The Slate 3-5-24

Pennsylvania governor’s vision for higher education

Higher education is on track to receive a massive overhaul. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro introduced in January his vision for a new system of higher education that unites Pennsylvania’s community colleges with PASSHE under a new umbrella.

The Slate sat down with Shapiro and Shippensburg University President Charles Patterson in recent weeks to discuss the proposed changes and what they would mean for Shippensburg’s campus community.

“What we’re doing now when it comes to higher-ed in Pennsylvania is not working,” Shapiro said, explaining the problem with the status quo. “We’ve seen a 37% decrease in our PASSHE enrollments. We’ve seen a 30% decrease in our community college enrollments.”

“I’m unwilling to continue to oversee a system that isn’t working for students and isn’t working for our universities,” Shapiro said.

Shapiro explained that Pennsylvania currently ranks 49th in the nation in state investment in higher education. “We can’t be OK with the status quo. Now is the time to invest, to reform higher ed and make it work for everyone,” he said. Some faculty and administrators have expressed renewed

Lest we

As Americans, it is valuable to stay up to date with conflicts happening outside of our border that our country is involved in. Just because the fighting is not in our town does not mean that we are separated from the events.

VP Harris calls for ceasefire in Gaza; UN cites war crimes on all sides

This past Sunday, Vice President Kamala Harris called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, pressing Israel to allow for an easier flow of aide among the Palestinian people. Harris cited the conditions as “inhumane” and a “humanitarian catastrophe,” according to Reuters.

Israel’s failure to do so is a violation of the order instated by the United Nations top court in January. Said order required Israel to take “immediate and effective measures” to allow aid into the Gaza Strip, along with four other requests to stop enforcing unlivable conditions on Palestinians. The final element of this order was to submit a report on how Israel addressed all measures a month from the date the order was instated, which was done on Jan. 26.

concern over consolidation of schools in light of Shapiro’s announcement. PASSHE underwent a consolidation in 2021 that merged six of the system’s 14 state-owned universities into two.

“I’m unwilling to continue to oversee a system that isn’t working for students and isn’t working for our universities.”

Josh Shapiro Pennsylvania Governor

Shapiro suggested that school consolidation was not going to be part of this reform. “We want to set up a new system that is designed to add, not subtract; not focus on consolidation, but focus on having them work in cooperation with one another.”

“As it stands today, it's really creating a new system from scratch,” Patterson clarified. “We're looking for ways in which we can seamlessly develop transfer pathways from community colleges into universities, but not talking consolidations.”

On the reform package’s chances of making it through Pennsylvania’s divided legislature, Shapiro said, “The status quo is unacceptable. I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican, you shouldn’t be OK with being 49th in the nation in higher education.”

Shapiro continued, saying, “I think if you’re against this, you have to stand up and explain why you’re OK with being 49th. Why you’re OK continuing to oversee a system that’s focused on subtraction, not addition. That’s a question for any lawmaker who is opposed to this.”

Alongside the Shapiro administration’s blueprint for a new higher education system, the announcement also included proposals to drastically change college affordability. The plan would cap the cost to families making less than the median income of $70,000 to $1,000 per semester.

Patterson explained that this would be achieved through additional financial aid, not limiting tuition. “It would cap the cost of families to pay to go to college at $1,000. That doesn't mean that Pell grants, student loans or fee grants aren't on the

table; they are. It's a mechanism by which to limit the cost of families that are earning $70,000 or less.”

Shapiro’s plan also includes a 15% increase in funding for the new system. “That increase in funding is going to allow that system to be far healthier than it has ever been,” he said.

Shapiro also spoke to the importance of student media and student engagement in this process. “You are a critical voice in our communities and our colleges. On our college campuses and in the broader community.”

Shapiro said regarding repeated cuts to student media, “Your voice really matters, and it’s important that you have the resources that you need to put out a great paper. To be able to put out information in real time and breaking news that really matters to students. To editorialize in a way that moves your college community forward.”

As to student engagement, Shapiro encouraged civic engagement. “Your voices really matter.” Shapiro continued, saying, “I need your voices in this conversation now. I need you to be engaged. I need you to call your lawmakers and tell them to be for Governor Shapiro’s higher education plan.”

Israel has failed to comply with these requirements by not submitting a report on Feb. 26, according to the Public Broadcasting System. Harris also implored Hamas to accept a deal that entailed releasing hostages to begin a six-week ceasefire. At the same time in Cairo, Egypt, representatives of Hamas were scheduled to meet with representatives of Israel to discuss once again an agreement to pause the fighting. However, it is unclear if progress was made, as Israel declined to comment publicly.

The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth’s online version claimed that Israel boycotted the discussion of a ceasefire on Sunday after Hamas denied their demand to provide a list of hostages still alive. This is the only source on the matter, hence the ambiguity on how successful these talks have been.

The Gaza health ministry released a statement on Monday stating that 30,534 Palestinians have been killed and 71,920 injured since the beginning of Israel’s military offensive in October.

United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk stated that the violence in Gaza is spreading to neighboring countries, citing the military escalation in

southern Lebanon and Israel by Hezbollah and other armed groups. Turk stated that war crimes have been committed by all parties involved in the conflict, and that they should be investigated and held accountable, according to Reuters.

This war is approaching five months of open violence, having started on Oct. 7, 2023, as an escalation of decades of conflicts.

Drones crash in Russia and Ukraine; Nuclear safety talks continue for Ukraine

Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine. On March 2, a Russian drone struck down by Ukrainian forces hit an apartment complex in Odesa, a southern Ukrainian port city. The falling debris killed seven people, including a 3-monthold baby, and injured an additional eight people, according to the Associated Press. Eight drones attacked the Odesa region that night, according to Ukraine’s Armed Forces, seven of which were shot down by

Record low turnout in SGA officer election

The Student Government Association (SGA) wrapped up its spring 2024 executive leadership committee election March 1. Of a student population numbering more than 4,000, only 49 ballots were submitted, according to SGA administrative assistant Lisa Laughlin. This equates to roughly 1% voter turnout from the student body.

Only one name was on the ballot for five open officer positions. Several candidates did, however, run successful write-in campaigns.

Lillian Sellers, a junior political science major, secured the top spot as the 2024–2025 SGA president. Sellers currently serves as the vice president of external affairs.

In campaign material on her Instagram page, Sellers indicated that she wanted to “expand collaboration with student groups and organizations” and “advocate for accessibility inclusion of all students on campus.”

Katie Huston, a junior English secondary education major, was elected to the position of vice president of internal affairs. She is currently the vice president of finance, having been appointed to fill the vacant seat in November.

Huston will be succeeded by Nathan Garber as vice president of finance. Garber, who was the only candidate to submit a petition to be on the ballot prior to the election, won the position with 73% of the vote. Garber serves as a member of the SGA Budget and finance committee, which he will oversee next year. The B&F committee is in charge of crafting the SGA operating budget, which distributes student activity fee revenue to student groups.

