PASSHE programs in danger, B1
ACT reveals quilt for justice, C1
Broadway closes until June 2021, D1
Former SU coach lands new job, E1
@ShipUSlate Tuesday
Wednesday
73/55
79/55
The Slate @ShipUSlate
Please recycle
Reporting truth. Serving our community.
Volume 64 No. 9
Diversity Week educates campus Noel Miller News Editor
The vision of a single student has become an entire week set aside each semester to celebrate the many cultures and aspects of diversity on the Shippensburg University campus. As a sophomore, Lance Hines-Butts wanted to see the SU campus community and the Shippensburg community come together to celebrate their diversity. While the very first Diversity Week was held during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, Hines-Butts and Lucas Everidge worked with the SU administration, students, faculty and staff to make it happen. Each day covered a different aspect of diversity and had expert speakers from on and off campus leading the lectures and events. Students were also included in many of the panels to share their experience with the different types of diversity on campus. The first day, Oct. 12, celebrated gender and sexuality, Oct. 13 focused on racial diversity and Oct. 14 was about ability diversity. Oct. 15 was centered on political and religious diversity and Oct. 16 celebrated ethnic diversity. See “DIVERSITY,” A2
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
Officials announce anti-racism institute Erica Donohue Guest Contributor
Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate
Lance Hines-Butts, one of the Diversity Week visionaries, addresses the crowd at the diversity celebration event Saturday. The celebration had foodtrucks with dishes from diffrent cultures and a cultural music mix.
ShipVotes seeks to lift student absence penalties for election Noel Miller News Editor
As Election Day nears, students are looking for ways to get out to the polls. One campus group, ShipVotes, is campaigning to have professors lift absence penalties to further encourage students to vote. ShipVotes is a campus group that works to help get students registered and educated on the importance of voting. Siara Gutierrez, a ShipVotes student member, voiced concerns at the latest President’s Hour event about how some students may not be able to get to the polls if they will be penalized for missing classes. Gutierrez asked the panel at President’s Hour if the administration could require professors to lift absence penalties on Election Day. Students who work, have other obligations or have to drive home to vote may find it hard to get to the polls during a school day. Shippensburg University Chief Diversity Officer Stephanie Jirard said the administration would not instruct professors to lift their absence penalties because the university believes in academic freedom. Jirard explained the executive administration is “in no position to tell professors whether or not to excuse students.” According to Gutierrez, she feels the ad-
ministration did not take the proper time to consider the question and did not ask any questions about the idea. The panel at President’s Hour attended virtually and some students attended in person including Gutierrez. Students with questions had to type them into the Zoom chat and Gutierrez said she was not able to ask anything else after getting a response from the panel. Gutierrez hopes that the administration could encourage professors to lift penalties if they cannot require the removal of absence penalties. Administration officials said that a university can only cancel classes if the reason pertains to health and safety, according to Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) requirements. Kim Garris, SU chief external relations officer said SU President Laurie Carter has reached out to the state system about allowing universities to have a day off on election days. “ShipVotes has done an amazing job of informing and educating students and the campus community regarding the importance of registering,” Garris said. Asking for the administration to require lifting penalties, was not the first effort ShipVotes has made to reach this goal. See “ELECTION,” A2
Shippensburg University officials announced the new Anti-Racism Institute at the university in a press release. Officials created the program to continue the conversation of the national racial awakening. Racism has become a topic of daily conversation throughout the country, and SU wanted a place to have this conversation. The Anti-Racism Institute (ARI) at Shippensburg University is focused on facilitating student engagement, scholarly research and academic enrichment regarding the subject of race, according the university press release. Several SU faculty members supported the idea. The initial directors of the project are Jamonn Campbell, professor of psychology; Alison Dagnes, a political science professor; Diane Jefferson, director of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA); and Stephanie Jirard, chief diversity officer. The goals came from Carter’s vision to have one
central location to educate students, faculty and staff, Jirard said. Officials want to invite students to research, get scholarly publications and have students and faculty be able to go to conferences to present their work. “Shippensburg University has a long history of talking about race relations in America because government studies, state federal and local, show in every area of American life housing, education, healthcare, employment, criminal justice, there is a racial disparity. There is a difference of how people live based on race.” Jirard said SU plans to partner with other schools and historically Black colleges and universities aiming to end the racial divide and barriers in America. Officials want to provide students and faculty the ability to research issues. Jirard said they want to reach out and partner with others in the community, like Franklin and Cumberland counties to start that discussion. See “ANTI-RACISM,” A2
Glo Celebration ends Diversity Week activities
Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate
The final Diversity Week activity was “Glo Celebration featuring DJ Rictor,” which celebrated different backgrounds through dance and music. The goal of the event was to bring people together for a celebration and appreciation of musical and cultural diversity, according to ship.edu.
A2
THE SLATE
October 20, 2020
NEWS
October 20, 2020 From “ANTI-RACISM,” A1
“Where we are politically, we can’t even get to the table if racism actually exists in the country,” she said. “We are not going to solve any problems if we can’t sit down and listen to each other and hear why the people believe and feel the way they do so we can find some common ground.” In the future, Jirard said the goal is to have people be able to comfortably talk about issues. They want to be able to have students
and faculty be able take part and make a change within our campus Jirard said. Angelica Knight, an SU senior, said she is happy to see the university raising awareness. “As a community, we have to be able to be comfortable with the uncomfortable,” Knight said. Officials are working on getting a space and structure formalized and then plan to reach out to the Shippensburg community to get more involved.
A3
Your World Today
Commentary: Photographers need access to accurately capture humanity
Weather Forecast Tuesday
Thursday
Saturday
73/55
79/55
70/45
Wednesday
Friday
Sunday
79/55
73/57
57/46
From “DIVERSITY,” A1
Saturday concluded Diversity Week as “Diversity Celebration Day,” which had several food trucks with different cultural foods. Officials also included cultural music and the histories of the available foods. The event expressed unity with the breaking of bread, officials said. Hines-Butts and Everidge led this event to close out the week. “I am grateful, I am very grateful and blessed,” Hines-Butts said after planning and executing the inaugural week. “It was hard work put in, blood sweat and tears.” Everidge said he was proud of the university and the campus. The attendees’ genuine curiosity and arriving with open minds was beautiful to see, Everidge said. In addition to lectures and panels, several events were also held during the week including “A Quilt to Cover Us All,” presented by the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) and the Ask. Communicate. Teach Tolerance. committee (ACT). Officials unveiled the quilt
Friday. For more details about the event, check out the Ship Life section. Hines-Butts said he enjoyed every day of Diversity Week but one of his favorites was the very first day. Starting off the week was exciting for Hines-Butts and important to Diversity Week. “The first day of history, the first day that started it and it will go on forever,” he said. While the initial vision for Diversity Week was to unite the campus and Shippensburg community, its debut was localized to solely the campus due to the coronavirus pandemic. Diversity Week will have more people joining the event in the future which “will result in a more diverse Diversity Week,” Everidge said. Hines-Butts hopes to get the Shippensburg community involved in the spring through recognition although they cannot come onto campus next semester. For more information about Diversity Week and to see some of the recorded events and panels visit ship.edu/about/diversity/diversity_week/.
