The Slate 4-30-19

Graduation: The time of your life, but can you afford it, B1

How bees are valuable to our way of life, C1

Students showcase art at 41st Annual Student Art Exhibit, D1

Softball clinches playoff berth, E1

Please recycle

@ShipUSlate

Tuesday April 30, 2019

TheSlate @ShipUSlate 61 years strong

Volume 62 No. 24

theslateonline.com

Reporting truth. Serving our community.

Faculty vacancies impact students Lack of hiring takes toll on class sizes and curriculum Jenna Wise Editor-in-Chief Each school year brings change. In the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), change is around every corner, with funding declines, tuition increases and numerous budget cuts looming over the system. This change has cast a net so wide that Shippensburg University faculty are feeling the impact as well.

For years, various departments at SU have been operating with vacant faculty positions that continue to affect curriculum decisions, according to multiple sources. The openings stem from years of funding issues at the state level, as well as a prioritization by the university administration of which departments are approved for hire each year.

Kara Laskowski, SU chapter president of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Fac-

ulties (APSCUF), indicated that the university has tried to take care of pieces of the financial puzzle without addressing the core piece — a lack of adequate faculty staffing.

From 2015-16, Laskowski said 11 professors retired and four resigned from their positions. Five professors were hired to fill these holes. “[We] haven’t quite found the balance,” she said. Of these vacancies, many are among the university’s arts and humanities courses.

Hiring processes vary between state universities, and SU’s are multi-faceted. Each department can submit a proposal to the dean of its college to request additional faculty. This proposal is reviewed by the dean, who makes a ranking of possible hires and passes it along to the university’s provost. SU does not normally say why proposals are denied, although APSCUF has requested that reasoning be provid-

Meghan Schiereck/The Slate

English department Chair Shari Horner is one of many professors in a department with a significant number of faculty vacancies. Read Horner and other professors’ stories about the issue on A2. ed, according to Laskowski.

The education crisis is intensified by a nationwide drop in college enrollment, as well as a nearly $24 million funding decline for PASSHE over the last decade, accord-

MSA students want changes to historic Gilbert Hall rooms

ing to its website.

In the same period, SU’s student-to-faculty dropped from a ratio of about 22 to 1 to 18 to 1, according to data from the provost’s office.

But fewer people does not

necessarily mean that students are getting more oneon-one attention. Laskowski said in recent years class sizes have increased from 20-some students to about 40-50. This change can im-

Hannah Pollock/The Slate

Hannah Pollock Asst. News Editor Ramses Ovalles, 2019-20 vice president of finance, and Abdul Omar Tucker are both members of various organizations related to the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) who want to see an improvement in the office’s home, Gilbert Hall.

The students say Gilbert Hall holds irreplaceable, sentimental value to the members of MSA. According to Shippensburg University’s website,

INDEX

Gilbert Hall was built in 1912 when it was used for an elementary training school on campus. The Office of Minority Student Affairs was created in 1989 by then-university President Anthony Ceddia in response to the growing need to address cultural and social needs of black students.

The building is now mainly used for MSA, with the exercise science department using the upstairs classrooms.

Ovalles said during the 1960s, when Shippensburg University was still segre-

Ship Life C1

News

A1-4

A&E

D1

Opinion

B1

Sports

E1-3

gated, “The AM” — a moderate-sized room in Gilbert Hall — was the only place where black students were allowed.

“Gilbert Hall is the fifth-oldest building on campus, and has seen several updates in recent years to modernize the building,” said Kim Garris, chief external affairs officer.

This includes a fire suppression system, which most of the older buildings on campus do not have.

See “FACULTY,” A2

MSA retains students with organizations, programming Shannon Long News Editor

A broken screen bows outward in a windowsill with chipping paint in The AM, which houses MSA, located in Gilbert Hall. This is the only window that opens in the room that has no air conditioning and an overacting heating unit.

pact class discussion and students’ academic performance, she said, while causing professors to feel stressed and burned out.

The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) was created in 1989 as a space for minority students to have their voices heard, but today it has grown as an organization which houses about 20 other organizations under its title.

MSA Director Diane Jefferson approached former Shippensburg University President Anthony Ceddia about creating the office which was originally called the Office of Minority Student Affairs.

