The Slate 10-27-20

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Alumnus supports community, E1

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Volume 64 No. 10

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Officials redesign budget and finance standing rules Hannah Pollock Editor-in-Chief

Graphic courtesy of Student Government Association

Student groups can check this graphic to see if they are eligible for funding.

SGA votes in support of fall semester pass/fail option Blake Garlock Staff Writer

The Student Government Association (SGA) hosted a public meeting via Zoom Thursday afternoon.

Senators Skyler Walder and Danielle Williams were not present.

SGA President Stephen Washington opened the meeting by encouraging everyone to keep following COVID-19 coronavirus guidelines.

“We’re 10 weeks in,” Washington said. “We’ve made it very far, so let’s continue fol-

lowing the COVID-19 guidelines so we can have a better time in the spring.”

Senator Jordan Newsome-Little announced at the meeting that the Academic Affairs Committee met with Provost Tom Ormond on Oct. 15 to discuss giving students the pass/fail option for the fall 2020 semester. This option was available when the coronavirus pandemic forced the university to move online in the spring 2020 semester.

Newsome-Little said that she believes the pass/fail option promotes academic success.

Washington also shared his thoughts on the pass/fail option.

“This semester has been different for everyone,” Washington said. “It’s been a difficult adjustment period, and the pass/fail option is a good way to give students a crutch for that adjustment.”

Newsome-Little then motioned for the SGA to formally support the university offering students the pass/ fail option for the fall 2020 semester.

The Shippensburg University Student Government Association (SGA) approved proposed changes to the budget and finance committee standing rules Thursday during a Zoom meeting.

The budget and finance committee members said the revisions were made with the intent to be more flexible and applicable for future years.

The revisions were spearheaded by SGA Class of 2023 Senator Chase Slenker, SU Student Services, Inc. (SUSSI) Executive Director Adria Long, SGA Vice President of Finance Brenda Aristy and SGA Vice President of Students Groups Riley Brown.

According to an SGA email to the campus community, officials said they revised the budget and finance committee standing rules, along with the student groups handbook to better serve the students in a few key ways: -Expand funding and services to more students and student groups, including the Greek Life community -Increase operational efficiency within SGA and within club sports -Provide greater freedom for student groups to responsibly and efficiently use activity fees -Create only one classification of groups (SGA Recognized) instead of the former two (SGA Recognized & Campus Recognized) -Make regulations, policies and procedures easier to understand and more accessible -Transition the budgeting process to a

streamlined online system Through the changes to the documents, there is no longer a distinction between “campus-recognized” and SGA-recognized groups. Previously, campus-recognized groups could receive some funding, reserve spaces on campus, but did not receive an operating budget. SGA-recognized groups had the same perks but also received the operating budget.

Now there are only SGA-recognized groups, according to SGA documents.

All groups are eligible for operating budgets excluding those that fall under one of four categories: Individual Greek life group, groups with less than 15 members, partisan political campaigning groups and those that complete the work of a university office as a primary function.

Campus groups and organizations involved in partisan political endorsement or campaigning are not eligible for any SGA funding if that purpose is defined in their constitution.

Individual Greek fraternities and sororities are not eligible for funding, however the three Greek councils, Collegiate Panhellenic Council (NPC), National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), and the Interfraternity Council (IFC) are eligible to request an operating budget, additional allocation and capital expenditures.

In the standing rules document, these funds must be used to benefit the student body as a whole, not individual member organizations. External events like anti-hazing week, which is open to the entire student body and are not solely for Greek life members.

See “FINANCE,” A3

See “SGA,” A3

Climate change expert discusses temperatures, human impact Noel Miller News Editor

The Shippensburg University Sociology Department hosted Emily Cloyd of the American Association for the Advancement of Science to speak about climate change Thursday.

Lawrence Eppard, an SU sociology professor, welcomed attendees to the lecture and introduced Cloyd. Cloyd is the director at the center for public engagement with science and technology for AAAS. She worked with the U.S. Global Change Research program and was a policy fellow at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration before working at AAAS, Eppard said.

Cloyd covered the impacts of climate change on the world and on communities across the United States and what these communities are doing in response. The information in the lecture came from three primary sources, two volumes of the National Climate Change Assessment and “How We Respond” a report from AAAS, according to Cloyd.

Cloyd began her lecture by showing the warming temperatures across the world, a noticeable result of climate change. The increase in temperatures was shown by looking at the temperatures of air over land and the temperatures of the ocean.

Noel Miller/The Slate

Emily Cloyd shows a chart tracking how global temperatures have risen as a direct result of human activity.

“We also know this warming is not something we have seen in the recent past,” Cloyd said.

Using proxy-based and thermometer-based records that go back thousands of years show this change is new, according to Cloyd.

Cloyd said human activity has been the dominant cause of climate change since the

middle of the 20th century. While the climate will continue to change, how much it will change is dependent upon human activity, according to Cloyd.

“We have a lot of opportunity to make choices about the future we want to see,” Cloyd said.

If society stays on the path it is right now, there could be a temperature change of four

degrees celsius or more, but, Cloyd said, if there is more action taken there could be a smaller amount of change in only one or two degrees celsius.

Society can combat climate change through two major ways: increased resilience through adaptation and mitigation, Cloyd said.

See “CLIMATE,” A3

A2

THE SLATE

October 27, 2020

NEWS

October 27, 2020 From “SGA,” A1

The motion passed with 24 votes in favor and one abstention.

Students in favor of the pass/fail option are encouraged to send a paragraph to Newsome-Little sharing their support. Her email is jn1256@ship.edu, and she will forward the letters to the provost.

Senator Chase Slenker then proposed changes to the budget and finance standing rules.

Slenker motioned to place academic Greek organizations into the campus club category for budgetary purposes. The motion passed with 20 votes in favor and one abstention.

During the meeting, SGA also announced: • The Residence Hall Association held a haunted rail trail on Friday night.

• SGA is hosting a MOD Pizza fundraiser on Nov. 4.

To participate, attendees are to tell the cashier at MOD Pizza that they are there to

support SGA. • Starbucks will be completely overhauled this coming summer to allow for mobile ordering and a new floor plan.

• Chick-fil-A is coming to the Ceddia Union Building (CUB) in the fall of 2021.

The meeting then moved into board reports.

Emma Poznick, the president of the Activities Programming Board (APB), told SGA that APB: • Hosted a movie showing of the “Rise of Skywalker.”

• Hosted Sexy Bingo on Friday in the hockey rink.

• Rescheduled a meeting with Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) to discuss creating stronger bonds on campus.

• Is hosting a paint night on Oct. 28 in the hockey rink.

• Is hosting a Halloween event on Halloween with crafts and a movie showing.

The Campus Media Board was not present at the meeting.

The next SGA public meeting is Nov. 5 on Zoom.

