The Slate 2-8-22

Books unavailable, impact learning, B1

SU student internship with NASA, C1

Student premiers fan-film in CUB, D1

Men’s basketball vs. Millersville, E1

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Volume 65 No. 15

Reporting truth. Serving our community.

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Black History Month across campus Noel Miller

Editor-in-Chief

Image courtesy of Seth Edwards

Seth Edwards is excited to pass off his position to the next prospective SU student leader this spring.

Gaining leadership skills, affecting change as an SU Student Trustee Natalie Truman Guest Contributor

Shippensburg University’s Council of Trustees is looking for a new student trustee.

As the current student trustee, senior Seth Edwards plays a vital role in making student’s voices heard and implementing change on campus.

Edwards, a political science major, stressed the importance of the position and looks forward to his successor taking on the leadership role. “[The Student Trustee position] is what I would argue to be the greatest leadership opportunity for students on campus,” Edwards said. “It requires a desire to represent, communicate and think critically at the highest level of SU operations.”

During his time as student trustee, he

“was given the opportunity to work as a vessel for student’s interests being delivered to major discussions pertaining to the university,” Edwards said.

The position is open to students of any major who encompass strong leadership skills and a desire to serve the campus community. As the student trustee, the student will get the opportunity to address any issues or concerns on campus their peers may have. The position comes with the responsibility to fairly represent all student groups.

The student trustee is also expected to be active in the Shippensburg University community on and off campus.

Staying involved with campus events promotes an in-depth understanding of student life, enabling the trustee to better serve the campus community.

“Your role as the student trustee is to be permanently engaged with Student

Government (SGA) meetings and affairs, university ceremonies and other events as requested,” Edwards said.

While the position may seem daunting, Edwards advises applicants not to worry.

“Possessing true desire and eagerness to be part of a variety of discussions pertaining to the university, while implementing the student voice, will make this position extremely satisfying,” he said.

Students can apply for the student trustee position beginning Feb. 14. Applications will be available on the SU Trustees web page: https://www.ship. edu/about/leadership/president/council_of_trustees_members/ Any questions or inquiries can be directed to Seth Edwards at studenttrustee@ship.edu.

February ushers in the celebration of Black History Month across the nation.

Shippensburg University students, faculty, staff and administrators are hosting a variety of programming with opportunities to learn, celebrate and talk.

SU Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director Manuel Ruiz said Black History month initially began as a celebration of the work of Carter G. Woodson.

“We celebrate Black History Month to honor the work of Dr. Carter G Woodson, a Harvard educated historian, who in 1926 ushered into the American experience a celebration of the accomplishments of Black Americans,” Ruiz said in an email.

In the years following, the celebration became Black History Month as Americans know it today.

“February holds great significance,” Ruiz said. In the past two centuries, the 15th Amendment was passed, the first Black senator took his oath in office, four Black college students would refuse to leave a segregated lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and

the world would mourn the death of Malcom X,” he explained.

Several campus groups including the Multicultural Student Association and African American Organization, as well as residence life are hosting events and programming throughout the month.

The Office of Equity, Inclusion and Compliance is partnering with professors each week for a virtual series called “Let Every Department Shine.”

SU political science professor Allison Dagnes and Chief Diversity Officer Stephanie Jirard partnered together to create the opportunities for discussion and learning.

Host academic departments will hold the 30-minute sessions via Zoom on Thursdays and Fridays in February. A professor will present a notable Black or African American professional in their respective discipline, followed by a time of discussion or reflection, according to Jirard.

Let Every Department Shine’s goal is “to illuminate for the campus community the unsung heroes in each discipline,” Jirard said.

Read the full story at theslateonline.com.

Noel Miller/The Slate

Submit your “Love Line” by Friday, Feb. 11, to have it featured in the Feb. 15 edition of The Slate.

Celebrate love, platonic and romantic, with a “Love Line” in The Slate, Feb. 15 Seth Crabbe

Guest Contributor

Valentine’s Day is a holiday often filled with love and appreciation. Flowers delivered to the door, enormous heart shaped chocolates and endless messages of gratification. For some, however, the run up to Valentine’s Day is filled with angst and pressure to ensure they find that perfect way to say, “I love you,” to their partner.

Stress no more and say it with The Slate. In the next edition of The Slate on Feb. 15, send a personalized message to your special someone.

Many are quick to forget that romantic love is not the only form of love. Platonic love between friends, family and teams is also worth celebrating on Valentine’s Day. So, whether it’s a love letter to your secret crush or an appreciation note to your friend group, spread some love this Valentine’s Day with a free Love Line.

To get ensure that the Love Line appears in The Slate on Feb. 15, scan the QR code and fill out the short form by Friday, Feb. 11, for a Valentine’s Day gift they won’t forget.

Rules: All messages must be addressed to a specific person or

group of people, and signed with the author’s name.

All messages must be PG-13 and appropriate for publication.

The Slate reserves the right to alter messages and censor inappropriate language for reasons pertaining to publication rules.

