The Slate 10-1-24 by The Slate

MSA celebrates 2024 Diversity Week with ‘A Quilt to Cover Us All’ reveal

Lydia Elmy Staff Contributor

Diversity Week 2024 has come to a close, but its message still carries on across campus.

Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) revealed “A Quilt to Cover Us All” Friday on the Gilbert Lawn, bringing Diversity Week to an end. Each panel of the quilt was created by faculty and students, representing the diversity, inclusivity and unity on campus.

As a large crowd gathered in front of Gilbert Hall, Diane Jefferson, the director of MSA, and Kapri Brown, the associate director of MSA,

spoke to students about the quilt and thanked faculty and the student organizations that contributed a panel.

Speakers such as President Charles Patterson and Assistant Vice President for Inclusion and Belonging Manuel Ruiz, also talked about the quilt and the importance of its message on campus.

“We want everyone on campus to know that they are heard and they are seen,” Ruiz said during his speech. That message rang true as students from different organizations and classes such as Latino Student Organization (LSO) and University 101 spoke about

State Senator Rothman visits SU for Business Q&A

Pennsylvania Senator Greg Rothman visited Shippensburg University on Thursday for a Q&A event about entrepreneurship sponsored by the Commonwealth Foundation and hosted by the Charles H. Diller Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation in Stewart Hall. Rothman serves in the 34th senatorial district in Pennsylvania, which includes Cumberland and Perry counties and northern Dauphin County. He previously was the former president and CEO of RSR Realtors, and under his leadership, the company grew to become one of the largest real estate businesses in Central Pennsylvania.

The night started with an informal networking opportunity where students, community members and business professionals could meet and discuss over hors d’oeuvres.

Andrew Lewis, the President and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation, brought everyone together to deliver the opening comments. He said “Entrepreneurship is the best kept se-

cret of this country” and that Senator Rothman is a leader and champion of small businesses that can help the state prioritize innovation’s future.

Shippensburg University’s President Charles E. Patterson followed Lewis and gave the formal introduction for the event and introduced the crowd to Senator Rothman and his interviewer for the night, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the John L. Grove College of Business Shelley Morissette.

Morrisette started the Q&A segment with Rothman by presenting the three topics for the night’s discussion, which were higher education, innovation and artificial intelligence. Regarding higher education, Rothman urged that “education is critical.” He believes that learning is a priority for every individual. He thought that the experience of going to a university in our system, however, is currently about teaching the younger generation how to live. He gave an anecdote about how his own parents sent him to university in 1985 to “grow up” and have a life experience.

their quilt panels and the meaning behind them.

“We started out with just a couple panels. It was an idea, we were sitting around talking,” Jefferson said. “I said it would be really neat if we could find a way to involve people to show, so they could have a visual, a visual sign. Maybe like a quilt or something like that, it was kind of off the top.”

Over the years, the quilt grew into a symbol for the campus community.

“The first year, I think we had maybe one panel and it just grew – just grew as we involved more people,” Jefferson said.

Despite the rain, students

enjoyed the event, lining up at various food trucks after the quilt reveal.

The reveal of “A Quilt to Cover Us All” comes during a time where diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are a huge topic across the country, especially on college campuses. These initiatives are relevant to SU’s campus and other campuses across the country. These initiatives are essential for “creating educational environments where every student can thrive,” according to a Forbes article.

The University of Michigan, for example, has a webpage dedicated to

how DEI initiatives can be implemented on campus and their importance.

“Without widespread awareness, multiple avenues for input and feedback, and opportunities for meaningful

involvement, your DEI plan can lose traction or, worse, never get off the ground,” the website says.

To learn more about DEI on campus, visit www.ship. edu/life/diversity/.

With just over a month left until election day, both candidates continue to campaign in battleground states in a tight presidential race. According to national polling data from the New York Times, Vice President Harris holds a small lead over Trump in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Nevada. In North Carolina, Georgia and Arizona, Trump is leading by an equally small margin. Neither candidate holds more than a three-percent point lead over their opponent in each battleground state. In response to former president Trump’s frequent attacks on border policy giving him a polling advantage in Arizona, Harris scheduled a visit to the Grand Canyon State as a part of her intention to push for a tougher, bipartisan border security plan.

While the Trump campaign has stated that it has no plans to have the former president compete in a second debate against Harris, there are still plans to hold a Vice President debate between Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) and Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn) on Tuesday, Oct. 1.

In the buildup to the debate, research from the Associated Press suggests that Vance is the less popular candidate among voters compared to rival Walz.

Winning over undecided voters will be an uphill battle for Vance, as Walz has participated in a mock debate session against Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in preparation for Tuesday night.

Although Tim Walz holds popularity over Vance, he still sees preparation as being necessary to compete against Trump’s VP pick. “Senator Vance, as a United States senator, a Yale Law guy, he

will come well-prepared,” Walz stated on MSNBC following the Trump-Harris debate.

On Sept. 15, a few days following the presidential debate in Philadelphia, a second attempted assassination was made against the former president, this time at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course in Florida. The shooter, Ryan Wesley Routh, had allegedly stalked Trump since August.

Routh, who was already facing two federal firearm charges, was indicted on three charges by federal prosecutors. His charges include attempted

assassination of a presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and assaulting a federal officer.

The case against Routh was assigned to federal judge Aileen Cannon, the same judge who oversaw former president Trump’s Mar-aLago classified documents trial. Cannon’s overseeing of the assassination attempt case was done at random. In response to the proceedings, Trump made a post aimed toward the Department of Justice, stating that Florida should handle the court case.

Grace Harbour / The Slate

Office of Multicultural Student Affairs Director Diane Jefferson and Associate Director Kapri Brown present the 2024 “Quilt to Cover Us All” to the campus community as part of 2024 Diversity Week celebrations.

Grace Harbour / The Slate Students sharing their quilt panel designs.

Evan Dillow Asst. News Editor

Courtesy of Flickr

Republican Vice Presidential Nominee

Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio

Courtesy of Flickr

Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota

Savannah Silvestre Staff Contributor

He also said mentorship alongside the experiences he had were some of the most valuable things that he acquired from his time at university, not just the degree at the end. He did not want to discount the process of acquiring degrees entirely just to make a point that the experience was worth more. He explained to students in the audience that he believes the most valuable concept he has learned is that “there is no substitute for hard work… If you want to be successful as an entrepreneur, you have to work hard. It is a great substitute for smarts.”

As the discussion moved to innovation, Rothman said that he believes the commonwealth is not friendly enough for innovators. He claimed that Pennsylvania has been the state involved in every major industry’s origin, including textiles, lumber, coal, gas and steel.

“It is our state that has built this country” and now we can’t support innovation because of the demographic crisis, he explained.

According to Rothman, people between the ages of 22-64 have been moving out of the commonwealth at an alarming rate because they want to find a lower cost of living, lower taxes, and better jobs and opportunities. This age range is critical because it represents the workforce and that “you don’t have to be an economist to know that if you don’t have people working, you don’t have an economy.”

The state is, however, gaining people above the age of 65 due to worldclass healthcare, no tax income on retirement and great benefit programs for veterans. His main takeaway was that to innovate and become the home to the next round of ground-breaking American industries, the state needs to provide better opportunities to attract the 22-64 demographic back to Pennsylvania. The senator has a multitude of ideas and said he would be happy to discuss that further outside of the forum.

