Conversation must begin to help trans community, B1
Pride Center celebrates grand opening with ceremony, C1
Lead singer of Toto talks about life, music during tour, D1
Football tames Bald Eagles, E1
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Mike Stockwell stands on a platform and preaches to students about why they must confess their sins. Other demonstrators held signs and talked to students separately. The demonstration occurred on the same day as the grand opening of SU’s Pride Center. However, Stockwell said he was not aware of the opening.
Demonstrators cause stir among students Jenna Wise Editor-in-Chief Six men who called themselves “born-again Christians” congregated Oct. 23 on the Shippensburg University campus, demanding that passersby confess their sins and prompting outrage from students. The men arrived at the Ezra Lehman Memorial Library around noon and quickly attracted students to the area. Although most people remained peaceful, some students began arguing with demonstrator Mike Stockwell, who stood on a platform overlooking the crowd.
One man held a sign that said “Evolution is a lie,” while another held a wooden cross that had Romans 14:12 — a Bible passage — taped to the side. Another sign said “Sin Awareness Day” and included the URL to a religious website of the same name. Students who identify with the LGBT community later confronted Stockwell, who had told the crowd that homosexuals needed to confess their sins to God to be saved. Tuesday was the grand opening of SU’s Pride Center, leading some to question the demonstration’s timing. Stockwell said he did not
know the center was opening that day, and that it was the students — not him — who began the argument over sexual orientation. However, another demonstrator later said “that pride office shows you love your sin.” Freshman Steven Matheson at one point broke out of the group of students to point out that everyone sins. Stockwell said this was not true, and that “some will be beaten with many strikes.” “It’s wrong. You can’t just come here and force religion on people,” Matheson said after leaving the scene. “I’m tired of hearing something I’ve heard all of my life. [But]
if you get angry the conflict doesn’t get resolved.” The Rev. Jan Bye, SU’s campus minister, told the demonstrators that faith is about grace and love. If Jesus was here he would be on the side of those being attacked, she said. “His definition of hateful speech is different than the actual definition,” freshman Keith Njuguna said. Off to the side, several other demonstrators spoke with students. Shawn Hole, a member of the Idaho-based Luke 10:2 Ministries, is a traveling missionary who creates demonstrations on college
Lecture explains neo-diversity Jessica Knapp Staff Writer Rupert Nacoste spoke about understanding society’s rapid social changes on Oct. 22 in Old Main Chapel. Nacoste has spent the last 30 years researching and spreading his knowledge of interacting with others in a neo-diverse America. “Everywhere in America, people are struggling to understand and manage neo-diversity. You see, nowadays and every day, each of us has some occasion to interact with a person from another racial, bodily-conditioned, religious, sexually-oriented, ethnic, mental-health conditioned or gender group,” Nacoste said. The term neo-diversity was coined by Nacoste himself, and was further discussed in his book, “How
INDEX
We Can Move From Anxiety to Respect.” According to Nacoste, communicating in today’s neo-diverse society can cause individuals to become anxious when it comes to interpersonal situations with people who are unlike themselves. “Anxiety lifts you from the reality of the situation,” he said. This can lead people to rely on hurtful stereotypes as a way to manage the interaction. In an effort to avoid these situations, Nacoste created a list of tips as a guide to avoiding mistakes and crashes in our complex interpersonal world. “Never try to interact with a person as a representative of a group,” Nacoste said. Each person is a unique individual, he said. See “DIVERSITY,” A2
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campuses across the country. Stockwell, of Long Island, also said he travels the country speaking to students. “We like to tell people how to go to heaven. Jesus is the only way,” Hole said. “I think the hate is coming from these kids. We aren’t saying anything that isn’t biblical.” Kim Garris, SU associate vice president of external relations, said she could not comment on the incident because it was not a university-sponsored event. The crowd of students fluctuated throughout the afternoon as people went to and from class. When the crowd began
to grow, SU administrators and staff encouraged them to leave the area. SU police brought barricades to the area around 3 p.m., seemingly as a precaution. Throughout the afternoon, officers monitored the demonstration from nearby. The demonstrators were escorted off campus by police about half an hour later. Students left the scene not long afterward. Assistant news editor Hannah Pollock and multimedia editor Meghan Schiereck contributed to this article.
Changes coming to Ship Link after end of contract Jenna Wise Editor-in-Chief
Meghan Schiereck/The Slate
Nacoste speaks to the audience in the Old Main Chapel on Monday. He discussed how people in today’s neo-diverse society often become anxious when interacting with people unlike themselves.
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A Shippensburg University networking platform will experience major changes in the upcoming months as part of a plan to increase online engagement with students. Ship Link, a networking service for student groups, is a Facebook-style site with which students and student groups can connect with one another. It is also a one-stop shop between the Student Government Association (SGA) and the services it offers on-campus groups. The platform is currently run by OrgSync, an online communication management system. However, SU’s contract with OrgSync is “coming to an end soon,” according to Sarah Schenk, assistant director for student group services and leadership development. The program launched several years ago. See “SHIP LINK,” A2
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A2 “DIVERSITY,” from A1 By relying on stereotypes, people not only hurt others, but deny themselves the chance to branch out socially and emotionally. Nacoste also recommends that if a group stereotype comes to mind, people should “acknowledge that stereotype for what it is to yourself, then psychologically set it aside.” By pushing stereotypes to the side, the speaker is able to communicate directly to the individual in a respectful manner. “Self-disclosures should be asked for gradually as a relationship develops,” he said. Rather than bombarding a person with a handful of personal questions, let them be the ones to tell you whenever they are ready to do so. This tip goes hand in hand with “going slow if the interaction is with a new acquaintance.”
Rushing an interpersonal relationship will just leave both parties feeling socially drained and frustrated. Nacoste also discussed the importance of not becoming violent in any social interaction, even if it does become heated. “If you find yourself in an intense social interaction, don’t attack,” Nacoste said. He believes that even if you are being attacked, you should not stoop to the other person’s level. Rather, an individual should stick to the behavioral standards that they have set for themselves. Remaining respectful in any and all social situations is the key to interacting well in a neo-diverse America. The event was sponsored by the climate survey workgroup, office of accessibility resources and office of social equity.
October 30, 2018
Students rally for justice, unity
Dave Krovich/The Slate
ACT (Ask. Communicate. Teach Tolerance.) held a “United We Stand Rally” on Tuesday in Old Main. Fania E. Davis, an activist and national leader in the social justice field, spoke to students. ACT works to help facilitate discussions of race that confront the day-to-day racial and cultural differences.
SU grad student remembered for love of sports, family Shannon Long News Editor A Shippensburg University mental health counseling graduate student Brad Hoey died on Oct. 25 at a New Jersey hospital. Hoey was born on May 9, 1993, and was raised in Teaneck and Oradell, New Jersey. He graduated from River Dell High School in 2011, received a bachelor’s degree from Kutztown University in 2016 and was to receive his master’s degree in mental health counseling from SU in 2019. Hoey planned to pursue a doctorate in sport’s psychology, according to an email from SU President Laurie Carter.