NEWS

A2

State Police Briefs

February 8, 2022

Your World Today

Commentary: Student government thrives when students participate

State Police respond to domestic dispute Troopers were dispatched to Mainsville Road in Southampton Township regarding a domestic dispute on Feb. 2 at approximately 10 p.m. A physical altercation allegedly occurred between a 54-year-old woman from Ohio and a 52-year-old man from Shippensburg. The man was later arrested. Charges have yet to be filed.

21-year-old man found intoxicated sleeping on couch in strangers home State troopers responded to an intoxicated 21-year-old male sleeping on a stranger’s couch on Jan. 23 at 4:25 a.m. He was transported to a local hospital and charged with public drunkenness.

Fraudulent advertisement connected to theft State troopers responded to a report of a fraudulent residential advertisement on Jan. 29 at around 10:40 a.m. Authorities said $1,080 was stolen from a 77-year-old male and a 31-year-old male in response. The investigation is ongoing.

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Noel Miller Editor-in-Chief

No matter if someone has been out of college for five years or 35 years, they could probably tell you the best and worst part of their college experience. And no matter if you’ve only been in college for a few months or a few years, I’m sure you have your own best and worst parts of college so far.

There are plenty of ways to advocate and make change during your time in college through participation in student clubs, attending guest lectures and getting involved with social initiatives.

Another way is by participating in the Student Government Association. Our SGA is the direct connection between students and the university. They work to represent their fellow

students and advocate for what students need to help enrich our college experience. Advocating for oneself is the most powerful tool university students have to enrich their college experience. SGA is one of the main groups that ensures and sees self-advocacy through.

One of the easier ways to participate in student democracy is through voting.

Every spring, the Shippensburg University Student Government Association holds officer elections to determine the leadership team for the following school year.

Not only is the president of SGA determined, but the vice presidents of the four main committees: internal affairs, external affairs, student groups and budget and finance. These five officers work together to represent and advocate on behalf of SU students. As in our nation’s democracy, there are varying feelings about our SGA. I have heard opinions that range from enthusiastic to faithless.

Each person is entitled to their opinion, but I think opinion bleeds into nihilism

when I hear someone say, “Our vote doesn’t matter anyway, why bother?”

We’ve all heard that infamous line, but never once have I seen it be successful in creating tangible solutions or encourage growth and development in democracy.

No governing body is perfect, but when voters do not engage with their representatives or try to participate in democracy, they give up their chance to be heard.

The same is true for student democracy.

Personally, the 2016 and 2020 elections are a prime example of how voter turnout holds an incredible amount of power. No matter how you feel about the student government as SU, take the time to learn about the soon-to-be announced candidates.

On election day, make the effort to contribute to your campus community. No one person or group of people can solve every problem, but any one person or group has the potential to make a difference and change. Your campus community needs you and your voice.

Philly, Pittsburgh DAs lose round in opioid settlement suit Michael Rubinkam Associated Press

The district attorneys for Philadelphia and Allegheny County have lost a round in their legal challenge of the $26 billion national opioid settlement, with a Pennsylvania appeals court ruling Friday that their suit against the state attorney general was premature.

The prosecutors want the right to continue with their own lawsuits against the drug industry, saying the national settlement would pay their communities only a fraction of the money needed to cover the epidemic’s financial toll. They had asked the court to rule that Attorney General Josh Shapiro has no authority to bind them to the settlement.

A Commonwealth Court judge ruled Friday that because the national settlement has yet to be finalized, the prosecutors’ challenge cannot be heard.

“Unless and until” the agreement is ratified and affects “the DAs’ rights in a substantial and concrete manner, any opinion that this court would issue at this stage of the proceedings would be an impermissible advisory opinion,” said the ruling by Judge Michael Wojcik.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who is pursuing his own, potentially more lucrative, ligation against the opioid industry, vowed to continue the legal

fight.

“These attorneys general have basically committed that they will work with Big Opioids against lawsuits to get more money,” Krasner said Friday. “It is a fundamental sellout of places like Allegheny County, Philadelphia County, where we have an astronomical number people dying of fatal overdoses every single year.”

Shapiro’s office said it would issue comment later.

The attorney general has previously accused Krasner of misrepresenting the national settlement, which he says would jump-start funding for treatment in communities ravaged by the epidemic.

A message was sent to the office of Allegheny County DA Stephen Zappala Jr. seeking comment.

Last year, drugmaker Johnson & Johnson and the three largest U.S. drug distribution companies announced a $26 billion settlement with state and local governments to resolve thousands of state and local government lawsuits. An overwhelming majority of governments have signed on.

The defendants can still back out before the agreement is finalized.

In Pennsylvania, Shapiro announced last week that as of the Jan. 26 deadline to sign on, all 67 counties had decided to join the settlement. He said Pennsylvania is slated to receive about $1 billion.

New map of Pennsylvania legislative districts approved Mark Scolforo and Marc Levy Associated Press

The five-member commission redrawing the boundaries of Pennsylvania’s state legislative districts voted to approve new maps for the next decade, with a focus on the state’s fast-growing Latino population that could change the face of the predominantly white House and Senate.

