The Slate 3-3-20 by The Slate

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Volume 63 No. 19

Greenstein addresses next steps in system redesign during tour

Student Government Association announces new officers

Hannah Pollock

Jonathan Bergmueller

Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Chancellor Daniel Greenstein addressed questions of Shippensburg University campus community members about his “directives” Thursday on the first stop of his spring university tour. Greenstein sent faculty and staff members an email on Feb. 14 listing the “directives,” which include curtailing the use of temporary faculty, eliminating low-enrolled programs and leaving staff and faculty positions vacant. Administrators, faculty, staff and students gathered in the Old Main Chapel to hear the chancellor. The chancellor praised SU for improving its retention rates and said he is not worried about the university during the redesign period. “They’re not going to be fun to make, but they have to be made,” Greenstein said in regard to the choices PASSHE universities face. Neil Connelly, SU English professor, stated his and his

The student body has determined who will lead the Student Government Association (SGA) for the 20202021 academic year. This year’s turnout for the Executive Rules Committee elections beat last year’s record when 1,570 students submitted a vote. The winners will take office mid-April. In the meantime, students interested in becoming senators in SGA can begin petitioning after spring break.

Managing Editor

Editor-in-Chief

Hannah Pollock/The Slate

Chancellor Dan meets with SU faculty to discuss upcoming changes in the PASSHE system redesign colleagues’ fears with the chancellor. “Some of us are panicked,” Connelly said. “You don’t have the perspective that we do.”

Connelly referred to the Feb. 14 directives email and the interchanging of words by various groups and leaders as to whether or not the directives were mandates or

merely suggestions. “As an English guy, I’m a word guy, and those are radically different,” Connelly said. Greenstein explained the

directives are tools for the sustainability plans to meet PASSHE’s goals.

Stephen Washington President

See “PASSHE,” A2

Alumna presents dissertation on bullying Rachel Scull

Guest Contributor

Rachel Scull/The Slate

Melissa Cidade, a Shippensburg University alumna, talks about her experience working in the sociology field and her work and research in bullying.

A Shippensburg University alumna explained her experience in the sociology field and “life after Shippensburg” to students Wednesday evening in Grove Forum. Melissa Cidade, a survey statistician at the U.S. Census Bureau, presented her dissertation on bullying as part of an initiative by the sociology department to show graduates at work. In the presentation, “That’s The Very Definition of Bullying! The Case for Measurement Error in a Federal Survey,” she discussed

research from her dissertation for her doctorate at George Mason University. Rather than looking into bullying from a sociological perspective, her research focused on the differences between definitions of bullying written by government agencies. Cidade also focused on the effects these have on data collection and statistics. During her presentation, Cidade frequently tied in certain elements and aspects of her research to courses in the social work major. Cidade said she hopes that those who attended the presentation walk away understanding the importance of

having focused and specific questions when conducting sociological research. “How you ask the questions informs the answers you get,” Cidade said. In addition to her presentation in Grove Forum, Cidade also spoke to two sociology classes during her visit. She explained what her job entails and how her time at SU allowed her to hit the ground running both in her graduate programs and professional career.

Clarence “Trey” Johnson Vice President of Internal Affairs

Lance Hines-Butts Vice Presdient of External Affairs See “BULLYING,” A2

Administrators discuss governor’s visit, small fire in Franklin

Noel Miller News Editor

Shippensburg University students voiced their concerns and worked with faculty and staff toward solutions at the President’s Hour. SU President Laurie Carter, several members of her cabinet and campus services and students came together in Harley multi-purpose room Feb. 25. Students had questions from simple dorm maintenance and campus renovation to last week’s fire in the Franklin Science Center. Nora Ormsbee asked why the fire alarms did not go off in Franklin and wanted to know if there was a need for plans to renovate the building. Scott Barton, vice president of administration and finance, said there was not enough smoke to set off the alarms from the small fire. The alarms in Franklin are in working condition,

according to Barton. There are plans to renovate Franklin in 2021 and the construction is being drawn up, Barton said. Carter was asked about Gov. Tom Wolf’s upcoming visit to the university, which will be over spring break and if there were any way to change that date. Rob Giulian said he heard the meeting with Wolf would be closed door and asked if they could make a request so students could sit in as an educational opportunity. Carter said the administration had already tried to change the date for Wolf to come during a school week, but the request was denied. Originally, the governor’s meeting at universities were open door; however, after security concerns on other campuses arose, they were changed to close door meetings for all visits, Carter said. See “PRESIDENT’S HOUR,” A2

Riley Brown Vice President of Student Groups

Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate

Rob Giulian asks administrators about Gov. Tom Wolf’s visit.

Brenda Aristy Vice President of Budget and Finance

NEWS

A2 From “CHANCELLOR,” A1

He also emphasized how important communication is throughout the System Redesign process. Sarah Grove, an SU political science professor, and representative to the interim faculty council, said her concerns for the five-year plan to implement changes will gut adjuncts from departments and impact programs. She also said professors are trained for their own subjects and are not equipped to teach others. “It is disingenuous to start advertising that we have an engineering program when you don’t have some of the heart and soul of the program, which is physics,” Grove said. SU President Laurie Carter responded to Grove by explaining there are two different processes occurring — the sustainability plan and the work, planning and budget council. There is some

overlap; however, the plans are separate. “It is in the best interest of our students to fix our deficit now so we can begin to invest in our programs,” Carter said. “We’re not gutting our programs.” She added there will be some outcomes people do not like. Kara Laskowski, SU Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) chapter president, criticized Greenstein’s communication about the sustainability plans. “We need you to be consistent with us,” Laskowski said. “We need that consistency with the message of shared governance.” She also discussed recent news that PASSHE could consider “retrenchment” and the possibly of cutting positions if the State System does not reach 200 faculty members for its early retirement incentive by March 2. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette re-

ported Monday that 202 faculty members agreed to take early retirement. Greenstein responded by discussing literary theory in which the reader can create a narrative from what they are reading based on their perspective and experiences. “From my perspective, there is only consistency,” he said. Greenstein again emphasized the importance of communication and transparency. The chancellor answered questions for an hour before the conclusion of the event. Greenstein met with members of the Student Government Association later in the afternoon, holding an open conversation about the System Redesign, scholarships and how classes shared across the system could work in the future. Students were not officially invited to the event, which was held from 11 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

March 3, 2020

Shippensburg sees no snow during record-setting February

Graphic courtesy of Tim Hawkins/Department of Geography and Earth Science

February set a record high of 68 degrees, and was the 11th warmest February since records began, according to Tim Hawkins, SU geography and earth science professor. This was the third February with zero measurable snowfall.

Inmate seeks end to solitary over refusal to cut dreadlocks Mark Scolforo

Associated Press

Carmine Sccichitano/The Slate

Lance Hines-Butts asks the panelists about making welcome programs for transfer students. Students can ask questions and voice concerns during the President’s Hours held in residence halls throughout the semester. From “PRESIDENT’S HOUR,” A1

One student asked if the tuition rate would stay frozen like it had been for the 2019–20 academic year or if students should expect an increase. The tuition had not been discussed yet but the final decision on tuition will be made by the board of governors in April, Carter said. SGA President Aven Bittinger, said he will personally advocate for another freeze in tuition for the 2020-2021 school year.

One student asked about the possibility of adding more cameras to campus parking lots, so students have proof that their car is damaged when they go to report it. Barton said they have been updating the cameras on campus for some time and will continue to do so. As part of this, the cameras will be installed in many new locations on campus to provide better security, he said. RHA-sponsored President’s Hours are held at various points throughout the semester.

