermission, which split up the two parts to the show exceptionally. The first half focused on the traditional style of Japanese music, while the second half incorporated modern dance music playing in the background in a way to mix both genres.

Hearing both genres at once was very unusual and I found to be off-putting, but this bold attempt made their artwork intriguing.

For most of the time, some of the performers wore shiny costumes that captured and reflected the lighting well.

The lighting technician, Ryo Harada, knew what they were doing. The lighting really illuminated this experience.

In the second half, the male performers were shirtless toward the end of the show. I could not help but notice the squeals of excitement coming from audience members around me. I loved how you were able to feel each beat from the drums in your chest. The drums

working simultaneously with the other instruments created this beautiful melody. These skilled performers were Kiyoko Aito, Shoko Sakaguchi, Taro Harasaki, Yoshinori Suito, Keisuke Yamamoto, Masanori Takayama, Tatsunori Yamaguchi, Shinya Kiyota, Soshiro Fukumizu, Taketora Mitsuo and Yutaka Kawasaki.

The show begun at 7:30 p.m. and lasted for two hours. Student rush tickets were sold for $15. Their DVDs and merchandise were available for audience members to purchase.

Have you ever experienced brain fog, saggy breasts or hot flashes? If you answered yes to any of those questions, the Luhrs Center was the place for you Friday night as it welcomed the national tour of “Menopause the Musical 2: Cruising Through ‘The Change.’”

The show is exactly what you think it will be based on that title — an absolute riot. The nearly 1,500-seat Luhrs Center was almost sold out, and the vast majority were, perhaps unsurprisingly, middle-aged and elderly women. This audience knew what they had bought tickets for and was ready for a party.

One woman seated in the row behind me at times during the show said, “I’m glad I went to the bathroom before this” and “My cheeks hurt from laughing so much.”

The four-woman cast of Terri Dixon as Iowa Housewife, Valerie Fagan as Earth Mother, Kimberly Ann Harris as Professional Woman and Stacey Harris as Soap Star were just a delight. They shined together in parody numbers like “I

Need a Vino” and “Walk Like an Egyptian” and in solos like Dixon’s “I Will Survive” and Ann Harris’ “Memory.” The fact that “I Don’t Look Good Naked Anymore” is not a musical theater standard is a damn shame.

I am not the one to opine on whether this satirical production about the comfortability and hilarity of menopause was an accurate depiction, as I am a 20-year-old guy who benefits from The Slate’s partnership with the Luhrs Center and spent 90 minutes on a Friday night ignoring all of my stress and having an absolute blast. I was definitely not the only male in the room, but I may have been the only one born in this century.

I cannot end without noting that one of the pieces of merchandise that “The Change” was selling was a T-shirt that said “Oh Ship! It’s a Girls Trip!” I mean, it just does not get much more perfect than that.

“Menopause the Musical 2” is touring the country — including more stops in Pennsylvania — through June, and upcoming shows at the Luhrs Center can be found at luhrscenter.com.

Grace’s Weekly Record: ‘Everything I Know About Love’

Grace Harbour A&E Editor

If you are looking for an album to listen to this Valentine’s Day, then Laufey’s debut album, “Everything I Know About Love,” is the one for you. With modernized jazz and classical music, Laufey captures the feeling of being a hopeless romantic. Before Laufey won a Grammy this year for her sophomore album “Bewitched,” she released her debut album “Everything I Know About Love” in 2022. Laufey told The Line of Best Fit that the album is about dealing with growing up, “It’s also very ‘hopeless romantic.’ All the songs are based on my personal experiences in the past years, but the way I write about them is like fiction,” she said. “I try to create magic out of those moments, whether it’s heartbreak, or having a crush on someone, or never having been in love.” In “Beautiful Stranger,” Laufey describes a brief encounter she had with someone on a train. The song plays out like a rom-com, as Laufey wonders what would have happened if she had said something to him, “What if I would’ve stayed on the train?/Dared to stand up and ask for his name/Maybe we would have exchanged a few words/A fairy-tale moment could have occurred.” However, Laufey remains hopeful about seeing this person again, “But my beautiful stranger will have to remain/A stranger until I see him again.” Laufey talks about the confusion that comes with falling in love for the first time in the song “Valentine.” The track

perfectly captures the feeling you get when you realize someone loves you back, as Laufey sings, “How the hell did I fall in love this time?/And honestly, I can‘t believe I get to call you mine/I blinked and suddenly/I had a Valentine.”

