The Slate 4-4-17

Tuesday April 4 2017 Vol. 60 No. 21

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Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

SU band kicks off spring with concert, E4

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LGBT physician general speaks at SU

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Disability Club hosts scavenger hunt

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• Concert incorporates Riverdance music • Percussionists use makeshift drums • Finale mimics a sprint to the finish

Make-A-Wish recipient returns to SU

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Assisted suicide should be an option

News

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September April 4, 201713, 2016

Celebrating 60 years as Shippensburg University’s student-run campus newspaper.

Management Troy Okum.....................Editor-in-Chief Catherine Amoriello....Managing Editor News Jenna Wise....................Editor Drew Lovett.........Asst. Editor Shannon Long......Asst. Editor Opinion Jamison Barker................Editor Kayleigh Purcell.....Asst. Editor Ship Life Yvette Betancourt....Editor Sofia Perzan...Asst. Editor Sports William Whisler.............Editor Nate Powles..........Asst. Editor Blair Garrett.........Asst. Editor A&E Marissa Merkt...........Editor Molly Foster.....Asst. Editor Graphics Thomas Witmer......Chief Designer Laura Phillips..........Asst. Designer Multimedia Kayla Brown.....................Editor Cal Talbott................Asst. Editor Meghan Schiereck....Asst. Editor Copy Ali Laughman......Editor Yvonne Wagner....Editor Olivia Riccio........Editor Public Relations Brooke Ready.................Director Sylvia McMullen...Asst. Director Logan Wein...........Asst. Director Web Michael McCullough...Director Nolan McGraw....Asst. Director Advertising Alex Balla.....................Director Abrihet Zegeye....Asst. Director Loni Myers..........Asst. Director Adviser Dr. Michael Drager.......Adviser Contact Us Email..............slate.ship@gmail.com Phone..........................717-477-1778 Mailing Address The Slate -Shippensburg University CUB Box 106 1871 Old Main Drive Shippensburg, PA 17257

The Slate is a weekly student-run newspaper that welcomes everyone to attend its meetings, which are held on Sundays at its office located in the CUB. The Slate welcomes submissions from all students.

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Physician general visits SU

Gov. Tom Wolf appointee discusses her experiences with discrimination, drug addiction within the LGBT community Sylvia McMullen

Asst. PR Director Pennsylvania Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine addressed the audience in Shippensburg University’s Old Main Chapel on March 27 on issues concerning the LGBT community, including sex, drugs and gender identity.

Levine divided her time between discussing Pennsylvania’s public health and advocating for LGBT rights. While discussing the latter, Levine dove into her own experience of transitioning from male to female, as well as the after-effects of the process.

“You can love who you love, you can be who you are and you can achieve anything.”

–Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania physician general Levine began the lecture by discussing terminology used for members of the LGBT community, including intersex, agender and pangender.

Levine said “queer,” a once offensive term, is now considered an accepted umbrella term for those in the LGBT community.

Levine stressed that allies, those who are not part of the LGBT community yet support LGBT rights, are crucial to improving gay rights.

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“Allies are absolutely critically important for our equality and our freedom,” Levine said.

Sexual orientation and gender identity were also discussed, and Levine said they are separate concepts that act independently of one another. Sexual orientation explains what gender or genders a person is sexually attracted to, and gender identity describes how someone views their own gender, according to Levine.

Levine recounted her own experience of transitioning from male to female, a thought she had had since age five after reading a comic book where Superboy turned into Supergirl.

Levine “compartmentalized” feelings about her gender for years, yet those feelings lingered into adulthood.

“Gender was always on my mind,” Levine said. “It was like a splinter in my brain.”

Levine said she was fortunate to receive opportunities as a transgender woman, considering there are certain groups in the LGBT community that struggle more than others.

Transgender individuals of color and transgender youth in particular face more discrimination and abuse, according to Levine.

“I think we need to work together for all of us for progress and not just fortunate individuals,” Levine said.

Another issue discussed was the opioid crisis in Pennsylvania. According to Levine, the over-prescribing of pain killers, such as oxycontin,

Photo by Sylvia McMullen

Pennsylvania Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine discusses her experiences and the challenges facing the LGBT community. has increased drug abuse. Levine said LGBT individuals are at a higher risk of abusing opioids.

According to Levine, heroin has also become a danger to public health in Pennsylvania because of the way it is treated and viewed by society.

“It is cheap, it is very powerful, it is plentiful and it is everywhere,” Levine said.

Levine closed by encouraging everyone in the LGBT community to stay confident in who they are.

“You can love who you love, you can be who you are and you can achieve anything.”

LGBT Facts •

Forty-two percent of LGBT individuals report living in an unwelcoming environment.

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Eighty percent of gay and lesbian youth report experiencing severe social isolation.

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Approximately 8.8 million people identify as a member of the LGBT community.

Sources: Dosomething.org, Fact Retreiver

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April 4, 2017

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Lecture explains Rome’s effect on British culture Shannon Long

Asst. News Editor Students and faculty convened in Shippensburg University’s Old Main Chapel on Thursday evening to listen to Robin Fleming’s lecture on how the end of the Roman Empire in Britain affected plants, animals and places.

Fleming has had three books and many articles published, with her most recent book titled “Britain After Rome: The Fall and Rise c. 400 to 1070.” Fleming began by explaining the late Roman material culture regime and its eventual downfall.

“I’m interested because Britain experienced a really stunning set of economic and political dislocations,” Fleming said.

These dislocations, however, were not represented in texts when Fleming was doing research for one of her books. She said many historians

focus on the political changes that result from the fall of the Roman Empire because it is documented in texts.

During her lecture, Fleming used the introduction and disappearance of plants and animals in Britain during and after the Roman Empire to examine the transformation of the relationships between people.

For instance, Fleming said plants and animals influence both landscaping and food. Humans, plants and animals have a mutual dependency on each other. During the Roman Empire, there was a large influx of alien plants in Britain. These plants included cilantro, cabbage, cherries and strawberries. These plants transformed into common kitchen staples, according to Fleming.

Certain crops particularly influenced the lifestyles of the British.

Cereal cultivation was a main source of food for Britain before Rome, but

the Romans wanted cereal from Britain to feed Roman administrators and military. This resulted in many fields, mills and barns to be constructed.

New animals and insects were also brought to Britain by the Romans. Beetles would often be found in grain storage buildings, Fleming said. Black rats, mules, pheasants, mice and chickens were other animals brought into Britain. Chickens had been seen in Britain before the Romans came, but only the elite owned them, Fleming said.

After the Roman Empire collapsed, Fleming said many of the plants and animals did not survive. There was no longer a need for a surplus of cereal cultivation so the landscape changed drastically. Because of a decrease in farming, many farm animals, such as mules, died out. Many people moved away from gardening.

Certain materials are needed to gar-

Photo by Meghan Schiereck

Robin Fleming describes the disappearance of plants and animals after the end of the Roman Empire in Britain. She said the disappearances resulted in a shift in material culture. den, but they were no longer needed after the Romans left, Fleming said.

SU history professor David Godshalk said Fleming showed how the timeline of history is not linear, but

rather a series of ups and downs.

“She gave a wonderful talk emphasizing the role material culture plays in societies and how it shapes our daily lives.”

Integrated studies program creates new opportunities for disabled students Hunter Wolfe Staff Writer

Photo by Kayleigh Purcell

Thomas Newell shares MU’s integrated studies program. The goal of the lecture was to create a similar program at SU.

Speakers from Millersville University (MU) gave a special presentation in Shippensburg University’s Old Main Chapel on March 28 to introduce a one-of-a-kind disabilities program to the Shippensburg community.

The program is called “Integrated Studies” — an inclusive curriculum designed to make higher education more accessible to students with intellectual disabilities, according to Thomas Newell, a professor of special education and disability studies at MU. Presently, students with intellectual disabilities applying to schools in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) are treated the same as typical students by admissions offices. Their GPAs and SAT scores are scrutinized so that only the most promising students are admitted.

However, students with intellectual disabilities cannot always make the cut, Newell said.

To make higher education more accessible to those students, MU implemented its integrated studies program. Enrolled students do not earn a degree, per se, but they pay the same tuition and learn in the same classrooms as typical students. By the end of their program, they take away a web-based portfolio highlighting all the relevant work they have produced throughout the curriculum.

The program’s key concept — integration — extends beyond the classroom, Newell said. In fact, the goal of the program is to invite more students with intellectual disabilities to have the same college experience as typical students.

“They attend typical classes, they live in residence halls with everyone else,” Newell said. “There’s nothing ‘special’ except for the support they get.”

The goal of the lecture was to increase awareness for the movement to create an integrated studies program at SU, according to Allison Carey, director of the disability studies minor. Currently, only six percent

of SU’s student body has a disability, and introducing an integrated studies program would increase the number of people with intellectual disabilities who can achieve an education. The department is mobilizing to bring the program to SU and believes the university could see a pilot as early as 2019, Carey said.

To offer another perspective, Newell gave the floor to Deltilyn Bonal, a photography student enrolled in the integrated studies program at MU. As a person with an intellectual disability, Bonal faced a lot of discouragement when she expressed interest in going to college.

“Everyone in my family is educated, and I didn’t want to be the only one without a diploma,” Bonal said.

Newell believes everyone deserves a quality education and wants to see an integrated studies program someday at SU. “If you go to PASSHE in Harrisburg and say ‘what is your mission?’ they’ll tell you, ‘our mission has always been to open doors and turn on lights,’” Newell said.

April 4, 2017

This Week on Campus

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The Women’s Center is hosting its annual Take Back the Night event from 7–10 p.m. in the CUB MPR.

SU is sponsoring a lecture by John Deni on the transformation of Europe at 7 p.m. in John L. Grove Hall Room 101.

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Financial aid nears deadline of acceptance Financial Aid Office

Shippensburg University Not only does April mark the first full month of spring, but it also marks National Financial Literacy Month. Financial literacy refers to the use of skills and knowledge to make informed decisions regarding financial resources.

FINANCIAL AID OFFERS

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Student Government candidates will be giving their campaign speeches at 6 p.m. in the CUB Red Zone.

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The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs will be hosting its MESA Fusion Fest from 6–10 p.m. in the CUB Ship Deck Amphitheater.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is hosting a mental health awareness walk from 1–5 p.m. in the CUB Ship Deck Amphitheater.

Students interested in obtaining any form of federal or state financial aid for a given year must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Financial aid packages can include federal grants, state grants, scholarships, federal student loans, federal parent PLUS loans, federal graduate PLUS loans or private alternative loans.

To view individual financial aid packages, log in to your myShip student portal. Please take the time to understand the difference between the types of aid offered, but for general purposes here are the major differences.

