The Slate 4-20-21

Dear Interim President Patterson, B1

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Marsteller keeps mashing, E1

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Volume 64 No. 19

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

PASSHE freezes tuition for 3rd consecutive year Noel Miller and Hannah Pollock The Slate

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s (PASSHE) Board of Governors has voted to keep in-state tuition frozen for a third year in a row, according to an April 15 PASSHE press release.

The unanimous vote will keep instate tuition at $7,716 for the 2021-22 academic year and the PASSHE student technology fee will stay at $487, the press release said.

“A quality education and an affordable one go hand-in-hand at our universities. Students deserve our full support as they continue focusing on attaining a degree through the pandemic,” board Chair Cindy Shapira said.

During the Board of Governors meeting on Thursday, the University Success Committee passed the motion to freeze tuition for an additional year.

University Success Committee chair Tom Muller said there was a tentative 1% increase in tuition which would be about $82 more for the average student.

Officials ultimately decided against the increase to focus on what they believe is best for students.

Pennsylvania State Rep. Brad Roae (R-6th District) noted that the increase can be a lot of money for some students and may be a deciding factor in pursuing higher education.

“A 1% increase to get another 90 bucks — it’s just hard to believe that you can’t educate somebody for $20,000 but you can for $20,090,” Roae said of

PASSHE students paying on average $20,000 a year in tuition and fees.

Board members agreed that the financial “burden” should not be pushed down to the students and some expressed concerns over where the funding will come from.

East Stroudsburg University Interim President Kenneth Long, Kutztown University President Kenneth Hawkinson and Shippensburg University President Laurie Carter explained to the board that there are “repercussions” to these choices.

While the leaders agreed that students should not foot the excess, officials have to understand that the money will come from somewhere else. They said this could be unwanted faculty or program cuts or decreased financial aid.

Patterson named interim president

Photo Courtesy of Megan Silverstrim

Patterson has two decades of leadership experience in higher education and is the current president at Mansfield University. SU President Laurie Carter introduced him as a “servant leader” in an email Thursday.

Campus leaders react to Patterson talks with Patterson appointment SU student media Hannah Pollock Editor-in-Chief

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Board of Governors appointed Charles Patterson as Shippensburg University’s interim president Thursday. Patterson is the current Mansfield University president.

The news broke across campus in waves, from those attending the board of governors meeting, to those who found out in an email from current SU president, Laurie Carter. Carter will depart from the university in late June to take on the same role at Lawrence University in Wisconsin.

Carter introduced Patterson as a “servant leader” with two decades of leadership in higher education.

“Dr. Patterson’s tenure as a president in the state system is a benefit to Shippensburg University. He is a leader in innovation that will carry our university through system redesign,” Carter wrote.

According to a university press release, the council of trustees worked collaboratively with the PASSHE Board of Governors and Chancellor Daniel Greesnstein “to ensure a seamless transition to continue the university’s sustainability and system redesign.”

SU Council of Trustees Chair Michael Ross said in a press release that he and the other trustees are confident in Patterson’s appointment.

See “LEADERS,” A2

Hannah Pollock Editor-in-Chief

Shippensburg University Interim President Charles Patterson spoke with SU student media hours after his appointment on Thursday.

Patterson will take over leadership at the end of June when current president Laurie Carter departs for Lawrence University in Wisconsin. He currently serves as president at SU’s Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) sister school Mansfield University.

Mansfield University is in the northeast integration process with Bloomsburg and Lock Haven universities.

Patterson explained the process of eliminating and reducing the number of senior executives at each campus.

“And so throughout that

process, if I’m successful, I will effectively have reduced the presidents positions and their presidents cabinets on these campuses. So that makes through selfless leadership, I’ll go find another job,” Patterson said.

He said he wanted to stay in the state system to continue the work in financial sustainability and to ensure affordability for the commonwealth.

“And I really have a passion for that, with my background in university leadership and higher ed finance.

That work is so meaningful, that I sought an opportunity to really stay here within the state system,” he said, noting the opportunity to move to SU. See “MEET,” A2

Hannah Pollock/The Slate

In-state tuition will be frozen at $7,716 for the third year in a row. The BOG decide to keep tuition as is in an effort to provide a quality and affordable education, according to board chair Cindy Shapira.

Carter asks PASSHE to address council of trustees diversity Hannah Pollock Editor-in-Chief

In one of her final Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Board of Governors meetings, Shippensburg University President Laurie Carter asked for “a request” from her state system colleagues.

To diversify each university's council of trustees so they are more representative of the students they serve.

Near the end of Thursday’s meeting, the board recognized Carter for her contributions to the system through her time at SU. Carter thanked her colleagues for their support, friendship and wisdom during her tenure.

“It has truly been a pleasure to work alongside this group of committed university leaders who believe that our students deserve the best of us, and work to ensure that they receive it,” Carter said.

She also thanked the SU community who worked alongside her to move the university forward.

“Although there is still much to do, we accomplished a great deal by working to-

gether and putting our students first as I prepare to move on from the system, and here it comes Dan, I have one request for the Board of Governors,” Carter said.

Carter referred to the diversity presentation from earlier in the meeting, sharing her feeling of encouragement of the work of PASSHE Vice Chancellor and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Denise Pearson, and the diversity, equity and inclusion commission.

“But one area of diversity must be addressed as the system responds to the changing demographics of our society and the needs of diverse students. Few of the councils of trustees are truly diverse,” Carter said. “This must be addressed. Trustees play a critical role in the life of our campuses. I ask you to work so that they reflect our campus demographics, and ensure that trustees are trained in DEI so that they can be supportive of these important efforts.”

Carter was the first woman and first African American to serve as SU president.

Shippensbug University

President Laurie Carter will leave in late June to assume the role of president at Lawrence University.

NEWS

A2 From “LEADERS,” A1

“Given the current challenges facing PASSHE, having the right person at the helm of Shippensburg University has never been as important, and I and the Council of Trustees am confident that we have the right person at the right time,” Ross said. “Dr. Patterson has built an exemplary resume of accomplishments and transparent leadership, fully understands the goals and objectives of System Redesign, and how to build on the foundation laid by President Carter, and he is eager to be at Shippensburg University.”

During Thursday’s meeting, Association of Pennsylvania College and University Faculties (APSCUF) President Jamie Martin expressed concerns with presidential appointment processes at PASSHE schools.

According to Martin, Act 50 of 2020 granted the chancellor and Board of Governors the authority to a process to consolidate universities. While APSCUF did not oppose the legislation, Martin said they had a different understanding of the nature of consolidation and the union’s role in the process.

“We further recognize the authority of the chancellor to make presidential appointments, but the manner in which the recent ones have occurred seem to be out of step with the concepts of transparency and shared governance,” Martin said. “It has become clear that there is a disconnect between the narrative about faculty support and excitement about the consolidation and the actual views of the faculty. The questions raised by our members are legitimate, and the concerns that they have are real and are shared by members at all six campuses. I do hope that you will listen to and take to heart those concerns — because the support, involvement and investment of faculty in a consolidation is integral.”

SU Human Communication Studies professor and department chair, Kara Laskowski, serves as the SU APSCUF chapter president.

She echoed Martin’s transparency concerns and explained the need for campus community members to be involved in this process.

“As noted by President Martin in this morning’s public comment session, APSCUF has significant concerns about transparency and shared governance. While the chancellor espouses dedication to both ideals, the process undertaken in this appointment was neither transparent nor consultative. In past presidential transitions, both interim and

permanent, input was sought from students, faculty and staff. This chancellor did not follow that practice, and I will echo Dr. Martin’s comments: ‘This pattern is deeply troubling,’” Laskowski said.

Laskowski is hopeful that Patterson’s appointment will “prove positive” for the Shippensburg community.

“We know that the circumstances and culture of each campus differ, and the challenges that are experienced at Mansfield — namely, those that have lead President Patterson to advocate for the chancellor’s plans to consolidate universities and to pursue retrenchment of faculty in order to meet an arbitrary student to faculty ratio — are distinct and much more severe than those we face at Shippensburg,” Laskowski said.

