The Slate 4-16-24

SGA releases 2024-25 budgets for student groups

Connor Niszczak Managing Editor

Shippensburg University’s Student Government Association revealed its operating budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year Friday morning.

Student groups received a 32.72% cut, student organizations were cut by 22.14% and student media was cut by 13.85%. Smaller cuts were made to athletics and club sports — 8.45% and 5.61%, respectively.

Notably, performing arts received a 15.33% increase of $15,280. The marching band’s budget will grow to $79,400 from its current sum of $66,000; the concert band will get an additional $430, bringing its total to $12,430, and the woodwind ensemble will receive $540, increasing its budget to $2,140.

Student media was cut by 14% overall. The Slate saw an 11% cut, WSYC saw a 10.3% cut, SUTV saw a 32.8% cut and PRSSA saw a 53% cut. The overall budget shrank from $50,400 to $43,420. For student organizations, the overall budget was

cut 22% from $40,745 to $31,725. The National Council of Negro Women’s budget was decreased from $1,000 to just $290, Interfraternity Council was cut 57.75% from $2,000 to $845 and RHA was cut 14% from $11,000 to $9,460.

Several student groups requested a budget but received nothing. The Investment Club did not receive a budget this academic year but requested $2,316; Circle K requested $389, roughly half of its current budget; Tau Kappa requested $50; the Ski/Snowboard Club requested $2,040; and Phi Sigma Pi requested $3,350. None of these student groups received any money from SGA.

Circle K did not respond to emails from SGA in February regarding group membership and the Ski/Snowboard Club has applied to be a SUSSI-recognized group but has not yet been approved, SGA vice president of finance Katie Huston said. Every group is examined individually and must meet certain thresholds — includ-

ing having 15 members — to receive a budget, according to Budget and Finance Committee (B&F) member Ian Thompson. There are also a handful of items — graduation paraphernalia, food for internal purposes and transportation, among others — that SGA cannot fund as listed in the B&F standing rules, Huston said.

After SU administration approved an increase to the student activity fee on April 9, there is now $120,000 budgeted for additional allocations for the next fiscal year. However, because of the recency of the approval, any additional funds were not included in the initial budget decisions.

SU President Charles Patterson was willing to approve a $1 per credit increase in the student activity fee last year, but the Budget and Finance Committee was unable to agree in time to implement the change for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

Allyson Ritchey / The Slate Student groups can meet with members of the Budget and Finance committee in the SGA office (CUB 201) over the next week to discuss discrepencies with their budgets.

Sharifi and Arnold appointed to governing bodies

Sina

(left) was appointed to serve on the Board of Governors. Colin. D. Arnold (right) was selected to serve as the student representative on the SU Council of Trustees.

Two rising juniors have been appointed to offices as representatives of the student body, according to Shippensburg University news releases.

Ali Sina Sharifi has been appointed to serve on the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors (BOG). Three seats on the BOG are dedicated to student members from PASSHE universities.

Sharifi is the fourth consecutive appointment to the BOG from

Shippensburg University, according to Vice President of Student Affairs Lorie Sheetz.

Sharifi, a sophomore political science student, is an active leader on campus who serves in the Student Government Association (SGA) and on the University Forum. He also works as a resident assistant and is a member of the Woods Honors College. Sharifi will replace Skylar Walder, a graduating senior, on the board.

“Sina is a remarkable person that will bring a great deal of insights to the board,” Sam Smith, vice chair of the BOG, said at the April 11 meeting of the BOG.

Shippensburg University President Charles Patterson echoed these sentiments, saying, “We are honored to call him a member of our campus community and firmly believe he will strive to positively influence the future of education in Pennsylvania in a meaningful and thoughtful manner.”

Colin D. Arnold, a sophomore history major, has been selected to serve on the Shippensburg University Council of Trustees. He will be stepping into the position as current Student Trustee Rangeline DeJesus is graduating in May.

As a cadet in Shippensburg’s Army ROTC program, Arnold has taken an active role on campus. He has served on SGA’s Constitutional Revision adhoc committee, is a member of the history honor society Phi Alpha Theta and hosts a program on WSYC 88.7.

Alongside his studies in history, Arnold has minors in political science and military science. Arnold

“takes great pride in being a part of Ship’s inclusive community and aims to continue to better the university during his council term,” according to Ship Now.

Both Sharifi and Arnold were appointed by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro after recommendations by the respective bodies.

SGA approves activity fee increase at public meeting

Shippensburg University’s Student Government Association announced the approval of an increase to the student activity fee at its April 11 public meeting.

The news broke the day before student group budgets for the 202425 academic year were announced, so groups will have an opportunity to request additional funds, according to SGA VP of Finance Katie Huston.

SGA adviser and Dean of Students

Lorie Sheetz said budgets were to be posted outside the SGA office no later than 10 a.m. on April 12.

SGA President Harun Pacavar noted that elections for multiple senator positions and the vote to approve SGA constitutional changes had closed at the start of the meeting, and those results would also be posted by 10 a.m. the next day.

The meeting began with remarks from Manny Ruiz, assistant vice president for Inclusion, Belonging and Social Equity. Ruiz spoke about his work to improve accessibility on campus, the success of the university’s alumni minority mentorship program and his work with ShipVotes, a nonpartisan organization that encourages civic participation.

SGA VP of External Affairs Lillian Sellers announced during officer reports that a senior week pop-up event will occur in the last weeks of the semester, with more information to come. The event will parallel a high school-esque spirit week to celebrate the class of 2024, many of whom graduated high school during the early days of the pandemic.

Later in the meeting, Sellers shared that ADA accessibility buttons are going to be implemented for the firstfloor hallway door in each suite-style residence hall over the summer.

Interfraternity Council Senator

Ethan Sommer noted that Greek Life organizations contributed $6,762 toward Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society on April 5. Panhellenic Council Senator Lily Lockett plugged the annual Greek Week Lip Sync event, which has a $1 cover charge and will support the SU student emergency fund.

Campus Media Board representative Cole McKowen previewed WSYC’s 24hour “Up All Night” broadcast on April 13-14 and PRSSA’s Networking Night on April 11.

During other business, Sheetz announced that SGA senator Ali Sina Sharifi was recently appointed to the PASSHE Board of Governors and junior Colin Arnold was selected as the next Student Trustee.

SGA’s final public meeting of the year will be held in the CUB MPR B and C at 4 p.m. on May 2.

Results for the Shippensburg University Student Government Association spring Senator Elections were announced Friday, April 12. Three candidates were on the ballot, as were ballot questions on the approval of revisions to the SGA constitution and bylaws. The election saw a turnout of 61 ballots cast. That figure is higher than the record low recorded during officier elections a few weeks ago, but is a far cry from the number seen prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aiden Crowder won as a write-in candidate for the position of senator for the College of Arts & Sciences. He will be joined in the student senate by Caleb Owens, who will represent the College of Business.

Davi Alfonso de Guez won the position of International Student Senator.

Malu Takahashi, who currently serves as the Class of 2025, won reelection to her seat for the 2024-2025 school year. Class of 2027 Senator Kenny Tran received 25 votes for the Class of 2026 senator position, and was announced as the winner.

Kyle Marzullo won reelection to the position of Class of 2027 Senator. He, along with Emily Wojnarski will represent the class of 2027. Wojnarski currently serves on SGA’s Budget and Finance committee.

Class of 2026 Senator Ali Sina Sharifi was on the ballot for reelection, but was not announced Friday morning as the winner despite winning enough votes.

Sina clarified that he had turned down the position because of other committments, including his appointment to the PASSHE Board of Governors.

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Sharifi

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Connor Niszczak Managing Editor

Now that the change was approved, students will see an increase in the activity fee on fall 2024 bills from $23 to $24 per credit. Additionally, the 12-credit fee cap has been removed. Currently, a student taking 15 credits only pays $23 for 12 of those credits. Moving forward, that student would pay $24 for all 15 credits.