Hoey was a champion pole vaulter and was named “All Bergen County, 2011” at River Dell High School. He was part of the track and field team and a student assistant at Kutztown University. At SU, he was an assistant coach for the track team. He loved sports, teaching and coaching others. “In life he had many loves. His parents Donald and Janis, sister Alexandra, grandparents, Marilyn and Charlie, late grandparents Rita and Leo, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, girlfriend Caroline, close family friends, teammates and improving the world we live in. His longtime girlfriend Caroline Bruder, who he met at Kutztown University never left his side during his illness,
“SHIP LINK,” from A1 Once the university’s contract with OrgSync expires, SU plans to overhaul the site with a new OrgSync layout or choose a new provider entirely. “Ship Link will have a different look for the future,” Schenk said. OrgSync recently merged with Collegiate Labs, another communication system, to become Campus Labs. If SU decides it does not like the format of Campus Labs, it will begin the search for a new, cost-effective provider. One of the issues Schenk hopes to resolve — with or without a new provider — is student frustration over having to use Ship Link for their groups or personal use. Student groups are mandated to keep their rosters updated on their pages, and previously were required to attend Ship Link training before the platform launched. Groups that do not update their Ship Link pages are at risk of losing Student Government Association (SGA) recognition. This means that they cannot request a budget from SGA or use SGA services. Although there are more than 150 student group portals open on Ship Link, only some actively use their accounts, according to SGA vice president Makayla Glass. “Some groups are very active [on ShipLink],” Glass said. “If changes are made we want student input.” Schenk attributed student reluctance with using Ship Link to the fact that current SU students are used to pen-and-paper interactions with SGA. This will eventually not be a problem
surgery and rehabilitation in 2015. Their love for each other was pure and an inspiration. The entire Bruder Family embraced Brad into their lives and family,” the email read. He is remembered for his charismatic personality, kindness, humor and love for his family, teaching and coaching. Hoey is survived by his parents Janis and Donald Hoey, his sister Alexandra Hoey, as well as grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Funeral services will be held at Robert Schoem’s Menorah Chapel in Paramus, New Jersey on Oct. 29 at 11 a.m.
because all of the paper-and-pen students will have graduated, Schenk said. At that point, students will be trained on Ship Link from the beginning of their college careers. Another issue with OrgSync is its functionality. Ship Link’s website can be hard to navigate, causing some students to have difficulty accessing all of its features, as well as properly receiving emails and announcements, Glass said. “We are entertaining new platforms to see what works best,” Schenk said. “Leaving it the way it is now is not an option.” Schenk described Ship Link as a way for students to document their time at SU. The website allows students to “check in” to on-campus events by swiping their student IDs, which are linked to each student’s Ship Link account. It is also a way for SU’s administration and staff to study attendance and find out which events are most popular with students. “It’s a good way to track what events work, and what needs to be revamped to be more successful,” Schenk said. “It’s really beneficial as a means of communication.” Schenk said she knows of some features that would be beneficial to the platform. However, this will not be a quick process by any means, with Schenk describing the overhaul as “a lot of work on the back end.” Schenk said a survey will be sent to students before the end of the semester regarding the upcoming changes. The survey will be made available on students’ Ship Link accounts.
Shannon Long/The Slate
Deanna Hatcher (left) and Aliyah Mensah created a gun violence awareness event to honor those lost and spread awareness to college students.
SU students to host event to honor, remember victims of gun violence Shannon Long News Editor Two Shippensburg University students are coming together to host an event that honors and remembers victims of gun violence. Aliyah Mensah and Deanna Hatcher created an event called Living Through You, which will be held on Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m. in front of the Old Main fountain. The event will raise awareness of gun violence and celebrate the lives of those who have been lost because of gun violence. There will also be speakers at the event, a candle-lighting ceremony and balloon release. Mensah wanted to create an event to honor her cousin who was killed because of gun violence. Because she was so close to her cousin, she also wanted to create the event for people who may be grieving and going through the same type of loss. Hatcher teamed up with Mensah to create the event after she heard what Mensah was going through. She held a gun violence awareness event in Philadelphia for people ages 13 to 25. “I just wanted to bring a different outlook on gun violence to colleges,” Hatcher said. Hatcher hopes that the event lets people
know that they do not have to resort to guns to solve a conflict. “There’s other ways to handle a situation,” Hatcher said. She also wants the event to show that people can rise above gun violence and empower younger generations to do the right thing. Mensah’s goal is to not take away anyone’s rights, but to bring awareness and emphasize that the lives that are being taken are someone’s family member. “I’m also doing this event to bring other students together on campus who are going through the same thing I’m going through and don’t have a support system,” Mensah said. Hatcher hopes the event will empower students to stay on the right track and be the best they can be. “Just keep in mind that no one’s judging you for things that you may have done in life. We’re moving forward. We’re trying to bring people together who want to change and make a change,” Mensah said. Those who attend the event are encouraged to wear red, orange or a shirt with a loved one on it. Anyone with questions can contact Mensah at am4732@ship.edu.
Panel discusses high-stakes midterm elections, importance of media in politics
Cleaning The Slate
The Slate staff strives to provide readers with the most accurate content, but sometimes we miss the mark. Here, you will find corrections to fact errors we made from the previous week. The Slate staff apologizes for these errors. In the Oct. 23 issue, on E1, The Slate published an article stating that the Red Raider football team went to PSAC playoffs last year. The team actually went to NCAA playoffs. In the Oct. 23 issue, on C1, it was stated that Shippensburg University was second to Pennsylvania State University in the number of international students enrolled in the state system. The article should have compared SU to Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Dave Krovich/The Slate
The communication/journalism department hosted a midterm election panel Wednesday with panelists (from left) Alison Dagnes, professor of political science; Kyle Heim, assistant professor of communication/journalism; Misty Knight, associate professor of human communication studies and John Micek, opinion editor of PennLive and The Patriot-News. The panel covered the effects of today’s media climate on elections and the importance of midterm elections.
October 30, 2018
NEWS
Your World Today
Campus Police Briefs
Neglecting gun control causes innocent deaths
Theft reported in Lackhove Hall
a Band-Aid over a much larger issue. Today, a lot of the political back-and-forth over gun control stems from the nature of the system itself. For conservatives, giving Jenna Wise Editor-in-Chief in on gun control means letting liberals “win.” It also means letting down the people who elected them, many of whom are Eleven more lives. strict conservatives who That is how many were will die protecting their lost Saturday in a mass gun rights. shooting at a Pittsburgh There is also the federal synagogue, adding to a government’s long and negrowing list of lives lost farious ties to the National from gun violence. Rifle Association (NRA), This issue, as well as which for its own purposes how it connects to the Con- has done nothing to enstitution, is one that politi- courage safe firearm usage. cians have been disagreeIt was the NRA that preing about for years. Their viously blocked governconstituents, meanwhile, ment-funded gun violence are dying at the hands of research and a proposed people who should have assault weapons ban, acnever had access to guns in cording to Business Insidthe first place. er. With an organization as On the day of the shoot- powerful as the NRA in the ing, President Donald mix, it is hard to push for Trump sidestepped ques- legislation that defies its tions of whether gun vio- agenda. lence played a role in the Many Americans do not shooting. Instead, he said, want increased gun regulathe synagogue should have tion because they believe it had armed security inside. takes away from their right Yes — armed security in- to bear arms, as granted by side a religious institution. the Second Amendment. We have a serious probIf someone owns guns lem if the U.S. has reached and has passed the necesthe point where it needs to sary background checks, arm everyone to keep them there is no harm in allowsafe. In doing so, the coun- ing them to buy a gun. try is becoming dangerous- Many liberals and conserly militaristic and putting vatives agree on this point.
