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Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Virtual ‘President’s Hour’ discussion covers class schedules, voting Blake Garlock Staff Writer
Shippensburg University President Laurie Carter and other officials answered student questions at a virtual President’s Hour Oct. 7. Students submitted their questions anonymously into a Zoom chat, and moderators read the questions to the president and her colleagues. The first question of the evening was if the university would remove all attendance penalties for students on Election Day. Students said canceling attendance penalties would give student workers more time to get to the
polls. Members of ShipVotes brought up a similar request during a recent Student Government Association meeting. SU Chief Diversity Officer Stephanie Jirard responded and said the university will not instruct professors to remove their attendance policies on Nov. 3. “The university is not in a position to cancel classes even though we support ShipVotes,” Jirard said. Jirard added that the university believes in academic freedom, so the decision is not up to the administration. See “PRESIDENT,” A2
Hannah Pollock/The Slate
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Chancellor Daniel Greenstein spoke with campus community members during his virtual visit to campus Monday afternoon. Greenstein is speaking with campus community members at all 14 PASSHE schools.
Chancellor virtually visits Shippensburg Hannah Pollock Editor-In-Chief
Carmine Sccichitano/The Slate
Students gathered in-person and online for the bi-weekly President’s Hour to voice concerns.
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Chancellor Daniel Greenstein virtually visited Shippensburg University in a Zoom session Monday afternoon. Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, Greenstein is holding virtual question-and-answer events for all 14 schools in the State System instead of making his semesterly visits. More than 220 SU community members logged into the session where Greenstein, SU President Laurie Carter and other officials discussed the statuses of the university and the State System. Greenstein last physically and publicly visited SU in February when officials held a town hall meeting that allowed SU community members to voice their
opinions and concerns of the “directives” sent by the chancellor. The directives, which aimed to assist in reaching financial sustainability, included curtailing the use of temporary faculty, eliminating low-enrolled programs and not filling vacant staff and faculty positions. The full list is available on passhe. edu. PASSHE is still in the midst of its system redesign eight months later, now with added economic woes from the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Greenstein said the State System is in the process of selling its headquarters at the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg. Officials will eventually relocate to a smaller, more cost-effective facility. In efforts to balance budgets and decrease and prevent reserve spending, some officials are turning to potential faculty retrenchment at PASSHE
schools. Retrenchment is a person being dismissed from the position due to no fault of their own, Association of Pennsylvania State College and Faculties (APSCUF) officials explained in a recent town hall meeting. Officials sent out retrenchment letters at seven PASSHE universities including Mansfield, Lock Haven, Indiana, Clarion, Cheyney, Edinboro and California universities. SU is not included in the list, but is still making changes for financial sustainability. During Monday’s Zoom event, Greenstein shared data and information about changes officials must make for the sustainability of the system. He said changes are necessary for student success. See “PASSHE,” A2
SGA approves new committee members
Noel Miller News Editor
Graphic courtesy of Lucas Everidge/Shippensburg University
Diversity Week was made possible by the efforts of Lance Hines-Butts and Lucas Everidge. The two worked with the university to bring in expert diversity scholars to encrouage unity and understanding on campus. A group of several student voulenteers helped to make the event possible for the fall semester.
SU students host first campus Diversity Week Noel Miller News Editor
Lance Hines-Butts has had a vision for campus unity at Shippensburg University campus since his sophomore year. Next week, this vision will become reality as Diversity Week, a full week of programming focused on educating and celebrating the diversity on campus. Hines-Butts and Lucas Everidge, both members of the Studnt Government Association, have worked with Shippensburg University President Laurie Carter and a nine-person team composed of other students to make Diversity Week possible. The student members are Skylar Walder, Toby Hodges, Matthew Klipp, Ace Walker,
Abdulomar Tucker, Stephen Washington, Demetrius Lester, Ingrid Rosario and Kiayrah Wehr. Hines-Butts said he had spoken with Carter about his idea in meetings before. During a summer town hall meeting, Carter asked how the planning was going for the event and a few days later he pitched his idea, according to Hines-Butts. Hines-Butts said Carter supported the idea and that they could make Diversity Week. Hines-Butts’ vision for the week is to change the culture of the campus and bring cultural competency. In the future, Diversity Week officials said they hope to make the week a community event with interactions in the town
of Shippensburg and with local businesses. Diversity Week will be an event held every semester, Everidge said. “It is a full week of programming. We have organized the days based on different topics of diversity,” Everidge said. “Speaking broadly most of our events are hosted by experts in their fields. We have professors as well as professionals coming to campus.” “We’re not experts in every field of diversity, so we had to find those who are,” said Everidge. Hines-Butts and Everidge have also worked with university professors to invite experts from outside the university like Eduardo Bonil-
la-Silva, a race scholar from Duke University, and Julian Saporiti, an expert from Brown University. While Hines-Butts and Everidge want to have the event fully in person; however, because of the COVID-19 coronavirus, Diversity Week events will largely be held on Zoom with a few in-person events. “We have worked hard on this. Everyday we have put the time in, countless hours,” Hines-Butts said. “We want people to come ready to learn and to come with an open mind to soak in knowledge,” Everidge said. For more information about Diversity Week, visit ship.edu/about/diversity/diversity_week/.
Student Government Association (SGA) approved several new member appointments and additions for their committees at the October meeting last week. During the new business portion of the meeting, seven SGA committee representatives motioned to have new members serve and have voting powers on their respective boards. The committees that motioned for new members were the academic affairs, Ceddia Union Building (CUB), diversity and inclusion, information technology, campus safety and facilities, elections and the internal affairs committees. All of these motions were seconded and passed. In addition to the committee motions, Riley Brown, vice president of student groups, motioned to reactivate the political science club as an SGA-recognized group. This motion stemmed from the student groups committee’s recommendation to the SGA that group be reinstated.