The Legislative Reapportionment Commission voted 4-1 during their meeting in the state Capitol, with chairman Mark Nordenberg, the Senate’s Republican leader and the House and Senate’s Democratic leaders voting for it.

The vote came after nearly a year of meetings, hearings and closed-door discussions to carry out the constitutionally required, once-a-decade map-drawing to account for demographic shifts identified by the U.S. Census.

In comments before the vote, Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, called it “truly a product for the public and by the public.” House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia, called it a “fair, constitutionally sound map.”

Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland, called the map “imperfect,” but said she was confident that it is constitutional.

Nordenberg, a Democrat and a former University of Pittsburgh chancellor appointed by the state Supreme Court, quoted testimony from an academic analyst who called a fair, if slightly Republican-leaning map.

He also quoted from a letter by Latino members of the Legislature that applauded the map and said it has nine districts “in which Latinos should be able to elect a candidate of their choice.”

In addition to a growing Latino population, driving significant change is growth in Pennsylvania’s southern and eastern areas that are increasingly liberal, and stagnant population in predominantly white northern and western areas represented by Republicans.

The lone dissenter, House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, slammed it as an unconstitutional gerrymander designed to help Democrats.

It will not improve minority representation and will lead to more gridlock and less competitive districts, Benninghoff said.

A legal challenge appeared likely, with less than two weeks to go before candidates can start circulating petitions in the new districts to get on the May 17 primary ballot.

The House and Senate maps approved and public for the first time Friday made adjustments to preliminary maps approved by the panel in December after a 30-day period for public comment and hearings.

Benninghoff also opposed the preliminary House map.

He proposed an alternative that, he said, would increase the competitiveness of districts in the Philadelphia suburb of Bucks County, keep more districts in the heavily Republican Juniata Valley in central Pennsylvania and reverse plans to split Allentown, Reading, Lancaster and Harrisburg.

Republicans have had the upper hand in at least the last two cycles of redistricting.

They also have held durable and substantial majorities in both legislative chambers for nearly all of the last three decades, even though Democrats hold a registration statewide and have won more statewide elections in that period.

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

B1

Opinion

The Slate Speaks: Book Store Difficulties Recently, as in previous semesters, students have voiced concerns about the campus bookstore. These issues include a lack of selection, availability and communication from the bookstore. Students receiving emails stating that their books are ready to be picked up, yet upon arrival, the books are not there. As many courses are dependent on textbook knowledge for quizzes, tests, lectures and other material, this is a setback for professors and students alike.

The bookstore is managed by Follett, and when speaking with students and staff members, they remarked that there was little to no communication from Follett regarding these mix-ups and absences of necessary material. These concerns are, evidently, nothing new, but have been increasingly strenuous this semester.

“I have found (the bookstore) unresponsive to questions or concerns. They continually seem not to stock my course texts, and I often only learn of this issue from students when, come Week 2 or 3, they still don’t have the textbooks they need,” Jordan Windholz, an SU professor, said. “As faculty, we often put in our textbook requests for the upcoming semester about halfway through our current one. It takes time and planning, especially if we are teaching a new course or if new editions or options for textbooks have become avail-

able.”

Planning classes and studying for classes both take time, and as does reading required textbook information. This group academic effort revolves around the campus bookstore. Students have been left without lab manuals, unable to study material for quizzes and are generally left wondering if the money they have spent on textbooks they do not have access to is worth it.

That’s not to say there are no other options. Many students rent textbooks from companies like Chegg or Amazon, borrow from friends or buy cheap used copies online. The library also provides textbooks that students can borrow.

While these are all valid solutions and often less expensive than the bookstore, Shippensburg University’s on-campus resource for textbooks should be at the very least reliable for its students.

Maybe these other ideas do work better for some but deciding that these other options are sufficient rather than putting effort into improving the bookstore is not the most equitable solution. Windholz stressed that not all students are able to easily order books online, and that this must be more than just a consideration for the university. “Students should get the services their taxes and tuition pay for.”

TikTok destroyed my attention span Paige Shope

Public Relations Director

Some days I think back to mid-quarantine: March 2020, stuck in my home and desperate for human contact, I downloaded Tik Tok. At first, I didn’t know what to expect. All I knew was that I was trapped in my home, and I had to find something to do with my time before I lost my mind. On one end, Tik Tok was a gift. It gave numerous possibilities for entertainment, such as things to laugh about and distract myself with. Thanks to Tik Tok, I learned to crochet, bake bread, make whipped coffee, embroider and more. In the beginning, I felt connected with the world. We were all struggling together and sharing our experiences, and it was great, but then I noticed the amount of time I began spending on my phone.

If you own an Apple iPhone, you know that every week your phone gives you an update on how much time you’ve spent looking at your screen. During quarantine and after downloading Tik Tok, I noticed that I began to spend literal hours on end mindlessly watching one video after the next. At one point, my screen time was up to a horrifying 10 hours a day, and that’s when I knew that I had to make a change. Tik Tok was incredibly addicting to me, it was a quick fix for my bored mind. My solution to the excessive use of my phone was to put a time limit on Tik Tok. This meant that my phone would monitor how much time I was spending on the app and once I reached the limit I had set, a notification would pop up telling me that it was time to stop. In the beginning I held myself accountable but eventually it didn’t work very well. I could simply click the “Ignore the Limit ‘’ button and con-

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tinue watching. My obsession became so much that I even deleted the app. However, eventually I would get bored enough to redownload the app and mindlessly start watching again.