Commentary
Azjuana C. Carter-Jones, of Lackhove Hall, came to university police on Oct. 18 at approximately 3:30 p.m. to report an item missing from her room. Carter-Jones reported that a Beats by Dre Pill+ speaker was stolen from her room. She reported that she had last seen the speaker in the room prior to fall break, but upon returning she could not locate the speaker. The missing speaker is valued at approximately $240. Car damaged in general parking lot Conner Rhodes, of Saxton, Pennsylvania, came to university police on Oct. 20 to report damage to his 2015 Ford Focus while it was parked in the G-1 general parking lot. Unknown person or persons damaged the mirror by either kicking or punching it causing the mirror glass to shatter. No suspects have been identified, and no damage estimate has yet been received. Lackhove Hall resident charged with possession of marijuana, disorderly conduct Khaliaf Alston Jr., 18, of Lackhove Hall, was charged with possession of marijuana and disorderly conduct in connection with an incident that occurred on Oct. 19 at approximately 9:30 p.m. in Naugle Hall. Alston was taken into custody and was then transported to the Cumberland County Booking Center for processing. Student charged with possession of drug paraphernalia Zhion A. Wesley, 19, of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia in connection with an incident that occurred on Oct. 20. Officers found two individuals sleeping inside a parked vehicle in the F/S-7 parking lot at approximately 5:30 a.m., and approached them to check on their welfare. During the investigation, drug paraphernalia was found inside the vehicle and was determined to belong to Wesley. Charges were filed before the local magisterial district judge in Shippensburg.
State Police Briefs Criminal mischief reported on Richard Avenue Nicholas Hosfelt, 22, of Chambersburg, and Darlene Ruiz, 21, of Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania, reported damage to the side mirrors of their vehicles that were parked on Richard Avenue between Oct. 20 at 10 p.m. and Oct. 21 at 12:30 p.m. Anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper Todd Carper from the Pennsylvania State Police in Carlisle at 717-249-2121.
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The arguments start when someone brings up their rights. “I should have the right to do this.” Or, “By taking this away you’re taking away my rights as an American.” Someone who wants a gun for protection or hunting does not need a weapon with the ability to cause mass destruction. While background checks can prolong the process of getting one, responsible owners have nothing to worry about; the checks are only keeping the wrong people from getting ahold of weapons they should not have. Meanwhile, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence reported that 96 people will die each day on average from gun violence. The U.S. has had so many chances to combat this issue, and more people die every day because it is still unresolved. The senseless tragedy in Pittsburgh is made even worse by the fact that in a few weeks its story will disappear from the news. The public will move on, and our politicians will breathe a sigh of relief that they can go back to ignoring the issue. But until we get on the same page regarding gun control, the blood of these people is on our hands too.
This Week on Campus
Underage drinking reported on North Queen Street and Richard Avenue
Stress Management
Adulting 101
Concert
Nicholas C. Engle, 20, was found in possession of three Miller Lite beers while underage on Oct. 20 at approximately 11:30 p.m. at the intersection of North Queen Street and Richard Avenue.
• The Counseling Center will be hosting a stress management and adjustment workshop on Tuesday from 2:30 –3:30 p.m. in the CUB Room 119.
• The Ezra Lehman Memorial Library will be hosting Adulting 101 on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in Room 106.
• There will be a brass and string ensembles concert on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Old Main Chapel.
Performance
Laser Tag
• Act V will be performing the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. in the CUB MPR.
• APB will be hosting laser tag on Friday at 9 p.m. in the CUB MPR.
Colleges Against Cancer
Harassment and public drunkenness reported on North Queen Street Tyler M. Sowa, 22, was accused of assaulting a 42-year-old male while intoxicated on Oct. 20 at approximately 12:45 p.m. on North Queen Street. Criminal or simple trespass reported on Bard Drive Melanie Kent, 21, of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, reported that an unknown male entered her residence on Bard Drive on Oct. 20 at approximately 12:15 p.m. Criminal mischief reported on North Queen Street Madison Ernst, 19, of Enola, Pennsylvania, reported damage to the rear windshield of her 2012 Chevrolet Cruze parked on North Queen Street on Oct. 21 between midnight and 2:10 a.m. Ernst noticed the rear windshield of her car was broken, but the actor had fled the scene. The damage is valued at $200.
• Colleges Against Cancer Kick Off will be held on Wednesday from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. in the academic quad.
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Opinion
The Slate Speaks
Discussion must be started on trans rights Let’s face it. Talking about gender and sex is uncomfortable and confusing. It makes grown adults squirm in their seats while others go their whole lives avoiding it. But, it’s a necessary discussion to have to better understand ourselves and the people around us. In order to understand the changes that the Department of Health and Human Services is attempting to make regarding gender assignment, a clear understanding of gender and sex is required. According to The New York Times, a proposed new definition would define gender as determined “on a biological basis that is clear, grounded in science, objective and administrable.” The agency’s proposed definition would define sex as either male or female, unchangeable and determined by the genitals that a person is born with, according to a draft reviewed by The Times. Any question or confusion about someone’s sex would be determined by genetic testing. The change in definition would roll back civil rights protections created under the Obama Administration, such as protections against discrimination at work or schools for transgender people. The change in language and definition intensifies the shroud of confusion already surrounding the
meaning of gender and sex. While there is overlap between the definitions of the two terms, they are two different things. The Shippensburg University Pride Center defines sex as “a medical term used to refer to the chromosomal, hormonal and anatomical characteristics that are used to classify an individual as female or male or intersex. Often referred to as simply “sex,” “physical sex,” “anatomical sex,” or specifically as “sex assigned [or designated] at birth,’” and gender as “the external display of one’s gender, through a combination of dress, demeanor, social behavior and other factors, generally measured on scales of masculinity and femininity.” The most important difference is that gender is a cultural characteristic (for example, having a traditionally male name, wearing clothes from the men’s department, having a beard and deep voice would imply you are male) and sex is a biological characteristic (for example, having an XY chromosome combination implies that you are male). The changes to Title XI would essentially define gender as the same as sex and as a biological characteristic. Part of this misunderstanding circles back around to the fact that talking about gender and sex is uncomfortable. American society as a whole needs to
do a better job discussing sensitive issues. Dancing around topics like this not only harms transgender individuals, but cisgender individuals as well. Cisgender is defined by the Pride Center as “a person whose gender identity and biological sex assigned at birth align (e.g., man and male-assigned). A simple way to think about it is if a person is not trans, they are cisgender.” Cisgender people are the majority, and it is their responsibility as the majority to educate themselves, and then educate others. This may seem like a large and unwanted responsibility, but with nearly 90 percent more cisgender people in the U.S. than transgender people, it is the least a person can do for someone who isn’t protected by the law. The only way to make talking about gender, sex and transgender rights less uncomfortable is to talk about it, and talk about it often. Transgender people deserve to have their rights and identities protected, and we must help protect them. The SU Pride Center has a list of terms and definitions available to read at https://www.ship.edu/Pride/ lgbtq_definitions/. All LGBT and pride related resources are available to read at https://www.ship.edu/Pride.