According to Brown, the political science club filled all duties and qualifications and had gone through the vetting process. Sen. Michael Linguard seconded the motion and the vote passed. During the open floor and public comment portion of the meeting, Ian Coyne from ShipVotes asked SGA members for help in getting the university to support professors removing absence penalties for Election Day Nov. 3. Coyne said the removal of penalties would give students who need to travel to vote the ability to do so. According to Coyne, lifting the penalties is an alternative to attempting to cancel classes altogether on Election Day. Sierra Gutierrez, also with ShipVotes, gave the SGA a petition and answered several questions regarding ShipVotes’ plan for achieving this. The next SGA meeting will be held on Nov. 5 at 4 p.m. over Zoom and the link can be found at ship. campusgroups.com/sga/ about/
NEWS
A2 From “PRESIDENT,” A1
“So those of us in the executive administration are in no position to tell professors whether or not to excuse students,” Jirard said. “That academic area is completely in the purview of instructors.” Although the university will not cancel classes or attendance penalties, Jirard encouraged students to vote. The university will also run a shuttle service for students to attend polling stations in Shippensburg all day on Nov. 3, according to Jirard. The discussion then moved to the topic of mental health. An anonymous resident assistant (RA) said a student recently came to them struggling with depression. The student was struggling because they could only schedule a counseling appointment every two weeks. The RA wanted to know what could be done to increase counselors’ availability so students with mental health issues could seek help. Carter addressed the question. “This has been brought up at President’s Hours before, and we added two counselors last year in response,” Carter said. “But today was the first time I heard from students that there were long waits for counseling.” Carter said that the issue would be investigated, and she encouraged students to seek mental health assistance from other places on campus if needed. “There are trained professionals all over campus,” Carter said. “So, if students are experiencing mental health issues, there are many other resources like the Women’s Cen-
ter, the Pride Center or MSA [Office of Multicultural Student Affairs].” Carter then encouraged students to seek out ways to combat isolation during the pandemic. “Human interaction is important for one’s mental health,” Carter said. “I encourage students to turn their cameras on during virtual classes and to engage with each other.” Although Carter encouraged human interaction, too much, or too close, of human interaction is still not advised. One student asked how the university would handle off-campus parties where students do not wear masks or practice social distancing. Barry McClanahan, SU associate student affairs vice president, responded. “Students have been held accountable both on and off campus for violating COVID-19 policies, and they’ll continue to be,” McClanahan said. Carter also spoke to the issue, saying the university is monitoring off-campus locations where students party and gather more than ever. University Police Chief Michael Lee spoke about what his department is doing to monitor off-campus gatherings. “We have been out on the weekends and identified a large number of locations that have significant gatherings,” Lee said. “We have taken action against those we can identify, but we have to verify who is involved before we can take action.” Anyone with questions that were not addressed at President’s Hour should send them to rha@ship.edu.
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“These are really, really hard issues,” Greenstein said. Carter explained the importance of making changes at SU. “We’re not looking to return to the way things were,” Carter said after referring to a “Our Next Normal” PowerPoint shared with faculty members. “We are looking toward the future with an institution that is going to serve the students well. But also serve the university well. We’re balancing the needs of today’s students, looking toward the needs of tomorrow’s students, but also caring for the community in a way that will allow it to properly support those students,” Carter said. “And it’s not an easy task.” The questions from community members were similar to the town hall in February. Faculty members spoke of concerns of reducing or eliminating adjuncts in departments, fears of program relocations or elimination and how exactly the “shared system” model will work. “Why should a student who comes to Ship only have access to the things that ship can afford on its own to deliver?” the chancellor asked. Greenstein said students will have more access to programs across the s
Student Government Association (SGA) Student Groups Vice President and SU sophomore Riley Brown asked the chancellor to clarify the two different morales and views of PASSHE’s situation. Brown said after watching hearings at the Capitol in the spring, it sounded like Pennsylvania senators saw a very different, more “gloom and doom” situation, whereas Greenstein painted a more “optimistic and futuristic” landscape during Monday’s Zoom. “Our financial circumstances are really challenging, and we’re going to fix them,” Greenstein responded. Greenstein said PASSHE needed to ensure it is operating sustainably, as well as practicing accountability and transparency. Brown also told Greenstein a story of his sister, who is a high school senior, contemplating a state-school education. High school seniors are questioning the reality of what is and will be available at PASSHE schools. “This is the best time to come to a Pennsylvania State System school,” Greenstein said. “Because we are beginning to think again about student success and we are beginning to show progress and ensuring that students succeed. This is probably a better time than ever.”
Next print editions: Oct. 20 Oct. 27 Nov. 3 Nov. 10
October 13, 2020
Your World Today
Commentary: Working through ‘senioritis’ during tough times
Hannah Pollock Editor-in-Chief Senioritis: An decades-old phenomenon afflicting those who are nearing the end of a term of education. This feeling often strikes students during their final year in education, hopefully toward the end. Is your senior bored or experienced a loss of motivation and care? Are they lazy and disinterested in academic-related activities and yearn to graduate ASAP? These are all symptoms of senioritis. It is quite evident for me and my peers, senioritis is rapidly developing. That bright-eyed freshman who did every assignment days early and spent hours in the library studying has grown into a caffeine-addicted, professional procrastinator who is counting down the days until graduation. (We are at about 214ish days, give or take a few. I am a writer for a reason.) This senior is spending her evenings binge-watching TV shows while avoiding assignments and col-
umn-writing. Don’t get me wrong, everything still gets done, but I am not as excited about it as I once was. I never imagined spending my senior year at Shippensburg University in this way. Between the pandemic, the divisive national election and everything else that 2020 has thrown at us, this year has been the follow-up to Billy Joel’s, “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Sometimes while my next episode on Netflix is loading, I wonder, “How much of this is really senioritis?” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), younger adults, racial/ethnic minorities, essential workers and unpaid adult caregivers reported having experienced disproportionately worse mental health outcomes during the pandemic, and even increased substance use and suicidal ideation. Researchers in the Student Experience Research University Consortium at the University of California – Berkeley and University of Minnesota surveyed undergraduate and graduate students on their mental health statuses during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Officials surveyed more than 45,000 students and found that students were feeling more anxious and showed signs of depression.
