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Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania theslateonline.com
Volume 68, No. 05
September 29, 2015 @ShipUSlate TheSlate @ShipUSlate
SU cadets conduct exercises, A4
A taste of Saudi Arabia, C2
Luhrs goes electric, D1
#ShoutYourAbortion, B3
Football takes loss against Bloomsburg, E4
A2
News
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September 29, 2015
STAYING CURRENT Local
State
National
World
Academic unit cut from local schools
Pope visits inmates in Philadelphia prison
U.S. speaker of House to resign
Dozens dead and injured in Bangui
Shippensburg — Shippensburg Area School District upset some parents after it sent a note explaining administrators suspended a subject from the curriculum. Parents of second-graders recently received the note from the school district explaining that they will no longer be teaching children about Asian culture by using religious ideologies from the region, according to ABC27. Some parents, like Jon Connelly, voiced their dissent of the decision. Connelly said her daughter was enjoying the subject. However, the administration made the decision because it received a letter about parents being upset about the religious content in the Asian unit, and the administration agreed. It is not the subject material that is the problem but the level of reasoning in the unit, Superintendent Beth Bender said. According to Bender, students are too young and have not reached that level of abstract reasoning to learn about the topic.
Philadelphia — Pope Francis met with more than 70 prisoners in the Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, to pass along words of advice, according to the Bangor Daily News. The pope told the inmates everyone needs to be cleansed, and the time the prisoners were spending in confinement was for them to be rehabilitated. In the weeks prior to Francis’ arriving in America, the inmates built him a chair in recognition of his visit to the prison. The wooden upholstered chair greeted the pope when he walked into a hall. He thanked the prisoners for their hard work. Taking time out of his schedule to stop at prisons has been normal on his international trips. In the past, Francis has advocated against the death penalty and lengthy prison sentences.
Source: ABC27
Washington, D.C. — Ohio Republican Rep. John Boehner announced in a news conference, Friday morning, his decision to resign from Congress as speaker of the House of Representatives, according to CNN. After an encounter with Pope Francis one-day prior, he said he would step down in a press conference on Capitol Hill. The Republican’s career has been filled with disagreements with conservatives, specifically concerning fiscal policy. Boehner’s decision has a direct connection with recent pressure from conservatives for him to take a harder stand on their causes. Boehner, a devout Catholic, said the Pope’s visit to Congress was an enlightening moment for him. During his press conference, he acknowledged the Pope’s influential words to him when Francis said, “We will all heed His call to live by the Golden Rule” and for leaders to “find common ground to get things Source: Bangor Daily News done.” Boehner will officially step down at the end of October. Stay current by following us Source: CNN on Twitter @ShipUSlate
Bangui, Central African Republic — Twenty-one people were killed and 100 people were wounded over the weekend, after a Muslim taxi driver was killed in the capital city of Bangui in the Central African Republic, according to the United Press International. Angry Muslims from Bangui’s 3rd district attacked the mainly Christian 5th district, armed with automatic weapons. Attackers witnessed setting cars and buildings ablaze, causing many residents to flee the city. The Central African Republic has been a center for religious and ethnic tension since 2013. Christian militias formed after Muslim Seleka rebels seized control of a large portion of the country. The violent actions that followed divided the nation, causing the resignation of a rebel leader in January 2014. A U.N. force of 10,000 troops secured the capital and continued peacekeeping duties within the country. Source: United Press International
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September 29, 2015
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New captain for the Ship SU President Harpster to be formally inaugurated Friday Jessica Richardson Asst. News Editor
Thinly framed black glasses rest on his nose and a big smile that reveals laugh lines near the corner creases of his eyes stands out when he talks about Shippensburg University. His desk is covered with papers and two Red Raider coffee mugs sit in the front, holding pencils and pens. At the far end of the desk lays a Red Raiders tan baseball cap, showing even more SU pride. All around the room are pictures of the man behind the desk meeting different celebrities at the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center. The two pictures that stand out are the two of his adopted son and daughter placed precisely on the top middle shelf of a wooden case, positioned so whoever sits at the desk can perfectly see the two smiling faces. He wears a pin-striped light blue button down and a matching red tie with tiny blue crabs in the design. He leans back in his Red Raider logo chair and crosses his arms over his chest as he talks about his life growing up. But when SU comes into conversation, he leans forward with excitement in his eyes, eager to talk about his favorite place. President George “Jody” Harpster, the man behind the desk, is to be inaugurated on Oct. 2 in the Luhrs Center as the 16th president of of the university. Born and raised in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, Harpster grew up with an older sister, his mother and father. Harpster was the first college student among his family. His mother was a stay-at-home mom, and his father had worked on a railroad since he had to leave school in eighth grade. “We didn’t have a lot of financial resources, but we did have a lot of love,” Harpster said. “My family believed that if you worked hard and were an honest person you could get ahead.” For Harpster, it was never a question of if he was going to college, but rather where he was going to go to college. He said he chose
to attend Juniata College because of the rigorous education program and the fact that a high percentage of students would get into medical or dental school after graduation, which was his plan. His plan changed, however, when he had the opportunity to see the institution from a different viewpoint. Harpster become the vice president of the student government, where he was then appointed to the board of institutions. He got to see a broader picture of the way an institution works and that set the stage for the rest of his life, Harpster said.
“All those things I felt and believed when I was a student, I still feel and more.” - Jody Harpster After graduating in 1972, Harpster continued his education at SU, where he was heavily involved with the campus. Harpster was a residence director, had an internship with the dean of men and had an internship with former SU President Gilmore Seavers. “I felt that it was a very special place,” Harpster said, “All those things I felt and believed when I was a student, I still feel and more.” Harpster began his career at SU as the vice president of student affairs and he never expected that 20 years later, he would be the university’s president. His experience also includes serving as interim president from 20052007 and again, from 2013 until January 2015, when he was selected to be the next president of SU. Looking into the week of the inauguration, Harpster is still more focused on the students and Shippensburg community than himself. “He focuses more on relationships than politics and I think that’s a unique quality,” said Michelle Bradley, former Student Senate president. “I could sing his praises all day.” Bradley also recalled how Harp-
ster went out of his way to drive out on a weekend by himself to a senate retreat so that he could get to know the members of the senate. “I’ve tried to become a part of the community,” Harpster said. “I live here in town. I sit in the pew at church in town and I shop for groceries in town.” Current Student Senate President Dominic Giovanniello also sees unique qualities in President Harpster. He will be welcoming Harpster on behalf of the student body at the inauguration. “I think he’s unique in the sense that he doesn’t separate his persona from his professional life. What you get is what you get and that is very good in a leadership role,” Giovanniello said. Harpster will be inaugurated on Oct. 2 at 10 a.m. in the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center. Many students and faculty believe that he is prepared for the job. “It is important to understand that Harpster has been interim president on two occasions,” said James Johnson, dean of education and human services. “In each of these appointments, he worked with the deans of the colleges to do everything that he could to advance their mission and combine these missions into a unified vision for the university. Being appointed as president only continues these activities in the same direction that he has always held.” Harpster has worked with the College of Education and Services with the master of arts in teaching proposal, the doctoral degree in educational leadership with Millersville University. He has also worked with the College of Arts and Sciences in accreditations and the implementation of the engineering field. The department is now hoping that the values of these programs can be understood and discussed. “Raising our profile and making folks more aware of the quality of education when you come here [to Shippensburg] is important,” said James H. Mike, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, “We deliver a lot for Pennsylvania and our stu-
Photo by Ray Schungel
Shippensburg University President Jody Harpster holds the school’s mace, a wooden ceremonial object that will be presented to him during his formal inauguration on Friday. dents.” Harpster said he plans to do “a better job of telling our story about how good this place is and what we have to offer.” He is humbled and excited for the upcoming inauguration. Harpster is especially happy that many of his family and friends are coming from all across the country to attend the inauguration, and that his in-laws, who are unable to travel, will be able to watch the inauguration as it streams on the SU website. “I’m very proud and humbled
coming in to the position. I am appreciative of the inauguration committee and dozens of people who have helped organize the event,” Harpster said. The inauguration is free to the public and students can pick up free tickets at the Ceddia Union Building information desk to attend the reception following the ceremony. “My hope is that I am up to the challenge and, with all modesty, I believe I am,” Harpster said, “The ship is in good hands.”
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September 29, 2015
A4
SU cadets put knowledge to the test at LDX
Harrison and his fellow cadets first learned about the characteristics of a patrol base when they arrived at a wooded and secluded sector of FTIG. Cadet Devon Newcomer explained that a patrol base is meant to be a secure place for a unit out in the field to temporarily rest and redefine their plans. As the sun sank slowly behind the tree line, the cadets learned that setting up such a base would be their primary objective for the evening. They would simulate a military unit that must be prepared for enemy contact. “It’s going to be dark out — keep light discipline,” Newcomer said, meaning their red-tinted flashlights should be used sparingly to avoid
“I’m looking forward to getting some experience in the woods.” - Benjamin Harrison “Security will always be there,” Cadet Elizabeth Scheivert said, explaining that the area must be protected while completing other jobs. A patch of woods adjacent to where the cadets were based was scouted and a perimeter in the shape of a triangle was established using three squads. While higher-ranking cadets organized Sunday’s plan — the reconnaissance mission — the others set up their sleeping bags and waterproofing equipment. Regardless of the task at hand, some of the officers-in-training became frustrated with trying to organize the next day’s operation, let alone establishing a night watch to guard the base. “We won’t be getting much sleep,” one cadet said, adding there was a lot to accomplish before morning. After some determined discussion, the cadets felt more comfortable with their plans and by 11 p.m., many were asleep.
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This week on campus
Cadet Devon Newcomer instructs MS I and II cadets about the evening’s plan, which includes setting up a patrol base.
Photos by Troy Okum
On Sept. 29, Reach Out Club is hosting a Zumbathon in the CUB MPR from 7-8 p.m. and costs $5. The event will also have cultural games, and the proceeds go to education in the Dominican Republic.
The three squads march in formation down the gravel road, passing abandoned vehicles along the way to their objective. Conducting a reconnaissance their observations via radio and made their way back through the mission woods to the ORP. “It was two men patrolling a road The last day of the LDX featured a simulated reconnaissance mission with ACU’s [army combat uniforms] that consisted of three squads con- and M-4’s,” Cadet Meghan Wallace ducting surveillance on a compound said. located somewhere in the woods After action review near the patrol base. Each squad had the same objecOnce the cadets returned to tive — to gather information on the specified area — however, they Wright Hall at SU, they reflected on would approach it separately and the LDX, in what is called an after then reconvene to report their find- action review. The goal was to figure out what went well and what ings. After waking up at 4:30 a.m. and needed improvement. By doing so, packing their rucksacks, the ca- the cadets could sharpen their skills dets split up into their squads to be and plan better for future training briefed. By the time the sun came exercises. One of the biggest points touched up they set off in formation down an unpaved road and then moved into upon was that applying knowledge learned in ROTC classes was not as the forest. An operational rally point (ORP) simple as many cadets expected. “If you get put in those situations, was established, which gave the squads a specific location to meet things change,” Cadet Christopher before and after they conducted Littlejohn said, noting the LDX was their missions. With maps at the meant to both get the future U.S. ready, compasses orientated and Army officers out of the classroom radios checked, the three units split and for them to understand that up and quietly approached the ob- perseverance was a key factor when dealing with high-pressure situajective location. Separately, the squads confirmed tions.
On Sept. 30, APB and the Women’s Center is showing “The Hunting Ground” in CUB’s Orndorff Theater at 7 p.m. The movie is a documentary of rape crimes on U.S. college campuses and the toll it takes on students and families.