State Police Briefs Man cited for disorderly conduct Pennsylvania State Police responded to a report around 2:45 p.m. Oct. 15 at South Conestoga Drive in Shippensburg Township. Police said two males were arguing with each other. One man was arrested and cited for disorderly conduct. Police respond to report of drug possession
Shippensburg man charged in domestic altercation State Police were called to investigate a domestic altercation on Oct. 16 around 7:30 p.m. at Colton Drive, Southhampton Township. According to reports, no one was injured. Charges were filed against a 37-year-old Shippensburg man.
Read more at theslateonline.com The group originally began a petition and were able to get 160 students to sign, according to Gutierrez. David Monaghan, a faculty lead at ShipVotes and SU sociology professor, agreed with Jirard’s statement that the administration does not have the power to require professors to lift absence penalties. However, Monaghan said he hopes in the future that the administration will cancel classes on Election Day. He noted that this should have been done if the semester were not already shortened. ShipVotes thinks the administration should exhibit more leadership in the matter and encourage maximum student voter turn-
I am a nerd for journalism-related movies and documentaries. I love seeing how large, historical situations played out in the media world and learning about the issues others face in this industry. Over the weekend, I watched a documentary about Pete Souza, a White House photographer during the Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama presidencies. “The Way I see It,” combines Souza’s photos, reflections on his experiences and Instagram posts into an almost two-hour visual experience that details what is it like to be a “fly on the wall” at the White House. As Chief White House photographer, Souza captured anything and everything that happened. Souza’s photos are works of art — they caught the highs, lows and everything in between of Obama’s presidency. Whether you liked Obama’s politics and poli-
out, Monaghan said. Monaghan is working with the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculty (APSCUF) to encourage professors to lift their penalties. APSCUF has passed a resolution “strongly encouraging faculty to work with students who may need to miss class to vote,” Monaghan said. Outside of this APSCUF and ShipVotes have no power to require professors to lift penalties. The university encourages everyone to participate in their civic life, Garris said. In addition, the flexibility of mail-in voting for Pennsylvania and Maryland residents takes into account busy schedules of those like students and educators, according to Garris.
same practice for a lot of leaders, both at the local and national levels. We are used to seeing the “lineup” photo with officials all standing together in a line. Well, maybe not this year, but remember the world pre-COVID-19. As a photographer, I understand that sometimes the photos that need to be taken are organized, official and posed. We need these types of photos. But photography is also about capturing moments, expressing emotions and telling stories. I believe candid photos are the best type of photos because they truly capture the person as they are — not posed while saying “Cheeeeeeeeeese.” While some officials at all levels dismiss these photos as unnecessary or as points of weakness, they are very important to their roles as leaders. Our leaders should be open and transparent whenever possible. A simple photo of someone playing a board game or watching the Super Bowl goes a long way in creating a bond. The over-planned and scripted photos and videos do not convey the needed emotion. Let those who you serve see you as you are. We often forget but must remember that our leaders are indeed just like us.
Talks on critical election legislation in Pennsylvania stall Marc Levy
Police responded to a report of drug possession around 2:30 p.m. Oct. 15. on Airport Road in Shippensburg Township. A bag with white residue was found. Police are continuing to investigate.
From “ELECTION,” A1
Hannah Pollock Editor-in-Chief
cies or not, his understanding of the need to allow access for staff photographers is vitally important to history. Souza emphasizes that Obama and his administration members understood the need for access. Souza’s photos captured every emotion from every event. From the tense moments in the Situation Room during Operation Neptune Spear (the killing of Osama Bin Laden), to joyous children’s visits to the oval office, Souza documented everything. By allowing Souza to photograph meetings and special events — both happy and sad — Obama shed a human light on the office. As Souza says in the documentary, we build up our president and the office the person holds. By capturing those emotional moments — both big and small — the photos humanize the president. It is these photos of the president hugging a grieving family, playing with the family pet or sharing a moment with a family member that makes us realize, “They are just like me.” As I was watching the documentary, I reflected on the last almost-four years of the Trump presidency. Most of the photos released by the White House officials seem posed, superficial, inauthentic and sometimes over-planned. This is the
Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Closed-door talks on legislation seen as crucial to producing a prompt election result in the presidential battleground state of Pennsylvania appeared stuck Thursday between the Democratic governor and the Legislature’s House Republican majority. In a statement to The Associated Press, Gov. Tom Wolf’s office said an offer extended in recent days to House Republican leaders has been effectively rejected, now less than three weeks before Election Day. “At the time, that deal was not sufficient for House Republicans, and since then, the administration has not heard back,’’ spokesperson Lyndsay Kensinger said in a statement. House Republicans did not dispute that. A spokesperson for House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, said Thursday that the caucus continues to seek separate provisions in any election-related legislation, provisions
that Wolf has threatened to veto. Senate Republican majority leaders have remained silent. The 11th-hour fight is happening in the shadow of President Donald Trump’s claims at a recent rally near Harrisburg that the only way he can lose Pennsylvania to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is if Democrats cheat, a claim he also made in 2016’s election. Wolf’s offer involved a matter of prime importance to county election officials: giving them at least a few days before Election Day to process what could be 3 million or more mail-in ballots to get them ready to tabulate as soon as polls close. Such a provision would speed up the vote count, ensuring that the vast majority of ballots are tabulated within hours after polls close, and give it more public credibility, county officials say. Doing nothing risks a dragged-out vote count, possibly leaving the election result in doubt for days after polls close, drawing lawsuits and claims of election fraud in the high-stakes presiden-
tial election. The governor’s offer also added security requirements for the drop boxes that many counties — particularly heavily populated and Democratic-leaning counties — are using to help collect mail-in ballots from voters. House Republican legislation passed last month included a three-day head start for counties on processing ballots. But it also carried measures that Wolf opposes and that align with litigation pressed by Trump’s campaign in state and federal courts. Those include lifting the county residency restriction on party or campaign representatives who observe inside polling places and effectively banning drop boxes. Trump’s campaign has said that processing ballots before Election Day “must, at the very least, be a transparent process with a poll watcher in the room to ensure all rules are followed.’’ House Republicans also oppose a court-ordered three-day post-election window for counties to accept and count mailed-in ballots.