The National Institute of Mental Health is researching the short-term and long-term impacts of the pandemic on anxiety and motivation. Students – and honestly everyone else is society – are coping with a fast-changing world, trying to make do with what they are given. But it is hard. It just so happened that Oct. 10, when I wrote this column, was World Mental Health Day. This day is a reminder that we must remember to take care of ourselves during these tumultuous times. In addition to wearing a mask, take the time to make sure you and those around you are OK. Take some extra time for yourself, whether you watch a movie, read a book or vent on Zoom with a good friend. Find joy during these times. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. The figurative candle runs out faster when you burn it at both ends. Add in the stressors of a global pandemic, and it may feel like you are trying to light the candle with a wet match. This too shall pass, persevere and continue on in whatever it is you are doing. Whether you are working toward the end of election season, the pandemic or your senior year.
Judges rejects Trump campaign suit over Philly voter offices Mark Levy
Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – A judge on Friday rejected a bid by President Donald Trump’s campaign to force Philadelphia to allow campaign representatives to monitor people registering to vote or filling out mailin ballots in election offices in a city repeatedly attacked by Trump as untrustworthy. Judge Gary Glazer wrote in his 14-page opinion that Pennsylvania law does not allow such representatives to observe in election offices, a stance held by election lawyers, city officials and the state’s top elections official. The lawsuit comes amid Trump claiming that he can only lose the crucial battleground state of Pennsylvania if Democrats cheat and,
as he did in 2016’s campaign, and suggesting that the Democratic bastion of Philadelphia needs to be watched closely for election fraud. The Trump campaign filed the lawsuit last week, two days after Philadelphia opened seven satellite election offices, new creations deemed to be legal under state law by the state Supreme Court. There, people can register to vote, apply for a mail-in ballot, fill it out and turn it in. Trump campaign employees promptly showed up at the offices, insisting they be allowed to go in and observe the activity inside. City election officials prevented them. Trump referred to that confrontation in last week’s debate with Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, saying “bad things happen in Philadelphia.”
Etter Health Center prepares for flu season Tyler Bachik
Guest Contributor
With a global pandemic brewing and flu season on the way, officials at Shippensburg University’s Etter Health Center are preparing and implementing plans to keep students safe and healthy this semester. Flu shot clinics will be held all throughout October. Dates and times can be found on the health center’s “Wellness Events & Resources” page at ship.edu/life/wellness/ health-center/additional_campus_resources/. No reservations are required. Etter Health Center officials encourage students to take advantage of these opportunities and provide information for additional testing. “I believe that, regardless of the year, it is important that [students] get the flu shot. Not only for self-protection, but protection for others as well. Students who cannot attend the clinics can get flu shots at the health center by appointment, but they must bring an insurance card for proper billing,” an official said. Officials at Etter stressed the significance of getting a flu
shot this year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 39-58 million flu cases are estimated to occur in 2020. Students can also continue to utilize the self-care room located in the center. There are several over-the-counter medications are made available for students. Over-thecounter medications and the self-care room can be accessed during the center’s operating hours. More information can be found on Etter’s website. This is available for on- and off-campus students. Selfcare appointments must be scheduled ahead of time by calling the health center. Etter also recommends SU’s CampusShield app to help increase the safety of all those attending the university. The app not only acts as contact tracing for students but can provide the necessary resources to report any possible illness. Students are encouraged to continue wearing masks, practice social distancing measures and perform daily health self-checks, according to university officials. Etter Health officials who served as sources for this story requested that their names not be used in the story.
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
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Opinion
The Slate Speaks
Fulfill calls for education, understanding with ‘Diversity Week’ Our campus community will have the opportunity to explore different cultures, beliefs and lifestyles during “Diversity Week.” Diversity Week offers campus community members the opportunity to learn about cultures, beliefs and lifestyles different than their own. It is important to interact with those different from you. The events offered this
week give us all an opportunity to take the first step in better understanding and tolerating those around us. We must take the information learned from the conversations held this week and apply them on our campus and in our community. We must follow our promises with action. But how can we do this? Take the time to speak
with someone who is different than you. Try a new local, minority-owned restaurant or shop. It is important to branch out into small minority-owned businesses in our communities. Try visiting a new store, restaurant or attending a cultural event in Shippensburg, Chambersburg, Carlisle or Harrisburg.
Supporting minortity-owned businesses will not only allow the owner to further invest in his or her business, but will also encourage a wide-variety of businesses in our area. Let us take this opportunity to learn more about the cultures around us. Increasing our knowlege about other cultures will aid in the world coming together.