This change will not apply to graduate students.

Raising the fee will eliminate the deficit that has weighed on SUSSI for several years.

“Our proposed budget was complete and left us with a deficit of $140,951.00,” the

budget summary said. “This increase allowed us to mend the deficit and bring back additional allocations and capital expenditures for our University Campus groups.”

The fee increase is expected to generate about $440,000 in revenue for Shippensburg University Student Services, Incorporated (SUSSI). After removing the deficit, SUSSI will have $120,000 in additional allocations, $80,000 in capital expenditures and $100,000 in deferred funds.

“The Budget & Finance Committee will work to create an option for SGA approved groups to receive additional allocation for the 2024-2025 year,” the budget summary said. SGA has posted a QR

code outside of its office for student groups and organizations to have one-on-one meetings about their budgets beginning April 22. The sign-up was also shared in an email sent by Interim SUSSI Director Kim Rockwell on April 12. This is an opportunity for groups and organizations to have a more personalized explanation of how their budget determination was made.

“A process for groups to apply for further allocations will be provided at a future date,” Huston said.

Public comments about budgets can be made at SGA’s final meeting of the academic year on May 2 at 4 p.m. in the CUB MPR.

Your World Today

Now why on Earth did I check the status on my Fulbright application a minute before class started?

For those unindoctrinated, I applied for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship program in South Korea last fall, and the process almost broke me. I wrote and rewrote every aspect of my application, trying to tailor each of my words to highlight the reasons why I should be selected to go teach abroad and return to South Korea, where I studied abroad last spring.

Spoiler alert: I did not get the award. In the two seconds it took my brain to register the words “not selected,” I think I went numb. This moment is something I literally have dreamed about happening for the past three months, and yet the actual experience was nothing special. And then the true weight of the size 10 font, three paragraph letter sunk in.

To stroke my own ego, I think I handled the news really well — I sobbed the entire class quietly in front of my professor, not being able to hear the lecture or anything that actually happened.

But horribly, life goes on from this moment.

Growing up, my mom always said that you can feel however you need to feel for 24 hours, and then you need to find a way to keep going. I really like this philosophy because being sad, angry or upset for 24 hours is more time than I ever need to process my emotions. In high school, this mentality worked great with disappointing test scores and lost volleyball games.

In writing this, I am still well within my

24 hours of allowed depression, but I am a Peters and I need to find a solution to this ASAP.

Not being selected for a highly prestigious award is not going to break me, especially when I am allowed to reapply next year. That is the good thing about Fulbright — they allow for you to try again.

Right now, I am considering a few different things: 1. Why did I apply to begin with? 2. What do I want to do with my life? 3. Is it worth it to try again?

The answer to Question 1 is simple: I wanted an easy way to go back to South Korea to teach English. There are many routes to teaching abroad, but the Fulbright programs are very thorough and make the adjustment process easy. Plus, I would not need to have a high level of proficiency in Korean, which is good because I have not been up on my studying.

Question 2 is a bit harder. The past semester’s worth of life has changed my outlook quite a bit, and I am not as driven as I once was about teaching. I think this is probably due to academic burn out, but then it begs the question of “if not teaching, then what?” The job application process has been unfruitful as of late, and I can only hear so many people tell me “You’re talented I am sure you will find something” so many more times before I hole up in The Slate office and stop coming out.

In my mind’s eye, my perfect five-year future involves me wearing a stylish pant suit on public transit, coming back to my apartment on the edge of a city. I could not tell you what my job is here, but I like that in this dream I am independent and happy, which I think is what I need to focus on making happen right now.

Question 3 is what I need to work out sooner rather than later, because reapplying would be just as much work as the first time. If I am being real with myself, does this program still align with what I want in life? I will have to marinate and pray on that, I guess. While I still have a few hours left of sadness, I know that rain is what makes plants grow. Nothing in life is a give in, and even though I am disappointed (devastated honestly), I will find a way to move on to greater things. This is a still a step forward, just on a path I had not expected to take.

Weather Forecast

SGA Corner: Closing Remarks

As my term in student government ends, I want to express my gratitude for the privilege of serving you. Together, we have achieved much, and I am proud of what we’ve accomplished.

This year’s experience of being President of the SGA has allowed me to make greater connections on campus and understand how students really do play a role to make a change.

This year we have been able to make milestones such as confirming the implementation of temporary speed bumps to deter speeding on campus. We have also been able to make important changes to the SGA Constitution and Bylaws through the Ad Hoc Constitution Review Committee.

These changes come from the hard work of the Executive Leadership Committee, Senators, and the student body. As the semester is coming to an end, new things have come to light.

The Student Activity Fee has increased which was approved by both SGA and President Patterson. This increase brings benefits of balancing the budget and more. With the great work by SUSSI and the Budget and Finance Committee, this work was possible.

Lastly, I strongly encourage all students to find any means possible of providing feedback to the SGA. We strive to work towards the needs of all constituencies and provide as much help as possible. Providing a direct link between the students and our organizations is vital for any change to take place.

I wish the new ELC and Senators the best of luck and can’t wait to see what is in store for the university after I graduate in May. If anyone ever needs anything, please feel free to reach out to me at (717) 966-9778.

Harun Pacavar SGA President

Elizabeth Peters Editor-in-Chief

The Slate Speaks: Take a breath

As the semester draws to a close, April proves itself to be one of the most stressful times for students and faculty. Grades and assignments are piling up and events seem to be jammed back into this 31-day span. Now with the finals schedule released the clock is ticking on those looking to finish the semester strong. If that is not bad enough, for graduating students April is even more intense as the real world bites at their heels and the thoughts of post-college responsibilities keep them up at night. However, if you find yourself reading this and you are one of the students in this predicament, take a moment and listen. Go outside. With the weather getting warmer, taking a few moments to touch grass can truly make a difference in your mental health and stress levels. It seems so obvious, but taking a break from studying or even just getting out of your room and taking a walk can boost your mood significantly. Also, doing things outside with friends is so fun and also takes your mind off of anything stressful that may be happening, especially as the semester comes to an end.

Sometimes, when the stress and worry overtakes you, it helps to embrace your inner stoic. A lesson in this comes from the philosopher Epictetus, who writes about preparing for a voyage.

“What can I do? Pick the captain, the boat, the date, and the best time to sail. But then the storm hits,” and the boat starts to sink, he says. “What are my options? I do the only

U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East has been in disarray for decades. It is one of the few political constants in the post 9/11 world. One exception to break that trend came, surprisingly, during the bombastic presidency of Donald Trump. Whether this can be attributed to luck, or the work of some unnamed diplomatic official, is unimportant, as Trump has called for Republicans to spurn this advantage and follow Biden Democrats down the same path of American retreat.

Toward the end of the Trump presidency, the Middle East appeared to be turning a corner. The Abraham Accords of 2020 had normalized relations between Israel

thing I am in the position to do: drown — but fearlessly and without crying out.” While macabre, there is an important message. Sometimes it helps to not keep checking if your latest test grade was posted. Sometimes it helps to accept that whatever the grade may be, it is in now, and you have to focus on what is next. Believing in yourself is the easiest way to get through any rough time. April is, by a long shot, the hardest time of any year in college. However, it is the time where plenty of things get done. You have more things to experience, add to a resume or even strengthen your mental state.

It is all about perspective. Instead of thinking it is too hard or too much, remember that “too” is your worst enemy. We are here because we deserve to be. Think about your opportunities as gifts. They are gifts, just not wrapped with a bow and shiny paper.