Read more of The Slate at theslateonline.com

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — An inmate awaiting trial in a shooting case wants a federal judge to release him from solitary confinement in a central Pennsylvania county jail, where he has been for more than a year because he refuses to cut dreadlocks that hold religious significance for him. The hand-written lawsuit filed in October by Eric S. McGill Jr. against three senior administrators at the Lebanon County Correctional Facility shifted gears last week, when a group of lawyers produced an amended complaint that warned McGill’s mental health is deteriorating. It said McGill, 27, of Lebanon, an adherent of Rastafarianism, suffers anxiety attacks two or three times a week, and they are usually triggered by thoughts of his jail conditions and placement in solitary. “By keeping Mr. McGill in solitary confinement because he refuses to cut off his dreadlocks, (the) defendants have inhibited his right to free exercise of religion for no legitimate penological purpose,” his lawyers with the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project told the court last week, seeking an order that he be placed in the jail’s general population, as well as damages. Lebanon County’s lawyer for labor and employment matters, Peggy Morcom, declined to comment Tuesday, citing a practice of not discussing litigation. But in a pair of filings two months ago, she argued that state law lets county jails set inmate hair styles so that they “comply with sanitation and security policies.” The county argues its policy was established because inmates could hide contraband, as

well as to “ensure security and cleanliness.” It also cited a 2006 state Commonwealth Court decision involving the state Department of Corrections that Morcom wrote “held that the legitimate interests of the correctional facility outweighed any rights the prisoner had” to wear hair in dreadlocks. The state prison system amended its inmate grooming policy in July 2016, and inmates currently have no restriction on the length of their hair. State inmates can be subject to searches of their hair, including by having their own fingers run through their hair. Dreadlocks can be checked with a handheld metal detector. Those rules do not apply to county jails, such as the Lebanon County Correctional Facility. “Plaintiff was repeatedly offered the opportunity to obtain a haircut pursuant to the haircut procedures to remove his dreadlocks,” Morcom wrote last month. “Plaintiff refused to remove his dreadlocks.” His lawyers say McGill believes his spirit lives through his dreadlocks and that he would lose strength and essence needed for the afterlife were he to cut them. McGill gets one hour outside of his cell in the security housing unit, five days a week, between midnight and 2 a.m. That is also the time when he may phone his family. McGill is scheduled for trial in late March on multiple counts of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and other crimes in connection with a January 2019 shooting that injured four people. Police said they heard gunfire at about 5 a.m. on a Saturday and chased a vehicle without its lights on. Two guns were thrown from the car before it was stopped. McGill was arrested after a foot chase, police said, and jailed on $1 million bail.

Students celebrate Black History Month in showcase

Photos by Sebastian Riefkohl/The Slate

Shippensburg University students stepped up to present dances, music, poetry and more to honor, commemorate and celebrate Black History Month Saturday afternoon in Memorial Auditorium. Students also shared their own stories about the struggles they faced as Black individuals while growing up.

NEWS Pennsylvania lawmakers want to Your World Today shield reasons for expense reports Commentary: Communication, March 3, 2020

AP News Wire Associated Press

The Pennsylvania Legislature is concealing with whom lawmakers and staff met, and why, in records on how it spends its roughly $360 million annual budget, two news organizations reported Thursday. Thousands of pages of financial records turned over in response to public records requests by The Caucus and Spotlight PA contained vague descriptions of expenses or redactions that made it impossible to see their purpose. In defending their rationale for keeping the information secret, legislative lawyers in the nation’s largest full-time Legislature cited the speech and debate clause in the state Constitution, The Caucus and Spotlight PA reported. The lawyers say that the clause protects lawmakers’ ability to speak and debate freely, and that revealing the information would “interfere with the Legislature’s independence.” But good-government advocates say the speech and debate clause was intended to allow lawmakers to speak freely in floor debate and other official proceedings. “Seems like a huge stretch,’’ said David Cuillier, an associate professor of journalism at the University of Arizona and president of the National Freedom of Information Coalition.

Lawmakers, he added, need “to buck up, have some backbone and be accountable.” The news organizations’ requests covered all of the Legislature’s expenses, except salaries and benefits, from 2017 through 2019. The nearly 3,000 pages of records the House and Senate have released so far included information about staff travel, meals, lodging, conferences and professional training. Dozens of redactions blacked out information about whom they and their staff spent money to meet with, and the purpose of those meetings. For instance, four charges of $95.25 each for staff aides who stayed overnight in Pittsburgh blacked out wording that said who they met and on what sort of legislation. A $265.49 lodging and parking charge in January 2018 for a one-time top Senate aide concealed the kind of meetings he attended in Washington. The Caucus and Spotlight PA are appealing the redactions. Pennsylvania’s Legislature has largely exempted itself from the state public records law, although financial records are among the few items that legislators are required to make public. The Legislature has successfully invoked the speech and debate clause in the past to shield records such as correspondence about deliberations. But it has not routinely been used to block records detailing how and why the House and Senate spend taxpayer money.

Going home or traveling for spring break?

Take The Slate with you! Stay up-to-date with campus news, sports and entertainment online at theslateonline.com Read The Slate’s next print edition on newsstands March 24

Student Government Association Updates February 27 • All senators except for Emilly Anderson, Jonathan Benner and John Enerah attended the meeting. Their absences were excused. • SGA members voted to approve a resolution of support for Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal to establish the Nellie Bly scholarship program for Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education students. • SGA announced the winners of the PSECU-SGA scholarships. • The budget and finance committee plans to finish evaluating budgets by March 25, according to Ramses Ovalles, vice president of budget and finance. • SGA held a successful leadership banquet, according to Seth Edwards, vice president of external affairs • The College of Education and Human Services is planning to launch a magazine, according to Jessica Munoz. • A new speed-detector was installed to collect data according to Luke Everidge of the safety and facilities committee. • The Residence Hall Association is evaluating its string light policy, according to Jordan Newsome-Little

transparency vital to system redesign

Jonathan Bergmueller Editor-in-Chief It feels like every other week I discuss transparency in this column. It is not a matter of obsession or a matter of blowing matters out of proportion. Quite the contrary: Everywhere in our modern world, there are issues of clarity and straightforwardness with our political and professional conduct. For the past two weeks, the front page of The Slate has shown news about the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Chancellor, Daniel “Chancellor Dan” Greenstein. The words vague and convoluted strike me as oxymoronic, but they are best used to describe how this system redesign has been presented to the people it is intended to serve. During Greenstein’s fall presentation, professors questions for clarification on what is actually happening in the PASSHE redesign, went unanswered as Greenstein struggled to break down the process in a way everyone could understand. Meanwhile, he emphasized the urgency of changes he wanted to make. The issue of communication has only worsened this spring, when Greenstein sent directives, complete with goals and deadlines, to all PASSHE school presidents to help alleviate fiscal problems the state system is experiencing. To some, he presented these directives as “mandates” yet to others he said they were “sugges-

tions.” As you may have read on A2, Kara Laskowski, SU’s chapter president of Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, asked Greenstein for consistency. In response, Greenstein cited a subjectivist’s approach to literary theory where the reader can bring their own interpretation to an author’s work. This is acceptable in an introductory English course where you can argue if Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” is about mental health stigmas or entrenched misogyny. Not when you are a political figurehead using different language to sway different groups. Top-down approaches to administration rarely work. By rule of thumb, different people in different places at different times have different needs that must be observed and accommodated when finding solutions to problems. This is why local administrations — and PASSHE school administrations, for example — need to wield power to deal with the financial burdens in ways that work for them, not for PASSHE or for Greenstein. The worst part about the PASSHE System Redesign, however, is how SU’s student body has been sequestered — set apart from the discussions. To a degree, one can admire an effort on the part of the adults at this university to keep students removed, just as a parent might not want a young child to worry about a sick family pet. However, at the same time, these conversations impact students the most. The universities do not serve PASSHE, or President Laurie Carter, or Greenstein. They serve the students. What I have seen is a complete lack of student in-

volvement at Greenstein’s forums. Some of this can be chalked up to student apathy, but part of this is a lack of invitation and accessibility to these forums. Last Thursday, Greenstein spoke to a crowd of mostly faculty and staff in Old Main Chapel from 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. This is a time many students and professors have regularly scheduled classes, and as a result many were unable to attend the forum. Additionally, the student body at large received no formal invitation to the forum. Students who had heard about the forum second-hand had no clue if they could come share their perspectives, and students who did not hear will have had no chance to weigh in their perspectives. Think about the message that sends. Mind you, Greenstein did meet with members of SU’s Student Government Association that afternoon. But the student body should have been encouraged (and permitted, if they were not) to attend Greenstein’s forum. Greenstein is attempting to pitch a massive and speedy overhaul to PASSHE schools without dwelling on the details. And it seems whenever members of the faculty try to pin him down on the details, he skirts around their questions with convoluted language. The goal should be to explain the PASSHE redesign so a middle-schooler could understand it, not in a way that confuses and worries well-educated adults. Finally, it seems as if Greenstein is focusing on selling his plans to the people who will make or break his implementation, and not necessarily the people who will be impacted the most by the “tough decisions that need to be made right now this minute.”

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A message from the SU Financial Aid Office:

Free FAFSA Completion Workshops In order to meet the May 1 PHEAA State Grant deadline, you must file your FAFSA for the 2020-2021 academic year as soon as possible. You can go to fafsa.gov to file the FAFSA necessary for the fall 2020, spring 2021 and summer 2020 semesters. If you are a Pennsylvania resident, filing by May 1, could qualify you for a PHEAA State Grant. This is free money that does not have to be repaid. Also, the earlier you file the FAFSA, the better chance you have of possibly obtaining internal federal funding from Shippensburg University. For the 2020/21 FAFSA, it will ask for you and your parents’ 2018 income information. We highly recommend utilization of the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import you and your parents’ 2018 income direct-

ly onto the FAFSA. We will be emailing students with outstanding document requirements early in the spring semester. Please be sure to check your SHIP email daily. Returning students will be packaged with financial aid awards after the commencement of spring 2020 when final grades have posted. Packaging should occur in late May or early June for returning students who have a 20/21 FAFSA on file and all document requirements are satisfied. If you do not have a 20/21 FAFSA on file or you have not complied with our requests for documentation, we will be unable to package your financial aid.