She added, “I had the opportunity to speak to now Interim President Patterson last evening [Wednesday], and I am confident that he is not only aware that there are differences, but also committed to learning what those are, and who we are.”

On behalf of APSCUF SU, Laskowski said they are looking forward to an open and productive partnership with an interim president who “understands and respects the role of the faculty union and the importance of shared governance on our campus.”

SU Student Government Association (SGA) 2021-22 president elect Riley Brown first thanked Carter for her service to the university and what she has done over the last four years.

Brown then said he is looking forward to working with Patterson, noting his “distinguished record in higher education.”

“I look forward to seeing him around campus, and I’m going to encourage him and relay to him that a good president has a very strong relationship with the student body in many different capacities,” Brown said.

He added, “I think anytime that somebody steps into a new leadership role, it’s important to give them time to adjust and also provide a welcoming environment for them.”

Brown also encouraged students to introduce themselves to Patterson and welcome him to the campus community. He said Patterson is not a total outsider, citing his experience in public higher education, and students should keep their minds open and feel confident in him as interim president.

Patterson assumes his role at SU at the end of June.

April 20, 2021

Your World Today

Commentary: An eventful Board of Governors meeting for SU

Hannah Pollock Editor-in-Chief

I spent all day Thursday covering the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Board of Governors’ meeting. Most students have no desire to sit through the hours-long meeting, but this particular meeting’s agenda was quite eventful for students — Shippensburg University students specifically.

The board appointed current Mansfield University President Charles Patterson as our interim president after SU President Laurie Carter departs the university this summer.

PASSHE board officials also voted to freeze tuition for the third year in a row, “affirming its commitment to keeping public higher education at its 14 universities affordable for students during the ongoing pandemic,” according to a PASSHE press release.

As a student, I appreciate the board’s effort and desire to keep costs low. I have been the student with tax information that made my financial situation appear easier on paper than in reality. I sacrificed a social life and living off-campus with my friends because living at home meant my semesterly bill would be a few thou-

sand dollars cheaper.

However, we must acknowledge that the money has to come from somewhere. Our schools still need funding (of which the state is not adequately providing), so if the students or the legislators are not footing the bill, then who is?

Well unfortunately, it eventually does come back to the students.

As Carter and Kutztown University President Kenneth Hawkinson said during the meeting discussion, there are repercussions to these decisions. Both presidents supported low costs for students; however, they explained that less money means more cuts. This could mean a reduction in faculty and staff positions, as well as less institutional financial aid.

“You cannot continue to cut, cut, cut and provide quality at the same time.

We have continued to do that, but there will come a point when it’s not going to be possible,” Carter said.

“So instead of providing students with a lower cost education, we have to be thinking about the whole picture, the quality of their education matters.”

Carter added that these cuts hurt the morale of the people who are serving the student body, therefore hurting the students. Carter herself is a product of the state system, a Clarion University graduate.

SU has worked extremely hard to avoid retrenchment and drastic department cuts. However, we are not immune to these measures and must continue to work

to keep SU on the right path.

After the board recognized Carter for her time as president, she thanked her colleagues for their support during her tenure, and then continued, saying something that caught my attention, and hopefully the attention of PASSHE officials.

Carter noted that the board spent a major portion of the meeting discussing new programs and plans relating to diversity, equity and inclusion on our 14 campuses. She then called on the board to address an area of diversity as the system continues “to respond to the changing demographics of our society and the needs of diverse students.”

“Few of the councils of trustees are truly diverse — this must be addressed.

Trustees play a critical role in the life of our campuses.

I ask you to work so that they reflect our campus demographics and ensure that trustees are trained in DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) so that they can be supportive of these important efforts,” Carter said.

I am hopeful that each university’s board and Council of Trustees will take this into serious consideration and take actions toward representing their students. Representation is important for all of us — we the students need to see ourselves in our mentors around campus.

I was proud to hear Carter advocate for all of us, and hope that officials listen, seriously consider and take action on her requests.

SGA to hold in-person transition ceremony, Thursday in CUB

Siobhan Sungenis Asst. News Editor

Photo Courtesy of APSCUF

Photo Courtesy of Riley Brown

Kara Laskowski is the Shippensburg Riley Brown is the 2021-2022 SGA University APSCUF president.

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From “MEET,” A1

Patterson’s online biography discusses his successes at Mansfield, including increased enrollment and first-year retention. When asked if he plans to carry his strategies employed at SU’s sister school, Patterson explained that the conditions at Mansfield are different than those SU faces.

“Some of the challenges that we have at Mansfield, where we’ve grown the enrollment by 10% in the last two years, and we’ve increased retention, may or may not be some of the same challenges we see on the ground at Shippensburg. But whatever the solutions are, we have to address growth, we have to look at how we recruit students and retain students in an affordable way,” Patterson said.

Patterson’s online biography notes his passion for servant leadership and transparency. When asked about the importance of transparency and relaying messages that may be upsetting, Patterson said he values communication of the whole picture and the challenges the community faces.

“You know, I don’t think any message should upset people.

I think that facts are facts, and if we’re not talking about the facts, then how can we make decisions collectively as a university community,” Patterson said.

Patterson also said this includes holding open meetings where students, faculty and other campus community members are invited and involved in the conversation.

With the continuation of the PASSHE System Redesign and financial sustainability conversations, fears of faculty retrenchment and department cuts remain among the SU

The Student Government Association (SGA) will hold its 2021 transition ceremony on April 22 at 3:30 p.m. in the Ceddia Union Building (CUB) multi-purpose room.

Outgoing SGA President Stephen Washington will pass the mantle to 2021-22 President-elect Riley Brown. The new Executive Leadership Committee will also be sworn into office. Senior Brenda Aristy, 2020-21 vice-president of finance and Barry McClanahan, SU vice-president of student affairs. will address ceremony attendees. New members of the SGA senate will also be sworn as well, and the 2021-22 fiscal budget will be discussed during the meeting.

community.

Patterson’s Mansfield is in the process of integration with Lock Haven and Bloomsburg universities.

“And it’s not lost on me that the optics, that here’s a university president whose institution is going through integration. I will tell you that integration for Mansfield is extremely meaningful. Mansfield is not in the same position that Shippensburg is in,” Patterson said. “Mansfield is in a different position financially, is in a different position when it comes to its location and in a rural environment and the changing demographics and everything that goes along with the challenges of higher education right now in the United States.”

Patterson said SU is in a position where it can counteract the enrollment decline over the past five to seven years by leveraging the available student opportunities. He listed SU’s “great” facilities, new programs and the completion of the School of Engineering’s Steam Plant. He added that SU needs to do the right things to grow revenue resources through not only student enrollment but also fundraising and other external sources of funding.

“There’s a lot of things that can be leveraged to ensure the continued growth of Shippensburg and one of my goals really would be to ensure that the growth is consistent with keeping Shippensburg out of such conversations,” Patterson said. “To the point where, when those issues come up, you would look at Shippensburg University and say it doesn’t make any sense whatsoever to involve this institution in another integration model, or other things.”

Patterson said campus community members should know

he is approachable and wants to have conversations.

“I value making other people successful. And that’s, how I lead. For an institution and institutions value is derived from the success of its students, its faculty and staff — the individual successes of students, faculty and staff. And when I can provide the opportunity for students, faculty and staff to be successful, the institutional profile has increased, national recognition is gained, great things happen. So my focus is on the success of the campus community,” he said.

He hopes the next year for SU is filled with growth and a return to a sense of normalcy. Patterson said he wants to foster an environment where students can hold events, attend athletic competitions and “the camaraderie and excitement” that exists on college campuses.

“Our freshmen many times may not have experienced that yet. And it’s gonna be a great time to see our freshmen and now sophomores experience that sometimes for the first time,” Patterson said.

Patterson learned about an age-old SU debate during the final moments of his interview: Starbucks or Dunkin’.

“My wife is from the Boston area, and you know Dunkin’ prevails up there. We lived up there for a while, so I kind of got used to Dunkin’. But I got to say Starbucks,” Patterson said. “Is that the right answer? Is there no right answer? How about I get a Starbucks coffee and a Dunkin’ donut?”

Patterson begins his role as SU interim president in late June. Officials said Patterson’s role and any interim president appointment at Mansfield will be discussed at upcoming meetings.