Grants and scholarships are free money and do not require repayment.

Loans are borrowed funds from either the federal government or private lenders, and require students to pay back the amount borrowed. For reference purposes, 2017–18 financial aid packages will begin to go out in late May for returning students.

the first step in understanding and eventually managing student loan debt. For information regarding federal student loans, please visit www. nslds.ed.gov and log in using your FSA user identification and password.

If you have borrowed a private alternative educational loan, obtain the name of your lender by requesting a free credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com or by asking the Financial Aid Office.

REFUNDS

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Author to visit SU during annual Day of Awareness Jenna Wise

News Editor Shippensburg University’s Day of Understanding, an annual event that celebrates diversity and individualism, will feature a lecture by author Sherman Alexie on Wednesday.

A Spokane and Couer d’Alene Indian, Alexie grew up on a Spokane Indian reservation in Washington.

He has loosely discussed his experiences in several of the 25 books he has written, including “Thunder Boy Jr.” and “The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian.”

Throughout his career, Alexie has won numerous awards in recognition of his writing, such as the PEN/ Faulkner Award for Fiction and the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. He also won the Audience Award and Filmmakers

Trophy at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival for his work with “Smoke Signals.”

Additional Day of Understanding events include a ShipTalks session at 2 p.m. in the Ceddia Union Building.

Alexie’s lecture will be held tomorrow at Sherman Alexie, Author 7 p.m. in the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center.

The event is free to the public.

Guests are welcome to attend a Native American dinner from 4–7:15 p.m. in Reisner Dining Hall for $10 or with a meal plan.

Latest CVRT pedestrian bridge installed in Newville

In the overwhelming majority of cases, refunds are a result of over-borrowing on a loan. Over-borrowing has become a common practice used to pay for books, off-campus rent, food or travel expenses.

Please keep in mind that the money you borrow will accumulate interest, meaning the $100 you borrow today will almost certainly cost you more once you have repaid your loan.

Borrow responsibly and make every effort to minimize borrowing. If you do not want or need your full refund, please return it to Student Accounts and ask to have it returned on your loan with the highest interest rate.

Financial literacy begins with education. Continue your financial literacy education by visiting the Shippensburg University website and familiarizing yourself with the billing and withdrawal policies of Shippensburg University.

For more information, try visiting MANAGING STUDENT LOAN the debt management area of the fiDEBT nancial aid section and learn about loan repayment options.

Photo courtesy of Allen Dieterich-Ward Have you borrowed money to pay Anyone with additional questions for college? If so, do you know from or concerns can visit the Financial The Cumberland Valley Rails-to-Trails Council (CVRTC) installs its which lender(s) you have borrowed? Aid Office in Old Main Room 101. second bridge in Newville, Pennsylvania, furthering its progress If you cannot immediately answer in completing the trail. Shippensburg’s own pedestrian bridge was either of these questions, please do installed over Fogelsonger Road last week. yourself a favor and find out. It is

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April 4, 2017

Your World Today

Discrimination remains reality for LGBT community Commentary

Troy Okum

Editor-in-Chief

The answer is, quite a few. Most recently, the United States Census Bureau announced last week it would not be including questions on the 2020 census to identify sexual orientation or gender identity, according to The Huffington Post.

On the one hand, such questions could be seen as irrelevant and an invasion of privacy into people’s personal lives. On the other hand, not including the questions could further marginalize LGBT Americans.

When there are questions for race, ethnicity, age and a host of other demographics, not including questions concerning LGBT people does not make a lot of sense.

Obtaining information about LGBT Americans could help organizations fight for their rights, and educate the public by simply knowing who they are and how many of them exist. It could also aid the government in enforcing LBGT protection laws, but that may be a moot point considering President Donald Trump just took another one of his predecessor’s executive orders and threw it into the Oval Office’s fireplace to burn into the ashes of history.

Former President Barack Obama’s 2014 executive order prohibited the federal government from employing firms and contractors that discriminated against LGBT people, reported Rolling Stone magazine. But, according to magazine writer David Cohen, this wasn’t actually the order Trump repealed.

Obama signed a second executive order, which Trump did tear up, that forced the contractors to provide evidence that they do not discriminate.

In a nutshell, federally employed contractors and firms are not allowed to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, but they are no longer required to prove they do not discriminate.

That is the equivalent of a minor not being allowed to buy alcohol, but he or she does not have to verify his or her age with the store clerk.

In other words, if some bigoted employer wanted to start discriminating against LGBT workers or applicants for a position, he or she could do it and have a much greater chance of getting away with it.

The LGBT community, like all marginalized groups, live in a world of tentativeness — never quite sure if their cause is making progress or is being attacked. It is no wonder these groups need safe havens and centers to come together to express their concerns.

Shippensburg University’s LGBTQ+ Concerns Committee offers a range of online services and links to resource pages for students.

It includes a definitions tab for understanding LGBT culture and identity, among a list of educational tools.

It is a good place to go to learn more about the LGBT community, and to know what it means to walk under the rainbow flag.

Maker of the iconic rainbow flag used to represent the LGBT community, Gilbert Baker, died in New York City over the weekend, which reminded many people of the long history of LGBT Americans’ fight for equality.

Alongside San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, dozens of people held a vigil in the city to pay respect to the activist, according to ABC News.

Baker created the flag in 1978 and the symbol was ultimately adopted

by LGBT people from around the world. “[The flag] is the embodiment of the LGBT community,” Lee said, “and it has become a source of solace, comfort and pride for all those who look upon it.”

While the flag unified a community and allowed many disenfranchised people to fight for rights and respect under one banner, the history of LGBT Americans goes back for decades before the flag’s inception.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) first fought for LGBT rights in 1936, according to the organization’s website, aclu.org. Despite decades of court battles and a campaign launched in 1986 to give equal rights to LGBT Americans, the battle is apparently ongoing.

“Today, the ACLU brings more LGBT cases and advocacy initiatives than any other national organization does,” the ACLU website states.

But in 2017, how could the government or private citizens still be diminishing or restricting the rights of its people? After all, the Supreme Court legalized marriage for homoPhoto courtesy of Wikipedia user Pablo029 sexuals in 2015, so what rights are Gilbert Baker, creator of the Pride Flag died Saturday in New York. left to fight for?

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Police Briefs Theft reported in the C-7 commuter parking lot Sarah Strause of Leesport, Pennsylvania, came to the university police on March 20 to report a theft from her vehicle.

Strause’s vehicle was parked in the C-7 commuter parking lot when she discovered the front hood ornament of her 2007 BMW sedan had been stolen.

The missing ornament is valued at approximately $50 and the investigation is ongoing.

Vehicle damage reported in the L-1 storage parking lot Briana Bembry of Naugle Hall came to the university police department on March 21 to report tampering to her vehicle.

Bembry’s vehicle was parked in the L-1 storage parking lot when she discovered someone had poured an unknown liquid onto the driver’s door of her 2003 Hyundai Sonata sometime from March 19–21.

The liquid did not appear to cause any permanent damage and should be able to be washed off of the vehicle. The only damages were the cost of the car wash.

Burglary attempted at Seth Grove Stadium A staff member with the athletics department reported damage to the steel entry doors for the training room at Seth Grove Stadium on March 23.

The doors to the training room appeared as if someone attempted to force open the doors, causing them to be bent inward at the bottom of the doors.

The damage is believed to have occurred between 7:30 p.m. on March 22 and noon on March 23.

Nothing was found to be missing or disturbed inside the training room and it is believed the suspects were unsuccessful in gaining entry to the room.

The doors were repaired by the locksmith’s office. No damage estimate is available at this time.

Hit and run reported in the R-3 resident parking lot Emilie L. McMath of Naugle Hall came to the university police on March 22 to report damage done to her 2012 Nissan Sentra.

McMath said her vehicle was parked in the R-3 resident parking lot off of Adams Drive when she discovered damage to the right front bumper of the vehicle.

Officers checked the vehicle and found moderate damage to the right front bumper with damage estimated to be about $1,500.

The incident remains under investigation and a possible suspect has been observed on surveillance footage of the area. Charges are pending, depending on if the striking vehicle is located and the operator is identified.

Non-student visitor charged with simple assault, harassment Troy A. Franklin, Jr., of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged with harassment in connection with an incident that occurred March 24.

An SU student reported he was playing basketball with several other individuals in the student recreation building when a physical altercation occurred and one of the other males punched the student in the mouth twice.

After an investigation, the man who punched the student was identified as Franklin. Franklin had left the area prior to the arrival of the police due to a delay in reporting the incident.

A citation was later filed charging Franklin with harassment.

Slate

A6 News Federal judge throws out pay-by-play investigation April 4, 2017

Marc Levy

Associated Press Writer HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A federal judge on March 27 threw out a case in the FBI’s wide-ranging payto-play investigation of Pennsylvania government, acquitting a wealthy investment adviser accused of bribing ex-state treasurer Rob McCord to get lucrative contracts to manage public dollars.

United States District Judge John E. Jones III took the rare step of dismissing the 79-count case against Richard Ireland in the middle of the trial. Jones agreed with defense lawyers that prosecutors had not proven that Ireland offered campaign contributions or his help in McCord’s private business affairs in exchange for official favors from McCord.

Jones’ ruling came after the prosecution rested in a two-week-old case that had included four days of testimony by McCord and hours of taped conversations between McCord and Ireland. Some of the tapes were made by McCord after he became a cooperating witness with the FBI in November 2014 and began wearing a wire to record Ireland.

In his comments in court, Jones said direct evidence was lacking of Ireland’s intent to make such an exchange, and the government’s key witnesses — McCord and his top aide at the Treasury Department — did not provide the testimony to fill in that gap.

Rather, McCord testified that he and Ireland never had an “if then’’ conversation in their many years of dealings, Jones said, and McCord and his top aide testified they had

considered Ireland’s requests on the merits.

McCord resigned from office two years ago and pleaded guilty to extortion in a separate federal case involving his fundraising for his failed gubernatorial campaign. He awaits sentencing. During the trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Consiglio forced McCord to admit he had abused his office’s powers in more ways than previously revealed by prosecutors in the extortion case.

The government cannot appeal Jones’ decision. Ireland, 80, declined to comment while leaving the federal courts building in downtown Harrisburg.

Ireland had been accused of trying to bribe McCord with more than $500,000 in campaign contributions in what prosecutors called part of a years-long scheme to land lucrative

College Democrats, criminal justice department host showing of “13th” Jenna Wise

tributors,’’ Brandler said.

“The scenarios that repeatedly played out in this case, I am moved to say, are a product of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s highly deficient campaign finance laws,’’ Jones said.