A3

Students gather to watch final debate

Heather Ross/ The Slate

SU students gathered in the Ceddia Union Building (CUB) Red Zone Thursday evening to watch the final presidential debate live. The debate was one of the last public appearances with both candidates facing off before the Election Day. Students socially distanced from each other while watching the debate.

From “FINANCE,” A1

Section C-7 covers the new guidelines for Greek Council funding, which the SGA officials said is, “a great step in the right direction for supporting one of our campus’ largest communities.”

The SGA-recognized student groups flowchart allows student groups to visually figure out what kind of funding they could receive.

Election Night Coverage

Noel Miller/The Slate

Follow the student media organizations for updates

Eppard asks questions for students during Cloyd’s presentation last week.

From “CLIMATE,” A1

Adaptation focuses on “increasing our ability to cope with changes that are underway,” Cloyd said, which includes limiting exposure and vulnerability to climate change.

Mitigation is limiting the severity of future climate change. A major part of this would be reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted. Shifting to low-or-no carbon fuels, reducing emissions from permafrost and agriculture and reducing greenhouse gases are all ways to achieve this, according to Cloyd.

Cloyd addressed how people can confront and reduce climate change but also confronted why society should take action now. Taking action sooner is the better option because not only will it limit the effects of climate change but leaves people more options on how to enact change, according to Cloyd.

Overall costs of climate change can also be reduced; however, waiting to take action could result in a 40-50% increase in cost, Cloyd said, which could save billions of dollars.

While taking on climate change through action and working with scientific and government officials is nec-

According to the standing rules, groups that are SGA recognized by Nov. 1 can request budgets for the following year.

SGA officials urged all group leaders, advisers and officers to read over the new rules, “as it impacts the fundamental operation, classification and eligibility of all groups.

For questions regarding the student group budget process, contact sgavpfinance@sip. edu.

essary, simply talking about climate change is also a necessity, Cloyd said. Only 35% of adults talk about climate change regularly, she said.

People are more likely to care about an issue and take action if their friends and family talk about it which makes it an important first step, Cloyd said.

Cloyd closed the lecture by asking the audience, “How will you respond? What are the kinds of things you would like to do in your own communities?”

The event was wrapped up with a question and answer session using the chat in Zoom. For more information about AAAS, visit aaas.org.

Updates posted throughout the night on: Twitter: @ShipUSlate and theslateonline.com

Future Slate editions for the fall 2020 semester

• Nov. 3 • Nov. 10

Coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. on Facebook Live Search “SUTV News” on Facebook

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Campus Police Briefs Woman charged with marijuana possession after traffic stop Officers smelled burnt marijuana while conducting a traffic stop on Oct. 22. . The driver Katryna Moldan, 19, had a small amount of marijuana and was charged with possession and a traffic violation.

October 27, 2020

Your World Today

Commentary: Completing group work during the pandemic

Hannah Pollock Editor-in-Chief

File Photo/The Slate

State Police Briefs Shippensburg man reports chickens mauled by dog Police said, a 49-year-old male of Walnut Dale Road in Southampton Township, reported that a dog mauled several of his chickens at 12:26 p.m. on Oct. 17. The owner of the dog remains unknown and police terminated the investigation.

Police respond to burglary A 14-year-old girl called police to report an active robbery at Ritner Highway in West Pennsboro Township at 1:05 p.m. on Oct. 3. When police arrived there were no suspects on scene and forensic services analyzed the scene. Police are continuing the investigation.

Identity of Shippensburg woman stolen Police said a 79-year-old woman of Gladwyn Drive in South Middleton Township received a fraudulent email for purchases she did not make on Oct. 16. After contacting the phone number in the email, she was told her identity had been stolen and she would have to pay with gift cards to get it back.

GOP asks Supreme Court again to block PA ballot extension Marc Levy

Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania Republican Party is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to speedily take up its case to block counties in the presidential battleground state from counting mailed-in ballots received up to three days after the Nov. 3 election.

The Republican Party’s late Friday filing came four days after the justices divided 4-4 on putting a hold on the extension.

That outcome left in place a state Supreme Court ruling that required county election officials to receive and count mailed-in ballots that arrive up until Nov. 6, even if they don’t have a clear postmark, as long as there is no proof it was mailed after the polls closed.

The high court’s action left unresolved the legal issues Republicans raised, and the new request asks the court to take up the Republican Party’s case on an expedited basis.

Without an expedited consideration, the Republican Party’s right to appeal and the U.S. Supreme Court’s “power to resolve the important constitutional and legal questions presented for this election will be irrevocably lost,’’ the party’s court filing said.

It could arrive before the U.S. Supreme Court with a new, ninth justice. President Donald Trump’s nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, is expected to be confirmed by the Senate on Monday. Barrett could take part in the court’s consideration of the Pennsylvania case, providing a tie-breaking vote before the election.

Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are locked in a battle to win Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes. With Democrats voting by mail at an almost 3-to-1 rate over Republicans, the prospect of ballots getting

disqualified because they arrive late presumably poses a greater threat to Biden’s candidacy.

Most states make Election Day the deadline for regular mail-in or absentee ballots, but more than 20 states have a post-Election Day deadline.

Pennsylvania’s attorney general, Democrat Josh Shapiro, suggested that reversing the state Supreme Court’s order would go against a principle, called the “Purcell principle,’’ that courts should not change election rules just prior to an election to avoid confusing voters and creating problems for election administrators.

“Changing the rules late in the fourth quarter causes confusion and disenfranchises voters,’’ Shapiro said in a statement.

“That’s what the Purcell Principle is designed to guard against. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court was within their bounds to allow the three-day extension and it should stay intact.’’

In its Sept. 17 ruling ordering the threeday extension, the Democratic majority on the state’s divided high court cited warnings that Postal Service delays could invalidate huge numbers of ballots and surging demand for mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic.

The state’s top election official, Kathy Boockvar, a Democrat, as well as the Democratic Party and the liberal-leaning Alliance for Retired Americans had sought the extension.

Republicans, including Trump’s campaign, have opposed such an extension, arguing that it violates federal law that sets Election Day as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November and that such a decision constitutionally belongs to lawmakers, not the courts.

With Nov. 20 quickly approaching, professors are trying to pack in as much course material before on-campus students leave.

During the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, students are taking classes all over the place. From the physical classroom, campus dorms, off-campus housing or in their homes, a lot of students are attending classes on Zoom.

Professors had to adapt their class presentations and assignments to meet the virtual demands that fall 2020 presented. But what about every college student’s favorite task — professor assigned group projects?

Group projects are hard in a regular semester, let alone in a semester encumbered with a pandemic. If a student is lucky, he or

she is paired with the class overachievers who always respond to emails and believe in equal work distribution. If the student is not so lucky, he or she is partnered with unresponsive mooches who show up for the day of the presentation not knowing anything.

These projects can be difficult. On one hand, a student has someone else to lean on when researching or putting together a presentation. On the other, they are relying on someone who they do not know outside of the realms of having a class together.