Ride to the Polls Pick Up Times Blue Line
7:42 a.m. 8:27 a.m. 9:12 a.m. 9:57 a.m. 10:42 a.m. 11:27 a.m. 12:12 p.m.
12:57 p.m. 1:42 p.m. 2:27 p.m. 3:12 p.m. 3:57 p.m. 4:42 p.m.
Red Line
7:32 a.m. 8:17 a.m. 9:02 a.m. 9:47 a.m. 10:32 a.m. 11:17 a.m. 12:02 p.m.
12:47 p.m. 1:32 p.m. 2:17 p.m. 3:02 p.m. 3:47 p.m. 4:32 p.m.
Additional Bus
3 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 4 p.m 4:30 p.m. 5 p.m.
5:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
B1
Opinion
The Slate Speaks IUP’s new directives potentially challenge journalism education Across the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), schools are making decisions to help fight the financial challenges higher education institutions face. Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) President Michael Driscoll announced “restructuring” for the university which includes combining colleges and potentially discontinuing majors. According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the changes would take effect in fall 2021. The Post-Gazette reported that other academic college and program restructuring is
not finalized, but some programs and departments will be merged, discontinued or placed into a moratorium. Though this seems inconvenient for students currently attending IUP to study journalism, IUP is offering the students “teach out” plans to finish their degrees. “For any students in programs that may be discontinued, we pledge to develop ‘teach out’ plans to allow them to finish their IUP degrees with the quality educational experiences we have promised to them,” Driscoll said in a statement, according to the Post-Gazette.
IUP officials said they will also invest in some areas, primarily STEM fields, and will base programs on strength and student/employer demand. Mariama Mansaray started a petition on change.org calling for abandonment of the university potentially eliminating the department. Mansaray is encouraging the readymade solution to merge the Journalism & Public Realtions Department with the Communications Media Department. “This merger would address a number of admittedly crucial issues, such as improv-
Commentary :
Commentary: Ice Cube’s
Adam Friscia Staff Columnist
Hip hop legend Ice Cube is no stranger to controversy. So when news broke that he was advising the Trump administration on their empowerment plan for African Americans, dissension ensued. The drama began on Oct. 13 when Trump’s senior advisor Katrina Pierson tweeted, “Shoutout to @icecube for his willingness to step up and work with @realDonaldTrump Administration to help develop the #PlatinumPlan.” The plan referenced by Pierson is an economic package recently unveiled by the Trump campaign. Among its highlights, the Platinum Plan pledges to “increase access to capital in Black communities by almost $500 billion.” Reaction to Pierson’s tweet was swift with many expressing outrage that Ice Cube was abetting Trump’s staff. An outspoken advocate for the Black community, Ice Cube’s perceived alliance with the president was shocking. However, those familiar with the recording artist should not be surprised. For months, Ice Cube has been promoting, “A Contract with Black America.” Crafted by Darrick Hamilton, Kirwan Institute executive director, the CWBA is a 22-page socio-economic
Matthew Unger Staff Columnist
We are only two weeks away from Election Day, and while the big race on everybody’s mind is definitely the presidential race, there are many other interesting races going on as well — especially for the Senate. Currently, the Republican Party has control of the United States Senate with 53 seats to the Democratic Party’s 45 seats (there are two independents). But, this could all change by January of next year. There are multiple tight races that have really been getting a lot of attention. One is the South Carolina Senate race between incumbent Lindsey Graham (R) and challenger Jaime Harrison (D). In his final quarter of his campaign, Harrison raised a whopping $57 million, according to CBS News. In fact, Graham acknowledged Harrison’s massive money take in when he started to beg his supporters for more money while on a Fox News segment. Yikes! The last time that South Carolina elected a Democrat as a senator was back in 1998. But, with Harrison’s massive cash inflow and the fact that both he and Graham are neck and neck in some polls, are good signs for Democrats looking to
Where’s your voice? •
•
Shippensburg University students, staff, faculty, administrators and affiliated people are welcome to submit letters to the editor for publication. Letters must be no more than 300 words and may not contain derogatory language or messages of hate or discrimination.
•
The Slate may reject letters for any reason.
•
Letters become property of The Slate.
•
Letters without a name and title (affiliation to SU) will not be accepted.
•
Letters should be sent to The Slate one week prior to the day of publication. Late letters may be accepted but published the next week.
Disclaimer •
The views and opinions expressed in this section are those of the writer and not of The Slate or University.
•
The unsigned staff editorial, “The Slate Speaks,” represents the views and opinions of The Slate as an organization. Participating editors help shape the staff editorial.
Democrats
can win back Senate in November
controversial pairing with Trump blueprint intended for bipartisan review. Never one to shy away from conflict, Ice Cube responded to the backlash in an Oct. 14 tweet. “Facts: I put out the CWBA. Both parties contacted me. Dems said we’ll address the CWBA after the election. Trump campaign made some adjustments to their plan after talking to us about the CWBA,” Ice Cube wrote. A day later, Ice Cube bolstered his defense in a series of tweets insisting, “Black progress is a bipartisan issue.” He added, “I will advise anybody on the planet who has the power to help Black Americans close the enormous wealth gap.” Unfortunately, Ice Cube’s rationale is sullied by Trump’s behavior. Throughout his presidency, Trump has consistently exploited racial tensions for political gain. Notably, he referred to the Black Lives Matter movement as a “symbol of hate” in a July 1 tweet and remains hesitant to denounce white supremacy. But despite his dubious record, Trump is seeking to expand his support within the Black community. And he must. According to Pew Research Center data, Trump only received 8% of the African American vote in 2016. Is Trump’s sudden interest in Black voters genuine? Probably not, but why shouldn’t Ice Cube speak with him? I mean, how can race relations in America improve if only one side of the audience is engaged? And for all the anger being levied at Ice Cube, shouldn’t Democratic leadership share in the criticism? Remember, Joe Biden’s team declined to act on Ice Cube’s proposal. Regardless, vilifying Ice Cube for seeking bipartisan support does not advance racial equality. If political pundits spend less time posturing and more time communicating, perhaps real progress could be made.
ing faculty-to-student ratios, enhancing the economic efficiency of the new department, ensuring an increase in student enrollment, and vastly elevating the entire experience of students in this combined and comprehensive course of study,” Mansaray said in the petition’s description. Officials must remember to keep the students at the top of their priorities. In a time in which journalists are so needed in society, it is a poor choice to reduce or cut journalism programs.