Meghan Schiereck/The Slate
Above is a chart describing the differences between the terms “gender” and “sex.” Discussing topics such as these can be uncomfortable, but it is necessary to properly assist the LGBT community.
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Demonstration not representative of Christianity
Katie McKinley Guest Writer My name is Katie and I am one of the most liberal people you may ever meet. I am also a devout Christian. Believe it or not, “liberal Christian” is not an oxymoron. I believe wholeheartedly in God and that Christ lived and died for me, and I also strongly believe that women should be treated equally to their male counterparts. I attend church every Sunday, and I also regularly attend protest marches in Washington, D.C., to advocate against guns and women’s rights violations and family separation. Jesus is my savior, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg is my hero. I could go on, but I digress. My point is — those men in front of the library on Tuesday, preaching hate and division, do not speak for me and to the best of my knowledge, do not speak for the overwhelming majority of Christians on this campus. Something these men, and others who share their views do not understand is that I am not so liberal in spite of my religion — I am so liberal because of my religion. My God doesn’t just represent love, he is love and he embodies what it is to love. The demonstrators had a lot to say about love, but they did not have a lot of love to spread. They did get one thing right though: as Christians it is our mission to spread God’s love to everyone. This is precisely why these men, while they may call themselves Christians, are not truly men of faith. They are not Christians. If they were, they would know that God doesn’t want their hateful false gospel. See, in his time, Jesus hung out with the worst people you could imagine. Tax collectors, thieves, prostitutes. He listened to them, spoke to them and he loved them.
Jesus encouraged women to hear his messages when he preached and he regularly spoke with them in public and in private. Are you really going to tell me that Jesus is not the OG feminist? So even if these men believed homosexuality to be a sin, which it is not, God would still love the people doing it. And those people, if they became believers, would be saved all the same. God’s love is not conditional. God loves all the things he created, and if Jesus were alive in 2018, he would not have been standing on a stool with those men, hurling hatred at young people. He would have been on the ground with us, telling those men to go in peace and to not preach false gospel. I, a professed believer and someone who is saved, was told by these so-called Christians that I was “wicked.” A friend and fellow believer pointed out a verse to me, proving these men to be frauds. John 15:23 says “Whoever hates me hates my Father as well,” meaning that if someone claims to hate the child of God, they aren’t just hating that person, but God himself. That is just one example of how misguided these men were in their statements. So many of the things they said made me want to scream, but all I could do was hold my sign up as far over my head as my aching shoulders would allow: “THESE MEN ARE NOT CHRISTIANS.” So to my LGBT friends on campus: do not be afraid of someone wearing a cross. We are not those men. We love you, we accept you, we know you cannot change and we do not want you to. God made you perfectly, just the way you were meant to be. And if that means you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, queer, or anything and everything else, you are loved — by me and by God. Also, the Pride Center is open Monday through Thursday from noon to 7 p.m. and Friday from noon to 5 p.m. in the Ceddia Union Building Room 231. Go. Be proud.
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Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Ship Life
New center creates safe place for LGBTQ community to gather Ali Laughman Copy Editor
Shippensburg University’s Pride Center opened its doors to students last Tuesday, with an official ribbon -cutting ceremony led by SU graduate student Dani Zinn. “I’m excited for the turnout,” Zinn said while students and staff gathered around the entrance of the center. “I feel it was necessary,” senior marketing major Bria Stevenson said about the opening of the Pride Center. “I was the manager on duty that handled [the vandalism of the Students Advocating for Equality (SAFE) office].” Stevenson went on to mention how important support for LGBT students is. “We finally have a place to do that,” Stevenson said. SU’s Activities Programming Board (APB) was
present during the ribbon cutting, in hopes to make ties with the Pride Center to make programming on campus open to all students. “We serve all students and want to be more inclusive,” APB president Evan Redding said.
“Every student deserves to feel supported, and that’s really important.” Laurie Carter SU President
The Pride Center is devoted to offering “a welcoming and safe environment, a wide variety of helpful resources and referrals and a place of contact for concerns related to LGBTQ+ communities,” according to ship.edu. “I’m willing to meet them where they (LGBT students)
A Raider’s View
Trans are people too Raider Muse Staff Columnist
With the uprising of hatred for transgender individuals in the eyes of the government, President Donald Trump has shown his disapproval of the LGBT community by defining gender strictly on the sex characteristics of biological men and women. By doing this he could effectively eradicate the trans identity within the eyes of legislation. You may be thinking: “Well, what does this mean for trans individuals?” By defining gender inside the confines of the law, this could potentially make it impossible for trans individuals to get healthcare without applying with their biological sex. Individuals who have transitioned but have birth certificates still representative of their biological sex could be denied passports to travel. This can also prove dangerous for trans individuals, due to the already lax protections for them in the eyes of violence. As of November of last year, 29 trans individuals were killed in the United States in violence-related acts, as well as in situations of domestic violence, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Without protections against violence, trans people are at a higher risk of transphobic acts of violence. With Trump’s ill-imagined campaign to prove how anti-LGBT he actually is, trans individuals could also be denied access to gender confirmation surgery, which is vital in the mental health and livelihood of some trans folk. Dr. Jochen Hess of the Essen University Hospital in Germany conducted a survey of 156 people who
had gender confirmation surgery, where they evaluated quality of life after surgery. “It’s very important that we have good data on [quality of life] in transgender people,” Hess said, according to Medical News Today. “[Trans individuals] generally have a worse quality of life than non-transgender population with higher rates of stress and mental illness, so it’s good that surgery can change this.” If the government actually goes through with defining gender in the same category of biological sex (one being internal representation of self and the other being explained with biological genitalia) the little freedom trans individuals have to receive gender confirmation surgery will be dismantled. Some things we as Shippensburg University students can do to influence trans equality is to understand the politicians who are running. Voting can possibly lead to the removal of the homophobe currently sitting in the Oval Office, and replacing him with someone who values LGBT individuals as human beings. Another thing we as students can do is to expose businesses that claim to be “equal opportunity,” except for when employees are trans. The last thing on a list of many is to respect trans folk as individuals. Trans folk are not your “new trans friend,” or an object to allow you to “learn about the community.” Respect goes a long way. Being an ally takes zero effort, and is important for the survival of those from the LGBT community.
are,” Zinn said. She also mentioned that some students may not feel comfortable coming into the center if they are still having doubts about their sexual preference or gender identity. “Every student deserves to feel supported, and that’s really important,” SU President Laurie Carter said. The ceremony came to a close as people stayed to mingle with friends and classmates, grab refreshments and some cake. Others stayed in the lounge area located outside of the Pride Center to enjoy company of those in favor of making SU a safe place for LGBT students. “To see where we’ve come from, and where we are now, it’s super exciting to receive some kind of safe haven,” said Javita Thompson, director of first-year experience and community engagement.
Breann Sheckells/The Slate
The Pride Center held its grand opening last Tuesday to create a support system for all students. The entire SU campus was invited to celebrate the event.