FAFSA workshops are scheduled in the Lehman Library Room 106 on: Wednesday, March 18 from 1-3 p.m. Monday, March 23 from 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday, April 1 from 10 a.m.-noon If you would like assistance filing your FAFSA, please come to one of the workshops offered over the next few weeks!

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Opinion

The Slate Speaks

Employers should not judge applicants’ social media Today, this generation has been introduced to many social media outlets. Social media content can range from tweeting about the lack of milk in the refrigerator to an abstract Instagram post on political views. From Instagram, to Facebook, to the newest sensation Tik Tok, we have access to the world by simply hitting the upload button. However, this simple action can lead to professional consequences. Employers look at social media pages during the job application process. In the professional world, employers are not allowed to ask personal questions such as an applicant’s religion or relationship status during interviews. Seventy percent of employers will look at personal online accounts in search of a candidate’s personality, according to a 2017 survey conducted by Careerbuilder.com. This means your next employer could potentially see that photo of you at Wibs last weekend. Alternatively, employers could also see your

philanthropic volunteer work. But how much of your social media presence should be taken into account by potential employers? Careerbuilder also listed what social recruiters look for while looking over an applicant’s profile. For instance, posting inappropriate or provocative posts, discriminatory comments related to race or gender, or frequently posting were not advised. The website did, however, advise us to promote one’s professional image, awards and accolades. Although it is best to stray from culturally insensitive posts in general, what or how much we post on social media should not be for the interest of job recruiters. This generation creates social media profiles as an outlet to share content with peers. It helps us stay connected and express our thoughts, creativity and opinions. Social media apps like Twitter, Instagram and TikTok are for the enjoyment of friends and family. These apps are not meant for cater-

ing to employers, but rather a form of expression. It is for recreational purposes. The alternative option to restricting what can be posted is making a private personal account. This revelation results in the reduction of stress because of the power to choose who is able to view your content. However, the underlying mystery of why your account is private may concern a potential employer, as well as the restriction of publicly expressing yourself. Furthermore, altering who sees your profile because it may hinder possible employment is tedious. Additionally, choosing if applicants are suitable for a job just by looking at their social media can give a false sense of character. If employers want to see what applicants are like outside of the office, it should be through the formality of an interview and their given application. Potential employees may display themselves a certain way online, but it does not mean they act the

Carmine Scicchitano/ The Slate

Social media is meant for self-expression, not for employers. same way in a professional setting. Their credibility can instead be proven with a quick call from their references. Another way to prevent getting these false impressions is for job aspirants to create professional media accounts. Instead of looking at recreational accounts, employers are directed to professional accounts on apps which are built to showcase pro-

fessionalism, build reputation and network, such as LinkedIn. Apps like these are ideal when trying to scout for an individual’s professional reputation. Personal online accounts should form a border which separate one’s business persona from their private life. Social media should not have the power to make a strong or misleading impression to professional recruiters.

Voters need to be wary of media tactics leading up to election

Take five minutes:

Maria Maresca Staff Columnist

In contemporary America and across the globe, there has been an increasing concern and widespread practice of bias in the media when discussing politics. The media has become an undeniable influence in current times thanks to easy use and convenient accessibility. Throughout the media, politics is undergoing a complete transformation with the incorporation of media bias, which continues to infiltrate the sources that are accessed by the average American on a daily basis. Therefore, elections and the assessment of political candidates on mass scales are heavily impacted when voters consider the information they are provided with via news outlets.

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The unsigned staff editorial, “The Slate Speaks,” represents the views and opinions of The Slate as an organization. Participating editors help shape the staff editorial.

THESLATEONLINE.COM Reporting truth. Serving our community. Contact Us slate.ship@gmail.com (717) 477-1778 Mailing Address The Slate - Shippensburg University CUB Box 106 1871 Old Main Drive Shippensburg, PA 17257 Office Location Ceddia Union Building Room 250 Shippensburg University Adviser Dr. Michael Drager About The Slate The Slate is a weekly, volunteer, student-run newspaper published by the Gettysburg Times. Its print edition is published on Tuesdays and its website, theslateonline.com, is maintained 24/7. Weekly meetings are held on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. in The Slate office. All are welcome to attend, but we ask you notify management ahead of time. Staff positions are held on either a one semester or one academic-year term. There are no term limits. The Slate hires new members throughout the year based on its needs. The Slate does not

A NewsBiasExplored.com article discusses the most archetypal ways that media bias permeates through the news, which is due to the utilization of word choice, errors, the reduction of debate, story design, and the exclusion of select sources. Scholars also recorded that due to the complexities of media bias and the media’s methods of expressing information, observers generally have difficulty determining the consistencies with fairness or unfairness that are attributed to certain candidates or political parties. According to a 2016 survey performed by Pew Research Center, over half of Twitter users receive news on the social platform itself. In comparison to Facebook, Twitter has a smaller conglomeration of users which has allowed Facebook to rein supreme as the most prominent social media base for accessing news. Furthermore, the study documented that the majority of social media news consumers only read the news on one site. Without expanding their news sources, users are only putting themselves at a disadvantage because they are failing to compare sites to one another. With that said, using multiple sources increases the chances of creditability and prevents political bias. Understand-

ing the political preferences of an audience can also be important for connecting information and what is included and excluded, which comes down to personalization of media apps. Additionally, six media companies now control about 90% of what we, as viewers, read, watch and listen to. This solidification of control only further leads to the consolidation of media bias on a mass scale which magnifies the risk for intentional bias and the exposure of bias to viewers. Finally, over 40% of voters were recorded to be most-influenced by personal characteristics of political candidates, which seemingly held more significance than both their policies and governmental plans once elected into office. Clearly, as we have entered the modern era, media bias has snowballed into an unstoppable phenomenon that continues to become entangled with politics and news as a whole. Our founding fathers ardently believed that a literate and educated citizenry was necessary to the good functioning of democracy and that the news’ media is imperative to such. As the 2020 presidential election approaches, I advise all voters, young people in particular, to be wary of the tactics used by the media to sway opinions and the implications that follow.

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OPINION

March 3, 2020

Letters to the Editor:

Commentary: Students should register, vote in elections

Editor’s note: The following letter references a column written by Staff Columnist Maria Maresca titled “Take five minutes: The facade of a minimum wage increase,’” which was published in the Feb. 25 edition of The Slate.

Calvin DiMaggio Senior history major

Multiple studies have found that raising the minimum wage does not lead to job loss, according to institutions such as the University of California-Berkley, the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, the Center for Economic and Policy Research, and the government watchdog, Integrity Florida. The cost of raising the minimum wage is small relative to most firms. Companies would not have to raise prices of goods to keep their profit margins. Workers armed with more spending power will purchase more goods than they would have when they were barely surviving on the current minimum wage. The higher wage puts money in the worker’s wallets creating higher demand, which creates more opportunities to hire more

workers. Higher wages also make it easier to attract applicants, resulting in less employee turnover, and lowering costs to employers. However, this opinion piece is not a rebuttal. No meaningful debate or conversation on this topic can reasonably be held in a weekly publication. Rather, this column is an admonishment of your use of a certain source. In your column about the “facade” of raising the minimum wage, you cited The Heritage Foundation as a source. Joseph Coors of Coors Brewery and heir to a billionaire oil fortune Richard Mellon Scaife founded the company in order to advocate for economic deregulation and an extremely interventionist foreign policy. Ignoring a political lobbying history of adamant lie, the Foundation has no ground to talk about poverty in America and has consistently manipulated their studies to support their right-wing nonsense. Most, if not all, their studies have had their statistical information pulled out of thin air. The Foundation is a mouthpiece for misinformation, funded by oil companies to deny climate change, drug and medical companies to fight against Medicare for All, and finance and insurance companies to keep those in poverty below the line. I recommend that everybody, student or professor, follow the money trail behind these “think-tanks,” and see their true intentions.

Adam Friscia Staff Columnist

A radical approach to political forecasting is challenging conventional norms and “flipping giant paradigms of electoral theory upside down.” Those words were spoken by Christopher Newport University professor Rachel Bitecofer who is convinced political scientists rely on obsolete models to predict electoral outcomes. Central to her argument is the belief that swing voters no longer play a vital role on Election Day. Rather, she points to voter enthusiasm and partisan bias as the true litmus test for success.