The next possible industry that the state could foster led the conversation to the final topic for the night: artificial intelligence.

Morrisette explained to the audience that artificial intelligence is not something to take lightly. He informed the group that there have only been three offsets by the military in history, which are areas where we need to win against foreign adversaries): nuclear weapons, space and more recently, artificial intelligence. The country cannot currently win this race however because they lack three things: energy, chips, and networking abilities for CPUs.

Senator Rothman gave his thoughts on the AI race by explaining how America needs to make the chips and technology on its own. It is going to be important that the country protects and uses all the advancements and research that they have because “we have to win this.”

The night ended with Rothman delivering gracious remarks and a thank you for allowing him to visit campus and share his thoughts. “I love representing Shippensburg,” he stated. Morrisette also gifted Rothman and Lewis with entrepreneurship swag.

Student Trustee Report: Updates from Council of Trustees Meeting

Colin Arnold SU Student Trustee

As the new student trustee for Shippensburg University, I would like to initiate a student trustee report in The Slate. Before getting to the details of the report, I would like to first address the unique role that the student trustee plays and what the Council of Trustees is.

The Council of Trustees serves as an advisory board to the president of the university. The council works to ensure the mission of the university is maintained and the strategies to achieve the short and long-term goals are best fulfilled.

The council consists of 11 members, including the student trustee. The role of the student trustee is unique to the council in that they represent the entire university body and provide

important insight into the student perspective. This is extremely important because many of the trustees are not on campus regularly, since they are not students. Therefore, it is crucial that before important decisions are made, the effects on the student population are considered and presented by a current student, being the student trustee. It is important to note that the student trustee is a voting member of the council as well.

The Shippensburg University Council of Trustees held their first meeting of the 2024-25 academic year at the Iron Valley Golf Course in Lebanon. This was part of the alumni golf fundraiser which was hosted after the meeting. This meeting was routine; the previous meeting’s minutes were approved, as well as changes to the committee structure of the council and the 2025 meeting dates. Reports were then given by SU President Charles Patterson and the four divisions: Academic Affairs, Administration & Finance, Enrollment Management & Marketing and Student Affairs.

Reports were also given by the different faculty unions, the Alumni Association and the Graduate Student Association. During those reports, the council approved the succession plan in the event the President of the university becomes incapacitated and the approval of the budget.

All the public meeting minutes are made available on the Shippensburg University website.

The next public meeting will be held on Nov. 15, 2024, in the CUB MPR. All students and members of the public are welcome to attend the public meeting.

Please continue to voice your concerns or ideas to me at ca6053@ship.edu, so I can bring them up during the meetings and ensure that the council is presented with the most accurate representation of our diverse campus community.

I take the role of student trustee very seriously. It is important to me that the student body of Shippensburg University is properly represented to the council as decisions are being made, because it is the students that make this campus so great.

Commentary: Hoda Kotb and the power of optimistic journalism

Connor Niszczak Editor-in-Chief

On Nov. 29, 2017, Matt Lauer was fired from the Today Show.

At 7 a.m., just as I did every day at the time, I was brushing my teeth, attempting to comb my hair and making my way downstairs to eat breakfast before getting on the bus just before 8 a.m.

But that day was different. As I was finishing upstairs, I heard the familiar sound of the Today Show’s opening music echoing from my kitchen. By the time I stepped into the room, I heard Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb reading the statement alleging Lauer’s sexual misconduct.

This was just a week after CBS News fired Charlie Rose for similar allegations and was at a peak in the #MeToo movement when powerful men were being exposed on a near daily basis. It unfortunately wasn’t shocking, but it was historic.

Just weeks after Lauer was fired, Kotb was announced as co-anchor of Today, which made her and Guthrie the first female duo in the show’s 70-year history. And this week, as Kotb announced she will step down from her role early next year, I hope they are not the last.

The Today Show has been formative culture for

me both before and during my evolution as a journalist.

I have walked through Rockefeller Plaza countless times, and I always hope to catch a glimpse of that famous desk. I have seen it a few times and always think about the legends that were born there. I have spent many mornings watching the show while drinking a smoothie from my Today Show mug that I bought at 30 Rock. I feel a nerdy sense of pride whenever guests on the plaza live even remotely close to me. Needless to say, I am a fan.

Even so, I was unexpectedly upset when I watched Hoda announce her departure last week. Hoda has been a trailblazer both for women of color (try to name another Egyptian network news anchor) and for older women in television. She is known for being open about her personal life, especially her late-in-life adoption of two girls when she was in her late fifties. But she is also a rare breed in network news these days: an unbridled optimist.

I knew who Hoda was from seeing her and Kathie Lee while scrolling through

channels on days off school, but I came to love Hoda, as millions already did, once she stepped into that anchor role. Hoda wears her heart on her sleeve, and that comes across in every story she tells. As a burgeoning journalist, it is so impactful to have a bastion of our industry continue to put humanity first.

Celebrities and newsmakers open up to Hoda because she makes people feel so comfortable to share their stories. In the early days of the pandemic, Hoda went viral for breaking down on air after an interview with NFL quarterback Drew Brees, who had just made a significant donation to help New Orleans fight COVID-19.

NBC has a long roster of talented journalists who can read the news, but selecting Kotb’s replacement should be about everything beyond the teleprompter. Because what Hoda embodies is what journalists are here for: not just to report on the darkness that often accompanies the news, but to give space to the light.

Candidates for U.S. Senate and House races to face off in debates

Evan Dillow Asst. News Editor

The two candidates for Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District seat will meet for a debate on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. in Harrisburg.

The 10th District includes Dauphin County and parts of Cumberland and York counties. According to the Cook Political Report, the district, which is home to over 530,000 voters, leans Republican.

Moderated by abc27 news anchor Dennis Owens, the debate will feature the Republican candidate, sixterm incumbent Rep. Scott Perry, and his Democratic opponent, former abc27 News and WGAL anchor Janelle Stelson.

Scott Perry has been facing stiff competition from Stelson for his conduct regarding the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. In August 2022, Perry’s phone was seized by the FBI, and he was issued a subpoena by the U.S. House Jan. 6 select

committee due to investigations of a potential plan to install a Trump loyalist in the Department of Justice.

Perry has shot back on the FBI seizure of his phone, stating that the action was “banana republic tactics.”

Stelson, a former Republican who is running as a moderate Democrat, is running a campaign on providing 10th District voters with a new perspective. Perry has been representative for twelve years. Stelson is opposed to Perry’s pro-Trump rhetoric. “Perry is not for freedom. He’s all about his power,” Stelson said. Her hard stance against Perry, in addition to her support for the middle class, has gained her popularity in a district that has become tightly contested.

The Pennsylvania 10th Congressional District race and the 2024 presidential race are not the only elections that shape the battleground Keystone State. Democratic Sen. Bob Casey and Republican Senate

nominee Dave McCormick have agreed to attend a debate on Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. in Harrisburg.

Much like Pennsylvania’s other races on Nov. 5, the race for senate is relatively close. According to polling data from The New York Times, Casey holds 49% support from the likely PA electorate compared to rival McCormick’s 40%. Due to Casey’s popularity advantage, Republican nominee McCormick and his campaign have been preparing to drop over $100 million for political advertisements. To bridge the gap, McCormick has been campaigning on the issues of border security and inflation. “Sen. Casey is just out of touch with Pennsylvania” he argues. “He’s been a weak senator,” McCormick said. Both candidates have strongly attached themselves to the 2024 presidential candidates in an effort to lock in Pennsylvania for their party on election day.