Ella Zinn, who serves as the Class of 2026 senator in the 2023–2024 SGA, was elected as the next vice president of external affairs. Zinn will be in charge of SGA’s outreach to the campus community and marketing the organization to the student body.

The vice president of student groups position will be filled by Natalie Nichols, a sophomore communications, journalism and media major.

The 2024–2025 ELC will be sworn in

alongside the senators elected later in the semester during SGA’s last meeting on April 25.

Adam Beam / The Slate News editor Ian Thompson and multimedia editor Allyson Ritchey sit down with Governor Shapiro for an interview.

Adam Beam / The Slate Governor Shapiro speaks on higher education reform.

Elizabeth Peters Editor-in-Chief

Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons Bombs striking a high rise in Gaza City caused numerous casualties.

Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons Kamala Harris, vice president of the United States addressing the ceasefire on Gaza.

Ukrainian air defenses.

In Russia, a drone crashed into a St. Petersburg apartment building, with several people receiving medical assistance, according to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. Russia’s Defense Ministry has not commented on the incident, according to the Associated Press.

The United Nation’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director Rafael Mariano Grossi was scheduled to meet in Moscow with Russian officials to discuss nuclear safety in the Ukraine amidst the on-going war, according to the Associated Press. The Kremlin did not immediately confirm the trip.

Grossi addressed that the safety of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, located in southeastern Ukraine, is of “tremendous importance in terms of international peace and security.” Grossi visited the plant in February as a part of the IAEA’s efforts to prevent nuclear disaster during the continued fighting.

In Vienna, Austria, Grossi stressed that in this situation it is important to keep contact with both sides, according to the Associated Press.

The meeting in Moscow is intended to cover the topic of technical issues surrounding the future operations of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is currently in cold shutdown. The plant has been caught in the crossfire multiple times since Russia invaded in

Feb. 2022, according to the Associated Press.

This war has just reached two years of fighting, having started on Feb. 24, 2022, as an escalation of a decade of conflicts sparked by the Russian annexation of Crimea

Scooters, break-ins, room selection frustrations aired at President’s Hour

Evan Dillow Staff Contributor

Several hot-button campus issues such as recent car break-ins, room selection frustrations and the electric scooter ban were discussed at last week’s President’s Hour.

Students were encouraged to both listen and raise concerns to President Charles Patterson and members of the campus staff, which included representatives from housing, maintenance, SUPD, the Dean of Students, the Office of Equity and Inclusion and more. Adam Beam moderated questions.

According to Beam, the purpose of President’s Hour is to give students a direct line of communication to the individuals who run the university. In answering the questions, Shippensburg staff hope to provide clarity to students who may struggle with any number of issues present on campus.

Beam added that President’s Hour provides an alternative to sending out hopeful emails out to campus faculty, which often do not produce a timely response that addresses student needs.

Like previous President’s Hours, the questions asked concerned several issues. Most issues were related to campus safety, accessibility and

housing. Students especially focused on President Patterson’s plans for Shippensburg University going forward.

One question that came up repeatedly dealt with the room selection issues that on-campus students faced in February. According to the housing and IT departments, the room selection website was overloaded by over 1,000 students logging in at the same time.

To alleviate the issue, housing created time slots so that all students could select a room in an orderly manner. This measure did not go without controversy though, as many students who were placed in later time slots could not select the rooms they wanted. The IT department suggested that a new room selection website is in development, which should prevent similar issues from happening in the future.

Several questions were raised about the thought process behind Patterson’s campus-wide email announcing an e-scooter ban effective March 18. He and SUPD Chief Pat Taylor shared that some details are still being finalized, but any vehicles seen on campus will be confiscated after spring break.

Another subject that was frequently brought up was campus safety and accessibility for disabled students. One student asked SUPD about providing safer evacuation for students who

“Black is the Color of Love” panel.

cannot use stairs. President Patterson said, “We are working through training professionals to be able to escort disabled students.”

On safety, there were concerns about improper lighting in storage parking lots and several reported break-ins to student vehicles. SUPD made students aware that they take these issues seriously. Recently, SUPD took a safety walk with SGA members to investigate problematic areas on campus.

In relation to the email sent to the student body about several recent car break-ins, SUPD encouraged students to check their vehicles every day so that any incident can be more swiftly reported and investigated. They also said there are plans to replace lights in the storage lots.

Sophomore Roderick Porter Jr. asked Patterson about his initial email regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza and whether he would make any additional, more inclusive comments.

“I would rather see scholars talk about these issues to elevate them,” Patterson said. “My purpose is to create an environment to allow for these constructive conversations to happen.”

The next President’s Hour is scheduled for April 2 in the Naugle MPR. All students are encouraged to attend.

Your World Today

Commentary: Buck up or shut up

Elizabeth Peters Editor-in-Chief

Actions speak louder than words, but I would be lying if I said words were not hitting pretty hard right now.

As my managing editor Connor wrote in his piece last week, we have experienced a surge of hot topics in in our news coverage. Subsequently, we have more readers than ever, which is a blessing no matter the cost.

While I do not use YikYak, the anonymous public forum has been dropping some heated “criticism,” if you would even call it that, in response to our coverage of the arrest in McLean, Theta Xi allegations and, of course, Connor’s Your World Today.

Connor’s piece was a slap in the face to a lot of people, but I stand by his writing and argue it was warranted. As a news organization, it is our job to call out when we see errors, corruption and harmful social policies, which is exactly what he did. I doubt that half of you currently reading this piece would have done so last month if not for Connor’s recent work.

Our philosophy on news coverage is shockingly simple: Do good things, and we report good things; do bad things, and we report bad things. Through the transitive property, if you do not want us to report bad things, do not do bad things.

The post that stuck with me was someone saying “Defund The Slate” because, be for real with me, what do you think defunding

us will do? That without the resources our student government provides for us we would not function?

You are sorely mistaken if you believe that, because across the country, student newspaper’s budgets are being cut, but the news is not stopping. Printing is amazing, but the articles catching the most interest right now have been online exclusives.

Additionally, I have found that the same people who run their mouths anonymously are the first to choke up when confronted. The Slate is the student voice, and we are more than willing (even excited) to run pieces that criticize our work or opinions in our pages. And yet for every YikYak comment I read, we receive no articles in our inbox.

Write a letter to the editor if you feel so strongly: 500 words maximum, 12 point Times New Roman, single spacing, name on the document, emailed to slate.ship@gmail.com. Trust me, we will run it. It is a requirement in our constitution, and I believe our adviser, Michael Drager, would kill me if I did not.

The Slate is not just an elite organization of muckrakers trying to spew dirt on everyone and everything.

But I doubt that even after reading this piece we will receive any such articles because the people who can fire off 12 words of hate do not stand by their words enough to draft a real article. Put your money where your mouth is and actually do something, because that is what we have been doing since The Slate started in 1957. It is your right as a Shippensburg student to have your voice heard, but honestly, it only has merit if you can stand behind the words you say.