In a key moment in the recorded conversations, McCord asked Ireland for $100,000 if he delivered another $175 million in pension fund and treasury investment contracts to Ireland. The money was couched as a campaign contribution to help McCord pay himself back some of the $2 million in personal money he had plunged into his failed gubernatorial campaign.

“Well, let’s work on it,’’ Ireland had responded. A few seconds later, he added, “You’ve been a great friend.

I’m with you a hundred percent.’’

Council of Trustees Updates The following are updates and briefs from the March 31 Council of Trustees meeting.

News Editor Shippensburg University’s College Democrats and criminal justice department presented a showing of the documentary “13th” on Tuesday evening in the Ceddia Union Building’s Orndorff Theatre.

Introduced by College Democrats President Aven Bittinger, the 2016 Ava DuVernay documentary chronicled the treatment of African-Americans from the signing of the United States Constitution’s 13th Amendment to present day.

The documentary cited D. W. Griffith’s film “The Birth of a Nation” for white America’s perception of African-Americans as a threat to society.

“Race is a social construct. What I mean by that is when we come out of the womb, we have no concept of race,” said SU criminal justice professor Stephanie Jirard.

Following the signing of former President Lyndon Johnson’s Civil Rights Act in 1964 racial tensions eased but continued to brew due to the passing of legislation that made

contracts to invest taxpayer dollars.

Prosecutors alleged Ireland funneled the cash for six years to McCord’s campaigns through friends, family members and employees of his business.

U.S. Attorney Bruce Brandler would not discuss the details of the case Monday, including McCord’s testimony. But Brandler said prosecutors were disappointed with the results and felt they had had enough evidence in the recordings to show an explicit exchange.

Brandler called it a “righteous case that needed to be brought.’’

“Hopefully, despite the result, it serves a salutary purpose in terms of revealing the relationships that go on between public officials and campaign contributors relating to official acts that the public officials are engaging in with those campaign con-

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Office of the Provost

File Photo/The Slate

The 13th Amendment effectively ended slavery in the U.S. it harder for African-Americans to adapt to American society, according to DuVernay’s documentary.

In 1970, for instance, the number of people incarcerated in American prisons was 357,292. In the next decade, the number of imprisoned Americans rose by more than 200,000 people, according to DuVernay.

U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel blamed former President Ronald Reagan’s War on Drugs campaign for the sharp increase in United States prison populations and the effect it had on African-Americans.

The implementation of harsh sentencing for drug use led to unneces-

sary occupied prison cells, Rangel said.

“Mandatory sentencing for the use and possession of crack cocaine led to unnecessarily long sentences,” Rangel said.

The documentary concluded with video footage of violence at several of President Donald Trump’s campaign rallies, encapsulating DuVernay’s message that the 13th Amendment did not change the societal perspective of African-Americans.

“When you make people afraid, you can always justify putting them in the garbage can,” said Corey Greene, one of the documentary’s guest speakers.

• Requested approval of the selection criteria for the Head Start program; approval was granted.

Office of Student Affairs • Amanda Smith was recently recognized as a Newman Civic fellow.

Alumni Association • The organization has been working with 100-150 alumni a year to build up resumes and assist with job searches.

Ship Life

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April 4, 2017

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Disability Awareness Club hosts scavenger hunt Yvonne Wagner Copy Editor

The Disability Awareness Club held a scavenger hunt Saturday to raise awareness about the difficulties physically disabled students have navigating the Shippensburg University campus on Saturday.

The hunt was an alternative to the Wheelchair Project held previous years where student leaders would spend the day in wheelchairs.

“Sometimes when you put able-bodied people in a wheelchair it can come off as mocking an individual with a physical disability and we didn’t want to do that,” said Alexa Moran, president of the Disabilities Awareness Club. “So we decided a better way to represent inaccessibility on campus would be to send people to places that are inaccessible or not easily accessible instead.”

The two-hour hunt highlighted five locations the club felt exemplified the issues at SU including Etter Health Center, Franklin Science Center Room 030, Shippen Hall Room 224, the Disability Services Office in Horton Hall Room 312 and Dauphin Humanities Center Room 051. Issues included roundabout

American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant paths that double travel times between buildings; hard to find entrance ramps usually located at backdoors; hard to find elevators, ADA room entrances blocked off by storage; and step-filled lecture halls that strand handicapped individuals in the rear of classrooms.

Hannah Schmidt, vice president of the Disability Awareness Club, set up the event.

“We want to talk to students about the differences between accessibility and universal design,” Schmidt said.

While SU is accessible under ADA standards, it still can be difficult for disabled students to navigate around campus.

“That is what our project is implementing. Universal design goes above and beyond those requirements and make campus welcoming for every individual here,” Schmidt said.

David Batemant, a professor of special education, gave a speech before the hunt began.

“People who have physical disabilities look at you right now as what we technically refer to as ‘temporarily abled-bodied,’” Batemant said.

“You can walk, move around, choose where to sit in here, can go up and

Photos by Meghan Schiereck

SU’s Disability Awareness Club begin its scavenger hunt, stopping at each building to check accessibility for those with physical disabilities. This was an alternative for the Wheelchair Project.

Students participating stop outside Etter Health Center to discuss disability issues at SU. down stairs. Just temporarily. Your future, at some point, I can guarandamn-tee you will have a disability.”

The speech focused on the changes in American society since the passage of the ADA in 1990. “[It’s] the

things you take for granted. The automatic doors at Walmart, they are not designed for you, they are designed for people who use wheelchairs,” Batemant said.

Sophomore Steven Wertz joined the club during the fall 2016 semester after helping disabled people as a volunteer firefighter.

“Just sitting in a classroom looking around, you never take into account where someone with a wheelchair could sit,” Wertz said. “They have special designated spots to sit

but they are away from their peers.

I just always felt that it’s not fair for people with disabilities.”

“It was eye opening,” junior psychology major Kayla Bethea said.

“Cause I know a number of people who go to the university that have some sort of disability. But to take the extra laps around campus, look for doors that don’t have steps and if you need an elevator key you need to go all the way to Horton. It’s feasible but not really good.”

Student-athlete becomes executive board president Sofia Perzan

“I like being involved in things in order to help the greater cause,” Scarr said.

Asst. Ship Life Editor During her sophomore year, Scarr was the college of business senator and this year she is As the student government elections have the college athletic representative. come to an end, Shippensburg University’s elected officers will begin to take on their new positions. Student-athlete, Madison Scarr has “I like being involved in things in been elected as the student senate president as order to help the greater cause.” she enters her third year of being involved in Student Government.

– Madison Scarr, The Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, native is in Student Government College her junior year at SU, aiming to graduate with Athletic Representative a bachelor’s in accounting and get her master’s in business. Her dream is to work with the FBI someday.

Aside from her duties in student senate, Scarr is also involved in Tau Kappa Athletic Scarr is also a part of the SU field hockey team. Sorority, as well as the rec committee, budget Photo courtesy of Crystal Hartman Scarr said being on a team has helped her with and finance committee and Student Athlete Madison Scarr, time management and given her the ability to Advisory Committee (SAAC) via senate.

College Athletic Representative successfully work as a team.

“Over the years I just fell in love with it and

I’m really passionate about hearing people’s concerns and doing what I can to fix them,” Scarr said.

As elected president, Scarr plans to continue and encourage involvement and unity by the student body on campus to help decrease the divide between students.

“Equality is something I really stress,” Scarr said.

For the future, Scarr also wants to use social media more to make Student Government more known.

“I want us, as Student Government, to give feedback and for students to know they can come to us with their concerns,” Scarr said.

Scarr has high hopes as she enters her first term as student senate president.

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April 4, 2017

A Raider’s View: Gender vs. Sexuality, what’s the difference?

Raider Muse

Staff Columnist Imagine waking up in the morning and being in an unfamiliar place, not knowing who you are, where you are or how you got there.

Imagine everyone around you looking at you as if you are an alien, feeling uncomfortable in your own skin and wishing that you knew who you were. You get dressed in clothes that you do not know why you have to wear, doing your hair a certain way and pretending you are an actor on Broadway, just trying to get through that night’s show, which just so happens to have a daily encore.

Those who identify as a different gender than their biological sex go through that sort of gender dysphoria on a daily basis. Gender dysphoria is defined by the American Psychiatric Association, as “a conflict between a person’s physical or assigned gender and the gender with which he/she/they identify.

Sometimes described as being uncomfortable with their body [and] being uncomfortable with the expected roles of their assigned gender.”

Noticing this contrast between gender identity and biological sex is key among today’s society to inform and distribute information about sex, gender identity and ideologies of what makes them different.

The difference between biological sex and gender identity is simple — one has to do with physically identifying with the way the individual was born and the other is the identification of how they are portrayed through their identity.

For example, an individual who identifies as a man can either be born with male genitalia or go through the transgender process.

This means they are identifying with their biological sex, or a transgender individual who identifies as a man by their gender identity.

Whereas their biological sex could be female.

On a similar note, gender identity and biological sex are completely separated from sexual preference. This could be when an individual identifies as transgender man but also identifies as a gay male. This individual’s identity is male, which combined with their sexual orientation of being attracted to men, whether they are biologically male or a man according to their gender identity, their sexual preference is completely separated from their sex or gender. This qualifies those individuals as being trans and gay, not either-or.

Granted, this idea could be slightly hard to grasp and really confusing, although ignoring it could be futile in the lack of visibility transgender students have on Shippensburg University’s campus.

Understanding that someone you meet could be dealing with internal gender dysphoria, you could be unknowingly exiling them from receiving the comfort they need and enforcing their invisibility.

Basically, all of us have met someone who identifies under the transgender umbrella –— but not all of us know it. But at SU, it is our job to join together and spread this knowledge of gender identity versus biological sex and accept preferred pronouns, preferred names and allowing transgender folk to take their space on campus and feel valid without having to validate their existence to others.

Recipe of the week: Honey-Banana snack wrap Yvette Betancourt Ship Life Editor

Brace yourself, friends, because this week’s recipe is bananas. Usually when I’m craving a sweet snack, I opt for a banana to keep it healthy. Then I remembered my mom used to make me these banana wraps as a kid and I loved them. Luckily, I still had some tortilla wraps after trying out last week’s recipe (a chicken-pineapple pizza quesadilla, which was delicious I might add). So I decided to throw in some peanut butter and honey to sweeten the deal. The honey might have been the best experiment I’ve ever tried with bananas.

Ingredients: 1 banana peanut butter

1 tortilla wrap honey

Instructions: 1. Spread a layer of peanut butter on the tortilla wrap.

2. Cut the banana into 1/4” slices. Layer on top of banana.

3. Drizzle honey over the banana slices. Roll the tortilla to make a wrap.

4. *optional* cut into 1/4” pieces to share or enjoy it alone.