LSO’s Latino Explosion brings the circus to SU Alexsis Williams Guest Writer
Shippensburg University’s Latino Student Organization (LSO) did it again with its annual Latino Explosion on Friday. The Latino Explosion is a follow-up event to its annual Youth Summit Conference hosted earlier in the day for grades four to 12. This year’s theme was a circus. There were many extraordinary performances and festivities. As students entered the event, they could feel the vibrant cultural music emerging from the speakers and the distinct aroma of the different cultural dishes. While students were mingling and enjoying the atmosphere, LSO members were offering many tasty carnival treats, including cotton candy, fried Oreos, popcorn and even snow cones. The members of the organization and their family members prepared a menu of traditional Spanish dishes. The dinner included a variety of different flavorful types of chicken, pernil, which is a popular dish containing pork, kabobs and several rice dishes. Traditional Latino desserts, such as tres leches and flan, were also offered to attendees. LSO President Ramses Ovalles was very happy with the outcome of the event. “I’m so proud of LSO, we really put a lot of work into this event, and as a whole would like to thank everyone for coming out and supporting it really makes all the work worth it,” Ovalles said. “We would encourage all Ship students to stay on the lookout and to come out to our LSO conference for college students in the spring semester.”
Events hosted by LSO, like the Latino Explosion, help educate SU students and the members of different cultures within the Shippensburg community. These events also provided activities for the students to mingle and interact. The most popular was the photo booth, where friends and family gathered around, took pictures with props and made lasting moments. A balloon artist also crafted different shapes and characters. Throughout the event there were astonishing performances that manifested the circus theme. The performances were by an African ladder-man with superb balance, a female juggler, who juggled vibrant neon colored hula hoops throughout the event and an ur-
ban break-dancing crew. The event concluded with performances by a sword swallowing magician, which set off the carnival theme. “Ultimately, this has been one of the most welcoming school events hosted by the Latino Student Organization. The food was outstandingly tasteful, the music was vibrant and youthful and the atmosphere was bright yet welcoming,” junior Danielle Williams said. LSO made the event an explosion by going above and beyond with the festivities and highlighting what they are and why they are established at SU. LSO is open to all students, so if you are interested in joining, visit the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs in Gilbert Hall.
Meghan Schiereck/The Slate
One of the many performances of LSO’s Latino Explosion night was a female juggler juggling hula hoops as a part of its circus theme.
Question of the Week:
Do you have any plans for Halloween this year?
“For Halloween this year I’m snuggling up in my bed and watching ‘Hocus Pocus’ on repeat.”
“I plan on going to do the scavenger hunt at Bard and hand out some candy for Halloween.”
“For Halloween this year, my friends and I plan to get together to watch spookcentric movies.”
Haley Jeszenka, junior
Alex Hollis, junior
Emma Starr, senior
D1
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
A&E
Photo courtesy of Scottie Moore
(From left to right) Joseph Williams, frontman and vocalist; David Paich, keyboardist; Steve Porcaro, keyboardist; Steve Lukather, bassist, decided to reunite in 2010 after a hiatus to play several concerts to benefit former drummer of the band, Mike Porcaro, who died in 2015 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Joseph Williams talks about music, life during Toto’s 40th trip around the sun Jonathan Bergmueller A&E Editor Some people spend their entire lives trying to escape the shadow of their parents. Joseph Williams, frontman for the rock band Toto and son of American composer and conductor John Williams, has defined himself as an individual musician, as much as he has carried on the musical legacy of his father. Williams Jr., 56, was born in Santa Monica, California. His mother is actress Barbara Ruick and his father is John Williams, a famous musician well-known for composing the music to the “Star Wars” movies. At the beginning of his career as a musician, Williams Jr. was most influenced by artists like Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. He began singing when he was a teenager, and often replaced his sister in her band when she was sick. “I just started singing high tenor stuff since then and never looked back,” Williams Jr. said. Williams Jr. first joined Toto in 1986 after the group cycled through several lead vocalists. Williams Jr. grew up with the group and was friends with the original members before he successfully auditioned for the part. He stayed with the
group for about two years before he left. After his departure from Toto, Williams Jr. composed soundtracks for television and film, not unlike his father. He said that while his father excelled in the art of composing film scores, it is an arduous process. “If you grew up in that household and took a look at what he was doing, you might turn around in the opposite direction and run for the hills,” Williams Jr. said. “I gave my best shot at trying to do what he does, and it’s very, very difficult,” he said. “His job is sometimes more like fixing watches than creating music.” Williams Jr. said his father is very supportive of him. Though he has come to his son’s concerts in the past, he is 86 years old now and does not do so much anymore. “He still works his ass off. He’s actually getting ready to start the next ‘Star Wars’ film, if you believe that,” Williams said. “He’s in better shape than me in a lot of ways.” Williams Jr. was able to work with his father in composing tracks for the “Star Wars” movies. “I got to work onx three of them. I did two pieces on the original before George Lucas changed ‘Return of the Jedi,’ and I did a piece at the end of Episode 1 — that parade
piece. Then I did a little 50s-type café during ‘Attack of the Clones,’” Williams Jr. said. Williams Jr. explained the difference between working on albums in a rock band and working on an album with a rock band. “You’re more of a technician than an artist,” Williams Jr. said of writing for film and television. “When you’re in a rock band, you’re writing songs to satisfy yourself.” “You cannot really interject what is in your own vision. It has to suit what they want,” Williams Jr. said. “That’s why they hired you — because there’s something in your style that’s going to serve what they want.” Williams Jr. said that the directors and producers will not use a lot of what the composer produces. “Sometimes you write some things that might be the best stuff of your life and they go ‘we don’t like it.’” It then comes down to the composer to do whatever it takes to make the client happy, he said. Williams Jr. described the process as psychologically difficult. “It’s a completely different animal,” he said. “Like I said, it’s like fixing watches — fine, detailed work.” In spite of the difficulties of working in television and film, Williams Jr. loves both.
“I worked in TV and film when I was raising my kids. I had a chance to be home with them and raise them. I have college graduates. It worked great for me,” Williams Jr. said. “Now that they’re grown, I love the idea of being able to leave town and go sing on stage five nights a week.” Williams Jr.’s favorite personal project was singing the vocals to Simba’s voice as an adult in “The Lion King.” Though he tried, he was not able to reprise the role in later installments. “If you want to be a character’s voice, you want to be in the original. I’m proud to be a part of that one. I’m proud to be in a Disney classic,” Williams Jr. said. Williams Jr., and the rest of Toto, love the recent resurgence of their song “Africa” on the internet. “We’ve seen a huge jump in younger people coming to see our show. It’s because of the gift of a song like Africa,” Williams Jr. said. “Whether it’s like a jokey version or real version, it’s always popular. You always see it online. We’ve just embraced it.” In response, Williams Jr. said that Toto will be showing off a special rendition of the song in concert. “We do a really great long version in our show, which is really fun. It’s
long, it’s like a nine- or 10-minute version.” Toto’s most recent project, “40 Trips Around the Sun,” celebrates the 40th anniversary of the debut of the band’s first album, self-titled “Toto.” The project began as a greatest hits album that included three previously unreleased tracks, which was released Feb. 9. A box set version of all the records Toto has ever released, called “All In,” will be released Nov. 30. This will include a brand-new 10song album called “Old is New,” which is a collection of several remastered Toto hits. In addition to these releases, Toto is on the road touring across North America. Next year the band will play across Australia, New Zealand and Japan, and then make its way into Europe next summer. “It’s a really good show, and if you’re a musician, you’re gonna really dig it because we are some of the best musicians on the planet. Everyone on that stage is a virtuoso,” Williams Jr. said. “It’s a great two-hour show that celebrates the 40-year anniversary.” Williams Jr. and the rest of Toto will storm the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center on Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at luhrscenter.com.