On Oct. 1, APB presents comedic singer Kevin Yee. The event is free to SU students and will take place in the CUB MPR at 9 p.m. The event is to kickoff LGBT month.
On Oct. 2, Lehman Library will be hosting National Banned and Challenged Books Week. The event will continue from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3. Students can visit the library’s main gallery to see what books have been challenged and learn more about it.
On Oct. 3, Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity will be hosting a 5K at the SU Rec Field Pavilion. The race starts at 9 a.m. All proceeds will benefit the all children’s hospital at Johns Hopkins Medicine.
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Establishing a patrol base
possible detection. Before they got to work, the upper class cadets joined them for dinner, which consisted of two Meals Readyto-Eat (MRE) that were supposed to last them the night and next morning. MRE’s contain a variety of calorie-dense snacks and a main dish that can be heated up by following the simple instructions found inside the package. A formal lecture about the function of a patrol base followed the short meal time. As darkness fell, two cadets explained that the No. 1 objective is to secure the area. Then, other “priorities of work” could commence, which included developing an escape route, preparing for the next day’s mission and resting for the next day.
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Shippensburg University Army ROTC cadets set their books down and picked up their rucksacks for a weekend at Fort Indiantown Gap (FTIG), Pennsylvania, to participate in a small unit tactics oriented Leader Development Exercise (LDX). Several dozen cadets, who are contracted with the U.S. Army, put their classroom curriculum into practice, which included everything from survival methods to applying leadership competencies while on patrol. The LDX was not only designed for cadets to apply their skills, but also for them to learn how to function as professional Army officers under stressful situations. “Part of the training is to build them [cadets] up to where they can take a lot of stress,” said Mark Tressler, a cadet who serves as the battalion’s human resources officer. “Professionalism is supposed to be No. 1.” Military Science (MS) III’s and IV’s, which are the equivalent to juniors and seniors of the ROTC program, left SU on Sept. 25 to begin their training. They arrived at the military base one day before the MS I’s and II’s, to
receive additional instruction. The LDX focused on getting MS III’s prepared to be leaders of platoons and squads, which consisted of MS I’s and II’s who arrived on Sept. 26 — for them, the LDX was geared toward getting their feet wet in the training environment. “I’m looking forward to getting some experience in the woods,” said Cadet Benjamin Harrison, an MS I, on the way to the base. “I want to get a better understanding of the military life.”
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News Editor
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September 29, 2015
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Your World Today Bomb threats becoming popular for scams Commentary
TROY OKUM
News Editor
The idea of being scammed over the phone, through email or even in person is quite familiar, but have you ever heard of being scammed via bomb threat? Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, experienced two bomb threats last week, designed to scam a Speedway Gas Station and a Dollar General store out of money, according to the police department in Chambersburg. “The caller who was described as having a Middle Eastern accent in these two incidents threatened to detonate bombs if he did not receive payment in the form of money gram cards,” said a press release from the Chambersburg Police Department. It goes on to say the two incidents are connected with a similar occurrence, at the same time, in Virginia. Furthermore, there is an investigation to find out who is perpetrating these crimes, as money scams like these have been made across the country. The sheer number of these occurrences begs an important question: What type of world do Americans live in that such threats are considered a consistent problem? Bomb threats are relatively normal — especially when it comes to schools. A quick Google search of “Pennsylvania school bomb threat” will produce a multitude of recent results. Harry S. Truman High School in Levittown, Pennsylvania, and West Shamokin High School in Cowanshannock, Pennsylvania, are two examples of schools that experienced such threats this month, according to the Levittown Patch and CBS Pittsburgh. While the possibility of bombing a place is not nearly as sinister and damaging as actually committing the act, it is still taken just as serious. Thoughts of the Boston Bombing often come to mind as a real example of how devastating a terrorist
act can be. People with older memories may recall how the perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre in 1999 attempted to set off homemade explosive devices. The commonality of domestic terrorist threats may be prevalent today, but it is hard to narrow down when that started. The Sept. 11 attacks heightened homeland security efforts to the point where an entire executive department was created to counter terrorist acts, but 9/11 was not domestic in origin. Domestic or not, any suspicion of someone acting with terroristic intent is handled with the utmost concern, regardless of whether it is a local school, a convenient store or a marathon. The Department of Homeland Security offers a step-by-step, printable brochure that explains what to do in the event of a bomb threat. It provides advice on how to handle the situation, depending if it is via phone, a handwritten note or email. Similar guides can be found in businesses and schools across the country, tucked away amongst other protocol, such as intruder, fire and robbery drills. Though actual bombings in the U.S. are few and far between, any threat is treated as if it is potentially real. The reason for that sort of reaction is two-fold. The institution, whether private or public, that receives a terroristic threat is held accountable for how it responds.
Beyond the factor of liability, there is always the possibility the threat should be taken as legitimate. Anyone who has access to the Internet can figure out how to build an explosive device. Even before the Internet was publicly available instructions of how to construct a bomb were published in newspapers and magazines. United States v. Progressive, Inc. was a court case that occurred in 1979, between the U.S. government and the magazine Progressive, Inc., which attempted to publish detailed information on how to create a thermonuclear weapon, according to the William & Mary Law Review. The article in question was so controversial the government attempted to exercise prior restraint on the magazine to prevent further publication. The point, however, is that for decades virtually anyone in the world with modern technology can access dangerous information. With that being said, bomb threats are naturally taken seriously under all circumstances because they could be backed up with legitimate claims. Criminals can exploit the graveness of such a threat by making their own bombs to rob convenience stores in normal towns like Chambersburg.
Photo courtesy of Flickr user gargantuen
A robot used by bomb squads sits on display at the Cleveland Police Museum in Ohio. Machines like this, which are taking a more human form to increase their flexibility, are used to minimize the risk of law enforcement personnel.
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Police Briefs
Marijuana and drug paraphernalia found in Lackhove Hall residence University police received reports on Sept. 25 of an incident involving marijuana in Lackhove Hall. Salena A. McGriff, 18, of Lackhove Hall was charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Residence hall staff called officers to the building for an incident involving the use of marijuana in one of the rooms. Officers investigated and recovered a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia from McGriff’s room. Underage drinking on Adams Drive University police received reports on Sept. 25 of an intoxicated female on Adams Drive near the Spiritual Center. Melissa Ann Schwenk, 18, of Lackhove Hall was charged with underage drinking in connection with the incident at approximately 11:33 p.m. University police were called to that area to check on the welfare of a female who was intoxicated and could not make it back to her residence hall on her own. Officers arrived and found Schwenk laying in the grass along the roadway. Schwenk was found to be highly intoxicated, and due to her condition an ambulance was dispatched to the scene. Schwenk was transported to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment.
SU student in critical condition after being struck by truck MARY GRACE KELLER Editor-in-Chief
A Shippensburg University student was airlifted by helicopter to Penn State Hershey Medical Center Sunday night after being struck by a vehicle in the crosswalk at the intersection of North Earl Street and Lancaster Drive. The victim, Samuel A. Fritz, was crossing the street by the tennis courts and Bard Townhouses when a white pick-up truck struck him at approximately 8:30 p.m. Fritz is currently receiving treatment at Hershey Medical Center. Hospital officials said Monday evening that Fritz’s condition was critical. Earlier Monday, fellow students Jimmy Bailey, Zac Clouse and Mike McCullough, who work with Fritz at campus radio station WSYC, visited him at the hospital. Fritz was conscious and talkative while they were there, McCullough said. “When you see ICU [Intensive Care Unit], you don’t know what to expect,” McCullough said. At the moment, Fritz is coping with short-term memory loss and a fractured skull, according to McCullough. Nurses and family have to keep reminding Fritz what occurred. Despite his injuries, Fritz appears to be optimistic, McCullough said. Fritz is a sophomore communi-
cation/journalism major and the music director for WSYC. According to McCullough, Fritz keeps telling the nurses, “I gotta get back to WSYC.” Matt Trust, public relations director for WSYC, spoke with Fritz on the phone Monday. “He sounded like himself. He was in good spirits,” Trust said. Fritz’s parents expect he will need to undergo physical therapy and stay at home for a little while before returning to classes, McCullough said. Bailey, the general manager of WSYC, sent an email to the station’s officers Monday morning to update them on the accident. “My heart stopped,” Trust said, describing when he first read the email. Fritz left the radio station, located in the Ceddia Union Building, around 5:30 p.m. Sunday, according to Trust. One of Fritz’s roommates, Josh Rubin, was with Fritz when the truck hit him, according to McCullough and Trust. Rubin was just a few steps behind Fritz in the crosswalk. Pennsylvania State Police in Carlisle are investigating the accident, but had not released any information, including the identity of the driver, as of Monday night. Read theslateonline.com/section/news for more updates on Fritz and the accident.
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September 29, 2015
A6
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SU takes time to help homeless
Photos by Mary Grace Keller
Volunteers come to the organization with hopes of making other lives better. Throughout the home, artwork and Bible verses cover the walls for families to enjoy when they visit.
Mary Grace Keller Editor-In-Chief
The room is buzzing with movement. People standing, squatting and sitting move food and clothes into piles of organized chaos. Slim Jims, bubblegum and Oreos are interspersed through a heap of treats, ready for the little hands that will pluck a special snack from the mound. On top of a dresser, toothbrushes and toothpaste sit in rows, conveniently close to the treats. One couch is taken over by stacks of coloring books, crayons and sidewalk chalk, tied together with ribbon. Two more couches are layered with children’s clothes; carefully washed, mended and labeled by size. With the help of 14 Shippensburg University students, The Silence of Mary Home is nearly ready for its family members to arrive. On Saturday, Sept. 26, SU students, faculty and members of Catholic Campus Ministries (CCM) traveled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to volunteer their time to help the homeless with the Silence of Mary Home organization. Sue Rudy and her husband Vern own three homes in Harrisburg, where they allow homeless people
to stay. They also have two homes in Fort Wayne, Indiana. “Miss Sue,” as people like to call her, is the CEO of Silence of Mary Home. “They come here and they become family,” Rudy said of the people who live in the homes. On Saturday, students prepared a “store” inside one of the homes on Market and South 14th streets. Clothes and shoes for adults were laid across tables on the sidewalk outside, while food and children’s clothes were kept inside. Between 1 and 3 p.m., people came to get the supplies they need, like bags of groceries and hygiene products. Those with children were able to come inside and pick out clothes and special snacks. First year students from professors Karen Johnson’s and Laurie Cella’s basic writing classes came to participate in a service-learning project and to gain inspiration for their writing. “These people put in so much time to make other people’s lives better,” Brady Weibley said of The Silence of Mary Home volunteers. While some students gathered supplies to give out to the homeless coming to the door, Weibley and his other classmates helped paint rooms for two of the home’s residents. Split into groups, students tackled the job of painting rooms for James and Rachel.