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Cleaning The Slate

The Slate staff strives to provide readers with the most accurate content, but sometimes we miss the mark. Here, you will find corrections to fact errors we made from the previous week. The Slate staff apologizes for these errors.

In the March 28 issue, on B1, The Slate published an article stating the 2017 homecoming dance theme will be “Raider Pride.” The entire homecoming theme will actually be “Ship Is It.” On B3, The Slate published a headline that read, “SU hosts first showing of LUNAFEST.” LUNAFEST has been held at SU in past years. This was the first year LUNAFEST was hosted by a group other than the Activities Program Board (APB).

Photos by Yvette Betancourt

Ship Life Editor Yvette Betancourt creates a delicious snack wrap with a mixture of banana, honey and peanut butter to sweeten the tortilla.

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April 4, 2017

B3

Slater of the Week: Jamison Barker Sylvia McMullen

Asst. PR Director Communication/journalism senior Jamison Barker is a triple-threat when it comes to student media, as he balances time working for The Slate, SUTV and WSYC. Barker began writing for The Slate when he was a sophomore and became assistant copy editor the same year.

Barker became opinion editor in the spring and wishes he had applied for the position even sooner.

“I love to hear the wide variety of opinions people have, finding diverse writers and spouting off in my editorials,” Barker said.

Barker’s responsibilities with SUTV include writing scripts, creating con-

tent and commentating on basketball games. Barker also previews each new issue of The Slate on SUTV every week.

This past semester has been the only one in which Barker has not had a WSYC show. Barker co-hosted and produced his own radio show in previous semesters.

Barker enjoys various activities in his spare time, including playing the ukulele and writing poetry. He is also an avid news reader and his favorite publications include The Washington Post, The New York Times and Penn Live.

Barker likes beer, word play and contact sports. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is his favorite city when it comes to sports teams, but Barker’s favorite NBA team is the San Antonio Spurs.

Barker also enjoys playing video games, with his game of choice being “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.”

“I will happily accept any challenge to some 1v1 no-scopes,” Barker said.

“Add me. My gamertag is TheSKILLtoober.”

When Barker is not playing “Call of Duty,” he is usually playing “Rocket League” on Xbox One with his girlfriend.

“I’m glad we’re both homebodies,” Barker said.

Although he has a dual emphasis in print and electronic media, Barker has decided to pursue print media for his future career. Someday, you may see his name as opinion editor in one of Barker’s favorite publications.

Jamison Barker, Opinion Editor of The Slate

File Photo/The Slate

Student adventures through art Thomas Witmer Art Director

Most students enter college immediately after high school or a few years after, and not many wait more than 40 years to decide to achieve a higher education.

Wayne King is a student at Shippensburg University. However, he has no declared major. At 67 years old, Wayne is known as a “nontraditional student,” studying art at SU. Spending much of his time in the Huber Arts building on campus, King was willing to answer some questions about himself and his experience while enrolled at Shippensburg.

Wayne is an abstract artist.

“I don’t typically have a subject as much as an idea,” he said.

King attributes his love for painting to the various colors and artists he was introduced to at a young age.

“I was able to relate to the subject matter.

Subject matter and color. And I found the artists to be interesting people.”

King looked at a number of schools in the area, but said that he liked what he saw at SU. King especially appreciates SU’s Huber Arts Center “It has everything in it that you could possibly want to pursue a career in art, or just to pursue art.”

Photo courtesy of William Whiteley

Wayne King spends much of his time in SU’s Huber Art Center, perfecting his craft.

King has a wide palette of art, having done sculpture, ceramics and drawing. Currently, he has become smitten with the style of encaustics, which is a type of art involving wax and adding color to it, which is similar to painting.

“The medium, it’s very versatile and it blends itself to a lot of things and I like that.”

King attributes much of his inspiration to musician Miles Davis, who once said a quote that stuck with King: “What I want you to do, is I want you to go out there and I want you to do what you’ve never done before.”

Before a performance, one of Davis’ musicians asked him what he wanted him to do because they had not rehearsed much and he was nervous.

King continued that quote is largely what he wishes to do every time he sits down to begin working on art.

“That’s a real inspiration for me, because that’s how I approach it. I want to do something I’ve never done before every time I sit down in front of a piece of art. There are a lot of artists. Matisse, he did lily ponds. God, I don’t know how many times he painted that scene.

For me, every time I sit down it’s a new experience, and like Miles said, I want to do what I’ve never done before.”

King is currently working on a project using encaustics.

“Just being inspired looking for that moment, expressing myself, trying new things,” King said.

King said he recently came across a technique that was particularly impressive and really caught his imagination. “So this piece

I’m working on is really, in every respect, something new. Something I’ve never done before. In every respect. And this is uncharted territory for me. This is some place I’ve never been so every brush stroke, every moment is exploring.”

“I want to do something I’ve never done before every time I sit down in front of a piece of art.”

– Wayne King, SU art student

King continued to speak about how he was exploring and uncovering more with art, and about his love of doing new things with it.

“You know this is art at its best for me. This is the most exciting time, is when you come across these concepts, these ideas, these techniques that are, you know, just mind-expanding in a sense and it’s something you’ve never seen before or something you’ve never done before so everything you do is new.”

Having attended as a nontraditional student for three years now, Wayne continues to learn more about art, and like Davis said, he continues to go out and do what he has never done before here at Shippensburg University.

Tuesday April 4 2017

Slate The

Sports

William Whisler, Sports Editor / Blair Garrett, Asst. Sports Editor / Nate Powles, Asst. Sports Editor

Make-A-Wish recipient returns to SU Photo courtesy of Jason Malmont

William Whisler Sports Editor

After having his wish revealed at Shippensburg University’s Heiges Field House during a women’s basketball game last year, James “Jay” Dawson returned to SU on Saturday at an SU women’s lacrosse game.

Dawson, 6, was invited back by SU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to the lacrosse game to take part in game day festivities. SU lacrosse head coach Nicole Miller presented Dawson with a stick, which was checked by a referee during the pregame stick checks.

Dawson spent time alongside SAAC members during the game.

“Make-A-Wish is such a great foundation,” Miller said. “It’s a foun-

dation that I’ve always been close with and just being able to see Jay out here laughing and having a good time and be with my players just brightens their day.”

During halftime, Jay’s mother, Tiffany Dawson, spoke about the family’s trip to the Disney theme parks in Orlando, Florida. The trip was the result of Jay’s wish that was granted by Make-a-Wish.

“It was a great experience,” Dawson said. “We were able to put everything behind us, leave everything home in Pennsylvania, and head to the Sunshine State. From the limousine ride that picked us up at our home on the day we left, to the day the limousine dropped us off, there was not one moment that wasn’t magical.”

The Dawson family returned to

SU a year after returning from their Disney World vacation. The trip lasted a week and presented the family with many memories they will never forget, Dawson said.

“We stayed at a resort that was just for children who have disabilities or special needs called Give Kids the World and it’s like a big magical playground,” Dawson said. “It is just something you have to see in person to see how magical it is. They pretty much do everything needed to make your stay as special as it can be.”

Jay said his favorite part of the trip was the Candyland playground at the resort the Dawsons stayed at.

“At our resort, there was a Candyland program that was just like the board game, and it was set up right outside our villa,” Tiffany Dawson said. “He spent a lot of time

there and we have a bunch of pictures and a lot of memories.”

The family expressed appreciation toward SU’s SAAC for allowing the family to return for Saturday’s game.

“It was so great to come back and see everyone who took part in our reveal just over one year ago today,” Dawson said. “We are just so thankful to Shippensburg University for everything they have done to help make this magical trip possible.”

Jay’s wish was revealed during a women’s basketball game Feb. 24 , 2016, at Heiges Field House. At halftime, Dawson, dawning a super hero’s cape, mowed down villains with a NERF gun, before SAAC members brought forth a suitcase and other gifts before he realized his wish was being granted by Make-A-Wish.

“Three hundred and nineteen local and heroic kids just like Jay were invited to close their eyes, make a wish and blow out a candle. And unlike any other time in their life, this time, that wish came true,” said Ben Lee, Make-A-Wish regional director of the Susquehanna Valley at Jay’s wish reveal.

Dawson battled a brain tumor before the age of 2, but he persevered, continuing his life with an eager smile. Dawson is currently cancer-free and will start playing teeball this year.

For more information on Dawson’s wish reveal, check out the story at theslateonline.com.

Assistant sports editor Blair Garrett contributed to this report.

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April 4, 2017

C2

Women’s basketball reaches end of era The team graduates five 1,000-point scorers and seven seniors Blair Garrett

Asst. Sports Editor It was a season to remember for the Shippensburg University women’s basketball team.

With a roster loaded with talent and a coach prepared to take the team to new heights, the Raiders were poised to storm the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) from the start.

But things did not go according to plan, with SU stumbling to a 5–5 start through the first month of the season. With the team reeling for an answer, the Raiders’ veteran players stepped up and changed the entire course of the season.

“The start that we had was super discouraging,” forward Stephanie Knauer said. The team’s 2014-15 season got off to a rocky start, but like this season, the team’s core players rebounded to finish strong.

“Again, we’re like ‘not another season like this, we cannot do this again,’” Knauer said. “We weren’t going to have that happen again as seniors, and [we] took control and came out with the win streak.”

The Raiders registered their fifth 20-win season under head coach Kristy Trn, with 19 wins coming on the team’s school-record 19-game winning streak, which saw them go undefeated for more than 2 1/2 months. The Raiders closed out the season 24–7.

“We didn’t look at it at the time, but looking back on it that’s a great accomplishment to have, and it definitely gives you a confidence boost that we were able to do that as a whole and not just by one person,” Knauer said.

By the end of the season, the team sported five 1,000-point scorers, becoming the first team in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) to do so.

“We didn’t all come in star players, but it just goes to show you what hard work and effort can do for a program,” Knauer said. “It just shows how much work we’ve put in

throughout our four years,” guard Logan Snyder said. “We’ve improved every single year.”

But this year for the Raiders was different. The team, filled with one of the strongest rosters the university has ever seen, torched the PSAC East, sweeping the conference to go 16-0. SU is the only team to sweep its conference since Gannon University in 2009-10. As records fell left and right, Shippensburg looked poised to do some damage heading into the playoffs.

After getting home-court advantage for the PSAC Playoffs, the Raiders stomped on Bloomsburg University in the first round. The second leg of the tournament was against a familiar foe in Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). But Snyder fell hard driving the lane and was unable to return. Snyder’s injury ignited the team, who dominated the rest of the half for her.