Frederick Douglass Institute hosts

‘Black is the Color of Love’ panel

Shippensburg University’s Frederick Douglass Institute (FDI) hosted the “Black is the Color of Love” panel and discussion Tuesday to shed light on black love and intimacy.

Sharnine Herbert, liaison for FDI, introduced the organization, the panelists and the purpose of the event. Each panelist had a specific topic to present and educate the audience on, all of which surrounded the topic of black love.

First to speak was Kennedy Holt, vice president of FDI, on radical love and empathy in the black community.

“When I think about radical empathy and love, for me that means love that must be abundant” Holt said. “It’s all encompassing, and it should not be contingent upon anything else.”

Holt went over key principles of love and empathy and explained the issues the community faces within these subjects. She also explained how trauma can impact the ability to feel worthy and love effectively.

President of FDI, K’Nya Holmes, and her girlfriend, Dejah Freeman, talked about unconventional love. Holmes and Freeman discussed their experiences being two women in a relationship within the black community. They defined black love in their own words and revealed the reasoning

of these definitions.

“Black love is unity and having the ability to push through hardships together,” Freeman said. “This type of love brings strength, understanding and solidarity into a relationship.”

Panelists Issac Ibela and Christian Laing discussed friendship and brotherhood. They talked about the aspects of life that brotherhood helps them through. Ibela and Laing gave examples of celebrity friendships that resemble theirs, as well as songs, pictures and historical figures that describe their relationship. Later in the event, they also expressed the value brotherhood holds when attending a predominantly white institution.

The next panelist to speak was Roderick Porter Jr., who explained the significance of empathy and black love in society. Porter said that empathy helped him form and mend relationships and brought joy into his life. He touched on the impact empathy and compassion can have on an individual and others alike and different from them.

“Every day that you wake up, every person you talk to, just have empathy somewhere in mind,” Porter said. “You don’t know what people are going through, and you don’t know the situations people have been in.

Last to present was Kelli Link, who discussed generational shifts within the Black community. Link discussed what “normal” relationships look like to different gener-

ations, as well as Gen Z’s current approach to love. Link explained the harmful stereotypes black people face in the media and the affects they have on the community. Holt then gave her desired takeaway from this event. “Truly keep community at the forefront of your mind, because if you don’t see us as human, you won’t see us as anything else. If you don’t see us as human, you’re not going to see us as loveable people, as valuable people,” she said.

Once the panelists finished their presentations, they took questions and comments from the audience. As a result, the topic of social media quickly became a conversation. Many panelists chimed in about trends, culture and the negative impact that a lack of black love can have on people.

As the night came to an end, Holmes shared FDI’s goal in hosting this panel. She also discussed the misconceptions many have surrounding the black community and her hope that this panel spreads awareness.

“We got the ability to love just as anybody of any color,” Holmes said. “We just wanted to shed light on what black love may be to show this predominately white institution and campus that there’s way more to black people than partying ... and fighting with each other. We can actually be unified with one another.”

Mara Eberle Staff Contributor

Cyrus Simmons / The Slate Sophomores Christian Laing and Isaac Ibela speak during the

Cyrus Simmons / The Slate

Students gathered for the Frederick Douglas Institute’s panel.

Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons

The wreckage of a Russian drone that was shot down over Donetsk Oblast.

The Slate Speaks:The culture of hazing

“We’ve always done it this way.”

That’s the mindset so many unfortunately stand by when it comes to hazing, or as they like to call it, “tradition.” In light of the recent allegations toward Theta Xi, the discussion of hazing has circulated throughout the campus community and raises the question: Do we as a society perpetuate hazing and the culture around it?

Hazing has no place in any club or institution. Just because “everyone’s been through it, so you have to go through it” doesn’t mean you have the right to harm others. It is simply not a way to bond. The ideas of “this is how it’s always been done” and “I had to go through this, so you should too” are nonsense. Being a victim does not give you the right to victimize others. If something is illegal, that means it is against the law. There are so many discrep-

ancies with the idea of “hazing” nowadays, and it can be something extremely simple or something heinously traumatic. At the end of the day, if you are doing something because it is “tradition” or “you want to prove someone is trustworthy,” create a new tradition that cannot get others in trouble. Do not drag people into your future drama. It is unfair. People know what they are getting themselves into but prove them wrong. It is more respectable to treat people with kindness and welcome than to do bad things, get caught and be mad about it. What world do we live in where we cannot own up to our mistakes? Our knowing mistakes? We have to get it together. It is hard to understand why some parts of Greek life hold on to harming each other so fiercely. It does not form any sort of connection that cannot be formed in a more productive way. My

fraternity has new members interview older brothers to get to know them and also hosts events for everyone to come together and connect. That is how you should bond, not by intentionally hurting each other.

Every exclusive organization has its requirements and customs, and some of these can be challenging or unusual. It should not be easy to receive membership in an exclusive organization like a fraternity or a sorority because if it were, then the organization lacks purpose and standards.

The process should still be a fun and rewarding way for pledges to bond with other pledge mates, in addition to brothers and sisters who supervise it. Hazing flies against this philosophy. Enduring humiliation and danger are neither fun nor rewarding, and it is unnecessary because there are infinitely many other ways

to challenge pledge classes without subjecting them to perverse forms of ritualistic allegiance. Any organization that justifies hazing because it supposedly creates social cohesion is condemning itself.

There is a fine line between initiation rituals and hazing, and it all comes down to who is executing them. Rituals are fun — think of graduation, senior pranks, athletes kissing the field, signing off on banners, etc. Rituals bring people together and create bonds.

Hazing is the opposite. It sets up an unbreakable power dynamic and puts people’s lives at risk. Even “tame” examples of forcing people to drink [even if they consent] put their bodies in harm’s way. And for what? For the people forcing others to do these things to get a power high. To feel better than the people they are abusing — which hazing is, abuse.

Go get some fresh air

Nature is something we take for granted in today’s day and age. It affects our lives more than we realize. Whether it’s choosing to wear a hat to shade your eyes from the beaming sun, or staying home during a frigid blizzard, nature leaves its mark on society. While nature influences us in terms of weather, it also has immense effects on our mental health.

The most important tool I used on my self-growth journey was nature walks. There is just something about unplugging your headphones, smelling the crisp air, taking in your surroundings, and being one with our Earth. Walking through nature is one of the most relaxing things you can do. Simply taking a quick 10–20-minute walk through your neighborhood, a park or the woods will help you escape from reality and calm your mind.

I owe nature walks everything when it comes to being a less anxious person. Whenever I feel anxious, I immediately

step outside and start walking. I tend to walk to places I have never walked before, this mini-adventure that I go on brings me a child-like feeling of discovery.

This gives me what I call “positive dopamine.” I believe there are positive and negative ways to get your dopamine fix; a positive is something such as going to the driving range and hitting a bucket of golf balls. This is something in nature that makes the dopamine hit feel more natural and earned. While a negative would be the opposite, artificial and given. Doom-scrolling on Tik Tok watching people use clickbait and other cheap ways to supply dopamine is a perfect example of negative dopamine.