Often times, professors are understanding in this and offer students the option of a group grade and an individual grade. Most students begin to panic when professors say the group collectively gets one grade.

This means the overachiever who ends up doing all of the work and the slacker both get the same grade.

This does not seem fair, does it?

A group leader often emerges and organizes meeting dates at the library or study lounge areas. Once in-person, the group work (most of the time) can be

figured out. But what do you do when you attend the class virtually?

Anyone who attends a Zoom class knows that there is usually less than a handful of people who turn on their cameras and participate — oftentimes the professor and a few of the students. Now students are entering group projects knowing even less about their peers. Are they in-person or remote? Do they check their emails often?

Are they doing their fair share?

When these group projects are assigned during the semester, it is likely that you will see your groupmates in class at least once a week. But in today’s coronavirus world, every attempt at communication must be done through the computer.

What is a student supposed to do when emails go without response?

Professors must empathize with the students’ situations and not have their grades determined by the motivation of a classmate.

I am sure some of their colleagues are not responding to emails or aiding in department work.

Ballots can’t be tossed out over voter signature, court Marc Levy

Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court ruled unanimously Friday on a key concern surrounding an avalanche of mailed ballots, prohibiting counties from rejecting them if the voter’s signature on it does not resemble the signature on the voter’s registration form.

Two Republican justices joined five Democratic justices in the decision.

The verdict was a victory for the state’s top election official, Kathy Boockvar, a Democrat who had asked the court to back her up in a legal dispute with President Donald Trump’s campaign and Republican lawmakers.

“County boards of elections are prohibited from rejecting absentee or mail-in ballots based on signature comparison conducted by county election officials or employees, or as the result of third-party challenges based on signature analysis and comparisons,’’ the justices wrote.

Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are locked in a battle to win Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes. With Democrats voting by mail at an almost 3-to1 rate over Republicans, the prospect of disqualified bal-

lots poses a greater threat to Biden’s candidacy.

In her court filing, Boockvar had said that any such rejections pose “a grave risk of disenfranchisement on an arbitrary and wholly subjective basis,’’ and without any opportunity for a voter to verify their signature before their ballot is disqualified.

Republican lawmakers and the Trump campaign had argued that the law is clear that election officials must compare the information on the mail-in ballot envelope, including a voter’s signature, to a voter’s information on file to determine a person’s qualifications to vote.

Pennsylvania has no law mandating that voters get an opportunity to fix an irregularity with their ballot before it is disqualified, and discussions about it in the Legislature in recent weeks deadlocked in a wider partisan fight shadowed by the presidential election.

In a statement, Pennsylvania’s attorney general, Democrat Josh Shapiro, called the decision a “win for voters.’’

Voters who use a mailin ballot have their identity verified in their initial application, often using a driver’s license number, he said.

“Pennsylvania’s voter identification system is safe and secure,’’ he said. “We are protecting every eligible vote

and ensuring each is counted.’’

The decision comes amid a surge in mail-in voting and rising concerns that tens of thousands of mailed ballots will be discarded in the presidential election over a variety of technicalities.

Some voters say that signing on a digital screen when getting or renewing their driver’s license is awkward and results in a signature that doesn’t resemble theirs on paper.

County election officials say people’s signatures change over time, with age or medical conditions.

They also say questions about whether a voter’s signature is valid have historically been rare and, because of that, there has never before been a debate about it until now, with coronavirus concerns fueling interest in voting by mail under a yearold law that vastly expanded it.

In the Nov. 3 presidential election, more than 2.9 million voters in Pennsylvania have requested mail-in ballots, more than 10 times the number in 2016’s presidential election and many of them from people who have never voted by mail before.

About half have been returned to election offices, according to state election officials.

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Official emails can help, cause worry among students Shippensburg University officials work hard to maintain student enrollment and keep them engaged in their classes.

Anytime and especially during a global pandemic, these retention strategies are important to aid in students’ educational journeys.

Officials can use various methods of connecting with students — phone calls, emails, meetings and appointments. These life lines can be vitally helpful to stu-

dents who may be struggling and not know how to get help However, these lines of communication can cause anxiety.

During the fall 2020 semester, some students have reported receiving emails about attendance for their classes.

Officials list in the email contact and withdrawal date information along with what class/professor reported you.

These emails could be helpful for those students

who are not attending virtual classes. Although if they are not attending classes are they checking their emails?

Some of the students receiving the emails are students who are attending classes and are in good academic standing. One student reported that she received an email for a class in which she was never enrolled.

These emails cause a feeling of anxiety and panic among students who are doing the right things and are

trying to make the best of the virtual learning semester.

The feeling goes away after a quick email to the professor, but officials must ensure the emails are going to the right students.

Students, be vigilant and proactive in your academics.

If you receive an email and something does not seem right, check with the professor and your adviser. Keep your academics a priority as we enter the final weeks of this socially distanced fall.

Commentary: Systemic racism and erasing history

Ian Thompson Guest Contributor

There exists in conservative political discourse a trend toward minimizing the effect of racism in our country.

One does not have to look far to see commentators decrying the New York Times’ 1619 Project as a sort of treasonous, un-American attempt to slander the great and mighty divine providence that is the United States of America.

Many treat any criticism of the American state — however justified — as a total condemnation of the principles of liberty, freedom and justice. Slogans such as “Love it or Leave it” sum up this ideological fallacy: An absolutist and ill-founded belief that you cannot simultaneously support the ideals the country is based upon while criticizing and bringing attention to its faults.

In her Oct. 13 column titled, “Take five minutes: America at its core,” Maria Maresca asserts that American institutions “do not set out to discriminate and neither do its laws.”

I’ll admit, I have not looked up the

mission statements of the executive agencies, but I feel confident in assuming none of them literally set out to discriminate. But as in many things in life, good intentions do not mean good outcomes. The term “systemic racism” has been thrown around a lot recently, but as the great philosopher Inigo Montoya once said, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

Many use the term to describe solely laws which explicitly codify racist and ethnocentric policies — such as slavery and Jim Crow. However, this definition is a narrow one, and does not encapsulate the generational fallout of these laws, and their modern equivalents which still ensure inequality between us. These effects are implicitly linked to the horrors of racial injustice and violence in our country and excluding them from the definition of systemic racism is dishonest and disingenuous.

When we discuss the end of slavery and the era of segregation, there is a tendency to view these as ancient epochs, utterly removed from modern life. But this is untrue; there are people in this country whose grandparents or great-grandparents were born into the shackles of slavery. There are tens of millions of Americans alive today — both white and Black — who lived through, and actively participated in the civil rights era. When we have discussions on these time periods, we cannot treat them like we do ancient Rome or Greece.

The impacts of slavery and the segregation that followed have direct impacts on our modern world. Redlining, college segregation and many other factors in

the last hundred years have meant that while white families have been able to accumulate generational wealth, Black families have been unable to do the same.