Take five minutes: America at its core
Maria Maresca Staff Columnist
The year of 2020 has been a political whirlwind and caused Americans to question the very origins of our great nation. The presence of slavery in our historical past does not negate everything else that was established, or the new nation forged from small beginnings. It was these small beginnings that would spark a war of independence between the budding colonies and the formidable kingdom of Great Britain. As bleak as some elements of history are, they cannot be rewritten and uprooted because this encapsulates the assumption that the inherent evil ties of slavery in our country apply to everyone. There is no doubt that racism and prejudice will always exist. America is not perfect, but its institutions do not set out to discriminate and neither do
its laws. Our rights as equal citizens are protected legally under the Constitution and are spelled out in the Declaration of Independence. Although not legally binding, it still holds power. Despite the impression that the media has recently made following the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests, our country was not solely founded on the aspect of slavery. Forming judgments about the past based on present standards only triggers great discord and unforeseen consequences when we, as Americans, are made to abhor the very country in which we reside. To say that we have not progressed as a nation in this way from our initial beginnings is entirely false. Commemorating other aspects of history, as seen by the 1619 Project, should not be looked down upon; however, allowing our history to essentially be rewritten will only spell disaster, which we have already previewed in recent times. If Americans, especially young Americans, knew the significance of what was established by our founders, there would not be such a hasty effort to dismiss it in its entirety. This begs the question of what comes next in the future and how our history as a nation is presented not only in schools, but throughout the rest of time. The New York Times directly states this and aims to reframe what led to our country’s founding by “placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.”
There is no dismissing the horrors and atrocities of slavery that were suffered by thousands of African Americans and the ripple effects that it produced. However, the 1619 Project begs the question: Which part of history will we use to define everything that we stand for as Americans? Our country is incomparable to others because of what we have become and what we stand for, to which anyone who has traveled outside the United States can attest. We have the freedom of expression, to peacefully assemble and protest, to practice our religion of choice, voice our opinions through speech and the press, be seen as equal in the eyes of the government, the right to a fair trial, the freedom to travel, to vote, to start a business and to access information. The list goes on. Americans take for granted the basic rights we exercise as citizens day in and day out. With that said, I implore Americans, especially young Americans, to not allow past ties with slavery to override and overshadow our country of freedom and opportunity that our founders labored to provide for us today. As said by David Webb, “Our skin is an organ. It does not think, it does not formulate ideas, it is merely the genetic result of our parents. Our ability to use our brain in a free society such as in Americans is why we have overturned the blight and the negative aftermath that began with colonial slavery.”
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Give it a thought: SU must commit to Counseling Center
Chase Slenker Staff Columnist
I sat in the Harley Hall Multi-Purpose Room for Shippensburg University’s President’s Hour Oct. 7. This is an opportunity for students to share their feedback with the university president and her executive management team. One topic that continues to be asked at every President’s Hour since I started attending in fall 2019, is what the university is doing to reduce backlogs at the Counseling Center, as well as what it is doing to expand operations. This question of course was brought up again at this meeting and President Laurie Carter was quick to respond that the university did hire “two more counselors last year.” A few different students submitted comments regarding backlogs in the Counseling Center again this year, to which Carter responded that this was the first that she had heard of it being a problem this year. The Counseling Center has continued to have long wait times since I started attending SU in fall 2019. From my own experience, I have had to wait two to three weeks between counseling appointments on a semi-regular basis due to my counselor having so many students in such a short-time frame. I have even had a Counseling Center staff member, who asked to remain anonymous, say that “they have dealt with an overwhelming surge in students.” Similarly, one of my friends waited three weeks
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Opinion shipspeaks@gmail.com Tiana Thomas.....................Opinion Editor Chase Slenker...........................Columnist Maria Maresca...........................Columnist Adam Friscia..............................Columnist Noah Steinfeldt..........................Columnist Matthew Unger...........................Columnist Ship Life slate.shiplife@gmail.com Chaela Williams......................Asst. Editor Morgan Barr............................Asst. Editor Sports slatesports@gmail.com Isaiah Snead...........................Asst. Editor Christian Eby...........................Asst. Editor A&E slateae@gmail.com Ryan Cleary......................................Editor discriminate against anyone based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity etc. Undergraduate and graduate SU students are hired based on skill, dedication and loyalty to the values and principles of journalism. Funding for The Slate is provided primarily by the SU Student Government. The Slate is required to payback a portion of its funding via the selling of advertising space. Ads do not represent the position of The Slate in any manner. See our Advertising Media Kit for rules and policies on ads.
for an initial appointment after contacting the Counseling Center. I work in Residence Life, and we are told to direct students to the center to assist with depression, anxiety and other non-emergency, yet largely debilitating, mental health challenges. In talking with residents, they ask why they have to wait so long just to get an appointment. I have the same question to ask our university. In bringing this up with Carter and SU’s executive management team, Carter reiterated hiring counselors last year and began to talk about the mental health implications of “not turning your camera on in class.” No commitment was made nor were comments made to address the pressing matter and student’s concerns were blatantly discredited by Carter’s remarks. Carter acknowledged we were all in a pandemic and we are all impacted; however, that doesn’t mean that the Counseling Center problems should not be addressed. Not only was expanding counseling services essential before the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, but it is more critical now than ever. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that two in five Americans are now actively struggling with a mental health disorder, disproportionately by age group. Two earlier studies by CDC researchers had found a substantial increase in anxiety disorder and depressive disorder symptoms in the United States during April through June compared with the same time frame in 2019. SU needs to continue to expand operations in the Counseling Center to address not only a normal demand, but an increased demand for counseling services as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Tuesday, October 13, 2020
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Ship Life
Market brings unique businesses to Ship Question of the Week: What is your dream job?