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

B1

Opinion

The Slate Speaks A letter to Interim President Charles Patterson Dear Interim President Patterson, The Slate staff would like to welcome and congratulate you on behalf of the student body. We are looking forward to the coming months with many hopes.

Shippensburg University is our home, and we look forward to you and your family joining us in the Cumberland Valley.

But we wanted to share a little bit more about ourselves before you get here.

We are the Raiders, something you probably already knew. Our campus is located at the edge of the Shippensburg Borough, but there is plenty of farmland surrounding the campus. Believe us, you will be able to smell it when you arrive. Make sure to bring an umbrella, as it seems to rain almost every Thursday.

Mark your calendar for The Slate, which hits newsstands on Tuesdays. A few copies will be delivered to your Old Main office. And

do not pack a lunch or make any other plans for Wednesdays — Raider Bowl Wednesday is a delicacy you will find weekly in the Ceddia Union Building (CUB).

You should also know that the community you are joining is a family. This feeling of “family and home” is the reason why “Ship is it” for so many of our students. Our campus community members hail from all over the United States and the world.

In that same vein, we are not always a perfect family. We have struggles, which we try to solve. We strive for equity, opportunities and inclusion for all members of our family.

However, there have been times in the past when we have failed at this. Together we are trying to learn from our past while creating a better future for us all. It is a daily fight we all partake in for equity and equality for every campus community member.

We as a campus community applaud your described value and commitment to transparency and communicating facts. We hope you will maintain these practices with us through town halls, open forums and consistent meet-

ings with student media.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Redesign has been a difficult process for our community. Our faculty and administration members have tirelessly worked in committees and groups to save money without compromising the quality of the SU experience.

We have heard the stories of retrenchment and the gutting of academic departments at our sister schools. It is these stories, along with our day-to-day experiences on this campus, that fuel our fight to remain independent and financially sustainable.

Our faculty members care about their students and the quality of the education their students receive. Our professors are continuing to do more with less, all with the added stress of a global pandemic. As we exit this past year, we come out stronger, with more appreciation for what we had and more commitment to building back our student experience.

We hope you will honor our efforts to remain financially independent and to main-

tain our world-class faculty and educational experiences. We value our faculty and staff members. We value the hard work they do inside and outside of the classroom. We have been through a lot in these past few years. We have fought and will continue our fight for the community we so dearly love.

Accessibility and accountability are key to maintaining a healthy relationship between the campus community and its president. We hope you will provide access and insight into your administration.

Since 1957, The Slate has served the SU community by providing it with vital news and insightful commentary, as well as a place for our students to build their skills in journalism and communication. The Slate staff looks forward to covering you and your administration.

Sincerely, The Slate Staff

That’s what it’s all about: The changing climate and SU’s commitment

Ian Thompson Staff Columnist

Jacques Cousteau is credited with saying, “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.”

Cousteau did not get to experience the 21st century — he died in 1997 — but I think he would revel in knowing how true that same sentiment is in the new millennium. Thankfully, people are beginning to acquaint themselves with the alarming consequences we face in the coming decades due to climate change.

From melting land-ice in

Greenland and Antarctica causing massive rises in sea level, to more frequent and more pronounced droughts causing massive crop failure and famine, we are on the precipice of massive ecological collapse.

In the recent droughts and wildfires in the Western United States and Australia, we have seen just a small sample of the world-changing fallout of climate change.

In the coming decades, weather events like these will be paired with hurricanes the likes of which we have never seen, fueled by warming ocean currents and the extinction of many species of life on this planet.

But there is a bright side. Climate change has been thrust into the political mainstream in recent electoral cycles. We have come a long way from Comedy Central’s “South Park” satirization of former Vice President Al Gore’s focus on climate change as the mythical “manbearpig.”

In the past two decades, we have seen senators and representatives bring meaningful legislation to the floors of their respective chambers.

Just yesterday, U.S. Representatives Cori Bush and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced a groundbreaking bill that would funnel trillions of dollars over the next few decades to fund municipal, local, state and tribal projects that invest in green infrastructure and ecological resilience.

There’s work being done here at home, too. Over the last few months, I have had the honor of serving on Shippensburg University’s Campus Climate Action Plan Committee.

The committee oversees the university’s Presidential Climate Commitment, an agreement signed by President Laurie Carter during 2020’s StewardSHIP week. The primary goal of the Action Planning team is to formulate the plan to transform Shippensburg into a carbon-neutral or carbon-negative campus in the coming years.

Through working with advisory panels composed of students, faculty, staff and administration, and partnering with outside organizations like the South Mountain Partnership, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and

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Natural Resources and Michaux State Forest, the Climate Commitment’s aim is to create a comprehensive plan that addresses the ecological and social needs of our community.

In preparation for this piece, I interviewed Russ Hedberg, SU geography and earth science professor. Hedberg is also the co-chair of the Action Plan team. One of the issues I asked him about was the fact that many of the proposed solutions to these issues have boiled down to individual action — recycling, composting, eating less red meat, et cetera.

“I don’t like the idea of putting responsibility on individuals,” Hedberg responded. “Individual action is great. I don’t think individual responsibility is a good approach to dealing with social problems, societal problems.”

I also spoke with Claire Jantz, Center for Land Use and Sustainability director and SU geography and earth science professor. We spoke about the relatively new sustainability major and its success.

“The sustainability major has grown pretty quickly, faster than we expected over the last few

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years,” Jantz said.

We also discussed roadblocks.

She emphasized the challenge of moving toward public transit — a much more sustainable alternative to the method most commuters use, driving alone — in such a rural and decentralized area. The I-81 corridor through the Cumberland Valley has the potential to be a massive hub for expansion, and that growth could and should bring investments in infrastructure like light rail and bus service.

Over the next 10, 20, 50, 100 years and beyond, we are going to see the effects of climate change. If we want to leave a habitable home for our children and for posterity, we need decisive action, from top to bottom. We are all in this together.

“As a community, we need the leadership of our elected officials and our government to marshal the resolve of corporations and of our communities — of us — to make this happen,” Hedberg stressed. “It’s our job — as individuals — to embrace our roles as part of that broader community.”

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Tuesday, April 20, 2021

C1

Ship Life

Dating as a Woman of Color: Finding yourself and love Chaela Williams

Asst. Ship Life Editor

Women of color face hardships looking for romance as many endure fetishism, racial preferences and stereotypes.

Years of misrepresentation and social stigmas displayed in the media affected the way women of color see themselves and their desirability.

From the ghetto, loud Black woman to the submissive Asian woman, gaining the courage to love yourself regardless of the stereotypes is easier said than done.

Trying to defeat the odds, three women of color at Shippensburg University (a predominately white institution) jumped through the hoops of insecurity and racism to find their long-awaited romance.

Kiayrah Wehr Kiayrah Wehr is a sophomore at SU studying communication/journalism. While juggling her public relations classes she involves herself with extracurricular activities like being a member of the diversity and inclusion committee for Student Government Association (SGA)

and the vice president of the international studies club.

Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, to a Nigerian father and a white mother, Wehr had difficulty accepting her biracial background.

“It was really confusing trying to figure out what my identity was amongst all these other people because there were not a whole lot of mixed race kids,” Wehr said.

With the inner turmoil came peers who made fun of her mixed background causing Wehr to change her appearance like straightening her hair every day to “fit in.”

Throughout middle school and high school Wehr held herself back from confessing to her crushes out of fear of them not liking Black girls.

Even though she held herself back, Wehr met her first boyfriend in high school, but she experienced fetishism from her boyfriend’s friends.

“They made [jokes] about me a lot and [it] would be explicit, they would [tell] my boyfriend ‘Oh, go get that Black p***y’ and stuff like that. It was really degrading,” Wehr said.

At SU, Wehr was able to come to terms with being a

Photo courtesy of Shuttershock

Three SU women students of color speak out on the racism they faced while dating on campus. biracial woman. The dating app scene like Tinder turned Wehr off as men on the app sexualized her “mixed features.”

After months of trying and almost giving up, Wehr

found her current boyfriend Daniel on the dating app Bumble, who accepts her for who she is.