Weather Forecast

Courtesy of Flickr

Hoda Kotb announced that she will be departing The Today Show on NBC in early 2025.

Slate Speaks: It’s

a Great Big Campus

After All

There is no better customer than the one that does not use your resources but still pays for service. Insurance companies thrive on this sort of person. Streaming services love when you forget you are even paying for them. College services, on the other hand, are made to serve, and their continued existence in a budgetstrapped world demands it.

Shippensburg University has a plethora of groups and programs available to students that we feel deserve attention. One such service is Big Red’s Cupboard, which is located on the top floor of the Ceddia Union Building and provides free grocery items for students in need. They do not check for eligibility requirements or anything along those lines. everyone in the campus and community is welcome. It is a fantastic resource that many do not even know exist and is definitely worth the time. When it comes to dining, many do not know about Century Cafe, located in Old Main. It serves bagel sandwiches, breakfast bowls and wraps all day, and other small lunch options. It is a good mixup for when other campus offerings get stale, and the prices are not bad compared to other retail locations.

Center (MCT) 054

microcomputer lab is perhaps the most convenient service available to students. Unlike anything else on this campus, it is open 24/7. The lab is useful, in part, because it is a secluded space where students can bury themselves into a computer screen and work. It is a hidden gem that not many students use. As a fellow friend of the written word, The Reflector is a group that is worth a look as well. They compose a student journal that gets published every year. They provide writers and artists with a safe space to express their form of art. They also have open mic nights, which are fun to do and could certainly use a few more voices in the choir.

“Shippensburg University has a pleathora of groups and programs available to students”

The Slate Staff

The CUB has a ton of resources housed inside the building, arguably the most around campus. A great resource is the Career Center. It provides resources to strengthen your resume and cover letter, Handshake and LinkedIn profiles, as well as free professional clothes with one full free outfit per semester. If you are looking for an on-campus job, or internships and postgraduation jobs, they are the office to help you. The Mathematics and Computing Technology’s

One such resource is the University Counseling Center, which provides free, confidential therapy and counseling services for undergraduate and graduate students. Students can benefit from individual, couples and group counseling, crisis intervention and psychiatric services. It’s easy to set up an appointment by calling the center. They are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. The University Counseling Center is in the same building as the Etter Health Center. As we enter cold and flu season, the center is an important place to keep in mind, as it is home to the “self-care unit,” which provides overthe-counter medication. It turns out that there is more to the campus than meets the eye, as this column does not even broach the many social clubs available. It is worth looking around. You may find something that gives you as much growth as some of your educational experiences.

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.

• 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 GOP’s Candidate Problem

Trump’s Undoing Could Come From Down-Ballot

Matthew Scalia Asst. Opinion Editor

In his “Politics,” the philosopher Aristotle discusses that local government is most important and accountable in the maintaining of a virtuous life for its subjects.

This is another presidential election year, and Republicans, who once believed that Donald Trump was a ballot booster for them, may be surprised by the lack of enthusiasm voters have in their choice for local representation and how it may end up dragging Trump down in the Electoral College.

The staying power of the former president is an unfortunate reality for the Republican party. No matter the outlandish claim, no matter the felonious accusation, him remains an indomitable force, destined to be chosen by Republican primary voters for reasons unknown. But in a close election, Trump doesn’t need voters drawing negative associations between Trump and the down-ballot candidates he endorsed. But that is exactly the problem he faces.

The first and most unpredictable of those risks comes out of Arizona, where a Senate race is in full swing to fill the seat vacated by Kyrsten Sinema, who announced in March that she would not run for reelection. Republican primary

voters, in their wisdom, have entrusted Kari Lake to carry their banner across the finish line there.

Lake, a former journalist who quit her 22-year career to enter politics in politics in 2022, also brandishes the Trump endorsement. In fact, she campaigned first for that distinction, spending the interim months after Trump kicked off his reelection campaign doting after him, making his short-list for the vice-presidential nod.

Failing that, she got the conciliatory prize — the Trump endorsement — and with it, the good primary voters of the Republican party helped her handily beat her closest opponent, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, by 16 percentage points.

Now she is in danger of being of two-time loser in Arizona political contests, having failed to win the governorship of The Grand Canyon State two years ago. Currently, she trails Democratic challenger Ruben Gallego by six percentage points, according to the latest USAToday/ Suffolk University poll.

The panic is over more than one poll, though, with most saying Lake is at least six percentage points behind, and a Fox News poll has her trailing by 13.

This is another case of the Trump base elevating a candidate that the rest of the general voting public finds unpalatable. Lake’s trouble is the same as many who have

failed before. She has been a long-time election denier — first echoing Trump’s claims about 2020 and then suing, unsuccessfully, over her own loss in her gubernatorial run.

So far, the effect Lake has on Trump’s chances appear to be minimal, though Trump lost the state to Biden by around 10,000 votes in 2020. That is not the sort of margin you want to take chances on. Thus far, Trump leads Harris in the state 48% to 42%.

It is rare that such broad ticket splitting happens, but it has been more common in the age of the Trumpendorsed candidate. One such example occurred in 2020, when voters gave Biden the White House but handed the House to Republicans and split the Senate down the middle.

The more predictable risk to Trump is his endorsed candidate for the North Carolina governor, Mark Robinson, who he called “Martin Luther King on steroids.” His logic in that compliment is hard to follow as a recent reporting from CNN found that Robinson posted sexually explicit and graphic messages on a pornographic forum from 2008-2012.

In those comments, Robinson referred to himself as “black Nazi,” and expressed an affinity for transexual-themed porn, a surprise since candidate Robinson has called that particular demographic

“filth” and has proposed ending the separation between church and state in order to further stifle them. Robinson is now 17 percentage points behind his Democratic opponent, current state Attorney General Josh Stein. The CNN poll that reported on it follows Robinson’s negative trending that started when the news of the message board went public. As it stands, Robinson looks to face “the largest defeat in more than 40 years for a major-party nominee for governor in North Carolina,” the CNN poll reports. This is not to mention the numerous representatives who have made congressional gridlock a ubiquitous headline. Republicans in the House have looked unable to govern for the past two years, as their narrow majority has been forced to contend with the recalcitrance of its Freedom Caucus, home of frequent Fox news guests’ Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz.

Now that it’s close to election season, these TVpersonality-first Republicans are looking to send the government into another shutdown. This may make voters decide that the GOP isn’t looking after their interests at home. These voters have more at stake with interests at home being threatened. If Aristotle is to be believed, this may drive out more voters to the detriment of Trump.

Courtesy of Flickr

Republican candidate for North Carolina governor, Mark Robinson.

All Around the World: Culture and Diversity Illuminated

Cogan Staff Contributor

Shippensburg University’s

All Around the World event showcased a number of tables representing many different countries and cultural organizations, offering attendees an opportunity to explore the cultures and traditions.

The event, which was hosted by the Office of Inclusion, Belonging and Social Equity and the Center for Global Education, began with an energetic performance from the SU marching band playing a series of songs.

At the France table, participants could play a mock-game of Boule. In Boule, players roll metal balls, a boule, on a table to land as close to the cochonnet, a jack or extra small ball, as possible. Players throw the balls, and the player whose boule is the closest to the cochonnet wins the game.