James is 20 years old and about to move in. Rudy explained to students how James has lived in institutions for most of his life, and is dependent on a lot of medication. Her goal is to get James transitioned into the “real world” and back on his feet. “The day he walks in here, he’s a
free man,” Rudy said of James. Rachel came to the U.S. from Africa when she was younger, and has known Rudy for years. Lately, Rachel’s dementia has been getting worse. Eventually, Rudy expects Rachel will need to move on from the Silence of Mary Home. Donations to Silence of Mary Home come from individuals, organizations and students, like those at SU. Each week, Rudy and her friends give out supplies from one of the homes. She spreads the news by word of mouth; letting people on the street know when they can visit. A sign hangs on the home’s door, describing in English and Spanish when people should stop by. On Saturday, the focus was on children. Many social work agencies are getting overwhelmed by the number of cases every day, Rudy said, and she wants to help homeless children as much as she can. Sometimes the adults can be shy about asking for help, but the children always speak their mind. “A lot of the times they won’t really tell me if they need something,” Rudy said. After the rush of people subsided, students planted flowers in the garden and gathered around to listen to the stories of Rudy. Although there are many good days for The Silence of Mary Home — when donations are high and vol-
unteers are available — the harsh reality of homelessness seems to find a way to creep back in. Like with the death of a 6-monthold baby girl. Rudy described to students how the baby’s death shook them. The family could not afford a funeral. Rudy sent an email to some volunteers and benefactors, and within a few hours they fundraised enough money to put on a funeral. “I like how Miss Sue went through so much and she never let that stop her,” freshman Danita Dalton said. Catholic Campus Ministries makes the trip to Harrisburg every fall, and sometimes volunteers in the spring as well. Anyone is welcome to attend. Professor Dan Predecki tries to make the trip each year. “Being a Christian, it’s part of what you do — helping people,” Predecki said. Others came to Harrisburg to fulfill community service requirements or just spend a day giving back. Freshman Tatiana Purnell volunteered in South Africa during her senior year of high school, and likes to seize service opportunities whenever she can. “I really like helping people and meeting people,” Purnell said, “I think it’s nice to be able to make a little difference in someone else’s world.”
The Silence of Mary Home in Harrisburg provided clothes and shoes for both children and adults. SU sophomore Jessica Wisniewski, from CCM, helped hand out other supplies such as snacks and hygiene products for anyone who came to the organization in need of them.
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A7
Sanders behind in the fight Students gather for suicide for Democratic candidate prevention and awareness Derek Evanosky
Political Columnist Despite an impressive run at the Democratic nomination, a presidential election with Bernie Sanders’ name on the ballot remains unlikely. While the most recent polls show the senator from Vermont trailing presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at 14.5 percent, the odds of Sanders seizing the nomination remain astronomically against him. After being virtually dragged into the race by Democrats, Vice President Joe Biden has garnered more than his fair share of support from traditional Democrats. While this should come as a surprise to no one, it does make Sanders’ polling numbers look better than they actually are. Clinton and Biden vie for the support of the same demographics. Both are exceedingly appealing to more traditional Democrats that are unwilling to vote for an overt socialist. Unfortunately for Sanders, those voters comprise a majority of the Democratic party. At the end of the day, both Democrats and Republicans will continue to nominate their respective party’s prototypical candidate. It is the same reason that Sen. Rand Paul cannot get the nomination: Both sides are comfortable with nominating the same type of candidate at every election. This reluctance to change will ultimately weigh Sanders down until his polling numbers dwindle into nothingness. Even if the Democrats decided that Sanders was their most viable option, it seems impossible that more than half of the country would vote for him. Should Clinton or Biden get the nomination, the Democrats have a much greater chance of appealing to moderate Republicans and Independents. Sanders, on the other hand, is coming off as too far left, even for the Democrats.
The fact that Clinton remains at No. 1 one (with approximately 40 percent of her party’s approval) after her numerous scandals says a lot about the negative connotation that the idea of socialism carries. Surprisingly, Clinton’s perpetually scandal-tarnished legacy is still thought of as less damaging than Sanders’ socialist political beliefs. Whether or not Clinton’s scandals cost the Democrats the White House will remain unanswered until 2016, but it feels like the wrong move, given Sanders’ clean slate. While the polarization of American politics marginally reduces the tendency of swingvoting, Democrats know that the bulk of Sanders’ support is shouldered by ethnic minorities and young voters, two smaller demographics in the American electorate. In the last election, ethnic minorities made up 28 percent of the electorate, and voters aged 18-24 accounted for 19 percent, according to ropercenter.uconn.edu. Comparatively, individuals aged 30-64 made up 65 percent of the electorate, and white Americans 72 percent. Despite a contentious campaign fueled by a growing grassroots movement, the current political climate of the U.S. remains unsuitable for a president like Sanders. Ultimately, Sanders’ largest underlying issue is that America is not prepared to become a social democracy. It is fair to argue that the U.S. has made some Western Europelike policy changes in recent months, but they pale in comparison to the type of institutional overhaul that Sanders has in mind. The U.S.’s GDP could most likely support some of Sanders’ plans for the federal government, but it does not matter. The only way Sanders will win a presidential election is if the country decides on its own to move toward progressive and socialistic policy changes.
Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders at a town meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, rallying for votes as the Democratic presidential candidate for the upcoming election.
Spiritual Center, Office of Housing and Residence Life reminds students through presentation they are not alone in their struggles
Christopher Carlton, Ph.D. licensed psychologist, from the SU Counseling Center shares warning signs of suicide and thoughts victims have.
A student holds a glowstick, which was used to explain and represent the effects of suicide on a person’s life, in the ceremony last week.
Photos by Michael Zimmerman
SU second-year student Madeline Reed attends the ceremony and holds up her glowstick to show support for suicide prevention and awareness.
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Blood moon vs. super moon: End-of-days JOSH TORZILLO
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around the time of the blood moon. The religion versus science deAsst. Opinion Editor bate rages on even today. Whether you place your trust in God or in NASA, the choice is yours. HowevStock up on supplies and find a er, I do not think the world will be fallout shelter, it’s 2012 all over ending because of a blood moon. again. Firstly, if the world ended when This past Sunday night marked a the blood moon rose, you would not rare astronomical event. There was even be reading this. a lunar eclipse during a super moon, Secondly, the Bible also states which made the moon appear much that no one knows when the world larger and redder from our view on will come to an end. Certainly, this Earth. This was also the last blood means one cannot predict the end of moon in a tetrad series, meaning it the world. was the fourth blood moon to rise As a Bible-believing Christian, I over the past two years, something think I can trust enough in that to that has not happened since 1982. not have to worry about the end of Sounds cool, right? Not to some the world. Not to say that the world religious leaders and their faithful will not be ending soon, but it seems flocks. highly unlikely. Pastors John Hagee, Mark Biltz Those who advocate the blood and Irvin Baxter all believe this moon prophecy are probably lookblood moon represents the start of ing to make a quick dollar selling a troubled times for the citizens of book about it. Perhaps they just like Earth. Books have been written on seeing people freak out about havthe topic, and many people buy into ing only a little while left to live on the hype and paranoia of an end-ofthe earth. days scenario. To me, though, the end of the Historically, the Jewish people, world cannot simply be predicted. Maybe this moon does mean something, though many scientists state that it is not such a rare occurrence as it is made out to be. It could signal the start of the beginning of the end, or something to that effect. There is no way to accurately say what will occur, if anything at all. Regardless, it is an amazing astronomical event that many hopefully got to see on Sunday night. One can only hope or pray this blood moon brings only good photo opportunities and time spent outside at night. We made it through Y2K and 2012, though, so I think we should Photo courtesy of Flickr user Darron Birgenheier be able to handle whatever this blood moon throws at us. who are God’s chosen people, have come against great tribulation close to the time of past blood moons. With this blood moon falling on the night of a super moon, these pastors believe the end of the world could be very near. Some people, such as Biltz, say we still have at least a thousand years left on Earth. Baxter, however, feels the moon is a harbinger of doom, citing it as the beginning of the seven years of tribulation before Jesus Christ himself returns. Hagee, in the meanwhile, wrote a best-selling book on the topic. These men believe that God uses the “heavens,” or the sun, moon and stars, to communicate with His people on Earth. The Bible certainly backs this view up, as astronomical bodies are often mentioned in the book. One Bible verse, Joel 2:30-31, explicitly mentions a blood moon rising before the end of the world. NASA, however, released a statement saying it is highly unlikely an asteroid will strike the Earth on or
The blood moon lunar eclipse in April 2014 has a copper glow.
Presidential candidates this week: Hillary Clinton jokes about the serious topic of her email
When asked about her use of a private email server as Secretary of State and how transparent her White House team would be, Clinton jokingly responded by saying she would not be using a private email as president, according to CNN. Joking aside, Clinton went on to say transparency and honesty would be vital to her administration. Clinton continues to have a sense of humor about her private email debacle, but recent reports show that she has not been honest regarding the situation. Accusers say the FBI contacted Clinton about the email server three months earlier than she claimed they did and they did not contact her for a routine records viewing. The FBI continues to uncover deleted emails from the server, some of which reference the infamous Benghazi incident. Given the surge of support for her Democratic competitors Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, this email scandal could make or break Clinton’s campaign. If information about her private email usage continues to be released, Clinton could see a fall from grace from the top of the polls.
Photo courtesy of Flickr user Marc Nozell
Hillary Clinton at an event in Hampton, New Hampshire.
DISCLAIMER The opinions expressed within these pages are those of the writers.
Concerns or letters to the editor can be emailed to: shipspeaks@gmail.com
They are not directly the opinions of The Slate, its staff or Shippensburg University as a whole.
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Democratic National Committee under scrutiny Justin Lee
Asst. A&E Editor Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the National Chair of Democratic National Committee spoke at the Democratic Party Convention last week in New Hampshire, going down a list of negative talking points from Republican candidates. The event, covered by C-SPAN, panned to the crowd showing members throwing up Bernie Sanders signs and chanting “WE WANT DEBATES!” In an attempt to settle the impatient crowd, Schultz asked, “My friends, what’s more important? Drawing a contrast with Republicans or arguing about debates? Let’s focus on our task at hand!” Shultz heads the Democratic National Committee (DNC). One of the
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is under scrutiny.
tasks is scheduling debates between candidates who are seeking the nomination for the Democratic Party. In a unilateral decision, the DNC decided that it would only host six primary debates. Immediately after, former Maryland governor and presidential hopeful Martin O’Malley called the decision a “rigged process.” Soon after, Bernie Sanders criticized Shultz, calling her “dead wrong.” In sharp contrast to the Republicans, FOX News has already hosted three major debates and two junior debates, compensating for the large number of Republican candidates. Although FOX has taken it upon itself to be the main network of the Republican media, the exposure still exists. The Republicans will have a total of 12 major debates by March 10, 2016. The nation knows more about the Republican candidates than they do about the Democratic candidates. The number of Republican debates is fresh and lively, while the number of the Democratic debates is dry and thin. Despite Bernie Sanders taking the lead in polls from Iowa and New Hampshire, 38 percent of Democratic voters across the nation still do not know who he is, according to the Huffington Post. Candidates like Jim Webb and former Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee have received little to no media coverage. The debates are integral to the 2016 campaign. Contrast the massive crowds that attend Bernie Sanders’ events across the nation to the handful of people that attend Clinton events. A multitude of reasons exist, but it boils down to two important ones: Admission for Clinton events has averaged $2,700 per ticket and Schultz is a Clinton sup-
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia user Qqqqqq
Al Gore speaks at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in 2008 in Denver, Colorado. porter. The Clinton campaign has taken advantage of Citizens United, with a super PAC pouring millions of dollars into campaign ads, cable exposure and cable consciousness. The problem is that she has yet to confront Sanders or O’Malley in an open discussion. Those are the moments that voters pay attention the most. What do candidates really believe? How do they feel about other candidates in their party? There is no script in these situations. The questions are asked, the candidates answer and the voters learn. This is where the American people make their decisions. What is the “task at hand” for the DNC? This issue runs deeper than who is more popular among voters. This is a matter of basic democracy and cheating. Schultz has been
a loyal Clinton supporter since the point. Sanders, O’Malley and the re2008 campaign. Once the debates maining candidates have a tougher happened in 2007 between her and battle to fight now: The media. Obama, voters realized that Clinton was not all she was cracked up to be. If there are not enough debates, the candidate with the most money has the most advertisements. The natural frontrunner in this case would be Hillary Clinton. Her challengers would get pushed aside unfairly. Today, we are witnessing the same thing happen between her and Bernie Sanders. Voters are learning that she does not have any substantial legislation or finite positions. To suppress that suspicion, Schultz is abusing her position in not allowing other Democratic candidates to get the coverage they deserve. The first official debate for the Democrats will be on Oct. 13 in Las Vegas, but it may be too late at this
The Democratic party’s logo.