In a series of published papers, Bitecofer denounced decades of political thought germane to the subject. “One byproduct of the contemporary environment is that analysis relies heavily on assumptions and theories of political behavior, much of which was produced in the pre-polarized era.” To account for current conditions, Bitecofer focuses almost entirely on the electorate. An article penned by Politico correspondent David Freelander summarized the crux of Bitecofer’s thesis. “The real ‘swing’ doesn’t come from voters who choose between two parties,” she argues, but from people who choose to vote, or not (or, if they do vote, vote for a third party).” In layman’s terms, the political party with the most registered voters who inspires the largest percentage of participation will win. But is it really that simple? Unsurprisingly, Bitecofer’s theory has drawn criticism from seasoned forecasters. “The idea that turnout explains every election result…

is just factually not true,” said Dave Wasserman, House Editor of the Cook Political Report. However, recent trends challenge his assertion. For example, heading into the 2018 midterms, Bitecofer accurately predicted Democrats would capture a net total of 42 House seats against an eventual tally of 41. Not bad for an insurgent. Despite criticism that Bitecofer is simplifying a complex issue, I believe her theory holds merit. Acute polarization has changed the rules of engagement for political prognosticators. Instead of fixating on the illusion that independents determine elections, each party should internalize its efforts. Securing core support is the root of all successful campaigns and cannot be ignored. When political parties motivate its base, swing voters are of little consequence. And this begs a question. If you are a registered voter attending Shippensburg University, can your party count your vote? If you’re interested in supporting her theory, I implore you to do so.

Letters to the Editor: Michael Bugbee

Freshman communication and sociology major

“You’re going to have to find another place to live. I didn’t know you were a homosexual.” These words still echo in mind today. My name is Michael and I’m a student here at Shippensburg University. Last year after deciding to go back to school, my husband and I tried to find a house close to campus. However, doing so ended up being harder than I thought. The first place I found was very close to campus. However, the owner quickly found out that I’m married to a man. He refused to show us the place, let alone rent it to us, stating that my lifestyle compromised his morals and values. After that shock, I contacted the borough in which this took place. I found out that

there are no laws protecting us from housing discrimination. Upon finding another potential house, we decided it was best not to share our marital status at first. Not even a week after we moved in, the landlord found out about our marriage. “You’re going to have to find another place to live. I didn’t know you were a homosexual,” he said. I was in disbelief and I couldn’t believe that this was happening — that even in 2019, LGBTQ people could be denied a place to live just because of who we are. These two situations should not have been legally allowed to happen. No one should be denied housing, a job, or any other service just because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This is why I asked Shippensburg University to take a firm stance against discrimination, not only here on campus but also in the community in which many students reside. I ask my fellow students, our faculty, and our administration, to help me bring about change in the borough of Shippensburg by getting involved in our local government. The Shippensburg Borough Council is set to consider a nondiscrimination ordinance at their April meeting. Please make your voice heard in support. If you want to get involved, please email me at mt9622@ship. edu.

Give it a thought:

Requiring world religion course can lead to a better public, society

Chase Slenker Staff Columnist

Our society and community, both on campus and the national level, struggle with understanding and appreciating the differences

amongst societies’ members, particularly in regard to race, religion and ethnic background. I truly believe that most of that divide and lack of understanding comes down to a lack of education and individual’s purposeful ignorance. A few weeks back, the March for Humanity was held on campus at which speakers talked about commonalities amongst us and how despite our differences, humanity is much more closely related than different. We all share a common humanity. As mentioned by Tom Ormond, Shippensburg

University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the university and the education system as a whole serves a fundamental role of educating humanity and to bring about a society that is understanding and appreciative of one’s differences. I believe that one of the main areas of contention and of deep misunderstanding in our world today is in regard to religion. Many people have misconceptions about others’ religious beliefs, based on a lack of education and fueled by the media, stereotypes, ignorance and hysteria. The “Us vs. Theming” that is discussed by neuroendo-

crinologist Robert Sapolksy is huge in America in regard to religion. Many Americans do not have an understanding of what separates Catholicism from Protestantism. The West shows deep misconceptions on the beliefs of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and many other religions. People hold their religious beliefs based firmly on developed reasoning and devote great portions of their time, money, and lifestyle to their religion. It is truly shocking for a large percentage of the population to not understand the major religions of the world when it holds such a great

weight in American and global society. Education of world religions would help to ease the misconceptions and divisions in our society and would help to build up our communities based on understanding. High schools and universities across the country, including Shippensburg University, should require a religion class that would educate students on the basic beliefs of all major world religions and their individual histories. This class would be objective in nature and would delve into the beliefs of humanity today and how they

have gotten to their current states. This general education requirement would better our campus, community, nation and the world. According to a Pew Research Center report in June 2019, those who took a world religions class in high school or college answered 17.3 questions correctly compared with 12.5 among those who have not taken such a class on a 20-question religious understanding quiz. A world religion class in high school and college would help create a more united and understanding community and campus.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Ship Life

Students play video games to raise money to help end cancer Morgan Barr

Guest Contributor

Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate

Students play games during one of the on-campus Relay for Life fundraisers.

Just one person can make a difference in the fight to end cancer. Or in this case, one controller. Students gathered Feb. 27 from 8–10 p.m. to compete in a Mario Kart tournament at the Red Zone to fundraise for Colleges Against Cancer’s Relay for Life event. The idea for a Mario Kart tournament came from club president Jessica Munoz. “Originally, it was going to be a Marvel tournament, but then I said ‘How about this idea?’ And we voted, and Mario Kart won,” Munoz said. “I was really excited, because I grew up playing it and it’s my senior year and my idea and my theme won.” Each participant in the tournament received a Relay T-shirt from the club. The winner of the tournament received a tee, a $25 Giant gift card and a voucher for a free meal at Relay for Life. Second and third place winners also received vouchers for a free meal at Relay for Life. Relay for Life first began in

1985 when Dr. Gordon Klatt raised money for the American Cancer Society by walking for 24 hours at a track in Tacoma, Washington. Relay has since become a global charity, with more than four million people in 26 countries participating. Shippensburg’s chapter of Colleges Against Cancer is the host of Relay for Life on campus. Over 16 on-campus organizations come together to raise money for the American Cancer Society. In the months leading up to Relay for Life, these organizations host multiple fundraisers such as canning sessions on the corner of King Street, restaurant fundraisers and tabling in the Ceddia Union Building (CUB) to compete and see who can raise the most money for Relay for Life. Last year’s winning team raised $4,446. Overall, Shippensburg raised $26,000 in 2019 for the American Cancer Society.

Question of the Week: What are your plans for spring break?

Kiley Buser, freshman “I’ll be going home to spend time with family and visiting some of my high school friends.”

Read the full story at theslateonline.com.

Event spreads awareness about mental health Jenna Holtzman Guest Contributor

Students who wish to de-stress from a difficult semester may be interested in attending one of the many wellness events that occur on campus. Students filled the Harley multi-purpose room Feb. 25 from 6:30-8 p.m. for a night of tarot card readings, music, rock painting and more hosted by Shippensburg University’s National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI). Those who attended used the time to relieve anxiety they may have gained during the day. The executive board members wanted to provide a sense of relaxation for the students who attended. “I needed to create Instagram posts and stories for people to remember we were having it and to tell their friends,” Dana Hoke, the public relations officer for NAMI said.

Hoke had high hopes for the event. “The people who attend will get to have a fun, relaxing night. Classes, work, internships, etc. can be so tiring and stressful and sometimes you need a night to just relax,” Hoke said. The executive board of NAMI said they planned this event with passion, care and hard work. The attending students smiled because of the calming air that filled the room. “Before I came to this event, I was having tons of anxiety and after the event, I was distracted and happy. I went to this event hoping to get relaxation out of this event and I got just that,” student Abigail Heister said. The event focused on having a calm, serene atmosphere so students could take a moment to take care of themselves after having a hard, anxiety-filled day. Some of the attendees of

NAMI’s wellness event mentioned there is stigma on mental health and they felt it is good to surround themselves with people who truly understand what it is like to have a mental illness. The wellness event helped spread awareness about mental health and allowed students to find those whom they can relate to. “I attended this event because I wanted to be a part of it [NAMI]. The stigma of mental illness really bothers me, so it’s nice to be in a room full of people who understand me,” student Lizzie Ritter said. Brianna Armour, president of NAMI, believes mental health is just as important as physical health. “I believe that we should all support each other in ending the stigma surrounding mental health issues,” Armour said.

Cassandra Aloisi, senior “I am going to Disney World during spring break.”

Gunny Miller, senior

Jenna Holtzman/The Slate

Students paint rocks to relieve anxiety and enjoy a night of tarot cards and music at the wellness event.

“For the fourth year in a row I’ll stay in Shippensburg because I don’t have any money to go anywhere and I work at the bookstore.”