When schools started but up again, I found myself taking online Zoom classes where I could barely pay attention. At first, I blamed it on the use of Zoom. Online classes could be so boring and when we returned to school, I thought there would be no problem with my ability to focus. I was wrong. There were moments where I couldn’t care less about what was happening in class, I just couldn’t keep myself focused. Even when I tried to study, I was checking my phone every five minutes, scrolling through Tik Tok trying to give myself any kind of distraction.

Technology has been a gift, as it connects us in so many ways and I have all the information in the world at my fingertips, but sometimes it truly scares me how sucked in we become. Our brains are being overloaded with constant information and it can be exhausting and overwhelming. Every day when I walk across campus, I watch people glide by with their eyes glued to their phone screens, oblivious to the world around them.

My advice is simple: look up and see the world around you. I still have Tik Tok on my phone, and I still scroll through it every day. But I have become more aware of the effects that it has had on me, and I try to hold myself accountable. It is so easy to click the “Ignore time limit” button, but I know that the benefit of spending time with my friends, reading books, cooking and doing all the amazing things that Tik Tok has taught me will be so much more rewarding.

Where’s your voice?

But it’s important to note that the current availability issue is likely not the fault of anyone at the bookstore or Follett. COVID-19 has caused major problems with the supply chain, leaving major corporations unable to get basic supplies and stock. There also may be additional, outside problems of which the student body is unaware.

Our concern for the bookstore is that there is little to no response from Follett, and that students are not truly being updated on the status of the materials for which they have paid. Not only that, but book availability is not always accurate. These inconsistencies in communication leave students wary of the bookstore because of the academic and financial damage it causes.

“Faculty put book orders in through the bookstore, and we rely on it so students can have the books they need for class.

But faculty don’t have real influence over how it is run, nor did we have much say over it being outsourced to Follett,” Windholz said. It appears to the student body and staff that the issues they have obtaining materials through the campus bookstore is not a priority for the administration, which is frustrating as students rely on these resources for their classes.

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Tuesday, February 8, 2022

C1

Ship Life

Shoot for the stars, you may land alongside Jarett Scott Katie Huston Ship Life Editor

Pursuing multiple majors, designing tattoos and interning for NASA are not the typical endeavors of a college student.

However, Shippensburg University student Jarett Scott has done this to successfully combine his passions.

Majoring in both international management and digital marketing, Scott is learning the ins and outs of the marketing field. He prides himself on his warm personality and is motivated to help people.

“I really like making people feel welcomed, making people feel comfortable [and] helping them get the things that they want,” Scott said. Through his educational endeavors, he gets to learn how to apply these interests in the professional world.

Scott’s original plan was to attend West Chester University; however, he realized that Shippensburg University was the right ambiance for his aspirations.

“I figured out that Ship had everything I was looking for. It had a welcoming environment,” Scott said. “People made me feel like I was important and the professors were very personable. I feel like that is something you can’t find everywhere.

So, when I found it I stuck with it and I now do the job [as a student ambassador] that convinced me to join this school.”

Scott is working as an orientation leader and student ambassador for Shippensburg University. Through the program, he hopes to provide the same experience that sold him on the SU community and experience to other potential incoming students.

Scott is involved in other SU student groups in addition to his work as an ambassador. He is a part of the Multicultural Student Organization, different intramural sports teams and the robotics club.

Scott discovered his love for art through drawing when he was 8 years old. He has designed all of his 20 tattoos himself

and has expanded to actually tattooing his designs over the course of the past two years as well.

“Art is something I have always used to express how I feel,” he said. “It’s always been hard to talk about it, but easy to show it.” With his art minor, Scott hopes to continue to develop his artistic talents.

When Scott was 15 years old he attended a space camp, another one of his many interests. The director, Wayne Hale, recognized Scott’s drive and enthusiasm. Hale is a former NASA engineer and previously served as NASA’s deputy associate administrator for strategic partnerships. He did not realize Scott was so young at the time, and offered Scott the opportunity to intern for NASA when he reached college.

Scott’s internship is in Washington, D.C., where he works with others to complete tasks such as calculating rocket launches.

“I hope to have a jack-of-all-trades type of thing, there is some point down the line where they all [marketing, art and NASA] could potentially intertwine,” Scott explained.

He also acknowledges that he could see a future in each field individually. Whether separate or together, Scott has equal enthusiasm for each field of work.

Outside of his professional and educational interests, Scott enjoys being outside and active with others in his free time.

He often spends his time listening to music and is a fan of Juice WRLD. He is also interested in Marvel and enjoyed the newest Spider-Man movie.

Scott also has a fascination with learning about different conspiracy theories and simply interacting with diverse groups of people. Due to his science background, Scott likes to learn more about anything and everything.