According to a study by Yale psychologists, for every $100 in wealth held by white families, Black families hold $5.04. We have made great strides in equality in the last hundred years — I would never discount that. But it should be noted that while the law says we are equal — the data shows that is not the case.

Maresca raises a question in her article: “Which part of history will we use to define everything that we stand for as Americans?”

My answer would have to be... all of it. You cannot cherry-pick the parts of history you like and ignore the rest.

And the fact is that for too long, we have done just that; we have taught students about the virtues and genius of the founding fathers, while ignoring the fact that they owned and abused slaves.

We teach about how America was founded on the ideal of “all men are created equal,” but gloss over the fact that all men (and all people) were and still are not treated as equals. We celebrate Columbus Day and make finger turkeys while sidestepping the massacres of millions of indigenous peoples.

What is America at its core? A nation with a complicated history that we cannot — and should not — ignore. These things need to be taught in schools. As active citizens, we should know and understand how the past impacts the present. The alternative would be doing something conservatives loathe — erasing history.

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Letters must be no more than 300 words and may not contain derogatory language or messages of hate or discrimination.

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Give it a thought: Do you have a minute?

Chase Slenker Staff Columnist

A few weeks ago, I was walking across the academic quad in front of the library when I came across a middle-aged man and his two daughters handing out little pamphlets. Now my initial reactions were both of intrigue and a desire to keep on walking past as quickly as possible.

This sight was not an unfamiliar one for students here at Shippensburg University. We are very familiar with various people of the general public passing out Bibles and other Christian literature, as well as political advertisements outside of the library and inside the Ceddia Union Building. Most people will keep on walking, turning a blind eye and almost automatically “Us v. Them-ing” whoever they were. However, a few weeks back I chose to stop and figure out what this man really wanted.

His name was Paul and he asked me a few trick questions — “How many animals did Moses load onto the ark,” and “What is the method of communication using raised bubbles that deaf people use to communicate?”

His point behind these questions was that “every man one day has to look critically at the deeper questions in life.”

We talked a little bit about my own personal religious beliefs and dis-

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cussed his call to mission to college students. The point behind this story is not about religion nor my own experience but the general need for all of us to step outside of our comfort zone and begin conversations with others we traditionally would sweep past.

In the face of political and social unrest over the Black Lives Matter movement, the 2020 Election and today’s social climate, we have all been urged to promote a diverse and inclusive society. Diversity is a “mindset of welcoming differences of opinions,” said SU Chief Diversity Officer, Stephanie Jirard, at the Student Organization Leadership Summit earlier this academic year.

However, we must go a step further and not only welcome differences of opinion, but actively seek to understand other’s point of view, life experiences and differing opinions.

So next time you see someone tabling or campaigning for a political party, religious sect or organization and you take your five-second glimpse, keep your body and mind focused on them for a bit longer.

Even a few minutes can drastically change your mind set on a topic or at least let you explore a new idea or belief. As an institution of higher education, we should all answer the call to creating a truly inclusive society, one that welcomes differences of opinion, no matter how different from our own beliefs they are. These differences of opinion include political beliefs, ideas on race, religious beliefs, understanding of gender identity and so many more categories.

We need to answer the question “Do you have a minute?” with an affirmative “yes.”

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Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Ship Life

Kappa Beta Gamma hosts tournament Chaela Williams

Asst. Ship Life Editor

Sorority Kappa Beta Gamma brought members from different Greek organizations out for a day of corn hole tossing on Oct. 23 at the Shippensburg University’s Lot-C parking lot.

Kappa Beta Gamma Vice President Kelsey Looney created the event to bring Greek Life and the student body together and to raise money for its philanthropy.

“Especially in current times, it feels good to get out and socialize outdoors with friends and classmates in a safe way,” Looney said.

Kappa Beta Gamma had charged $3 per person on a team and $5 to watch the event.

All proceeds went toward the sorority’s philanthropy, the Special Olympics. The teams competed in a randomized single elimination bracket for the opportunity

Question of the Week: What are your plans this Halloween?

Carmine Scicchitano/ The Slate Members from several Greek life organizations participated in Kappa Beta Gamma’s second annual Cornhole Tournament. Proceeds went toward the Special Olympics. The sorority will be hosting another fundraiser called, “Beta Buns” later this semester.

to win gift cards for first and second place.

“We asked teams to donate their corn hole boards if they had any to contribute so we could use them during the

tournament as well,” Looney said.

The tournament’s winners were Evan Gross, freshman and Porter Miller, senior of the SU men’s rugby team.

trail.

The event was well attended by students with a line forming before it started. Masks were required and groups were limited to no more than four people to comply with social distancing guidelines.

The Shippensburg Graduate Student Association Board hosted pumpkin carving Saturday at the Hockey Rink.

The board offered in-person and Zoom options to accommodate both remote and face-to-face students.

The event was free to graduate students and offered an optional contest to give students the chance to win gift cards from Walmart, Amazon and Dunkin’ Donuts.

While trick or treating in many areas has been canceled, the Cumberland Valley Rails-to-Trails Council host-

ed a drive-thru trick-or-treat to provide a safe way for kids to dress up and receive candy.

The event was held at the Cumberland Drive-In Theatre in Newville and was open to students and community members alike.

Participants handing out candy were able to decorate their cars and dress up to increase the fun for all ages.

Officials donated all proceeds from the event to the Railsto-Trails Council.

With Halloween this weekend, SU is offering several options as alternatives to the traditional Halloween scene.

Students can find events in the Ship News & Events weekly email, as well as on the SU Activites Program Board (APB) social media, and on flyers in the Ceddia Union Building (CUB).

The Cornhole Tournament was Kappa Beta Gamma’s first event this semester, following the restrictions on Greek Life hosting in-person events established this se-

mester by the university.

Later this month, Kappa Beta Gamma will be organizing another fundraiser.

Hayden Rowe, senior “I am going to stay in and watch scary movies with my roommates.”

Read the full story at theslateonline.com.

‘Haunting’ community activities recap Morgan Barr

Asst. Ship Life Editor

Shippensburg University is encouraging students to still participate in Halloween fun this semester despite the changes in tradition because of the COVID-19 coronavirus. This weekend was filled with spooky events for students both on and off campus.

The Residence Hall Association (RHA) hosted a Haunted Rail Trail event Friday. Students were able to walk through a section of the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail starting near the Spiritual Center.

The trail was decorated with various Halloween decorations, and volunteers dressed in costume attempted to scare students by jumping out of the bushes and chasing them down the

Brogan Louden, junior “[Doing] a scary amount of homework.”

Carmine Sciccitano/The Slate

Students volunteered to dress up in costumes to scare participants walking at the Haunted Rail Trail event.

Recipe of the Week: Screaming Ghost Donuts

Ingredients:

Sorority supports philanthropy amid pandemic

Brandon Gutshall Guest Contributor

- 1 tube refrigerated biscuit dough -Vegetable oil -Powdered sugar

INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Heat oil over medium heat to 350-375 degrees.