The table that represented India highlighted key facts and statistics of the country, such as its population of around 1.46 billion people and most spoken language, Hindi. Attendees could

learn about the current president of India, Droupadi Murmu, and how she is the second woman to hold office. India has an array of major holidays, such as Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navaratri and Dussehra, as well as many traditional foods like Pakora, Chaat and Vada Pav.

Spain’s table presented a wealth of photos and knowledge about the country, such as its population of 47 million people, popular languages spoken and the head of state, Pedro Sanchez. Posters of the Spanish flag and maps that outlined some of the major cities within the country, such as Madrid, Cordoba, Malaga and Barcelona, helped to showcase Spain’s history and geography.

Albania had a table full of facts, history and visuals.

Albania’s capital city is Tirana, and the country has a population of about 2.8 million people. The main religions in Albania are Islam and Christianity. A famous tourist attraction in Albania is the Albanian Riviera along the Ionian Sea which features many famous beaches and towns.

The table that represented

South Korea offered insight to the country’s cuisines, like Bibimbap and Bulgogi. There is also a Korean dessert called Bingsu, which is made of shaved ice. Traditional clothing of South Korea is called Hanbok, made from cloth, silk, hemp, ramie and other materials. The

Some of the information presented at the Mexico table included the types of vibrant music in Mexico, such as mariachi, banda, ranchera, pop and Mexican rock. A significant cultural feature of the collection included the significance of Dia de los Muertos, or Day

colors and patterns of these clothing are often dependent on age, status, occasion and more, and each have different significances. Another specialty of Korea is Korean-Pop, also known as K-Pop, which has become a widely popular genre in global culture.

of the Dead, where families honor the spirits of their loved ones beyond the grave in a celebration ritual of life. This is often done by buying gifts and decorating graves and altars to remember those before them both in public and private spaces.

Next was the Caribbean

LSO Hosts Latino Explosion for Diversity Week

Jordan Neperud Staff

Contributor

Shippensburg University’s Latino Student Organization (LSO) hosted their annual Latino Explosion event on Saturday.

Latino Explosion followed the same theme as National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.” A slideshow of prominent Latin American politicians, artists, scientists, activists and other celebrities, along with their accomplishments and impacts, was shown throughout the event.

There were numerous activities for students to enjoy. An airbrush artist decorated hats with students’ names. There was also a candle making booth to showcase the importance of art and hand making in Latino culture.

“This year, we’re going with the ‘you can sit down, relax, enjoy the culture around you, get everything you want’ atmosphere,” said LSO Treasurer Marlon Aristy.

Several acts performed during the event. The performances began with a live band, Sabor Rumbero, who played traditional

music. Next up was the Guerreiros, a group of dancers who performed the traditional Brazilian dance and martial arts hybrid known as Capoeira. They began with a brief history of Capoeira, followed by a performance of the berimbau and an explanation of the instrument’s history. They invited the audience to try to dance with them. Dr. Ricardo gave salsa dance lessons to all participants willing to try. After the acts, the food was made available to attendees, which was mostly made by LSO members. Several Latino dishes were available, such as empanadas, quesadillas

and various kinds of rice. Fried ice cream and cake was also served.

“I’m learning a lot. I think the food is really great. There have been a lot of great activities. I really had a great time,” SU student Audrey Pipan said.

LSO President Brando Aristy thanked the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion office for helping them put the event together and making it a “bigger explosion.”

For more information about the Latino Student Organization and upcoming events, visit them on Instagram @lso_ship.

table, emphasizing some regions like Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. The Caribbean has hundreds of islands that belong to the region.

Brazil’s table drew attention with its vibrant presentation and wealth of information. Inhabited by indigenous people prior, the Portuguese claimed the land in 1500, and the Empire became Rio de Janeiro in 1808. The Empire of Brazil declared its independence in 1822. As of 2022, Brazil’s population was 215.3 million people and is the largest country in South America.

Malu Takahashi, a student who was integral in the creation of the Brazilian table, said: “This event was a great opportunity to share about our culture and our upbringings with the campus community. The process was a lot of work, but it was fulfilling because we are sharing knowledge and culture with the student body.”

Other tables represented various organizations instead of countries, such as the Frederick Douglass Institute, the Resident Hall Association, the Peace Corps, Center for Global

Engagement, the MultiEthnic Student Association, Asian American Culture, the African Student Association, Latino Student Organization and the Panhellenic Council at Shippensburg University.

One of the highlights of the event was the opportunity to sample traditional foods from different countries and regions. In the center of the event stood tables of food with cultural significance. Some of these samples were Swedish meatballs, chicken quesadilla cornucopias, beef empanadas, vegetable spring rolls, pot stickers and beef sticks.

“[I] loved learning about all different cultures in such a cool way,” one student attending the event said.

Being able to share cultural traditions with others is something that is not just reserved for diversity week but is a privilege we get to experience together and learn from all year round.

Embracing differences fosters an inclusive society with a range of perspectives that enrich our lives with cultural diversity.

For more information on future events, visit the Office of Inclusion, Belonging and Social Equity.

Dr. Javier Ávila kicks off SU Diversity Week with ‘The Trouble with My Name’

Hayden Highlands Staff Contributor

Shippensburg University kicked off Diversity Week on Monday through an evening of storytelling and poetry with “The Trouble with My Name” with Javier Ávila, a Puerto Rican author, poet and English professor. Ávila’s talk with students focused on his journey navigating race, cultural identity and trouble with speaking another language in America. Ávila recounted the cultural shift and different racial dynamics he faced moving from Puerto Rico to Pennsylvania. One main theme during the event was how minorities are stereotyped and misunderstood, and how he dealt with that throughout his life. He also detailed how his name, accent and appearance were frequently misunderstood.

Several poems were read by Ávila throughout

the event. The poem “The Trouble with My Name” reflects on the familiar experience of having your name mispronounced.

Another poem, “Denied Service,” talks about Ávila’s family history, as both his father and uncle served in the military. During the Q&A session of the event, many students were interested in Ávila’s writing process and what writing poems means to him. He explained that his poems come from personal experience and that poetry is his personal artistic outlet.

One student noted that this portion of the evening was their favorite, as they were able to hear about the poetry writing process.

“I have a picture of my grandmother, and to me, she was always a brave person,” Ávila said. “I feel like I’m with her when I have her products here, and when I feel like that, I feel like I have the power.”

Libby

Jayden Pohlman / The Slate

Students learning about Brazilian culture at All Around the World during SU’s Diversity Week.

Jayden Pohlman / The Slate Participants at the Latino Explosion dancing.

Jayden Pohlman / The Slate A member of Guerreiros demonstrating Capoeira.

Jayden Pohlman / The Slate LSO Treasurer Marlon Aristy thanking the crowd.

Jayden Pohlman / The Slate Students making candles at the Latino Explosion.

Jada Lee / Guest Contributor

Javier Ávila, professor at Northampton Community College, speaking on Monday.

Students reach across the aisle at Political Speed Dating

Ian Thompson News Editor

While political polarization reaches an all-time high in the United States, students came together last Tuesday to participate in low-stakes political discussion meant to humanize the other side.

Alison Dagnes, professor of political science at Shippensburg University, moderated the event, titled “Political Speed Dating.”

The event challenges participants to engage with their peers through openminded listening and polite conversation.