Much like macronutrients, there are “good and bad” ways to consume them. You could eat a perfectly seared steak to get your protein in, or you could drink artificially made protein shakes. While the protein shake is certainly not super awful, it is still not natural for our bodies.

I think it is important for our generation to focus on these two types of

Where’s your voice?

Shippensburg University students, staff, faculty, administrators and affiliated people are welcome to submit letters to the editor for publication.

• Letters must be no more than 300 words and may not contain derogatory language or messages of hate or discrimination.

The Slate may reject letters for any reason.

• Letters become property of The Slate. Letters without a name and title (affiliation to SU) will not be accepted.

• Letters should be sent to The Slate one week prior to the day of publication. Late letters may be accepted but published the next week.

Disclaimer

• The views and opinions expressed in this section are those of the writer and not of The Slate or University. The unsigned staff editorial, “The Slate Speaks,” represents the views and opinions of The Slate as an organization. Participating editors help shape the staff editorial.

The Road to Super Tuesday

When given the choice between Donald Trump or Joe Biden for president, most Americans pick neither. Someone should tell the primary voters, though, as results from South Carolina and Michigan show both candidates sprinting toward the finish line of securing their party’s nomination. Why? The answer differs based on political affiliation, it seems. A majority of Trump voters say they are voting for him rather than against Biden, while a majority of Biden voters say they are voting against Trump as opposed to voting for Biden, a January NBC/ Hart Research poll says.

This is a good indicator that Republican voters are choosing Trump for one of two reasons: One, he is a cult of personality or two, Biden has left the door by playing to his base on policy, turning off moderates.

These same moderates are the swing state voters that will decide the general election come November.

And South Carolina and Michigan show that despite Trump’s general election polling lead, there are cracks that Biden can exploit if he moves to the center of issues that moderates care about.

dopamine. Ask yourself, “Is this a good use of my time?” “Should I be pumping my brain with dopamine all the time?” “Is this healthy for my dopamine receptors?”

What is the most natural way to produce positive dopamine and relieve stress, anxiety and depression? It will always be nature. That feeling of making your dopamine in nature rather than relying on internet content is such a powerful feeling, it gives you a feeling of accomplishment, much like working for a good grade on an exam or that promotion at your job, it feels earned. Overall, nature will treat your mental health just as well if not better than other coping mechanisms will. Doing activities in nature will help you produce positive dopamine, which brings you a better and more natural feeling than artificial dopamine will. Nature will help relieve your anxiety and depression, just simply by relaxing in it.

Next time you are having a rough day, go do your preferred nature activity and give your brain some well-deserved positive dopamine.

Trump won the Feb. 24 primary in South Carolina, beating his opponent, the Palmetto State’s former governor, Nikki Haley, by 20 points. But all is not what it appears, as he lost to Haley in the coastal Charleston and Beaufort Counties by greater than 10 points and lost Richland County — home of the state’s capital, Columbia, by 16.

Beaufort represents a change for Trump, who won the county in the much more crowded 2016 primary contest. And all three counties that Trump lost this time shifted 3-5 points toward Democrats between the 2016-2020 election, reporting by The New York Times shows.

South Carolina is not a swing state, but it shows a long-standing vulnerability for Trump: college-educated, suburban voters. According to exit polls reported by CNN, Haley won 59% of advanced degree holders and 74% of self-identified moderates. Trump will need

these voters in a general election, and he is unlikely to woo them by calling their candidate of choice “birdbrain,” something he is unlikely to discontinue. Now, in contrast to South Carolina, Michigan shows Biden’s weakness. Biden has no real challengers in the Democratic primary, but still managed to lose two delegates to “uncommitted,” the second-place winner of The Great Lakes State. The uncommitted vote was the brainchild of Democratic voters who are displeased with Biden’s support of Israel. As of Feb. 28, over 100,000 ballots were cast for uncommitted. Another 40,000 votes were split between “spiritual guru” Marianne Willamson and Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips. Biden won Michigan in 2020 with around 154,000 votes. The uncommitted vote in Michigan represents a Catch 22 for Biden. A Reuters/Ipsos poll finds that Americans are split down the middle on the issue of continuing military support for Israel. This means Biden has to continue to equivocate on the issue, or risk losing voters. His best course of action, for election purposes, is to continue support, as voters may not stay home if it means giving Trump the foreign policy reigns. Acting on border security, a top issue of voters, will also help, as Texas border counties shifted radically, greater than 40%, for Republican’s favor between 2016-2020. Super Tuesday will offer further insights into the public’s consciousness. It will be the day that most primary voters will get to make their voice heard. If the early states are any indicator, one can expect few surprises. But both Trump and Biden would do well to improve their standings with moderates and beware the ides of

Kevin Carr Staff Contributor

Matthew Scalia Staff Contributor

Adam Beam/ The Slate

Ship Life

Students perform at ‘Live at the Apollo’

Harlem made its way into Shippensburg on Thursday night in Stewart Hall during “Live at the Apollo,” an annual event hosted by Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) and the Residence Hall Association (RHA) that celebrates Black history and art. The open mic invited students to share their talent in true Apollo style.

Established in 1913 in the Harlem District of New York City, the Apollo Theater played a major role in the emergence of popular African-American music, such as jazz, swing and R&B. The Apollo was a stepping stone to success for artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. This event was held to pay tribute to the historic theater and to celebrate Black History month.

Students had the opportunity to enter a raffle for various prizes, the most popular being a record player. No students signed up to perform on the sheet sent out by RHA three weeks prior to the event. This prompted RHA to open the floor to all attendees. If students performed, they were able to add more tickets into the raffle.

RHA President Adam Beam kicked off the event by singing along to the karaoke of Frank Sinatra’s “That’s Life.” Pierce Romey read mythological monologues he had written. Madi Shively performed stand-up comedy. One student even performed “Supermarket Flowers” through American Sign Language (ASL).

“I think this event impacts campus because it helps further educate individuals on Black history and the impact the Apollo Theater

had, as it did give Black individuals back then a place to perform their art and a safe space to come together,”

Sam Gries, the chancellor of National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH), said. “It gives students on campus that opportunity as well.”

The night came to a close with the raffle for the record player, and students headed to the food table, getting more of the popular minicheesecakes.

“I hope Live at the Apollo has more performers [next year] and I hope it further reaches out to our people of color on campus,” Gries said. “There’s a lot you can do at this event, and I feel like it has a lot of potential to be bigger.”

To stay up to date on upcoming events on campus, follow MSA and RHA on Instagram @ship_msa and @rha_raiders.

Slater of the season: Adam Beam

Elizabeth Peters Editor-in-Chief

The Slater of the Months of January and February is Adam Beam for his quality articles, illustrative contributions and photography for a variety of sections. Beam is a senior Communication, Journalism and Media major with a minor in History, and he joined The Slate his freshman year. Beam consistently writes pieces for his own section, Opinion, as well as Ship Life and Arts & Entertainment. In addition to writing, Beam began illustrating for sections in The Slate over the past two months.