“If someone came up to me today and said, ‘I saw a unicorn today,’” Scott said. “I would probably hear them out because what if they did somehow?” Scott’s sense of humor is one of the things that makes him so personable.

Look out for Jarett Scott as you get involved with the many student organizations on campus.

Image courtesy of Jared Scott

Portion of a back tattoo of a dragon designed by SU student, Jarett Scott.

Pre-Valentine’s Day reminder Elizabeth Peters Head Copy Editor

As the day of chocolates and love letters approaches rapidly, I’ve decided to do the general populous a favor and remind everyone in relationships of what things your significant other would probably appreciate on this obligatory celebration.

Nobody wants to tell exactly what they want to their partner because then it feels less genuine. The thought is really what counts in gifts, not money. The “can’t-go-wrong” options fall into what I will call the three “F”s: flowers, favorites and food.

1. Flowers I don’t know anyone’s partner better than they do; however, let me just say getting flowers is such a romantic experience that it was one of the reasons I did theater in high school. Bouquets are usually associated with Valentine’s Day, which is what makes them a fail-safe bet for this coming Monday. While roses might be a go-to option, consider that other options are just as pretty. Bonus points are awarded for flowers in their favorite color and even better if they come with a vase. Should one’s love interest be invested in ecology or have a green thumb, perhaps look into getting them a potted plant.

While this article is meant for Valentine’s Day, should their love language be acts of service or gift giving, consider

getting them flowers anytime of the year.

2. Favorites Once again, one cannot go wrong by simply getting or making something that is their partner’s favorite. For example, simple jewelry or crystals that are their favorite color, a snack they eat daily or a meal at their favorite local restaurant are easy ways to please. If they are not one to go out often, organize a night in with their favorite movie or television show. Nothing says “I love you” like a pizza from Big Richards and a Netflix nature documentary, that’s all I’m saying.

3. Food While food may fall under favorites as well, food is a separate category. Even if you are not planning on doing something that involves eating, you can almost never go wrong with sweets. Feed into the Hallmark racket and get them some chocolates that are shaped like hearts. Better yet, attach a cute note to a family size bag of chips to enjoy if their lecture gets put on Zoom. Everyone enjoys eating something, and that is what makes it the easiest option for maximum happiness.

This list is not definitive, but hopefully it sparked some inspiration for what gifts one’s partner could want for this coming Monday.

If you play your cards right and use the three “F”s, you could even unlock the fourth.

Recipe of the Week: Pasta Alla Vodka

Recipe courtesy of Piper Kull/The Slate

Ingredients: - 1/4 cup of olive oil - 1 small clove of garlic, diced - 1/4 cup tomato paste - 1/2 cup heavy cream - 1 tbsp vodka - 1 tsp red pepper flakes - 1 box of pasta - 1 tbsp butter - salt and pepper, to taste

Directions: 1. In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil, garlic and onion. Cook until soft. Add tomato paste and cook until it appears caramelized.

2. Add in the heavy cream. Add in the vodka and cook through until evaporated. Add in the red pepper flakes.

3. Keep stirring until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Remove sauce from the heat.

4. Cook pasta separately. When the pasta is done, save ¼ of the pasta water before draining.

5. Add in the butter to the sauce. Stir over a medium heat until the butter has melted and the sauce is creamy.

6. Add pasta — and the pasta water — to the sauce. Add more salt and pepper to taste.

7. Enjoy.

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

D1

A&E

Quinn Erney premieres horror fan film Allyson Ritchey Staff Writer

“Life is unpredictable…

Life is the riddle,” communication/journalism junior Quinn Erney said about his student film “The Quinn Legacy: The Batman Who Laughs Fan Film” that premiered Feb. 5 in Orndorff Theater.

Based upon the fictional DC Comics villain of the same name, Erney’s multidimensional, horror film aims to teach viewers that life is unpredictable and that its meaning should be questioned.

The movie begins in “Somewhere in Space” 1,000 years ago, where Commander Quinn instructs General Quinn to find the two people who will save humankind: Shawn and Xavier.

The film then jumps forward to the year 1955 on Earth, and viewers meet Shawn and Xavier on a mission to solve a murder.

Shawn, seemingly taken over by some other entity, turns on Xavier and kidnaps him.

Shawn blames Xavier for the murder and eventually kills him.

It turns out, Alien Quinn is inside Shawn and is only visible in mirrors. Quinn takes matters into his own hands, transporting from the “mirror-verse” into the real Earth to take Shawn home to safety. Shawn is dropped into the year 2022. He leaves Quinn, only to be stalked and controlled by The Batman Who Laughs.

Shawn meets up with Quinn in a fight scene and eventually ends up killing Quinn. Shawn runs away but

is continuously hunted by The Batman Who Laughs.

The Batman Who Laughs knocks out Shawn and transports him off Earth. This is where the film ends, leaving viewers waiting for more.

Quinn Erney, with the help of Shawn Orner, John Dickey, Olivia Wilson and Seamus Landis, began working on this project in August 2021. Almost half a year in the making, Erney said that the process of creating this short movie has been “nothing but a learning experience” as he wrote, directed, filmed and even produced music for “The Quinn Legacy: The Batman Who Laughs Fan Film.”