This was the fourth year that the event was held, according to Dagnes. “We started this in 2020, because

a student of mine said, ‘I’m a Democrat, and I want to talk to a Republican’. And I said, Well, look around the classroom, man. But it was COVID, and it was really hard to meet people,” Dagnes said.

Each student selected a political topic that they felt passionate about, and got several minutes to tell their partner why that issue was important to them. Both students had the opportunity to veto a topic if they didn’t want to discuss it.

The other person would have a chance to ask some follow-up questions before they switch roles and get to say their piece. At the end, students were encouraged to find

something that they could agree on. That topic did not have to be political; they could find a shared interest in cars or agree on a favorite flavor of ice cream. Most of the room agreed that they hated subscription streaming services.

“It’s that kind of common ground that’s so incredibly valuable, and we miss it when we stay online.” Dagnes continued. “We miss it when we just hang out with people who look like us and think like us and act like us.”

After issues were discussed and agreements made, one side would find a new partner, and the cycle would begin again, as the speed dating framing would suggest.

“When I would tell students that they had to get up and move to somebody else, that’s when they got mad. They got mad at me for interrupting their conversations, because they just really wanted to talk to other people,” Dagnes said. “I wanted people to talk about political things in a way that’s nice and in a way that’s going to bring people together,” Dagnes said about the purpose of the event. “Hopefully, what this does is it shows everybody that just because you disagree with somebody on one issue, it doesn’t make them a bad person and it doesn’t mean that you disagree with them on everything,” Dagnes said. Even further, the event

gives students potential to make new friends. “Every year, a couple people end up meeting up and they either go for a hike together, or one year, a woman taught another woman how to swim, and it was so sweet. It was just so nice,” Dagnes said.

Ideally, the event would have equal amounts of left- and right-leaning students, but this year, there was an excess of Republicans. Dagnes noted that Shippensburg is a small regional school in a rural area dominated by conservatives.

“My problem is this canard that’s out there that says that all college students are liberal, because what that does is it gives our republican

and conservative students short shrift,” Dagnes said. “We have some very smart conservatives. We have some very smart Republicans. And by assuming everybody’s a liberal and a Democrat, boy, are you not paying attention to what’s about 60% of our student body.”

Dagnes also spoke about the change in excitement over the race that has happened over the last few months.

“It’s a happier political climate now than it was four months ago,” Dagnes said. “No shade to Joe Biden, but why would a 20 year old want to choose between an octogenarian and a septuagenarian?”

Mental Health: The Cost of Code-Switching

Libby Cogan Staff Contributor

During Shippensburg University’s Diversity Week, Dr. Tomoko Kudo Grabosky from the counseling center spoke on the prevalence of code-switching in our society on Wednesday, September 25. Grabosky is JapaneseAmerican and immigrated to the United States for college when she was 18 years old. She is a licensed therapist who shared many of her experiences with codeswitching throughout her life.

According to Grabosky, code-switching is “the practice of adjusting one’s style of speech, behavior, and/or appearance to mirror the social norms of others.” This can happen in many different scenarios, and everyone has done it at

some point. This includes altering the way you dress, speak or act depending on the environment one is in and the people that surround them.

Grabosky spoke on personal and social identities, highlighting that personal identities refer to how we feel our person differs from others, while social identities refer to how we feel our person resembles others. An example of this could be dressing up for an occasion that is a more professional setting; this is code-switching from your normal attire to match the tone of the event or impress people in positions of power.

Grabosky speaks English as well as Japanese and often switches between the two based on her surroundings. As an immigrant in college, she observed her peers

to conform her behaviors and looks to the societal standards of Americans in an attempt to fit in.

One of the most important components of codeswitching is being aware of when and how we are doing it. There are scenarios, such as changing the music around children or parents to be more appropriate, that are acceptable practices of code-switching, while there are other scenarios that just prove to be insensitive to other cultures.

According to Grabosky’s the presentation, 48% of black college graduates and 42% of Hispanic college graduates feel the need to code-switch. Only 34% of white college graduates feel the need to code-switch, showing the clear distinction between the way different races feel they must adjust to

fit their surroundings.

An example of codeswitching that was used was that of actor and host of “Access Hollywood,” Mario Lopez. His dialect while on Access Hollywood and in other shows was clearly different than that of his voice in social media food videos, in which he speaks in a more laid back and personable manner while eating Mexican dishes. His videos began going viral, as the public speculated that Lopez was not Mexican and were confused as to why he sounded and acted different in these clips than what they saw on TV.

Lopez went to social media to clear up the rumors and confirm that he is, in fact Mexican, as his parents are both Mexican immigrants. He was born in Chula Vista, California, which is on

the border of Mexico. The speculation surrounding the video added fuel to the fire in the conversation of code-switching, insinuating that Lopez was not being authentic in his television personas and radio show.

Shippensburg student Tarren Hill says, “Choose your stress: code-switching or being yourself and fighting through it. If you are not surrounding yourself with diversity, you want people to code-switch around you, and you are part of the problem.”

There is the question of how to even know if people are being genuine when they change aspects of themselves around different audiences and environments. Many marginalized groups and individuals face mental conflicts when it comes codeswitching, as they feel they must change themselves

to avoid stereotypes and judgement, which can lead to confusion and frustration with one’s personal identity. Other negative effects of code-switching can be burnout or feeling detached from one’s culture. This is especially dangerous, as these feelings can be the root of mental health issues like depression, anxiety and PTSD.

“Sometimes others try to dictate who they think you should be,” Grabosky said. “In the United States, some of the social identities are race, gender, social-economic class, sexual orientation and more.”

Code-switching is something that everyone does at some point. It is something everyone should be more aware of, as some of the ways in which it is used in society can be detrimental.

Tau Kappa collaborates with family shelter for Halloween crafts

Shippensburg

University’s studentathlete honors sorority Tau Kappa collaborated with Community Cares for a children’s Halloween craft on September 23. The family shelter, located on Burd Street in Shippensburg, welcomed the women of the sorority who joined together to engage with the children of

the community. The Community Cares shelter started in 2022 as a nonprofit space for homeless families and adults to sleep, eat, shower, make phone calls and receive mail.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Cumberland County has one of the fastest growing populations in Pennsylvania, increasing the demand for shelter. Approximately 30 children live at the shelter and around 10 came to make crafts and enjoy snacks at the

event. The kids were able to make Halloween paper chains with materials and help provided by the sorority’s members.

“Seeing how grateful and happy the kids were for us to come in and make crafts with them was so heartwarming,”

Tau Kappa President Maddy Tursi said. “Something that was special to me was one of the little girls I was making crafts with drew me a Halloween sign for my room, thanked me and then gave

me a hug.”

Volunteer Coordinator

Sherry Collins says the most rewarding part of working at the family shelter is “seeing the kids come in afraid and unsure, but as they are here longer, they get out of their comfort zones and create a community.”

“Let’s say you graduate college, and you don’t immediately get a job,” Collins said about the number of college-aged people in the shelter. “A lot

of kids can go home. Some of these people have parents, that for whatever reason, they cannot go home, or do not have a home or anyone they can live with or fall back on at all. There are also a lot of people that couch surf or live in their cars or in tents, so homelessness is just a very layered issue.”