ShipTALKS: What should

students do if they are sick?

Justin Hawbaker/The Slate

A student uses a tissue to blow his nose to prevent other students from also getting sick. Students should always use their elbow or a tissue when sneezing.

Most students question if they should risk not going to class or skip it to rest. The answer to the question: Stay home. Going to class sick will only get other students sick. You should stay in bed and allow yourself to rest to get better. The lack of rest can make the illness worse and it will take you longer to get better. If you decide to stay home, you should email a fellow student from the class and ask what you missed before emailing the professor. Professors prefer students stay on top of their work regardless of their illness. Most classes only allow so many absences before it

is dropped a letter grade. Therefore, if you are constantly missing class without an excuse, be aware your professor may ask for proof you were sick. Sickness sometimes falls on the worst times. If you are sick on an exam day or during a presentation, you should use your best judgment or contact your professor for options. A lot of professors do not allow make-up exams or quizzes, but some will when not going to class. Professors know students are only human and get sick. They themselves have to take off time-to-time because of getting an illness, too. Make sure you check your

syllabus for the attendance policy if you plan on taking a day off. Only take a day off if absolutely necessary. Do not overwork yourself. Make sure you wash your hands often, eat well and get plenty of sleep. For resource purposes, visit Etter Health Center on the bottom floor of Naugle Hall if you feel medical help is necessary.

Sincerely, The ShipTalker

Have a question for The ShipTalker?

Email slate.shiplife@gmail.com!

SHIP LIFE

March 3, 2020

Your March Horoscopes Chaela Williams

Asst. Ship Life Editor

Looking for guidance in your life? Here are your horoscopes for March. Let us know if we got it right on social media @shipUSlate .

Aries

The person you are thinking about is not who they seem. It might be hard, but it is time to stop fantasizing about an unattainable crush and focus on loving yourself. Create new goals and study with friends to make yourself busy.

Taurus

Be careful of fake friends this month! They will mask themselves as your biggest supporters only to block your blessings. Keep a close eye on those who doubt and ridicule you.

Gemini

You have not been seeing eye-to-eye with others. Make sure to calm down and re-think the situation you are in. You do not need resentment and jealousy affecting your mood this month.

Cancer

Avoid drama this month. While there might be some truth to the gossip, the story might be spiraling out of control. Feelings will get hurt, including yours, if you do not steer clear from the mess. Photos by Jonathan Bergmueller/The Slate

Breann Sheckells (left) and Michaela Vallonio plan upcoming events to promote The Slate. “Michaela and I have a good dynamic. We are both in PRSSA and AMA,” Sheckells said. “We’re usually on the same page.”

Slaters of the Month: Breann Sheckells and Michaela Vallonio Jonathan Bergmueller Editor-in-Chief

Breann Sheckells and Michaela Vallonio are the Slaters of the Month for February. This month’s Slaters of the Month were both born Aug. 9, 1998. They major in communication/journalism and have an emphasis in public relations. They also minor in business and perform behind-the-scenes public relations for The Slate. As The Slate’s public relations dream team, Sheckells and Vallonio will share the award this month.

Breann Sheckells is The Slate’s public relations director.

For the past few years, Sheckells and Vallonio worked behind the scenes to provide The Slate with promotional content. From fliers, open houses and scheduling posts on The Slate’s social media, the two tagteamed public relations to make the organization look

good. “[The Slate gave me] the opportunity to create promotional ideas, promoting events, meeting other people and telling them what I do,” Vallonio said. The two met as friends down the hall in the Seavers Hall on-campus before they joined The Slate. Back then, Sheckells had an emphasis in electronic media. She joined The Slate as the assistant web director in 2016. She later signed on as public relations director when the previous director graduated. Around the same time, she changed her major emphasis to public relations. Vallonio joined The Slate her sophomore year as Sheckells’ assistant. While her title reads “assistant public relations director,” Vallonio and Sheckells agree it is an equal power dynamic. They split the workload and delegate tasks between themselves. “Michaela and I have a good dynamic. We are both in PRSSA and AMA,” Sheckells said. “We’re usually on the same page.” In addition to working at The Slate, both Sheckells and Vallonio are a part of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and the American Marketing Association (AMA). Sheckells also performs with SU’s

In-Motion Dance Troupe, and has been the group historian since her sophomore year. They both have internships to give them real-world experience. Sheckells interned at Forrester Farm Equipment and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. She previously interned at Tierney Communications and D&H Distributing. Vallonio is interning at SU Magazine and Fischtank PR + Marketing. Sheckells’ favorite part of public relations is reputation building and brand management and wants to pursue a career in public relations in the future. Vallonio loves meeting people and telling them about the work she and Breann do for The Slate. Vallonio’s dream job is working at WebFX or Bravo, but she is also interested in nonprofit organizations. Sheckells said The Slate allowed her to gain skills related to her public relations field. Public Relations meetings at The Slate helped her plan out agendas and prepare for the real world. Meanwhile, Sheckells used The Slate as an opportunity to prepare professional materials applying skills learned in her classes. “InDesign is my best friend,” Sheckells said. Vallonio said The Slate gave her an opportunity to

combine and practice skills from print/online, electronic media and public relations in the communication/journalism department. One of the biggest changes Vallonio brought to The Slate is using Hootsuite, a program for scheduling social media

Leo

Do not be afraid of taking on a bigger role at work. Hesitating to accept a challenge will stall your progress. Trust your abilities and your intelligence. Your courage will inspire others at work and your boss will respect you.

Virgo

You are ready for a change this month. You will not be satisfied until you find a new activity or job that suits your personality. Your confidence will boost during this month, make sure to use it to your advantage.

Libra

Socializing and meeting new people is the key to success. This month your bubbly, flirty attitude will help you become a social butterfly. Be prepared to do a lot of talking and dating.

Scorpio

You are unsatisfied with your love life and this month it will not get any better. It is time to take a break from relationships and focus on other important things in life. It will be tough; but keep a positive attitude. You might attract someone new.

Sagittarius Michaela Vallonio’s dream job is working at WebFX or Bravo.

posts to promote The Slate. Before that, Vallonio needed to manually send posts at the specific time. Sheckells, who is the daughter of Scott and Janene Sheckells, has one sister, Colleen, who attends Savannah College of Art & Design. Vallonio, who is the daughter of Michael and Colleen Vallonio, has one sister, Madison, who is a freshman at SU. Meanwhile, her older brother Brandon graduated from Purdue University in winter 2019 and her youngest sibling, Jackson, is still in high school.

Pay attention to your dreams this month. Some of them might come true because luck is on your side. Also pay attention to the person who has been giving romantic signs. Who knows, they might be the one.

Capricorn

One of your closest friends is upsetting you and you cannot help but roll your eyes to everything they say. You need to have a heart-to-heart conversation with the person before it escalates.

Aquarius

You have been spending your time in the library studying and doing homework, maybe too much time. Academics are important but so is your mental health. Take some time to prioritize yourself and relax with friends.

Pisces

Not all opportunities will come to you but have no fear, wealth is coming your way very soon. Keep up the hard work and you will be rewarded.

Recipe of the Week: Vegan Taco Pasta Ingredients

Recipe and photo by Chaela Williams

16 ounces gluten-free pasta 2 tbsp olive oil 1 cup of halved grape tomatoes 1 bag of sweet minipeppers diced 1 jalapeno diced 1 packet taco seasoning 16 ounces vegan ground beef 1/2 cup vegan chunky salsa 1 cup water

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside. 2. While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add tomatoes, bell peppers and jalapeño to the pan and sauté for eight minutes until veggies softened. 3. Push the veggies to one side of the pan and add the vegan ground beef. Crumble with a wooden spoon and cook for an additional three minutes. Combine the veggies and beef and add taco seasoning. 4. Stir for four minutes then add salsa. Add cooked pasta to the pan and toss until coated evenly. 5. Serve with optional toppings of cilantro and lime wedges.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

A&E

English professor releases book of poetry discussing women’s issues in Pa Ryan Cleary

Asst. A&E Editor

What struggles do queer women face in south-central Pennsylvania? Nicole Santalucia, an English professor at Shippensburg University, informs the world about these struggles in her novel “The Book of Dirt.” “The Book of Dirt,” which Santalucia released Feb. 20, discusses homosexuality, oppression, addiction and more in a series of poems and short stories, according to Santalucia. “In this collection, lesbians crawl out of the grave that America has been digging since its inception; these are poems of resistance, celebrating marriage, sobriety, and survival,” Santalucia said. Santalucia’s experience living in south-central Pennsylvania influenced her writing for the book. “There’s a lack of protections for the LGBTQ+ community,” Santalucia said. The poems introduce the lives of women and what their experiences on surviving addiction, prison, women-hating and homophobia in Pennsylvania. The novel also covers subjects like queer and lesbian identities, misogyny and objectification of women in Pennsylvania. “There’s a sense of urgen-

Ryan Cleary/The Slate Nicole Santalucia, English professor at SU, released her new book “The Book Of Dirt” to the public on Feb 20.

cy in our society and it’s my responsibility as a poet to respond,” Santalucia said. “There was no way I could not be in conversation, through poetry, with these issues.” According to Santalucia, the title of the book is both a literal and a metaphorical interpretation of the issues it discusses. “It stands for and responds to the small-town American landscape where gun violence, homophobia,

misogyny and addiction permeate the lives of so many,” Santalucia said. The poems in the book represent reprieve and survival. They also meditate on the dirt from the earth and the filth that runs deep through many aspects of American society. Readers can find the book at nyq.org. Santalucia will hold an open-reading March 26 at the Midtown Scholar bookstore in Harrisburg.