“Dear Soulmate” is a song Laufey wrote for her future soulmate. The hopeless romantic in her shines as she wonders who her soulmate is, “Do you have green eyes?/Are they brown like mine?/Do you have a sister too?/Dear soulmate/ One day I’ll give this song to you.”

Laufey references the jazz musician Chet Baker in the song “Just Like Chet.” This song is sadder than the previous tracks, as Laufey describes how she fell too hard and fast for someone, “Unfortunately, I’m too romantic/Dramatic for that reality/I go ahead and just like Chet I fall in love too easily.”

In the bossa nova influenced song “Falling Behind,” Laufey hopelessly sings about how everyone around her is falling in love except for her. The song went viral on TikTok this summer — teenagers and young adults would make videos to the lyrics, “Everybody’s falling in love/And I’m falling behind,” and describe their own experiences with love.

In the title track, Laufey describes what people told her falling in love would be like. Despite what the title says, Laufey tells her listeners that she does not actually know that much about love, “‘Cause that’s everything I know about love/Everything I know about love/I don’t know that much at all/I trip, I fall every time I try/It’s all too much/That’s everything I know about love.” Laufey, like many of us, is just figuring love out as she goes.

Happy Valentine’s Day from The Slate! Whether you are in a relationship or not, here are some self love songs to help you celebrate yourself this Valentine’s Day.

Adam Beam / The Slate

The Japanese drum and dance ensemble Drum Tao performed at Luhrs on Tuesday, Feb. 6.

Connor Niszczak Managing Editor

Abbygale Hockenberry

Asst. A&E Editor

Photo courtesy of Flickr Laufey released her debut album on Aug. 26, 2022.

Top 10 rom-coms of all time

ory loss. He continues to pursue her, making for a really sweet love story.

Some of my favorite movies in the whole world are romantic comedies, or rom-coms.

Rom-coms are movies that contain romantic plotlines, but those that are generally light-hearted and humorous. These films are often overlooked in the film world, as they are seen as “chick flicks,” movies that women typically enjoy that men don’t see value in. However, I think that many chick flicks can be valuable to the viewer. Aside from many being genuinely good movies, they are light-hearted and fun and can take your mind off of the bad things happening in the world. Rom-coms are a form of escapism for many of us, including myself.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I present to you my list of the top 10 rom-coms of all time. You may disagree with me, but all of these movies are funny, cute and overall feel-good.

10. “Love at First Sight” (2023)

“Love at First Sight” stars Haley Lu Richardson and Ben Hardy as two strangers that meet in an airport due to unforeseen circumstances. After a lot of fateful events, the two get to talking and develop feelings for each other. The newest movie on this list, “Love at First Sight” took me by surprise by its quality and heart.

9. “Palm Springs” (2020)

“Palm Springs” features one of my favorite actors, Andy Samberg, along with Cristin Milioti as two wedding guests who experience a “Groundhog Day” loop. The movie has some unexpected emotion and makes a great Valentine’s Day watch.

8. “Sweet Home Alabama” (2002)

Starring Reese Witherspoon, Patrick Dempsey and Josh Lucas, “Sweet Home Alabama” is a story about love, divorce and the sweet, sweet South. I am not sure what else I can say without truly spoiling the movie, but despite its flaws, “Sweet Home Alabama” is worth a watch.