win a senator from the Palmetto State. In Kentucky, there is another race between incumbent senator Mitch McConnell (R) and challenger Amy McGrath (D), a former marine fighter pilot. McGrath’s campaign, like Harrison’s, has a bigger cash lead over the Republican incumbent McConnell, with her taking in $47 million to McConnell’s $37 million, according to CBS News. But, McConnell is very popular in Kentucky and has represented them in the Senate since 1985. McGrath’s larger cash sum does prove one thing — Democrats in Kentucky are especially excited to see her take on the incumbent. There is also a Senate race in Arizona that has been in the news. Former astronaut Mark Kelly (D), who is the husband of former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, is running against incumbent Sen. Martha McSally (R). Currently, Kelly is leading McSally 51% to 41%, according to a CBS News poll. With these three races heating up and the massive early voting, I definitely would not be surprised if Democrats flip the Senate in 2020. In fact, I would be shocked if they did not. But there are a few other races where Democrats seem in trouble, such as the Alabama Senate race between incumbent Doug Jones (D) and challenger Tommy Tuberville (R). However, in order to have the votes needed to break a tie in the Senate, Democrats only need to win three Senate seats if Joe Biden is elected and four seats if Donald Trump is re-elected. I think that this is attainable for the Democrats with their massive money intake by some candidates and high poll numbers for others. By January, I think we will be seeing a Democratic-controlled Senate.
Management slate.ship@gmail.com Hannah Pollock...................Editor-in-Chief ........................................Managing Editor News slatenews@gmail.com Noel Miller....................................... Editor
THESLATEONLINE.COM Reporting truth. Serving our community. Contact Us slate.ship@gmail.com (717) 477-1778 Mailing Address The Slate - Shippensburg University CUB Box 106 1871 Old Main Drive Shippensburg, PA 17257 Office Location Ceddia Union Building Room 250 Shippensburg University Adviser Dr. Michael Drager About The Slate The Slate is a weekly, volunteer, student-run newspaper published by the Gettysburg Times. Its print edition is published on Tuesdays and its website, theslateonline.com, is maintained 24/7. Weekly meetings are held on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. in The Slate office. All are welcome to attend, but we ask you notify management ahead of time. Staff positions are held on either a one semester or one academic-year term. There are no term limits. The Slate hires new members throughout the year based on its needs. The Slate does not
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.
Multimedia Carmine Scicchitano.....................Director Heather Ross...............Staff Photographer Copy theslatecopy@gmail.com Jacqueline Cavalere.........................Editor Public Relations slate.circpr@gmail.com Olivia Faenza................................Director Paige Shope.........................Asst. Director Brady Cannizzaro.................Asst. Director Business/Advertising slate.adv@gmail.com Nathan Farr..................................Manager General Staff Emma Tennant.................................Writer Bailey Cassada................................Writer Adam Beam.....................................Writer Julianna Vaughan.............................Writer Blake Garlock...................................Writer Austin Trevino..................................Writer Robyn Klawitter................................Writer Jack Ansley......................................Writer Grace Gilfert.....................................Writer Hiring in all sections -Asst. editors -Writers -Photographers -Asst. directors Copyright Notice All content on theslateonline.com and in the newspaper is property of The Slate, unless otherwise stated. No content may be taken, copied, retrieved, used or published elsewhere for any reason, unless where the law dictates it is acceptable. A signed and dated agreement must be made for Slate property to be used elsewhere, and attribution to The Slate and the appropriate staff member(s) must be given.
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
Question of the Week: What makes you smile the most?
Justin Persicketti, senior “I would say when I get a good grade on a test or [in] a class.”
Abby Durand, sophomore “Probably hanging out with my friends and [actor] Tom Holland.”
Ship Life
ACT reveals quilt to cover SU campus from discrimination and ignorance
Chaela Williams
Asst. Ship Life Editor
Rain could not stop the Shippensburg University community from coming out to support inclusivity and strength in turbulent times during the quilt reveal celebration at Gilbert Hall on Oct. 16. The Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) and the ACT Committee collaborated to create a project to showcase the spirit of unity and the fight for justice at SU. Together, the organizations designed a quilt as a symbol of unity, wanting SU to be a safe, warm place for students of different backgrounds to work together. “To me, this whole unveiling of the quilt is representation of everything coming together on campus and making a commitment to make [SU] a more inclusive place and [a] healthier, safer campus,” student Ramses Ovalles said. It took five days to complete the quilt, featuring different pieces of fabric from several organizations on campus, including Greek Life, Student Government Association (SGA), residence halls etc., pledging to be
Guest Contributor
Kanyiah McMillan, freshman “I like to smile about flowers. when someone gives me flowers I smile instantly.”
Theodore Haas, sophomore “Hanging out with friends; I can hang out with them at any given time and it is always a good time.”
Heather Ross/The Slate
SU student Ramses Ovalles speaks on the importance of standing against racism and discrimination at SU. “To me, this whole unveiling of the quilt is representation of everything coming together,” Ovalles said. more inclusive. “The quilt means family to me,” student Tyler Hill said. “I think it is much needed [especially] with the national division that is going on at the moment. It is the time to love one another and be there for one another.” SU President Laurie Carter made an appearance at the celebration, showing admiration for the work done on the quilt and being proud
of the SU community for trying to defeat systematic racism and discrimination. “We have champions that are here to support and those contributions have created a blanket of protection through the years that [will] serve to cover us as we walk through these challenging times,” Carter said. The event’s facilitator, Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) Direc-
tor Diane Jefferson, was at a loss for words as she was overwhelmed by the love and work students put into making quilts and how the community is ready to make a change. Jefferson gave special thanks to SGA’s Association Vice President of External Affairs Lance Hines-Butts, Chief Diversity Officer Stephanie Jirard and to the students who worked on the
quilt for their contributions to the cause. In addition to the quilt reveal, MSA proudly asked attendees to take a tour of the newly renovated Gilbert Hall, which features the only mural on campus. The quilt will be placed at Gilbert Hall as a representation of unity and protection from injustices for years to come.
5 Halloween movies and shows to watch on Netflix right now Deanna Driscoll
Sarah Liebarman, sophomore “Playing video games with my friends until 3 in the morning and going to Waffle House.”