Morgan Barr
Asst. Ship Life Editor
First Fridays is not the only event in Shippensburg striving to bring Shippensburg’s collegiate community and the town together. The Ship Market encourages students and community members alike to support local businesses by attending the market each Thursday. The Ship Market hosts a variety of businesses ranging from food trucks to distilleries and artisan jewelry makers. Vendors come from all over Central Pennslyvania and have many unique products to offer. Duck Donuts of Mechanicsburg offers pre-ordering of their custom-made donuts each week while Uncle Eddie’s BBQ brings their wellknown mac ‘n’ cheese bowls topped with a choice of brisket, pulled pork or chicken. Lotus Bowls frequents the market, bringing acai bowls, smoothies and other healthy options to Shippensburg. In addition to food, Maxie’s Brew House of Shippensburg offers create-your-own six packs of their specialty
Morgan Barr/The Slate
First Friday sells a variety of foods from local restaurants to put money back into small-town businesses. brews. Hook and Flask Still Works offers a taste of Carlisle with their craft spirits. Biser Farms and several other local farms provide locally grown produce for attendees to purchase. The market provides a weekly ritual for many students and community members alike. “My roommates and I
discovered Ship Market a few weeks ago, when we saw a taco truck we like was coming to Shippensburg and have been coming ever since,” senior Jessa Corwell said. “It’s a great way to get out and experience the local community and support small businesses.” The market is outdoors, and while masking is not required at the park, it is en-
couraged and many vendors wear masks throughout the evening while servicing their customers. Seating arrangements at the park are spread out and include picnic tables and benches. Some attendees choose to bring their own lawn chairs and watch the different sporting events that may be taking place within the different fields at the park.
The market is located at the Southampton Township (Cumberland County) Park on Airport Road and is open from 3:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursdays from May until the end of October. To find a list of vendors each week, follow Ship Market’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ TheShipMarket.
Alternatives to celebrate Halloween
Hannah Pollock/The Slate
Go all out this Halloween by spicing up your bedroom with pumpkin decor. Chaela Williams
Asst. Ship Life Editor
Halloween is right around the corner and the temptation to celebrate in larger groups is at an all-time high. With COVID-19 coronavirus concerns, celebrating everyone’s favorite spooky holi-
day will look different this year. Just because we have social distancing does not mean we cannot celebrate and have fun. Here is a compiled list of things you can do to safely celebrate Halloween this year. Host a movie night
Gather your closest friends and pop some popcorn and play Halloween movie classics like “Hocus Pocus” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” to get into the spirit. Host a streaming party on Disney+ or share screen via Zoom to practice social distancing
Do a Tarot card reading Light some candles and listen to the universe to see what is in your future. To get better results, consult a professional tarot reader to do a reading with you or friends on Zoom. Carve pumpkins Carving pumpkins is a classic Halloween tradition. Grab some pumpkins with friends or family and enjoy a night of designing and decorating. Participate in “ghosting” Ghosting is when you make a bag of Halloween-themed goodies and leave it on a friend’s or neighbor’s doorstep with a note to pass on the trend and “ghost” someone else. It is the perfect way to cheer up a friend during this holiday. Eat Candy Nothing tastes better than eating discounted Halloween candy on Nov. 1. Stock
up on your favorite Halloween treats and snacks or get in the kitchen and whip up some treats. Practice your Halloween makeup Just because you are not going anyway does not mean that you cannot practice your makeup. Look up beauty videos on YouTube to create the perfect, spine-chilling look to replicate. Halloween photo-op Get some friends and locate the creepiest places around Shippensburg and take photos with or without your costumes to spice up your social media. Host a virtual costume Party Still in a partying mood? Host an online party with friends and family. Show off your costume, pour a drink and play games. It might not feel the same, but at least you are interacting with loved ones and keeping in touch with friends.
Recipe of the Week: Jalapeño Popper Dip
Dane Somkrolay, senior “Cyber security [because] I like to do a little bit of coding, company breaching and hacks. I’m into stuff like that.”
Chyenne Winter, junior “To travel around the world and bring sustainable energy to under-developed countries.”
James Ianieri, senior “I would love to do something with movies or videogames. Something behind-the-scenes like directing.”
INGREDIENTS -10 slices bacon -1 (8-oz.) block cream cheese, softened -1/3 cup of mayonnaise -1/3 cup of sour cream -1 tsp. garlic powder -2 jalapeños, minced -1 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar -1 1/2 cup of shredded Monterey Jack -Salt and pepper INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 350º. 2. In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook bacon in batches until crispy, about 8 minutes each. Drain on a paper towel–lined plate, then chop. 3. In a large bowl, stir together cream cheese, mayo, sour cream, garlic powder, most of the cooked bacon (reserve some for topping), jalapeños and 1 cup each of cheddar and Monterey Jack. Season with salt and pepper. 4. Transfer to a small oven-safe skillet or baking dish and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup each of cheddar and Monterey Jack, and cooked bacon
Morgan Johnston, senior
5. Bake until dip is golden and bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips or baguette slices. Photo and recipe courtesy of Morgan Barr
“To be an acupuncturist because I always liked naturopathic medicine and [acupuncture] is included in that field [of study].”