7. “Notting Hill” (1999)

One of the most iconic rom-coms, “Notting Hill” stars Julia Roberts as a famous actress and Hugh Grant as a bookstore owner. Their meet-cute begins when she enters his shop and continues when they bump into each other again. The story of “Notting Hill” is truly heartwarming and definitely a romantic pick.

6. “50 First Dates” (2004)

“50 First Dates” stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore as Henry and Lucy, who both live on Oahu. They meet in a diner and hit it off right away. However, when Henry approaches her the next day, she has no idea who he is. Henry figures out that Lucy has short term mem-

5. “Set It Up” (2018)

Zoey Deutch and Glenn Powell star in “Set It Up” as two assistants who are trying to get their hellish bosses laid in order to take some weight off of their shoulders. There is a lot of mischief and plotting, and it makes for one of the best rom-coms of recent years.

4. “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999)

Starring Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, “10 Things I Hate About You” is a film adapted from Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” The movie revolves around two sisters, the popular Bianca and the rebellious Kat. Bianca can only date if Kat does, so a plan is hatched to find a boyfriend for Kat. Cameron, a new student, falls for Bianca and teams up with a mysterious boy named Patrick to woo Kat.

3. “When Harry Met Sally” (1989)

A Nora Ephron classic, “When Harry Met Sally” stars Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan as two friends that must answer the question “Can a man and a woman be friends, without sex getting in the way?” The oldest movie on this list, “When Harry Met Sally” is a staple of the rom-com genre.

2. “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” (2003)

“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” stars Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, two professionals that both have a goal: Kate’s character Andie wants to make Benjamin break up with her, while Benjamin wants to make Andie fall in love with him. “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” has an unmatched level of charm and comedy to it, making it number two on my list of the top rom-coms of all time.

1. “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” (2008)

When I was making this list, I had trouble sorting what movies would be higher up on the list. However, I had no trouble deciding what my number one was going to be. “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I think it absolutely deserves to be number one on this list. The movie features a star-studded cast: Kristen Bell, Jason Segel, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Paul Rudd and Bill Hader. The plot goes as follows: Heartbroken Peter (Jason Segel) takes a Hawaiian vacation to cope with the recent break-up with his TV star girlfriend, Sarah (Kristen Bell). Little does he know, Sarah is traveling to the same resort and she is bringing along her new boyfriend (Russell Brand). The film has a perfect balance of comedy, heart and drama. If you are going to watch one movie this Valentine’s Day, please make it “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”

‘The Bachelor’: Leaps, lies and love

This article contains spoilers for “The Bachelor.”

Though my interest in “The Bachelor” series depends on the various ensembles in each season, this season has been an especially entertaining experience only three episodes in. Former “Bachelorette” contestant (and Pennsylvania native) Joey Graziadei made his debut as the 2024 Bachelor three weeks ago, but in my opinion, this season’s entertainment can be credited to the women who are fighting tooth and nail for that final rose.

So far in this season, we have witnessed women going head-to-head to receive a rose, pummeling one another in paintball competitions and even attempting a pole-vault-like leap across a table during a game of musical chairs. But what I find funnier than the “Joey Olympics” are the seemingly overqualified women battling for his attention. Contestant Katelyn is a radiochemist who purchased her first home at 23 years old, and Lexi was accepted into a summer program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Meanwhile, we

are unsure of any of Graziadei’s accomplishments other than coaching tennis in Hawaii.

I must admit, although I was not initially a fan of Maria’s flashy antics, I now thoroughly admire her ability to confront drama and tell it like it is. Maria’s beef-squashing strategy seemed like the ideal way to assert dominance in the mansion, but assertiveness is a tactic second only to clever victimization. In the mansion, this tactic is meticulously executed with the use of seven words that sound like nails on a chalkboard: “can I steal him for a sec?”