C1
This year, Halloween is going to look a little different for everyone. The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has led to restrictions on travel and social interaction around the world that will affect the way Halloween is celebrated. Social distancing will force some to not participate in the festivities at all. Whether you plan to hand-out candy or not, you can still celebrate the spookiest time of the year while staying safe. Here are five Halloween movies to enjoy in your holiday binge session: 1.“The Haunting of Bly Manor” “The Haunting of Bly Manor” is a Netflix original about a young governess, Dani, who is hired by a man, Henry, to teach and take care of his niece and nephew. The governess settles into her new home and quickly realizes that all is not right with the children who both act very unusual. The story intertwines Dani’s story with the previous governess, Rebecca. A truly captivating story just as its predecessor (“The Haunting of Hill House”), “The Haunting of Bly Manor” is a Halloween must-watch. 2.“1BR” “1BR” is a movie following Sarah, a woman who thinks she lucked out with her new one-bedroom apartment. Soon, she begins hearing loud noises and her cat goes missing, among other strange events involving her neighbors. For those who love to be
scared on Halloween, “1BR” is one to check off the list this year. 3. “Hubie Halloween” “Hubie Halloween” is about the eccentric Hubie Dubois, who is the subject of constant ridicule in his hometown of Salem, Massachusetts. On Halloween, Hubie’s bullies start going missing and he spends the night working to save them as he monitors the Halloween festivities. 4. “The Silence” “The Silence” is a movie about creatures called vesps that hunt anything that makes noise. The main character Shipka is a deaf teenager seeking shelter with her family while a cult tries to kidnap Ally repeatedly. For those who want a classic apocalyptic movie, “The Silence” is perfect for Halloween. 5. “Rebecca” “Rebecca” is another adaption of a book by Daphne du Maurier. Like the book, “Rebecca” is about a young woman Mrs. de Winter living in the shadow of her new husband’s dead first wife, the late Rebecca. Mrs. de Winter spends her time trying to figure out what made Rebecca so loved and how she really died. Lovers of the book itself and previous adaptations of the classic novel are sure to add this movie to their Halloween binge list. Even if you usually watch the classics on Halloween be sure to give some new films and shows a chance this year.
Photo courtesy of Daisy Anderson/Pexels
If you are on a budget this year, you can still participate in Halloween. Check out these easy Halloween costumes that will not break the bank.
7 Easy Halloween Costumes Morgan Barr
Asst. Ship Life Editor
Whether you are handing out candy with your grandma or dressing up for fun with your roommates, having a good Halloween costume doe not have to be hard or expensive. Here are a few ideas to get some laughs and not spend a fortune this Halloween. The Hunters & The Hunted Perfect for a duo or group costume. Grab some camo from your closet, or a cheap camo shirt from Walmart and pose as a hunter this Halloween. For extra fun, have someone dress as a deer. Use an eyeliner pencil to create the facial features of a deer and then buy a pair of $1 antlers at Walmart (or make your own!). Smarty Pants
This one is guaranteed to get a few laughs. Grab a bag of Smarty’s candy from your local store and tape them to your choice of pants. Witch If you are looking for a spookier option, a witch is an easy classic. Rock some all black and pop on a cheap witch hat and prepare to get spooky. Rockstar A classic college costume, rockstars are a fun, simple way to dress up for Halloween. Grab your favorite band tee or purchase a band tee from Walmart (about $10) and pick your favorite pair of slashed up jeans. To make the costume your own, add in face makeup or accessories. Frat Boy Group your dad’s Polo shirt, khaki shorts and snapback to become an offical frat boy. Do not forget to add the sunglasses to complete the
look. M & M’s For this costume all you need is a colored tee and matching socks. This costume is great if you and your group of friends want to match. Tourists A final easy option is tourists. Break out those fanny packs from your mom’s closet, pop on some sunglasses, a Hawaiian shirt and a bucket hat and you are good to go. While Halloween may look different this year because of COVID-19 (view the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines for having a safe and healthy Halloween) there are still plenty of ways to celebrate the holiday safely. Find a way that works for you and enjoy this spooky season.
SHIP LIFE
C2
October 20, 2020
Slater of the Month: Carmine Scicchitano Hannah Pollock Editor-in-Chief
Hannah Pollock/The Slate
Scicchitano can be found around campus with his camera in his hand capturing a newsworthy photo.
The Slater of the Month for September is a staff member who can be seen all around campus with a camera in hand. Multimedia Director Don Carmine Scicchitano earned this recognition for his dedication to The Slate and capturing life in Shippensburg through his camera work. Scicchitano first joined The Slate in September 2019 as a staff photographer and quickly found a home in the organization. Scicchitano was promoted to assistant multimedia editor by the end of fall 2019 and became the multimedia director in spring 2020. The Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, native is a communication/journalism major with an emphasis in electron-
ic media. Scicchitano is also involved in Shippensburg University’s student-run television station, SUTV. He decided to also join The Slate to become a well-rounded journalist. “In today’s industry you can’t just do one thing well,” Scicchitano said. “Being a part of The Slate I can work on my photography and videography, along with some added writing and editing.” Scicchitano takes photos and creates videos for every section. He also writes for The Slate to further broaden and develop his talents. His favorite aspect of photography is seeing the finished product. “When you shoot in manual mode, sometimes you will not always get a good shot,” Scicchitano said. “But that feeling when you do get it and you see it on the back of
the camera, it’s just pure unexplainable joy.” Scicchitano has made a name for himself — albeit hard to spell for some. He took home an honorable mention in the sports photo category for a photo from an SU vs. Indiana University of Pennsylvania swim meet at the 2020 Keystone Media Awards. Scicchitano’s said his favorite assignments are sports events and concerts at the H. Ric Luhr’s Performing Arts Center. “The fast-paced action only allows for a second to capture each moment, so the constant action is just fun,” Scicchitano said. Outside of sports coverage, Scicchitano can be found searching for breaking news or scheduled events around campus with his camera and lenses in hand. When asked what his fa-
vorite camera brand was, Scicchitano said he mainly uses Nikon or JVC cameras. “But in reality, whatever camera I’m holding is my favorite — no matter what brand,” Scicchitano said. Scicchitano always goes above and beyond what his position title calls for. He is a devoted staff member and is always willing to lend a helping hand to someone in need. Whether it is a camera and Photoshop tutorial, delivering extra newspapers, or listening and talking with someone about their day, Scicchitano is always there. He is an asset to The Slate as an organization and is a wonderful friend to his peers. Scicchitano hopes to someday work as a camera operator at a news station like WBRE Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton or CBS.
SU students talk politics at Diversity Week’s speed dating Chaela Williams
Asst. Ship Life Editor
Students listened to their peers as they discussed topics to find a common ground during Diversity Week’s political dating event at Shippensburg University’s hockey rink on Oct. 15. As political tensions continue to rise, Student Government Association (SGA) members Lance Hines-Butts and Lucas Everidge collaborated to create an event to spark a conversation between Democratic and Republican students without yelling and insults. SU political science professor Alison Dagnes hosted the event and encouraged participants to listen and learn from their differing political party in order to gain a more positive view on Ameri-
can politics. Dagnes wanted participants to express their opinions on controversial topics passionately without the fear of being challenged and disrespected. “Most of us are a little bit of everything and that is what diversity week is all about,” Dagnes said. “Because if we just identify as one thing [then] you are missing the rest of the entire enchilada.” Students spoke on topics such as gun control, systemic racism and climate change, agreeing and respectfully disagreeing with their partner. By the end of the conversation, both sides had to find a common ground by talking about similar interests that were non-political to show that both sides are the same.