2. Roll each piece of dough into an oblong shape and cut two eyes and a mouth with small round cutters — I used the back ends of frosting tips.

3. Carefully lower each “ghost face” into the oil and fry until golden on each side.

4. Remove from oil and drain on paper or a rack. Once mostly cool, dust donuts with a reasonable amount of powdered sugar.

Recipe and photo by Chaela Williams/The Slate

Naimah Pollard, freshman “Maybe go to a Halloween party.”

Due to social distancing guidelines, Alpha Phi members needed to find a way to continue their philanthropic work amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. So members turned to Instagram for Alpha Phi’s first ever virtual event.

The organization hosted an online Pumpkin Carving Contest open to groups with four or less members for a $5 entry fee. Alpha Phi’s proceeds from the event went directly to the Woman’s Heart Health foundation. Some of the sorority’s past philanthropic events have included basketball tournaments, grilled cheese fundraisers and the “Mr. Ivy” competition.

Alpha Phi held the event Oct. 18 and judged the entries Oct. 19.

Alpha Phi’s President Alexis Millard said, “With social media being an easy way to raise awareness, we

came up with our first ever virtual philanthropy event.”

Alpha Phi held the contest over Instagram by having teams post pictures of their pumpkins and tagging the sorority to enter (@shipalphaphi).

Then the sorority would post the submissions on their live story so that viewers could follow along and see the rounds within the bracket. The brackets had two pumpkins to be voted against one another to see which pumpkin would make it to the final round.

Several other Greek organizations and members entered the contest including several pumpkins from the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, and Theta Xi’s Junior Alvarez, who is Alpha Phi’s current sweetheart. Savannah Elder from the Kappa Delta Phi Sorority won the contest earning a $25 gift card and a spooky basket.

To see the pumpkin photos, check out @ShipAlphaPhi on Instagram.

October 27, 2020

SHIP LIFE

C2

Commentary: Break down the stigma, go to therapy Chaela Williams

Asst. Ship Life Editor

Chaela Williams/The Slate

Try out these seven spooky Starbucks drinks to ring in Halloween this week. Do not forget to take a picture of your drink for social media.

7 spooky Starbucks to try this week Spice up your order with these freakish drinks

Morgan Barr

Asst. Ship Life Editor

What better way to prepare for Halloween than with a lineup of spooky drinks from Starbucks? Switch up your usual drink routine and try something fun for the holiday at Starbucks. Check out these drink recipes from users on Pinterest.

1.The Jack Skellington Frappuccino This frappuccino is perfect for pumpkin lovers. To order it at your Starbucks ask for a Grande Pumpkin Spice frappuccino with two pumps of white mocha, frappuccino chips and mocha drizzle.

2. The Frankenstein Frappuccino More commonly known as the mint chocolate chip frappuccino, this frap is a decaf option that is still festive. To order the Frankenstein frappuccino, ask for a green tea frappuccino with one pump of white mocha, one pump of

peppermint and frappuccino chips.

3. The Wolfman Frappuccino This frappuccino brings the taste of chocolate covered strawberries to drink form.

To order the Wolfman frappuccino, ask for a strawberry frap with a shot of espresso, frappuccino chips and mocha drizzle on top.

4. Candy Corn Cold Brew The candy corn cold brew looks just like the liquid version of a candy corn. This is a good option for Starbucks fans who aren’t as keen on the frozen frappuccinos. To order the candy corn cold brew, ask for a grande pumpkin spice cold brew without the vanilla and two pumps of white mocha.

5. The Zombie Brains Drink For those who aren’t coffee drinkers, the zombie brain drink offers a festive and colorful alternative. To order

the zombie brains drink, ask for an iced venti green tea latte with one scoop of vanilla bean powder. Then ask for vanilla sweet cream on the top of the drink with strawberry puree added in. To top it off, ask for some extra strawberry puree on top to really give the drink a zombie brain vibe.

6. The Wednesday Addams Drink Pay homage to one of Halloween’s icons with this fun version of a classic cold brew.

Ask for a venti cold brew with six pumps of mocha sauce and a scoop of vanilla bean powder on top of the cold foam.

7. The Dirty Werewolf Drink For fans of hot coffee drinks, this is a great option.

To order a dirty werewolf, ask for a grande chai tea latte with two shots of espresso, a pump of cinnamon dolce syrup, and cinnamon powder and caramel drizzle on top.

For years, therapy has been stigmatized as an option for “the weak” or the “severely mental cases” causing many to be afraid of talking about their emotions, not realizing they are hurting themselves.

The COVID-19 coronavirus quarantine has made many face their repressed emotions and hidden dark thoughts causing depression and anxiety for some. Dealing with emotions and seeking help might seem scary but here are the few many benefits of going to therapy 1. Reduces physical symptoms According to psychcentral. com, going to therapy can help reduce physical stress such as migraines and digestive troubles. It can help improve sleep and decrease the risk of having a stroke, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

2. Healing from years of trauma and confusion Therapy explores the patterns of negative thinking caused by a traumatic event or dissatisfaction in your life.

It is one of the most difficult tasks as negative thoughts and patterns become deeply embedded in people’s personal lives. When clients are about to tackle these patterns, they are able to discover their origins and establish change.

3. Healthy coping mechanisms With the large amount of uncertainty in today’s world it is hard to maintain a healthy, positive way of thinking. By attending therapy, you learn new ways to cope with the obstacles you will face without being overwhelmed.

4. Setting goals Your therapist will help you set goals for yourself and keep you accountable for reaching them. According to

betterhelp.com, by achieving goals it will help your self-esteem as it reinforces that you are capable of success.

5. Better relationships Not only will you be able to have better relationships with friends and family members but with yourself as well. By learning positivity and maintaining a healthy mindset you will be able to become better and help you interact with others. This benefit will take time but it is worth it.

Therapy will help you realize that your feelings are valid and you are not alone. If you or a friend are ready to take the next step into seeking therapy contact the Counseling Center at 717-477-1481 to schedule an appointment.

Editor’s note: The Slate nor its writers are not medical professionals. Contact your health care providers to aid in making health-related decisions.

File Photo/The Slate

Do not be afraid of the stigma, therapy helps others understand their feelings and themselves. Schedule a session at SU’s Counseling Center.

Halloween Pet Costume Finalists

Gracey the Beagle as a frat bro

Phil the Greyhound as a butterfly

Honey the Golden Retriever as a super dog

Our Halloween Pet finalists are in!

Biscuit the Beagle-Mix as a dinosaur

Betty-Sherman the cat as a taco cat

Follow our Instagram @ShipUSlate to vote for your favorite pet this week!

D1

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

A&E

Photos by Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate

The SHAPE Gallery is located at 19 E. King Street in downtown Shippensburg.