“He is a miracle of a person to be honest. He has gone to Black Lives Matter march-

es with me over the summer and he was vocal about injustices against people of color,” Wehr said. “He is just a breath of fresh air compared to my previous experiences.”

Two other experiences Two other women of color explore their dating experiences on theslateonline.com.

Read the full story at theslateonline.com.

State Forest offers escape for students Alex Kapres

Guest Contributor

Many Shippensburg University students have experienced a feeling of boredom or being “cooped up” on campus or in the town.

You might feel stuck with nothing to do or find yourself doing the same thing every weekend. I definitely experienced this at one point, and it made me look beyond what we see and do every day.

I consider myself an outdoors and adventurous type person and after attending SU for almost four years I have met so many students just like me. However, I was shocked to see how many students are unaware of what this area offers beyond the university and town. Cumberland and Franklin counties hold so many free and fun things to do outdoors that are only a short walk or drive away.

A large attraction located just a few miles from campus via Baltimore Road is the Michaux State Forest, also known as “South Mountain.” Michaux has hundreds of miles of hiking trails that range in difficulty from easy to hard. Most of these trails have easy access and parking and are clearly marked to keep hikers on trail. You will find many hikers passing through especially coming off the Appalachian Trail, the early pioneering trail

that runs from Maine to Georgia. Michaux has many other things to do such as swimming, sand beaches, historical tours and scenic views.

As a freshman without a car at school, I wanted to find something to do outdoors that did not require any excessive traveling. This area is great for trout fishing. The Pennsylvania state wide Trout season runs April 3 to Oct. 30. When packing up for the semester, many SU students leave their fishing poles behind. Why? Shippensburg and the surrounding areas have some of the best trout streams in the state, and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocks them with plentiful trout each spring. A yearly Pennsylvania fishing license is required before you can fish. It costs around $30. A fishing license can be purchased on your computer or phone by visiting the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat website or at a local store.

Middle Spring Creek located right next to the Hot Point Bar is a close and great place to start a fishing adventure because it is within walking distance of campus. Other great streams are in Michaux State Forest and the Boiling Springs area. The state fish commission began stocking creeks at the beginning of April and will continue through the spring, making it a fun activity to shake off that cabin

fever.

Wildlife is very abundant in the area and hunting is a very popular activity for some students. There are state game lands approximately 10 miles south of campus. This public ground covers over 2,500 acres of field, marsh and woods. Pheasants are stocked weekly in the fall by the State Game Commission, offering a lot of opportunities for those who want to hunt. Other great opportunities for small game, ducks and whitetail deer are found throughout the game lands.

Students who wish to chase game must have completed the Pennsylvania hunter/ trapper education course and buy a yearly Pennsylvania hunting license with the correct tags and permits. The money hunters spend on licenses is put forth to protect wildlife in special areas and improve habitat found throughout the state.

On-campus residents cannot bring firearms to the residence halls. Students should also check with their landlords to see if there are any rules specific to where you live. A great way to be able to store your firearm or bow is through the Shippensburg Borough Police Station. They are safely able to store your belongings.

SU students who are passionate about the outdoors should create more outdoor clubs to

bring students alike together and introduce more students to the outdoors. I feel the area is underutilized by students seeking some fresh air and a new change of scenery. Two university clubs like the bass fishing club and trout fishing club are great ways to get started and have helped students come together to enjoy recreations the area has to offer.

Hannah Pollock/The Slate

The Michaux State forest has an abundance of outdoor recreation activites for students.

SU Heritage Dance Company, Elite Fashion Troupe take Memorial Stage

Photos courtesy of Ebony Jeter

The Elite Fashion Troupe (left) and the Shippensburg University Heritage Dance Company (above) performed a show at Memorial Auditorium as part of UMOJA-Statewide Weekend 2021.

SHIP LIFE

April 20, 2021

C2

Recipe of the Week:

4 Ingredient Cheeseburger Casserole This low-ingredient recipe is tasty and easy to make for a last-minute dinner.

Ingredients:

Photo courtesy of Brennan Hamblin

SU freshman Brennan Hamblin owns Finish Line Detailing, a car detailing business based in Carlisle.

Ship Student keeps cars clean Morgan Barr

Asst. Ship Life Editor

As a boy growing up around cars, Brennan Hamblin learned the trade of detailing at a young age.

“I remember being about 6 years old, and I would just pick up a wash mitt and help my dad just kind of wash the cars outside.” said Hamblin, who is a freshman exploratory major at Shippensburg University.

A love for cars has been instilled in Hamblin from a young age. His dad favored Mopar’s muscle cars from makers such as Dodge and Plymouth. In the summers, Hamblin attended the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals and even entered his own 1969 Plymouth Barracuda into the show. At the 2020 Chrysler Nationals, Hamblin’s car took home the celebrity choice award presented by Cristy Lee, a well known female mechanic and Mopar enthusiast.

Around the age of 12, Hamblin began to branch out from his dad’s taste in cars and develop his own. Moving away from classic muscle cars, Hamblin found a love for Japanese Tuner cars and the styling of them in

particular.

“Something that really peaks my interest is when you have a good color combination on a vehicle,” Hamblin said.

Many import sports cars are known for their bright colors and unique body styles.

“I’m waiting for the Nissan Skyline r34s to become legal in the United States, I think those are neat cars,” Hamblin said.

Hamblin understands that to make a car look good takes time and hard work, and it shows in the work he does with his auto detailing. It also takes a certain kind of equipment to do it properly, and even though he uses high quality detailing equipment, he is aware of what can take him to the next level.

“As I keep broadening my clientele, I would like to keep updating my equipment because there is still better stuff out there,” Hamblin said.

Between school and other work, Hamblin manages to balance making time for his loyal customers and take the time to treat their cars with care.

To contact Brennan about car detailing, or to preview his work follow him on Instagram: @finish.line.detailing

-1 lb ground beef -1 box pasta shells -2 cans tomato soup -Cheese (to taste) -Burger seasoning (to taste

Instructions: 1. Cook and drain pasta shells 2.Brown the beef in a large skillet with seasoning 3. Combine beef, pasta shells, cheese and tomato soup in the large skillet and mix 4. Pour into a 9 x 13 greased baking dish 5. Top with cheese and bake covered with foil at 375 degrees for 20 minutes 6. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes 7. Enjoy!

Recipe by Morgan Barr and photo by Instrupix.com

5 ways to make your garden eco-friendly this spring Noel Miller News Editor

Each spring, gardeners across the nation bring out their sunhats, dirt-stained gloves and favorite tools to refresh their garden for the warmer months.

You spend hours picking the right products, seeds and methods to keep your garden healthy and thriving. Even with all of this preparation you may feel that your garden is lacking something or is not doing as well as you had hoped.

Including eco-friendly items and processes to your garden is not only good for the environment but may improve a garden’s quality.

While going green in a garden may seem like a daunting task, here are five simple ways to improve your garden and the environment around it.

DIY Compost Making your own compost is a responsible way of reusing everyday waste and promoting a healthy garden. The United States Environmental Protection Agency offers an easy guide on how to make compost. You will need three ingredients: browns, greens and water.

For outside composting select a dry area, add your material chopped in small pieces, moistening while you add them. You can cover this with a tarp to keep it moist and in two to five weeks your compost will be ready.

A great thing about composting is that you can also do it indoors if you do not have an outdoor area for it.

All you need is to repeat the steps above and get a composting container from a hardware store like Home Depot.

Choose Organic Products Pesticides and other chemical products have harmed the environment through years of commercial farming, however, using them in your own garden is harmful as well.

A Burpee article explains how you can actually hurt your own garden with chemical products by killing both bad and good insects.

When selecting organic products, get ones that are OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) approved.

Good alternatives also include crop rotation and introducing beneficial insects, according to Burpee.

Avoid Invasive Plants The U.S. Forest Service’s website has information on how invasive plants can be dangerous not just for your garden, but for entire ecosystems. A plant or flower may be pretty, but it will dress up

Photo courtesy of Shuttershock

Gardening is one of the best ways to help the environment. Planting a variety of vegetables or plants can help your eco-system even from your backyard. your garden at the price of your garden’s health.