Getting active helps me manage my stress and mental health. Whether that is lifting weights, running, yoga, whatever you like, if you get moving it distracts your mind from daily life and allows you to take a mental and physical break from your day. Even if this advice was not coming from a student organization, it is recommended getting involved with different groups, as that is a wonderful way you can make the connections that make your overall college experience much less insane.

Read the full story at theslateonline.com.

and several countries in the region, namely the United Arab Emirates. If these talks would have continued uninterrupted, the results would have been a stable regional power that represented the interests of both the Jewish and Muslim peoples of the region. It would have also acted as a counter to Iranian power in the region, but more on that later.

The first event to waylay that future was President Biden denouncing the accords early in his presidency after supporting them on the campaign trial. Following that came the disastrous withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. The chaotic scenes splashed across televisions around the world showed that America was in retreat. The Taliban, who had been effectively quelled as a force in the region,

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 500 words and may not contain derogatory language or messages of hate or discrimination.

The Slate may reject letters for any reason.

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• 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.

Yusra Aden Staff Contributor

Given that Christianity predominates over other religions, it should come as no surprise that the United States is greatly affected by it. For instance, most employers and students have time off on holidays such as Christmas and Easter. However, it is important to acknowledge that while these Christian holidays are mainly recognized and celebrated, there are other holidays that are significant to other religious groups and are often neglected.

One could argue that Christianity is the biggest religious group in the U.S. While that is true, it is important to realize that the United States does not have an official religion and is often referred to as a ‘“melting pot.” So, by celebrating one and disregarding the rest, it shows that one group’s holiday is more significant to others. Additionally, the

Constitution emphasizes the separation of church and state. The government must not recognize other religious holidays as national holidays in order to remain completely unbiased.

Individuals who do not celebrate the mainstream holidays are left to either neglect their own holidays or inconveniently take time off from work or school since it was not already prebuilt into their schedule. For instance, many students like myself were forced to take a day off on the Eid Al-fitr which is a holiday Muslims celebrate after the month of Ramadan.

I do not expect all of our holidays to be recognized, but if we are able to have a month off for Christmas then surely we are able to have one day off for Eid.

I think recognizing other holidays is especially impactful on children. The environment in which we grow up in plays a vital role in the way we view the world.

When a child grows up in

retook control of Kabul within a week.

It took a few years, but the bill for that policy failure is finally coming due. It has been revealed that ISIS-K, the Afghanistan affiliate of the Islamic State, had regrouped and used the country to plan its recent terror attack in Russia. Now, it appears they are at it again, as FBI Director Christopher Wray testified Thursday at a Congressional hearing that ISIS-K is planning an attack on the United States, adding that he would be “hard-pressed to think of a time when so many threats to our public safety and national security were so elevated all at once.”

The threat against America comes alongside another threat that the region can hardly afford. The Wall Street Journal reported

that U.S. intelligence has warned Israel that it should prepare for an Iranian attack. This warning from last week was for the weekend, after these pages go to print. We can only hope that they do not come to fruition. If the attack against Israel is coordinated with Iranian proxies like Hezbollah, it is sure to send the region into all out war and pull more U.S. forces into the area. If the U.S. is drawn into the region due to a terror attack on its soil or in response to growing Iranian aggression in the Middle East, what will happen with the globe’s other conflicts? China has ratcheted up its aggression in the waters outside of Taiwan. Will it decide that now is the time to make a move? Let us not forget Russia and Ukraine.

The Republican’s circus caucus — see Marjorie Taylor Greene et. all

an environment in which they are consistently left out and unable to participate in festive events in a classroom like Christmas parties, for example, it will lead them to believe that their holidays are not as important as everybody else’s and not worth celebrating. In addition to promoting inclusivity, recognizing other holidays would also promote diversity. Children who are exposed to diverse cultures will develop a feeling of respect and understanding as well as the ability to identify differences in their own views. It will also encourage them to be tolerant of other beliefs that do not align with their own. There are many benefits to recognizing other holidays. In addition to promoting inclusivity, it also encourages diversity and unification. As our society becomes more diverse, I hope that we can put greater efforts into embracing other cultures and holidays.

— has made abandoning Ukraine a signature platform. Imagine the difficulty in getting support to counter Russia there if the U.S. takes on an active fighting role elsewhere in the world.

The burgeoning chaos is the result of muddled U.S. foreign policy. Biden slow-walked supplies in the early days of Russia’s incursion, denying certain artillery and air support before eventually approving them. He is now sending mixed signals on Israel, denouncing them while still selling them weapons. Meanwhile, Trump has sent orders to Republicans from Mar-a-Lago that the U.S. needs to retreat to the castle and pull up the drawbridge. Ignorance does not make for good policy, but that is what both are offering. The world is a more dangerous place for it.

Matthew Scalia Staff Contributor

Ship Life

Steph Tonneson:

“Welcome to the real world”

Reagan Gardenhour Staff Contributor

Media influencer

Stephanie Tonneson came to Shippensburg on Monday to speak with students about difficult topics like success, addiction, mental illness and self-reliance.

She is known for her podcast “Sit on the Floor,” creating content for different brands and herself, and interviewing strangers about who they truly are.

At the beginning of the event, Tonneson read a script that elaborated on hardships that she has had, how she overcame those complications and how others can learn from those issues.

She spoke personably about how watching loved ones battle with addiction has affected her life, how she coped with the loss of her father to cancer and the way she made a name for herself in the content creation world because her goal is to help as many people as she can.

She made a podcast episode with her father

before he passed away, and he requested that she share it, as he believed it showed great parts of her life.

“This, I realized, was the path,” Tonneson said. “Not a camera, not a piano, not a podcast or a short story or a social media clip; the path was simply to help someone.” Tonneson is based in Los Angeles, California. Privately, she discussed the impact California has had on her life because of its sense of creativity. She believes that it is important for people to go

where they believe they will benefit the most, and in her case, California was the proof of independence that she is capable of.

She created an interviewbased video, encompassing students from Shippensburg University who have experienced loved ones battling addiction. The emotional video shed light onto how important it is for people to remember they are not alone, that they can heal and have the ability to make a difference in others’ lives.

The video showed that the people who were affected by addiction were looking to go into psychology and fields that encouraged mental and emotional wellness in hopes to help individuals who are struggling with addiction, or they have personally experienced it from others in their lives.

During the Q&A period of her event, several audience members felt comfortable opening up about their exposure to addiction, battles with mental health, lack of motivation and feelings of loneliness.

Additionally, Tonneson gave advice on how to manage the unpredictability of life.

“The life I want is both the life I have and the one I build, even if it took me years to climb my way out of what everyone told me I could be,” Tonneson said. “Welcome to the real world.”

Tonneson made a name for herself in the world of media a long time ago, but this time, she made a name for herself at Shippensburg University.

SU students learn about wellness

Shippensburg University hosted its 18th annual Wellness Fair on April 10 in the Ceddia Union Building.

There were 51 organizations from within the university and the community gathered in the multipurpose room. As attendees entered, they were given a bingo card and encouraged to visit all of the booths on their card in order to be entered to win a door prize.

Campus organizations such as Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD), the Counseling Center, the office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA), the Learning Center and the Campus Farm had booths at the event, promoting their services and informing students about

Music — everyone listens to it. In fact, about 90 percent of the population does; but how many listen to the lyrics and the issues that artists speak out on?

This was the topic of “It’s Still Bigger than Hip-Hop: Communicating Social Issues,” a presentation by Jeremy C. McCool, an associate professor at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Students gathered in Rowland Hall Thursday night to listen to McCool discuss socially conscious rap and the social issues the genre captures, such as poverty, racism, war and others. So, what exactly is socially conscious rap?

McCool described it as a subgenre of hip-hop where artists convey societal issues in the world through stories, testimonials and perspectives. Artists such as Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and Tupac Shakur are popular examples of the genre. event, students listened to several examples of socially conscious rap, from Gil Scott-Heron to J. Cole.

included “Georgia Bush” by Lil Wayne. This song, released in 2006, dealt heavily with

Hurricane Katrina, the aftermath and the late evacuation order from the government.