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#ShoutYourAbortion explodes on social media Kayla Corbin Opinion Editor The hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion emerged on social media on Sept. 19, letting women throughout the country voice their personal experiences of abortion. For many, this was a way to tackle something that is very rarely, if almost never, talked about. Why, in a society where most taboos from decades ago have become norms, do we not freely talk about abortion experiences? Most women are told to keep the experience hushed and are made to feel shameful for going through with it. The trend was started by two women who are deeply worried about efforts Republicans are imposing on the non-profit organization, Planned Parenthood. Many may think Planned Parenthood only exists to perform abortions, but that is far from the truth. Planned Parenthood provides many services to women, such as Pap tests, breast exams and ways to prevent unintended pregnancies, according to its website. Also on its website is this import-
ant statistic: Only 3 percent of all cases that are handled at Planned Parenthood are abortion services. This is not to say that Planned Parenthood should not be able to perform all of its services. Abortions should not be a taboo, hushed topic in our society. As a nation, we are constantly talking about the importance of separation from church and state. The government should not be influenced by religious beliefs. You are not a bad person if you decide to have an abortion. There are many reasons why someone would not want to continue a pregnancy and no one should be forced into having a child they are not prepared for, whether that is mentally or physically. Of course, many people do not like the idea of aborting. But life brings unforeseen situations in which abortion may be the best option. The initial starter of the movement, Amelia Bonow, shared her story on Facebook. As a concerned citizen, she had this to say: “I am telling you this [her abortion story] today because the narrative of those working to defund Planned Parenthood relies on the assumption that
Photos courtesy of Twitter
Social media users show support for the trending topic and start to share personal stories.
abortion is still something to be whispered about.” Bonow and another woman, Kimberly Morrison, want to stomp on the idea that you should have to hide and regret your choice to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, according to CNN. As word spread and the hashtag grew into a trending debate, it was challenged by an opponent. The hashtag #ShoutYourAdoption appeared to counteract the movement started by Bonow. A preacher on Twitter tweeted, “This #ShoutYourAbortion hashtag is vile and tasteless. Let’s celebrate #ShoutYourAdoption instead. Better choice.” These two, completely separate topics should not be compared. Women should not be forced into feeling guilty for the choices they have made on how to live their lives. No one should be forced into a child that they do not want. There should not be a stigma surrounding abortion in our modern society. Women should not be forced to carry a child to term that they do not want. That experience alone could ruin the safety and mental health of a woman who is unprepared for a pregnancy. Yes, Bonow and other females who have participated in the trending hashtag may have approached this in a completely in-your-face manner, but they definitely succeeded in getting their message across. I am a firm believer in doing what you want with your own body. I may not personally agree with the choices some people make, but who am I to judge? You only have this one life, and you should make sure to cherish it and live it the happiest way possible. No one should get in the way of that. In the words of Bonow, “Your life belongs to nobody but you; don’t ever let someone make you feel any An opposing tweet, #ShoutYourAdoption, emerged on Twitter. other way.”
Photos courtesy of Flickr user Beth Kanter
A woman takes a stand to support Planned Parenthood.
September 29, 2015
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Rose McGowan’s music video underwhelming Josh Torzillo Asst. Opinion Editor Rose McGowan’s artistic video is cosmically underwhelming. Actress, artist and feminist Rose McGowan recently released a music video for her new single “RM468” and it is quite the art piece. McGowan is best known for her acting in the television show “Charmed.” She has also starred in films such as “Grindhouse” and “Scream” and is a well-known aficionado in the fashion world. As of late, McGowan has branched more into the music world, abandoning acting and focusing on her art and image. This image, as portrayed in her new music video, is bizarre and weird. The synopsis of the video is McGowan covered in plaster, breaking out of said plaster looking like a naked albino alien and then wearing various costumes and paints as she sings to the camera. What I experienced in viewing the video was watching a naked woman sing a less-than-stellar song while occasionally putting on some odd wardrobe choices. She looked like the twisted lovechild of Lady Gaga and Marilyn Manson (who she was actually married to for a short time).
The song just does not appeal to me at all; specifically her singing style. The backing track was actually decent. The problems I have with the music video are in the message it tries to portray. McGowan is a feminist icon, known for her sense of fashion and criticism of sexist Adam Sandler movie scripts. She obviously believes in furthering the feminist cause. This music video does not seem to do much of that at all. After reading interviews with McGowan about the video, I understand it more and have some level of respect for it. The artistic vision of the video was to show five sides of her or five stages of her life, with the different costumes showing each stage. If I had not read these explanations, I would have had no idea that there was any point to the video at all. The major problem with the music video for me is the nudity. McGowan’s breasts are shown through most of the video, albeit with a covering of white body paint. I viewed this video on YouTube, and there were no age restrictions on the video. The video on McGowan’s official YouTube page does have the age restriction, but on the page NOWNESS, which has the most views of the video on YouTube, there is no age restriction.
Photos courtesy of Flickr user Gordon Correll
Rose McGowan at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Any child surfing YouTube for cat videos could easily stumble upon this video in the sidebar, and they most likely would be shocked by the bizarreness of the video, as well as the nudity. They most likely would not understand the art behind the nudity. Is the nudity portrayed in the video really art, though? I do not see how wearing body paint automatically makes her an art piece and she can therefore be nude on one of the most popular websites on Earth for anyone to view. Slapping some paint on should not be used as an excuse for artistic nudity. It is much too easy for artists to make excuses for their art forms and it allows them to get away with a lot. Of course, the body paint is not the art of the video. It is just a small part of it. But something tells me if McGowan was not wearing the body paint, the video would have been taken down from YouTube or an age restriction would have been set to view it. However, since she is technically covered by paint, I suppose it is all right for her to be nude on YouTube. Also, how does being naked in front of millions really help the feminist cause? I understand that it is her body, she can do whatever she wants, but I am sure plenty of men will support her in being topless, but not for the reasons for which she wants them to support her. Perhaps the bizarre nature of the video was meant to put-off anyone from viewing her body in the wrong way, but it is not hard to imagine a young teenage boy ogling the video over and over, despite the crazy costumes and body paint. Something tells me a man ogling the body of a woman is something that would make any feminist upset, so I think McGowan’s video defeats the purpose of feminism. Maybe I am just not artistic enough to appreciate the video, but it just does not appeal to me at all. I believe nudity can be instrumental to art, as it has been for centuries, but the format and publicity of this video should not allow it to be viewed by just anybody. It almost seems like she got naked just for the sake of being naked, as if to push boundaries and offend people, which I am sure the video will do. However, no clear message is being portrayed except that a naked alien lady cannot decide what cosmic costume to wear. I guess one woman’s art is another man’s trash, because this video seems to have nothing but shock value to me.
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Controversial issues this week: Volkswagen cheats on emission test The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that Volkswagen is using software in its cars that gives out faulty results during emission testing. It is installing this faulty software in cars made from 2009-2015. The EPA released a list and said Volkswagen may have to compensate for damages. The NY Daily News reported that the automobiles emit 40 times more than the legal limit of nitrogen oxide. The company will not be recalling the cars because they do not pose a threat to drivers. The EPA wants to issue a recall that will cost drivers nothing.
U.S. soldiers told to ignore abuse Soldiers in Afghanistan are being told to look the other way as Afghani officers kidnap, imprison and molest young boys. This is not a new issue in Afghanistan, since many Afghani commanders believe they have the right to bully the population. In some cases, the commanders are bringing the boys to a U.S Army base. Still, nothing is being done to stop it. In one instance, a few service members approached someone who took a boy, and started to beat the man. One of the U.S. servicemen faced a disciplinary hearing and then was relieved of his duties. The Army is apparently trying to get the other man to retire from his post, and states that they have no policy telling soldiers to look the other way in situations like this, according to the Pentagon.
College decides not to accept test scores Hampshire College, located in Massachusetts, did not accept applicants’ scores on the SAT or ACT tests starting last year. This is an effort to accept students not based on their test-taking abilities. Instead, Hampshire College wants to have students who are “trained to address tough situations with innovation, ingenuity, entrepreneurship and [the] capacity for mobilizing collaboration and cooperation,” according to The Washington Post. Instead of basing admissions off of one standardized test, the college aims to look through an applicant’s success throughout their high school career. In its evaluation, it values community service, recommendations from mentors and how students present themselves in the essay and interview process. Since it has changed the application process, the college has seen a rise in the quality of students.
Boehner resigns as Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner announced on Friday that he will be stepping down as the Speaker of the House, starting on Oct. 30. The announcement came just a day after Boehner had introduced the Pope to speak in a joint session of Congress. “This morning, I woke up and I said my prayers and I decided today’s the day I’m going to do this,” he said, according to USA Today. Boehner, a devout Catholic, has been criticized by Republicans for not pushing the bill to defund Planned Parenthood. Boehner was threatened with the removal of his title, making some think he is just getting out while his career is on a high note. Boehner later told the press that the Pope had no influence on his decision to resign.
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C1 Question September 29, 2015
Week?
Parents and family celebration breaks big attendance record
of the
Emmanuel Span
“What do you do with your family on Parents and Family Day?”
Brianna Henry
“My friends and I went out to the football game. And then, honestly, we went back and slept. Ha, ha.”
ing independent,” Crystal said of her new life at SU. “It’s so weird because this [college] is my home now. They [her family] feel more like friends now.” Anthony’s girlfriend, Cathy Jenkins said, “I was extremely impressed with her self-discipline. Learning that was one of the biggest parts of her transition. And she’s showing it in her javelin training and her academics, even though she doesn’t have that accountability [to parents] anymore.” Families just like theirs spent the day catching up over APB’s funfilled itinerary. After the breakfast, parents and families migrated to the Ceddia Union Building to participate in games and crafts, and outside a giant inflatable obstacle course occupied the amphitheater. All of these activities were executed as a concerted effort between many campus groups, including New Student Orientation, Student Senate, the SU Homecoming Committee and Chartwells Dining Services — all spearheaded by APB. “The idea that we tried following was [giving families] opportunities to make memories,” Miller said.
Many activities embraced the idea, such as the family photo room and a new addition to this year’s line-up of activities: A game show. Entertainer Gus Davis hosted Brain Cell as one of the day’s final events — a cash game show designed with cell-phone-wielding millennials in mind. Participants used their cell phones to answer questions from the audience while others competed with buzzers in events on stage. “Name That Ringtone” pitted participants’ knowledge of popular theme songs and jingles against one another while “Know Your Audience” invited audience members to text in answers to questions posed on a projector. But those with cell phones were not the only ones to get involved — Davis literally threw cash at the audience between games to high-energy attendees. “Our goal is to get the same numbers [attendance] next year,” Miller said. “That way we can continue investing in bigger and better activities and events.”
Julia Friedman
Shippensburg University’s campus overflowed with visitors on Saturday, Sept. 26, during the Parents and Family Celebration, hosted by the university’s Activities Programming Board (APB). The Parents and Family Celebration draws hundreds of families to the university every fall in a day lined up with fun activities designed to reconnect families with their students and the campus. The day’s festivities started with a free pancake breakfast catered by Chartwells dining services and hosted by SU’s President George “Jody” Harpster. The breakfast was served at the campus recreational center. Tables dressed in red and blue spanned the entirety of four basketball courts, and several buffet isles beckoned to attendees with sausages, eggs, potatoes, pancakes, fruits and juices. “We prepared for two weeks,” said Nick Iula, director of Chartwells. “And we started cooking at 4 a.m. [this morning].”