Award-winning poet comes to SU to speak for H.O.P.E. scholarship Zoey Lomison Asst. A&E Editor

Shippensburg University welcomed award-winning poet, Nikki Giovanni, Feb. 27 in H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center in honor of Black History Month. SU President Laurie Carter introduced Giovanni to the audience. Giovanni visited the university in conjunction with the 35th H.O.P.E. Diversity Scholarship Dinner and Program. Giovanni opened her lecture by telling the audience the importance of her hooded white jacket. She said she wore the hoodie in honor of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old Florida boy who was shot by police. “Maybe we can convince cops to stop shooting us in the back,” Giovanni said. “What makes white people so afraid of people of color?” Giovanni asked. “Race is a dumb idea,” she added. Giovanni wrote “Reflections on April 4, 1968” in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death. The poem details what happened the day of King’s death and black Americans’ response. Giovanni also emphasized the importance of voting. “It doesn’t matter to me who you vote for, just vote,” Giovanni said. “I believe if you’re old enough to get your license, you are old enough to vote.” Giovanni read her second poem, “2020,” to the audience. “They agreed that all men and women were created equal, folks vote to make us free.” Giovanni said. She finished the poem by telling the audience that everybody has a voice and it is important to use it. Giovanni shared her life experiences and opinions, from battling breast cancer to her opinions on United States President Donald Trump. “I might not change the world, but the world won’t change me,” Giovanni said. Giovanni talked about her childhood growing up in Knoxville, Tennessee. Her mother and father were not in a happy marriage. Giovanni recalls that at night she would hear

Billboard Top 10 Zoey Lomison/The Slate Nikki Giovanni tells the audience about her childhood, growing up in Knoxville, Tennessee.

her father argue and hit her mother. She emphasized her perspective that daughters were important and shared her favorite poem, “I Married my Mother.” Giovanni wrote the poem after her father was in the hospital after he had a stroke. In his final days, Giovanni’s father lived in her house with her mother, where she demanded he treat her with respect. “Momma, you should’ve married me,” she recalled telling her mother. The H.O.P.E. Diversity Scholarship was established in March 1983. It gives academically talented and financially deserving students the opportunity to receive an education at SU. H.O.P.E. sponsors 27 scholar students for the 2019-2020 school year: Alvina Belcher, Elizabeth Carrillo, Jordan Cook, Sarah Diaz Perez, Emily Franklin, Latia Geiger, Aunbrielle Green, Brittney Horton, Manisha Kapoor, Ashleigh Kennedy, Courtney King, Alycia LaLuz, Adeline Linzau, Alfonso Lopez Martinez, Hunter Milliner, Suphawat Nambuppha, Jaida O’Neal-Sloane, Deanna Peebles, Megan Puig, Amelia Rhoads, Natalie Rodriguez, Brendan Rosenberger, Bryan Rottkamp, Brayden Smiley, Maria Snodgrass, Taylen Torres and Stephen Washington.

1. The Box - Roddy Ricch

6. Roxanne - Arizona Zervas

2. Life Is Good - Future feat. Drake

7. Memories - Maroon 5

3. Circles - Post Malone

8. Someone You Loved - Lewis Capaldi

4. Dance Monkey - Tones And I

9. Intentions - Justin Bieber feat. Quavo

5. Don’t Start Now - Dua Lipa

10. Blinding Lights - The Weekend

Movie Showtimes

Showtimes for Tuesday and Wednesday, March 3 and 4 at AMC Classic 7 in Chambersburg

Shows

Times

1. Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island

6:50 p.m.

2. The Call Of The Wild

7:00 p.m.

3. Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey

7:20 p.m.

4. Impractical Jokers: The Movie

7:40 p.m.

5. The Invisible Man

7:30 p.m.

6. Sonic The Hedgehog

7:30 p.m.

Women’s basketball, E2

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Sports

Lacrosse, E2

RAIDER OF THE WEEK

Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate

DeAndre Reed finishes third at 149 pounds in the Super Region 1 Championships on Saturday. His performance qualified him for the NCAA Division II National Championships. SU has had a Division II National Championship qualifier for 18 consecutive years.

Wrestling finishes ninth at SR1 Championships Redshirt junior DeAndre Reed finishes third at Super Region 1 Championships, qualifies for the NCAA Division II National Championships Christian Eby Staff Writer

The Shippensburg University wrestling team finished ninth at the 2020 Super Region 1 Championships on Saturday, with redshirt junior DeAndre Reed placing third at 149 pounds, qualifying him for the NCAA Division II National Championships. Along with Reed, Shippensburg had four other place-winners. Sophomore Colton Babcock placed fifth at 174 pounds, sophomore Matt Milbrand finished sixth at 141 pounds, redshirt junior Alexi Castro took sixth at 197 and senior Derek Berberick placed sixth as well, at 285 pounds. Reed overcame many obstacles to get himself to the NCAA National Champi-

onships. He went through wrestlebacks and ultimately defeated a wrestler who had beaten him earlier in the day and twice over the course of the season entering the third-place match. Reed’s afternoon started with a loss to American International’s Joel Morth, who took Reed down in a 3-1 decision, placing Reed in wrestlebacks. He also previously beat Reed on Feb. 8 with a 4-3 decision. Reed would fight back by posting a 6-2 decision over Millersville’s Elijah Tuckey, followed by an 8-3 decision over Seton Hill’s Austin Shaw. The two wins set up a third match with Morth, where Reed became the victor with a 3-1 decision, sending Reed to his first-career trip to the national championships.

Reed won the match with a key takedown with 15 seconds left in regulation. Babcock began his day with a loss, a 4-1 decision, to Seton Hill’s Brandon Matthews. In his next match, Babcock regrouped and pinned Kutztown’s Anthony Emig in 3:53. His third match ended in defeat to Gannon’s Luigi Yates, a 12-9 decision, but Babcock held his own the whole way through. To round out his day, Babcock would dominate in his fifth-place match, defeating Mercyhurst’s Kevin Holman with a 17-7 major decision. Babcock pinned Holman earlier in the season and finishes his sophomore campaign with a 12-13 record. Milbrand gained two victories in wrestlebacks, including a 40-second pin on American International’s

Raul Mateo. Milbrand would then be defeated twice by Gannon’s Nick Young and completes his season with a 10-13 record. Castro finished his 11-8 season on a high note, by winning his wrestle-back match over East Stroudsburg’s Sczar Charles, earning sixth place in his respective weight class. Berberick started his day with a nail-biting 5-2 tiebreaker win over Seton Hill’s Jake Beistel. He then gave it his all against Mercyhurst’s Jake Robb, but never gained the upper hand and lost a 2-0 decision. Robb sealed his victory with a riding-time point and a third-period escape. Berberick then fell to Pitt-Johnstown’s Allan Beattie and Millersville’s Josh Walls. Berberick completes his

senior season with an impressive 13-9 record, and caps off an outstanding fouryear career with the Raiders, in which he finishes with a 56-46 record which includes 17 pins and seven major decisions. He also boasts a trip to the 2019 national championships. Head coach Seth Bloomquist completed his 11th season as head coach and his 16th overall with the Raiders. He extended his school-record streak to 16 consecutive years with Reed’s bid to the national championships. Not one year has gone by without SU having a national qualifier since Bloomquist has been associated with the team. Reed will represent the Raiders at the 2020 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships on March 13-14 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Name: Drew Dailey Sport: Indoor Track & Field Major: Business Administration Class: Freshman Hometown: Phoenix, Maryland Dailey was awarded the 2020 PSAC Indoor Track & Field Championships Most Valuable Athlete. He won the PSAC title in both the mile (4:21.10) and the 800 meter (1:55.37). He also anchored the 4x800 meter relay to a PSAC title.

Image courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.

The men’s basketball team honors its group of seniors with plaques on senior night at Heiges Field House. The Raiders defeated Shepherd University 66-59 behind major defensive contributions from Lamar Talley. Standing with the plaques, from left to right, are Talley, Daylon Carter, John Castello and Derek Ford.