The Reflector hosts Halloween open mic Jessica Knapp Staff Writer
Jonathan Bergmueller/The Slate
The Shippensburg University Department of Music and Theatre Arts presented “Yonderspeak,” a short play festival which featured four different plays. The festival took place in Memorial Auditorium Room 100 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. In the above photo, Elizabeth Ramey-Cavanaugh (left) and Katherine Hargrove (right) perform the opening scene in the short play “The Office” by Kate Hoffower. “The Office” explores what women do when they are alone and can let their hair down. In addition to “The Office,” the festival featured “Pagliacci Justice” by Benjamin Greenberg, “Lost Satellites” by Eugenie Carabatsos and “The Informer” by Bertolt Brecht. Paris Peet, house manager and producing director, organized the event.
Shippensburg University’s undergraduate journal of the arts, The Reflector, hosted a community-wide open mic and poetry reading at the Shippensburg Arts Programming and Education (SHAPE) Gallery Friday night. Both Reflector members and local attendees shared the microphone with a Halloween-themed twist. While some performed live readings of classic spine-tingling poems like Edgar Allan Poe’s “Annabel Lee” and an Old English telling of the epic poem “Beowulf,” others took the mic to share original poetry. The Reflector’s editor-in-chief, Chris Carragher, kicked off the event by reciting two original poems. “This isn’t just a Ship event,” Carragher said. “It’s more of a community event.”
Jessica Knapp/The Slate
In addition to hosting The Reflector’s open mic, the SHAPE Gallery also displayed several exhibits corresponding to the theme of “Alone” throughout the month of October. In the past, The Reflector has held its open mic nights at McFeely’s Coffeehouse on campus. By occasionally switching up venues, the event becomes much more open and accessible to the Shippensburg community. “This is a tradition that the previous editor-in-chief established,” Carragher said. Friday night’s reading
marks The Reflector’s third open mic night held at the SHAPE Gallery. Undergraduates interested in contributing to the journal should send submissions to reflect@ship.edu for consideration no later than Friday, Nov. 16. Read the full story at theslateonline.com.
A&E
October 30, 2018
D2
Commentary: ‘Venom’ not as poisonous as critics say Jonathan Bergmueller A&E Editor We walked into the theater to celebrate my friend’s birthday, dragging our expectations along the carpet. In spite of our pessimistic outlook walking in, Sony’s “Venom” managed to leave us laughing and engaged, setting aside a less-than-coherent plot. Anti-superhero-themed movies have risen to the forefront since Warner Brothers’ DC Extended Universe release of “Suicide Squad” in 2016. These movies place the villain in the shoes of the protagonist in an ironic show of anti-heroism. “Venom” follows the story of investigative journalist Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy), who loses his career and fiancée after he takes a shot at the Life Foundation, a big corporation that is performing unethical experiments to try to bond alien parasites to human hosts. Brock eventually infiltrates the Life Foundation’s lab and retrieves proof of the experiments — but at a cost. One of the symbiote aliens’ bonds to Brock and introduces itself as “Venom,” who
only Brock can hear. Venom allows Brock to transform into a fearsome, black tarlike creature with super-human powers and a penchant for eating live prey. Critics lambasted the film for being noisy and unfocused. It earned a critical score of 30 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, even though the average audience rating score was 87 percent. “The ingratiating eccentricities of ‘Venom’ aren’t enough to really distinguish the movie from its superhero-movie brethren as it devolves into the usual expensive orgy of sound, fury and wisecracking,” said Glenn Kenny, a critic at The New York Times. Though the film did have some issues crafting a coherent and well-paced plot, this could be chalked up to the amount of content that was cut from the final movie. Hardy said in an interview with ComicsExplained that his favorite scenes were cut from the movie. The final act seemed incredibly rushed; the climax of the film stung the audience and suddenly shifted to the resolution. Still, “Venom” was fun and light-hearted. The for-
mula between Hardy and his demonic counterpart Venom was well-done. The conversations between the two make perfect sense because the audience can hear Venom’s voice, even though the supporting characters cannot. Selectively ignoring Venom’s voice in Brock’s mind, however, yielded a different paradigm in which the audience could empathize with the people around Brock who think he is completely insane. The writers’ sense of humor kept the dark film from slipping into the abyss of horror. Venom made short work of any bad guys that tried to cross Brock. Meanwhile, Brock had to keep Venom’s carnivorous impulses in check like a parent teaching a child self-restraint. This created many flippant scenes in which Brock, focused on survival, scolded Venom, who wanted to eat the heads of their defeated foes. Though “Venom” was not the ultimate anti-superhero that many fans probably hoped for, it was an enjoyable and fun release from the otherwise morally straight superhero tropes.
Act V Theatre Co. to present: ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ Jonathan Bergmueller A&E Editor Shippensburg University’s Act V Theatre Co. presented its shadow-cast rendition of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” on Monday and will have another showing Wednesday evening at 9:30 p.m. “Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a ’70s film that has gained a cult following over the years. As more people flocked to the film, members of the audience began to talk back to the screen, dress as characters and even perform the show alongside the film. Act V’s shadow-cast production, directed by SU senior Nick McKim, will feature just this. The characters on the stage will lipsync and act out the movie to the film being played behind them, and the audience will participate in the fun that is to come.
Movie Showtimes Showtimes for Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 30 and 31 at AMC Classic 7 in Chambersburg
Show
Times
1. Halloween
7:00 p.m.
2. Venom
7:30 p.m.
3. A Star Is Born
7:10 p.m.
4. First Man
7:05 p.m.
5. Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
7:15 p.m.
6. Smallfoot
4:45 p.m.
7. Night School
7:20 p.m.
Billboard Top 10 1. Girls Like You - Maroon 5 feat. Cardi B
6. Happier - Marshmello & Bastille
2. ZEZE - Kodak Black feat. Travis Scott & Offset
7. Sicko Mode - Travis Scott feat. Drake
3. Lucid Dreams - Juice WRLD
8. Drip Too Hard - Lil Baby & Gunna
4. Better Now - Post Malone
9. Youngblood - 5 Seconds of Summer
5. MIA - Bad Bunny feat. Drake
10. Shallow - Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
E1
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Sports
Field hockey, E3
Volleyball, E2
Offense looks stellar against Bald Eagles
Football bounces back from tough loss with offensive explosion
Photo courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.
The receiving core for the Red Raiders has been a strong point for SU this season. The unit has racked up 26 scores this season, led by Josh Gontarek’s eight. Nate Powles Sports Editor Thanks to a huge performance from redshirt-freshman quarterback Brycen Mussina and the Red Raider offense in the second half, the Shippensburg University football team claimed a 56– 37 win over a fellow Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) squad in Lock Haven University (LHU). Mussina continued to improve from week to week and had the most efficient outing of his season so far. In the defeat to Kutztown University last weekend, he threw for more than 500 yards and four touchdowns, but had two interceptions. This week, Mussina finished with just less than 300 yards, but had five touchdowns with no turnovers. It was only the second time all season that Mussina did not throw an interception, and first since the opening game of the season against Clarion University. Unlike the Kutztown game, the SU offense did
not need to completely rely on its passing game to carry the team. The run attack had its best game since the one against Millersville University a couple weeks ago. As a unit, it racked up 231 total yards — 152 of which came from redshirt-sophomore running back Raleigh Sirb. The yardage was a career-high for Sirb and was the first time a Raider reached the 100-yard mark this season. Senior quarterback Chase Yocum also had a good day running the ball on the way to claiming a school record. Yocum passed former starting quarterback Ryan Zapoticky for most career rushing yards for a quarterback in SU history (1,289). He had 56 yards rushing on Saturday with two touchdowns. Yocum also took some snaps on special teams, serving as the kick returner on a couple occasions. He even had a 66-yard return to open the second half. SU trailed for the majority of the game and continuously had to claw its way back
into the game. The defense did not have its best performance, allowing 449 total yards to the Bald Eagles, but the unit tightened up and limited the LHU offense in the second half. SU forced three turnovers and sacked Tobias twice — one apiece from redshirt-senior linemen Richard Nase and John Durkin. The Bald Eagles scored on both of their first drives of the game, running out to an early 10–0 lead. The Red Raider offense got the jumpstart it needed thanks to a Terez Franklin interception of LHU quarterback Cameron Tobias. The redshirt-sophomore defensive back picked him off at LHU’s own 11-yard line, giving his offense little work to do. Yocum did all the work, ending the drive with a 2-yard touchdown scamper to make it 10–7 as time wound down in the first quarter. SU took its first lead of the game just three minutes into the second, after a big 22yard run from Sirb brought
the ball into LHU territory. Sirb carried the offense the rest of the way, before Mussina found his favorite target in redshirt-junior wide receiver Josh Gontarek for a 10-yard score. Gontarek finished with a career-high three touchdowns and 58 yards, continuing his streak of impressive performances. The Bald Eagles did not stay down and responded with two consecutive touchdowns to take the lead back, scoring with just more than a minute remaining in the first half to make it 23–14. The Red Raiders came out flying to start the second half, as Yocum’s big return put the offense at the LHU 31. Mussina had a couple short completions before finding Gontarek for another score on a short pass over the middle. The defense came up big on the following drive, as redshirt-senior defensive lineman Dakota Thompson tackled Tobias and forced a fumble inside LHU territory to make it a short field for the SU offense once again. The Red Raiders capital-
ized quickly, only needing one play to recapture the lead. Mussina went back to Gontarek for his third consecutive score on a 16-yard completion. The LHU offense would respond immediately, as Tobias threw his third and final touchdown of the day to make it 30–28 in favor of the Bald Eagles midway through the third quarter. The teams started moving downfield at free will, as the Red Raiders were led by Sirb — who had 63 yards on the drive — before Yocum ran it in from two yards for his second of the day. SU started pulling away at this point and the offense scored on its fourth drive in a row on a 26-completion to redshirt-freshman receiver Mari Wright to push the score to 42–30 in favor of the Red Raiders. All Sirb’s hard work finally paid off, as he broke off a 13yard run for a touchdown for the team’s fifth consecutive scoring drive. After the defense gave up a huge 86-yard run to LHU
running back Chantz Swartz, the offense extended the deficit with the final score of the game, making it 56–37. Mussina connected with star redshirt-sophomore receiver Winston Eubanks for only the fifth time in the game, but it was a 53-yard completion for a touchdown. Redshirt-junior defensive back Jailen Harmon really sealed the victory with his second interception of the season and the defense’s third turnover of the day. The Red Raiders looked sharp after a disappointing loss in the homecoming game to the rival Golden Bears last weekend and returned to winning form. Only two matchups remain on the schedule, as East Stroudsburg University comes to Seth Grove Stadium for SU’s final home stand of the season, before the season rounds out with a trip to Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Kickoff for the matchup with the Warriors is at 1 p.m. this Saturday.
Sleva starts off strong as French league gets underway Noah Shatzer Guest Writer While the NBA has finally tipped off in the United States, another professional basketball league is underway overseas in France, with a familiar face taking part. Shippensburg University men’s basketball all-time leading scorer, Dustin Sleva, signed with Paris Basketball over the summer, and has appeared in all three of the team’s opening games of the regular season. Sleva, who has taken on the role of the team’s starting power forward, has averaged 25 minutes in the three games, producing 10 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists. The former Raider has remained just as efficient overseas, shooting 53.1 percent from the floor and a respectable 38.5 percent from three. His most recent match against Poitiers Basket saw
Sleva complete his best game of the regular season for Paris, scoring a team-high 15 points on 15 shots. The power forward also grabbed 4 rebounds in the contest, but Paris fell to Poitiers 70-68, dropping the team to 0-3 on the young Pro B season. Sleva also received major playing time during the team’s games in the ongoing LNB Pro B Founders Cup, a tournament composed of all of the teams in the league that is played during the course of the regular season. In the five Founders Cup games in which he played, Sleva averaged 10 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks, and shot an efficient 53.1 percent from the floor. His play was a huge part of Paris Basketball’s strong showing in the group stage, highlighted by a 20-point game on 8 of 11 shooting in Sleva’s professional debut with the team. Paris Basket-
ball finished the group stage with a record of three wins and one loss, earning the seventh seed, but sadly fell in the quarterfinal round to the second-ranked Lille team. The team Sleva is playing for, Paris Basketball, is a brand-new team playing in the LNB Pro B League, the second-tier men’s professional basketball league in France. The team is headed by former NBA GM David Kahn, who gained notoriety during his tenure as the president of basketball operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves when he drafted three point guards in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft, while passing on Steph Curry. Paris Basketball will play 31 more games in their debut season. Game highlights can be found on the league’s website: https://www.lnb.fr/fr/.
Photo courtesy of Dustin Sleva’s Twitter (@2sleevs)
Alumnus Dustin Sleva has begun adapting to life in professional basketball.
SPORTS
October 30, 2018
E2
Volleyball gets back on track before PSAC playoffs Nate Powles Sports Editor After a tough pair of losses last weekend, the Shippensburg University volleyball team got back on track on Friday and Saturday with strong wins over Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) competition in Slippery Rock University and Edinboro University. Coach Leanne Piscotty said the team had a meeting on Thursday to refocus and get out of the funk it was in. She said the squad had been playing and practicing a little flat lately, and the meeting was good for the Raiders going into this weekend. In the late-night matchup with the Rock, the Raiders never fell behind on their way to a straight-set victory. Slippery Rock was unable to get close to SU almost all night, falling in each set by scores of 25–14, 25–17 and 25–23. Passing and serving were the crucial improvements in the team’s performance that brought the win, according to Piscotty. The Raiders had eight aces on the night, along with 11 blocks. Junior Kendall Johnson had a great match, hitting .429 with 10 kills. She also was in on five blocks through the night. Fellow junior Gabriella Johnson also had a
big part to play in the win, contributing a team-high 19 digs to go with five kills. Johnson currently sits in second on the team with 365 digs on the season. She has been a strong player on defense all year. The sweep of Slippery Rock was SU’s 16th of the season. Sophomore Emily Hangen was key in the win, grabbing 29 assists while serving a career-high five aces. The Raiders jumped out to big early leads in each of the first two sets, reaching a 17–6 advantage in the first set and following it up with a 10–2 run to start the second. The team had one of its lowest hitting percentages of the season — only reaching .145 as a unit — but staying consistent on defense to keep the Rock from getting into the match. In the team’s following contest with Edinboro, the contest proved to be much more closely matched than with Slippery Rock. The Fighting Scots put up a fight, but in the end, the Raiders made the necessary adjustments and closed out the match after giving up the second set. Neither team could really take a firm grasp and jump out to a big advantage in any set. They were evenly matched and every point was fought for. After a fairly quiet night
against the Rock, senior Morgan DeFloria returned to form to capture her 16th double-double of the season. She grabbed a team-high 16 kills to go with 11 digs. DeFloria recently joined the exclusive list of players in the 1,000 digs/1,000 kills club and has been a crucial member of the squad since her freshman season. After grabbing 10 blocks the previous night, the Raiders did one better and collected 11 against Edinboro. Kendall Johnson was the key player in blocks, contributing to an impressive season-high seven. She also had eight kills, making it 18 on the weekend for the junior. Junior Samantha Webber was also leading the charge in blocks with three, to go along with seven kills on .286 hitting. Piscotty’s theory was proved correct once again, as aces were a big part in the victory. DeFloria and Gabriella Johnson had three apiece, while senior Angela Tarabrella and redshirt-senior Courtney Malott contributed one each to total eight on the afternoon. Junior Megan Forstburg had a team-high 24 digs — the 13th time she has reached 20 or more digs this season. Hangen was again the primary supplier for the team, racking up 36 assists to add
to her team-leading total (1,047). She also grabbed four kills and 11 digs on .500 hitting. Coach Piscotty said the Fighting Scots were able to grab the second set because they turned it around in terms of aces and precise passing. “That was the deciding factor between the set that we lost and the sets that we won — whether we were getting aces and keeping them out of system, or if they were getting aces in set two — they got quite a few,” Piscotty said. “That took us out of our rhythm and made us have to play a little tighter.” Piscotty said she was glad the team was challenged in the match, because it forced the Raiders to adapt and improve over the course of the match. She said the momentum would be huge going into the final stretch of three games before heading into the PSAC playoffs. The Raiders will travel to the University of Pitt-Johnstown (UPJ) on Tuesday in a rematch of the defeat that ended the school-record win streak earlier in the season. With the win on Saturday, however, SU clinched a spot in the PSAC playoffs for the 12th consecutive year. The match against UPJ will tip off at 7 p.m.
Meghan Schiereck/The Slate
Kendall Johnson (No. 20) and Alana Pergine (No. 6) rise up for a block in the win against Slippery Rock.
Women close out soccer season Isaiah Snead Staff Writer The Shippensburg University women’s soccer team (710-1, 5-10-1 PSAC) finished the season on a sour note, falling to longtime rival Slippery Rock University (12-42, 10-4-2 PSAC) 1-0 on Saturday afternoon. After taking down Jefferson University 2–0 three days earlier in their final home contest of the season, the Raiders were only able to manage three shots on goal during the matchup while Slippery Rock did not fare much better, with only five shots on goal. The only score of the matchup came 5:47
into the first period as The Rock’s Jordyn Minda scored from 40 yards out. SU came close to capturing an equalizer, as senior defender Mariah Varner hit the post with less than four minutes remaining. Sophomore goalkeeper Delaney Shifflett was solid in net once again, only allowing the one goal while making four saves. Junior forward Izzy Weigel and freshman midfielders Allie Christman and K.K. O’Donnell all had two shots and one on goal for the match. After a strong run to start the season, the Raiders petered out near the midpoint of the season and could not
get on track offensively. The defense was solid the majority of the season. After scoring 13 goals in its first six games, SU could only muster 11 the rest of the year. This was the final game for SU’s senior class of Lexi Albert, Chloe Flemion, Lauren Krenzke, Beth McGee, Kiersten Priest, Varner and Keegan White. The group combined for 344 career appearances for SU on the field. They took part in 34 victories while totaling 11 goals and 19 assists. Recruiting will be key during the offseason to fill the holes left on the squad by the departure of so many centerpieces on the team.
Meghan Schiereck/The Slate
Beth McGee (No. 11) is one of several graduating seniors on the women’s squad.
SPORTS
E3
October 30, 2018
Field hockey picks up pace as season end gets closer
Photo courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.
Sophomore midfielder Emily Stauffer (No. 20) celebrates one of her two goals in the 3–0 win over Slippery Rock University from David See Field on Saturday. Matthew Gregan Asst. Sports Editor The No. 4-ranked Shippensburg University field hockey team continued its good season, beating Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opponent Slippery Rock University 3–0 on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Shippensburg. The Raiders’ offense dominated the game throughout, but Slippery Rock goalie Haley Plitt had all the answers in the first half. Shippensburg totaled 17 shots during the first half, but none of them got past Plitt. The game’s opening goal came in the 38th minute from SU sophomore Sarah Womer. It
was the first goal of her collegiate career, and it came on a beautiful reverse shot off of a rebound attempt. The Raiders later added two goals to complete their victory, both coming from sophomore Emily Stauffer. Her first goal of the game came in the 52nd minute on a backhand shot to the right corner of the net. Stauffer then put in a rebound attempt in the final minute of the game to cement SU’s victory. The Raiders’ offense dominated Slippery Rock all game, but it could not find any success until the second half. They outshot Slippery Rock 27–5 overall and 17–4 in shots on goal. Stauffer had one of the best games of her career thus far, totaling two goals and seven
shots, with three of those shots being on goal. Some other top performers for the Raiders were Jazmin Petrantonio (eight shots, six shots on goal) and Jenna Sluymer (five shots, four shots on goal). Redshirt-senior Ally Mooney had a good game in net for SU, stopping all four shots that came her way. The shutout was the 20th of her career. Saturday’s game was a special one for the Raiders, as the 2013 national championship team was honored at halftime. That team brought SU its first ever NCAA Division II National Championship in the sport. The Raiders (11-3, 5-2 PSAC) currently sit in third place in the PSAC after Saturday’s
win over Slippery Rock. It does not seem likely that the team will be able to pass second place West Chester University (13-2, 7-1 PSAC), who beat the Raiders 4-2 earlier this month. With three games remaining this season (all three are PSAC matchups against teams at the bottom of the standings), the Raiders’ goal should be to hold down the third seed in the conference. SU next takes on the winless Seton Hill University Griffins (0-14, 0-7 PSAC) in a PSAC matchup tomorrow at 4 p.m. in Seton Hill.