Jess was the first to put this tactic on display, cutting Taylor’s time with Joey short during the cocktail party and making her seem unreasonable for feeling upset. This tactic is also demonstrated by Sydney. I am astonished by Sydney’s ability to make herself the victim in every situation, tattling lies to Joey and dramatically removing herself as soon as Maria attempts to resolve conflict. I felt a global groan across Bachelor Nation when Joey presented Sydney with the final rose during last week’s ceremony. While Sydney attempts to frame Maria as the mansion’s mean girl, she should keep in mind that the truth will always

reveal itself, so she had better hold tight to her rose before it wilts. #TeamMaria.

With that said, I love noticing moments of camaraderie in the mansion, like when Edwina was there to comfort Maria and roll her eyes whenever Sydney attempted to revive dried-up drama. We love to see two unproblematic queens moving forward in the competition.

There are some women in the mansion who are “there for the right reasons”: Lea first met Joey during “After the Final Rose” and was given the ability to steal a one-on-one from another contestant, which she gracefully declined. After going on a steamy surf date with Joey last week, it is clear that their chemistry is undeniable.

Bachelor Nation’s unanimous frontrunner is Daisy. Daisy took home a preemptive rose after a one-on-one date that melted my heart. Something about her sweet baby blues combined with her unwavering authenticity makes me want to cheer like a football bro whenever she is given a rose. Although it is early in the season, I can easily declare that Daisy and Joey will be the ones to walk off into the sunset.

Rom-Com Word Search

Madi Shively Ship Life Editor

Megan Sawka Asst. Ship Life Editor

Adam Beam / The Slate

Joey Graziadei is the star of the 28th season of “The Bachelor,” which premiered on Monday, Jan. 22.

women’s basketball

The Shippensburg University women’s basketball team posted one win and one loss this week. The Raiders played their first game of the week away at Millersville on Wednesday evening and fell short of the Marauders, 57-53. The second game of the week was a home game in Heiges Field House Saturday afternoon where the Raiders beat Kutztown, 66-57.

On Wednesday evening, Shippensburg saw a strong start that maintained itself throughout the first half of the game. The Raiders led by eight going into the second quarter and led by two going into halftime.

It was a slow start from both Shippensburg and Millersville at the beginning of the third quarter, both teams fought back and forth trying to gain a lead. Millersville gained a lead of three moving into the final quarter of the game.

Millersville held a minor lead over Shippensburg for the majority of the fourth quarter. Shippensburg continued to keep up. With just over three minutes left of the game, freshman Bella Chimienti scored a layup shot giving Shippensburg a

one point lead.

Both teams continued to fight. A shot by graduate Treasure George tied the game, 53-53, with just under a minute and a half remaining. Millersville used the shot clock to give themselves a lead of four with 11 seconds remaining, winning 57-53.

The Raiders came very close to a win over the Marauders. Coach Trn said, “We have been focusing on fundamentals, basketball IQ and decision making, and we are starting to make some significant progress that hopefully will make a difference in the remaining games and into next season.”

The team began to see the progress Trn spoke about at their pink-out and alumni game Saturday afternoon against Kutztown.

Sophomore Ellie Goodwin opened the scoring with a basket and drew a foul. Over the duration of the first quarter Kutztown stretched its lead 11-5, but the Raiders went on a 5-0 run. The Raiders entered the second quarter with a one point deficit.

It was a tough fight for Shippensburg throughout the second quarter. Kutztown had a 9-point lead going into halftime.

The Raiders came back from an 11-point deficit late in the third quarter to tie the game, 40-40.

Freshman Alexis Buie scored a basket to start the fourth quarter. The Raiders led by 1-point for the first time since the opening score of the game. Shippensburg and Kutztown traded scores back and forth through the beginning of the quarter. With just under six minutes remaining, consecutive baskets from George and Goodwin gave Shippensburg a 50-46 lead.

Shippensburg University’s indoor track-and-field teams participated in two events this past weekend. The men’s team placed fourth and the women’s team placed fifth at the River Hawk Friday Night Showdown at Susquehanna University, while some of the team’s best went to the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational at Liberty University.

The meet at Susquehanna allowed the competitors one last chance to qualify for next weekend’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championships, and two Raiders took advantage.