The U.S. Forest Service advises against picking seeds from wild plants or picking and replanting flowers you cannot identify. Knowing

what plants to avoid introducing to your environment is a simple step toward being eco friendly gardeners of all levels can take.

Attracting Pollinators It’s no secret that bees,

butterflies and other pollinators are essential to keeping environments healthy.

Read the full story at theslateonline.com.

Participate in StewardSHIP Week Activities available in-person and online April 19-24

To access this Simulation: Visit either:

https://www.ship.edu/life/wellness/ and click the Kognito button in the left hand tool bar

or

https://ship.kognito.com/

Celebrate Earth Day in the Academic Quad Thursday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

D1

A&E

Shippensburg orchestra gives first indoor performance of year Piper Kull

Asst. A&E Editor

The Shippensburg University Orchestra and String Ensemble held its first indoor performance since the beginning of the pandemic at the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center on April 18.

The orchestra started off the concert with the Andantino section of “Quartet for flute, violin, viola, and cello, K. 298,” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, “Quartet Number 5 in F Major,” by Roman Hoffstetter, featuring Kathryn Milliren on flute and Holst’s “Brook Green Suite.”

The string ensemble took the stage next, performing the “Bach Concerto in D Minor for Two Violins, Strings, and Bass Continuo,”

which featured orchestra director and SU music professor Mark Hartman on first violin and student, John Stewart on second violin.

Then, the two groups combined — with the addition of student Spencer Burnheimer on trumpet — played “Symphony No. 2 in D,” by Alessandro Scarlatti.

Upcoming indoor, socially distanced performances include: Sunday, May 2 at 3 p.m. — Concert Band & Wind Ensemble Tuesday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. — Percussion Ensemble Editor’s note: Piper Kull is a member of the Shippensburg University String Ensemble.

Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate

Freshman Emily Dziennik plays the violin during Sunday’s performance.

Billboard Top 10 Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate

First chair John Stewart plays violin in the concert Sunday afternoon.

‘Reflections of Who’s Next’ to come to Shippensburg Ryan Cleary A&E Editor

The Rock Project is virtually bringing The Who to Shippensburg. The H. Ric Luhrs Center is featuring a proshot of the The Who’s album, “Who’s Next.”

Released in 1971 as their fifth album, “Who’s Next” features iconic songs like “Baba O Riley” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”

The album gained triple-platinum status, reaching No. 1 on the United Kingdom’s top 10 chart, and No. 4 on the United States’ Billboard Chart.

The pro-shot was recorded from the Tilles Center for Performing Arts, located in

Long Island, New York. The performance will also feature other hits from The Who, including, “Pinball Wizard,” “Long Live Rock” and “You Better You Bet.” Wonderous Stories the band, Broadway voices, and special guest musicians will entertain audiences in the Shippensburg area virtually.

Special guest musicans include Constantine Maroulis, a two-time Tony Award nominee who was a cast member in “Jekyll and Hyde,” “Rock of Ages” and a contestant on “American Idol,” and Lana Gordon, who was a cast member in “Chicago,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “The Lion King.”

Additionally, Justin Mat-

thew Sargent, a cast member in “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” “Rock of Ages,” and “Jesus Christ Superstar,” will also attend alongside Michael Wartella, a cast member in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Tuck Everlasting” and “Wicked.”

Tickets are $20. To purchase a ticket, visit luhrscenter.com. The Rock Project plans to donate some of the proceeds back to the Luhrs Center. Members of the community should apply the promo code LUHRSWN at checkout in order for The Rock Project to donate the proceeds.

The show is April 30 at 8 p.m. and will be available for streaming through May 2.

1. Leave The Door Open - Silk Sonic

6. Save Your Tears - The Weeknd

2. Montero (Call Me By Your Name) - Lil Nas X

7. Levitating - Dua Lipa feat. DaBaby

3. Peaches - Justin Bieber

8. Deja Vu - Olivia Rodrigo

4. Up- Cardi B

9. Blinding Lights - The Weeknd

5. Drivers License - Olivia Rodrigo

10. Astronaught in the ocean- Masked Wolf

The Music Corner What has the Asst. A&E Editor Austin Trevino been listening to this past week?

Songs 1. This Too Shall Pass 2. illusory sense

Artists Danny Schmidt ichika

3. (They Long To Be) Close To You

Carpenters

4. Lonely (Bee and PuppyCat)

Brad Sucks

5. Sparks

Coldplay

6. Katamari On The Rocks

Dokaka

SUTV Preview Follow SUTV on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for all segments throughout the semester and check out its website at SUTVNews.org.

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Baseball, E2

E1

Sports

T&F, E3

Marsteller looks to continue mashing

Photos courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.

Shippensburg standout Hannah Marsteller high fives her third base coach after a home run. Marsteller now owns the school record for home runs in a season.

Isaiah Snead

Asst. Sports Editor

Shippensburg University’s softball team holds a record of 19-13 a little more than halfway through the season, but they wouldn’t be there without the bat of junior standout Hannah Marsteller.

Marsteller is currently batting .479 with 45 hits, 17 home runs and a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) leading 53 RBIS. Marsteller also has a PSAC leading slugging percentage of 1.128% and started the 2021 season with an 18-game hitting streak.

Hitting might be coming easy at this point for Marsteller because she’s had a bat in her hand for 16 years now. “I started playing softball when I was 5 years old because I was inspired by my older sister to play. I aspired to follow in her footsteps as well as create my own path in the sport,” Mwarsteller said.

Orignially born in North Carolina, Marsteller now resides in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Her father serves in the military so Marsteller says she is used to moving around.

However, she is not used to not being able to play softball when she wants but those are the exact problems Marsteller faced this offseason while trying to train.

“Due to the pandemic, training facilities and access to equipment was extremely limited. There was a point where I was unable to work-

out or play for almost three months.

Knowing that the pandemic was preventing me from playing a sport I felt so passionately for was emotionally draining,” she said.

Before the 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19 coronavirus the SU softball team had a 10-4 record and Marsteller was batting .404 with 19 RBIs and two home runs. She felt that the team did not get a chance to prove themselves last season.

“We had worked so hard in the offseason and we were ready to compete and show our PSAC competitors who Ship softball was,” Marsteller said. “After the season was over and we were all sent home all meetings were virtual which created the struggle of creating new relationships and maintaining old ones.”

Slowly but surely things started to open back up and Marsteller was eager to get back outside and train for the next season.

“Once things started to open back up, I didn’t take one opportunity for granted. I lifted almost five times a week and was taking every opportunity to swing my bat or find someone to throw with,” Marsteller said.

“I feel stronger, faster and healthier due to everything that took place and I have noticed it in my performance on the field.”

Others have quickly taken notice of Marsteller’s on field performance as well, especially after she set the

Shippensburg school season record for home runs against Kutztown University.

“Breaking the home run record for my school has always been a career goal of mine. When I achieved it I was ultimately shocked, it was never something I expected to happen so soon,” Marsteller said. “I am very happy to hold this record and represent Shippensburg softball.”

With four more doubleheaders to go in the season Marsteller and her team are laser focused on securing a spot in the PSAC tournament.

“Our priority is winning our final eight conference games. We have peaked at the perfect time as a team and our final few games are crucial to obtaining a spot in the PSAC tournament,” she said.

Marsteller also said that she hopes to increase her current batting average and continue to get stronger and faster in her strength and conditioning training. She wants to do all this while becoming a team leader and set a positive example for her teammates.

The end goal of a PSAC champi-

onship remains the same however, and Marsteller believes her team can do it.

“My team is full of resilience and competitive edge and we are ready for any challenge thrown our way,” she said.

Hannah Pollock/The Slate

Marsteller is currently top five in the PSAC in hits, batting average, RBIs, and home runs.

Softball extends winning streak Isaiah Snead

Asst. Sports Editor

Photo courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.

SU second baseman makes the tag to record an out against Mercyhurst.

After back-to-back walk-offs in their sweep of Pitt-Johnstown last week, the Shippensburg softball team kept its hot streak going with a sweep over Mercyhurst Saturday.