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
D1
A&E
Famous guitarist dead Ryan Cleary A&E Editor
Famous rock band guitarist Eddie Van Halen passed away on Oct. 6 after a battle with throat cancer. Van Halen was 65. Van Halen was one of the founders of the well-known rock group, Van Halen, which was prominent during the 1980s and ’90s. The group wrote notable songs including “Jump,” “Panama” and many more. Van Halen and his brother, Alex, started performing together in their teens. They formed the group when the two met David Lee Roth who would go on to become the lead singer. Over 40 years, the rock group produced and released more than 12 albums. Van Halen was also known for his insane and catchy guitar licks and solos. His son, Wolfgang Van Halen, posted on social media that [Eddie] “was the best father I could ever ask for.” Wolfgang would go on to become the bassist for the rock band in 2006. Van Halen was a heavy
smoker throughout his younger years. According to TMZ, doctors believe that Van Halen developed throat cancer from a metal guitar pick he used to frequently hold in his mouth more than 20 years ago. “As a drummer I always loved, “Hot for Teacher,” said Shippensburg University junior Drake Myers. “My favorite Van Halen memory has to be from when I was 15 playing tournament baseball. We were able to have walk up songs and I chose to walk up to the ‘Hot for Teacher’ intro since it always got me pumped up.” Numerous rock groups paid tribute to the great rock guitarist, including Weezer. Their looming new album is called “Van Weezer.” The title refers to the heavy guitar presence on the album. “We’re sadden to hear of Eddie Van Halen’s untimely passing today. Given the news today, we want to dedicate our album ‘Van Weezer’ to Eddie as a thank you for all the incredible music that sound tracked our youth and inspired the record. RIP EVH,” Weezer wrote on their
social media. As a band, Van Halen is known for its intense rock music that makes listeners want to jump in the air and sing the lyrics as loud as they can. The constant loudness of drums and guitars, turned up to the max and the choice of instruments, like a synthesizer on Van Halen’s popular song “Jump,” gives listeners an opportunity to dance. “My older brother and his friends were diehards,” SU geography and earth sciences professor Sean Cornell said. “I got my first Walkman and a cassette tape with the best of Van Halen… songs like ‘Jump,’ ‘Why Can’t This Be Love,’ ‘Right Now’ and others.” After the death of the guitarists, the group had seen an increase in sales. According to billboard.com, Van Halen sold more than 40,000 albums and song copies on Oct. 6, which is 6,198% higher than selling under 1,000 copies on Oct. 5. The most purchased album on Oct. 6 was their self-titled album “Van Halen,” which debuted in 1978.
Billboard Top 10
Photo courtesy of Billboard.com
Eddie Van Halen, shown as a young adult, was a famous guitarist for Van Halen. The band, which was founded by Van Halen himself, is known for songs like “Jump,” “Panama” and many more. Their best selling song is “Panama.”
Commentary: How to celebrate Halloween during a pandemic Adam Beam Staff Writer
Halloween is the time of year in which being scared is the name of the game. However, in the unprecedented time that is 2020, many Americans have been afraid all year. As many celebrations have been cancelled, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate the spookiest time of the year, even amid the global pandemic. Trick-or-Treating. The biggest thing on everyone’s mind when it comes to Halloween is of course trick-ortreating. Thankfully, here in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, the kids can still celebrate come Oct. 31. Trick-or-treating will remain mostly intact, apart from taking more precautions with social distancing as well as how the candy will be distributed. Nevertheless, kids all over the county have plenty to look forward to once trick-or-treat night arrives. But for all the big kids and adults out there still in need of some solid entertainment this Halloween, there is still plenty to be done indoors as well as outdoors. Watch seasonal favorites. The obvious solution for getting a spooky fix is sitting down in front of the TV and watching some seasonal favorites or even some newer releases. “Freeform” is known for its delivery of the “31 Nights of Halloween,” which always involves a nightly showing of “Hocus Pocus.” Looking for a more grown-up taste? AMC
theaters are hosting “Fear Fest,” which delivers more traditional horror films like John Carpenter’s, “Halloween” or “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” Being the movie aficionado that I am, I also have my seasonal recommendations. In terms of horror films, consider “Hell House LLC” and “The Houses October Built.” For more educational purposes, check out “Haunters: The Art of the Scare,” a documentary about all the great haunted attractions all across the country. For those looking for more light-hearted affairs, you can’t go wrong with “Halloweentown” or “Beetlejuice.” Outdoor activities involving friends. For those looking to get outdoors and interact with friends, there are still plenty of yearly favorites, just with modifications. Try carving pumpkins, virtual costume parties/contests or decorating. Here on campus, groups like the Activities Program Board (APB) are working toward planning fun Halloween events. Whether you are the kind of person who celebrates with costumes and candies, or turns off the porch lights, puts on a scary movie and listens to the trick or treaters outside for that perfect Halloween atmosphere, there is no denying that celebration can still be had even in these darkest of times. Halloween, like everything else nowadays, is something that can adapt to these circumstances, and while it might not be the traditional way of celebrating, the Halloween spirit never dies. After all, it is the holiday that makes masks feel normal.
1. Franchise - Travis Scott feat. Young Thug
6. Blinding Lights - The Weeknd
2. Dynamite - BTS
7. Rockstar - DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch
3. WAP - Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion
8. Savage Love (Laxed-Siren Beat) - Jawsh 365
4. Laugh Now Cry Later - Drake feat. Lil Durk
9. Watermelon Sugar - Harry Styles
5. Mood - 24kGoldn feat. iann dior
10. I Hope - Gabby Barrett feat. Charlie Puth
The Music Corner What has the A&E Editor Ryan been listening to this past week?
Songs 1. Begin the Beguine (Cafe Rogue Version)
Artists Artie Shaw
2. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
Eydie Gorme
3. Full Circle (feat. The Pocket Queen)
Nikko Ielasi
4. Johnny Leave Her
The High Kings
5. Oh Maggie
The High Kings
6. Non-Stop
Orignal Broadway Cast of “Hamilton”
Artists and Musicians: How has COVID-19 impacted you? Email slateae@gmail.com for a chance to be featured in the Arts and Entertainment section!