The preparation paid off; more than 1,000 people attended the breakfast, whereas the same event last year only drew out 400. Caleb Miller, SU’s campus activities programming adviser, attributes the massive increase in attendance to the new online registration system, which replaced the snail mail brochure system from previous years. “We all talk about the Ship family,” Harpster said. “And I don’t think there’s any better day to show that than today. “Today is good for all the parents, but especially the parents of freshmen,” Harpster said. The Parents and Family Celebration is often the first opportunity families of freshmen get to reconnect with their students after sending them off to college. Anthony Hartman recalled his own experience reconnecting with his daughter, Crystal, after her first month at SU. “I was excited for her. It was a new start in her life, and I was excited to see how it went and see if she was adjusting well,” Hartman said. “It’s fun having freedom and be-
“We went to the football game. And we also went hiking!”
Hannah Reichard
HUNTER WOLFE
Ship Life Editor
Photos by Hunter Wolfe
Amanda Mehall and Joey Ketchem were not the only “big kids” playing on the inflatables — the two-person blow-up obstacle course drew people of all ages to the amphitheater.
We went to the football game and then had dinner at Arooga’s. It was a lot of fun to bring them up here and have them meet my friends.”
Laura Adams
SU President George “Jody” Harpster floated from table to table during this year’s pancake breakfast, greeting students and their visiting families while they chowed down on food.
“I went out to eat at Longhorn. My mom and I are best friends, so it’s been hard being away from her.”
“We hung out in the dorm. Having them here made it feel like home.”
Ship Life
September 29, 2015
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Students visit Saudi Arabia without leaving SU Natalie Eastwood
Asst. Ship Life Editor Like a reed swaying in a current, Mohammed Alhrbi, graduate student and member of the Saudi Arabian Club, swayed to the Saudi mu-
sic — his white, floor-length robe brighter than his broad smile under the hot sun Thursday afternoon. In celebration of Saudi Arabia’s National Day, which was on Wednesday, Sept. 23, Shippensburg University’s Saudi Arabian Club held a free event in the quad that included pastries, dates, tea
Nsreen Almslamani gives a student a small henna tattoo.
and coffee. People could also learn how to write in Arabic or get a henna tattoo. Alhrbi rocked back and forth as he waved his arms to the music and lifted his head in the air to release a high-pitch sound as if to call others to join him and let the sun melt their bodies into the rhythms and beats. The dance is called “Smari,” Alhrbi said. For him, Alhrbi said dancing is a way to socialize and it also drew people to stop by the tent. “I’m trying to make everyone happy here … By dancing, [students] see something special,” Alhrbi said. When people think of Saudi Arabia, they think of deserts and camels, but there are big cities and much more to the culture than people realize, Alhrbi said. Inside the blue-and-white tent was a tri-fold display that provided information about Saudi Arabia. “A lot of people think that we live in tents and stuff and when they see our displays with big cities they’re blown away,” said junior Hanna Al-Hamdani, Saudi Arabian club member. Al-Hamdani lived in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, until she was 18 and then moved to Shippensburg two years ago to live with her husband, who was attending school at Shippensburg University at the time. Graduate student Nsreen Almslamani said that Saudi Arabia is different from the snippet of her culture displayed on the quad
Photos by Natalie Eastwood
Men from the Saudi Arabian club dance together in the quad on Thursday, Sept. 24.
Thursday. In Saudi Arabia, there is not just one culture, but many sub-cultures that practice religion and interact and dress differently. Almslamani was the only woman who wore her black hair spiraling around her shoulders — free from a hijab, the head scarf that the other women wore. “I’m not pure Saudi,” Almslamani said. Almslamani’s grandfather was Italian, her grandmother was Yemen, and the western part of Saudi Arabia where she grew up was greatly influenced by Belgian culture, she said. However, regardless of her cultural differences, she is still accepted by other Saudi Arabians as “one of them,” Almslamani said. Freshman Bridget Guyer said that she has been a foreign exchange student and loves learning about other cultures. “If I have the opportunity to learn about another culture I’m going to do it,” Guyer said, her forearm covered with henna, a mud-like paste that had to dry in the sun before chipping off to reveal a temporary tattoo. Guyer’s friend, freshman Ashleigh Castaldi, said she researched henna tattoos before attending the Saudi Arabian Club’s event. “They’re never two alike, and they’re always intricate,” Castaldi said. Castaldi said it felt like the skin on her forearms was tightening as the henna hardened to a light
brown desert ground, webbed with small fissures. However, Saudi Arabian culture is rooted in more than just henna tattoos. As someone who has lived in both Saudi Arabia and America, Al-Hamdani said that what she loves most about her culture is family. “I like our celebrations, how we celebrate,” Al-Hamdani said. In Saudi Arabia, Al-Hamdani said it is not just family that is invited to parties but neighbors and the neighbors’ family members, too. Students might have been able to glimpse a sense of that Saudi Arabian family under the blue and white striped tent set up on the quad Thursday as the men gathered and danced just outside the tent in a cluster and the women kept off to the shade where they lathered henna paste onto students’ forearms. Children, belonging to the Saudi Arabian Club members, wove in and out of knees, dancing with the men as if each were a father or an uncle. Almslamani said that if there is one thing she hopes students walk away knowing is that Saudi Arabians are good, easy-going people who are always there to support others. “If I have a trouble [other Saudi Arabians] will not leave me alone. If anyone has a trouble, someone will be there and help them,” Almslamani said.
Bridget Guyer, left, and Ashleigh Castaldi, right, have their arms covered in henna paste as it dries in the hot sun.
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Rebecca Ward and her steps to becoming an SU professor Molly Foster Guest Writer
Nevada born, mother of three, and folk music fanatic, Rebecca Ward learned at a young age that there is more to the world than what meets the eye. Growing up in Gardnerville, Nevada, with a population of 2,400, Ward said she lived in a sheltered environment but was still able to broaden her horizons so that she could see the world through a different looking glass. Today, Ward is Shippensburg University’s director of women’s and gender studies as well as a gender studies seminar professor. In high school, Ward was a part of an exchange program where she studied in Australia. This trip across the world was something that has left a lasting impact on her, she said. “[Studying abroad] was my first experience on the outside … It gave me a perspective of what it felt like to be alone, to not exactly fit in — not everyone was like me,” Ward said. Ward makes it clear to all those who may cross paths with her
one time or another that studying abroad opened her eyes to a new outlook on life, Ward said, striking passion in her voice as she spoke. “You want to leave the world a better place than how you walked into it,” Ward said, the words practically flowing from her mouth like she has never said anything more true. “It’s important to find your joy and to help other people find their joy.” Ward discovered her joy and passion in the heart of women’s and gender studies department, but she did not always know that this is where she would end up, she said. As an Oregon State alumna, Ward majored in human development, where she worked as a preschool teacher, a family services coordinator, a county extension agent and an Oregon state specialist in children and families at risk. When Ward landed a job in the women’s and gender studies department at SU, she knew that this is what she wanted to focus on. Freshman Paige Arensmeyer is a current student in Ward’s introduction to women’s studies class and a recipient of the focus Ward puts toward her job. “[Ward is] an extremely unique
Photo by Molly Foster
Professor Rebecca Ward teaches women’s and gender studies at Shippensburg University. professor in the way that she is all about breaking the ice,” Arensmeyer said. Arensmeyer enjoys Ward’s class discussions and how she is not afraid to talk about anything. “Nothing is off limits in her class and she is very good at making sure people feel comfortable with saying anything. It really makes me want to participate in class and be open with my opinions,” Arensmeyer said.
Ward’s expectation for her students in class is critical thinking and good writing, she said. Ward incorporates both online and verbal discussions into the structure of her classes in order for students to convey a deeper understanding of the materials taught, and for them to hear, see and learn to respect the varying viewpoints of their peers, she said. “I think that a college education should be about exploring new
ideas and going below the surface to look deeper and to relate the materials to your own life,” Ward said. “I encourage students to not be afraid to ask questions and/or to voice their opinions, but reminding them to always have something to back their opinions up with.”
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Calculators and caffeine for math challenge lock-in Natalie Eastwood
Asst. Ship Life Editor Inside the Dauphin Humanities Center Saturday night, 21 students buckled down for a lock-in. It was an average slumber party — complete with soda, chips, sugar — and oh yeah, 24 hours of math. For the seventh year, Shippensburg University hosted the Cumberland Valley Math Modeling Challenge, a 24-hour competition for groups of three students to solve one of two applied math problems. SU math professor Ben Galluzzo has spear-headed the Modeling Challenge at SU for the past seven years by basing it off an international 96-hour competition called Mathemtical Contest in Modeling. This year, two SU teams competed along with five other teams from six colleges, one of which only had Photo by Natalie Eastwood one participant, who was added to Adam Yosua, left, David George and Lara John debate the another team.
impacts of meatless Monday on various college campuses.
Applied math is using math in the real world by creating a function, plugging in numbers and getting an outcome, Galluzzo said. The end result of the Modeling Challenge is a one-page explanation that is judged by SU faculty on a scale of one to five. The actual winner of the challenge is decided by the participating students who listen to each other present and then vote on the best solution. The United States Military Academy of West Point won the oral part of the challenge. “You’re not answering a question [where] the answer is 14. It’s not going to be a fixed answer, and it’s not going to be a known answer,” Galluzzo said. “In fact, no one probably knows the correct answer.” Shelby Young, a senior at SU and a competitor in the Modeling Challenge, sat in a room in Mathematics and Computing Technologies Center with her two teammates and three chalk-board walls splattered with their math problem — which
was to evenly distribute 160,000 Syrian refugees across 28 European Union nations. “It’s becoming a really difficult problem because there is no right answer,” Young said. Young’s teammate, Sharyn Mowen, an SU junior, piped in and said that in her applied math class, that is how all the problems are. The only way to be wrong is to not properly defend your answer, Shelby said. Across the hallway, the second SU team debated the nutritional, economic and environmental impacts of a “meatless Monday” in a college dining hall. It almost seemed normal to hear teammates senior Lara John and sophomore Adam Yosua debate how to extrapolate the environmental impacts of a chicken patty while their third teammate, junior David George, created a chart of average meals at Reisner Dining Hall. Read the full story at theslateonline.com.
September 29, 2015
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Naked and afraid:
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What one student learned from being a live nude model
Photo by Hunter Wolfe
Photo by Chris Boyer
Shippensburg University students use live nude models to train their minds in order to draw the human form from their muscle memory. This requires models to hold simple-to-complex poses to give practicing artists a more comprehensive study of the human body.
Live nude models get compensated for good reason: Modeling gigs require no small amount of physical strength and endurance for poses.