“They really just wanted to play for me and it showed,” Snyder said.

“It really meant a lot.”

Snyder, one of the team’s 1,000-point scorers, was missed Photos courtesy of Jason Malmont immediately. She has the ability to drive through the paint to put up the SU’s Logan Snyder, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring her 1,000th career point. great numbers, and her absence was ish the experiences and accomplishfelt for the rest of the game. Some of ments the players made. the emotional wind was taken from Knauer won PSAC East Player of the Raiders’ sails in the second half, the Year and received an honorable and the team ended up falling to mention to the Women’s Basketball IUP in overtime.

Coaches Association (WBCA) Divi“She’s the heart of the program sion II All-American team. All five with her hard work and effort,” starters finished in the Top 22 in allKnauer said. “Her four years was a time scoring at Shippensburg, with ridiculous amount of heart and ef- Knauer sitting at 8th and Snyder at fort, and for us to do that for her and 19th. really just play our hearts out for The team may not walk out with her is just a small thank you to what rings, but they have surely left their she’s put into this program.” mark on this university. The thing The team’s semifinal loss left coach Trn stressed all season was questions as to whether or not they to play for each other and to put would even make the NCAA Tourna- the team first, and Trn’s efforts apment. But the announcement finally peared to have paid off. came, and the Raiders got a fourth “There’s not just one person that seed to matchup against Mercyhurst you rely on, so if someone’s not havUniversity in the first round. SU last ing a good night, there’s four others made the tournament 15 years ago. that can do it,” Knauer said. “It’s The Raiders fell short against just so special because no one has a Mercyhurst, but the journey to the team like that.” tournament allowed the team to relStephanie Knauer finishes her career 8th in scoring at SU.

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April 4, 2017

Softball splits doubleheader with Millersville Nate Powles

Asst.Sports Editor The Shippensburg University softball team split a doubleheader with Millersville University on Saturday at Shippensburg University’s Robb Field.

The team took Game 1 by a score of 7–5, but dropped Game 2, 7–3.

Chloe Collins earned the win in the first game and Julia Tosti earned the save. Collins had five strikeouts and only gave up three runs. Taryn Wilson struck out eight batters and only allowed four hits in the second game, but gave up seven runs.

The Raiders had 19 hits on the day, while the Marauders had 15.

All nine Raider starters had at least one hit.

Tara Bicko was the standout on offense, reaching base seven out of the eight times she went to the plate. Bicko also had four RBIs, including a three-run home run in the

second inning of Game 1.

Collins was also pivotal on offense and she reached base five times.

Collins scored on a sacrifice fly in the first game as part of a five-run inning.

Kayla Bonawitz had three hits, along with an RBI, a stolen base and three runs scored. SU had five extra-base hits on the day, including an RBI-double from Micaela Ghanayem.

In Game 2, Millersville’s Heather Lutz got the best of the Raiders, hitting two home runs, including a goahead grand-slam to give the Maurauders a 7–3 lead in the seventh inning. The game was tied through the first seven innings before Lutz gave Millersville a lead it would not relinquish.

With the weekend split, the Raiders currently sit at 16–12 on the season.

SU will be back in action on Wednesday with a doubleheader against Shepherd University.

Photo courtesy of Jason Malmont

SU’s Tara Bicko touches home plate after hitting a three-run home run in Game 1 on Saturday.

Baseball grabs two wins in series with West Chester William Whisler Sports Editor

The Shippensburg University baseball team knew they would face a tall order in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Division foe No. 25 West Chester University over the weekend, and the Raiders were up to the task, coming away with a weekend-split over the four game series.

It was also a historic weekend for the Raiders, as Jake Kennedy hit the 34th home run of his SU career. Kennedy’s hit on Sunday broke the SU home run record, which was previously held by Matt DeSanto who hit 33 home runs from 2000-03.

On Saturday, SU played host to the Golden Rams at Fairchild Field, losing Game 1, 1–0, before winning Game 2, 6–5.

In Game 1, Gabe Mosser was fantastic on the mound for SU, reeling off his best start of the season. MossPhoto courtesy of Perry Mattern-SU Sports Info. er surrendered just two hits and one Jake Kennedy, left, celebrates with teammates after hitting a run in seven innings, while striking out 11 batters. Unfortunately, it was home run. Kennedy set the SU home run record Sunday. not enough, as the Raiders were un-

able to find any offense.

The Raiders bats finally came alive in Game 2, after the Raiders fell behind 4–0 early. In the fifth inning, Nick Spangler sparked the offense with a leadoff walk, which was followed by a Grant Hoover single to give SU runners on first and second with no outs.

After West Chester recorded the first out, Ryan McMillen reached base to load the bases. With two outs, Dalton Hoiles delivered the first of three straight two-out hits for SU, to cut the West Chester lead to just one. The single by Hoiles scored both McMillen and Hoover, before Kennedy singled home McMillen to tie the game.

Drew Bene followed Kennedy with a single to give SU the lead, 5–4.

West Chester cut the lead to just one, but Michael Hope shut the door for the Raiders, earning a four-out save.

After Saturday’s split, SU traveled to West Chester for Game 3 and Game 4 of the weekend series at Serpico Stadium.

The Raiders split the day, winning Game 3, 10–1, while dropping Game

4, 2–1, in eight innings.

In Game 3, Kennedy etched his name in the history books with his 34th career home run. Kennedy’s second-inning grand-slam was the icing on the cake of a seven-run inning for the Raiders.

SU used the strong push early on to take the lead and held onto it, taking Game 3, 10–1.

Mark Curtis earned his second win of the season, after throwing six innings, yielding just one run while striking out four batters.

In the weekend’s final game, SU received another fantastic pitching performance, this time from Hoover, but was unable to push across any run support.

Hoover threw 5 2/3 innings, giving up just six hits and one earned run, while striking out two batters.

The Raiders dropped Game 4, 2–1 in eight innings.

The Raiders, 9–13–1, 4–4 PSAC East, will be back in action today when they host Shepherd University for a doubleheader at Fairchild Field.

First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

C4 Sports Women’s lacrosse hits two-game skid

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April 4, 2017

Blair Garrett

Asst. Sports Editor

Shippensburg University women’s lacrosse clashed with two nationally ranked teams this week, falling just short of mounting two second-half comebacks.

Tuesday’s matchup featured the Raiders and the 16th ranked Lock Haven University. The Raiders fell early, allowing four goals in the opening three minutes. SU’s head coach Nicole Miller called a timeout to settle her team down, effectively slowing the pace of the game to try to turn the ship around.

“We kind of came out slow on our heels,” Miller said. “We know how to play lacrosse and we were missing that the first few minutes of the game.”

Miller’s message to the team broke through, and the players came out with fire to flip the script.

SU’s Jordan Kengor sliced through the defense to draw a foul, allowing her to reset and thread the ball through a sea of sticks for Shippensburg’s first marker on the day.

On the ensuing play, Amanda Frank drove to the net again, drawing another penalty for the Raiders. SU’s Maggie Lawshe finished the play to cut the Bald Eagles’ lead in half.

The teams went back and forth trading goals, with the Raiders’ offense beginning to benefit from its

Photos courtesy of Jason Malmont

SU head coach Nicole Miller, right, presents Jay Dawson, left, with a lacrosse stick before Saturday’s game against IUP. lengthy possessions and capitalizing on its scoring chances. Allison Fugate’s missile of a shot found the twine with a few minutes remaining before halftime to solidify the pressure put on by the Raiders.

After outplaying the Bald Eagles

for the majority of the second half, SU eventually closed the gap to trail Lock Haven by just a goal. The Raiders traded goals with Lock Haven, but ultimately fell short from completing the comeback, 14–11.

“This team has always played a

Shippensburg’s Makenzie Magnotta checks the attacker to regain possession for her squad.

full 60 minutes,” Miller said. “This team has heart and hustle and they play with it every single game.”

Saturday’s Make-A-Wish game against Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) again was the product of a rocky start, which left the team reeling for a response. The Raiders found that response in Ali Harclerode. Harclerode’s shot found the net to stop the bleeding at 8–1, IUP, late in the first half.

The Raiders’ defense locked down on the No. 18 Crimson Hawks to push the pace and get back to their game. IUP spent the next 20 minutes unable to break through the Raider defense, allowing Shippensburg to climb back into the game.

With the momentum lifting their sails, the Raiders responded with the next three goals to cut IUP’s lead in half, 8–4. That is as close as SU would come though, as IUP’s goaltender Angela Lontoc shut the door, posting save after save to close out a Shippensburg comeback.

Lontoc finished the game with 16 saves, a high mark that has not

been matched in a PSAC game since 2011.

The game finished 11–5, IUP, but the score was not indicative of how tightly contested the game was.

“Our defense stepped up and we were able to get the ball back in the net a few more times, but that’s really what these types of games are,” Miller said. “It has to come down to heart and hustle.”

Halftime for SU may have been the highlight of the game, though, with last year’s Make-A-Wish star James “Jay” Dawson and his family taking the field to speak about their life since they came to SU last year.

Miller presented Dawson with his very own lacrosse stick to cap off his Make-A-Wish journey.

“Make-A-Wish is such a great foundation,” Miller said. “It’s a foundation that I’ve always been close with and just being able to see Jay out here laughing and having a good time and be with my players just brightens their day.”

SU returns to action today at Millersville University.

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April 4, 2017

Men’s track and field splits for the weekend Nate Powles Asst. Sports Editor The Shippensburg University track-and-field teams split over the weekend to travel to the Colonial Relays at the College of William & Mary and to the Millersville Metrics at Millersville University.

The men put on strong performances in both locations, with multiple Raiders putting on PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference)-qualifying performances as well as several NCAA provisional-qualifiers.

SU’s main throwers in the shot put, discus and hammer traveled to the College of William & Mary. Bryan Pearson, Caleb Bartlett and Alec Rideout all competed in the events.

Bartlett took second in the hammer with a throw of 174 feet, 7 inches, and Pearson finished sixth with 158 feet, 5 inches.

Pearson excelled in the discus,

reaching an NCAA provisional-qualifying mark of 170 feet, 5 inches, to take third. Pearson is now the PSAC leader in the event and one of only 10 men in Division II to reach 170 feet. Rideout placed sixth in the shot put with a distance of 52 feet, 6 1/2 inches.

Another good performance came at the high jump when Tra-C Davis took second with a height of 6 feet, 10 1/4 inches. Davis is looking to reach his third consecutive appearance in the NCAA National Championships in the event.

The 4x100 was once again a strong event for SU. The team of Austin Shupp, Dreux Stamford, Calvin Dennis and Chris Craig took fourth in the event with a time of 42.16.