Each side had five minutes on a topic equally before it was time for the democratic students to rotate to a new republican “date.” The event ran for an hour without any conflicts or drama with students learning how to accept differing opinions and to talk about heavy-hitting topics without aggression. “It is important to talk with people who might think differently than you,” Dagnes said. Political speed dating was one step to bring SU students together regardless of political party identity. Showing underneath all the intense political views that might tear others apart, people share similar common interests and goals .
Heather Ross/The Slate
Students were ready to understand different political views and come to a common ground at Diversity Week’s political speed dating event on Oct.15.
Recipe of the Week: Caramel Apple Cupcakes
Recipe and photo by Chaela Williams/The Slate
Ingredients: -1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour -1 cup finely chopped apples -1 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder -1 tsp ground cinnamon -1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg -1/4 teaspoon salt -1/4 cup unsalted butter, meted -1/4 cup vegetable oil -1/4 cup sugar -1/2 cup packed brown sugar -3/4 tsp vanilla extract -3 tablespoon of sour cream -2 large eggs -3/4 cup of milk
INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a cupcake pan with cupcake liners. 2. Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a medium-sized bowl and set aside. 3. Add all wet ingredients except for the milk in another bowl together with the sugars. Mix until well combined. 4. Add half of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix until combined. Slowly add the milk and mix until well combined. 5. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix just until well combined and smooth. Gently fold in the chopped apples. 6. Fill the cupcake liners and bake for 20-22 minutes. Serve with whip cream on top with caramel drizzle.
Scan here to Enter!
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
D1
A&E
File Photo/ The Slate
Touring Broadway groups like the cast of “Rent,” which stopped at Shippensburg University last year, are also impacted by the coronavirus.
The show must go on, just not this year, Broadway closed until 2021 Austin Trevino Staff Writer
With COVID-19 coronavirus still limiting large group gatherings, Broadway officials in New York, have decided to keep theaters closed through the remainder of 2020 and then some. Broadway has been a cornerstone for musical theater. Even those with no interest in musicals know the fame and bright lights of Broadway. With the coronavirus still ravaging New York, The Broadway League, the musical theaters’ governing body over Broadway shows, said theaters will remain closed until June 2021. During the league’s initial shutdown on March 12, they stressed that this type of extended closure might happen and that theaters would open when it was deemed safe. The initial shutdown was supposed only to last a month. Thirty-one shows were running when everything shut down, with several new performances in the preview stages. The Broadway Leagues’
decision does not come easy. It left many performers unemployed until they can safely return to work. Many seasoned Broadway performers have turned to teaching Zoom classes or doing digital performances to keep their own lights on. There are 97,000 jobs attached to Broadway, according to Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League. With many relying on the charity of others to get by right now. New York is cautious about fully reopening, especially in areas that draw high-volumes of tourists. Broadway itself is not ready to safely social distance even if it reopened. Many of the theaters feature narrow aisles and close seating, with an already limited seating capacity. A majority of those who attend Broadway musicals are over 65: a demographic at a large risk. There are also the problems with performers and stage crew coming and going each day and performing in front of large open crowds. If performers and stage directors
got the OK tomorrow, then it would still take several months to get a show-up and running. With all these difficulties, it may seem that there are no bright lights on Broadway right now, but there are those trying to make the wait a little less bleak for performers and audiences alike. Although there is no replacement for live theater for audiences, there have been multiple-stage recordings released this year for those stuck at home to enjoy. Shows like Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” getting a release on Disney+ earlier this year and Stephen Spielberg’s film adaptation of “West Side Story” that comes out in December. “The Actors Fund” has raised money in conjunction with “Broadway Cares” to help those working on Broadway and others in the entertainment business through donations and fundraisers. These organizations are doing their best but it is up to us, the audience, to be there when the lights turn on, and the curtain rises once again.
Commentary: TONY Award nominees 2020 Adam Beam Staff Writer
If any industry took a greater hit this year due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, it was certainly the theater industry. Broadway shut down all the way back in March and will now stay closed until June of 2021. Because of the closure many shows set to make their debut have been forced to push back or cancel all together, as well as shows like “Beetlejuice” and Disney’s “Frozen” not getting their proper final performances. However, the show will go on, as this year’s Tony Awards, which will be a virtual ceremony, announced its nominees. Broadway star James Monroe Iglehart, the original Genie in “Aladdin,” announced the nominees and spoke about his history with musical theater as well as promises that Broadway would return. The three musicals that led the nominations — in fact the only musicals that had any nominations — were “Jagged Little Pill,” “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” and “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.” This surprised many theater fans as many felt “The Lightning Thief” was robbed. All three shows secured nominations in every category, except one. Aaron Tveit who plays Christian in “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” was the only actor nominated for the lead actor in a musical category, meaning he wins the award by default. However, out of all the musicals nominated
it was the more dramatic “Jagged Little Pill” that ended with the most nominations — 15 in total — as it secured every nomination, excluding leading actor. This was followed by “Moulin Rouge! The Musical with 14 nominations, “Slave Play” with 12 and “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” with 12 nominations. While the musical nominees seemed slim, there were a surprising number of nominations in the play category with several shows snagging in only a few categories, while others swept for each one. The big plays to look out for are “Slave Play,” “The Inheritance,” “Sea Wall/A Life,” which stars nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal, and “Betrayal” starring nominated-actor Tom Hiddleston. Obviously, the nominations are very scarce as this year’s musical season was completely cut in half because of the coronavirus, leaving many shows in limbo as to when they would return. Some musicals are currently still up in the air including “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “Six,” which did have preview performances but were cancelled because of the pandemic. “The Music Man,” starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, and “Diana” will now premiere on Netflix, though a release date has not been set. If proven profitable, this could be a new age of musical pro-shots being purchased by streaming services, like “Hamilton” on Disney+. The Tony Awards will be a virtual affair, similar to the recent Emmy Awards, but officials have not announced a date.
Billboard Top 10 1. Savage Love (Laxed-Siren Beat) - Jawsh 365
6. Blinding Lights - The Weeknd
2. Dynamite - BTS
7. Rockstar - DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch
3. WAP - Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion
8. I Hope - Gabby Barrett feat. Charlie Puth
4. Mood - 24kGoldn feat. iann dior
9. Runnin - 21 Savage & Metro Boomin
5. Laugh Now Cry Later - Drake feat. Lil Durk
10. Mr. Right Now - 21 Savage & Metro Boomin
The Music Corner What has the A&E Editor Ryan been listening to this past week?