The women’s team saw a pair of new PSAC qualifiers, one in each discipline. For track, sophomore Faith Wilson finished the 800 meters at 2:25.51, finishing 0.15 seconds faster than the required time to qualify, and placing fourth in the event. Freshman Elliot Oliphant qualified for PSACs as well, placing third in the high jump at 1.55 meters.

The men’s team picked up two event wins in the River Hawk Friday Night Showdown, with sophomore Ryan Wolfe prevailing in the 3K at 9:04.06. Shippensburg also swept the top two spots in the 800-meter dash, with freshman Jackson Gutekunst coming in first with a 2:01.76, beating junior

Shippensburg baseball defeated Carson-Newman on Friday to win its first game of the season, picking up a 10-5 victory. A three-game series was scheduled between the teams, but only one could be played before rain cancelled the other two.

The Raiders offense was clicking from the very start, erupting for five runs in the first inning, highlighted by graduate Morgan Wyatt hitting a three-run homer to center field. They added another three runs in the second, thanks to senior Austin Baal hitting a threerun single to make it 8-1 Shippensburg.

Baal had three run-scoring hits on the day, going threefor-four with four RBIs.

Senior Andrew Chronister and junior Carter Hinds each picked up an RBI as well.

Graduate Ryan Gleason started on the mound in his first appearance as a Raider, going four innings and striking out five while giving up one run on four hits. Freshman Conner Barto got the win in his Shippensburg debut, pitching two innings of two-run ball in relief.

The Shippensburg women’s basketball team’s next game is away at Mansfield on Wednesday, Feb. 14. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.

Shippensburg secured its lead with a layup and 3-point shot by freshman Mia Johnson. The Raiders won the game 66-57.

Ryan Scicchitano by 0.24 seconds.

Freshman Colin Daub placed second in the shot put at 14.43 meters, hitting a PSAC-qualifying mark twice in two weeks.

The Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational saw strong performances by multiple Raiders against very stiff competition. One of the highlights on the men’s team was sophomore Jabrie Gaymon setting a new personal best in the triple jump at 45 ft, 4.5 in, the tenth best mark in the PSAC this season.

Both 4x400-meter relay teams had impressive results at Liberty. The men’s team of freshman Bernard Bell III, junior Mason Boyd, freshman Jak Kearney and senior Eric Kirk placed eighth with a season-best time of 3:18.67, the second-best time of any PSAC team this season. On the women’s side, the team of freshman Ryleigh Marks, junior Caroline Mastria, junior Aliyah Serrano and sophomore Alyssa Wert placed sixth with a time of 3:55.36, placing them in second on the PSAC leaderboard as well.

Both teams will be heading to Lehigh University this weekend for the PSAC Championships, with the Raiders looking to continue their success in the event. The men’s indoor team will be going for their thirteenth straight conference title, while the women are trying to go back-to-back. The two-day event starts on Sunday.

Weather wreaked havoc on the series all weekend, with the second scheduled game Friday being moved to part of a Saturday doubleheader, which also got rained out. Shippensburg returns to action this weekend for a three-game series at Catawba, starting Friday at 1 p.m.

Shippensburg University alumni Neely Spence Gracey ’12, Matt Gillette ’13/’16M and Katrina SpratfordSterling ’13 participated in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials on Feb. 3 in Orlando, Florida.

Spence Gracey finished the 26.2 miles as 42nd out of 117 female starters with a time of 2:37.09. Gillette crossed the finish line after 2:19.42 in 55th place out of the 150 male competitors.

Spratford-Sterling was unable to finish the marathon and ended her race after 17 miles.

Spence Gracey and Gillette were recently inducted into SU´s Athletic Hall of Fame in Nov. 2023.

Jeremy Perna / The Slate

of the Raiders in their win over Kutztown on Saturday. SU celebrated a 66-57 victory.