Hunter Wolfe
Ship Life Editor Easels are propped up around the room and students are listening to the pre-lecture droll from their instructor. The door opens again. More students file in. They scrape through their toolboxes for chalk. Or are they pencils? Black papers hang from small metal clips. No, white paper. It’s funny — the things you notice when you are utterly naked in front of a classroom full of college students. It started as a joke, the whole thing. Being a live nude model for a university art class. The joke turned into a conversation and the conversation turned into a pinky promise, and we all know that a pinky promise is the most ancient and sacred of pacts. The next day, I was on a professor’s schedule to be a live nude model. My friend and I came up with conditions for our foray into the most intimate form of investigative
journalism: We could not tell anyone what we planned to do, because sharing our fears and expectations could taint our unique experiences and for the same reason, we could not discuss our experiences with one another until both had modeled. It only took me two days to break the first rule. I have been self-conscious of my body ever since I was a kid. I generally attribute this to a particular moment from my childhood when a pastor turned me away from his service because an 8-year-old version of me had forgotten to pack dress clothes that weekend. “Nobody wants to see your chicken legs,” he said. And again in the middle school locker room when a group of boys cornered me after a swimming lesson. “Do you even have pubes?” I was a late bloomer, sure. But when I finally did sprout, I did so impressively at a final height of 6 feet 4 inches and 180 pounds — but growth spurts cannot erase scars. I think it was deep-rooted memories such as these that made me
break that first rule. I was so nervous at the thought of people seeing my lanky, thin, naked body that, without more accountability than a whispered pinky promise, I would have sent the art professor an email turning down the modeling gig in a heartbeat. I told a small handful of close friends, and suddenly, I had more than a mere pinky promise. I had people I could not let down. People who were excited to read my article and hear about me flashing my member for $15 bucks an hour. The nervousness subsided for a few days, replaced by excitement at the thought of getting to tell my friends about my experience, but the morning of the gig, my nervescame back with the ferocity of a hurricane. I brought a robe and flip-flops, as per the professor’s request. I had hoped I would be able to show up early and be naked as students filed into the class, which sounded a lot better than disrobing under the gaze of 20 people at once, but that was not the case. The studio had a small changing room, and as stu-
dents milled about the room preparing for me to host naked Tae Bo, I was having a panic attack behind a door that felt paper-thin — opaque. I was a virgin — nobody had ever seen me naked — and yet, here I was, ready to share myself with the world. God, how I wanted to deepthroat a chainsaw. In my robe, I came out of the dressing room. That was the point of no return. I sat in a chair in the center of the room and tried to make small talk with some of the students. Oh, really? Uh, huh. What did you say? I was not paying attention. Instead, I looked around frantically, trying to keep cool as sweat beaded down the cracks of my body, hoping that nobody I knew was in the class. The universe, of course, laughed its booming, nothing-you-can-do laugh as three students I knew entered the room. The girl from art class; the cute boy from last semester; the girl I hit on freshman year. Go figure. Being naked feels different when you are by yourself than when you are in front of other people. When
I took off my robe, I felt unusually light as I strode under the studio lights, but it was not anything like coming out of a shower. And as I started posing — a bow and arrow, crouched in a ball with elbows to knees, starting forward as if running with a football — I came to some realization that nothing else could have catalyzed. The robe, the changing room, the locked bedroom door… they were all the same. I was not afraid of being naked — I was afraid of taking off the robe. In fact, I felt almost comfortable being completely bare in front of strangers. Looking down, my penis, my pubic hair, my testicles… they all felt as much welcome parts of me as my hands or feet. The feeling of shame or embarrassment that we associate with nudity is self-inflicted. It is a prison that we create for ourselves. When I took off my robe, I felt so light because I was breaking out of the prison that I made all the way back in my childhood. The lesson that day ended when I felt it had only just begun.
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September 29, 2015
The Orchestra brings ’70s rock to Luhrs
Luhrs Center plays host to former ELO and ELO Part II members as The Orchestra plays its greatest hits Sylvia McMullen
Asst. Web Director People filed into their seats at the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center on Saturday night as soft rock music played in the background. Everyone chatted excitedly as they glanced at the instruments sitting on stage. The Orchestra would soon take the stage for a fun night of music and cheering. Finally, after a short announcement to start the performance, the lights dimmed and the stars of the show casually stepped on stage. They picked up their instruments as the introduction to their first song began to start. Then the band members broke out into their hit song “Evil Woman.” Purple lights streaked over the crowd, highlighting bobbing heads and clapping hands as the audience sang along. Guitarist Parthenon Huxley and bassist Glen Burtnik both smiled at each other and laughed during their first number of the night. They were clearly happy to be performing another night as The Orchestra. Former members of the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) and ELO Part II founded The Orchestra, even though both bands had ended their careers years ago. The Orchestra has kept the sound and spirit of
Photos by Tyler M. Law
(Top) The Orchestra opens its show with the hit song “Evil Woman” to an enthusiastic Luhrs’ audience. (Bottom Left) Mik Kaminski (violin) and Glen Burtnik (bass) lock into a groove after making eye contact and laughing. (Bottom right) Mik Kaminski draws his bow across the strings of his famous electric blue violin, an instrument that has become a staple of his live shows. both bands alive through their wonderful live performances. The group lived up to its reputation for fantastic stage presence, as the night continued. Lights were heavily utilized to let the audience almost visualize the music being played. They grazed over the crowd, shining hues of purple, green, white and blue over the audience. Spotlights also highlighted the individual performers as they played
solos and sang to their fans. It only took a few songs to realize how much they sounded like the original Electric Light Orchestra and ELO Part II. Their vocals for “Strange Magic” and impeccable harmony on “Telephone Line” surreally took onlookers back to the days when ELO and ELO Part II were in their prime. Huxley showed his talent not just for playing electric guitar but also for acoustic guitar. He got his own spotlight as he strummed away for one song giving a contrasting, yet appealing sound to the piece. Burtnik similarly jammed away on his colorfully painted bass, smiling and showing that age never restricts one’s ability to rock and roll. Keyboardists Eric Troyer and Lou Clark also shone on their instruments. Orchestral compositions combined with electronic music was what gave the original ELO and ELO Part II their unique sound, which both Troyer and Clark brought to center stage for the evening. Gordon Townsend, the powerful drummer of the group, kept the energy alive with his intense performance. Mik Kaminski, the violinist, was a true spectacle to behold. He played away on his bright blue electric violin, managing both long, drawn out notes and fast passages with ease. It was clear that he was the audience’s favorite. Random fans shout-
ed out phrases such as, “I love you, Mik!” throughout the evening, making both the performers and audience laugh. The band members made the audience laugh as well. “We’d like to play some disco music,” Burtnik said at one point. “Feel free to ‘disco’ in your seats.” The crowd laughed at the line and after their song finished, Burtnik announced Shippensburg to be “the disco capital of the world.” The Orchestra captivated the audience for the entire night. People could be seen singing in their seats and clapping along to their favorite songs. Some fans got up on their feet during “Turn to Stone” and danced away. Burtnik walked down into the crowd to play his bass right in front of them, making everyone cheer. Finally, when The Orchestra members announced that they would be playing their final song, Burtnik again ran into the crowd, urging everyone to get on their feet as the song began. Clapping started up as fans rose to their feet and started dancing and singing along to, “Do Ya.” It was a great way to end the evening, but as The Orchestra waved goodbye, the audience remained standing and cheering. Any fan of ELO and ELO Part II knew that they had left one song out in particular, and that the night could not simply end without it.
Sure enough, all of the members walked back on stage, smiling and laughing. They knew they could not fool the audience. “Have we had a good time?” Huxley asked as the crowd cheered away. “Are you ready to sing?” he asked again to a thunderous applause answered him. Townsend then started up on his drums as they began to play “Don’t Bring Me Down.” Everyone cheered and clapped when their pleas were answered. The theater erupted in sound as every fan sang along and danced to the hit song. Huxley stopped his playing to sing along with everyone. Soon, all of the members had stopped playing, letting only the members’ and audiences’ voices sing the song. As the song came to a close, the audience gave one last cheer for The Orchestra as their way of thanking them for a fantastic performance. Fans could be heard raving about the show as soon as it had ended. One Shippensburg alumnus who owned every single ELO album particularly enjoyed the show. “It’s the best concert I’ve ever been to,” he said, “These guys are all about the music.” The Orchestra proved Saturday night that even after years of playing music, talent and a love for performing could never be stripped away. Fans would surely have found themselves singing the songs on their way home and would definitely remember the night for a long time.
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The good and bad of ‘Grandma’ and ‘The Green Inferno’ JUSTIN LEE
Asst. A&E Editor In the world of movies, any story can be told. It can be as simple as two people being together or as complex as an FBI investigation. At the end of the day, good things are presented in different ways. “Grandma” “Grandma” tells the simple story of Elle Reid, a poet who breaks up with her girlfriend after a long relationship. During her distraught phase, her 18-year-old granddaughter, Sage, stops by to announce that she is pregnant. Naturally scared, Sage seeks an abortion, but does not have the funds for the procedure. The only appointment she could schedule was later that day. The rest of the film is a race against time to find the money. Elle, played brilliantly Lily Tomlin, visits some old friends to ask for help. Without getting into spoilers, it must be said that the supporting characters really hold the film together. This is not just a film about a young adult getting an abortion. It runs deeper than that. The film is ultimately about Elle confronting
the people she had wronged in the past and coming to terms with those issues. One question is constantly asked to Elle: “Why did you come here?” It is a nice theme to play on and one that even simple films can make profound. “Grandma” was originally a Sundance Festival film, garnering enough praise to have Sony Pictures Classics release it in theaters. “Grandma” is a solid Sunday afternoon movie and that is all it needs to be. “The Green Inferno” “The Green Inferno” is completely different from “Grandma.” A group of college kids agree to travel to the Amazon rainforest in order to stop a construction corporation from tearing down the rainforest: A noble cause that goes completely bonkers. Justine (Lorenza Izzo) becomes interested in an activist group led by another student, named Alejandro. Justine’s friend, Kaycee, worries about her travelling to the Amazon, so the two go to visit Justine’s father, who is an attorney for the United Nations. Justine sees it as an opportunity to bring exposure to that area and draw in attention from the U.N. Once in the Amazon, the team
forms a chain link with bulldozers and other equipment in protest. Justine, however, fails to lock her chain and she is held at gunpoint by the private police hired by construction workers. Though the event is captured on tape, the team is sent back to America. The plane transporting them crashes, killing the pilots and a few other members. Eventually, a cannibalistic tribe captures the survivors, and the rest of the film is as you can imagine. My problem with this film is that so much time is spent in this happygo-lucky environment in New York, and then the film becomes extremely gory during the Amazon scenes. It is almost culture shock. Taking a look at a film like “The Fellowship of the Ring,” with differing tones from the Hobbit scenes to the Mordor scenes — there is still that establishment of evil and brutality in the opening prologue. Another way to avoid this is to have a single tone throughout the film. “Mad Max: Fury Road” opens up with a scene that has a lowered frame rate, showing the intensity of the actors in a fast-paced nature. You get a sense of what the movie is going to feel like. With “The Green Inferno,” however, the collection of cannibal scenes comes out of no-
where, to the point of it being comedic. For the film’s sake and considering its budget of only $6 million, the scenes of bodies being ripped apart are convincing. Fortunately, in a movie, prosthetics and rubber can look 99.9 percent like a body. It is a throwback to splatter movies like “The Evil Dead” and Peter Jackson’s “Bad Taste,” where the interesting scenes are watching scenes of people being ripped apart and put in a convincingly terrifying way. Though the terror felt flat for me, I am sure it will scare most audiences. That being said, I was glued to my seat, watching these characters try to escape the tribe. During the credits, a special thanks goes out to the Peruvian tribe and their “beautiful home” that helped in the process of the filmmaking. Director Eli Roth explained that tribe had no concept of what a movie was. The film crew set up a television and showed them clips from the movie “Cannibal Holocaust.” The tribe found it hilarious, and agreed to participate. Since many of the tribe members had never been in a movie, it is impressive to see them completely animated on camera, acting as if being cannibalistic is in their nature.