Erney was inspired by The Batman Who Laughs, and wanted to eventually see a live-action version of the villain. He then recruited

friends to help him make this vision a reality.

Audience members did question some aspects of the Quinn Universe, including the existence of the mirror-verse, the scattered, constantly moving timeline, and the identity of the person behind the Batman Who Laughs mask. Erney’s only answer was to look forward to a potential sequel.

Fans of DC Comics, murder mysteries, and “your mom” jokes can all find something to enjoy in Quinn Erney’s “The Quinn Legacy: The Batman Who Laughs Fan Film.”

The short movie and other projects can be viewed on Quinn Erney’s YouTube channel at https://www. youtube.com/channel/UCCQIDZrouzNVN_kFR2Z_ xzg.

Image courtesy of Quinn Erney on Youtube

“The Quinn Legacy: The Batman Who Laughs” takes place in multiple universes, like the “Quinnverse.”

Images courtesy of the 43rd Annual Art Show Online gallery

‘In Hiding’ by Kimberly Braet and ‘Stuck’ by Liana Culbertson are two past student submissions.

44th Annual Juried Art Exhibition opens submissions for SU students Piper Kull A&E Editor

Shippensburg University’s Annual Juried Art Show, sponsored by the SU Minds@ Work Conference, is now accepting art submissions.

Registration is free and open to all SU students. Students may submit up to five original works, both two-dimensional and three-dimensional works are eligible.

Submissions should be photographed, then submitted as high-quality JPEG or PNG files. Registered works may be altered until April 8.

Jurors outside of the SU community will decide what makes it into the exhibit. The art department recommends looking through last year’s online exhibit to see what

level of work is expected and accepted.

Submission registration ends on April 8 at 11:59 p.m. and registered art must be delivered to the Kauffman Gallery by April 11, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Judging will take place the following day, April 12.

The Student Art Exhibition will hold a free, public opening reception for the exhibit on April 23, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the gallery.

To view the 43rd Juried Art Show Gallery, visit https://shippensburguniversity2021annualjuriedstudentartexhibition.artcall.org.

To register for the show, visit https://shippensburguniversity2022annualjuriedstudentartexhibition.artcall.org.

Katie Huston/The Slate

Wordle’s simple word-guessing puzzle concept has swept social media, as it appeals to every age group. Above are Katie Huston’s current Wordle stats, which every player is able to build on as they complete the daily challenges.

Wardle’s ‘Wordle’ game takes over the ‘worldle’ Katie Huston Ship Life Editor

What has Head Copy Editor Elizabeth Peters been listening to this week?

Every day at approximately noon, I sit down in Reisner Dining Hall and open Wordle on my computer. I joined the Wordle craze late (just over two weeks ago), and ever since I have experienced the different ways in which people enjoy the game — competitively versus themselves, competitively versus others or by working together with others.

Josh Wardle, a software engineer, created the game as a prototype back in 2013 but revamped the game during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic for his partner.

The game has skyrocketed in popularity from its release to the public in late fall 2021 to now. At the beginning of January, the game had approximately 1.8 million players, according to the Wall Street Journal.

There are many ways that people interact with the game. Some wake up in the morning and immediately complete the puzzle before sending their scores to their group chats. Some wait until midnight and complete the puzzle as soon as it appears.

Social media has become a

place to boast low Wordle scores. Others work together collaboratively instead of competing with friends and family. Wordle has brought out the competitive spirit of many players.

When players complete the daily puzzle, it pulls up a statistics screen. The statistics bar shows players their number of wins, win streak number and percentage of wins. Each day the players get six guesses to get the word. The statistics bar shows a guess distribution graph as well that is unique to each player.

“It humbles me,” Brady Cannizzaro, a junior at Shippensburg University said.

“They’re the simplest words, but I just can’t think of them sometimes.”

Over the past month as the game has gained traction, players have come together. Wordle has become the current united common ground of the people. Players both young and old can connect over the game’s simple design. Across many social media platforms, content creators are using the game to connect with other users.

Many TikTokers have taken to sharing their thought process on the previous day’s

game. Others on Twitter use color-coded emojis to show how the game went for them each day.

As the game continues to climb in popularity, Wardle has still managed to create a new game and maintain upkeep on the site. Though, on Jan. 31, the New York Times announced that they purchased Wordle and would be adding it to its game collection. Many people who have enjoyed the game have expressed concern of changes, as the New York Times is notorious for making people, even customers, pay for their games.

“It made me disappointed to find out that the New York Times bought Wordle,” Emily Dziennik, a Shippensburg University sophomore, said.

“I was just reading an article about how Wordle was so great because it was bringing people together over a small thing. Now, it will inevitably be behind a paywall, ruining it for most people.”

Despite the concerns of many, the New York Times published an article on their website to explain that no changes will be made to the gameplay and that the game will continue to be free for players. Only time will tell.

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Women’s Basketball, E2

Sports

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Gallery, F1

Men’s basketball drops defensive battle with Millersville, 55-51

Images Courtesy of Ryan Cleary

Shippensburg falls into second place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division after the loss to Millersville on Wednesday evening.