Men’s basketball honors senior class with 66-59 win over Shepherd Isaiah Snead

Asst. Sports Editor

The Shippensburg University men’s basketball team held its final regular season home game at Heiges Field House on senior night Wednesday evening and honored their four seniors with a 66-59 win over Shepherd University. Seniors Lamar Talley, Derek Ford, Daylon Carter and John Castello received a plaque and took a photo with their families before the game, and all four players

started the game along with junior Jake Biss. This year’s group of seniors compiled the most wins for any single group of players in Shippensburg school history. The Raiders (22-6, 18-4 PSAC) relied on their defense in the win as they held their opponent under 60 points for the fifth time this season. Shepherd only made four 3-pointers in the loss, even though they came in as the conference leaders in that category. Shepherd’s Thomas Lang came into the game leading

the nation in 3-pointers with 104, but he was held scoreless by Talley and the Shippensburg defense. “I take pride in my defense as far as me stopping the guy I got to stop and helping my team in the best way possible,” Talley said. “Tonight was about getting [Lang] out of the game, not letting him score and making it tough on him, and that’s what I did.” Shippensburg overcame a tough shooting night as they shot 36% from the field and just 33% from beyond the 3-point line.

Sophomore Luke Nedrow led the way for the Raiders offensively, posting 16 points and six rebounds. Biss scored 12 points on just 4-of-13 shooting, while Talley scored 11 points along with five rebounds and three assists. SU head coach Chris Fite spoke about the team’s group of seniors after the game. “All of our seniors have been tremendous and I’m really happy for them to get this win on senior night to get us back on track,” Fite said. “I’m hoping we have a

lot more games together but I appreciate those guys.” The Raiders moved on to Kutztown, where they ended the regular season with a 76-57 road win on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Carlos Carter matched his career high with 22 points and Castello added in a double-double, scoring 18 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Nedrow nearly achieved his first career double-double, finishing with 17 points and nine rebounds. Shippensburg’s defense held yet another opponent

to under 60 points and Kutztown only had one player score in double figures. The Raiders will finish the season 18-4 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and as the PSAC Eastern Division champions. They will host the winner of the PSAC Men’s Basketball Championship tournament first round matchup between Millersville University and Shepherd University on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Heiges Field House.

SPORTS

March 3, 2020

Photos courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.

Aunbrielle Green attacks the rim against Shepherd. Green scored six points, pulled down 12 rebounds and recorded two blocks in the victory.

Women’s hoops wins PSAC East Division Matt Gregan

Asst. Sports Editor

The Shippensburg University women’s basketball team defeated Shepherd University 69-59 in a defensive battle last Wednesday at Heiges Field House. The matchup could prove to be a preview of what is to come for the Raiders, who will face the winner of Shepherd and Lock Haven universities in the quarterfinals of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) tournament on Wednesday night. The Raiders (20-8, 17-5 PSAC) and Shepherd (20-8, 14-8 PSAC) came into the game as the top two scoring teams in the PSAC, but the action played out in a completely different manner. Defense took center stage as SU held Shepherd’s vaunted offense to less than 60 points, something that has only occurred three times this season. SU head coach Kristy Trn expected the game to revolve around defense, especially after the team lost 78-71 to Shepherd previously this season. “After we played them the first time and squandered the fourth quarter after having a 12-point lead at halftime, we watched our game on film and saw how many transition baskets we gave up and how little we communicated [on defense],” Trn said. Shepherd shot the ball only 34.8% from the field and 19% from beyond the arc. The Raiders forced 22 turnovers due to a smothering defensive effort. SU also blocked 10 shots, the most in a game in more than 18 years. While the Raiders did not shoot the ball well either, they held a major advantage at the free-throw line which helped them win the game. The team shot 27-of-35 from the line, led by junior Ariel Jones going 14-of-16. The Raiders held a 43-40 lead heading into the fourth quarter, where their advantage at the free-throw line came into effect. SU outscored Shepherd 26-19 in the final quarter of action, heavily supported by making 15-of-17 attempts from the free-throw line. “It seems at the end of the game, when they realize something is on the line, their competitiveness just kicks in,” Trn said. “That’s crucial and it’s what we always talk about — winning teams are going to hit those free throws when they have to.”

Kryshell Gordy nearly achieved a double-double in the win over Shepherd, posting nine points and 10 rebounds. Gordy also tallied three blocks and stole the ball twice in a game-high 38 minutes of action. The Raiders lead NCAA Division II women’s basketball in free throws made (491). The team’s ability to both get to the line and then convert on those attempts will prove to be an important asset heading into the PSAC tournament. Shippensburg clinched the PSAC Eastern Division title and secured a 20-win season with the win over Shepherd. It marked the first time the team has achieved each feat since the 2016-17 season. Shippensburg was unable to maintain momentum heading into the PSAC tournament, dropping a road contest, 70-62, to Kutztown University on Saturday afternoon. Junior Destiny Jefferson led the team in points with 22. The Raiders’ offense struggled to get anything going on Saturday, shooting just 30.2% from the field and making only one of their 18 attempts from 3-point range. Looking Ahead The Raiders hold a first-round bye in this week’s PSAC tournament and are situated to face the winner of the firstround matchup between Shepherd and Lock Haven. The last

Softball wins three of four at Glenville State tourney Courtesy of SU Sports Info.

Photo courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.

Tressa Kagarise pitched a complete game and earned the victory in the Raiders’ 10-2 win over Alderson Broaddus in a cold and windy Saturday affair.

couple of weeks have featured a plethora of playoff previews for Shippensburg. The team defeated Lock Haven 72-64 on Feb. 15 and, most recently, Shepherd 69-59 on Feb. 26. Shepherd presents a tough matchup for SU. The two teams split their head-to-head contests this season, and Shepherd has a trio of players averaging more than 17 points per game. Freshman Abby Beeman leads the team with 20.0 points per contest, and she offers a well-balanced scoring attack (46.7% from the field, 35.3% from 3-point range and 75.8% from the free-throw line). The Raiders defeated Lock Haven both times they faced off this season. LHU’s leading scorer is freshman Marena Londardi, who is averaging 13.1 points per game. One of the things which makes the Bald Eagles dangerous is their defense. They rank sixth in the PSAC in points allowed per game (63.1). Shippensburg has earned a bye in the first round of the PSAC tournament and will surely be watching the action on Monday night to see what matchup awaits.

The Shippensburg University softball team posted a pair of run-rule victories Saturday at Glenville State, defeating Alderson Broaddus 10-2 in six innings before also winning 10-2 in six innings over the host Pioneers on a seriously cold and windy afternoon in West Virginia. Shippensburg (7-3) totaled 23 hits over the two games, recording seven extra-base hits and drawing 14 walks while striking out just three times. The Raiders batted .418 as a team and committed just one error. Sophomore Tressa Kagarise earned a complete-game victory in the circle in Game 1, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out seven over six innings. Freshman Hannah Palinkas got the Game 2 start, allowing one run in 2.2 innings, with junior Courtney Coy going 3.1 innings and striking out five to earn a win

in relief. At the plate, Coy reached base in six of her nine plate appearances, going 5-for-8 with a double, two RBIs and a walk. Sophomore Hannah Marsteller had four hits, including a home run and double, and totaled four RBIs and walked twice. Senior Meghan Klee, freshman Alyssa Nehlen and sophomore Grace Palmieri all reached base five times. Klee was 3-for-5 with a double, triple and two walks. Nehlen had three singles, two walks, a stolen base and scored four runs. Palmieri had two hits, three walks and three RBIs. Sophomore Morgan Fetter also homered and finished with four RBIs. The Raiders then split a pair of neutral-site games Sunday at Glenville State, dropping an 8-6 decision to Alderson Broaddus before defeating West Virginia State, 5-3. Shippensburg yielded four runs with two outs in the

fifth inning against Alderson Broaddus and three runs in the sixth that proved insurmountable. The Raiders had 10 hits but left 13 runners on base against the Battlers. Game 2 featured a complete-game victory in the circle from Kagarise, who struck out seven and allowed just two earned runs. Coy hit a mammoth two-run home run to highlight the Raider offensive effort against West Virginia State. Overall on the day, Coy was 5-for-9 at the plate. Nehlen reached base five times, hitting a double and two singles and drawing two walks. Freshman Taylor Radziewicz hit a three-run double against Alderson Broaddus to highlight a three-hit day. Senior Kayla Bonawitz finished the two games with four total hits, including a double and a triple. Shippensburg heads to Virginia State next weekend for four games over the course of two days.

SPORTS

March 3, 2020

Photos by Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate

A group of players fight for the ball in front of the NYIT net in the loss on Saturday afternoon. The Raiders totaled 24 shots and six goals against NYIT.