Songs
Boston
1. Amanda 2. Heartache Tonight 3. Get Lucky (feat. Pharrell Williams) 4. I Did It For You 5. Stayin’ Alive 6. Sway
Artists Michael Buble Daft Punk Tom Misch & Yusef Dayes Bee Gees Michael Buble
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 20, 2020
Commentary: How do the people of Paris feel about ‘Emily in Paris?’ Robyn Klawitter Staff Writer
Netflix’s original new series “Emily in Paris” has people all over the world talking, but not always in the best way. The show, created by “Sex and the City,” creator Darren Star, centers around Emily Cooper, played by Lily Collins, a girl from Chicago who is transferred to Paris through her job at a large marketing firm. Cooper does not speak any French and lives in the city while having to adjust as quickly as possible. The show follows her new life in Paris making friends, learning the language and furthering her career in the city of love. The city of love has a lot to say about this series though, and it is not all good. French critics are upset by the show’s lack of understanding of the variety of cultures France has to offer and the emphasis on French stereotypes. French people being lazy, rude, not showering very often, cheating on their significant others and only caring about sex are some of the stereotypes the show addresses. The fact that Cooper does not know any French and, at the beginning of the story, isn’t trying to learn the language also does not sit right with French natives. The show’s male lead, Lucas Bravo, who plays Emily’s love interest Gabriel, recently spoke out and agreed with these critiques. “We’re portraying clichés and we’re portraying one single vision of Paris. Paris is one of the most diverse cities in the world,” Bravo said in a Cosmopolitan interview. He went on to explain that while Paris is extremely diverse, every individual person sees Paris from a different perspective and this is the perspective Emily Cooper’s charac-
ter sees it through. During this time in the world, people need a positive escape from the difficult circumstances surrounding us all. “Emily in Paris” provides us with that escape. Being able to live vicariously through Emily’s character and her glamorous experiences in France is just the feel-good story people need right now. This is exactly what most of the citizens of France are also saying. Some say the series has allowed them to see Paris through a fresh set of eyes and they have fallen in love with their beautiful city all over again. While French critics are not too happy with the show so far, it is also important to consider that the series is only one season in so far. Bravo himself said that it would take more than a lifetime to see everything there is to see in France. People are often quick to “cancel” things before even giving them the chance to prove themselves. Hopefully “Emily in Paris” will be renewed for another season and give the creators of the show an opportunity to show us those other perspectives of France.
Photo courtesy of Instagram/ @emilyinparis
Commentary: The negative impact of celebrity weight loss Tyler Bachik
Guest Contributor
When people look at modern-day celebrities and the influence they hold, it can be difficult to truly grasp the impacts these stars have on their audiences. Whether it is spreading political messages, promoting their newest album or clothing line, there is always going to be a wide range of reactions. It is the harsh reality of being famous. But with that, a question arises: When does a celebrity’s influence become too powerful to the point where it can harm themselves or their audience? How do these stars balance their own appearance while ensuring their audience does not feel pressured or betrayed by their change? Two prominent celebrities, Rebel Wilson and Meghan Trainor, have used body positivity in the past to forward their careers. Wilson and Trainor, who have lost more than 30 pounds, respectively, are best known for using their larger figures to influence and inspire the younger generation. Wilson, who played Fat Amy in the “Pitch Perfect” franchise, would constantly use her weight and appearance to her advantage by making jokes about herself on camera. Wilson also used her presence on and off the big screen to show her fans that loving yourself for who you are is the most important thing. The same can be said about musician Meghan Trainor. Trainor, an American singer songwriter, rose to stardom after she released her hit single “All About that Bass.” The song, which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 100, focused primarily on messages regarding body positivity by telling listeners they are perfect no matter their shape or size. Trainor quickly gained a following and many looked up to her as an idol and spokeswoman for body-sensitive individuals.
It is easy to see why fans of both Wilson and Trainor are confused by their recent weight loss transformations. Of course, these two likely decided to lose weight for personal or health-related reasons, but some fans are not so supportive of this. Society has created a mindset where both men and women need to be perfect. But for many of Wilson and Trainor’s fans, they look up to them as a means of feeling included. It is rare that Hollywood or the music industry promotes anything other than the size zero hourglass figures. So these two essentially acted as the representation for many. In seeing them lose such a drastic amount of weight, fans were left feeling betrayed. Wilson and Trainor used their platform to show their audience that it is OK to be different and that conforming to society’s expectations is not necessary, yet they themselves go against those messages. In a way, it seemed almost hypocritical and many fans felt abandoned. On top of this, both women found their careers in jeopardy. Wilson now no longer has the body, which aided in her obtaining roles that suited her comedy-driven acting style. Moreover, Trainor has seen some spurts of success in her music but has shifted her focus toward movie soundtracks and seasonal releases. She is unfortunately no longer as musically prominent as she once was. Celebrities need to be aware of their audience and the messages they are promoting to them. Additionally, it is important that they stay true to what they preach and do not conform to the pressures that society can put on them. Celebrities are extremely influential, so whatever they say and do are substantially magnified. As cliché as it sounds, they need to know how to use their power and influence responsibly. Not only can their careers depend on it, but the mental and physical wellbeing of their fans as well.
Photo courtesy of Amazon Studios
Abrams and Reinhart walk together to school. “Chemical Hearts” is rated with a 62% on Rotten Tomatos and an audience score of 71%. The movie is rated R.
Review: ‘Chemical Hearts’ was dramatic, but so is high school Grace Gilfert Staff Writer
Many viewers have heard of the Netflix drama “Riverdale’s” Betty Cooper. Now get ready for “Chemical Hearts” Grace Town. The story involves a young girl who is a mysterious transfer student joined by Henry Page in creating the high school’s newspaper as his co-editor. Starring Austin Abrams as the timid Henry Page and our beloved Lili Reinhart as the angsty Town, this film is worth a watch. Reinhart portrayed Town and served as an executive producer on the set. “I hope that this shows people that my heart is really in film,” Reinhart told Entertainment Weekly. She wanted to “break out” of her role as Betty Cooper on “Riverdale” and that’s why she worked tirelessly on “Chemical Hearts.” Henry Page (Austin Abrams) is the lead in this adaptation of the novel “Our Chemical Hearts” by Krystal Sutherland.