Not many people choose to listen to the messaging in these songs. In a 2021 study exploring racial bias on socially conscious music, conducted by McCool, it was found that the white participants rejected the messaging of the songs they listened to during the study at a significantly higher rate than the Black participants.

At the end of the event, McCool encouraged students to amplify artists who speak to social issues they find important and to embrace messaging that tells stories outside of their own.

“Hearing the struggles that other people face helps make you a better person,” McCool said.

how to take advantage of the many free resources available to them on campus. Other organizations, including UPMC, Wellspan Health, Commute PA, Kindly Canines and Highmark. “[The Wellness Fair] is not just important for students, it’s important for the entire campus community. Wellness is full faceted, ranging from physical health to mental health to spiritual health,” said one of the organizers, Anita Weaver. “The wellness fair really reflects everything on the wellness wheel.”

At the Wellness Fair, attendees could pet therapy dogs from Kindly Canines, test their grip strength and body fat percentage at the exercise science department’s booth, take free stickers and fidget toys, get free massages and more.

As they left the fair, attendees were equipped with new knowledge and resources to prioritize their health and wellness.

“I like that they’re showing us the things that we, as students, have available to us within our community to help us,” said first-year student Kyleigh Lescher.

“I would like to thank the faculty health and welfare fund for supporting this event through grant funds, the Wellness Fair committee, the president, and the Student Affairs Office for supporting the event,” Weaver said.

SU’s annual Wellness

sponsored by the Office of Human Resources and the University Counseling

will return next spring to continue educating the campus community about

Fair,

Center,

wellness.

Photo courtesy of Kurt Dunkel

Steph Tonneson speaks in Stewart Hall.

Megan Sawka Asst. Ship Life Editor

Megan Sawka / The Slate

SU AOD graduate assistant Brittany Lee poses with an emotional support dog.

Hanna Atkinson / The Slate

Jeremy C. McCool, associate professor at West Chester University

Megan Sawka / The Slate

Employee of UPMC speaks to students (left) and SU first-year Ted Crosset tests grip strength (right).

Lydia Elmy Staff Contributor

AAPIO Extravaganza 2024: “Everything AAPIO”

Mara Eberle Staff Contributor

Shippensburg University’s Asian American Pacific Islander Organization (AAPIO) celebrated “Everything AAPIO” at the 2024 AAPIO Extravaganza Friday night.

The annual celebration marked the final AAPIO event of the year, which was bittersweet as executive board members Jeremy Satyawan Putra and Skylar Walder are graduating this May. Satyawan Putra and Walder revitalized AAPIO in 2020, and this was the second extravaganza AAPIO has held since.

Friday night was full of vendors, performances and food that encompassed the theme for this year’s extravaganza, “Everything AAPIO.”

Tampa Taiko was the first performance of the night. Ron Collins, managing

director of Tampa Taiko, showcased his skills on the drums while educating the audience on the history of Taiko drums. Eventually, Collins even invited audience members to the stage to learn songs with him.

Attendees indulged in the event’s impressive catering, featuring traditional foods such as lumpia, sushi and even Thai boba tea.

While students chowed down, the GVCS Broadfording demonstration team took to the stage to entertain the audience with the martial art of Tae Kwon Do. The demonstration was full of non-stop action and lots of broken wooden boards, leaving the audience entranced and earning many large rounds of applause from the audience.

Island Style Luau Entertainment closed out the event with a combination of lessons in both dance and history. Both performers

showcased their hula dancing abilities, and audience members were then encouraged to gather to the front to learn some moves.

After an engaging and humorous twist on the classic Cupid Shuffle line dance, the extravaganza came to an end.

The executive board members of AAPIO proceeded to make their final remarks and passed the microphone to the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) Director Diane Jefferson.

“We want to say thank you to one of the finest executive boards on this campus, to one of the finest organizations on campus,” Jefferson said.

“This year you took this organization to a brand-new height, and I am so proud of all of the work that you all have done.”

Visit @shipaapio on Instagram to stay updated on future AAPIO events.

Delta Zeta, Phi Sigma Kappa lip sync their way to victory

in jerseys and drawing excited audience feedback with cheers and applause.

Memorial Auditorium was filled with Greeks Thursday night as the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life held its annual lip sync competition, the conclusion of Greek Week 2024. The high-energy event drew a full house with music playing as students took their seats. The competition began with Phi Sigma Kappa taking the stage, dressed

Throughout the night, several fraternities and sororities lipsynced to various songs, each dressed in different costumes and outfits to represent their themes.

Each fraternity and sorority represented a different decade, as this year’s Greek Week was decade themed. Each performance prompted copious amounts of

cheers from the rowdy audience.

Some even incorporated movie scenes and quotes from their decade into their performances, such as Alpha Phi using a scene from the 2001 movie “Legally Blonde.”

Other fraternities and sororities that performed included Kappa Beta, Phi Sigma Kappa, Alpha Omicron Pi, Delta Zeta, Phi Delta Theta, Kappa Beta Gamma, Theta Xi, Phi Sigma Sigma and Pi Lambda Phi.

At the end of the event, the Greek Week Committee took to the stage to announce the closing ceremony of Greek Week. The judges of the competition began deliberations for the winners.

With an eager audience, the top three for both sororities and fraternities were announced. For the sororities, Delta Zeta claimed first place with 230 points, followed by Kappa Beta Gamma and Alpha Phi.

For the fraternities, Phi Sigma Kappa took home first place with 250 points, followed by a tie between Kapa Sigma and Theta Xi for second place and Pi Lambda Phi for third place.

Points were awarded throughout the week by completing a variety of activities, such as a medallion hunt, trivia and fundraising.

For information on more events like these, visit @ship_greeks on Instagram.

Which Shippensburg University mascot are you?

Are you an early bird or a night owl?

A) Early bird for sure.

B) Night owl, I love staying out!

Favorite mode of transportation?

A) Planes, I love flying!

B) I prefer to travel by boat, I love being on the water.

What is your ideal Friday night?

A) Attending events and hanging out with friends.

B) Staying in and taking time to relax.

Favorite musical artist?

A) Drake, Future, and Kanye are my favorites.

B) Chappell Roan, Kesha and my favorite 2000s jams.

Ideal vacation spot?

A) The open country woodlands.

B) The rivers of sub-Saharan Africa.

Favorite snack from the Snack Shack?

A) Doritos and a Celsius.

B) Caesar wrap and a bottle of water.

What is your favorite color?

A) Red, of course!

B) Teal blue!

If you answered mostly A’s, you’re most like Big Red! You love to party and you’re always down for a good time. You love attending campus events and making the most of every day.

If you answered mostly B’s, you’re most like Shippo the Hippo! You love to seize the day and take things slow. You prioritize self-care and believe there’s nothing wrong with taking your time.

Lydia Elmy Staff Contributor

Hanna Atkinson / The Slate

Delta Zeta takes the stage with an ’80’s themed performance for the annual lip sync competition during Greek Week.

Elisa Reitman / The Slate

AAPIO senior executive board members Jeremy Satyawan Putra and Skylar Walder kick off the extravaganza.

Madi Shively / The Slate

WSYC stays ‘Up All Night’ for 24-hour broadcast

Connor Niszczak Managing Editor

For 364 days of the year, the Ceddia Union Building is closed by midnight. For one night, however, SU’s studentrun radio station, WSYC, breaks all the rules and stays up all night.

For 11 years, WSYC’s 24-hour “Up All Night” broadcast has highlighted a variety of student DJs and allowed SU students to call in every hour for a chance to win 24 different prizes. This year, prizes include Hozier tickets, a karaoke machine, a 28-inch Roku TV, an Art of Pie gift certificate and an “I Love College Radio” T-shirt, among others.