“I’ve been drawing since I was a kid, but once I got into college I stopped drawing because I got so busy,” Beam said. After winning a drawing tablet at bingo in the fall, “the prize I have always wanted to win,” he noted, Beam said he tapped back into his creative side.

“I thought ‘Why not start making drawings and images for The Slate’ and ‘Why not try and make as many as possible?’” Outside of his art and articles, Beam also takes photos for The Slate. He is frequently at the Luhrs Performing Arts Center, and he took photos at “Hairspray,” “Drum Tao” and “On Your Feet” since the start of 2024. Beam is known across campus for doing everything to the maximum. Involved in WSYC, SUTV and the president of the Residence

Hall Association (RHA), Beam is a familiar face. His most notable project this past year was the SUTV 12hour livestream “It Came From the Television,” which raised money for the Spirit of Children foundation. The foundation provides fun and funding for the Child Life departments within children’s hospitals.

As the president of RHA, Beam also oversaw the past three President’s Hours, Haunted Henderson in October and Live at the Apollo this past week. Outside of these commitments, he still has time to write at least one article a week for The Slate while attending press events like the 2024 Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C. Beam is the definition of pursuing passion projects.

He takes on all opportunities afforded to him and excells, which is evident in the five Keystone Media Awards he won this year.

After graduation, Beam is looking to become an on-air news reporter or potentially getting some kind of photography job with a traveling tour of a musical.

“I love theater and I love photography,” Beam said, saying that while the second option was less likely he would “take the opportunity at the drop of a hat.”

The Slate management staff would like to recognize Beam for his quality work with words, lines and cameras with The Slate. As Slater of the Months, the entire staff congratulates him on his accomplishments and looks forward to his continued involvement.

Home is where the table is

There are many social events and organizational meetings occurring on campus every week, but none of them are quite like the one occurring at the table that sits beneath the stairwell by Dunkin in the Ceddia Union Building. Last fall, more Shippensburg students began to frequent this table regularly and ended up cultivating an area to share laughs, traditions and belonging.

Senior Jeremy Satyawan Putra is most often spotted nearby, introducing friends to one another or evoking a belly laugh from the general area. Upon being asked about his experience at the table, Satyawan Putra first offered a selection of coconut flavored pastries. “We call ourselves the ‘minority table,’ which, of course, is a funny name, but if you look at the general demographic of our

table, we have a lot of diversity and a lot of minorities,” Satyawan Putra said. “In a way, that helps us educate one another on everyone’s culture.”

The table acts as a noncommittal social club, serving as a conglomerate of various cultures and new friends.

Satyawan Putra said the table was established when junior Juli Igarta and her friend would sit at the table to eat breakfast together, catch up with one another and complete work. Soon, mutual friends from organizations such as the Asian American Pacific Islander Organization (AAPIO) and the Latino Student Organization (LSO) began to mingle around the table. “Slowly but surely, we just grew more and more,” Igarta said.

“This table is really friendly, and it grew way too fast,” first-year student Ziad Hussein said. “It’s like a ‘people sponge.’”

Many of the visitors of the table laughed as they recounted their

favorite memories beneath the stairwell. “I was coming out of the bookstore and saying hi to a friend, and everyone else was like, ‘get over here,’” first-year student Alex Bowen said.

Though members of the table cannot pinpoint exactly when the group formally started, they all seem to agree that it happened quickly and group membership increased exponentially. “I first found this table when I was meeting with my friend Juli. Then I brought my boyfriend here, and realized I had so many friends who would enjoy the presence of the people here,” sophomore Celeste Salinas-Rugerio said.

Members of the table held a “Palentine’s” day event on Valentine’s Day in February, bringing various foods and snacks to the table to share. Satyawan Putra also shared that he and a group of friends held a potluck in celebration of Chinese New Year in February. They also held a “Welcome Back” potluck

after Thanksgiving break, sharing Indonesian and Filipino dishes such as lechon kawali and lumpia. Visitors of the table also congregate outside the CUB, celebrating birthdays and holding tasty kickbacks like Korean barbecues on weekends. “It’s a home away from home,” Satyawan Putra said. “Some of us are commuting from an hour away, and some of us can stop by for five minutes or stay until the CUB closes.”

In addition to an opportunity to make friends and learn about one another, the table also offers companionship. “We operate on a 24/7 buddy system,” Satyawan Putra said. “No matter if you know someone well or not, they can always be a companion and accompany you to events on campus, or even to grab food with you.”

“At first, it was a place for people who are minorities to come together and find a safe space, but

at the end of the day, it doesn’t stop at people of color,” Salinas-Rugerio said. “It’s become a place for people who belong to the LGBTQ+ community, and a safe space for everyone to exist. We see each other and provide a presence that can include everyone.”

Sophomore Isaac Hudzinski found solace at the table when he came to Shippensburg after serving 12 years in the military. “Everyone at this table is very accepting, open, and they don’t judge based off someone’s background,” Hudzinski said. “They’re just looking for a group of people to chill with.”

The small table tucked under the stairs offers an inviting space for friendships to be built and for members to learn more about one another. “We understand one another in different ways. At this table, you’re free to be different, but similar at the same time,” Salinas-Rugerio said. “It doesn’t matter if you think differently, your thoughts will be respected.”

Allyson Ritchey / The Slate Senior Mike Brewer performs Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten.”

Madi Shively Ship Life Editor

Allyson Ritchey / The Slate Adam Beam is the Slater of the Months of January and February.

Lydia Elmy Staff Contributor

Elizabeth Peters / The Slate

From left: Jeremy Satyawan Putra, Lily Lopez Garcia, Cynthia Aguilar, Cole Runyon and Juli Igarta.

Drawing courtesy of Cynthia Aguilar A sticky note illustrating members of the table.

We’re still talking about vaginas...

& Multimedia Editor

The Slate has existed on the campus of Shippensburg University for nearly 70 years, and it has not always been pretty.

On Feb. 17, 2009, the assistant Arts & Entertainment editor published a scathing review of an SU production of Eve Hensler’s “The Vagina Monologues.” At the time, the monologues were a campus tradition performed each year around Valentine’s Day.

Almost exactly 15 years later, members of The Slate staff came across the article while cleaning out cabinets and thought it was appropriate to look at how the words have aged so very poorly.

We are not going to give space to the reviewer’s words, but the review contained multiple instances of sexist and misogynistic language and outright falsehoods about the production. He wrote that the production made male attendees feel like they should have “left their testicles at the door,” and it only got worse from there.

The response to the article led to some of the most intense backlash The Slate has received since its founding in 1957. The edition of The Slate on Feb. 24, a week after the review was published, featured more than two pages of responses to the

commentary, none of which were positive. Some readers called for the assistant Arts & Entertainment editor and other editors to resign, and many called for a formal apology from The Slate.

One of those letters was from SU English professor and former Women’s and Gender Studies Director Shari Horner.

“I felt stunned that that student got away with writing that review,” Horner said. “I was shocked at how horrible it was. You know, like worse now than I think I even understood at the time.”