Emma Adams Staff Contributor

Mason Flowers Asst. Sports Editor

Nicola Pugge Sports Editor

Mason Flowers Asst. Sports Editor

Cross-country runner Garrett Quinan named to 2023-24 PSAC Fall Top 10

Mason Flowers

Asst. Sports Editor

Shippensburg University

sophomore Garrett Quinan has been honored as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Top 10 award recipient for the Fall 2023 season. The award recognizes student-athletes who excel both in their sport and in the classroom, with all nominees having at least a 3.50 GPA and being a starter for their team.

Speaking on receiving the honor, Quinan said, “I’m grateful for this recognition and I owe a lot of my success to the support from my team and coaches throughout the past year and a half here at Ship. Their support has helped me stay focused on the importance of athletics and academics and to strive for more.”

Quinan has excelled in cross country in his two years at Shippensburg, making it onto the All-PSAC First Team in both seasons, along with being named the 2023 PSAC Men’s CrossCountry Athlete of the Year. He won the PSAC Men’s Championship race, only the third Raider to ever do so. Quinan also placed fifth in the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships and second of the Atlantic Region runners in the NCAA National Championships.

On the academic side, Quinan is majoring in mechanical

engineering and currently has a 3.676 cumulative GPA through 51 credits. Managing his major with cross-country is a lot, but Quinan has his teammates supporting him.

“Balancing a large course load and intense endurance training is challenging, but there’s a camaraderie in having a group of guys on my team putting in the same hard work with the goal of bettering ourselves,” Quinan said.

Cross-country head coach Steve Spence discussed Quinan’s work ethic in an interview, saying, “Garrett has shown maturity beyond his years and has embraced the lifestyle of a serious studentathlete. As a distance runner, he has no off season and very little down time where he is not engaged in intense physical activity. He competes fall, winter, spring, and

trains diligently during the summer to prepare for the competitive seasons.”

Quinan chose to attend Shippensburg for a multitude of reasons, saying “It was close to home, had both track and cross country, and offered engineering. On my visit, the team environment was very friendly and supportive; and from knowing Coach Spence’s reputation before being recruited, I knew he would be a great mentor.”

He also praised Spence as a head coach, saying “Coach Spence is a great mentor and role model, he always has our best interest in mind and inspires us to compete at our fullest.” Quinan also mentioned how the university helps athletes, mentioning how it “does a good job of recognizing athletic achievements and supporting athletes through organizations such as SAAC [Student Athlete Advisory Committee].”

In terms of what is to come the next two seasons for Quinan, he hopes to “stay consistent in my training and studying to compete and perform to the best of my abilities.”

Coach Spence also expects him to improve next season, saying, “he is poised to earn All-American honors by placing in the top 40 at the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships where he was 66th in 2023.”

in the Fall

Wrestling falls to ESU on the road

Nicola Pugge Sports Editor

Shippensburg University’s wrestling team was bested by East Stroudsburg in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) dual meet on Tuesday on the road, 41-8.

The Raiders won only two decisions in the meet; both were major decision victories.

Freshman Eli Bounds won a major decision at 141 pounds, and sophomore Owen Koch won his matchup at 184 pounds in a major decision.

Bounds dominated his match and scored the first takedown in the first 10 seconds. He followed it up with two more scores to earn his first conference and dual meet victory.

Koch scored three takedowns in his match, two of them in the first period, and added a riding time point to win his matchup, 15-3.

Freshman Diesel Koser impressed with his performance at 197 pounds, nearly besting the 18-match-winner Tjay Hiller. Koser had a 7-3 lead going into the last two minutes, but Hiller was able to come back and tie the score at nine. In the final seconds of the regular time, Koser was moments away

Monday

Wrestling at Millersville, 7 p.m.

Wednesday

Swim at PSAC Championships, 10 a.m. / 6 p.m.

Women’s basketball at Mansfield, 5:30 p.m.

Men’s basketball at Mansfield, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday

Swim at PSAC Championships, 10 a.m. / 6 p.m.