Isaiah Snead Sports Editor

The Shippensburg men’s basketball team dropped to second place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division after losing a physical match with Millersville University 55-51.

The Raiders were held to just 32 percent shooting from the field and just 19 percent from behind the three-point line in the game.

Millersville took a 26-25 lead into halftime after holding the Raiders to 10-33 shooting from the field including 2-14 from three-point range in the first half.

SU would not go away, however, as they stayed within five points of the Marauders the entire second half. The final 10 minutes of the game saw the score stay close by one possession.

With the score tied at 51-51, Millersville’s Justin Nwosu sank a go-ahead jumper from the corner to give the Marauders a two-point lead with 1:09 remaining in the contest.

The Raiders could not make up the deficit in the final minute as they missed three field goal attempts to tie and committed two cost-

ly turnovers. Nwosu made two free throws in the waning moments to create the final scoring margin.

Redshirt-junior Dom Sleva put up a gamehigh 16 points to go along with 12 rebounds.

Fellow redshirt-junior Rashon Johnson also recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Johnson also had a game-high three steals.

Junior Carlos Carter added 13 points and pulled down five boards.

The backcourt of graduate Jake Biss and senior Kiyon Hardy combined for just nine points on 3-15 shooting.

SU head coach Chris Fite relied heavily on his starters in the game, as the bench combined for just eight minutes and scored zero points.

Millersville moves into first place of the PSAC Eastern Division by a half game with the victory, as the two teams move into the final stretch of the PSAC regular season.

The Raiders will return to the court on Wednesday as they host West Chester University at 8 p.m. at Heiges Field House.

Redshirt-junior Dom Sleva tallied a game-high 16 points in the loss Wednesday.

Baseball drops season opening series Jack Ansley

Asst. Sports Editor

Photo courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.

Graduate Juju Cason had five hits and three RBIs in the season-opening series.

The Shippensburg University baseball team opened its 2022 season this past weekend. The Raiders traveled down to Gastonia, North Carolina, for a three-game series against Belmont Abbey College (4-0).

In the opening game, the Crusaders struck first in the fourth inning off a Connor Tucker solo home run.

In the Raiders half of the fourth inning Juju Cason hit a homerun to right field to tie the game at one. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Crusaders struck again as Ben Ferguson hit a homerun to deep center field giving the Crusaders a 2-1 lead.

In the eighth inning the Crusaders extended their lead to four runs. The scoring run started when Sean Johnson flew out to center field which allowed one run to score. Later in the inning, Ben Gobbel hit a home run to left field, which was followed by an Nic Aehlert two-run homerun to add to the lead.

In the top of the ninth the Raiders tried to close the gap as graduate Jordan Yoder hit a single to left field

that allowed Cason to score, and the Raiders cut the lead down to 6-2. However, The Raiders fell to the Crusaders in the first game 6-2.

Redshirt Junior Nick Zegna got the start in Game 1 of the series. Zegna pitched four innings for the Raiders.

Zegna allowed seven hits and two runs and three walks and struck out three batters in the loss for the Raiders.

Jason White was on the mound for the Crusaders in the first game. White pitched six innings and allowed one run in the game.

On Saturday the teams played a double-header. In the first game the Crusaders got out to a big lead scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning.

Sophomore Kaleb Sophy got the start for the first game of the double header for the Raiders. Sophy pitched three innings allowed five hits and allowed 12 runs. Sophy struck out two batters and allowed four walks.

In the second inning the Crusaders expanded their lead with three more runs in the inning. The Raiders offense continued to struggle only being able to produce three runs in the sixth and

seventh innings. The Raiders fell in the first game of the double header 12-3.

In the second game of the double header the Raiders struck first in the game when Cason scored on an error. In the bottom of the first, the Crusaders answered with four runs. The Crusaders extended their lead with an additional run in the bottom of the second.

The Crusaders continued to extend the lead with two runs in the fourth and fifth innings. In the seventh the Raiders responded with four runs in the seventh and eighth innings. It would not be enough as the Raiders dropped the second game of the double header 10-5.

In the second game of the double header sophomore Gabe Stotler pitched four inning allowed nine hits and eight runs and struck out six.

The Raiders will return to the diamond on Feb. 12, for a three game series in Salisbury, North Carolina, against

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SPORTS

February 8, 2022

Women’s basketball picks up two PSAC wins Jack Ansley

Asst. Sports Editor

Photos courtesy of Brenna White/SU Sports Info.

Junior Lauren Pettis led the Raiders with 14 points in their win over Mansfield.

Sophomore Treasure George started against Seton Hill and scored two points.

The Shippensburg University women’s basketball team defeated the top-ranked team in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference West Division (PSAC) last Monday.

The Raiders defeated Seton Hill University 69-65 in Heiges Field House. Aunbrielle Green led the Raiders in scoring with 17 points.

The Raiders got out to a quick lead in the first quarter.

They established a 10-point lead going into the second quarter. In the second quarter both teams tightened up defensively. Neither team was able to score for the first two minutes of the quarter.