SHAPE Gallery opens new exhibit Carmine Scicchitano Multimedia Director

The Shippensburg Arts Programming & Education Gallery (SHAPE Gallery) debuted its 17th annual abstract exhibit last Friday.

The gallery, “Multifaceted,” featured over 40 pieces of art from nine different artists according to Bridget Palmer-Rosetta, curator for the abstract exhibit. Several of the artists were new to the exhibit, but some were also returning artists.

The only limit to the art was the artist’s imagination.

This led to a wide variety in the art featured in the gallery. The sculptures and paintings that were featured were made of wood, ceramic, metal, acrylic and other unique materials.

The exhibit will run until Nov. 13th.

Billboard Top 10

Commentary: Holiday TV shows will not air on main-stream TV Ryan Cleary A&E Editor

I remember when I was younger and how my family and I would go out trick-or-treating from house to house. I would fill my pillowcase full of candy and make the trek home to dump all the candy out, count how many pieces I had and sit down by the fireplace to watch the iconic “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.”

However, I will not have that opportunity again. I am not saddened by dressing up as a fireman or zombie. I am saddened that I will not be able to watch the iconic TV show again on mainstream television.

On Oct. 21, AppleTV+ announced that it will take ownership of the Charlie Brown, and “Peanuts” series including the holiday seasons specials: “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.”

This is a shocker since all Charlie Brown specials have been streaming on main-stream television for many years.

“Families can still continue the tradition of watching Charlie Brown around the holidays — but it will be a bit different this year,” according to Caitlin O’Kane of CBS News.

While I am not surprised, since almost everything is streamed today, I am saddened that kids younger than me will not be able to

experience the way Halloween was for me.

With Halloween already being different due to COVID-19 coronavirus during trick-ortreat, this obviously puts a damper on my Halloween experience.

“It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” debuted in October 1966 on the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). For 35 years, the special stayed on CBS until 2001 when the special moved to the American Broadcasting System (ABC).

“It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” followed the successful launch of the Christmas special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in 1965. Later on, the corporation would go on to create, “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” in 1973.

Fans on social media also reacted by posting tweets blaming the year 2020, and videos reacting to the announcement.

AppleTV+ plans to create new originals for the “Peanuts” cast.

According to a CBS article, “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” will be free for viewers to stream on AppleTV+ from Oct.30 to Nov. 1. Meanwhile “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” will be avaliable to stream from Nov. 25 to Nov. 27, and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” from Dec. 11 to Dec. 13.

AppleTV+ costs $4.99 a month with a seven-day free trial.

1. Mood - 24KGoldn feat. iann dior

6. Savage Love (Laxed- Siren Beat) - Jawsh 685

2. WAP - Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion

7. Rockstar - DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch

3. Laugh Now Cry Later - Drake feat. Lil Durk

8. I Hope - Gabby Barrett feat. Charlie Puth

4. Blinding Lights - The Weeknd

9. Watermelon Sugar - Harry Styles

5. Dynamite - BTS

10. Lemonade - Internet Money & Gunna

The Music Corner What has the A&E Editor Ryan been listening to this past week?

Songs 1. #251 (feat. Dan Nimmer)

Artists Paul Nedzela The U.S. Army Blues

2. Eeyore 3. God Bless the Child (78 rpm Version)

Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra Mingus Big Band

4. Moanin’ 5. Theme from New York New York 6. Want Me Back (feat. Cody Fry)

Frank Sinatra Cory Wong

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

October 27, 2020

D2

Commentary: Halloween jams that aren’t ‘The Monster Mash’ but are still a graveyard smash Piper Kull

Guest Contributor

Halloween is hands down my favorite holiday. I love the lore, crisp air, flavors and the close proximity to my birthday. It’s a day centered solely around fun. The only issue I ever have is the lack of creativity in Halloween playlists. Sure, I could listen to all the kitschy songs year-round, but where is the musical diversity?

If you’re anything like me and need some new essentials, you are in luck. As an absolute fanatic, I seek out music that makes me feel like it’s Halloween every day. Here are some of my tried and true favorite tunes to bump during the spooky part of autumn.

“Season of the Witch” by Donovan First, we’ve got a pretty standard Halloween tune. Despite that, it is my favorite and thus has to make the list. The lyrics almost explicitly scream “Halloween!” Donovan’s voice adds a good spooky grit, but if you are in the mood for something more mysterious and modern, Lana Del Rey has an absolutely gorgeous cover of it too.

“Into the Unknown” by The Blasting Company This song comes from the soundtrack to Cartoon Network’s short and sweet Halloween show, “Over the Garden Wall.” With an echo-y piano and lyrics describing a misty, moonlight forest, it’s the perfect song for anyone into celebrating Halloween in a cottage in the woods. The show itself is a quick but amazing watch, and as people are social distancing this Halloween, this is a great way to spend the night if scary movies aren’t your thing.

“Pet Sematary” by The Ramones If you are a fan of classic Halloween spooks, then this song is for you. The Ramones took inspiration from Stephen King’s book “Pet Sematary” for this ’80’s hit. The lyrics discuss coming back from the dead, as this is the focus of the original story, and utilize creepy imagery to really set the mood. If your Halloween plans include binging old horror movies, this one’s for you.

“Disorder” by Joy Division

Joy Division may not be singing about “spooky season,” but “Disorder” has just the right energy for Halloween that it’s very worth noting. I had been in search of a song that sounded like “The Monster Mash” but would be appropriate to listen to in April, and I found it in this song. Something about it strikes the “creepy mad-science castle” chord in me. Fans of the 1975 song will also find familiarity in the guitars: “Give Yourself a Try” borrows the riff from “Disorder.”

“Rapture” by Blondie Let’s say your Halloween vibe leans more toward, say, murderous, rock n’ roll aliens, then “Rapture” is the song for you. The song begins with spacey bells and vocals, however hang tight for a campy horror story. With synths, saxophones and a funky percussion section, it is sure to get you moving and grooving. If this Halloween is going to be spent roller-skating, driving around following the blue moon, or having a solo dance party, make sure you’re blasting this one.

“The Great Pumpkin Waltz” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio Another Halloween staple for me is “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.” The jazz waltz will always have the most special place in my heart. It encompasses the truly magical parts of Halloween as a kid, when the simplest ghost stories were scary and sorting candy before bedtime was your life’s mission.

This one gives me such a wave of autumnal nostalgia and is amazing to put on while baking Pillsbury pumpkin cookies.

“You’re Dead” by Norma Tanega If you’ve seen the TV adaption of “What We Do In The Shadows,” then you’ll likely recognize this song from the 1960s. Tanega is a criminally underrated musician; this song will be stuck in your head for weeks. While it’s not exactly the creepiest song, it has the perfect beat to walk on crunchy leaves to, and the repetition of “you’re dead,” makes it have a foreboding undertone.

All the songs listed here are available for streaming on all main-stream streaming companies like Apple Music, Spotify and many more. Students can purchase both Apple Music and Spotify for $4.99 a month.