“It was really fun to pick prizes and create promotional material with Jenna and Caitlyn,” WSYC business director Piper Kull said. “I couldn’t have asked to be part of a better team.”

The broadcast on WSYC 88.7 FM began at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 13 with The RiffRaff hosted by Alyssa Sheriff and continued until 8 a.m. on

Sunday, April 14 with Jenna Cornell. Strawberry Jams with Grace Harbour, The Playlist with Piper Kull and Thomas Firestine, String World with Cole Pearson, The Carr Ride with Kevin Carr and Lost and Found with Jadyn Courtney were just a handful of the other shows that participated in the broadcast.

Dozens of DJs, WSYC supporters and fellow communication/journalism students kept the energy high throughout the day. They even got to welcome prospective students who were visiting for an open house. Through it all, WSYC General Manager Jenna Cornell and Program Director Caitlyn Shetter stayed in the studio for the entire 24 hours.

“It was a little bit more difficult to plan than in the past years, mostly due to WSYC doubling in size since last semester alone,” Cornell said. “Having 28 of our DJs actively participating in the event plus many others coming to hang out made all of the planning worth it.”

In a time when campus organizations are struggling to engage with the student body, WSYC has been booming. Since August, the station has grown to over 60 DJs from a variety of academic disciplines and is now one of the largest student groups on campus.

“It’s been super exciting to see so many DJs join and be willing to participate in our biggest event of the year and I loved listening to all the different sets,” Shetter said.

Although Up All Night has gone to bed until next year, you can still listen to WSYC 24/7 on 88.7 or through the WSYC app.

Scan the QR code for more WSYC updates!

WrestleMania XL main event reviews: The Renaissance Era begins, the story ends

Kevin Carr Staff Contributor

The biggest spectacle in all of sports entertainment was live from the City of Brotherly Love on April 6 and 7 at Lincoln Financial Field. On a frigid weekend, Philadelphia packed in over 72,000 screaming fans each night (including my father and I). This was the first WrestleMania in the Paul “Triple H” Levesque era. Paul took over and brought that spark back to professional wrestling that WWE lost many moons ago. The main event of the first night saw “The Final Boss” The Rock and Roman Reigns take on Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. If Rock and Reigns win, the main event on the second night is “Bloodline Rules.”

The match began with a standoff between Rollins and Reigns, reviving their rich history. They do some technical work, and then Rhodes and Rock get tagged in… the bout turns to chaos. Rock and Rhodes squabble into the seats, while Reigns and Rollins scuffle on the stage. After brutal attacks by all members, Rock puts Rollins in a sharpshooter in the ring, and Rhodes breaks it up with a slap, which gives Rollins time to hit a curb stomp on Rock. Rhodes became the legal man, and quickly hit a “Cody Cutter” on Reigns. Trying to double up and hit another, Rhodes is hit with a Superman punch and a spear, which prompts a near fall. Reigns tried to spear Rhodes, but instead hit Rock, which was

met with massive cheers and suspense. Rhodes attempted a trio of “CrossRhodes” yet was hit from behind by Rock, with the signature “Mama Rhodes” lifting belt, who then hits “The People’s Elbow” for the victory. The Bloodline wins and makes night two Bloodline Rules.

The first night main event had a rather obvious finish. As a lifetime wrestling fan, I knew WWE would want absolute chaos with Bloodline Rules the next night. With a predictable finish, this match still hit on every level, technical wrestling with big spots and shocking moments; — WrestleMania Night One’s Main Event receives a 4.25 out of 5.

The Main Event of Night Two was what we have all been waiting for, “The Tribal Chief,” undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, vs. “The American Nightmare,” Cody Rhodes in a match under bloodline rules for the title. Cody Rhodes attempts to “finish the story,” while Roman Reigns attempts to retain his title and continue his 1,313-day reign (wow that’s long).

The match began with face-offs and slow-chain wrestling. Roman sheered away from his “five moves of doom” and went deep into his bag, pulling out a “perfect plex” and many different moves he had not done before. Spilling to the outside, Cody grabbed a table but was quickly hit with a “drive-by” kick from Reigns. Reigns went to town on Rhodes with a kendo stick.

Grace’s Weekly Record: Maggie Rogers’ ‘Don’t Forget Me’

Maggie Rogers released her third studio album, “Don’t Forget Me,” on Friday, April 12. At just about 36 minutes, “Don’t Forget Me” is short and sweet — and the perfect album for a spring drive.

In a newsletter Rogers sent out to her fans on Feb. 9, she explained that while writing the album, she started to imagine a girl on a roadtrip who was leaving home and starting a new chapter in her life. In the end, Rogers created something that she said felt like “coming home.”

“I wanted to make an album that sounded like a Sunday afternoon. Worn in denim. A drive in your favorite car. No makeup, but the right amount of lipstick. Something classic,” Rogers said, “A trusted friend who could ride shotgun and be there when you needed her.”

After listening to “Don’t Forget Me” over the weekend, I can say that Rogers succeeded at her goal. I can already tell that this will be an album that I will play on a sunny day with the windows of my Subaru down, and I have already added some of the songs to my road trip playlist.

The first track is “It Was Coming All Along.” Rogers describes the inevitability of change, whether it is moving away from a childhood home or going through a breakup, “So high, can’t find the moment it went wrong/But it was coming all along.”

The second track of the album is “Drunk,” which features a catchy beat and Rogers’ gritty vocals. Rogers pulls the listener in during the pre chorus, singing, “And I see stars that never, ever, ever looked this bright to me/Feeling on your skin never felt this right to me.”

“So Sick of Dreaming” has the same country twang as a song from Kacey Musgraves’ album “Golden Hour.” Rogers wrote this song after her friend told her about someone who did her wrong. From the perspective of her friend, Rogers describes the feeling of having enough of someone’s mistreatment, “Oh, cause I’m so sick of dreamin’/And I’m all that I’m needin’.” Rogers’ storytelling lyricism comes out in the song “The Kill,” which describes the mutual ending of a relationship. In

the first chorus, she expresses how she was more invested in the relationship than the other person, “I was all the way in, you were halfway out the door/Oh, I was an animal making my way up the hill/And you were going in for the kill.” In the second chorus, Rogers switches the roles, emphasizing the mutual need to end the relationship.

In “If Now Was Then,” Rogers reflects on a relationship and what she would do differently if she could go back in time, “Oh, the things I’d do, oh, if now was then/But you can’t take it back.”

Rogers slows things down with the track “I Still Do,” which is also about the end of a relationship. She is telling the other person that although they need to be apart in order to grow, she still loves them.

“On & On & On” and “Never Going Home” describe the anger that comes with losing a neglectful partner. “On & On & On” has the feeling of an angry early 2000s country song, like “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood, as Rogers sings, “When you realize the things that you lack, better think twice ‘fore callin’ me back.”

In “Never Going Home,” Rogers describes going out and being reminded of an old partner, but then remembering how they mistreated her. In the lyric, “And time’s got a way of letting you know,” she expresses how she knew it was time for the relationship to end.

The album slows down again with the ballad “All The Same.” Rogers perfectly captures the passage of time and realizing how fast it has gone. Again, she is reflecting on the time she spent with this ex partner and wondering if it would have worked out if they gave her more time.

The concluding song of the album is the title track, which was also released as a single in February. Despite it being a single, it might be one of the best songs on the record. Rogers asks for simplicity, “A good lover, or someone who’s nice to me/Take my money, wreck my Sundays/Love me ‘til your next somebody.” She is willing to give up the simple things, like her money and her Sundays, for love — as long as it is worth it, “Oh, but promise me that when it’s time to leave/ Don’t forget me.”