Other organizations were then generated after MSA was established.

For instance, the Latino Student Organization (LSO) formed in 1991, and the ELITE Modeling Troupe was created in 2008.

However, new groups are always starting. Even if some organizations die down, they always come back, such as Building Bridges, according to SU student Ramses Ovalles.

“I think the office is always evolving and students can always create new events,” Ovalles said. “I think that’s what’s cool. We have these organizations that are established, but we can always innovate them and be more progressive by the programming we decide to throw and that’s

all decided by the students.”

The African-American Organization (AFRO-AM) is the biggest organization under MSA and hosts the largest events, such as Statewide.

Even though many students in MSA are involved with two or three different organizations, Ovalles said everyone in MSA is a family. Their one goal is to graduate.

“We have our own separate organizations and do our own separate things, but we fall under one office,” he said.

Every organization has retention included in what they are about, and retention is their biggest goal. Students in MSA must have a 2.5 GPA and are required to log 10 study hours per week, according to Ovalles.

“Retention is our biggest goal, and just making sure this is just our home is really important too,” Ovalles said.

He is involved with LSO, Building Character, Retaining Men, Opening Minds, Teaching Tolerance, Helping Up, Empowering Lives (B.R.O.T.H.E.R.S.), Building Bridges and Ask. Communicate. Teach Tolerance. (ACT).

Ovalles wanted to transfer from SU, but Jefferson convinced him to stay one more semester and get involved with MSA. See “MSA,” A2

See “GILBERT,” A2

Weather Forecast

Tuesday

78/56 Wednesday

73/60

Thursday

Saturday

82/60

69/44

Friday

Sunday

75/41

71/51

NEWS

A2

April 30, 2019

“GILBERT,” from A1

Meghan Schiereck/The Slate

Faculty make up $36.5 million of the $62.9 million spent on salaries, but is split by 501 people. The $10.5 going to management is split by 121 people.

“FACULTY,” from A1 Anthropology program down to one tenured professor At one time, SU’s anthropology program had three tenured faculty members.

But, two of those professors retired within the last six years, leaving Karl Lorenz as the only permanent faculty remaining. Budget cuts since then have kept the program from recovering from these losses.

Lorenz noted that some of the responsibility for the program’s vacancies comes from state funding, which has taken a nosedive since the early 2000s. A report by WHYY — a Philadelphia-area radio station — says in recent years Pennsylvania has relied on tuition for 75 percent of its higher education funding.

“Our budget is heavily influenced by Harrisburg’s appropriation,” Lorenz said.

Lorenz — the only tenured professor in the anthropology program — said the need is only exacerbated by the number of students who take the program’s introductory courses to fulfill general education requirements. Anthropology courses are also offered as part of the international and ethnic studies programs. There are several temporary professors who are currently assisting Lorenz with the classload, but the amount of time they will stay at SU is undetermined.

“You’d think anthropology would be a priority, but it hasn’t been since 2013,” Lorenz said.

While the adjunct professors are a short-term fix, Lorenz said these kinds of positions do not offer the type of job security and academic freedom that often encourage professors to want to stay at a university.

“They’re [university administrators] basically the ones deciding where the financial resources are going to go as far as hiring,” he said. “It’s clearly a question of priorities, and anthro — as much as we’ve been told — we’re doing a great job, but it hasn’t helped improve our current faculty status.”

English department permitted to hire, but some positions remain vacant SU’s English department has seven positions in mor-

atorium, which means that these positions are not being eliminated but are not being filled at this time, according to department Chair Shari Horner. The department has hired one tenure-track professor for the fall, which is not included in this number of vacancies.

Horner said the department has taken a hit in recent years in regard to individuals who hold specialities, including in writing and African-American literature.

Without the approval to hire, the department has had to let some speciality classes fall out of its curriculum.

The vacancies have had a “huge impact” on student advisement, faculty committee work and volunteering at admissions events, Horner asserted.

“Everybody’s load outside the classroom has increased,” she said.

Another casualty was a less active lecture series, which the department actively hosted at one point for students’ benefit.

“It’s just really hard to find the time to do [the lecture series],” she said.

Although there are fewer professors, Horner says the work required of the department has stayed the same.

A search last year to fill one of the open positions failed, so the department waited and hired someone this year.