Programs like these are designed to provide help to communities that are less fortunate. “[The event] really represented Tau Kappa well

because one of the initiatives of our sorority is to connect with the community and give back,” Tau Kappa Vice

President Abbie Miller said.

“This was one of our first events, so I am excited to see what we do this year with more community events.” Community Cares accepts donations and volunteers at both their Shippensburg and Carlisle locations. For more information, visit morethanshelter.org.

Libby Cogan Staff Contributor

Libby Cogan / The Slate Child creating a Halloween craft at the Community Cares shelter.

Libby Cogan / The Slate

Tau Kappa member Maegan Quinn (left) and Vice President Abbie Miller (right).

Ryan Cleary / SU Social Media and Content Manager

Sophomore Michael Luzi speaking at Political Speed Dating.

Ryan Cleary / SU Social Media and Content Manager Alison Dagnes, SU political science professor and event moderator.

Ryan Cleary / SU Social Media and Content Manager SU students engaging in political discourse.

The Beach Boys bring famous ‘good vibrations’ to Luhrs Center

Gabe Rader Staff Contributor

The Beach Boys, one of the most popular American bands of all time, stopped by the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center for their Endless Golden Summer Tour on September 26.

Celebrating over 50 years of success, Mike Love, the only original Beach Boy who still tours, sang many of the group’s classics from the 1950s and 60s. They might have a few helping guitars that have helped the band evolve over the decades, but The Beach Boys are still loud and proud. Love, 83, opened the show by singing himself the first verse of the 1965 hit “California Girls”, and saxophonist Randy Leago let his bari-sax and piccolo loose the entire show. Tim Bonhomme worked the crowds and the keyboards all night, lifting all ages out of their seats to come toward the front to get up

The “Instrumental Fashions: Attire and Song” exhibit

Henry Guest Contributor

In the intricately woven story of music and clothing, the exhibit “Instrumental Fashions: Attire and Song” does a wonderful job of blending these timeless songs and stitches. Located in the Fashion Archives and Museum, this exhibit creates incredible outfits using historical pieces inspired by song. Karin Bohleke, director of the museum, states that their collection at Shippens-

burg is “very well known” and contains “working-class to Chanel.” As you walk through this exhibit, outfits adorn mannequins and lyrics from the inspiration song hang above them. Below the attire, the location and story behind each piece of clothing informs the viewer the origin of each piece. My favorite piece in this exhibit was “Cardigan,” inspired by Taylor Swift’s song of the same name. The lyrics of this song mention a vintage tee and high heels on cobblestones, which is exactly what is included in this piece. The outfit includes a pair of jeans, cardigan, heels and a vintage t-shirt donated by Peggy Coffman. The shirt was purchased at an Adam Ant concert in 1983 on the American Tour. I would highly recommend a visit to the Fashion Archives and Museum. The rich history of each piece and the cleverly associated lyrics make the “Instrumental Fashions: Attire and Song” a thoroughly interesting experience and is worth checking out before the exhibit closes.

close to a real live Beach Boy, who welcomed all with waves, smiles, and finger guns.

Love also dedicated a song to his old friend and The Beatles guitarist, the late George Harrison, who Love was quite close to musically and frequently mediated with. Love’s son, Christian Love, sang “God Only Knows”, dedicated to his co-founder Carl Wilson, who died of lung cancer in 1998.

The Beach Boys performed all of their greatest hits, including “Kokomo,” “Surfin’ Safari,” “I Get Around,” and, of course, “Good Vibrations” Towards the end, Love played a trailer for The Beach Boys’ Documentary, which is on Disney Plus. Love says the show “includes everybody, whether they are still with us or not” to honor the legacy and memory of each Beach Boy.

The Beach Boys are touring through 2025, with upcoming stops through the Southeast United States before heading to Canda.

“Beyond the Sea” is below the expectations

TJ Klune’s whimsical fantasy novel “The House in the Cerulean Sea” transported readers to a cozy island full of magical orphans and a found family. The novel was released during the pandemic, March 17, 2020, and provided a much-needed escape for many readers. What was originally written as a one-off is slowly expanding into a universe that allows readers to revisit Marsyas Island and the characters that inhabit it as they take on new adventures and struggles. The newest edition of the Cerulean Chronicles, “Somewhere Beyond the Sea,” came out Sept. 10.

“The House in the Cerulean Sea” followed Linus Baker, a government worker who was assigned to check on the wellbeing of the six magical orphans. Arthur Parnassus,

a formerly abused magic orphan, watched over the children and ran the orphanage. As Linus spent time on the island, he became emotionally invested in each of the children’s lives, including a gnome, sprite, wyvern, were-Pomeranian, green blob, and finally, the Antichrist reincarnated into a 7-year old’s body.

Watching Linus fall in love with the children as well as Arthur while tacking issues such as harmful government systems and societal stigmatization is exactly what readers needed at the time “The House in the Cerulean Sea” came out. However, it was the children in this novel that made me fall in love with The Cerulean Chronicles in the first place.

The characters in the Cerulean Chronicles are some of the most lovable and extraordinary characters. Each shine in a different way, ranging from come-

The Slate staff put together a playlist filled with their favorite diverse artists in recognition of Diversity Week!

dic relief to showing how resilient children can be in the face of trauma and discrimination.

The shining star that combines both is the character, Lucy. Short for Lucifer and known as the antichrist, Lucy discovers doing kind things for the people he loves makes the “spiders” in his head sleepy, while still holding onto an incredibly dry, borderline dark sense of humor.

Klune uses the juxtaposition of reincarnating the son of Satan into a child’s body to discuss how we have the freedom of choice to choose who we are. While a chance to revisit these characters is what made me pick up the second book, I quickly realized that even the most lovable characters cannot save a novel with a next to non-existent plot.

Regan

Courtesy of Regan Henry

“Cardigan” outfit inspired by Taylor Swift’s song.

Kylie Saar Guest Contributor

Jayden Pohlman / The Slate

Bermuda, Bahamas, Luhrs! The Beach Boys came to Shippensburg and performed at the Luhrs Performing Arts Center on Thursday.

Swimming sweeps Kutztown to start season

Shippensburg University’s swimming teams picked up a pair of victories over Kutztown in a dual meet on Wednesday evening, with the men’s team winning 129-74 while the women eked out a 131-130 win.

The men’s team won 12 of 14 events, taking on a Kutztown team competing in its first meet since 2009 when the program was cut. Eight different Raiders picked up individual victories.

Three Raiders provisionally qualified for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championships, including a pair in the 50yard freestyle.

Sophomore Robbie Ferlick won the event and qualified with a time of 21.72 seconds, while sophomore Mason Koeth placed third to qualify at 22.30 seconds.

Koeth also provisionally qualified for the PSACs in the 100-yard backstroke, winning the event at 54 seconds even. Senior Zaidian Van Orden was the night’s other PSAC provisional qualifier, winning the 100-yard butterfly at 53.64 seconds.

A pair of freshmen SU swimmers picked up their first collegiate event wins in the dual meet. Alex Kissinger won the longest event of the night, taking the 1000-yard freestyle at 10:52.04. Kiran George also got his first win, taking the 50-yard breaststroke at 28.10 seconds, beating junior teammate Nate Wauls by 0.01 seconds. Also victorious on the men’s side were senior David Johnson in the 200-yard freestyle at 1:50.87, junior Kevin Noldy in the 50-yard backstroke at 26.94 seconds and graduate JC Greenwood in the 500-yard freestyle. The women’s team start-

ed strong, finishing first and second in the 200-yard medley relay. The “A” team of junior Makennah Fickett, sophomore Charlee Shaw, graduate Laurel Gingrich and senior Gracie Wetzel won the event with a time of 1:53.79.