Hannah Pollock/The Slate

WSYC is home to almost 30 student-hosted radio shows throughout the week.

WSYC 88.7 FM hosts annual ‘Too Spooky for Me’ giveaway Margarita Kilpatrick Guest Contributor

It is that time of year again, spooky season!

Whether it is your favorite time of year or least favorite, there is something to do for everyone. Free treats and giveaways are always a nice surprise. This year, Shippensburg University’s student-run radio station, WSYC, is having its third annual week-long Halloween giveaway, “Too Spooky for Me.” Each day, Shippensburg students can win giveaways by responding to Instagram posts, or by calling in to certain radio shows. The giveaway started Oct. 26 and ends Oct. 30.

Students can win a variety of gift cards including Amazon, Walmart, Target, Dunkin Donuts, Sheetz, the school’s bookstore and more. When it comes to the specific on-air giveaways, they are up to the DJ’s choice.

Morgan Barr, host of WSYC’s “Metal with MoBarr” on Thursdays said she normally does giveaways on her show by using a trivia question. Whoever is the first to text, call or tweet her the answer will win the prize.

For her show during “Too Spooky for Me,”

Barr said she is going to create new promotional material to go along with the Halloween theme. She will also incorporate a “spooky” playlist and play Halloween-themed music.

Barr plans to announce the trivia question in the middle of her show. For this year’s giveaway, she will be handing out a Walmart gift card.

The event is a great practice round for the radio’s big prize giveaway in the spring, “Up All Night.”

Students can download the app on the Apple and Android app stores and stream WSYC anywhere, anytime.

On the app, students can check DJ bios, show schedules, fun trivia and many more.

Students can also follow WSYC’s social media, which include: Facebook @wsyc88.7, Twitter @wsyc88.7 and @wsycsports88.7.

Tune in to WSYC 88.7 FM anywhere between Carlisle and Chambersburg on the airwaves or listen anytime online at wsyc-fm. squarespace.com.

Editor’s note: Morgan Barr serves as an asst. Ship Life editor for The Slate.

Ask The Slate Staff What is their go-to Halloween Song?

Asst. Public Relations Director Brady Cannizzaro’s favorite song is “Spooky Scary Skeletons.” by Andrew Gold

Multimedia Director Carmine Scicchitano’s favorite song is “This is Halloween” from “Nightmare Before Christmas.”

Staff Writer Julianna Vaughan’s favorite song is “Spooky Scary Skeletons.”

by Andrew Gold

SUTV Preview Asst. Ship Life Editor Morgan Barr’s favorite song is “Hex Girl” by Moon Sisters & The Nostalgia Girls.

Asst. Public Relations Director Paige Shope’s go-to song is Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

Editor-in-Chief Hannah Pollock’s favorite Halloween song is “The Time Warp,” although she’s never seen “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Read more at theslateonline.com

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

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Field Hockey, E1

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Sports

Track and Field, E2

Gamble continues to impact Baltimore community Christian Eby

Asst. Sports Editor

Former Shippensburg University football star Joel Gamble made his mark in SU football history, but no memorable catch or touchdown could ever amount to the work he has done off the football field.

Gamble, a 2004 SU graduate, enjoyed a two-year career in the NFL — spending time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans. Before his NFL tenure, Gamble suited up for the D.C. Armor of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) and played with the Tennessee Valley Vipers, Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz and Bossier-Shreveport BattleWings of arenafootball2 (af2).

Following his football career, Gamble found his true calling — helping others.

In 2014, Gamble created The Joel Gamble Foundation which mentors and helps the inner-city youth of Baltimore, Maryland, and provides them with resources for an easier and more direct path to success in their futures.

This year has presented challenges that the foundation never faced before. However, one thing never changed — the desire to lend a hand and continue to make a lasting impact on the community.

Every spring and summer, The Joel Gamble Foundation hosts its annual flag football league, wellness program and football camp.

With the ongoing pandemic, these events could not take place in-person and changed to a virtual setting. It was a difficult transition, but new opportunities and experiences arose from the unusual scenario.

One of those unique experiences was the creation of the NFL Skills and Drills program.

The program allowed young athletes to talk with NFL players and coaches virtually. The sessions took place every Saturday for eight weeks and even included drills and workouts for kids to participate in from their homes.

“It was really cool to allow kids to meet some of these guys that they may look up to and really get to pick their brains,” Gamble said.

Gamble’s devotion to the community continued past the game of football. With the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting so many in Baltimore, Gamble noticed many students did not have the proper technology at home to learn virtually — even internet for that matter. The foundation provided 70 tablets and 37 Chromebooks to children in Baltimore over the past few months.

“When everything went virtual there were a lot of kids who couldn’t keep up with the learning and that’s not fair,” Gamble said.

“So, it was a blessing that we were able to bridge that gap as far as technology is concerned with education.”

Gamble said he missed the face-to-face interactions with the kids that he had in years past. The online conversations did not have the same effect. He could not build the tightknit relationships he was used to.

“The hardest part about all of this was not having that in-person interaction with the kids,” he said. “It’s hard to build that rela-

Photos submitted by Joel Gamble

The Joel Gamble Foundation provided students with 70 tablets and 37 Chromebooks in Baltimore, Maryland, over the past few months to help with virtual learning during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. tionship online and not being able to have the kids outside and give them that social interaction they need. That’s the negative that comes with virtual programming.”

In addition to his foundation, Gamble found another way to bring positivity to light amid the pandemic. Along with fellow NFL alumnus Tavon Mason, the duo pieced together a new comic series called, “The Justice Duo.” “The Justice Duo” is unlike any other comic book series you have seen.

Gamble said the idea for the comic book series stemmed from a multitude of items.

Gamble and Mason are both children’s book authors and have supported one another in their endeavors to better the Baltimore community. With the comic book series, they wanted to show people that despite all the bad news they may hear or see transpire in Baltimore, there is still a lot of good in today’s world.

“Being from Baltimore, I can say there is not a lot of positive news that comes out of Baltimore,” Gamble said. “We wanted to show that there are some positive Black men in Baltimore that are doing some great things and that we can come together and work together to do something positive.”

Looking back, Gamble recalls growing up as a huge Batman fan. “The Justice Duo” consists of one major component that is missing from the Batman and the Superman comic book worlds — diversity.

“The Justice Duo” provides representation of all different cultures and that is what Gamble is most proud of when he speaks of the series.

“Being in education, I see that there’s not a lot of representation of different cultures

in books and so we really wanted to provide that,” he said. “You look and see how big Black Panther was and how kids were able to see a Black superhero. And growing up with Batman, Superman and Ironman, those were all great, but they were missing representation. So, for us to bring that representation to life is huge.”

Representation is not the only predominant issue to be pictured and discussed in the books. Gamble said some of the story lines revolve around bullying and other community issues. They wanted to villainize those issues and put them in the spotlight.