WSYC DJ spotlight: Sam Fritz and MacKenna Angert TYLER M. LAW
A&E
Slate
September 29, 2015
in the studio as Angert feverishly Fritz during the show, attempting scribbles out notes and attempts to test his musical prowess. A&E Editor to remember the pronunciation of Fritz is a veteran of WSYC, havnames while coming up with trivia ing had two shows last year. Angert WSYC 88.7 FM is the home for questions for Fritz to ask. was brought into Fritz’s project afmusic, talk and comedy radio shows One of the show’s staples are the ter he asked her to come on one of alike, and for many listeners it is trivia questions that Angert asks his shows, and she became a reguhard to pick a favorite show. Disc jockeys Sam Fritz and MacKenna Angert host a Saturday evening show that is a blend of all these different styles, which draws one of WSYC’s largest audiences. Cracking jokes and making the audience laugh is a highlight of their show, during which the hosts talk about television shows, films and play related music over the course of two hours. “We are a show that balances movies, television and that kind of stuff with music,” Fritz said. This past week, the show focused heavily on the Emmys and music that could be related to each individual category winner, and even some of the losers. Photo by Tyler M. Law This is Fritz and Angert’s first Fritz and Angert press play on the fi rst song of their Saturday semester hosting their show and the new project buzz can still be felt show after talking for 10 minutes about the Emmy ceremony.
lar. Recently, the show has hosted guests each week, having parents and friends come on to talk about a wide variety of topics. “It’s very much like a podcast type setup for the radio,” Fritz said of their show. “He knows every song ever,” Angert said, referring to Fritz’s extensive knowledge of music and his position as music coordinator for WSYC. Despite Fritz’s knowledge of music, he still finds it hard some weeks to come up with good music that fits the theme of that week’s show. He is an advocate of the traditional college radio format and strives to play music from independent groups or artists of whom listeners might not be aware of. “One of the most fulfilling things about having a radio show is getting to make your own intros, it makes you feel really professional,” Fritz said as he and Angert shared a laugh over their intro music. Fritz and Angert’s show can be heard every Saturday from 6–8 p.m. on WSYC.
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Izzy’s View ISABELLA ANGELONE Staff Columnist
It was another struggle for the top on the Season 2 premiere of Fox’s smash hit, “Empire.” The premiere drops viewers three months after the events of Season 1. Cookie, Hakeem and Andre try to gain investors to bring down Lucious while Jamal struggles with the responsibilities of a CEO and the negative effects it has on his career. Meanwhile, Lucious has adjusted to life on the inside and assists Cookie with a threat from the past, drug dealer Frank Gathers (Chris Rock). The episode’s ratings were high, with 16.8 million viewers tuning in to watch. While that number is a drop from the Season 1 finale, it is the second highest viewed episode in the show’s short history. Early reviews of the season are impressive, showing a promising sophomore season for “Empire.” This season’s premiere was certainly one of the better episodes aired, a strong start for the show. Without going over the top, it brought just enough drama and shock to set up storylines for season two. One of the strongest performances was Jussie Smollett’s character Jamal. The actor has dug even deeper into the troubled character and brought out a darker side of Jamal that viewers did not see in season one. Terrence Howard also gave a strong performance as Lucious Lyon, bringing out more of the gangster and exposing more of the violent side of Lucious that viewers had seen in Season 1. While the episode and the acting were good, they bring an almost identical feel as Season 1: A struggle for power. This time, the roles are reversed and Lucious is trying to get his company back. While it may work for a while, the theme could get old and cause viewers to lose interest. However, that will not be happening anytime soon. The cast and writers have America hooked on “Empire” week to week. “Empire” airs every Wednesday at 9 p.m. on Fox.
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September 29, 2015
D3 If Birds Could Fly coming to The Thought Lot Folk and Americana duo brings special blend of styles to Shippensburg during fall tour TYLER M. LAW A&E Editor
If Birds Could Fly, the husband and wife duo of Brittany and Andrew Carter, brings a unique blend of Appalachian folk and old-school Americana music to The Thought Lot on Oct. 2 as a part of the band’s fall tour. The tour will see the band trekking as far as Texas with stops in Tennessee, Mississippi and North Carolina. Brittany offers haunting vocals while playing a variety of instruments, most commonly drums. Andrew is the duo’s guitarist, offering mellow, soothing companionship to Brittany’s strong vocal performances. Though the duo is not confined to the country genre, the pair has opened up for several notable coun-
try acts such as Ray Wiley Hubbard and LeAnn Rimes. The band is currently working on its sophomore album after releasing “Ghosts” in 2012 on Stillbrook Records to a very positive audience reaction. The new album will deviate from the sound and method of the first according to Brittany. “We definitely want it to be a lot more gritty than the last one. The last one was a little bit polished. We’ve written a whole lot of material over the years. It’s a lot more rock n’ roll,” Brittany said in an interview with “New Slang.” This will be If Birds Could Fly’s second time at The Thought Lot and it will play host to a couple of talented opening acts. Solo act Kevin Neidig and Daniel James & The Blue Collar Special will be sharing the stage as opening acts for the evening.
Billboard Top 20 Artist
1. The Weeknd 2. Justin Bieber 3. The Weeknd 4. Silento 5. Selena Gomez ft. A$AP Rocky 6. R. City ft. Adam Levine 7. Fetty Wap ft. Remy Boyz 8. OMI 9. Drake 10. Major Lazer & DJ Snake ft. M0 11. Ed Sheeran 12. Shawn Mendes 13. Taylor Swift 14. Demi Lovato 15. Fetty Wap ft. Monty 16. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis 17. Fetty Wap 18. Rachel Platten 19. Skrillex & Diplo w/ Justin Bieber 20. WALK THE MOON
Neidig is a one man band, as instrumentalist, vocalist and songwriter who hails from the Mechanicsburg area. Neidig also specializes in Americana and folk music. Daniel James & The Blue Collar Special is an Americana band with a rock and roll twist from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Information on If Birds Could Fly and its tour can be found on the duo’s Facebook page as well as on cmt.com. Doors for the show open at 6 p.m., with the show starting at 7 p.m. Concert goers will be able to purchase concessions from Toasties Sustainable Table, and the concert is a bring your own alcohol event for anyone over 21. Tickets for the show can be purchased the night of the event for $10 Photo courtesy of Megan Barker North Carolina at the Barbe- or online in advance for $8 at http:// bit.ly/1Mf8cqq.
Brittany and Andrew perform in cue and Music Festival sponsored by AKA Entertainment.
Carmike 7 Showtimes
Song The Hills What Do You Mean? Can’t Feel My Face Watch Me Good For You Locked Away 679 Cheerleader Hotline Bling Lean On Photograph Stitches Wildest Dreams Cool For The Summer My Way Downtown Trap Queen Fight Song Where Are U Now Shut Up And Dance
Showtimes for Tuesday and Wednesday Sept. 29 and 30 at Carmike Cinema 7 in Chambersburg
Show 1. A Walk in the Woods
Time 7:10 p.m.
2. Black Mass
6:50 p.m., 9:35 p.m.
3. Everest 2D
9:50 p.m.
4. Hotel Transylvania 2, 2D
7:35 p.m.
5. Maze Runner: The Scorch Trails
6:45 p.m., 9:40 p.m.
6. The Intern
7:15 p.m., 9:55 p.m.
7. The Perfect Guy 8. The Visit
9:35 p.m. 7:40 p.m., 10:00 p.m.
Slate The
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Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Cale Ahearn, Sports Editor / Chris Collymore. Asst. Sports Editor
Shareik Flowers, Asst. Sports Editor
September 29, 2015
@ShipUSlate TheSlate @ShipUSlate
College football is heating up, E2
Fantasy sit/start Week 4, E3
Volleyball splits weekend matches, E3
Football takes loss against Bloomsburg, E4 Red Raiders fall on family day, E4
E2
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September 29, 2015
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College football off to hot start CHRIS COLLYMORE Asst. Sports Editor AND
SHAREIK FLOWERS Asst. Sports Editor The college football season is in full swing, which means that it is time to see how things stack up now that the season is a quarter of the way finished. The contending teams in the country are beginning to separate themselves from the pretenders and we are beginning to gain insight as to which teams are capable of making a playoff run. Your sports editors are taking a look at the wild Week 3 in football and discussing who has impressed or failed to live up to expectations. Chris Going into this season, the defending national champions, Ohio State University, were the consensus No. 1 team in the country. Going into Week 5 Ohio State has been able to keep its place at No. 1, going 4-0 on the season. Despite a close game against Northern Illinois University, Ohio State has not shown any signs of giving up its ranking in the country. Now, other than Ohio State, the rest of the teams in the Associated Press top 25 rankings have been in constant fluctuation. For example, Oregon, which was ranked seventh in the nation during preseason, has now completely fallen out of the top 25 rankings. Oregon lost an embarrassing game at home on Saturday night to the University of Utah, with a score of 62-20. The loss knocked Oregon out of the top 25 for the first time since 2009. Oregon is not the only team to lose its spot in the rankings. the University of Alabama, a college football powerhouse and yearly favorite to win the national title, fell out of the top five rankings, falling all the way to 13 in the AP rankings. While some teams lost their rankings, others improved greatly. For example, the University of Michigan was written off by most, being that this is coach Jim Harbaugh’s (former coach of the San Francisco 49ers) first year as head coach. He has defied the odds and Michigan is currently 3-1 on the
season and is ranked 22nd in the AP top 25. The SEC (Southeastern Conference) is considered by many to be the best conference in all of college football. The conference is home to teams like Texas A&M, Alabama, Auburn, LSU, South Carolina, Florida and more. Some experts have said that the SEC is not as big a powerhouse as some think. The SEC has proven the sceptics wrong this season. At one point, the SEC had 10 teams ranked in the AP top 25, including all of the SEC Western Division. The SEC currently has seven teams in the top 25 and the conference does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. The college football season still has a long way to go. There is plenty of time for teams to work their way in or out of the college football playoffs. The way this season is turning out, the second year of the college football playoffs could be a very interesting one. Shareik What an exciting weekend it was for college football. There were great games around the country and some notable upsets. The biggest upset of the weekend was undeniably Utah’s trashing of Oregon. Utah’s 62-20 win over Oregon
University (TCU) and Texas Tech game was the opposite. TCU was on upset alert but managed to squeak a 55-52 victory over unranked Texas Tech. TCU’s inability to contain Texas Tech’s rushing attack almost doomed the Horned Frogs. TCU allowed Texas Tech’s DeAandre Washington to run for 188 yards and four touchdowns on the day. Washington found open gaps in TCU’s defense all game and almost lifted his team to the upset victory. Had it not been for TCU’s Josh Doctson who had a career day with 288 receiving yards and four touchdowns, TCU would have probably suffered its first loss of the season. A few others teams had their share of scares too. Fourteenth-ranked Texas A&M narrowly beat Arkansas in a game that required overtime play. Texas A&M escaped with a one-touchdown victory and now faces three consecutive opponents who are all ranked in the top 25 — including third-ranked Ole Miss. Although a few of the premier teams in the country had difficulties securing a win, not all of the top 25 ranked teams had trouble this past Saturday. Fifth ranked Baylor University washed Rice University with a 70-17 win. Starting quarterback Seth Russel finished that game with 277 yards
upcoming psac games: Women’s Soccer vs. Bloomsburg Sept. 29 Field Hockey @ West Chester Sept. 29 Tennis @ Shepherd Sept. 29 Swimming @ West Chester Oct. 2 Men’s Soccer vs. West Virginia Wesleyan Sept. 30 Cross Country @ Paul Short Invitational Oct. 2
Photo by Bobak Ha’eri
Oregon’s blowout loss knocked them out the AP top 25 poll. in Oregon is remarkable and indicative of Utah’s realistic playoff chances. The Ducks’ pass defense was non-existent all game and allowed five touchdowns through the air in the game. The 42-point defeat was an embarrassing loss for the Ducks and knocked the team out of the top 25 — its first time out of the poll since 2009. While the Utah-Oregon game was a blowout, the Texas Christian
and a staggering six touchdowns. The reigning national champion, Ohio State Buckeyes had a 38-12 win over the terribly mismatched Western Michigan Broncos. Ohio State has looked impressive thus far and looks to capture another title this season. If the Buckeyes continue their already strong play then back-to-back seasons as national champions does not appear far-fetched.