“15 years later, The Slate is apologizing. ”

Ashley Hubler was involved in the production of the monologues and was an intern for the Women’s Center during the 2008-2009 academic year. She remembers not being able to go anywhere on campus without being asked about the article.

“It just reinforced to us the work we were doing with the show was even more important,” Hubler said. “People were flipping out!”

At the time, The Slate printed a newspaper every week, so the controversy remained abuzz on campus for several weeks.

“The place where students were talking was The Slate,” Hubler said. “For that time, this was the hot thing.”

The Slate stood by the reviewer’s remarks, and the editor-in-chief at the time said in the Feb. 24 edition: “It seems that the critics of the article are more concerned with the negative review of the show, rather than responding publicly with the merits of their message.”

The EIC went on to say “The Slate will not be issuing a retraction, apology or make amends for publishing a negative review.”

Fifteen years later, The Slate is apologizing. The editorial team that leads this organization today would never allow such vitriolic and blatantly false language to be printed in our paper. The world was very different in 2009, but it was still 2009.

“We’ve come a long way in 15 years on this campus,” Horner said. “I feel kind of proud of Ship now that I don’t think that would happen. Now, I think that we have a much greater sensitivity to that kind of just, you know, hateful misogyny and also a greater responsibility to making sure that you’re not just lying or misreporting.”

Editor’s Note: The Slate management team made the decision to not include the names of previous editors mentioned in this story in acknowledgment that 15 years have passed and their ideologies may have changed. This layout is inspired by the original ‘Let’s Talk About Vaginas’ layout in the Feb. 17, 2009, print edition.

Michael W. Smith graces Luhrs with the gospel

Michael W. Smith, a Christian contemporary rock artist, played for listeners at the Luhrs Center on Leap Day. Smith has been performing worship and making music for over 30 years but has not lost any pep in his step.

As far as most Christian artists or bands go, it feels there are slim pickings. Luckily, Smith has released countless collaborations and albums that are beyond worth listening to. The seats were almost sold out, absolutely packed with excited, energetic and enthusiastic believers.

Smith’s fans are quite loyal, and he knows how to reach his audience.

He held poster signings and meet and greets with very excited fans before the show. On his official Instagram account, they recorded a man who already met Smith back in 2016 and

came back just to get another signed poster and to talk to him again.

Smith split his show in two halves, starting off with some older songs to get a feel of the audience and how dedicated they are to the lyrics. To his (and my) surprise, on the very first song the audience sang back his verse to him with no help. After intermission, Smith played the big hits. These were the songs that were guaranteed to get people out of their auditorium seats to praise God.

During intermission, Smith and his bandmates took the time to talk to his audience about Compassion International. This is an American child sponsorship and Christian humanitarian aid organization that aims to positively influence the long-term development of children globally who live in poverty. Multiple compassion members were seen handing out envelopes and brochures of pictures of those in poverty to offer audience

members the opportunity to sponsor.

Smith has been a vocal supporter of compassion for over a decade, and he at least mentions Compassion’s work once during every one of his performances. He also played a promotional video with Amy Grant, another main player in the worship music game.

Smith is a devout musician, but faith remains to be the centerpiece in his life. His songs are simply a bridge between the two.

“That’s why we sing about it, why we’re talking about it, letting people know that this God shaped hole can only be filled by one thing and that’s a person. That person is Jesus,” Smith said.

Compassion partners with hundreds of foreign churches outside of America, and is one the most renowned children sponsorship programs in the world. To find out more check out https://www.compassion. com/about/about-us.htm.

Review: Netflix’s ‘One Day’ Reagan Gardenhour, Staff Contributor

Review: ‘Abbott Elementary’ Shaniyah Fortson, Guest Contributor

Review: Frank Ocean’s ‘Blonde’ Bailey Shehan, Guest Contributor

Connor Niszczak & Allyson Ritchey Managing Editor

Adam Beam / The Slate

Gabe Rader Staff Contributor

Gabe Rader / The Slate

Contemporary Christian rock artist Michael W. Smith performed at the Luhrs Center on Feb. 29.

Beam / The Slate

A celebratory night for Women’s Basketball and Shippensburg University Television

Savannah Silvestre Staff Contributor

The Shippensburg University women’s basketball team ended its season on a high note with a win over Shepherd University last Wednesday night. The team finished the 2023-24 season with a 6-22 record.

Following tipoff, the Raiders had a slow start with several missed opportunities. Shepherd scored the first two points off a jump shot, and it took the lead for the first several minutes.

The momentum shifted for Shippensburg after a timeout midway through the first quarter. The points quickly started to fall, and the Raiders gained a nine-point lead. The Rams did fight back in the second quarter, but two 3-pointers from freshman Bella Chimenti kept the Raiders in front.

The Raiders came out hot in the second half with a hard take to the basket by junior Taja Colbert, which began a 17-5 run to take a 50-31 lead. SU continued to dominate for the rest of the game, scoring 30 points in the third and fourth quarters to win 93-51.

The matchup was the Raiders highest scoring win since the 2022-23 season against Edinboro on Jan. 7, 2023. They also had a season-high 22 assists and 15 steals, and a season-low 10 turnovers.

Graduate Treasure George had an outstanding last performance as a Raider. She was the leading scorer with a career high

35 points. Reflecting on her historic night, George said, “I’m feeling overwhelmed but grateful. It was a learning experience because I’ve had great seasons before, but I didn’t feel this one was one of them. It does feel great to end this way, though.”

George also achieved 1,000 career points against East Stroudsburg on Feb. 17 and was honored before Wednesday’s game.

Graduate Madi White played her final game Wednesday. White finished her collegiate career with a double-double, scoring eight points and collecting a career-high 10 rebounds.

Wednesday night was also historic for SUTV, the university’s student-run television station. In honor of Women’s History Month, an all-female crew covered the last women’s basketball broadcast of the season.

The assigned crew included Elizabeth Peters as the play-by-play commentator, Madi Shively as the color commentator, Claire Rothermel as the director and Alexis Elliot as the graphics/audio coordinator. On replay was Nicole Ocker, and Jenna Cornell, Emily Hall and Allyson Ritchey were on cameras. Jada Lee was the sideline reporter.

Being a part of an all-female crew was a rewarding experience to Shively. “It was such an exhilarating experience to be able to do this alongside so many women in our department that I look up to and to watch women’s basketball drive home a win,” she said. “That was nothing short of inspiring.”

SU Wrestling concludes season with NCAA Division II Super Region 1 Championships

KUTZTOWN, Pa. — The Shippensburg University wrestling team wrapped up its season with commendable performances at the NCAA Division II Super Region 1 Championships held at Kutztown University’s Keystone Arena on Saturday.

Redshirt-junior Andrew Wert emerged as a standout for Shippensburg, securing a sixth-place finish in the highly competitive 141-pound category. Wert’s journey included victories, such as an 8-2 decision over Kutztown’s Jared Fulton and an 8-4 decision against American International’s Aaron Morocho in the consolation semifinals.