In the remainder of the first half the Griffins tried to cut into the lead and brought it down to six points.

However, SU was able to go on a run and expanded the lead into the second half 41-23.

In the third quarter the Griffins pulled closer. The Griffins were able to bring their deficit back down to 10 points heading into the final quarter. The fourth quarter

was very competitive, but the Raiders were able to hang on and defeat the Griffins 69-65.

On Wednesday night, the Raiders looked to keep their momentum from the win on Monday night against Millersville University but the game did not start out well for the Raiders. In the first quarter the Raiders allowed the Marauders to get a 13-point lead heading into the second.

From there things only got worse for the Raiders in the second quarter as the Marauders extended their lead to 20 points at the end of the quarter.

The second half the Raiders continued to struggle.

The Marauders continued to go on multiple scoring runs through the third and fourth quarters and Shippensburg eventually fell to the Marauders 61-42.

Senior Destiny Jefferson led SU in scoring with 12 points. Junior Lauren Pettis was also in double figures with 10 points.

The Raiders looked to rebound off Wednesday night’s loss on Saturday when they hosted Mansfield University

on Alumni Day. In the first quarter the Raiders grabbed the lead and would hold on to it for the remainder of the game.

The Raiders lead the Mountaineers 19-12 at the end of the first quarter and in the second quarter the Raiders would stay in front, going into the second half 29-24.

In the second half the Raiders expanded their lead and brought it up to double digits at the end of the third quarter. The Raiders finished off the Mountaineers 65-47.

Four Raiders scored in double figures in the win.

Pettis led with 14 points and nine rebounds while fellow junior Green scored 11 points and equaled Pettis’ rebound total.

Jefferson scored 12 points and added four rebounds and six assists. Freshman Taja Colbert was the final Raider in double figures with 10 points.

With the wins the Raiders improved their record to 12-9. The Raiders return to court on Wednesday when they face West Chester University at 6 p.m. at Heiges Field House.

Raider of the Week: Juju Cason

- Hit two homeruns in the season-opening series - Tallied five total hits in the series - Knocked in three RBIs and scored four runs in the series

Men’s and women’s track and field competes at Alvernia and East Stroudsburg

Photo courtesy of Gorman Findley/SU Sports Info.

Freshman Sasha Lee put up a season best long jump of 17 feet, 5 1/2 inches at Alvernia University putting her in sixth place on the conference leaderboard.

Isaiah Snead Sports Editor

Shippensburg University’s men’s and women’s track teams were split this weekend for competition at Alvernia and East Stroudsburg universities.

The men’s throwers made the trip to ESU and they were highlighted by junior Pat Maloney, who set a new personal best in the weight throw for the third week in a row. His top throw of 58 feet, 11 ½ inches kept him at the top of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) rankings.

Sophomore Josh Herbster also set a new personal best in the weight throw with a

fourth-place toss of 52 feet, 7 ½ inches.

For the women’s throwers, junior Madisen Kling led the Raiders with a weight throw of 47 feet, 3 inches, good for fourth place. Sophomore Deja Winkler recorded a personal best in the throws with a top throw of 37 feet, 6 inches.

Graduate Kate Matrisciano landed a season best 43 feet, 5 ¼ inch shot put throw to place her third in the conference rankings.

Winkler had a shot put throw of 37 feet, 8 inches, good for another personal best.

In the men’s field at Alvernia, junior Nate Reed set a new indoor personal best in the long jump, winning the competition with a 7-meter hop. Redshirt-junior Shamar Jen-

kins won the triple jump with a top mark of 44 feet, 10 ¼ inches.

Freshman Sahsa Lee led the women’s field contingent with a season best long jump of 17 feet, 5 ½ inches. The jump places her sixth on the conference leaderboard.

Fellow freshman Sara Fletcher tied the Raiders’ season best clearance in the high jump, getting over the bar at 4 feet, 11 inches.

On the track for the women, sophomore Leah Graybill won the 60 meters with a 7.75 seconds time. Freshman Belle Weikert took third place in the 5K race and sophomore Lieke Black was third in the 60-meter hurdles.

For the men, freshman Chayce Macknair

won twice, taking home the mile at 4:17.59 and the 800 meters at 2:00.19. Macknair moved to the top of the conference leaderboard in the mile with his time.

The freshman trio of Travis Bigham, Robbie Hrabosky II and Robert Lissner teamed with sophomore Matt Lenahan to win the 4x400 meter relay with a time of 3:30.10.

Redshirt-junior Nate Kaplon won the 5K with a time of 15:58.67.

SU will head to VMI next weekend ahead of the conference championships at the end of the month.

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February 8, 2022

Men’s Basketball Gallery Raiders Fight Hard Against Mauraders The Shippensburg University Raiders faced off against the Millersville Mauraders on Wednesday night in Heiges Field House. Both teams were at the top in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division, making it a close match for both teams.

The Mauraders managed to keep the lead for a majority of the game, but the Raiders managed to stay close until the end. The Mauraders came out on top with a 55-51 victory over the Raiders.

Photos by Ryan Cleary