The process of putting the series together has been nothing short of rewarding. And in the midst of a pandemic, it provided Gamble and Mason the extra time to sit down, write and get the creative juices flowing. And those creative juices flowed well — really well.

Gamble said he and Mason had a set routine. One would write, then the other would, and it would be a back-and-forth process.

That process worked so nicely that the duo churned out four books over the course of a couple months. They got their illustrator involved too, who has almost completed the illustrations for the first book.

For now, all Gamble and Mason can do is sit and wait. However, each week, they receive illustrations to approve for the book.

For Gamble, the coolest part is to see the project come to life.

“To see the illustrator and his creative juices flow with the story is really cool,” Gamble said. “And then to see him illustrate what we’re writing and talking about really gets you excited.”

Gamble continued, “We’re really hoping someone picks this up because we couldn’t

Gamble, along with former NFL player Tavon Mason, created a comic book series, “The Justice Duo,” that features cultural representation. be more excited about it. We really want to share this with the kids of the world and have it spread across the United States. We want them to be able to have discussions and conversations about the growing issues within their communities.”

Netherlands native settles into dual sport athlete life Isaiah Snead

Asst. Sports Editor

Photo submitted by Merel Hoekstra

Hoekstra won the U12 Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 2013 and 2014.

Making the transition from high school to college can be very challenging. That move becomes even more challenging when students are moving from one country to another.

Merel Hoekstra is a freshman tennis and field hockey player at Shippensburg University who hails from Wassenaar, South Holland, a province in the Netherlands.

Hoekstra competed as a defender for club team H.O.C. Gazellen-Combinatie (HGC), and contributed to Dutch U12 Indoor and Outdoor National Championships in 2013 and 2014. She also played club tennis.

“In the Netherlands, it is normal to play both sports and I really like to alternate between them as they are so different,” Hoekstra said.

She also stressed that she is very competitive, so having two seasons a year is no problem.

The move from the Netherlands to America was intimidating for Hoekstra at first because she had not visited campus or met any of her teammates. But she has quickly gotten comfortable at SU. “Now that I’m settled in I really enjoy living here. My teammates are great and I’m not homesick at all even though I would have expected that by now,” Hoekstra said.

Hoekstra does have a tennis and field hockey teammate who she can relate to in Jenna Sluymer, who is also from the Netherlands.

Sluymer plays tennis and field hockey for SU as well.

“I think we are pretty close, knowing there was another Dutch girl on the team that I

knew I could always go to for questions or concerns was a reason for me to come to Ship,” Hoekstra said.

Sluymer was named to the 2018 NFHCA All-America Second Team and is a twotime All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Performer in field hockey and has notched a win in both singles and doubles for SU tennis.

“It’s easy talking to her because with her it’s my first language, and we’re both dual athletes so we go through the same struggles,” Hoekstra said of their friendship.

Outside of sports, Hoekstra is settling in and enjoying life in Shippensburg.

“I’ve made some new friends, the people are very nice and my classes are going well. It can only get more fun once this pandemic is over so I’m excited for my Ship experience,” Hoekstra said.

SPORTS

October 27, 2020

E2

Arp Jr. looks to follow record-breaking sophomore season Blake Garlock Staff Writer

Aaron Arp Jr. is a redshirt-junior human communication major at Shippensburg University who runs indoor and outdoor track.

He was named the 2020 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the year.

The PSAC track coaches vote on the athlete of the year award, and Arp is the first SU sprinter to ever hold the title. He also happens to be only the fourth male Raider of all time to win the award.

“It felt really good,” Arp said after winning the award. “I’m humbled, and I appreciated being named the No. 1 athlete in the conference.”

Arp is a Raider track star, holding the school records for the indoor 200 meter, indoor 400 meter and the outdoor 400 meter. Although Arp dedicates much of his time to track now, it has not always been that way. Arp said he never took track too seriously until his senior year of high school.

“I was stubborn and really wanted to play football, but track ended up being better,” Arp said.

The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, native attended Central Dauphin East High School. During his senior year in high school, Arp found inspiration not only in a world renowned track athlete, but also in those close to him.

“Watching Usain Bolt run inspired me because he’s the biggest person in our sport,” Arp said. “My high school coaches always pushed me to do better and told me I was fast. They helped me believe.”

As any college athlete knows, there is a lot more to playing college sports than performing well on the field. While in high school, Arp knew that he would have to excel in the classroom and continue his

training if he wanted to run track in college.

“I focused on my schoolwork to make sure I had the grades to come to college,” Arp said. “At practice I focused on the little things to increase my skills.”

When he arrived at Shippensburg, Arp decided to redshirt for the 2018 track season. Looking back, he believes it helped shape him into the athlete he is today.

“I would recommend redshirting,” Arp said. “People come to college and expect to jump right into things. Redshirting allows you to step back and learn the college scene before starting sports.”

Despite the benefits he received from redshirting, Arp experienced some difficulty while trying to adjust to college athletics. Specifically, finding a balance between track and schoolwork troubled him.

“I struggled at first trying to balance homework and practice because many of my classes fell during practice time,” Arp said. “So, I had to practice and workout on my own a lot.”

Arp eventually got comfortable balancing his college life with his athletic life, and his track career took off. He started a healthy diet, which he credits to the options at Reisner Dining Hall and began his redshirt-freshman season at Shippensburg. For Arp, his first season competing set the stage for his stellar 2020 season.

“In 2019 I got to run, see the competition, and get all the nerves out,” Arp said. “That allowed me to just come and run in 2020.”

Arp’s running reached a new level during the 2020 indoor season. He broke the school record for the indoor 400 meter, was selected as the PSAC Indoor Championships’ most valuable track athlete, and qualified for the NCAA National Championships in two different events. All

Photo submitted by Aaron Arp Jr.

Aaron Arp Jr. destroyed competition in his 2019-20 campaign, earning the 2020 PSAC Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the year award. His successes also include an SU athletics record. of that cumulated to earn him the 2020 PSAC Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year award.

After all his achievements, disappointment followed. After preparing for the NCAA National Championships, the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic prevented the tournament from occurring.

“That hurt,” Arp said. “It especially hurt because we had already arrived, and they sent us home the day before the competition started.”

Although the pandemic halted all sports this year, Arp continued working on his skills to prepare himself for when sports are finally allowed to begin again.

“Since we’ve been on campus this semester, I’ve been able to keep a good diet.” Arp said. “I’ve also been running and going to the weight room a lot.”

Indoor track season usually begins in early December. Arp is unsure if he will run indoors at the be-

ginning of 2021, but he is hoping for a chance to compete in the outdoor season during the spring.

For now, Arp is not sure what his plans after college will be. However, he would like to continue pursuing track in some way.

“I don’t have a specific career in mind,” Arp said. “But I would like to give back to the track community and the younger kids. Especially back at my high school, I feel like there’s a lot of talent there.”

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October 27, 2020