Volleyball @ Lock Haven Oct. 2 Football @ East Stroudsburg Oct. 3
Slate
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September 29, 2015
E3
Driven by family, finance and football Fantasy sit/start picks COLBY CONWAY Staff Writer Who knows what sort of response one will get when asking a college student the following question: What are the big three components of your college life? While there are many preconceived notions about what one would expect to hear, one wide receiver on the university’s football team laid it out concisely. For redshirt junior Jordan Harro, the title says it all. Family, finance and football are his big three. Family Harro has an extremely close relationship with his family, including parents Cliff and Jodi, his brother Ethan and his sister Ashley. Every Saturday during the fall, you can find his parents sitting in the stands, rooting on their favorite Shippensburg University player. His sister Ashley recently had twins, Micah and Maliah, just over a month ago and Uncle Jordan is excited about his new title. “It’s definitely a neat feeling and I’m going to make sure that I’m the favorite and cool uncle,” Harro said with a laugh. Harro’s dad, Cliff, is a financial professional at Harro Associates and does some work here in the Shippensburg area. Once a week, the two will meet for a father and son lunch outing, typically occurring near the end of the school week
at the Shippensburg’s Select Diner. Family is a driving force for many, and Harro is no different. “It’s nice being close to my family, and I always enjoy being able to play in front of my family every Saturday,” Harro said. Finance Harro is majoring in finance with a concentration in personal financial planning. Upon graduating from college, Harro wants to stay in the central Pennsylvania area and eventually work for his father, helping others plan their financial future. “I want to get out in the real world and get my feet wet on my own,” Harro said. “After a few years of building my own client base, I would like to work with my dad.” Football He did not start playing football until his freshman year at Palmyra Area High School. However, he developed into quite the pass-catcher. By the end of his high school career, he had caught 72 passes for 1,129 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns. He has worked his way into a starting role with the team, and he is poised to have his best year yet as a Red Raider. After catching 23 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown in his redshirt sophomore season, Harro is approaching those numbers through only four games into this year. He already has 10 receptions for 129 yards in 2015.
Cale Ahearn is a communication/ journalism major at Shippensburg University. He is a senior and plans to enter the sports journalism field when he graduates. Ahearn boasts 10 years of experience with fantasy football, winning four championships and finishing within the top three in his leagues nine times. Starting or sitting the right players every week is often the difference between winning and losing in fantasy football. A number of factors go into deciding whether or not a player will perform well that day, such as the opponent he faces, the teammates he has or even if the game is home or away. Your sports editor will break it down week by week, and here are his top starts and sits of the week: START
Photo by Colby Conway
Receiver Jordan Harro hopes to make a huge impact this season for the Red Raiders.
Whether he is catching passes on the field, having lunch with his dad or hitting the books, it is hard for Harro to imagine life without all three of these aspects. Life does not have to be complex, and he exemplifies this. Through thick and thin, these three things have always been there for Harro. Family. Finance. Football.
Red Raiders split PSAC Crossover 1 CHRIS COLLYMORE
Asst. Sports Editor Sept. 25, 2015 The Red Raiders volleyball split two of the team’s first games at the PSAC Crossover 1 on Friday. The Raiders beat host Mercyhurst University in three straight sets. The team later fell to Edinboro University in five sets. The team’s first game in the PSAC Crossover 1 went very well. The Raiders were able to take advantage of the 27 attacks and 11 service errors made by Mercyhurst. Junior Annie Goerl played very well. She had a team high of eight kills, while her teammate, freshman Morgan DeFloria, had six kills of her own to go along with a .455 hitting percentage. Junior Maura Nolan also played well against Mercyhurst, contributing a double-double with 18 assists and 14 digs. The loss to Edinboro was only
the third loss of the season for the Raiders and the team’s second loss in five sets by an extra point. Despite the loss, sophomore Maria Peluso and senior Laura Plank both played well. Peluso had a double-double against Edinboro with 12 kills and 10 digs, while Plank contributed 17 digs of her own. DeFloria also played well against Edinboro with 10 kills on a team high of 42 swings. Sept. 26, 2015
QB Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts – Luck is coming off a week where the Colts were able to finally put together some drives offensively and complete a comeback win. Now, the Colts get to face off against the lowly Jaguars, who surrendered 51 points to New England last week. Look for Luck to be a top fantasy performer this week.
senior Taylor Gottshall, played very well. She had eight kills on just a single error (hitting .350 on the game). Junior Maura Nolan had a double-double against Gannon, with 36 assists and 17 digs, while senior Laura Plank had a team high 24 digs in the game. Despite the loss, both Nolan and Plank played very well in the Raiders’ win against Slippery Rock. Nolan had another doubledouble with 43 assists and 21 digs while Plank had 19 digs of her own against Slippery Rock. DeFloria had 15 kills to go along with four blocks against Slippery Rock. Gottshall had six kills of her own to go along with two solo blocks. The Red Raiders will be on the road next weekend to play Lock Haven University on Friday and the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown on Saturday. The team hopes its hot streak will continue as the 2015 season ages with every passing
The Red Raiders split a pair of matches for the second straight day at the PSAC Crossover 1 tournament this weekend. The Raiders lost to Gannon University in four sets. The Raiders did bounce back in their second game, defeating Slippery Rock University in five sets. In Saturday’s game against Gannon, freshman Morgan DeFloria had a team high of 13 kills match. on 45 swings. DeFloria’s teammate,
WR Steve Smith Sr., Baltimore Ravens – Smith went off last week, gaining 186 yards and scoring twice. I expect his hot streak to continue when facing the Pittsburgh Steelers this week. The teams are division rivals, and Baltimore is still looking for its first win this season, so the game should be high scoring.
SIT
RB Melvin Gordon, San Diego Chargers – Gordon has gotten off to a rough start this season while facing three very stout defenses. The story remains the same this week, as the Cleveland Browns’ front seven should cause problems for Gordon all day, limiting his running room and ability to make plays.
QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions – Stafford and the Lions will travel to Seattle to face the Legion of Boom and the Seahawks on Monday Night Football. On one of the game’s biggest stages, I expect Seattle’s defense to show up and shut down the Lions’ offense, particularly limiting Stafford’s options through the air. I would expect turnovers and a few sacks to plague Stafford this week.
Sports
Slate
September 29, 2015
E4
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Rigo gains role as leader, unsung hero Cale Ahearn
Sports Editor An offensive lineman is an unsung hero in a football game. Without their blocking, plays do not have the time that is necessary to develop and move the ball downfield. Simply put, without a lineman, the offense does not go. Yet, these players do not receive the recognition that a quarterback, receiver or even a linebacker gets. In fact, these players are often even looked over for leadership roles within their own squads. Insert Red Raiders’ guard Hayden Rigo and the mold is entirely broken. Rigo realized he had the potential to excel at football as a freshman at North Star High School, where he started at offensive tackle for the Cougars. After four varsity letters in four years, Rigo began the search for where he would play his college football. “Football was a way to get some money for college and it was always
about getting a better education,” Rigo said. He decided to attend Shippensburg University in 2012 and join the Red Raiders’ football team. “I still remember when Coach Burkett called me and came into my school. We started talking and it just seemed right,” Rigo said. After redshirting that season, Rigo played in 10 games in 2013, making an impact at several positions along the offensive line for a record breaking Red Raider offense. In 2014, Rigo made five starts along the offensive line, but suffered an injury in the season opener and missed six games. Now a junior, Rigo is healthy and has assumed a starting role at the left guard position, while also being chosen by his coaches as a team captain. “The coaches trust me, my peers respect me and we work really well together,” Rigo said. “With the offensive line, we really want to work together as a unit, and this year we are really trying to mesh together. I want to bring that team spirit and
be the glue for the team.” Currently, Rigo and the Red Raiders have jumped out to a 2-1 start, while accumulating 1,363 total yards of offense through their first three games. SU has also outrushed its opponents by more than 300 yards, a testament to the power run blocking of this Red Raider team. Rigo knows that the offensive line played no small role in these feats, despite not getting the glory that others may receive. “Whenever you have a running back that performs, or a quarterback like Zap [Ryan Zapoticky] that just kills it, you know that you did something about that, and it makes you feel good,” Rigo said. “It’s all about taking a step back and being a team player at this position.” A team player through and through, Rigo only has one goal in mind for the Red Raiders this season. “I want to win a championship,” Rigo said. “It’s the only thing on my mind.” Photo by Bill Smith The Red Raiders will look for continuous success in the 2015 season. Lineman Hayden Rigo (74) readies himself for the next play.
Red Raiders offense struggles, team falls at home on Family Day Cale Ahearn
Sports Editor The Shippensburg University Red Raiders lost their first PSAC game of the season to the division rival Bloomsburg University, 17-6, at Seth Grove Stadium in Saturday. Coming into the game, the Red Raiders’ high-powered offense had been averaging more than 30 points per game, but turnovers and the inability to execute big moments kept the team without a touchdown on the day. Overall, SU (2-2, 0-1) went 3-of-15 on third down, and scored on only one of its four chances inside the red zone. “I’m very disappointed on how we performed on both sides of the ball today. We had opportunities and we didn’t capitalize,” Red Raiders’ coach Mark Maciejewski said. “This game should’ve been a different outcome.” Coming into the game, SU was known for its potent rushing attack, but it was the Huskies who dominated the rushing attack, outgaining the Red Raiders 350-200 on the ground. The Huskies had three backs with more than 70 yards, including Lawrence Elliott Jr.’s 159 yards and a score, Alex Gooden with 107 yards,
Photo by Laura Cayle
Quarterback Ryan Zapoticky (5) prepares to launch a pass downfield for the Red Raiders. and Joe Parsnik with 72 yards and a score. Red Raiders’ quarterback Ryan Zapoticky finished 17-for-34 with one interception and struggled to find any consistency for the offense for the entire game. “It all comes down to finishing,” Zapoticky said. “We just shot our-
selves in the foot and we can’t afford to do that.” It began as a battle of field position, as each team had a turnover early in the first quarter. However, the Huskies (2-2, 1-0) were able to break through first, scoring on a 29yard field goal by Tyler Smith with 2:50 left in the first quarter. SU was able to tie the game at the end of
the first quarter when kicker Billy Deane nailed a 23-yard kick to finish off a 63-yard drive. The game remained tied at 3-3 entering halftime, as neither offense was able to get any rhythm established in the second quarter, with the teams trading punts the entire way. The Huskies broke through for the
first touchdown of the game with 44 seconds left in the third quarter when running back Parsnik found a hole in the right side to scamper into the end zone for a 12-yard score. SU responded by driving 55 yards and adding another Deane field goal, bringing the score close at 10-6 early in the fourth quarter. However, the Red Raiders could not find the consistency on offense, and were unable to score for the rest of the game. Bloomsburg iced the game when running back Elliott Jr. was able to wear down the Red Raiders’ defense and broke free for a 30-yard score with 5:30 left in the fourth quarter, finalizing the game at 17-6. On defense, the team was led by safety Chad Miller, who had a teamhigh nine tackles in the loss. “We need to mentally prepare for the game, watch a lot of film and know what’s coming,” Miller said. “Everyone wants to bring their best against us. They want to scheme against us and they know what we do. We just need to be mentally prepared better.” The Red Raiders take the field next week when the team travels to East Stroudsburg University to take on the Warriors.