Devonte Pickett replaced Shupp in the team for the 4x200, and the Raiders reached a time of 1:28.58 to take eighth.

At Millersville, David Brantley took third in the long jump with a PR of 21 feet, 1 1/2 inches; Brant-

ley also took fifth in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 16.29. Kyle Baughman tied for fourth in the pole vault with a height of 12 feet, 7 1/2 inches.

Three Raiders placed in the Top 8 in the javelin at Millersville. Derek Nothstein continued his impressive start to the outdoor season with a third-place finish and an NCAA provisional-qualifying throw of 208 feet, 9 inches. Ben Hurda also had an NCAA provisional-qualifying effort with a throw of 195 feet to finish in fifth.

Jake Rohm snagged a seventh-place finish with a javelin throw of 178 feet, 10 inches. All of SU’s athletes in the javelin had PSAC-qualifying efforts, including Alec Stimson, who fell just short of 170 feet.

SU will split its squad again next weekend to go to Messiah College and to George Mason University for Photo courtesy of Jordan Burgess - University of Richmond the Messiah Invitational and George Chris Craig (left) and Calvin Dennis (right) compete in the Mason Spring Invite, respectively.

4X100 event, taking fourth with a time just under 1:30.

Women’s track and field has strong outing Matt Gregan Guest Writer

Photo courtesy of Bill Smith - SU Sports Information

Sarah Hunt competes in the long jump in the Colonial Relays at the College of William & Mary. She took first in the event.

The Shippensburg University’s women’s track-and-field team had some mixed results over the weekend in their competition at the Colonial Relays and the 34th Annual Millersville Metrics.

The women’s track-and-field team split into two squads this weekend to be able to perform at both meets.

On Thursday, Casey Norton placed eighth in the 10K with a time of 35:36.72. Norton’s time qualified her for the NCAA provisional and is currently the best on the NCAA Division II performance list.

On Friday, the group at the Colonial Relays got off to a good start when Sarah Hunt placed first in the long jump with a mark of 18 feet, 9 1/4 inches.

Danielle Sciremammano recorded a long jump of 17 feet, 6 1/4 inches. Both jumps were Pennsyl-

vania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)-qualifiers.

Sciremammano also recorded a PSAC-qualifying time of 15.64 seconds in the 100-meter hurdle. In the 400-meter hurdle, Tatiana Purnell finished with a time of 1:06.24, which was good enough to qualify for PSACs. In the 5K, Jackie Kinkead finished with a PSAC-qualifying time of 17:59.65. In the 3K steeplechase, both Bryanna Dissinger and Lindsey Gerlach finished with PSAC-qualifying times of 11:13.45 and 11:53.13, respectively.

On Saturday, Kali Hepner led the way in the pole vault with an 11 foot, 11 3/4 inch vault which qualified her for the NCAA provisional. Hepner came within 1/4 inch of her personal record set two months ago at Kutztown University.

Saturday, the Colonial Relays consisted mostly of relays. Dior Alston, Cirsten Kelly, Jill Bertino and Lindsay Sheehan teamed up to run the

4x400-meter relay in 4:00.81.

The throwers led the way for SU on Saturday in the Millersville Metrics with a third-place finish overall.

Crystal Hartman did a tremendous job on Saturday, placing first in the javelin throw with an NCAA provisional-qualifying throw that went a distance of 156 feet, 2 inches.

Hartman set a new PR by more than five feet.

Tamara Ovejera won the discus throw with a PSAC-qualifying mark of 145 feet. In addition, Ovejera placed third in the shot put with a PSAC-qualifying throw of 43 feet, 5 inches.

In the discus throw, Paige Shirk placed second with a PSAC-qualifying mark of 134 feet, 11 inches.

In the hammer throw, Ava Bonetti placed second with a throw of 158 feet, 6 inches, which was enough to notch a PSAC qualifier.

Read the full story online at theslateonline.com

Sports

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April 4, 2017

C6

Sleva earns multiple All-American nods William Whisler Sports Editor

The Shippensburg University men’s basketball team won 27 games on the way to its most successful season in the program’s history. That is why it is no surprise that junior forward Dustin Sleva has been recognized as one of the nation’s top players.

On March 21, Sleva became the first player in SU history to earn a National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) First-Team All-American team selection. Sleva was also recognized with a spot on the Division II Conference Coaches Association (CCA) team as a FirstTeam All-American.

Sleva was one of just 16 players to

be recognized by the NABC, which includes the Top 2 vote-getters from each of Division II’s eight regions.

Alongside Sleva was Fairmont State University’s Matt Bigaya as the selections from the Atlantic Region.

All 16 of those selected players are now up for the NABC’s Player of the Year award.

With the selections, Sleva is SU’s second All-American, as he joins Keith Hill who was a third-team honoree in 1991.

“It’s nice to get that recognition,” Sleva said. “I never expected it and its really good. You have your goals as a team and then anything from an individual standpoint is just icing on the cake.”

The accolades are nothing new for Sleva this season, after he was named the Pennsylvania State Ath-

letic Conference (PSAC) East Division Player of the Year. Sleva led SU in points per game with 21.7 points, while leading the PSAC with 11 rebounds per game. Sleva averaged a double-double for the season, finishing the year with 20 double-doubles.

“It’s a cool thing to do,” Sleva said.

“I never came here expecting this, I just wanted to come in and play my role. I wasn’t expecting any of this and we have a lot of the guys on the team who could do this and they give up a lot of their shots for me, so it’s a good accomplishment but it’s a team accomplishment. They really helped me to break records.”

Sleva also set the SU record for points in a season with 674 points and has 1,365 points for his career, which is eighth all-time at SU. Sleva sits 460 points shy of the SU school

record, which is currently held by SU assistant coach Chuck Davis.

During the season, SU went 27–4, winning the PSAC Championship and its first ever NCAA Tournament game against Virginia Union University.

“Most people didn’t expect us to even make it that far but we knew we had the potential to win every game on our schedule,” Sleva said.

“We accomplished all of our goals and set a new goal of trying to win a national championship. Everything after winning the PSAC Championship was icing on the cake. Next season we will come back and raise our expectations.”

The Raiders saw their season end in a hard-fought battle against Wheeling Jesuit University, 97–91 in the Atlantic Region Semifinals.

However, the loss gives SU — which is returning all but one of its starters — the opportunity to learn for next season.

“At the beginning of the year our goal was to win a PSAC Championship, and maybe make it to the tournament,” Sleva said. “Hopefully this year our goals will be to win the PSAC Championship and make a deeper run in the tournament.

It’s hard to win in a one-game series, that’s why the NBA Finals are seven games. You never know how one game will go, but you just have faith in your teammates and hope it works out.”

Read the full story online at theslateonline.com.

Photo courtesy of Jason Malmont

SU’s Dustin Sleva (No. 12) drives to the basket against Lock Haven University. Sleva broke the single-season points record with 674 points this season.

Ship

D1

Speaks shipspeaks@gmail.com

April 4, 2017

The Slate Speaks

Nunes damages hope for bipartisan inquiry Legal system needs reform in regard into Trump, Russia ties to how it treats assisted suicide cases

File Photo/The Slate

Phillip Benight gave his wife, Rebecca, a cocktail of vanilla pudding and prescription opiods.

On Jan. 22, Phillip and Rebecca Benight were found unconscious in their car in Manor Township, Pennsylvania, after overdosing on prescription pills. First responders gave the couple Narcan — reviving them both — and they were eventually taken to the hospital. Phillip, 60, lived, but Rebecca, a 72-year-old dementia patient, died on Jan. 30, according to Penn Live.

Before the two had overdosed, Phillip picked his wife up from the care home she was staying at in Manheim Township. His reason for carrying out the act was in line with requests from his wife, who the Lancaster County district attorney has said despite her disease, Rebecca “at least had instances when decision-making was clear and of her own will,” according to Penn Live.

Some who responded to the article on Penn Live hailed Phillip for acting selflessly out of love, but the law had a different view of what he did.

Though criminal homicide will not be added to his charges, Phillip Benight

is still facing legal trouble for aiding suicide, according to Penn Live.

Many of us have seen the condition of someone we love deteriorate, and can attest to how hard it is to watch.

This leaves us to ask: Why is a strict “right to live” still enforced when a consenting adult wishes to waive it?

We are not advocating for unrestricted access to assisted suicide, but think it should be an option for those whose conditions are beyond repair. We understand there is a lot of gray area that surrounds this issue — as is represented by the case at hand — but had Rebecca made her choice in a coherent state of mind, then this issue should not be one.

We would like to see a system that allows terminally ill patients to exercise assisted suicide as an option. One that includes a professional, whether it be a doctor or psychiatrist, to mediate and have the final say on a caseby-case basis. This would allow those who need the option to use it, while minimizing the loss of life from those who may be more inclined to make a

hasty decision on the matter.

Problems may arise when you factor in that some individuals may not have access to healthcare that would allow them to properly carry out an assisted suicide. But this issue has roots in both the medical and legal systems. For this idea to work, there would also be a need for provisions in Pennsylvania’s euthanasia laws that allow judges to give much more lenient penalties in cases where the act was carried out with mutual consent.

As mentioned above, many of us have experienced the painful final days of a loved one. Those of us who have not would still respect our loved one’s choice if they wanted to pass on under their own terms. We understand this issue is not black and white, but the way we treat these cases, and treat the concept of assisted suicide overall, needs to be reexamined from a legal and medical perspective.

Maxwell stephens

Staff Writer Republican Rep. Devin Nunes, head of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, who is charged with leading the investigation into President Donald Trump’s Russian ties, needs to recuse himself from the panel’s investigation immediately.

Nunes has stalled the investigation this week by stopping the former Attorney General Sally Q. Yates — who was fired by Trump — from appearing before the House Intelligence Committee to testify. He also secretly traveled to the White House last week to view classified documents in regard to unintentional surveillance of Trump’s campaign in 2016, according to The Washington Post.

In short, Nunes is a loose cannon who obviously has interests in protecting Trump and his cohorts from whatever they may have to hide. This suggests to me that Nunes regards

his self-interest and his personal agenda as more important than the country he is sworn to represent, or he has something to hide. The bottom line is, he must step down from being involved in this investigation.

What we really need is an independent probe into the entire Trump-Russia connection and for intelligence agencies to continue to investigate these ties in order to bring the full truth to light. The longer we wait to do this, the more time there is for evidence to be purged.

This may sound overly cynical, but according to The New York Times, members of the White House staff were instructed to “clear all data” from their devices in preparation for the House committee investigation.

But that’s not suspicious now is it?

