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Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Reporting truth. Serving our community.
Volume 63 No. 5
SU community urges unity amid use of racial slurs
Hannah Pollock Managing Editor
Meghan Schiereck/The Slate
Members of the Shippensburg University Greek life community set up tables in the Ceddia Union Building last week to promote antihazing initiatives. Members of the campus community had the opportunity to take an antihazing pledge, as well as receive more information about the dangers of hazing.
Campus holds Hazing Prevention Week Noel Miller
Guest Contributor
Hazing Prevention Week calls for a change in the culture of Greek life on campus and at thousands of universities nationwide. Shippensburg University’s Anti-Hazing policy prohibits any form of hazing in organizations acknowledged by the university. The student handbook first describes hazing as “an action or situation, taking place on or off campus, that: Recklessly, intentionally or unintentionally endangers the physical health, mental health, safety or dignity of a person.” A study conducted by the University of Dayton found that over 55% of college students experience hazing. The study also said those who experience hazing may not report it because they feel there is no one to tell or that
reporting it will not be effective. Last week SU held Hazing Prevention Week, organized by the new Hazing Prevention Working group with help from the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. This year’s Hazing Prevention Week had several engaging events in which students, faculty and staff could participate. Kyle Miller, director of fraternity and sorority life, said approximately 400 people participated in the various events held throughout the week. Monday through Thursday, a table was set up in the Ceddia Union Building at which students could sign a banner pledging to help prevent hazing. Faculty and staff members met in the Ezra Lehman Memorial Library for a presentation about the basics of hazing on Monday and Thursday evening. Kathleen Shupenko, associate director for the office of student conduct at
SGA opens search for new VP Jonathan Bergmueller Editor-in-Chief
A Shippensburg University Student Government vice president has stepped away from her position in the organization, citing personal reasons according to SGA officials. Logan Wert, the previous vice president of external affairs, resigned from the position on Sept. 24. According to SGA President Aven Bittinger, the reason was for selfcare and personal factors in her life. Wert wanted to have someone fill the role who could give it their all, Bittinger said in an email to The Slate. Bittinger said the SGA will follow its constitution “to the letter.” The SGA will send out applications that include resumes for all those eligible to apply. Then, the Executive Rules Committee (ERC) will recommend a candidate to the SGA to be appointed during its next formal meeting. The SGA’s constitution, which was last revised in February, does not explicitly outline the entire process of filling vacant positions left on the ERC. As a result, SGA is setting precedent for how these situations are handled. “We’re going to take a holistic approach to this process,” Bittinger said. “Due to the representative nature of SGA, this is our interpretation of the process,” he and Isaac Dietrich, SGA Vice President of Internal Affairs, said. “The SGA of the Student Association may appoint officers that fill all requirements as outlined in Article V, Section III to fill vacancies, with the exception of the Office of the President. Appointments will be confirmed by a two-thirds vote of the SGA,” SGA’s constitution reads. See “SGA,” A2
Penn State University, addressed a full Grove Forum Wednesday evening on how students can help prevent hazing. Most of the students attending were members of SU’s Greek life community, proudly wearing their letters. Shupenko highlighted the importance of being able to see the signs of hazing and how it happens over a long time. Shupenko said the steps of action to take to prevent hazing are “Noticing, checking in and saying something.” Shupenko encouraged students to check in with their friends who were involved in Greek life if they felt something was off. Saying something while the problem is still small, Shupenko explained, can stop hazing from developing into a large incident. See “PREVENTION,” A3
Members of the Shippensburg University community are urging unity following the use of racial slurs against two African-American students last week. Student Government Association (SGA) Senators Isaiah Smith and Danielle Williams, who represent Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA), addressed the incident and reiterated MSA’s message of inclusion. According to Smith, two students harassed two African-American students with racial slurs and words. The students did not retaliate physically, instead doing what he called “the right thing” by calling the police, said Smith. “The police are handling it, as well as the university, which is doing an investigation of conduct,” he said. Both Smith and Williams recounted their own experiences at SU, noting that race-related incidents have occurred every year they have attended the university. Smith said that minority members of the campus community have shared their safety concerns with him, looking for something to be done. Williams said after incidents like last week’s, individuals feel racial battle fatigue. “It’s like experiencing a trauma. When you didn’t ex-
perience it before, you had nothing to worry about and weren’t concerned about the possibilities. But once you experience it, now it is on your mind. Is it going to happen to someone else? Is it going to happen to me again?” she said. An incident similar to what happened last week led to the creation of ACT (Ask. Communicate. Teach Tolerance). According to MSA’s website, ACT is a campaign that seeks to stimulate a healthy, community-wide consciousness and discussion of race that confront the uncomfortable realities of racial differences. “ACT will have a reemergence in the future,” Smith said. Instead of focusing on the words of a couple of individuals, Smith, Williams and the members of MSA are instead looking to spur change. “This is a good time to keep this momentum and bring it into these events so people can have open and honest conversations without feeling as though they are being threatened or attacked,” Smith said. Smith said MSA offers various resources including ACT and other retention support groups to help educate and comfort the community, as they must deal with what has happened and continue to pursue their education. See “UNITY,” A3
SUTV wins Emmy award in Pittsburgh Jonathan Bergmueller Editor-in-Chief
Shippensburg University’s SUTV took home a collegiate Emmy Award from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (MAEA). Avery Quinn, a 2019 graduate of SU and a previous member of SUTV, took home a second Emmy for his coverage of “LIU Post vs Shippensburg Football.” Six members of SUTV and six alumni of the organization traveled to the Wyndham Grand Hotel in Pittsburgh for the presentation of the awards. The MAEA is a yearly awards ceremony that recognizes local and regional broadcast shows. It is a subset of the better known national Emmy Awards. “It gives us some confidence in the work we do,” said SU senior and SUTV executive producer Katie Sweigart. SUTV won two Emmy awards last year. According to an article posted on theslateonline.com, they were SUTV’s fourth and fifth, making this Emmy its sixth. SUTV was nominated for two awards in the Sports/Live Events category. Quinn’s submission took home the Emmy, while the other was coverage of a collegiate basketball game between West Chester and Shippensburg produced and directed by Patrick Ramsdale and Jordan Handley. The two packages were the only two nominated to the category, meaning SUTV was guaranteed to bring home an Emmy either way.
Jonathan Bergmueller/The Slate
Members of SUTV work in the control room to prepare for the Sept. 26 broadcast. SUTV’s student-produced, weekly live broadcast airs Thursdays at 7 p.m. on Comcast channel 21 and campus channel 82. Sweigart said SUTV always tries to bring alumni who had a hand in creating the packages being submitted along on the trip. Sweigart explained SUTV does not focus on creating content for the Emmys — they create stories, and then decide what is worthy of the Emmys. The process began in April, when SUTV submitted its pieces to the MAEA panel.
In August, the staff heard that their pieces were nominated. However, there was a lot of built-up tension because winners are only announced live at the ceremony. The communication/journalism department is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Journalism and Mass Communication Education (ACJMCE) board. See “SUTV,” A2