Friday

Swim at PSAC Championships, 10 a.m. / 6 p.m.

Baseball at Catawba, 1 p.m.

Wrestling at PittJohnstown, 7 p.m.

from a possible match-winning escape, but time expired and then Hiller scored a takedown in sudden victory and won the 12-9 decision.

The Raiders had to forfeit the first two weight classes of the night (125, 133) and the Warriors never looked back in their win over the Raiders.

SU’s wrestlers will return to action on Monday in Millersville, before wrestling at Pitt-Johnstown on Friday. Both matches are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

Saturday

Swim at PSAC Championships, 10 a.m. / 5 p.m.

Women’s basketball vs. East Stroudsburg, 1 p.m., Heiges Field House, Senior Day

Men’s basketball vs. East Stoudsburg, 3 p.m., Heiges Field House

Softball at Catawba, 11 a.m. and vs. LeesMcrae (at Catawba), 1 p.m.

Baseball at Catawba, 1 p.m.

Sunday

Men’s/Women’s track and field at PSAC Championships, 11 a.m.

Softball at Catawba, 11 a.m. and vs. LeesMcrae (at Catawba), 1 p.m.

Baseball at Catawba, 12 p.m.

Courtesy of SU Sports Info

Garrett Quinan celebrates his win at the PSAC Cross-Country Championships

of 2023 before crossing the finish line. He is one of three Raiders to to win the championship.

Courtesy of SU Sports Info

Garrett Quinan (#439) runs together with his teammate Aiden Gonder (background) at the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships. He placed fifth in the race as the best PSAC runner.

Colors of Love

1. What is your ideal Friday night?

a) Listening to police radar

b) Getting into an argument at the bar

c) Going to on-campus BINGO

d) Streaming the latest album release

e) Watching sports highlights

f) Taking mirror selfies

2. What is your love language?

a) Acts of service

b) Words of affirmation

c) Quality time

d) Receiving gifts

e) Physical touch

f) Communication

3. What is the best on-campus date location?

a) An SGA meeting

b) Galley Food Court

c) The Old Main Fountain

d) Luhrs Performing Arts Center

e) Seth Grove Stadium

f) The Rail Trail

4. What is your ideal Valentine’s gift?

a) A fancy pen (that clicks!)

b) A 500 word essay about why they love you

c) A home-cooked meal

d) A personalized playlist

e) An electric scooter

f) A collage of polaroids

5. What is your biggest red flag?

a) Not an empath

b) Oversharing personal infomation

c) Gossiping

d) Talks doing movies

e) Skips leg day

f) Always taking photos

Which Section is Your Perfect Match?

If you answered mostly A, you’re a newsie through and through. Nothing quite gets you going like factual information and serving the community. No fluff, all facts. Check out A1 for your preferred content.

If you answered mostly B, Opinion is the place for you. YikYak is great, but you could at least try to find reliable sources. If you can find a second to think outside of yourself, check out B1 and B2 for other people’s takes.

If you answered mostly C, the lifestyle content of Ship Life will be up-your-alley. Hanging with friends and having a good time is what you live for. Turn back to C1 to check out the softer side of news.

If you answered mostly D, you are either a reformed theater kid or pop-culture obsessed. Regardless, arts and entertainment is your beat, and you can read reviews to your heart’s content on D1 and D2.

If you answered mostly E, your happy place is either on the court or in the bleachers. Whether you compete or not, keeping up with the sports world is what keeps you going, so check out E1 and E2.

If you answered mostly F, nothing gets in the way of your shot. Capturing the world around you is just as good as living in the moment anyway. Look through each section’s images, and especially gander at the gallery above for some future inspo pics.

Photos courtesy of Adam Beam, Quehanna Coble, Elizabeth Peters and Allyson Ritchey. Photos taken at Soonchunhyang University Spring Festival 2023, KBS concert, Pennsylvannia Farm Show, Drum Tao, Hairspray and Glacier National Park.