SU (19-13) defeated the visiting Lakers by scores of 5-2 and 6-3 behind great pitching from freshmen Emma Flattery and Maelynn Leber.

Flattery got the Game 1 win after not allowing a hit through the first four innings and striking out eight. Leber got the Game 1 save with the final four outs and the Game 2 relief win with the final seven outs, striking out five.

Game 1 saw Ship score three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning behind a two run homer from junior Hannah Marsteller and a solo shot from fellow junior Courtney Coy. Overall in the doubleheader, Coy had three hits and scored three runs, increasing her season batting average to .276. Marsteller was 2-for-4 with three more walks and three runs scored. She also hit an RBI-single in the third inning of Game 2.

Game 2 saw Shippensburg trailing 3-2 before their offense exploded for four runs in the fifth inning. The inning featured RBI singes from Coy and freshman Taylor Radziewicz and a two-run double from freshman Toni

Jones.

Sophomore Morgan DeFeo reached base four times on the day with three singles and a HBP and freshman Taylor Myers returned to the lineup and picked up three hits and a stolen base.

Shippensburg extends its winning streak to seven games with the sweep and will return to action Friday at Mansfield for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference doubleheader.

Junior Courtney Coy had a hot hand at the plate during the Raiders’ sweep of Mercyhurst over the weekend.

SPORTS

E2

April 20, 2021

Smink giving back in 2021 LLS Man of the Year campaign and a pulmonary embolism, all yielding negative results.

That left two possibilities: A virus that could not be detected at the hospital or cancer.

“That was the first time that I had ever heard the word cancer even be a possibility,” Smink said.

In control

Photos submitted by TJ Smink.

TJ Smink poses for a photo following his last round of chemotherapy June 12, 2020.

Christian Eby Sports Editor

All it seemed to be was a normal bump on his groin TJ Smink thought, maybe a hernia.

Smink always credited himself as a pretty healthy guy. Being a Shippensburg University alumnus, Smink was a regular at SU’s Seth Grove Stadium, anchoring the center position in 21 starts for head coach Mark Maciejewski’s Raiders from 2012 to 2015. Yes, he had for forgo his final year of eligibility in 2016 due to injury, but he was a frequent weightlifter, ensuring he kept fit.

In November 2019, after noticing the bump in his groin area, Smink developed lingering back pain.

He would shiver constantly, brought on by numbness in his feet and hands and coping with sweats at night when he went to sleep. He went from visiting his chiropractor from once to twice a week.

Nothing seemed to alleviate the pain. He knew something was not right, but he said he figured it was from all the years on the gridiron.

“I found myself making excuses for a lot of symptoms that did come up,” Smink said. “I told myself that it was a hernia and didn’t really think much of it. I stopped heavy lifting, my leg squats, stuff like that.”

“I strictly moved to upper body [workouts], hoping that it would go down. Turns out that wasn’t the case,” he recalled.

On New Year’s Eve 2019, Smink – surrounded by family and friends at a party – received the call of his official diagnosis: Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a cancer of the of the lymphatic system.

But after his taxing battle, Smink is hoping to give back to the ones who may not be as lucky as him. Smink is a nominee for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Man of the Year Award, raising awareness and money for the foundation through his Man of the Year campaign.

It couldn’t be cancer Smink had traveled to Orchard Park, New York, in December 2019 with his uncles for a Buffalo Bills game. At this time, he was still experi-

encing the back pain, shivers and night sweats. However, while tailgating, Smink glanced at his Fitbit, noticing a resting heart rate of 120 beats per minute.

Smink passed around the Fitbit, thinking there was a malfunction of some sort.

But to his surprise, all the other readings came back normal. This is when his concern began to mount.

When he returned home Monday, he immediately went to a medical clinic where he was tested for the flu, the results coming back negative. He was prescribed a steroid to slow down his heart rate which did the trick for a couple days. By Thursday, he made it all but 15 minutes at work.

“My girlfriend is an overnight ICU nurse down in Delaware, so I drove to her place,” Smink said. “She works 12-hour shifts, so I felt horrible going to her. But I went to her place and she was like, ‘we need to go to the hospital.’”

At the hospital, Smink received a CT scan and went through rounds of testing, including tests for mononucleosis, hyperthyroidism

“I’m a person that likes being in control. I like knowing what’s going to happen,” Smink said. “I like being able to, not necessarily see what’s coming, but at the same time I like talking to people and finding out the best way to go about things.”

With cancer, that was not exactly a choice. However, Smink made sure to make the most of it, trying to prepare himself in anyway possible.

Smink reached out to a handful of cancer survivors, to hear their stories – to hear what they endured.

After multiple conversations, Smink decided he would control the controllable. If there were certain things he thought cancer was going to take from him, he was going to take them first before cancer even got the chance, like his hair.

But the one thing Smink refused to let cancer take: his positive attitude.

Staying positive not only helped motivate himself but the people around him, Smink said. He wanted to remain strong for his loved ones. He wanted to remain optimistic despite being dealt with a fight for his life.

“I found out really quickly that that helped motivate the people around me, to be the best that they could be,” he said. “But at the same time too, it made me feel better about myself and made me feel better about my outcome as well.”

during his battle. The t-shirt fundraiser soared to nearly $30,000.

“I wasn’t expecting that kind of support. I wasn’t asking for that kind of support,” Smink said. “But it was it was absolutely incredible to see the support that I did have behind me.”

But the support continued to roll in. Eventually, at a time when it was most needed.

Smink began his sixmonth chemotherapy treatment in January 2020, eleven days after his diagnosis, receiving treatments every other Friday. That process became more harrowing when the unforgiving coronavirus pandemic made its appearance in March.

Smink said the remaining three and a half months of his treatment were done alone, as visitors were limited. However, his dad took off from work every Friday he had treatments, driving Smink to his appointments and waiting in the parking lot.

And June 12, his last chemotherapy treatment, Smink was welcomed home with a parade. The final diagnosis: 100% cancer free.

Giving back In 2020, Smink was presented the chance to help a colleague, Devin DiNofa, who was running for the LLS Man of the Year. DiNofa wanted to donate all the proceeds to Smink.

However, Smink refused

to accept the money. He wanted the money to go to someone who was in dire need of it. Someone who had it harder.

Following the 2020 campaign, they came back to Smink, nominating him for the 2021 LLS Man of the Year. Smink did not hesitate at the opportunity, as his Man of the Year campaign kicked off March 28. He built a campaign team who is willing to be part of something bigger, a team itching to give back.

“You never realize how cancer has really touched someone until you actually talk to them about it,” Smink said. “So, there are people on my team where they have husbands who ended up having myeloma. There are people I know that unfortunately have lost loved ones to cancer that are a part of this team.”

“But all these people are coming together for a common cause, and it’s to be a part of the reason why cancer won’t be something someday. And that’s my end goal.

We’re not going to cure cancer, not just my organization.

But at the same time, I want us to be a darn good reason why we’ll be part of the cure someday.”

To make a contribution to Smink’s LLS Man of the Year campaign can visit pages. lls.org/mwoy/epa/philly21/ tsmink.

Constant support Outside of his immediate family, Smink received an overwhelming amount of support. One of his best friends set up a GoFundMe page to aid Smink with his medical costs. The page would exceed well over 400 donors.

Smink works with the Major League Soccer (MLS) club the Philadelphia Union.

His coworkers made t-shirts saying “Smink Strong”

Smink went through chemotherapy treatments every other Friday across six months. And for three and a half of those months Smink went alone because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Baseball drops twin bill versus Marauders

Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate Graduate Kyle Lysy pitches in a game versus Kutztown earlier this season at Fairchild Field.

Christian Eby Sports Editor

Anytime the Shippensburg University baseball team takes on Millersville University, it is almost a guarantee the Marauders will refuse to go quietly.

And Tuesday’s doubleheader on the road was no exception of that, as SU (12-10, 10-8

PSAC East) fell in both seven-inning contests by scores of 8-0 and 4-3. It also marked as the first time in a month the Raiders were handed back-to-back losses. The last occurrence marked against East Stroudsburg University.