When the opportunity was granted, the department had reached a breaking point where not everything in the curriculum could be covered.

The university denied the department’s hire proposal for five consecutive years at that point, according to Horner.

Art and design department unable to seek accreditation because of openings Similar to the English department, two faculty positions have been put in moratorium in the art and design department.

Like other departments that have been denied tenure-track hires, art and design has hired adjunct professors to teach classes like American art history and art history 2 and 3, which can be taken for general education credit, according to Chair William Whiteley.

The department has been requesting permission to fill the positions for about five years, Whiteley said. He add-

“MSA,” from A1 That one semester changed his perspective on the university and defined his purpose.

He believes it was destined for him to be at SU, and MSA taught him to see a way to use his voice. Jefferson helped bring his leadership and potential out and encouraged him to apply those leadership skills into programming, Ovalles said.

SU student Abdul Omar Tucker said MSA is also the reason he stayed at SU. He is also a member of B.R.O.T.H.E.R.S. “I didn’t really have a place here. It was really different. Really, MSA made me feel

ed that at one point the department was being pushed to reduce its use of adjunct professors — but in doing so, it would no longer have the necessary resources to fulfill degree requirements.

The credits from the three adjunct-led classes would have had to have been transferred in from another institution so students could receive their degrees, Whiteley said.

Art and design has been stable in enrollment for several years, but it does not receive many transfer students and needs at least two more professors to be considered for accreditation, according to Whiteley. Having just enough to get by also means the department cannot pursue new programs for the benefit of current students and recruitment of future ones.

“We just don’t have the time and can’t do it,” Whiteley said. “We seem to be at the bottom of the list [for hiring]. We don’t seem to get the support and things that we need.”

APSCUF President Kenneth Mash stressed that the funding situation is moving in a direction that does not benefit students’ quality of education.

“We need everyone to understand that this is not a tolerable situation,” he said.

“There is pressure all around to make ends meet.”

In response to questions about SU’s vacancies, interim Provost James Mike said the administration works hard each year to fill positions where they are most needed.

“Getting the prioritization correct is very important,” he said.

Mike said he could not comment on SU’s funding issues or the process of approving hires because he has only been in the provost position for several months. He mentioned that the administration is in the process of approving hires for next year and making various other budgetary decisions.

Mash said APSCUF would like to see PASSHE universities be able to provide more to low-prioritized departments.

“This generation of students deserves what every other generation before them has had,” he said. “It’s a vicious cycle that all starts with underfunding of universities.”

really comfortable and I found a home with my organization. It definitely gave me some guidance,” Tucker said.

Ovalles said many students who are involved with MSA stayed at SU because of the office or organizations in which they are involved. He did not feel as comfortable in other organizations, and said there are not many other clubs where you can join other smaller groups within the club.

Tucker said he encourages students to come out, see what MSA is about and get involved.

“They should come out to our events.

They should try to speak to us like we speak to them,” he said.

However, the students in Gilbert Hall cannot help but wonder when it will be their beloved building’s turn for major renovations. Just on the other side of Old Main is Stewart Hall, which is being renovated through funding from the Shippensburg University Foundation, alumni, friends and businesses. Additional funding was provided by the university, but Garris did not identify the amount in a recent email correspondence.

Ovalles and Tucker walked through the paint-chipped hallways of Gilbert pointing out the deteriorating conditions including broken tables and window screens to over-active heating units, still spewing out heat on 75-degree days.

Various MSA students said Gilbert Hall is almost always filled with students studying or hanging out. The building offers office spaces, student recreational areas and study locations including a computer lab.

“We throw everything here,” Ovalles said.

Ovalles spoke of how the AM in Gilbert is home to minority students who he said feel overwhelmed on a predominately white campus.

“When you step into this room, it feels like a relief of stress and anxiety,” Ovalles explained.

Ovalles and Tucker both shared their own stories of

how MSA helped keep them at SU. The transition from urban cities to a small town in central Pennsylvania can lead to minority students not feeling at home, according to Ovalles.

“A lot of us are still here because of MSA and Miss Di,” he said.

Ovalles and Tucker praised MSA Director Diane Jefferson and Assistant to the Director Kapri Brown.

“They don’t work regular hours. They’re always here, catering to what the students need,” Ovalles said.