Photo courtesy of Jenna Cornell

WSYC held its annual Up All Night event on Saturday, April 13 through Sunday, April 14. Top row from left: Jenna Cornell and Kevin Carr. Bottom row from left: Grace Harbour, Caitlyn Shetter and Madison Warner.

Grace Harbour A&E Editor

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Indie artist Maggie Rogers performing at the Grammy Museum on Sept. 15, 2019.

Seniors speak from the art at spring exhibit

to show what all the woods have to offer and those creatures that are supported by the forest.

Shippensburg University’s art and design faculty hosted the second spring senior art exhibit on Saturday, April 6, which featured six student artists who presented their artwork in the Kauffman Gallery.

Sharon Coons displayed a three-panel drawing of a scenic forest view called “Into the Woods.” Coons used her favorite mediums, ink and colored pencils, when creating the masterpiece.

“Much of what my drawings are inspired by are different things in nature that I really appreciate,” Coons said.

She wanted to take viewers into the woods

Using chalk and pastel, Kayla Harley created a nostalgic feeling among her pieces.

“I wanted to make places that aren’t entirely real but are all real to someone,” Harley said.

Harley has more artwork displayed in the Brindle Gallery that is available to view until Thursday, April 18. Each piece enables the viewer to be taken to a nostalgic place because of the bright colors used and tones.

One student’s great love for animals was reflected in their artwork. Quinlynn Harper exhibited five pieces — two bunnies, two cats and one dog. The animals are of her past and

Elizabeth Peters / The Slate

Previous teen sensation JoJo Siwa debuted an edgy new look and a new song, “Karma,” which has caused a lot of discourse on social media. She has claimed to create the genre of “gay pop,” which has been impacted by the likes of Lady Gaga, Elton John, Lil Nas X and Chappell Roan.

JoJo Siwa debuts new look

Karlie Martin Staff Contributor

JoJo Siwa released her new song “Karma” on April 5. The internet was surprised by her new look as we have known the teen sensation to be colorful with a big bow in her hair. Users on TikTok have a negative outlook on her music video and have been making fun of both the video and clips of her from interviews talking about her new look and song.

I think that Siwa was trying to change her look and show everyone that she is not the same as when she was growing up, but she went a little extreme and now looks like a member of the rock band Kiss.

Siwa has also been posting videos of her choreography to her song, and everyone has been impersonating her and exaggerating how she is dancing. To be fair, it is a little much compared to the other dancers that are doing the choreography normally.

Siwa was on the reality show “Dance Moms” for two seasons, and Abby Lee Mill-

er reacted to her music video on TikTok. For as much as Miller yelled at Siwa on the show, her reaction was very pleasant and she did not say a bad word about her video. This surprised many followers and they started saying things like, “JoJo paid her to say this.”

Siwa is getting more hate than just her music video being “cringe.” In an interview, she said that she was creating a new genre of music called “gay pop” and received a lot of backlash about it from not only fans but other artists who contribute to “gay pop.”

Many people have been arguing that there have been hundreds of artists who came before her who were a part of “gay pop,” such as Elton John, Demi Lovato and Troye Sivan. Siwa is being called disrespectful for taking credit for being the “first one” to create this genre.

I am glad that Siwa is going into a new part of her life and changing up her look, but she should have made a more subtle change and chosen her words more wisely the next time she is being interviewed.

present pets. The unique part of her digital illustrations were the mirrors as the animals’ eyes and the decoration moss used to act as fur.

Kia O’Quinn had interactive fiber art pieces. Objects placed inside each crocheted artwork added a variety of sounds such as bells, maracas, cringle paper, squeaker toys, etc. Throughout the exhibit, viewers were seen shaking her work to hear what was inside.

Taking inspiration from baroque paintings, Jessica Silverman created engravings to show the lack of diversity seen in the French-styled art. Silverman added tattoos and different body types to the engraving to help represent diversity.

Aidan Swank focused on the “connections with color and human relations.” Swank shared that he has difficulties in expressing his emotions sometimes, but it comes out through his artwork.

His time spent in the studio was really him throwing wet acrylic paint at the canvas and making different shapes. Swank encouraged the audience to get close to his artwork, because you can see all the layers that went into them.

The exhibit closed on Friday, April 12, but it will be available to view online on April 29. The 46th annual juried student art exhibit will be on April 27, where judges outside of the community will select student winners.

Luhrs welcomes back SU Percussion Ensemble

After a hiatus in 2023, the Shippensburg University Percussion Ensemble performed for an excited audience on Tuesday, April 9, in the Luhrs Performing Arts Center.

The SU Department of Music presented the concert, which featured a variety of percussion pieces under the direction of Tyler Wales, the department’s new assistant director of bands.

The concert opened with “Torched and Wrecked” by David Skidmore. This piece was a vibraphone and marimba quartet including Wales on vibraphone. Following “Torched and Wrecked” was “Numerology” by Brian Nozny.

Including Wales, the percussion ensemble had 22 performers. The ensemble is comprised of any student willing to put forth effort whether they are a percussionist or not. With the numbers available, the ensemble could perform pieces that required up to 8 performers, or even as small as the next piece, “Tamboro.”

“Tamboro” was a drum trio piece that Wales wrote during his music education at West Chester University. The concert continued with “Angelic Voices” by David R. Gillingham and “Deck Park Tunnel” by Josh Gottry.

The audience was treated to a snare duet that sounded more like a duel in the drum quartet piece “Continuum” by Ian Briskey.

The final piece of the night, “Blitz,” was another piece written by Wales. He wrote it while working in Texas but did not get to premiere it there. After the concert, Wales said that he thought the concert went well, with all the pieces coming together and sounding great. “My favorite part was getting to reintroduce students to percussion ensemble who either have never done it before, or who haven’t done it in a long time,” Wales said. “It was fun watching all the students really enjoy getting to put the concert on for the first time in a few years.”

Earth Day is just around the corner and happening on Monday, April 22. The Slate put together a playlist of songs that are nature and Earth inspired.

Grace Harbour / The Slate

The second senior art exhibit was held in the Kauffman Gallery from April 6 to April 12. Pictured from left, digital illustrations by Quinlynn Harper, crocheted work by Kia O-Quinn and chalk and pastel work by Kayla Harley.

Abbygale Hockenberry Asst.

Cyrus Simmons Staff Contributor

Cyrus Simmons / The Slate

The Shippensburg University Percussion Ensemble performed at Luhrs on April 9.

Softball goes 5-1 for the week, sweeps ESU and Frostburg

Nicola Puggé Sports Editor

Shippensburg University’s softball team had a successful week, going 5-1 against regional and conference foes. On Wednesday, the Raiders swept regional foe Frostburg State (9-5; 4-0) and then they carried the success into Saturday, when they swept Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opponent East Stroudsburg

University (3-2; 6-2). On Sunday, SU split its doubleheader against PSAC rival Bloomsburg (9-5; 10-2).

On Wednesday, Shippensburg outhit Frostburg 25-12 on the day, including six doubles and a home run. In Game 1, SU scored at least one run per inning in the first six innings, while in Game 2 SU established momentum with a three-run third inning.

Senior Taylor Myers, the top of the Raiders lineup, went 7-for-8 for the day, with a double, four RBIs and three runs scored. In Game 1, Myers went a perfect 4-for-4 with four RBI. In the nightcap. Myers went 3-for-4 and added a steal. In her second at-bat, senior catcher Morgan Lindsay used the first pitch for a home run over the rightcenter field fence. She followed that up with an RBI-double on the first pitch of her third at-bat in Game 1.

Sophomore Catilyn Martell hit 4-for-8 with four RBIs and two doubles. Junior Alicia Ball pitched a complete game in the opener and struck out nine. Ball allowed five runs on seven hits in seven innings, walked four and hit two batters.