A&E
D2
October 13, 2020
SUMB hosts movie night, surprises director Olivia Faenza
Public Relations Director
The Shippensburg University Red Raider Marching Band (SUMB) held a members-only movie night in Seth Grove Stadium Oct. 8. SUMB members have been unable to officially take the field due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. They gathered to watch, “Remember the Titans” and “The Greatest Show.” While following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, band members sat socially distanced on the football turf with their own supplies of snacks and drinks throughout the event. Hearts have been heavy in the SUMB since the cancellation announcement of their 2020 marching band season. Trever Famulare and Aaron Trumbore, director and assistant director of bands, have been continuously trying to plan fun events for band members in order to keep spirits high. SUMB officials held the movie night on the field with the films presented on the scoreboard. The movie night helped to continue the bonding of band members, despite the chilly weather. “It was unbelievably cold outside, but I was happy to spend an evening surrounded by all my friends,” band treasure Emily Osilka said. A surprise was in store for band director Famulare, known as “Fam” to SUMB members. Famulare is in his 20th year as director of the SUMB and band members surprised him with a video tribute following the movie screenings. After the movie was over, the SUMB cabinet leadership and Trumbore surprised Famulare with a “thank you” video on the scoreboard in his honor. The video included many personal messages from Famulare’s friends, family, SU community members, colleagues and leadership team members. “The video was a great way to express to Fam how much we appreciate him. The SUMB would not be the same without his love and support for our program,” band member Bailey
Olivia Faenza/ The Slate
Members of the Shippensubrg University Red Raider Marching Band (SUMB) sit on the turf at Seth Grove Stadium watching the movies “Remember the Titans” and “The Greatest Showman” on Oct. 8 Cassada said. At the end of the video, a scholarship was announced in Famulare’s honor. People in the community are now able to donate to the “Shippensburg University Red Raider Marching Band Family Legacy Scholarship.” This scholarship will be awarded to a three or four-year
Review: ‘The Band’s Visit’ is truly ‘Something Different’ Bailey Cassada Staff Writer
“Nothing is as beautiful as something that you don’t expect.” This lyric from the song “Something Different” perfectly describes the essence of the musical “The Band’s Visit.” Based on the 2007 film of the same name, “The Band’s Visit” tells the story of an Egyptian police band that travels to Israel for a performance. Due to a misunderstanding at the bus station ticket booth, they end up in the small town of Bet Hatikva instead of the desired location of Petah Tikvah. The band spends the night with some of the residents, learning about one another and overcoming language and cultural differences. I discovered the show through Apple Music. I was listening to another musical when “The Band’s Visit” came up as a recommended album. Out of curiosity, I clicked on the first song. Little did I know that this would end up being one of my favorite musicals. I had the opportunity to see this show on Broadway in June 2018, and it was truly a unique and simple show with beautiful music.
There are many qualities of the show that stand out to me. One of them being the small cast. There are only a few roles, and the entire ensemble sings together for about 10 seconds in the show. Most songs are solos or duets, and, while this may sound boring to some, it made that one particular moment in the show more meaningful and impactful. Another interesting trait is that the actors who portrayed the band members were actually playing their instruments live on stage. “The Band’s Visit” was up against “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical,” “Mean Girls” and “Frozen” in 2018 for the Best Musical Tony award. I watched the award show with my high school drama club, and many people were confused as to why the show was winning so much. Many of them had never heard of it and were disappointed with the results. Of course, all of the shows nominated were great productions. However, I feel like many people my age tend to gravitate toward the same types of musicals. “The Band’s Visit” stood out to me in comparison to the other nominees. I saw and heard the other nominated shows for years, and it
was refreshing to see a story that was foreign to me. I also enjoy the theme of togetherness as well as experiencing a show about a culture different from my own. I believe that people my age should have an open mind when it comes to unfamiliar musicals. At the end of the day, theater is about stepping outside of comfort zones. Not all musicals need to be a huge production to be entertaining, and “The Band’s Visit” definitely proves that. The show was unlike anything I had seen or heard before in a musical, and that is why I enjoy it so much. You can stream “The Band’s Visit” on Apple Music.
Bailey Cassada/ The Slate
“The Band’s Visit” won the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Musical.
member of the SUMB. A legacy recipient is defined as a grandchild, sibling, child, niece or nephew of the SUMB. The recipient overall must demonstrate the family spirit of the band. Editor’s Note: Olivia Faenza is a member of the SUMB and holds the position of secretary in the SUMB Cabinet.
Review: ‘Hubie Halloween’ challenges Halloween spirit Adam Beam Staff Writer
“If I don’t get it, I’m going to come back and do one again that is so bad on purpose,” Adam Sandler said during an interview on the “Howard Stern Show.” This week, Netflix released Sandler’s new movie, “Hubie Halloween.” Hubie Dubois, played by Sandler, is a “funny” voiced Halloween fanatic as well as the laughing-stock of Salem, Massachusetts. Dubois is often bullied by both the adults and the teenagers of the town. While doing his usual Halloween routine, Dubois ends up in a mystery involving disappearing people, a possible werewolf and an escaped mental patient. Of course, viewers can also expect plenty of the familiar Sandler story beats and jokes. While Sandler has given viewers some solid comedy film outings — two of which are pointlessly referenced throughout this film — it is no secret that his films in the last decade or two have failed to show Sandler’s full comedic potential. They oftentimes rely on the same style of jokes, grossout humor and large ensemble casts filled to the brim with Sandler’s SNL (“Saturday Night Live”) buddies. “Hubie Halloween” is no exception; however, it is not the worst that Sandler has to offer, especially in terms of his Netflix ventures. The biggest issue with this movie is the characters. There are three types of char-
acters in the movie: Characters that are either incredibly annoying, mean spirited or terribly bland, with Sandler falling heavily into the annoying category. It is clear that the worst kind of Sandler characters are the ones where the whole joke is that they have a “funny” voice. One of Hubie’s jokes is that he is very easily scared, which means a lot of the jokes in the movie are just Sandler screaming like an idiot. It would not be a Sandler film without a pointless romance, and this has to be one of the worst ones, completely wasting actress Julie Bowen from the hit-movie, “Happy Gilmore.” The story as well is all over the place, essentially feeling like one bad joke and cameo after the other. It is all tied together by a flimsy mystery that ends in one of the most ridiculous and forced happy endings I have ever seen, even by Sandler standards. Overall, “Hubie Halloween” is just another lazy Sandler venture that relies on the same stale-joke formula. The funniest joke in the entire movie does not come until the last 20 minutes, only to be ruined about 30 seconds later. Despite all this, it is still not Sandler’s worst outing. The movie is just plain bad and feels like Sandler at his phoniest. If you are looking for a solid Sandler film on Netflix, check out “Uncut Gems.” If you need that Halloween spirit, I recommend “Hotel Transylvania.” “Hubie Halloween” is streaming now on Netflix.