Game 1 was all MU, as the Marauders (126, 9-4 PSAC East) pacified SU both on the bump and at the plate. Graduate Kyle Lysy (3-3) saw his shortest outing of the season,

working a trio of innings. Across the three frames, MU tagged Lysy for four runs (one earned) and four hits. He fanned five in the process and garnered the loss.

The Raider bullpen did not provide much relief either with sophomore Noah Nabholz, freshman Jackson LoBianco and freshman Ethan Miller conceding a combined four runs over the remaining three innings. Additionally, the Raider infield struggled defensively as four errors found its way to the box score.

At the dish, freshman Andrew Chronister accounted for three of the four SU hits, sporting a 3-for-3 line. All three knocks counted as singles. Behind Chronister, sophomore Justin Darden tallied the other lone hit, also a single.

The Marauders scored in five of the seven innings to capture the shutout victory. Conor Cook tossed a four-hit complete game. He also struck out eight Raiders.

The Raiders turned the tide in Game 2 but they were unable to puzzle together a complete seven innings. Heading into the bottom of the seventh, SU clung to a 3-1 lead. That lead diminished quickly as freshman Austin Labarre was teed off for three earned runs, the Marauders’ comeback coming nearly full circle.

Nabholz returned to the rubber to stop the bleeding, however, MU used a wild pitch to win in walk-off fashion.

Prior to Labarre’s entrance, redshirt-sophomore Kiernan Higgins continued his string of impressive starts. This time around, Higgins worked six innings, scattered four hits and whiffed six Marauders. MU’s only success against Higgins came on a fourth-frame solo shot.

In the batter’s box, the Raiders bested their Game 1 effort, plating three runs on six knocks. Redshirt-freshman Justin Byler notched the first SU RBI of the day, a second-inning RBI single. The Raiders would scratch across a pair of runs in the fourth with freshman Joe Barbera – making his first start in a month – bringing in Byler on an RBI two-bagger.

Barbera would eventually touch all four bags, scoring on an error after LoBianco reached first via a fielder’s choice. Barbera’s two doubles in Game 2 accounted for SU’s only extra-base hits in the twin bill.

As if two onerous losses were not enough, the Raiders return to action Tuesday, once again squaring off with MU. The week-long gap in matchups comes as a result of a schedule change earlier in the season when the teams’ original four-game home-and-home series was postponed due to coronavirus concerns. SU will host the Marauders at Fairchild Field with first pitches slated for 1 and 3:30 p.m.

SPORTS

April 20, 2021

E3

T&F tallies 26 wins, Graybill breaks another record the 4x400 relay, taking home gold as well.

Freshman Eric Kirk extended his streak of impressive outdoor runs in his debut campaign, clocking the best times in the 100 and 200-meters. Behind Kirk, junior Michael Lingard sprinted to second, .21 off Kirk’s pace. Lingard also marshaled the Raiders to first in the 4x100 relay.

For the mid-distance and distance crew, freshmen Drew Dailey and Chayce Macknair rattled off another mentionable navigation of the track in the 800 and 1,500-meters. Both would claim first, hitting times of 1:51.61 and 3:55.57.

In the infield, the SU jumpers refused to miss out on the bevy of success. For the women, junior Ariel Jones used her basketball vertical to reach 1.65 meters in the high jump, good enough for the top spot. Senior Zarria Williams followed suit in the long jump, measuring 5.72 meters.

The men’s team also flustered the opposition on its way to gold in all four respective events. Freshman Robert Lissner used his win at Kutztown University’s Mondschein Multis to spring to 4.39 meters in the pole vault.

Freshman Kenny Rhyne and sophomore Jordan Winslow tied atop the high jump, each reaching 2.00 meters. Sophomore Nate Reed and junior Shaquille Mitchell rounded out the first-place achievements in the long jump (7.11 meters) and triple jump (14.45

meters).

On the outskirts of Fairchild Field, the Raider throwers added to the already mounting pile of top markings.

Sophomore Pat Maloney notched an NCAA provisional throw for the second week in a row in discus. Maloney’s throw recorded at 52.49 meters.

Sophomore Josh Herbster – who earned Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Outdoor Field Athlete Week honors, thanks to a booming throw of 56.08 meters in hammer – came roughly two meters shy of his NCAA provisional qualifier, tossing for 54.22 meters this time around. Additionally, junior Jacob Gieringer and redshirt-junior Alec Stimson placed first in shot put and javelin, respectively. Their throws tagged at 14.31 meters and 52.96 meters.

The women’s squad banded together three more first-place tallies in shot put, discus, and javelin. Junior Kate Matrisciano hurled a 13.65-meter throw in shot put, sophomore Madisen Kling unleashed a season-best 42.03 meters in discus, and freshman Maddie Sieg – claiming her first gold title – slung a 35.55-meter throw in javelin. Kling would also declare fourth in hammer.

The Raiders return to Seth Grove Stadium Saturday for their next meet, the Paul Kaiser Classic. Events at the track are set to begin at 8:30 a.m.

Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate Eric Kirk and Michael Lingard compete in the 100-meters Wednesday SU’s Midweek Invitational.

Christian Eby Sports Editor

Three seconds.

That is how long the competition went stride for stride with Shippensburg University track-and-field freshman, Leah Graybill before she jetted out in the remaining nine ticks to claim first in the women’s 100-meters, capturing yet another school record at the SU Midweek Invitational at Seth Grove Stadium Wednesday.

The new school feat is Graybill’s third time breaking a record this season (two school and one stadium), serving as the cornerstone to another historic performance on the track.

Outside of her record-setting 12.01 in the 100-meters, Graybill boasted a first-place tally in the 400-meters (57.43 seconds) and contributed to the Raiders’ second-place finish in the 4x4 relay.

However, Graybill’s momentous day was

just the peak to SU’s all-around performance on the outdoor circuit – the men’s and women’s team combined for 26 victories. The men furnished 15 wins and the women 11.

Junior Rachel Bruno carried the torch, finishing first in the 200-meters after merely losing to Graybill in the 100-meters. Sophomore Kyra Gerber duplicated her teammates’ success, seeing her first gold run this season in the 800-meters.

The hurdles also showed to be no issue for SU as freshmen Megan Kendall and Lieke Black crossed the finish line first in the 100 and 400 hurdles at 15.53 and 1:05.88. Freshman Brooke Emery and sophomore Carson Pennings tacked on second and third in the 100 hurdles, redshirt-sophomore Malayna Rowe taking bronze in the 400 hurdles.

On the men’s side, graduate Charles Bowman Jr. flashed his usual finishes of first in the 110 and 400 hurdles, pacing 14.80 and 53.70.

Bowman also keyed as the last 400-runner in

Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate Mo Whittle competes in the long jump Wednesday at SU’s Midweek Invite. He finished second.

Raider of the week: Leah Graybill

- Broke school record in the 100-meters at 12.01 - Posted three records this season (two school, one meet) - Won the 400-meters Wednesday at SU Midweek Invite - Contributed to second-place finish in 4x4 Photo courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.

Tennis ‘serves up’ first win of season vs. Lock Haven Isaiah Snead

Asst. Sports Editor

Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate Junior Jenna Sluymer in game action earlier this season.

Sluymer smashed competition Saturday in her singles match.

The Shippensburg University women’s tennis team picked up its first win of the season on Saturday with a 5-2 victory over Lock Haven University.

Junior Jenna Sluymer did not drop a set Saturday, winning her singles match 6-0, 6-0 before teaming with senior Hannah Wieller for a 6-0 doubles win.

Freshman Brighid Cantwell won a back-and-forth singles match, winning the third-set tiebreaker 11-9. Cantwell won the first set 7-6 but dropped the second before rallying to win the third set break.

Cantwell teamed up with fellow freshman Jessalyn Morrow for a 6-0 doubles win, giving the Raiders the team point for doubles with No. 2 and No. 3 wins.

Junior Kayla Tryanski and sophomore Sahar Islam both picked up singles wins at No. 4 and No. 5. For Islam, Tryanski and Cantwell this was their first singles wins of the season.

Freshmen Skylar Walder and Merel Hoekstra won two games at No. 1 doubles. Walder went to a third-set tiebreaker in her No. 1 singles match against fellow freshman Maddy Reeves.