Both students added that Jefferson and Brown often buy needed items for the AM with their own money, including curtains, couches and tables.

“A lot of us came from homes where we didn’t have the best stuff,” Tucker said.

“But we still take care of what we have.”

When asked if he or other members of MSA had spoken with the administration, Ovalles said he should not have to.

“We shouldn’t have to ask as students. We’re two doors down from Old Main, they pass us when they go to their cars,” he said.

Despite having less than desirable conditions, Ovalles explained that MSA still provides a large amount of programming for students.

“I think it really affects our mentality of who the university values most,” he said.

“It makes me question our value to Shippensburg University,” Tucker added.

Ovalles further explained his frustration with the administration.

“The university is doing great things, but why are they doing those things? Are they doing them just to make themselves look better?” he asked.

Ovalles said he is grateful for Gilbert designation as the home of MSA, but he also wants to see it grow into something bigger.

Both Ovalles and Tucker want to see Gilbert transformed into a Multicultural Student Center, similar to the center at Kutztown University, Shippensburg’s Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) sister school.

Garris said in a recent email that work is “ongoing.”

“Exterior work is ongoing at Gilbert to repair and repaint the original woodwork.

Inside, there are plans to repair walls and paint several locations,” she said. “Within the last 12 months, air conditioning was added to all classroom space.” However, the AM is not included in that classroom space.

Ovalles and the members of MSA understand that a change may not be immediate and may not be drastic.

“We know that change might not be able to be made right away, but we just want to hear a plan or a commitment,” Ovalles said.

Hannah Pollock/The Slate

The newly-opened Aloha Café offers fresh, healthy foods from local sources.

The cafe is located in downtown Shippensburg along King Street.

New cafe opens downtown, offers fresh, clean foods Hannah Pollock Asst. News Editor In a quaint, Victorian house along King Street in downtown Shippensburg is the borough’s newest restaurant, the Aloha Café.

The cafe offers fresh “good-for-you” foods, including both gluten-free and vegan options.

Owner Virginia Coover saw a need for more diverse restaurants in Shippensburg, but that is not the only reason she picked her menu.

“My sister follows a strictly gluten-free diet. That’s why I chose my menu,” she said.

Coover also added smoothie bowls after a Shippensburg University student expressed interest in the dish.

Coover’s focus is on fresh foods that taste good and are good for the customer. She shops at Aldi and local grocery stores, and plans on getting fresh fruits and vegetables from local farm stands this summer.

“I have a very small kitchen, so I’m shopping every day,” Coover explained.

The name of the cafe comes from a series of Google searches after a friend got a tattoo that said “ohana,” which means family.

She chose “aloha” because the meaning behind the word resonated with her.

“I like the way it sounds, but I really love the meaning of the word — ‘Love, peace, com-

passion,’” she said.

Coover set out to create a welcoming atmosphere for all customers.

“My goal is to create an environment people feel welcome, comfortable and at peace, and they also can get good food and buy a unique gift. I want people to feel like they can linger, and not feel rushed to consume their food and get out the door,” she said.

In the front of the cafe are local-made gifts and crafts including pottery by The Clay Money and inked vases by Kia’s Krafts. Coover is working to add more crafts in the future.

Coover — who said she never thought she would end up in food service — had a career in nursing for 16 years before working with her husband in real estate sales and property management for 11 years.

Now, customers can find Coover in the kitchen creating new salads, soups, sandwiches and baked goods.

While there is no student discount right now, there is a rewards program available in the Clover app.

Aloha Café is located at 20 W. King St. in downtown Shippensburg. It is open Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the first and third Saturdays of the month from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

NEWS

April 30, 2019

A3

Editor-in-Chief reflects on The Slate’s impact Jenna Wise Editor-in-Chief After countless articles, staff meetings and memories, it is time for me to say goodbye to The Slate.

For weeks I have done everything possible to come to terms with the fact that I will soon have to walk out of The Slate office and never walk back in as a student.

But as I prepare to move on to the next chapter, I can’t help but feel caught up in bittersweet nostalgia for all I’m leaving behind.

I joined The Slate my freshman year as a staff writer for the news section.

When I came to college I was affected by deep-rooted insecurities, as well as a fear of not being good at what I loved most in the world — writing.