Ask The Slate Staff
What musical genre would their band play?
Asst. Ship Life Editor Morgan Barr’s band would play rock ’n’ roll music.
Asst. Public Relations Director Brady Cannizzaro’s band would play punk/rock ’n’ roll music.
Multimedia Director Carmine Scicchitano’s band would play country music.
Staff Writer Julianna Vaughan’s band would play alternative music.
News Editor Noel Miller’s band would play pop punk music.
Public Relations Director Olivia Faenza’s band would play rock ’n’ roll music.
E1
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Sports
Basketball, E1
Seth Grove Stadium, E1
Biss steps into leadership role Christian Eby
Asst. Sports Editor
The Shippensburg University basketball team piled up the victories and awards last season — a season which ended with a crushing defeat in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) finals. A team led by senior John Castello and junior Jake Biss, resulted in a 24-7 record (184 PSAC) for the Raiders. However, with Castello and other important members of the squad, like Lamar Talley and Daylon Carter graduating, this upcoming season will be Biss’ team. Biss is coming off a season filled with accolades. The now senior guard pulled in awards including 201920 PSAC Eastern Division Athlete of the Year, 2019-20 NABC All-District First Team honors and 2019-20 D2CCA All-Atlantic Region First Team honors. Additionally, the Latrobe, Pennsylvania, native rounded out his junior campaign with 15.9 points, 4.4 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game. And while the numbers and recognition are nice, Biss has always been more focused on team play. “Don’t get me wrong, the accolades are definitely nice, but I’d put all of those away if
I could win that PSAC championship,” he said. Biss knows this season will present challenges the Raiders have never faced before. Because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, Biss and his teammates have had limited access to Heiges Field House and have shifted their practices to an outdoor setting at Seth Grove Stadium. Like any great leader, Biss continues to overcome adversity and make the best out of the current opportunities presented to him. But, he does have his concerns. In a normal season, fall is the perfect time for the Raiders to develop team chemistry and shake off the rust from the summer. This year, they do not get that full experience. “Team wise I think it may be a little difficult once we get back on the court,” Biss said. “However, I think that’s the case for the PSAC as a whole. Even just allowing us back on the court will present challenges, but from what I hear, they’re exploring different options and doing whatever they can to get us back out there.” With the extra time on his hands, Biss has used this unusual situation to continue to grow his game. He noted that when he came to SU, Coach Chris Fite wanted to see him
improve on his three-point shooting. That paid off as he shot .403 % from behind the arc last season. But this season, Biss is more focused on his leadership capabilities. In a time when coming together is most important, Biss wants to provide that for his team. He has done it in the past and he knows he can continue. “I feel I’m in a similar leadership position as last year,” Biss said. “But like any year, this is a new team and my job is to bring us together and play as much as a team as possible.” The Raiders will not see the court until the New Year at the earliest and the coming months will be crucial to the team’s success moving forward. After suffering the heartbreaking loss in the PSAC finals, Biss is hungry to capture that conference title. And with him at the helm, the Raiders’ chances are as good as any. “That loss was tough to swallow, but we’re using it as motivation going forward,” Biss added. “Like I said earlier, this is a new team and I’m excited to get to know them better, build that team chemistry, and go to work and see what we can accomplish together as a group.”
Photos courtesy of Bill Smith/ SU Sports Info. Jake Biss finished his junior campaign 15.9 points, 4.4. assists and 4.0 rebounds per game.
Biss helped the Raiders to a 24-7 (18-4 PSAC) record last season and along the way earned his fair share of accoldades. His top achievement was 2019-20 PSAC Eastern Division Athlete of the Year.
Seth Grove Stadium gets new turf
Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate
SU Student Government Association Field and David See Field are both getting new turf for the first time since 2010. The new turf will be Astroturf surfaces. Isaiah Snead
Asst. Sports Editor
Shippensburg University student-athletes will return to new turf when sports resume. Officials began construction Tuesday at Robb Sports Complex/David See Field and SU Student Association Field at Seth Grove Stadium to replace the turf of the fields. Both fields will be having the artificial turf removed and will both be replaced with new Astroturf surfaces. Robb Sports Complex is the primary home for both field hockey and lacrosse and is called David See Field when soccer games are played on the field. Seth Grove Stadium is home to the football and track and field teams and is also used for other events including the PIAA track-and-
field championships. The last turf replacement was in 2010, according to officials. “We got to the point in the lifespan of the current surfaces where it was time to make the change,” said SU Director of Athletics Jeff Michaels. “The most important aspect of any facility work that we do is to provide improvements that benefit our student-athletes.” Michaels added that the replacement is a great development for student-athletes and looks forward to seeing the projects completed over the next two months. The turf is expected to be completed at both stadiums in two months and fans can view progress of the construction at Seth Grove Stadium via the ABC 27 weather camera that is installed at the stadium.
Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate The projects are set to take about two months, according to SU Athletics Director Jeff Michaels.
E2
THE SLATE
October 13, 2020