Fickett proved to be the star on the women’s side, as she also won three individual events across the meet. She won the 50-yard backstroke at 28.49 seconds, the 50-yard butterfly at 27.35 seconds and the 200-yard individual medley at 2:19.75.

Four other members of the women’s team won individual events, including Gingrich taking the 200-yard freestyle at 2:01.32. Shaw was victorious in the 50-yard breaststroke at 32.06 seconds.

Freshman Olivia Carver took her first NCAA victory, winning the 100-yard butterfly at 1:02.09.

The final individual win-

Shippensburg swimmers cheer on their teammate

women’s team held on for a close victory to open their

ner on the women’s team was sophomore Michelle Kubiak, taking the 100-yard backstroke at 1:04.68. The women’s meet came down to the night’s final event, with the Golden Bears

Men’s soccer splits pair of home conference games

Mason Flowers Asst. Sports Editor

Shippensburg University’s men’s soccer team went 1-1 this past week, beating West Chester 3-0 on Wednesday before falling to Bloomsburg 3-1 on Saturday. The results move the Raiders to 2-4 on the season, including 1-2 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East play.

Wednesday’s match saw SU look strong in ugly weather conditions, as a consistent mist and fog covered David See Field.

The Raiders started strong though, with senior midfielder Ashton Davies scoring his second goal of the year just two minutes into the match off an assist from junior Luke

Kramer. Davies spoke with SU Sports Info on the impact of that goal postgame, saying, “We knew we needed a goal early… if we could get them flustered and get them out of their rhythm, we knew it would be a huge difference in the game.”

Sophomore Luca Huesser scored the second goal of the match, striking at the 20-minute mark for his second of the season via an assist from redshirt sophomore Clay Waterman to make it 2-0 Shippensburg. This would remain the score at halftime.

The second half was primarily a defensive affair, with no goals until the 84th minute when sophomore Cam Henry earned his first

goal of the season with an assist from Huesser.

This made it 3-0 in favor of SU, which would prove to be the final score.

West Chester doubled up SU in shots, having 18 attempts in the match, but the Raider defense held strong.

Sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Krumenacker earned his second clean sheet of the season, picking up six saves.

Krumenacker commented on the defense with SU Sports Info. “The ten guys in front of me did a great job to make sure they didn’t get any clear-cut chances,” he said. We set the standard; a clean sheet is always the standard.”

The second game of the week did not go the Raiders’ way, as Bloomsburg turned a 1-0 lead at the half into a 3-1 victory.

The Huskies dominated the possession in the match, outshooting SU 19-3, along with earning a dozen corner kicks.

It was a physical contest, with the two teams combining for 18 fouls and three yellow cards. SU’s lone goal came off a penalty kick in the 88th minute, with redshirt junior Victor Vottero putting the Raiders on the board.

Two more conference games are on the schedule this week for the Raiders, both road matchups. They will travel to Shepherd on Wednesday for a 1 p.m. game before heading to East Stroudsburg on Saturday for a 5 p.m. contest.

needing to finish first and second in the 200-yard freestyle relay to win.

The team of Gingrich, Carver, freshman Elyse Arnold and freshman Emma Gerlinski placed second in

Men’s cross country wins Dickinson Short Invite, women place second

Nicola Pugge Sports Editor

Shippensburg University’s men’s cross-country team claimed the team victory in the short invitational 4K, and the women finished in second place as a team in the 4K at the 2024 Dickinson Invitational in the rain on Saturday.

The Invitational offered a short and long race for each the men and the women. Shippensburg only contested the short races to get ready for the rest of the season after taking the previous weekend off from competing and did not compete in the 6K (women) or the 8K (men). The team scoring was made up of the top three runners and not the usual top five.

Redshirt freshman Tommy Crum Jr. paced the male Raiders in the 4K and finished second in 12:07.9. Junior Garrett Quinan in third and senior Aiden Gonder in fourth completed SU’s 2-3-4 scoring performance. Dickinson’s senior Brock Overlander won the individual 4K for the hosts who finished second in the team standings. Overlander only finished 0.6 seconds ahead of Crum. The Raiders had three more top 10 finishes from the men with junior Ryan Wolfe running sixth, graduate Ian Sherlock finishing seventh and freshman Ramon Urena placing ninth. All 13 Shippensburg men finished in the Top 35, showing the depth of their squad. Senior Victoria Mattioli led the women’s team with her fifth-place finish. The other scoring performances came from junior Livi Rieck in eighth place and freshman Ella Hartel, who placed tenth. Fellow freshmen Victoria Bartholomew and Shaela Kruskie rounded out the good team finish in the top 20, finishing 17th and 18th respectively. Washington & Lee ran 1-2-3-4 and were victorious in the women´s 4K team score. The Raiders placed second with 23 points ahead of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) rival Bloomsburg, who scored 29 points. Both the men and women will wrap up their regular season with their biggest meet next week at Lehigh’s Paul Short Run as they prepare for their postseason races in late October and early November.

Quehanna Coble/ The Slate

Senior Ashton Davies goes for a header against West Chester. Davies scored the first goal of the match, propelling SU to a conference win.

the race to secure an SU win.

Both teams will return to the pool on Saturday, facing Bloomsburg in a dual meet at home. The meet starts at Donald N. Miller Pool in Heiges Field House a 1 p.m.

Mason Flowers Asst. Sports Editor

Courtesy of SU Sports Info

against Kutztown. The

season.

Courtesy of SU Sports Info Sophomore Mason Koeth qualified for the PSAC championships with his times in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke.

Courtesy of SU Sports Info Sophomore Robbie Ferlick was victorious in the 50-yard freestyle, with his time of 21.72 seconds qualifying him for PSAC championships.

Courtesy of SU Sports Info Senior Zaidian Van Orden won the 100-yard butterly, qualifying him for PSAC championships with a time of 53.64 seconds.

Courtesy of SU Sports Info

Junior Makennah Fickett won three indivudial events, earning victories in the 50-yard backstroke, 50-yard butterfly & 200-yard IM.

Courtesy of SU Sports Info Freshman Olivia Carver won her first collegiate event against Kutztown, placing first in the 100-yard butterfly at 1:02.09.

Courtesy of SU Sports Info Sophomore Michelle Kubiak prevailed in the 100-yard backstroke, taking the win at 1:04.68 as part of a women’s team victory.

Volleyball goes 1-1 for home-opening weekend

Savannah Silvestre Staff Contributor

Shippensburg University’s women’s volleyball split its home-opening games 1-1 this past weekend at Heiges Field House.

The team lost their home opener against Shepherd on Friday but bounced back to win their next game on Saturday against Chestnut Hill.

The Raiders’ season record moves to 4-9 overall.

Friday’s matchup against the Shepherd Rams had an electric start. The energy for the team’s home opener propelled the Raiders to take the first two sets by close margins.

The Rams led early in the first set with a strong 4-0 run. The Raiders slowed down their advances with a quick answer back kill from sophomore Hailey Cappleman.

Both teams exchanged points back and forth for most of the match.