It wasn’t until the end of my first year

at Shippensburg that I applied for and was hired as an assistant news editor. In the beginning I sat in the back of the office and spoke only when spoken to, and silently wondered if I could ever possibly be as successful as some of my fellow staff members.

The person I was then is the complete opposite of who I am today, and I have The Slate staff to thank for that.

The people I have met over the last four years have pushed me to better myself in ways I didn’t think possible — not just as a writer, but in all aspects of life.

It was at The Slate that I found myself and met some of my very best friends, with whom I’ve shared more laughs than I could ever hope to fit in this letter.

These relationships are one of the reasons why Slaters of both past and present sacrifice social time and school-

work to spend unpaid hours making a paper.

It’s why our news section wasn’t afraid to ask the tough questions this year when it came to the closing of Kriner Hall, issues surrounding the Pride Center and more. It’s also the reason why having to leave is so difficult.

I am confident that The Slate staff will continue to produce high-quality work because of its unmatched determination to serve the community. Even as society and campus life changes, these qualities will always help The Slate to succeed Although I may shed some tears as I walk out the door for the last time, I know I can look back and smile at having been a part of something so special.

I hope all of you find something that makes your college career as meaningful as The Slate has made mine.

SGA president, senators sworn in

File photo/The Slate

Wise joined The Slate staff her freshman year as a staff writer and is appreciative of her time there.

Statewide has fun, safe events for all students Jenna Wise Editor-in-Chief

Photos by Shannon Long/The Slate

Former Student Government Association (SGA) president Logan Wein (left) swears in Aven Bittinger as the SGA president for the 2019-20 academic year on Thursday afternoon following the weekly SGA meeting.

Bittinger (left) swears in Vice President of Internal Affairs Isaac Dietrich. Bittinger also swore in new senators. He said he is excited to work with the new senators and see them grow as student leaders. “A major goal that I have is to have SGA do more intentional interactions with our students.”

When you hear the term “Statewide,” what do you think of?

Each year, Shippensburg University’s Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) hosts a weekend-long celebration of history and culture consisting of events like the annual fish fry and step show.

But Statewide is also tied to many stigmas, including partying and the idea that the events are only for black students, according to MSA member Ramses Ovalles.

Ovalles said these stereotypes are not only false, but take away from the actual meaning of the weekend and the work that goes into making the programming successful.

“We throw great, fun programming, so it’s kind of disappointing people don’t come out, and you have to wonder if it’s because we’re minority students,” he said.

Ovalles said the overall theme of the weekend is unifying the SU community through education and history. The message is the focal point of the UMOJA Conference, a discussion held each year during Statewide.

This year’s event was called the BET Conference, which stood for “building, expecting, transforming.”

Statewide got its name because of the dozens of MSA alumni who return each year to attend these events, which are almost entirely student-run.

“They put in a lot of work,” Ovalles said, mentioning that a lot of his own friends were responsible for the planning

of this year’s events.

MSA has heard that some students are afraid of Statewide weekend and choose that weekend to go home because they feel unsafe.

Ovalles said he is unsure why students feel this way, because MSA goes to great lengths each year to make sure the events are safe.

This includes many conversations between MSA leadership and the campus and state police. Statewide events are held almost entirely on campus and follow the campus’s social policies, according to Ovalles.

“There’s no reason why people shouldn’t want to come to our shows,” he said.

Although many of MSA’s members belong to minority groups, this does not mean that others are not welcome to attend Statewide. Ovalles said he thinks of that weekend as similar to Bloomsburg University’s spring block party, or other universities’ St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

“SU is the only school without a spring fling,” Ovalles said.

Ovalles and other MSA members have worked hard in past years to invite non-members to the weekend’s events. Ovalles said he handed out tickets to an event last year that students would normally have had to pay for, but only about five students chose to use them.

MSA’s hope for the future is that students outside of the organization get over their perceptions of Statewide to give the events a chance.

“We see Statewide as our spring homecoming,” Ovalles said. “It could be a huge thing.”

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate, payrolls set new records Marc Levy Associated Press HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate dropped in March to the lowest rate on record, as payrolls hit a new record high and the number of people unemployed shrank to its lowest level since 2000, the state Department of Labor and Industry said.

Pennsylvania, one of the nation’s slowest-growing state economies in recent decades, saw its unemployment rate drop by one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.9% last month, the department said.

Pennsylvania’s rate had twice previously hit 4% since 1976, which is as far back as the state says its records go.

The improvements in Pennsylvania are generally tracking national trends, although economists identified weaknesses in Pennsylvania’s wage growth.

The national unemployment rate was 3.8% in March.

That puts it around the middle of the pack among states.

Pennsylvania’s economy has lagged other states’ in recent decades because of its relatively slow-growing and older population.

“But comparing Pennsyl-

vania against itself is where these numbers allow you to say that Pennsylvania is doing well,’’ said Kurt Rankin, a Pittsburgh-based vice president and economist for The PNC Financial Services Group.

Pennsylvania’s low unemployment rate is sustainable for the time being, economists said. But, with the labor force growing, Rankin said it is possible the shrinking unemployment rate could stall if more people are entering the workforce than can be absorbed.

A survey of households found Pennsylvania’s civilian

labor force grew by 5,000 in March, as the number of people employed rose by 10,000 to a new record high of more than 6.2 million. The number of unemployed shrank by 6,000 to 255,000, its lowest level since 2000.

Still, the underemployment rate — a measure of people who have part-time work but want full-time work — remains elevated at 8.4%, above where it was in 2007, at 7.7%, before the recession began, said Mark Price, a labor economist with the Keystone Research Center in Harrisburg.

“There’s clearly still some

weakness,’’ Price said.

A separate survey of employers showed Pennsylvania’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payrolls rose by 4,000 in March, to a record high above 6 million. March’s figures are preliminary and could change.

Economists singled out various sectors, including the state’s transportation and utilities sector, as having shown strength.

There is also anecdotal evidence that businesses can’t find workers with the skill sets they are seeking, such as in construction and manufacturing, and that could

force employers to pay more, Rankin said.

Price said median wage growth, adjusting for inflation, rose 3% last year, with hourly wages for the typical Pennsylvania worker rising from $18.64 per hour to $19.27 per hour.

That’s what should be expected with a low unemployment rate, Price said.

But, Price said, Pennsylvania’s median wage growth has been sluggish over the decade-long expansion, rising just 2% since 2009, with much of that growth concentrated among the highest-wage earners.

NEWS

A4

April 30, 2019

Two sexual assault cases Your World Today reported in Shippensburg SU fails to communicate Shannon Long News Editor Two different sexual assaults were reported by Shippensburg University students — one man faces multiple criminal charges while a felony rape charge has been filed against the other man — according to PennLive.

Earlier this year, a woman accused SU student Joshua M. Koumaras, 22, of raping her in March 2018. Charging documents were filed this week, according to PennLive article.

The woman reported she was told that Koumaras had accompanied her home after a night of drinking at a party. The woman could not remember coming home with him, but told police she “would never” have sex with him. However, Koumaras told the woman that they did have sex that night, the article said.

In November, Koumaras admitted in a texting conversation with the woman to raping her while she was unconscious. During a police interview in February, Koumaras said he asked for consent, but admitted that he believed the woman was raped, according to PennLive.

Koumaras is charged with rape of an unconscious victim, sexual assault and indecent assault of an unconscious person, according to court documents.

Josiah M. Kushner, 20, of Hummelstown, is accused of sexually assaulting an SU student while she slept in her bed on Sept. 16, according to a PennLive article.

The woman reported the assault after she invited Kushner to visit her the night before and to go to an off-campus party. She changed her mind about going to the party, and that led to an argument between her and Kushner, according to the article.

The woman said Kushner grabbed her chest multiple times during the argument.

She agreed to go to the party and consumed alcohol while she was there. The woman, Kushner, the woman’s roommate and another woman returned to her room on campus around 1:25 a.m., the article said.

After letting Kushner sleep in her bed with her, the woman woke up feeling “sick and dizzy.” Kushner then started to assault her, and she fell asleep before waking up to Kushner sexually assaulting her again, according to PennLive.

Kushner put his hand around the woman’s throat while sexually assaulting her. The woman told him she could not breathe and eventually was able to push him away. When she used the bathroom the next morning, there was blood in the toilet, according to the article.

Kushner admitted that he did not have consent to touch the woman in a sexual manner and that he may have injured the woman, during a phone call between him and the woman that was recorded by officials at the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office and university police, the article said.

According to online court documents, Kushner is charged with aggravated indecent assault without consent, aggravated indecent assault of an unconscious person, indecent assault without consent, indecent assault of an unconscious person, strangulation, simple assault and a summary offense of harassment.

Media relations/social media manager Megan Silverstrim spoke about how the incidents affect the safety on campus and what improvements can be made.

“Ship has long-standing programs and resources that educate, empower and support students and the entire Ship community, ranging from risk reduction, to bystander intervention and how to report incidents,” Silverstrim said. “Governor Wolf awarded Shippensburg University an It’s On Us grant this year to further enhance our efforts to end sexual violence in our community. The grant is funding a Green Dot evidence-based bystander intervention program.”

State Police Briefs Shippensburg man charged with indecent exposure, open lewdness Matthew Mitchell, 35, of Shippensburg, was charged with three counts of indecent exposure and open lewdness in connection with events that occurred from April 9—16 at Tractor Supply Co. in the Shippensburg Shopping Center.

During these three separate incidents, Mitchell exposed himself while he was at the cash register each time.

Woman vandalizes neighbor’s car Shawna Lewis, 20, of Shippensburg confessed to damaging her neighbor’s 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe on April 26 at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Because of ongoing neighbor disputes, Lewis used a key to scratch the driver side back door of the car.

Woman charged with possession of controlled substance, alcohol Kennedi Brown, 23, of Chambersburg was charged with possession of a small amount of a controlled substance and an open alcoholic beverage in connection to an incident that occurred on April 7 in the 100 block of East Burd Street.

Pennsylvania State Police conducted a traffic stop around 2 a.m. because of vehicle code violations. During the investigation, the controlled substance and open alcoholic beverage were found inside the vehicle.

Man taken into custody for suspected DUI Austin Bentley, 20, of Jacobus, Pennsylvania, was taken into custody on March 2 after police suspected he was driving under the influence.

Around 1:30 a.m., state police conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of North Queen Street and Richard Avenue. Based on observations, police suspected that Bentley was driving under the influence and took him into custody.

Cleaning The Slate The Slate staff strives to provide readers with the most accurate content, but sometimes we miss the mark. Here, you will find corrections to fact errors we made from the previous week. The Slate staff apologizes for these errors.

In the April 16 issue, on C2, The Slate published an article with the following headline “Senior to teach in Colombia as part of Peace Corps.” The senior, Kistner, is only assisting teachers as a teacher trainer. A photo cutline attached to the same story read “...after teaching English in the Dominican Republic through the Peace Corps.” Her teaching in the Dominican Republic was not through the Peace Corps.

In the same issue, on D1, The Slate published a review on Act V Theatre Co.’s production of “Mamma Mia!” that credited Maggie Haynes with singing “One of Us.” Hannah Famulare sang the song.

truth of campus issues Commentary

Jenna Wise Editor-in-Chief The end of the school year is a time of goodbyes, but also one of reflection.

Shippensburg University has undergone numerous changes this year, and The Slate has been here to put those changes in writing.

Unfortunately, some of these changes are because of direct mismanagement at the administrative level and a lack of transparency with students. This lack of communication first became apparent when the administration failed to provide any follow-up information regarding the vandalization of S.A.F.E.’s office door in the fall, and has continued ever since.

The latest incident occurred within the last week as reports arose detailing two separate sexual assaults on SU’s campus.

The administration has given the students radio silence, despite the fact that SU was ranked as the 19th safest college in the U.S. because of its programming to support women’s safety, according to yourlocalsecurity.com.

It is nothing short of disappointing that our administrators — who technically work for us — do not care enough to share updates on two specific incidents which come with possible safety concerns for students.

But the transparency issues don’t end there. In The Slate’s news section this week, you can read about how SU has prioritized spending money on turning Stewart Hall into an alumni welcome center, while three doors down sits Gilbert Hall — the deteriorating home of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA).

All the while, SU students are inundated with emails from President Laurie Carter, which detail the many positive events on campus, but no mention of all the issues requiring student awareness.

These administrators would obviously rather focus on the good from a public relations-standpoint, but a failure to even acknowledge the bad makes them look either suspicious or incompetent.