Madi Jones brings the ball up the field in the loss to New York Institute of Technology (NYIT). She forced her first turnover of the season on Saturday.

Christian Eby

Wednesday did not continue in Saturday’s game for SU, as they fell to No. 23 New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) 18-6, giving the Raiders their second loss at home this season. Nothing seemed to go right for the Raiders Saturday as they looked out of sync on both the offensive and defensive sides of the field. NYIT (2-0) kicked off the game with a quick 4-0 run, before SU’s Seifried and Savarino notched their only goals on the day, ending their three-game hat trick streaks. The Bears controlled the

Lacrosse wins nail-biter against No. 21 Seton Hill Staff Writer

The Shippensburg University lacrosse team completed an early-season upset Wednesday afternoon, beating No. 21 Seton Hill by a 10-9 score, in what was a nail-biter the whole way through. Shippensburg (2-1) struggled defensively to begin the game and trailed the Griffins 7-2 with 10 minutes left in the first half. The Raiders then flipped the script and held Seton Hill (2-1) to only two goals over the remaining

40 minutes. Sophomores Hannah Seifried and Gabby Savarino continued to be dominant offensively for SU as they each added hat tricks to their already impressive totals on the young season. Savarino scored the winning goal with 8:51 left in regulation. Junior Alana Cardaci also contributed two goals for the Raiders, while junior Jena MacDonald and sophomore Hannah Raines each added one goal on the afternoon. Shippensburg received a boost on the defensive side from freshman goalkeeper

Ally Weneta, as she recorded nine saves on the day, most of which came in the second half. She also tallied seven groundballs for the Raiders. Even though the Griffins posted a 15-6 edge in draw controls, SU took the upper hand in turnovers with 15, compared to Seton Hill’s 21. The win comes as a nice bounce-back for Shippensburg, as last year’s match against the Griffins ended in an 18-10 defeat. The Raiders also now boast a 2-0 record on the road to start the new season. The momentum from

remainder of the first half by going on a 5-0 run and giving themselves an 11-2 lead at halftime. While the Shippensburg offense doubled its point total in the second half, it was still not enough. SU’s MacDonald scored the first goal for the Raiders with 25:39 remaining in regulation. Sophomore Sydney Costanza would then find the back of the net as well, notching her second goal on the young season. Alana Cardaci also contributed two goals on the afternoon, giving her the team

high for the game. NYIT’s Shannon Donovan was the major issue for the Raiders’ defense. She finished the day with seven goals, five of which came in the first half. Jaclyn Grzelaczyk also gave the Bears a boost on offense, totaling four goals. The loss leaves the Raiders winless against NYIT over the past two years. Shippensburg will look to continue its hot streak on the road next Friday when the Raiders travel to take on the Lock Haven Bald Eagles at 4 p.m.

Indoor T&F performs well at PSAC Championships Men’s track-and-field wins its 10th consecutive 2020 PSAC Championship

Photos courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.

• Drew Dailey was named the 2020 PSAC Indoor Championships Most Valuable Athlete. He won both the conference title in the mile (4:21.10) and in the 800 meters (1:55.37). • Aaron Arp Jr. was named the 2020 PSAC Indoor Championships Outstanding Track Athlete. He won the conference title in the 400 meters in a record-breaking 47.40 seconds. He also finished second in the 60-meter hurdles (8.22 seconds). • The team won eight events and totaled 171 points.

Women’s track-and-field uses eight scoring efforts to snag a fifth-place finish in the 2020 PSAC Championship

Gabriella Johnson qualifies for national championships • Johnson qualified in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:03.01) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:17.96). • This marks the second consecutive season that Johnson has qualified for the national championships.

• Leah Graybill broke the school-record in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.67 seconds, earning a fourth-place finish in that event. She also earned an All-PSAC third-place finish in the 200 meters with a time of 24.96 seconds. • Rachel Bruno posted personal bests in both the 400 meters and the 200 meters. She earned an All-PSAC second-place finish in the 400 meters (57.93 seconds) while also finishing fourth in the 200 meters (25.26 seconds). It was her first career scoring performance in the indoor 400 meters. • Kate Matrisciano came within a fraction of an inch of first place in the shot put. She earned an All-PSAC second-place finish with a distance of 44 feet, 3 1/2 inches.

SPORTS

March 3, 2020

Photos by Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate

Zack Zoller set the program record for most doubles in a game with four in Saturday’s Game 1 win over Le Moyne College. He drove in two runs as well.

Kyle Lysy threw six scoreless innings in the Raiders’ 9-0 Game 1 victory. Lysy has now thrown 13 consecutive shutout innings in his previous two starts.

Christian Eby

two more RBIs. Werkheiser also knocked two more hits and plated one run. Despite notching 16 hits and nine runs, it was still not enough support for the SU pitching staff. It was a flip of the script for the Raiders’ pitching as they allowed a combined 12 runs on nine hits, while only striking out four batters. Game 3 saw warmer weather but SU’s offense was colder and its pitching was shaky in a 10-5 defeat. Le Moyne once again had momentum swinging in its favor early as it scored a combined eight runs in the second and third innings. Senior Jacob Pollock had a solid day at the plate going 2-for-5 while driving in three runs, which counted for over half of the Raid-

Baseball drops two of three in home-opening series Staff Writer

The Shippensburg University baseball team went 1-2 in its opening home series Saturday and Sunday against Le Moyne College, taking a commanding win in Game 1 before falling in Games 2 and 3. Shippensburg (5-8) got off to a hot start in Game 1 when the offense exploded for nine runs in a 9-0 victory. Four of those runs came in the first inning alone. Graduate student Zack Zoller starred on offense, going 4-for-4 and setting the school record for most doubles in a game (four). He also added two RBIs to his impressive stat line. Behind him, sophomore Justin Darden launched the only home run of the game, a

two-run shot. Junior Ben Werkheiser notched a triple that also plated two more runs. Pitching was also a key component to the Raiders’ Game 1 victory. Senior Kyle Lysy pitched six scoreless innings, scattered six hits and struck out six as well. Freshman Austin Labarre would then keep the Le Moyne offense quiet for the final inning, sealing a 9-0 victory for the Raiders. Game 2 would have a different outcome for SU, as the bats woke up for Le Moyne (74) and powered them to a 12-9 win over the Raiders. The Dolphins used dominant second and fourth innings to shatter the Raiders’ momentum. Junior Scout Knotts was the bright spot for the Shippensburg offense, going 3-for-5 with three singles and three RBIs. Zoller kept a hot bat in Game 2, going 2-for-5 with a triple and

ers’ scoring output. Junior Chase Zurawski also notched two hits in four at-bats, plating one run. Werkheiser found himself on base three times; he had a double, a walk and was hit by a pitch. Similar to Game 2, the Raiders’ pitching never found its groove. Redshirt sophomore Kiernan Higgins struggled to find his control, as he allowed eight runs on eight hits and walked four in three innings of work. Redshirt sophomore Matt Ryan came in for relief as he pitched four innings, giving up two runs, while scattering three hits. He also notched four strikeouts. The Raiders will look to get back on track next week as they travel to the University of Charleston, where they will play a four-game series that spans from Friday to Sunday.

THIS WEEK IN RAIDER SPORTS MEN’S BASKETBALL

Wednesday: vs. TBD, 7:30 p.m. (PSAC Quarterfinals)

Saturday/ Sunday: TBD (Semifinals/ Finals)

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Wednesday: vs. TBD, 5:30 p.m. (PSAC Quarterfinals)

Saturday/ Sunday: TBD (Semifinals/ Finals)

BASEBALL

Friday-Sunday: at Charleston, 1/3 p.m.

Relax and leth us do the driving.

RAIDER REGIONAL TRANSIT Students ride free on Raider Regional Transit! Just Show Your Student ID CATCH THE BUS ON CAMPUS AND RIDE DOWNTOWN TO:

SOFTBALL

LACROSSE

TENNIS

Saturday: at Virginia State Tournament, 12/2 p.m.

Sunday: at Virginia State Tournament, 10 a.m./2 p.m.

Friday: at Lock Haven, 4 p.m. Saturday: at Spring Break Games

• • • • • •

Walmart Turkey Hill Episcopal Square the Post Office Madison Apartments Shippensburg Cottages

• • • • • •

GIANT Aldi the Library Bard Townhomes Creekside Apartments Hot Point Commons ...AND MORE!

Go even farther by connecting to the CAT buses traveling to downtown Harrisburg and the Amtrak Harrisburg Station.

Sunday: at Spring Break Games

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The Slate 3-3-20

Articles inside

Sonic The Hedgehog

The Invisible Man

Impractical Jokers: The Movie

The Call Of The Wild

Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island

Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey