The Slate 11-23-21

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Dining services wait time too long, B1

Meet the Pattersons, C1

Luhrs performs “The Nutcracker,” D1

Field hockey wins nationals, E1

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Reporting truth. Serving our community.

Volume 65 No. 11

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

SU’s Student Government Association holds its final meeting for the fall 2021 semester Katie Huston Ship Life Editor

The Student Government Association held its final meeting of the fall semester on Nov. 18, in the Naugle Hall conference room. The public meetings throughout the semester have been held in various locations on campus. “I would like to get some feedback as to how to make it [the meetings] more student-centered in the future,” Riley Brown, SGA president said. Brown explained that the SGA will continue to move locations in the spring semester. As the search for a permanent Shippensburg University president begins, the SGA selected a senator to represent the student body in the search. Because of university policy, the SGA is required to choose one representative and an alternative repre-

sentative to the committee. Senator Andrew Hare was chosen as the SGA’s primary representative. The members voted on Skylar Walder, vice president of external affairs, as the alternative representative. The two will work closely with one another and the presidential search committee. The Academic Affairs Committee announced that it would start working with the Career, Mentoring and Professional Development Center as the spring semester begins. “We’ve been noticing that students are not feeling prepared for after graduation. We are trying to see what we can do to connect students to the career center more,” Senator Jordan Newsome-Little said. Katie Huston/The Slate Read the full story at theslateonline.com.

SGA president Riley Brown wanted to make sure SGA would be more student-focused in the future.

Shippensburg University holds Silent Witness training in response to hate groups appearing on campus

Image courtesy of the Department of Geography and Earth Science

Timothy Hawkins spoke on taking inventory of Shippensburg University’s carbon emissions and what the university can do to reach net-zero carbon emissions. Piper Kull/ The Slate Blaise Liffick was the guest speaker at the Silent Witness training event. Liffick is the operations director of the Silent Witness Peacekeepers Alliance.

Piper Kull A&E Editor

Shippensburg University held an introductory training program for those interested in becoming a Silent Witness. Blaise Liffick, a Millersville University professor and the program’s operations director, led the presentation of “Facing the Hate: Peacekeeping on Campus with Silent Witness Peacekeepers Alliance.” The program was organized and held in response to the appearance of antagonistic hate groups on campus. Stephanie Girard, the SU Chief Diversity Officer, hosted the event this past Friday, along with guest speaker Liffick. Girard opened the event by speaking to the students about the hate groups that had been on campus recently. In order to be ready for when these hate groups return,

Girard organized the Silent Witness Training event. Liffick represented the Silent Witness Peacekeepers Alliance, and introduced the group’s goals for peaceful protest responses. The Peacekeepers are to be a non-confrontational buffer between students and hate groups in an attempt to avoid violence and arrests at events, forming a “human spiritual firewall.” Their main goal is safety and comfort for the students on a campus, as Liffick stressed that these individuals are not counter-protesters and are not meant to challenge or muzzle these street-preachers. The organization has seen success on Millersville, Kutztown, Shippensburg and Johnson County Community College campuses and has over 1,000 trained members. See “WITNESS,” A2

Climate Series talks about environment, university seeking net-zero carbon emissions Henry Mooney Asst. News Editor

Timothy Hawkins hosted an event put on by the Center for Land Use and Sustainability (CLUS) this past Wednesday. Shippensburg University established CLUS in 2003 to provide education, promote sound land planning and enhance the quality of life in the five county region of Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and Perry counties in Pennsylvania. The event sought to spread the word about Shippensburg University working on its greenhouse gas inventory and its climate action plan. The event is part of a series of talks designed to raise awareness to the climate sit-

uation Shippensburg University is dealing with right now. Shippensburg University is working on inventorying its climate emissions and wants to lower them. The climate of Shippensburg University was addressed and what the university is doing to lower its current carbon emissions. Hawkins has advice for students to get involved in helping the environment right now. “Educate yourselves on climate issues and vote for candidates that support climate initiatives” Hawkins said. Hawkins knows that the climate needs to be addressed as soon as possible. “The reality is the climate situation needs to be addressed immediately at the federal and international lev-

els,” Hawkins said. “This can only happen when there are politicians willing to make these decisions.” Students who are interested in the carbon inventory and net-zero emission movement can take the commuter survey which will be available in the spring 2022 semester, and can volunteer to participate in on-campus focus groups. This can help students and faculty understand the carbon emissions of Shippensburg University and its commuter students. Hawkins wants students to get involved right away. “Students can become involved in preparing the climate action plan. The contact link on the CLUS website is the best route,” Hawkins said.

During the event, the urgency of the climate plan was established. “We’re at a critical moment in human history when we still have the option to choose future pathways that will avoid the worst impacts of a changing climate,” Hawkins said. “That window is closing in the next decade, at which point we will no longer be able to choose the better options for humanity.” Shippensburg University and CLUS will continue to deal with the changing climate of the area surrounding it. For students interested in becoming more involved in the climate initiatives, they can refer to the CLUS website at centerforlanduse.org


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