Despite a steadfast effort in the match against Gannon’s Caleb Chaves, Wert faced

a setback with a 3-1 decision that ended his bid for a third-place finish and a ticket to the NCAA Championships. An unfortunate medical forfeit in the fifth-place match concluded Wert’s run.

Other notable performances came from sophomore Kyler Everly, sophomore Owen Koch, and freshman Diesel Koser. Everly secured a 10-5 decision in his opening round at 157 pounds, overcoming a previous season loss to East Stroudsburg’s Eric Falleni. Koch recorded a major decision victory at 184 pounds but faced an injury default loss in the subsequent round. Koser, wrestling at 197 pounds, won a 6-3 decision before narrowly missing a consolation semifinal berth.

Head coach Seth Bloomquist reflected on the team’s overall performance, emphasizing the youth and potential of the squad.

“This is a young team,” Bloomquist said. “It’s a bunch of freshmen and sophomores and they have to develop. There are certain things that you have to do to excel. It’s a matter of maturity and you have to really want to wrestle. They are slowly developing, but that is not an easy task.”

Several wrestlers, including Calvin Lederer, Anthony Lavish, Cole Lang, Liam Bostrom and Connor Livingston, made their regional tournament debuts for Shippensburg, contributing to the team’s overall growth.

In the final results, the team faced tough competition in various weight classes, with standout performances and lessons learned that will undoubtedly shape the future of Shippensburg University’s wrestling program.

SU Baseball sweeps Holy Family

Nicola Puggé Sports Editor

Shippensburg University’s baseball team dominated Holy Family in both games of its doubleheader on a windy and cloudy Friday at Fairchild Field, 8-2 and 4-0.

The Raiders improved their record to 6-3 and remain unbeaten at home. They outhit Holy Family 15-5 over the course of the two quick games: The seven inning Game 1 and the nine-inning Game 2 both lasted less than two hours.

In Game 1, SU built a comfortable lead early on with six runs in the first three innings and won the game 8-2. After scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning, the Raiders scored four more runs in the the third inning. With graduate Justin Byler and senior Austin Baal on base, senior Andrew Chronister brought both home with a double. Junior Gio Calamia scored Chronister with a triple in the next at-bat. Calamia then reached home after a groundout to second base by graduate Morgan Wyatt to extend the lead to 6-0.

The runs for Holy Family came from a throwing error and a wild pitch in the top of the fourth inning. The Raiders responded with two runs in the fourth to make the final score 8-2.

The starting pitcher for SU was junior Jaxon Dalena, who struck out eight over 3 2/3 innings. Dalena allowed only one hit and walked three. Senior Gabe Stotler pitched in relief for Dalena and earned the win. Stotler struck out five over 2 2/3 innings and allowed one hit.

Game 2 saw a dominant pitching performance from the Raiders as they struck out the Tigers.

Graduate Ryan Gleason got the win as the starting pitcher for SU. Gleason struck out seven batters and allowed

only one hit in six innings.

The Raiders scored one run in the bottom of the first. With two outs and Calamia on second base, Baal stepped up to hit. Baal hit a double down the left-field line to bring Calamia home.

The next innings went scoreless for both sides. Sopho more J.T. Weaver came on to relieve Gleason at the top of the seventh and stranded two runners to secure the lead for SU.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Baal led off the Raiders with a home run shot to right field to extend Ship pensburg´s lead to 2-0.

With their next three at-bats the Raiders loaded the bas es. Brady Harbach brought in two more runs with his sin gle through the middle. Harbach’s two-run single was his first collegiate hit and his first collegiate RBIs. His two runs were the last of the game.

Baal had a remarkable performance in the doublehead er. He reached base six times and went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, an RBI-double, four walks and two runs scored.

Calamia also had a good day, reaching base five times and he went 3-for-6 with three RBIs, two walks and two runs.

The doubleheader on Saturday against Holy Family was cancelled. The Raiders will be back in action on Friday at noon, when they will open their Pennsylva nia State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division play against Mansfield.

Hanna Atkinson/The Slate

Treasure George and head coach Kristy Trn. George was honored for achieving 1,000 career points for Shippensburg University before the game.

the doubleheader against Holy Family.

Alexa Michielsen Staff Contributor

Grace Harbor/The Slate SUTV’s Jada Lee reporting live from the sidelines during Wednesday’s Women game against Shepherd. SUTV boasted an all-women crew.

Photo courtesy of Andrew Miller, SU Sports Info

Sophomore Andrew Lavish at Saturday’s match.

Shippensburg Softball shows grit in doubleheader

come home and score, giving Shippensburg the 3-2 win.

Shippensburg University’s softball team went 1-1 in a pair of thrilling games against Slippery Rock this past Sunday, moving their record to 5-3 on the season. Game 1 saw the Raiders pick up a walk-off victory, winning 3-2, before dropping a marathon second game, losing 9-6 in nine innings.

The first game of the day saw Shippensburg fall behind 2-0 in the first inning, with Slippery Rock picking up a pair of RBI singles. The Raiders threatened on offense the next few innings, leaving seven runners on base in the first three innings.

The Raiders evened it up in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring their first run on a sacrifice fly from freshman Sarah Sabocsik. Senior Alyssa Nehlen knotted the score later in the inning, walking with the bases loaded to score a run.

With the game still tied in the bottom of the seventh, sophomore Emilee Sullivan singled with one out to put the go-ahead run on base. The very next at bat saw Nehlen single to left field, with a throwing error by the Slippery Rock left fielder allowing Sullivan to

Speaking on her mentality during the last at bat, Nehlen said her goal was to “just put the ball in play, it felt really good just to make contact… just trying to keep the inning alive.”

Junior Alicia Ball moved to 3-1 on the season after earning the Game 1 win. She went the full seven innings, allowing one earned run on seven hits and three walks. She struck out 11 batters, putting her over 200 strikeouts in her collegiate career.

Game 2 saw Slippery Rock jump ahead 3-0 in the first inning, followed by the Raiders getting RBI hits from senior Maelynn Leber & freshman Brie Wilmot to make it 3-2 after the third. After a solo home run for the visitors, Leber hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to give the Raiders a 5-4 lead, giving her four RBIs on the day. Nehlen added an RBI double later in the frame to make it 6-4 through five innings.

The Rock tied it in the sixth with a two-run single, with the game remaining even until the ninth. Slippery Rock picked up a pair of RBI singles, scoring three runs in total to make it 9-6. Shippensburg sent the tying run to the plate in the bottom half of the inning, but could not capitalize, the game ending as a 9-6 loss.

Junior Katelyn Minney allowed six runs in her 5 1/3-inning start, with only two being earned. She gave up four hits and two walks while striking out three. Leber got the loss in relief, giving up three runs, two earned in 3 1/3 innings.

Speaking on what will be the focus for the next series, head coach Ally Van Scyoc said, “We have to be better at an attack mentality, where we’re attacking the first pitch, regardless of what half of the plate that it’s. We left a lot of first pitched go by that we could’ve attacked and pushed some baserunners across.”