As it stands, the amount of smoke surrounding this entire debacle rivals that of Watergate. Personally, I’m just sitting back waiting and hoping the next Woodward and Bernstein break a story that topples the credibility and legality of this entire administration. Maybe then we can work on bringing America’s status from international joke and embarrassment to the leader the free world again.

File Photo/The Slate

Capitol Hill is the site of Congress’ hearings in regard to Russian ties to members of Trump’s campaign and staff.

Speaks

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April 4, 2017

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Trump, Ryan healthcare failure a learning experience

Let’s dispense with the sanctimony and admit it: Most of us really enjoy piling on. There are few things more exhilarating than participating in mass malice. Rarely do we get such an obvious opportunity for schadenfreude than the Trump-Ryan health care debacle. Maybe Donald Trump should have his ghostwriter create a new book: “The Thwart of the Deal.”

And while we are being brutally honest (or is it honestly brutal?), let’s acknowledge that cheap shots like that are the best shots. They’re certainly no cheaper than all the promises Trump made while campaigning — like his repeated pledge to dismantle Obamacare “first thing.” He denies saying that, but he did.

In office, Trump realized how serpentine the issue is, exclaiming last month that “Nobody knew health care could be so complicated.” Well, I

don’t know how to break it to you Mr. President, but a lot of people knew.

It’s just that some demagogues carelessly peddle the idea that they have simple solutions to impossibly complex problems.

That also would explain why Trump and his merry gang of misfits so badly botched their anti-Muslim immigration blockade. They haven’t even gotten to walling off Mexico yet.

Actually, in the case of his humiliation in the House, Trump switched tactics, trying out a humble act, telling a Washington Post reporter, “We learned a lot.” What he should have learned is that making the wheels turn in our ridiculously convoluted government is not for know-it-all rookies. Negotiating policy is much tougher than any real estate deal.

For starters, in real estate all sides are united in their greed for money.

Members of Congress are motivated by principle — staying in office. It is why so many who are successful in private enterprise are humbled when they dabble in public service.

While their word is law in the corporate world, that’s not how it works in government. In business, all they have to do is write checks.

In this democracy, there are checks and balances. It’s easy to understand

File Photo/The Slate

The White House plays host to many sucesses and failures. President Donald Trump and Speaker Paul Ryan were on the losing end when they could not garner enough votes to pass their healthcare bill. why Donald Trump likes executive orders. There is no one to get in the way, certainly not the gang of sycophants around him, who save their greatest treachery for each other.

That is not to say that all the players are inexperienced. Paul Ryan didn’t just fall off the turnip truck. After all, he was the author of the health care plan that his GOP colleagues shredded. He’s been in

Congress since 1999, and before that was an aide to various Washington figures, ever-flattering them to move upward. He was Mitt Romney’s vice-presidential candidate in 2012 and managed to slip-slide for or against Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign, depending on how the ill wind was blowing. He presents himself as the principled political professional.

Health care has knocked him off his high horse. He had the good sense to admit that this was “a setback, no two ways about it.” He can count on the gnat-sized memory of the American people to forget about this setback as he shifts to some other way to further his ambitions. Or at least to stay out of the way when everybody is piling on Donald Trump for some other amateur mistake.

Gorsuch more than qualified for Supreme Court role, strictly adheres to constitution Evan Shircliffe Staff Writer

Following three straight days of testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, federal appeals Judge Neil Gorsuch is easily sailing through the confirmation process.

Hailing from the state of Colorado, Gorsuch received his bachelor’s degree from Colombia University, his law degree from Harvard University File Photo / The Slate and his doctorate in theology from The vacant Supreme Court seat has been the subject of much Oxford University. During his early of Congress’ discussions and debates as of late. years, he clerked for Supreme Court

Justices Byron White and Anthony Kennedy. If approved, he would be the first Justice to serve alongside a Supreme Court Justice for whom he clerked.

Before President Donald Trump announced his candidate for the bench, Senate Democrats already promised to filibuster the nominee without even knowing who it was.

Such obstructionism is not new to the political process, but it has proven hard for Democrats to make their case against such a qualified candidate as Gorsuch.

What sets Gorsuch apart from most judges is his philosophy that the Supreme Court should strictly follow and interpret the law, and not re-write it. He does not believe that the courts should write the

law, but that belongs in the hands of the legislature. Gorsuch believes the courts should refer to court precedence and the law when deciding cases. Gorsuch has and will continue to use the Constitution as a guide for his rulings, but promised to not “return us to horse-and-buggy days” as Democrats are basely charging him of doing.

In his time in the court system, Gorsuch has proven his fidelity to upholding the Constitution, rejecting the activist style of judicial officials and clearly understanding the proper role of the courts in our country.

Neil Gorsuch is one of the most qualified individuals to fill the vacant seat left by the late Justice Antonin Scalia and now is the time to place him on the highest court of the land.

Ship

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April 4, 2017

Accident reminds us of technology’s growing role behind the wheel, dangers it can pose A woman named Brooke Livering was charged with Asst. homicide by Opinion vehicle afEditor ter killing 17-year-old Emily Groft — a passenger in Livering’s Mitsubishi Eclipse — because Livering was driving at an “excessive speed” in the 400 block of Big Spring Road in Goldsboro, Pennsylvania. Livering was apparently arguing over the phone via text message with her significant other, and lost control of the wheel.

Distracted driving is clearly a common problem that has evolved since the early development of new technology like cell phones. The problem is evident now with driverless cars and the continual implementation of more and more technology in vehicles. How do we balance convenience, and the need to be an alert driver?

The more advanced technology gets, the more of an adverse effect it has on our concentration while driving. The big question is, if we’re consciously aware of the consequences, why is there a continuation of distracted driving related accidents?

More than eight deaths and 1,161 injuries occur due to accidents involving a distracted

Kayleigh Purcell

driver every day in the United States alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many people don’t realize that every time they get behind the wheel, their lives or someone else’s are at risk. This is especially the case when they are distracted with mobile devices.

Though there are already strict laws that ban texting while driving in the state of Pennsylvania, it’s very difficult for lawmakers to find a concrete way to cease distractions while driving.

The bottom line is people do as they please no matter what, without fully taking into consideration the risks that lie within the situation. This is ultimately a choice that must fall on the individual. It is just unfortunate that individuals like Liverling didn’t have the foresight to avoid making that stupid choice.

Livering has to live with what she did for the rest of her life. Just a few seconds was all it took to cause the death of a young girl with her whole life ahead of her. Think about Groft the next time you decide to take your eyes off the road. Think about what your life would be like if you took the life of another human being. Think whether you would even have a life at all.

Where is your voice?

• Write a column or editorial.

• Respond to an editorial with a letter to the editor.

• Write about issues at Shippensburg University, the town, state, nation or world.

• Email shipspeaks@gmail.com with questions.

A&E

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April 4, 2017

Senior presents work at Brindle

‘Passengers’ awake too soon Marissa Merkt

Thomas Witmer Art Director

A&E Editor

Shippensburg University senior and art major Christen Taylor Smith originally wanted to be a teacher.

“When I was a kid I always liked doing crafts and stuff like that, but I originally went to school to be a teacher,” Smith said. “I thought I wanted to teach little kids and help mold future minds.”

While she may not be training to become a teacher, Smith is still willing to lend a helping hand to her fellow classmates and puts considerable work into her art. Now, her art will go even further, with an exhibition of her evolving work debuting in Huber Art Center’s Brindle Gallery this week.

“I work in a lot of different mediums. It’s kind of like years of developed skill and so essentially the exhibition is basically just a compilation of who I’ve become and what is important to me in my work, and that has to do with people and connection and identity,” Smith said.

Smith hopes to share her wisdom through her gallery.

“I think that it’s extremely important for people to think, and one of my goals is to become somebody who can support people in creating anything they can design in their mind. So basically, I want to become someone who gives people the potential to ac-

Would you wake someone up if you knew it could potentially kill them?

Jim Preston is forced to make that decision with only a robot therapist to help him decide in the movie “Passengers.”

Jim, played by Chris Pratt, is one of more than 5,000 passengers on Starship Avalon journeying to a new planet called Homestead II for a fresh start. All passengers enter a period of hibernation during their trip through space to ensure they arrive ageless. But Jim has the college-dreaded misfortune of waking up before his “alarm clock” goes off — ninety years too early.

At first, Jim tries everything to fix his hibernation pod, but eventually accepts his fate. To pass time he plays basketball and talks to a robot bartender named Arthur. Jim’s beard starts growing, showing the passage of time.

Jim is starved from human contact without even the Walden companionship of nature. He contemplates waking up one of the other passengers, Aurora Lane. Aurora, played by Jennifer Lawrence, is a beautiful writer who Jim falls in love with through reading her blogs and eating breakfast beside her sleeping body. For the next few days he talks to Arthur about Aurora and tries to decide if he

Photo by Thomas Witmer

SU art student Christen Taylor Smith shows off her wire statue in the Brindle Gallery. complish anything they want to accomplish,” Smith said. “So I display a variety of skillsets.”

The goal is just to showcase what I’ve acquired. How I display myself.

And with the goal in mind that I wanna teach people to do the things I do.”

Smith might not be a teacher, but she still possesses a desire to help others and teach them how to reach their potential.

Smith’s exhibit is open for viewing from April 3–13 in the Brindle Gallery.

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Billboard Top 10

1. Shape Of You- Ed Sheeran

2. That’s What I Like - Bruno Mars

should go through with his desire to wake her up. From an outsider’s perspective, viewers are torn.

Finally, he makes the decision — he wakes Aurora. Like Jim, Aurora tries to go back to sleep right away and soon learns it is impossible. She thinks that her pod malfunctioned and is unaware that Jim broke it.

The movie takes a drive down a brief love path as the pair morph from friends to lovers. On Aurora’s birthday Jim plans to propose to her.

But while Jim is gone, Arthur talks with Aurora and accidentally reveals that Jim woke her up.

As expected, Aurora is livid and will not speak to Jim. One night she comes into his room and starts hitting him over and over. She even brings a crowbar above his head but stops herself. Despite all he has done, Aurora still loves Jim. The director sort of threw in a fourth character out of the blue, with crew member Gus Mancuso. This conveniently allows them to have access to the crew cabin. However, Gus’s time in the movie is brief as he has thousands of diseases and ends up dying. Before he dies he leaves angry Aurora with some wise advice on why Jim did what he did.

“The drowning man will always try to drag somebody down with him.

It ain’t right, but the man is drowning,” Gus said.

By the time Gus dies, the ship is going haywire despite it being

deemed the “unbreakable” ship. Elevators break, Arthur malfunctions, gravity is lost and temperatures rise.

Despite their feud, Jim and Aurora must come together and save the ship.

Like typical science fiction movies, the tough guy saves the day by risking his life. There is a brief period where it seems like he may have died but Aurora hooks him up to a machine and all is well.