Sophomore Cally Papoutsis won eight games in her match at No. 6 singles for the Raiders.

SU will finish its season Tuesday at Millersville University.

Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate Freshman Brighid Cantwell prepares for a serve earlier this season. She earned her first collegiate career win Saturday.

SPORTS

E4

April 20, 2021

2021 Raider Football Schedule 9/4: vs. TBA Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate The Raiders meet the Millersville University Marauders Oct. 23 at Seth Grove Stadium.

2021 football schedule set Jack Ansley Staff Writer

After a near two-year absence from the field, the Shippensburg University football team has a schedule in place for the fall 2021 season.

The Raiders are coming off of a dismal 2019 campaign, which saw a 4-7 record. 2019 marked as the first losing season for the Raiders while under the direction of soon-to-be 11-year head coach Mark Maciejewski.

Due to the pandemic, the Raiders lost some of their offensive talent to the NCAA transfer portal. Most notably, redshirt-junior wide receiver Winston Eubanks, who announced his transfer to Penn State University in October.

As a Raider, Eubanks had 148 receptions and 28 receiving touchdowns, totaling 2,853 yards. Eubanks also garnered All- Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division First Team honors on three occasions (2017-19).

Another Raider that transferred from the team was top slot receiver Charles Headen III. Headen takes his talents to Southern Methodist University as a graduate transfer after playing three seasons with the Raiders.

In his three-year tenure, Headen had 80 receptions for 909 yards and 14 touchdowns.

The Raiders kick off the season Sep. 4 against an unknown opponent, at Seth Grove Stadium.

In Week 2, the Raiders will travel to Edinboro University to play the Fighting Scots.

The last meeting between these two teams was in 2015.

The Raiders beat Edinboro 20-13. Additionally, the Raiders have won three consecutive games against Edinboro and have an overall 26-24-1 record versus the Fighting Scots.

In Week 3, the Raiders finish their twogame road trip Sept. 11 as they travel to Clarion University. The Raiders will be looking for revenge as they lost to Clarion 48-28 in 2019.

Overall, the Golden Eagles lead the series between the two teams 34-23-1.

The next week the Raiders return home to face Bloomsburg University. In 2019, the

Raiders defeated the Huskies 30-15. The Raiders lead the series with the Huskies with a record of 34-29-1.

In Week 5, the Raiders hit the road again as they travel to West Virginia to play Shepherd University. In 2019, the Raiders lost to Shepherd in a tight contest 32-30. Despite the loss, the Raiders have a winning record against the Rams (23-18) but have lost the last two matches against them.

The next week, the Raiders return to their stomping grounds to play PSAC East rival West Chester University. In the 2019 season, the Raiders lost to the Golden Rams in a very close game at Seth Grove Stadium. Overall, the Raiders have lost the last five games against the Golden Rams and have been dominated in the overall series, a record of 25-7.

In Week 7, the Raiders take a trip to Kutztown University to play the Golden Bears. In 2019, the Raiders fell to the Golden Bears by a score of 55-5. The Raiders have lost backto-back games against KU but have the upper hand in the series, a record of 41-19-1.

The next week the Raiders host the Millersville University Marauders for the annual homecoming game. In 2019, the Raiders defeated the Marauders in one of their biggest wins on the season 27-0. The Raiders have won 16 straight games against MU. In Week 9, the Raiders travel to East Stroudsburg University to face the Warriors.

In 2019, the Raiders defeated the Warriors by a score of 35-10. The Raiders have the last five matchups under the belt against the Warriors and lead the all-time series with a 27-12 record.

The final game of the season for the Raiders is against Mercyhurst University at home.

The last matchup between these two teams was in 2015 when the Raiders defeated the Lakers 69-20. This game may be replaced if the Raiders make an appearance in the PSAC Championship.

One player to watch in the fall is starting quarterback Brycen Mussina. Last season, the redshirt-junior and 2018 PSAC Eastern Division Freshman of the Year started all 11 games and threw for 2,646 yards and 20 touchdowns.

9/11: @ Edinboro 9/18: @ Clarion 9/25: vs. Bloomsburg 10/2: @ Shepherd 10/9: vs. West Chester 10/16: @ Kutztown 10/23: vs. Millersville 10/30: @ East Stroudsburg 11/6: vs. Lock Haven 11/13: vs. Mercyhurst

Seifried notches 100th draw control, scores game-winner Christian Eby Sports Editor

With five ticks remaining on the clock in Saturday’s contest versus Bloomsburg University, Shippensburg University’s Gabby Savarino took matters into her own hands.

The shifty sophomore eluded multiple Huskies on a free-position shot to whisk in the game-tying goal, sending the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division rivals into over-

time at 11 apiece.

In the extra frame, fellow second-year midfielder Hannah Seifried called game with 1:48 left, striking the nylon for her fifth score of the day, propelling the Raiders (4-7, 4-6 PSAC East) to the 12-11 victory.

Saturday’s clutch goals down the stretch from Savarino and Seifried served as the cherry on top to a dominant 64 minutes of play, as the duo accounted for nine of the 12 SU scores.

Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate Gabby Savarino (left) and Hannah Seifried (right) set up the offense in a game earlier this season. Both tallied hat tricks this week in two games.

The Raiders burst out to a 3-0 lead to open the game as sophomore Hannah Raines notched the first goal, her first of the season.

Savarino and Seifried followed suit, each scoring across the next two minutes.

BU (6-4, 6-4 PSAC East) countered with its first score before Seifried added another to her early total. The Huskies rattled off two more goals to come within one until Seifried would close out the first frame with a pair of scores, the second coming at the buzzer. SU would cling to a 6-3 first half lead.

Out of the break, the teams would trade scores with SU holding the 7-4 advantage. However, BU came charging back, sparking a 4-0 run and giving the Huskies the upper hand.

The Raiders refuted the Husky run, piecing together another trio of scores. Junior Alana Cardaci, Savarino and freshman Kayla Jones finding the back of the net.

BU’s Kate Roberts and Anna Dempsey returned the favor, duplicating the Raiders’ success, climbing back on top with 2:33 remaining. However, the Huskies’ momentum would quickly diminish thanks to Savarino’s and Seifried’s late goals, falling 12-11.

In the net, freshman Ally Weneta worked the entire game, allowing 11

goals and 11 saves. She garnered the win.

Freshman Bailey Krahl collected the two Raider assists and junior Madi Jones and Seifried each scooped four groundballs. Savarino paced SU from the draw circle, capturing a season-high nine draw controls.

But Saturday’s overtime thriller was not the only time the Raiders found themselves on the winning end this week. Traveling to Shepherd University Wednesday, SU reaped its revenge on the Rams, winning 12-9, following a 13-9 loss nearly a month prior.

The victory not only monumental for the team as a whole, but for Seifried, who snagged her 100th career draw control. Seifried’s century mark cemented her as the sixth Raider to reach the feat.

Cardaci and Savarino got the ball rolling for SU, scoring the first two goals of the game. Shepherd (4-6, 3-6 PSAC East) responded with two of their own to even the game before Seifried, junior Maddy Siejk and Cardaci constructed a 3-0 run.

After another Rams’ score, Cardaci returned to the scoring column, netting her fifth hat trick of the 2021 campaign and the 22nd of her collegiate career. Krahl tickled the twine less than a minute later, jetting SU to a 7-3 advantage.

The Rams withstood the Raiders’ pressure, chipping away at the deficit with a 3-0 run, trimming the margin to one at the half.

The SU defense would come alive in the second stanza, collaring the Rams’ offense to a lone goal in the first 26 minutes. The Raiders would also use runs of 3-0 and 2-0 to sustain a five-point advantage. Shepherd snuck two shots past in the final four minutes but it was far too late.

Weneta thrived again in goal, conceding nine scores while recording 11 saves. Jones led the team in ground balls (4), Krahl and freshman Addie Kalama each contributed two assists and Savarino tacked on four draw controls to compliment her hat trick. Seifried used three draw controls to corral her milestone while etching out another hat trick, her sixth on the year.

Owners of three wins in their last four contests, the Raiders return to Robb Sports Complex Saturday for their final home match against the Golden Bears of Kutztown University. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m.