From the opening lines, viewers see that Henry is a bit awkward, has a few great friends and wants to be a writer. However, whenever he sits down to write, it seems like nothing noteworthy has ever happened to him. The concept of a misunderstood teenager has been done countless times in Hollywood and can be impactful if executed right, but that’s not the case with “Chemical Hearts.” The advertisements for the movie are frivolous in comparison to the plot. From the start, Page is a bland but relatable character. However, Town isn’t likeable in the slightest. They meet through a mutual position at the high school newspaper. Viewers do not see her at her best until the end of the film, and so I am in the dark about why she leads on and lashes out at Page. I do not see how things fell apart for Town, so I do not like her as a character. She seems selfish to the naïve viewer. A self-absorbed character is the worst kind of character, so I am glad she does not portray our
lead. Nonetheless, “Chemical Hearts” is about Page and Town sharing a human experience. It is about being a teenager stuck in limbo and how it feels to grow close to someone for the first time. It’s about having your heart broken, which feels like the end of the world until it doesn’t anymore. Cinematic melodrama aside, Page learns how it feels to be willing to walk to the ends of the earth for someone who doesn’t care; while Town shows us that playing with hearts is a dangerous game. No one means to hurt anyone when it comes to love, but it happens. Page and Town teach us about making it out of adolescence alive, which is simpler for some more than others, but easy for none. Everything is a chemical. Everything feels bigger than it is. “Chemical Hearts” is now streaming on Amazon Prime TV. Students can purchase Amazon Prime for $6.50 a month.
Ask The Slate Staff What Broadway musical would The Slate staff like to see?
Staff Writer Robyn Klawitter would want to see “Dear Evan Hansen.”
Multimedia Director Carmine Scicchitano would want to see “Beetlejuice.”
Staff Writer Julianna Vaughan would want to see “Mean Girls.”
Asst. Ship Life Editor Morgan Barr would want to see “Phantom of the Opera.”
News Editor Noel Miller would want to see “Six.”
Public Relations Director Olivia Faenza would want to see “Newsies.”
SUTV Preview Follow SUTV on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for all segments throughout the semester and check out their website at SUTVNews.org.
Monday: Sports Wednesday: World News
Thursday: Ship News Friday: Weather and Entertainment
E1
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
Sports
Hall of Fame, E1
Baseball, E1
Renz shares experience of coaching during pandemic Christian Eby
Asst. Sports Editor
After joining the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks in May 2018, Anthony Renz never imagined two years down the road that he would be coaching during a worldwide pandemic. Renz, a former graduate assistant and former volunteer assistant coach for the Shippensburg University baseball team, is one month out of completing the 2020 season as the Redhawks hitting coach. The Redhawks are part of the American Association of Independent Baseball. Normally, the league consists of 12 teams but due to COVID-19 coronavirus concerns and state regulations, only six teams participated in the pandemic-ridden season. According to Renz, Redhawks left fielder Brennan Metzger coined the phrase early on, “We’re not going to be fearful; we’re going to be cautious.” Renz said the Redhawks used the phrase as motivation throughout the entire season and as a reminder to be as safe as possible. The American Association was one of a few professional leagues that took
place during the pandemic and thankfully, besides a few coronavirus cases, the season was a success. But with success came patience and dedication. Before the season began, Renz said all players and coaches were required to sign a waiver saying they understood the risks of participating in the 2020 campaign. Renz added that the league had a weekly testing routine in place. At the end of every week, Renz said all personnel would get a finger-prick, which was an antibody test. However, as testing advanced, the league moved toward throat and nasal swab testing. “With the antibody tests, if you tested negative, there would be no further testing,” Renz said. “But if you tested positive, that’s when you’d have the throat and nasal tests to truly see if you were COVID positive.” In addition to the testing, Renz and the Redhawks conquered other obstacles. Renz recalled changes in batting practice, on-field warmups and locker room presence. He also said that the team had daily temperature checks and wore masks when social distancing was not possible. And to make the
already unique situation even more unusual, the Redhawks shared their home stadium with another team. Because of travel restrictions across country borders, the Winnipeg Goldeyes, located in Canada, could not play any games at their home stadium. So, the American Association had its own version of “the bubble,” allowing both the Redhawks and Goldeyes to use Newman Outdoor Field as their home base. Despite all the bumps in the road, Renz said the baseball aspect of the game felt the same as years past. Even with the Redhawks limiting fan capacity to 50%, Renz said the atmosphere had the same energy, and nothing beat baseball under the lights. In Fargo, North Dakota, Renz said the Redhawks are “The professional baseball team.” He knew no matter how many fans filled the stands; the support would be identical, if not stronger, than previous seasons. “From a baseball setting, that was the most normal thing we had,” Renz said. “It was almost as if we didn’t have a worry when we were out there. It was a form of meditation
in a sense.” Life outside the baseball field was vastly different. Renz said everything from normal tasks to traveling from city to city, changed for the team. It was out of an abundance of caution — no one wanted to be the cause of a team outbreak. “Sometimes people forget that professional athletes and even coaches for that matter, live an everyday life outside of the game,” Renz said. “All we see as fans is that our team is playing from 7 to 10 o’clock and we just see them play. Most guys like going out and exploring the cities, and this year we didn’t have that.” In the end, Renz said he will never forget this experience. It was an experience that required integrity, willpower and commitment. But if a similar situation arose in the future, without a question, Renz already knows his decision. “I would do it a heartbeat,” he said. “I would have no worries or trepidations going into next season if we were in the same position. I’m ready for baseball and spring training if it started tomorrow.”
Photo submitted by Anthony Renz
Anthony Renz served as a graduate assistant at SU from fall 2016 to May 2018. He also was a volunteer assistant coach for the baseball team for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
2020 Athletics Hall of Fame Class to be announced Isaiah Snead
Asst. Sports Editor
Shippensburg University will be announcing the 2020 Athletics Hall of Fame class on Nov. 13 as part of Homecoming weekend. The class will be announced in a pre-produced video recognition posted at 12:30 p.m. to the SU Athletics Facebook and YouTube pages. The 35th annual induction ceremony will also be posted to the SU Athletics website along with a full press release. Due to the effects of coronavirus there will not be a ceremony held on campus to recognize the athletes. The recognition video will feature
messages from each inductee instead. Each 2020 inductee will be offered an opportunity to be recognized in person at the 2021 Hall of Fame ceremony. The 2019 Athletics Hall of Fame class featured Curtis Evans, Kelly Frick Herrmann, Chris Gicking, Amy Lynch Byrne, Bob McCurdy, and John Pacovsky. The athletes inducted into the Hall of Fame will receive a plaque with their photo and name on it to honor their achievement. There is an online form available to nominate athletes for the SU Athletic Hall of Fame on the Shippensburg Athletics website.
Photos courtesy of SU Sports Info.
The 35th annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place Homecoming weekend in a pre-recorded video posted to SU Athletics pages and SU Facebook. Homecoming is November 13 and 14.
Kelly Frick Herrmann class of 2005 is a two time NCAA First Team All-American in the javelin.
Chris Gicking class of 2000 graduated from SU holding more than 10 school football records.
E2
THE SLATE
October 20, 2020