Freshman Madalyn Dyer struck out three over five innings in her start in the nightcap. Junior Katelyn Minney recorded her third save of the season, as she came in with two runners on base in the seventh inning and got the final three outs.

After the sweep over Frostburg, the Raiders started preparing for their game against East Stroudsburg on Saturday. Postponing their doubleheader against Bloomsburg from Friday to Sunday gave SU the opportunity to study both opponents a little bit more, head coach Alison Van Scyoc said.

Preparing for the ESU doubleheader on Saturday, Van Scyoc said they just had to be prepared with their scouting reports.

“We knew East Stroudsburg is a really good team,” Van Scyoc said. “They are at the very top of the region, so we just had to be prepared with our scouting report — understand what their pitchers were going to try to do, know what their offensive lineup was going to look like and just be prepared.”

In Game 1 on a windy Saturday, SU trailed 2-0 but scored runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to complete the comeback win. Lindsay hit a walk-off solo home run in the seventh off Sarah Davenport,

who is the nation’s leader in strikeouts per seven innings.

ESU took the lead in the fourth off a two-run double, but Ball’s pitching prevented the Warriors from scoring further. Ball allowed seven hits and three walks, hit three batters and struck out struck out six in another complete game effort. ESU stranded 12 runners on base in Game 1.

In Game 2, the Raiders continued the momentum from the end of Game 1, as they started the first inning with two two-run home runs. Martell and freshman Sarah Sabocsik each hit a homer to bring the Raiders in front, 4-0.

After Shippensburg blew an early lead in an earlier matchup with ESU this season, Van Scyoc said she kept telling her team that they have to keep putting the pressure on, since ESU always battles.

In the second inning, Minney doubled and scored on an RBIsingle to extend Shippensburg’s lead to 5-0, before she hit a solo home run off Davenport in the sixth.

Dyer threw a complete game in Game 2, allowing two runs on seven hits with one walk and striking out nine batters.

Van Scyoc said the sweep over ESU feels great. “I am so happy and proud of them,” Van Scyoc said.

On Sunday, SU hosted Bloomsburg for a sunny but windy doubleheader. While Bloomsburg won the opening game, the Raiders fought back to split the doubleheader with a run-rule

victory in Game 2. In Game 1, SU held the lead for the majority of the game and was up 5-4 going into the final inning, but a five-run seventh gave Bloomsburg a 9-5 victory. It was only the second loss at home this season for Shippensburg.

The Huskies started Game 2 with a two-out single off Raiders’ starter Dyer, but Dyer did not allow any more runs throughout the game. In the bottom of the first the Raiders countered with two runs, before they took a 3-2 lead in the second inning.

SU extended its lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning, before it scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth to shorten the game and win the game 10-2.

In the entire second game, there were no strikeouts for either team.

Against Bloomsburg, Myers was 4-for-8 with a double, four RBIs, a stolen base and two runs scored. Throughout the week, Myers moved into second place in school history for career runs with 172. Her 64 hits this season lead the PSAC.

Minney was 3-for-6 with two walks, two RBIs, two runs and a stolen base. She now ranks third in school history for stolen bases with 53.

Shippensburg will host Shepherd for a doubleheader on Tuesday and Bowie State for a doubleheader on Wednesday. On Saturday, the Raiders will travel to Millersville for a doubleheader.

Baseball uses balanced attack to sweep 5-game week

Mason Flowers Asst. Sports Editor

Shippensburg University’s baseball team is up to a fivegame win streak after beating Pitt-Johnstown on Tuesday, before sweeping a four-game weekend series against Lock Haven.

The Raiders now sit at 2115 overall, including 14-10 in PSAC play, placing them fourth in the East Division.

The week started with a road trip to Pitt-Johnstown (UPJ), where the Raiders picked up an 8-7 win.

The Raiders jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third, but UPJ clawed its way back throughout, making it a onerun game in the seventh.

Sophomore Brenden An-

derson was dominant in relief, though. He pitched 2 2/3 no-hit innings for his second save of the season.

Junior Carter Arbuthnot starred on offense, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Graduate Justin Byler also had a pair of RBIs and three runs scored. Freshman Kaleb Maksimik threw four innings of three-run ball in his first collegiate start, and senior Ray Winter got his first collegiate win in relief.

The weekend series against Lock Haven started with a 4-1 victory for the Raiders.

It was a balanced offensive effort for Shippensburg, with four different players driving in a run. They also stole five bases, with coach Matt Jones mentioning postgame

that LHU was “having a lot of trouble getting the ball down there. We just wanted to keep putting pressure on them.”

Junior Jaxon Dalena got his third win of the year in dominant fashion, striking out six over six innings. Senior Ethan Miller picked up the save with a scoreless seventh inning, his third of the season.

Friday’s second game was a 3-0 Shippensburg triumph, highlighted by a strong start from graduate Ryan Gleason. He went six scoreless innings, striking out four and walking three, moving to 3-2 on the year with the win.

Freshman Conner Barto got his second save in relief.

Coach Jones was proud of both his starters postgame,

saying, “We attacked with fastballs early, and once they started to be on time, we’d mix in some other stuff. They both did a really good job.”

The series moved to Lock Haven for a pair of Saturday games, beginning with a 6-2 win for Shippensburg.

Freshman Ryan Novakowski got the win after pitching three innings in relief, allowing two runs.

Senior Andrew Chronister went 1-for-4, the lone hit being his second home run of the season. Byler and junior Gio Calamia each drove in a pair of runs.

The last game of the series went beyond the scheduled seven innings, as the Raiders held on 9-8.

Shippensburg scored four in the seventh inning to move ahead, but LHU tied it with a pair in the bottom half. Byler was the hero, hitting a solo home run in the ninth to put the Raiders ahead for good.

Byler had arguably his best game of the season, going 4-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored.

Miller pitched the final three innings, grabbing his second win of the season.

A four-game tilt against Millersville is next on the schedule for the Raiders, beginning with a pair of home games on Friday at 1 p.m.

The series moves to Millersville on Saturday for two more games, also at 1 p.m.

Hanna Atkinson/The Slate

Catcher Andrew Chronister gets ready for a pitch against Lock Haven on Friday. Chronister hit a home run in Game 1 against Lock Haven on Sunday.

Hanna Atkinson/The Slate

Jaxon Dalena (above) pitched a great game, fighting a very windy day.

Gio Calamia (below) runs to the home plate against Lock Haven on Friday.

Men’s and women’s track and field complete solid week on the road

Shippensburg men’s and women’s outdoor track-andfield teams competed in the Riverhawk Multi in Selinsgrove and the Bison Outdoor Classic in Lewisburg.

The men’s action started Thursday at Doug Arthur Stadium at Susquehanna University for the first day of a two-day meet.

Thursday’s meeting was highlighted by the performances of four Raiders, who completed five events in the decathlon. Junior Mason Boyd led with event victories in the shot put and 400-meter dash.

Boyd’s dominance continued Friday. He was within 16 points of the decathlon school record, placing second at 6,638 points. Junior Robert Lissner captured the pole vault victory with a vault of 14 feet, 11 inches, placing third overall at 6,392 points.

The men’s team captured eight PSAC qualifiers on a windy day in Lewisburg for the Bison Outdoor Challenge this weekend, including sophomore Brennan Willock, who had a season-best in the 1,500 at 3:59.71 on Saturday.

Senior Ian Sherlock had another 3,000 steeplechase victory as he came close to having another outing under nine minutes, which he did

Women’s tennis suffers a rally tough week

Emma Adams Staff Contributor

Shippensburg University’s women’s tennis team lost two home matches this past week at Robb Sports Complex.

SU faced West Chester University in a PSAC match-up on Tuesday afternoon, falling 0-7, and an out-of-conference Salem University on Sunday afternoon, falling again 2-5.