The movie wraps up with Jim telling Aurora there is good news and bad news. He found a pod that can put a person back into hibernation, but only one of them can use it. Now Aurora is the one with a tough decision to make.

To make matters harder, Jim finally proposes to Aurora. Aurora ultimately chooses to live out the rest of her life with Jim on Starship Avalon and trades her future of Homestead II. More than 80 years pass and the rest of the crew finally wakes from their deep sleep. The blog Aurora left behind is read aloud as the passengers walk about the ship.

“You can’t get so hung up on where you’d rather be, that you forget to make the most of where you are,” Aurora said.

The film did a good job of staying simple and not becoming too unrealistic. It was interesting that they only had a cast of four people as well.

Carmike 7 Showtimes Showtimes for Tuesday and Wednesday, April 4 and April 5 at Carmike Cinema 7 in Chambersburg

Show

3. I Don’t Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker) - ZAYN/ Taylor Swift

Time

4. Bad And Boujee - Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert

1. The Boss Baby

6:50 p.m.

5. I Feel It Coming- The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk

2. Beauty And The Beast

7:00 p.m.

6. Tunnel Vision - Kodak Black

3. Ghost in the Shell

7:10 p.m.

7. Something Just Like This - The Chainsmokers & Coldplay

4. Life (2017)

7:20 p.m.

8. Passionfruit - Drake

5. Kong: Skull Island

7:25 p.m.

9. Portland - Drake ft. Quavo & Travis Scott

6. Power Rangers

7:30 p.m.

10. Paris - The Chainsmokers

7. Chips

7:40 p.m.

A&E Band still keeping it ‘Kool’ after 50 years Slate

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April 4, 2017

Thomas Witmer Art Director

With a disco ball hung over the stage ready to shine, The H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center hosted a performance by the jazz and funk band Kool & The Gang on March 31. Before the show, the drummer warmed up while someone yelled, “Knock ‘em dead.”

Robert “Kool” Bell, the band’s leader and bassist was born in Youngstown, Ohio. He later moved to New Jersey, where he became part of the band that would eventually become Kool & The Gang.

With more than 50 years of music under his belt, one may wonder why Bell continues making music.

“The people. The fans. We enjoy writing music that pleases our audience,” Bell said. “They’ve taken us

around the world, which has given us a lot of education.”

Perhaps Bell would have been a mechanic had things worked out differently. When he was 2 years old, Bell’s mechanic grandfather had him under the hood of a vehicle. At age 8, Bell managed to create a form of lawnmower bicycle.

The band received several awards, including a Grammy Award, a street named after them in their home state and a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star, which Bell said was his favorite award.

In addition, Kool & The Gang has also been featured in the National Museum of African American History and Culture, with the bass guitar that Bell played for the recording of songs such as “Ladies Night,” “Two Hot” and the “Something Special” album.

With lights shining, the band

emerged wearing sparkling shirts of various colors and began bringing energy and good times to the audience.

After opening with “Fresh,” the band continued to play more than a dozen songs as the night progressed.

The band offered to take the audience back to the ’70s, and during the performance of the song “Ladies night,” they called for all the female members of the audience to come forward in front of the stage.

More than an hour after starting, they closed with the well-known song “Celebration.” With music that spans across multiple generations, more than 70 million albums sold across the world and an upcoming movie called “Hollywood Swinger: The Kool & The Gang Story,” Kool & The Gang continues to bring good times and laughter to people all across the country.

Photo by Kayla Brown

A Kool & The Band member serenades the Luhrs audience Friday night. The band has been together since 1964.

Poetry Corner “In Your Eyes” Courtney Putnam Staff Writer

When she looks in the mirror she doesn’t see the woman she is today.

Instead, the reflection staring back is the girl from high school.

Held in the mirror is the same shy girl that was too afraid to speak up, to let herself be seen.

She accepted the role of ‘The Wallflower,’ it suited her perfectly.

Then you were there, like the moon coming out from behind the clouds to cast your light upon her.

She was no longer ‘The Wallflower.’

She wasn’t even a rose. To you, she became the sun.

The way her eyes dazzle as she speaks of her passions, the blush in her cheeks when you smile at her.

She was always beautiful but she never let the world see her soul; the inner light she held so dear to her heart. With you she never doubts who she is.

You gave her a voice, a chance, and brought her out of her own darkness.

In your eyes she sees her true self.

A&E

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April 4, 2017

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Comedian triggers pre-April Fools’ laughter Molly Foster

Asst. A&E Editor Laughter boomed throughout the Ceddia Union Building (CUB) on Thursday night as comedian Jen Kober joked up a storm with Shippensburg University students.

Cracking jokes about everything from her own life to audience members and good ole’ Pennsylvania, Kober managed to trigger the audience into a constant loop of chuckles from the moment she stepped on stage.

Performing standup comedy since she was 16 years old, Kober has had many years to experiment with a variety of content in order to perfect her story-esque form of comedy. But standup comedy is not the only thing that Kober has dabbled in over her entertainment career. She has recently taken her jokes to TV, playing the food court maven, Brenda, on the American Sitcom show “The Middle” and Joan on BET’s “Real Husbands of Hollywood” with Kevin Hart.

Letting the audience in on her boisterous personality from the moment she stepped on stage, Kober greeted the audience by joking that she had “been on a bus for seven f***ing hours for this.”

However, following this remark, Kober addressed the audience in a sincere tone as she urged them to let their laughter roam free with her for the next hour.

“I really need you to want to laugh.

I need you to love this, guys. I need you to be behind me with this,” Kober said before returning to her jokester ways.

Kober quickly grew comfortable with the audience as she opened up about where she grew up, her sexuality and her many interests — but of course in a humorous manner.

“I’m from Louisiana and I love my food, especially Chick-fil-A,” Kober said. “Did the Chick-fil-A, LGBT controversy make it down here?” Kober asked the audience, referencing how the fast food restaurant publicly stated its opposition to same-sex marriage last year and many protested in response.

“Protest Chick-fil-A? I’m fat first, gay second,” Kober joked, cashing in the first few laughs of the night.

Personalizing the content to something every person in the audience

Photo by Austin Stoltzfus

Comedian and actress Jen Kober quickly gets comfortable on stage as she jokes about the serious and hilarious moments of her life. Turning the humor on the audience members, Kober uses them as inspiration for the context of some jokes. could relate to, Kober changed the topic of her jokes to Pennsylvania.

“I really didn’t know Pennsylvania before I started touring,” Kober said.

“The first place I ever visited in PA was Lancaster, and it was basically Amish City.”

After a handful of jokes about how desolate most of PA is, Kober concluded her jokes about the state by asking the audience, “Is it me or do all Amish look like Abraham Lincoln?” This rhetorical question

prompted an uncontrollable spurt of laughter from nearly everyone in the audience.

“You guys keep on resetting like, HA. HA. MORE,” Kober said laughing. “I love it.”

Searching for some inspiration within the audience, Kober asked which individual was currently sporting the longest relationship.

A criminal justice student in the back of the crowd raised his hand and gushed that he has been in an

incredibly extensive four-month relationship with a high school senior, which prompted an abundant amount of laughter.

Going along with the individual from the audience, Kober wittily said, “Well your criminal justice degree is sure going to come in handy.

What is the age of consent in PA?” Barely able to control her own laughter Kober confessed, “Sometimes the jokes just write themselves.”

Proving to be a big ball of profanity

and inventive humor throughout the course of her show, Kober’s joke after joke reeled in the college crowd, and left them teary-eyed and sore-stomached from nearly a full hour of laughter.

“I feel like we all learned a lot about each other tonight. You guys are awesome. I had a great time with y’all,” Kober said before abandoning center stage.

A&E SU band performs spring concert Slate

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April 4, 2017

Catherine Amoriello Managing Editor

The Shippensburg University concert band took the stage at the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center on Sunday afternoon to perform several pieces under the instruction of band director Trever R. Famulare.

Donned in sleek tuxes and black dresses, the men and women of the concert band filled their seats with instruments in hand before the lights dimmed and Famulare glided onto the stage.

With a wave of his baton, Famulare led the musicians into the opening piece titled, “Celebration Fanfare.” The first song was both upbeat and triumphant and held true to its name as the horns blew loudly and the percussion group banged out a steady beat on the drums.

After the piece concluded, Famulare informed the audience that although the concert band was an “aggressive program,” that did not mean every song they learned and played was fast and intricate. To prove his point, the musicians moved into two pieces that were softer and slower in pace. The first song, “Sheltering Sky,” offered high pitched, drawn out notes to the ears of the audience which was then followed by a more hymnal sounding piece titled “In the Paths of Truth and Grace.”

The audience was then treated to a four-movement piece comprised of Irish dance music and from the performance group Riverdance. The piece featured multiple solos from a soprano saxophone player as well

as a rapturing percussion performance tapped out on blue buckets from Lowe’s. As the percussionists hit various complex beats on their makeshift drums, musicians and audience members alike nodded their heads and tapped their feet along with the beat.

After a brief intermission in which the musicians came down to the audience to unite with family members and friends, the performance continued with a piece titled “Prelude, Siciliano, Rondo.” All three movements within the piece were written in short, clear five-part song forms, reflecting composer Malcolm Arnold’s interest in folk songs and dances, according to the program bill.

Next on the set list was a piece titled “Metroplex: Three Postcards from Manhattan” composed by Robert Sheldon. Sheldon’s description of the piece was included in the program bill so the audience could paint a mental picture while the music was played. The description offered scenes of the New York City skyline, the city’s famous nightclubs and wild taxi rides through the heavy traffic of the bustling metropolis.

For the finale of the performance, the concert band tackled its most challenging piece yet in “Windsprints.” The piece is meant to replicate the feelings one might have while running a 100-yard dash. The musicians’ fingers worked tirelessly on their instruments as they played the piece as fast as they possibly could. The musicians’ efforts were rewarded through a lengthy applause and standing ovation from a few audience members.

Upcoming Musical performances SU Woodwind Ensembles — April 9 SU Concert Choir & Madrigal Singers — April 10 SU Jazz Ensemble — April 17 SU Community Orchestra — April 23

Photos by Kayla Brown

(Above) Shippensburg concert band members join forces to perform a unique mix of songs.

(Below) Percussion players provide the beat with their makeshift bucket drums.

A&E

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April 4, 2017

Comics Corner

Win Prizes Bring completed puzzles to The Slate office and win a prize.

4 puzzles – Slate T-Shirt and button 8 puzzles – $15 Sheetz gift card Claim between 1–3 p.m. on Wednesdays in CUB Room 250.

Answers from last week’s puzzles

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