Softball has another home doubleheader on the schedule this week, taking on Felician at Robb Field on Wednesday. Game 1 starts at 1 p.m.

Alyssa Nehlen runs to reach a base in the game against Goldey-Beacom. Nehlen reached base seven times in the doubleheader against Slippery Rock and had four walks, two RBIs and a sacrifice.

Quehanna Coble/The Slate Alicia Ball pitches the ball in the game against Goldey-Beacom on Feb.23. Against Slippery Rock, Ball struck out 11 batters and achieved her 200th collegiate strikeout.

SU Men’s Basketball drops season finale loss to Shepherd

Shippensburg University men’s basketball team suffered a loss to Shepherd University last Wednesday to end its 202324 season. The team finished with an 8-20 record overall and a 4-18 record in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play.

Wednesday night’s game started with quite the 3-pointer frenzy. The Rams made seven and the Raiders hit five within the first 13 minutes.

Near the end of the first half, the Rams extended their lead to 25-17, but the Raiders then scored seven in a row to bring the score to 25-24. The Rams built their lead to 34-28 before halftime.

The second half continued the traded runs. The Rams lead the Raiders by about eight points, but SU fought back valiantly to chop the scoring deficits down.

With 5:25 left to play, the Raiders tied the score with an eight-point run. The Rams fired back with a 10-0 run to get a comfortable double-digit lead. The Raiders could not recover and lost 73-65.

Redshirt Markus Frank completed his debut season with 15 points. He has posted double figures in 22 of 28 games this season. He currently is ranked eighth in the PSAC in scoring with 495 points.

Junior Michael Dunn scored nine points, all from 3-pointers. Graduate Andrew Recchia scored eight points, shooting 3-of-6 and hitting two 3-pointers.

Wednesday’s game also marked the final game for three seniors — Satchel Ball, Ty Holsopple and Mamadou Toure. Ball finished his career with two 3-pointers and a career-high seven rebounds. Hopsopple ended his career with three points, three rebounds and three assists.

As for Shepherd men’s basketball team, they solidified their ticket to the PSAC tournament and will face West Chester University’s Golden Rams on Monday, March 4 at p.m.

SU Lacrosse gives up late lead, loses to Frostburg State

Jeremy Perna Staff Contributor

Shippensburg University’s lacrosse team went on the road to take on Frostburg State University but lost the lead late in the fourth period, blowing a 2-goal lead. The Raiders led by two going into halftime thanks to three goals scored in less than a three-minute span, where the score was 5-3. They maintained a lead until fourth-quarter troubles began.

Frostburg State eventually tied the game, followed by two unassisted goals by Frostburg junior Kerri Hayes, putting her team up 8-6.

With over four minutes remaining in the matchup, Lilly Stevens put Frostburg State on top 10-9. Shippensburg inched back within one after another Frostburg goal, but the Bobcats scored an insurance goal and secure an 11-9 win. Kerry Hayes scored the hat trick as she was a driving force to complete the Bobcats’ late-game comeback.

For Shippensburg, junior Sara Vosburg scored a hat trick with a goal in each of the first three quarters. Kayla Vosburg, her sister, had 15 saves in the game goalkeeping. Shippensburg lacrosse, 1-1, will return to action on the road at Wilmington next Saturday.

Mason Flowers Asst. Sports Editor

Savannah Silvestre Staff Contributor

Hanna Atkinson/The Slate Marcus Frank goes for a lay-up in the last game of the season against Shepherd on Wednesday. Frank scored 15 points in the contest and finished his debut season for the Raiders with 495 points.

Quehanna Coble/The Slate

A Beautiful Reality

My name is Marlon Aristy, an MSA senator for the Student Government Association, treasurer of the Latino Student Organization and a dualmajor in political science and international studies with a minor in Spanish. I am a proud Dominican Afro-Latino male and son of two immigrant parents who have sacrificed so much for me to be here.

My first language was Spanish. As a kid growing up in the town of Mechanicsburg, I quickly knew I was different by the way I looked, spoke and interacted with others. I was not overly social, but I made sure to talk to people and make friends.

I lived, and am living, a trouble-free life thanks to my parents. I played baseball from the age of 8, all the way until my senior year of high school, I was captain of the football team my senior year, and a four-sport high honors athlete.

All of my accomplishments are sentimental to me. I worked hard to reach this point in life. I do not have many regrets, and I am confident in my ability to make choices and be myself, something I have learned to do quite recently. However, there is one thing I do constantly reflect on. Throughout my life, I conformed. I wanted to fit in and show that I can be just like everyone else around me. I quickly learned the American way of life. I quickly learned of racial barriers, and throughout my life these experiences have shaped who I am.

The cost of conforming has left me seemingly foreign to my own culture. A couple years ago, if you would have asked me what Black History Month means to me, I would have told you a simple answer. It means understanding the difficulties Black people went through so that those that live on in the next generation can share these stories. It is to remember the difficulties they experienced physically, emotionally, and mentally.

My time here at Shippensburg, although a short one, has been extremely educational. Not only in the classroom, but outside as well.

Diversity is such a beautiful, influential and often overlooked reality. When people can speak like you, understand your cultural roots and share differences, cultural diffusion can thrive and prosper. I can learn my country’s language and share it amongst my friends without worrying about judgment. I can proudly make memories with people that understand how important my cultural roots are. I can be a part of an organization where I feel comfortable. I

that paved the way for me, a colored American student, to have the opportunities I have today. It means understanding that we are a long way from where we need to be. It means expressing the beauty of another culture. Not only black culture but all cultures of color. Expressing that no matter what difficulties we face, what discrimination occurs in our daily lives or the inequalities we may face, we stand as one.

We as people of color live today for a better future tomorrow. We strive to gain an education today to overcome the racial disparities of the workforce. We continue to be the best individuals we can be so that our community can grow and prosper. We speak against the inequalities we face today to empower the lives of the future. To surpass the expectations set for us based on the color of our skin.

We march on to show that society is a long way from accepting a colored person in a position of power. We learn from the people who sacrificed everything to give us the life we have today in order to continue the fight against racism.

The color of my skin will never stop me from achieving my goals. That is what Black History Month is. It is a time to recognize that the people of color, no matter where we are, are unified. We will continue to stand together.

It is a reminder that no matter how difficult the road may be or how long the march continues, we will not stop. I have no more shame in accepting the fact that I am different. Different is beautiful. I am a proud Dominican. I am a proud person of color. Nothing will ever change that.

Black History Month will forever continue to be a staple in my life. A time for me to enjoy the diversity of the world, of America. A time to come together and share the stories we were told by our parents, teachers, and mentors, so that one day we can tell our kids.

The voices of the past will inspire lives of the future. Each and every day. Black History Month is diversity, and diversity is many things. To me, however, diversity is powerful. It is unification, and above all else, it is one of the world’s most beautiful qualities when understood and shared amongst the people.

Photos courtesy of Hanna Atkinson, Adam Beam, Jashton Best, Allyson Ritchey and Cyrus Simmons

Marlon Aristy Guest Contributor