In Tuesday’s 0-7 match against West Chester, SUcame up just shy of defeating the Rams.

Senior Brighid Cantwell lost a tough battle with her West Chester opponent in No. 6 singles, while winning a total of nine games overall.

Freshman Rachel Gallagher won four games in No. 4 singles, junior Brooklynn Rupert won three games in No. 2 singles and sophomore Corinne Markovich won three games in No. 1 singles.

The Raider’s No. 3 doubles pair, Cantwell and Gallagher, won two games, while No. 2 doubles pair junior Kendall Winters and first-year Brinley Orris won one game against their West Chester opponents.

In the second match of the week for the Raiders, Orris won a straight set in No. 5 singles to get the team’s first point for the day. Orris claimed a 6-2 and a 6-0 win over her Salem opponent. The Raiders also picked up a default victory point in No. 6 singles for Cantwell. Gallagher won three games in No. 4 singles and Markovich won two games in No. 1 singles.

The Shippensburg Raiders will take on the Shepherd Rams on Tuesday in an away PSAC match up at 3 p.m.

last weekend at William and Mary.

Redshirt sophomore Drew Dailey starred in the 800 meters, placing third at 1:48.96, a time good enough for third place in all of NCAA Division II, qualifying him for nationals.

Shippensburg had solid outings on Sunday, which included a second-place finish in the 4x100 meter relay by freshman Bernard Bell III, junior Mo Wittle, freshman Lavar Jackson and junior Eric Kirk.

Senior Josh Herbster continued his excellence in the hammer throw, placing third at 206 feet, four inches, He has eclipsed 203 feet in all

four outdoor meets this year. The women’s team also had a solid week. It started with juniors Nicola Puggé and Kyli Moon-Rumsey in the heptathlon’s four events during the Riverhawk Multi on Thursday. Puggé captured the shot put victory via a 3610 3/4 outing.

Both Puggé and Moon-Rumsey carried their success into Friday’s action and completed the last three heptathlon events. Puggé earned victories in the long jump and javelin events, placing fourth overall with 4,475 points. Moon-Ramsey finished 12th at 3,130 points. Women’s action continued at Doug Arthur Stadium and

saw multiple PSAC qualifiers, including juniors Sara McKean and Sasha Lee placing second and third in the long jump. Junior Victoria Mattioli ran in under 18 minutes in a solid 5K outing.

Redshirt Sophomore Kelsey Hull had a season-best in the 1,500 at 4:46.92, adding to the list of PSAC qualifiers for the day.

Junior Abby Reasoner had a trememdnous effort in the javelin, setting a national qualifier at 144 feet and eight inches. It was a new personal best by more than six feet, and now ranks fourth best in SU history.

To cap off the week, the women’s team, like the men’s

team, finished third in their 4x100 event with a time of 46.55 seconds, enough to provisionally qualify for nationals. The team included juniors Aliyah Serrano, Sara McKean, Kayla Dalhouse and Leah Graybill, and they came just 0.22 seconds off their personal best, which is also the school record.

Both men’s and women’s teams will host the Mid-Week Invitational on Wednesday for their first home meet. The meet begins at Seth Grove Stadium at 3 p.m.

Lacrosse suffers tough losses at home

Savannah Silvestre Staff Contributor

Shippensburg University’s women’s lacrosse team fell twice this past week to the Bloomsburg Huskies and the Kutztown Bears. The team moves to a 2-10 record overall.

The Raiders hosted the No. 23 Huskies at Robb Sports Complex Wednesday afternoon.

The first quarter was a defensive battle between both teams. The Raiders held the Huskies scoreless for the first twelve minutes of the contest, only allowing them to score two goals. SU couldn’t create enough momentum offensively despite their defensive efforts and tallied one goal to end the first quarter, 2-1.

Bloomsburg continued the scoring from the end of the first quarter to go on a threegoal run in the opening minutes of the second quarter. The Raiders were able to cut the deficit to two goals, but the Huskies answered back quickly to ensure their comfortable lead.

The Huskies maintained their lead for the remainder

of regulation, and the final score was 15-8 for BU.

Six Raiders found the net in the contest. Junior Sara Vosburg posted a hat trick for the fifth consecutive game and the eighth time of the season. Junior Jamie Carvin and senior Payton Margerum each had a goal and an assist. Junior Jill Hopkins, sophomore Keegan Dings and firstyear Olivia Glinski each added one goal.

Sophomore midfielders Grace DeMarzio and Ali Pioli proved strong again for the Raiders with a combined seven caused turnovers, eight groundballs and eight draw controls.

On Saturday, the Raiders faced the Kutztown Bears, amid windy conditions, in their annual Breast Cancer Awareness game.

Prior to the contest, SU had a moment of silence to honor the memory of former SU lacrosse captain, Julia Wise. Wise was diagnosed with metastatic Stage 4 breast cancer months after her graduation in 2017. She passed away in February 2021 after four years of fighting courageously.

The Bears found early of-

fensive success scoring the first goal of the day 28 seconds into regulation. Their aggressive momentum continued well into the third quarter leaving the Raiders to climb an 18-0 scoring deficit.

SU was able to climb, how-

ever, and salvaged the tough outing by finishing the final frame, 4-0. Sophomore Ali Pioli scored two goals, Vosburg had one and firstyear Hanna Woolf also scored one. Woolf’s goal was the first of her collegiate career.

The

Pioli also led the Raiders with six draw controls, three groundballs and three caused turnovers.

Raiders return to action for their Autism Awareness game on Wednesday against West Chester University at 4 p.m.

Jeremy Perna Staff Contributor

Courtesy of SU Sports Info Mason Boyd won a pair of decathlon events, placing second overall, just shy of the school record.

Courtesy of SU Sports Info Ian Sherlock picked up his third straight win in the 3,000 steeplechase.

Courtesy of SU Sports Info Drew Dailey’s time of 1:48.96 places him third in all of NCAA Division II in the 800 meters.

Courtesy of SU Sports Info Nicola Puggé placed fourth in the hepathlon, winning the long jump and javelin.

Courtesy of SU Sports Info Kelsey Hull qualified for PSACs in the 1,500, clocking in with a season best time of 4:46.92.

Courtesy of SU Sports Info Abby Reasoner set a new personal best in the javelin, qualifying for nationals at 144 feet, eight inches.

Quehanna Coble/The Slate Jamie Carvin huddles with teammates against Bloomsburg. Carvin scored one goal and assisted on another in the match.

Matt Scalia Staff Contributor

Eclipse Celebrations

In 585 B.C., along the Halys River in modern-day Turkey, the armies of Medes of Lydian clashed. The forces were fighting another battle in the Six Year War when the sun suddenly disappeared, swallowed whole by the moon. The dueling empires would lower their weapons and peace talks would begin. It was one of the earliest recordings of a solar eclipse.

In 2024, at Shippensburg University, students gather at an amphitheater — a venue that wouldn’t be completely alien to the ancient Greeks who recorded the Eastern Mediterranean conflict. The students, similarly, in awe of the celestial event, were also engaged in a battle, as rival teams lobbed sandbags at each other’s territory. This would be one of many games of Cornhole played on this day.

This wasn’t a war, though, but a gathering of students at the university’s eclipse party at the Ceddia Union Building amphitheater. Unlike ancient civilizations who thought eclipses were random phenomena, modern humans have a greater understanding of the solar system that allows them to prepare for such events.

Read more online at TheSlateOnline.com or scan QR code to watch a video about this memorable celestial event.

were

throughout the afternoon of April 8

Photos courtesy of Grace Harbour, Jeremy Perna, Gabe Rader, Pexels and Canva

Photos below

taken by Slate Staff

during the Solar Eclipse Party. Individuals below were not necessarily staring at the sun during the eclipse.