The Raiders made quick efforts at 22-24 with kills from Cappleman and junior Isabelle Bombas and backto-back aces by sophomore Shay Kolivoski. The late 4-0 run led the Raiders to win the first set 26-24.

Set two was played in a similar fashion, with the Rams gaining the early lead before the Raiders recovered.

SU topped the Rams again with back-to-back Ram errors, a freshman Clara Wildermuth kill and a senior Erica Lampus ace. The final score was 25-23.

The Raiders looked to finish the job in set three, but their early lead did not hold on until Shepherd gained

momentum and pushed ahead.

The teams exchanged leads until the Rams strung together a 3-0 run to win the set 27-25 and advance to set four.

Shippensburg suffered hard-fought losses in sets four and five to finish the day with a 3-2 loss.

Junior setter Kearstin Davis recorded a career-high 60 assists, which is the most by a Raider in a single match since 2019. She also added two kills, two aces and a season-high 18 digs.

Looking to bounce back on Saturday, the Raiders geared up to take on Chestnut Hill back at Heiges Field House.

The Raiders came out strong in set one with an early 11-0 lead over the Griffins.

SU struggled with a couple of errors but were able to shut down any efforts by the Griffins to win the set 25-15.

Chestnut Hill bounced back in set two to challenge the Raiders. They strung together three 5-0 runs to solidify a strong lead over SU and win the set 25-18.

Shippensburg gained back their fierce momentum in sets three and four to notch a win for the weekend, 3-1.

Senior Emily Gardner delivered a strong performance recording nine kills, two aces, one assist and 14 digs. Bombas led the Raiders in kills, recording 11, and Junior Berkley Simmons added a season-high 15 digs to help the Raiders defensively.

The Raiders will be on the road next week for two conference matchups against Kutztown on Friday and East Stroudsburg on Saturday.

SU Football shut out at home by Shepherd, 38-0

Asst. Sports Editor

Shippensburg University’s football team fell 38-0 against Shepherd at Seth Grove Stadium, dropping to 1-3. The Rams used big plays to control the game, with four of their five touchdowns being at least 31 yards.

The Rams got the scoring started on their first drive of the afternoon, with their running back Malachi Brown breaking free for a 56-yard touchdown with 8:51 left in the first quarter. The Raiders got some momentum going on their next drive, reaching Rams territory, but a penalty and pair of sacks forced a punt. The score remained 7-0 entering the second quarter, until Shepherd added another touchdown on a 31-yard completion to wide receiver Barry Hill to make it 14-0. They then did a short kickoff that deflected off freshman Ethan Arneson. The Rams recovered the ball and took advantage of the short field to score again, making it 210. SU’s next drive saw the offense’s best drive of the day, but the Raiders could not convert a fourth-and-5 just outside of the redzone.

The defense forced a threeand-out, but a pair of sacks on Shippensburg’s next offensive drive forced a punt. Shepherd returner Miles Greer scored a 65-yard touchdown, making it a 28-0 game at the half. The third quarter saw Shippensburg sophomore quarterback Sam Stoner leave the game with a wrist injury after being tackled out of bounds on a scramble play. He was seen throwing on the sideline later in the game but did not return to action, likely as a precautionary measure. Shepherd’s first drive after the injury saw a touchdown on the very first play, with Cameron Dorner hauling in a 57-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Lek Powell to make it 35-0 midway through the third quarter. Freshman Vincent Micucci entered as quarterback for the Raiders after Stoner’s injury and led a strong drive into Shepherd territory that was undone by a pair of penalties, including a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Shippensburg sideline to force another punt.

Shepherd tacked on a field goal after a six-minute drive in the fourth quarter, moving

Madison Sharp/The Slate Center AJ Baldwin is about to snap the ball in the 38-0 shutout loss to Shepherd on Saturday. It was the first time the Radiers were shut out since 2013 and the first time they were shut out at home since 2008.

the score to 38-0. Micucci and the offense did move the ball some but could not score, with the game ending on Shepherd’s sixth sack.

Shippensburg was outgained 310-177 in the matchup, with the run game especially struggling, only mustering 21 yards in the game. The Raiders held the ball for over 38 minutes and got 12 first downs compared to just nine for Shepherd but

just could not finish a drive. This was the first time SU was shut out at home since 2008.

Stoner finished 10-for-11 with 83 yards passing, and Micucci went 10-for-13 with 73 yards and an interception.

Redshirt junior Tanner Hess led the team with 21 rushing yards on 10 carries, while sophomore Karim Brice led the team in receiving yards with 46 on five catches.

Nicola Puggé Sports

Field Hockey wins PSAC Opener

Shippensburg University’s field hockey team, the No. 1 ranked team in the nation, beat nationally ranked No. 4 Bloomsburg in their Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opener on Saturday at home 3-0.

In the Raiders´ seventh game of the season, they shut out their opponents for the fifth time. Shippensburg also won over a Top Five opponent for the third time.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Raiders scored once in each of the following three quarters.

Twenty-five seconds into the second quarter, senior Nya Gilchrist scored by diving at the far post on an assist by freshman Anne Gardner. Late in the third quarter, senior Alexa Michielsen sent the third-consecutive penalty corner into the top-right corner of the cage.

Senior Yasmin De Meyer scored in the fourth quarter as she lifted her shot past the Bloomsburg goalie.

The Raiders will travel to Millersville on Wednesday for a game at 6 p.m.

Women’s soccer picks up first win of the season

After a 3-0 loss to Millersville on the road on Wednesday, Shippensburg University´s women’s soccer team rallied to celebrate its first win of the season against Mansfield on Saturday 2-1.

On Wednesday, the Marauders took an early 2-0 lead in the first half and scored a third time late in the second half.

SU trailed early in the game once again on Saturday. Mansfield scored less than 90 seconds into the game, but Shippensburg recovered quickly.

Six minutes later, senior defender Suzy Dietrich scored her first goal for the Raiders to tie the game. Senior Olivia Stephen sent a long-range free kick off the right post and Dietrich capitalized on the rebound.

Stephen also scored the winning goal at the start of the second half. She scored in the center of the box off a left-footed cross by junior Ryleigh Cook.

The Raiders will host Lock Haven on Wednesday at David See Field at 3 p.m. Tennis defeats D’Youville thanks to late surge, 4-3

Shippensburg University’s tennis team came from behind to win over D’Youville in the rain on Saturday at Robb Sports Complex.

SU lost the doubles point in the tiebreak of the No.2 doubles.

Sophomore Ava Kalist won her singles match at No. 6 singles to tie the score, but D’Youville regained the lead after winning the No.1 and No.2 singles.

On defense, junior DJ Jackson and redshirt freshman Nate Myers each had eight tackles to lead the team, with Jackson also getting a pass breakup. Senior TJ Wagner had the lone sack of the day for the SU defense.

The Raiders begin a twogame road trip by traveling to West Chester next Saturday, taking on the Rams at noon.

Freshman Jade Miller started the Raider rally with her victory at No. 3 singles. Sophomore Brinley Morris tied the team score, winning at No. 5 singles.

The decision over the team victory came down to the No. 4 singles. Sophomore Rachel Gallagher won in a 6-3, 6-4 decision, unphased by

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Hanna Atkinson/The Slate

Hailey Cappleman and Elliot Oliphant jump to block in the game against Chestnut Hill on Saturday. The Raiders won in four sets, after losing the second set.

Mason Flowers