After the story detailing the possible closing of Kriner Hall was published, The Slate’s Facebook page had approximately 3,000 reactions to the article link, and there was a noticeable difference in the number of papers picked up from newsstands.

I say all of this not to brag, but to exhibit how

interested students are in information that they are not being provided by administrators.

After the story gained traction, I waited with bated breath for the administration to reach out to The Slate, or for comment to be issued to students. But there was nothing.

And in hindsight, that is the reaction to be expected. Because our administrators apparently care more about the availability of funds for projects like Stewart Hall and less about student experience, they are not going to ever do more than the bare minimum when it comes to helping students of all academic fields.

Instead, SU students can continue to hear about “makin’ waves,” the “Ship family” and more cliches that are only a reality in the minds of administrators until they choose to address some very real issues on this campus — including the deterioration of Gilbert Hall and the lack of proper resources at the Pride Center.

I instead urge the SU community to turn to The Slate next year as it continues its investigative work and mission to serve the community.

The lack of information students receive will only prohibit them from having a terrific SU experience.

I have loved my time at Ship, but the ship I know has long since sailed.

Student Government Updates • All members of the 2018-19 SGA were in attendance.

• Former SGA President Logan Wein thanked the senate for a great year.

• Dining services is looking at updating food service options.

• There will be a discussion next semester to potentially change the style of parking decals from stickers to hanging placards.

• The student activity fee will remain the same next semester.

• Former President Wein swore in President Aven Bittinger.

• New SGA senators and Executive Rules Committee members were sworn in by Bittinger for the 2019-20 year.

• The 2019-20 ERC and Senate held its first meeting.

This Week on Campus APB Event Crawl

Movie

Concert

• APB will be hosting an event crawl to show what APB is about and how to join on Tuesday from 6—8 p.m. in the CUB MPR.

• APB will be showing Aquaman on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 9 p.m. in the Orndorff Theatre.

• Straight No Chaser will be performing at the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Quadfest

Recital

Relax with APB

• Quadfest will be held on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the academic quad.

• The faculty percussion recital featuring the Trombone Brothers, Aaron and Seth, will be held on Friday at 7 p.m. in Old Main Chapel.

• APB will be hosting Relax With APB on Friday from 8—11 p.m. in McFeely’s Coffeehouse.

B1

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Opinion

The Slate Speaks

Graduation: The time of your life, but can you afford it?

It is that time of year again, and students across the country are anxiously waiting to wrap up the spring semester.

Underclassmen are starting summer internships and jobs, and seniors are getting ready to receive their diplomas. After investing their money and their time over the last four years, this time period should be one of relief and celebration. Many are being recognized for their accomplishments in academia and research, or their dedication to student organizations.

For some, however, what should be the time of their lives is crippled by the financial stress that comes from graduating.

College is costly on its own, and many students struggle to finance their education semester-to-semester. Make no mistake, Ship-

pensburg University is one of the most affordable universities in Pennsylvania. Still, it can be a struggle to afford a semester, let alone a four-year degree. To make matters worse, even when the last semester bill is paid and it seems that the only thing left to do is collect a diploma, there are hidden costs that pop up and increase the financial burden on students.

To even be considered for graduation, students must submit an application. This entails the potential graduate completing a series of forms that explain when the student intends on walking at graduation and the name they would like printed on their diploma. In order to submit the application, a fee of $35 per degree is required. If a student chooses to pay by debit or credit-card there is a 2.5 percent convenience fee.

Furthermore, graduates wishing to participate in the graduation ceremony must purchase their cap and gown. The set costs $47 at the university bookstore.

Up until just last week, students were also expected to pay for cords and other ceremonial items they earned over the past four years. For students graduating cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude and needed cords to mark the honor, they had to pay $14.20 to display their achievement and hard work at graduation.

However, in an April 25 email from assistant registrar Tara Richardson, graduates were informed that if they are eligible to wear cords at the May 2019 commencement, the university will pay for the cords. Anyone who purchased their cords before the

email was sent is eligible for a full refund if they bring their receipt to the bookstore.

The willingness of the university to fund the cords for students who earn honors is a step in the right direction, but there is still more to be done. These costs inhibit students from participating in a celebration of how far they have come and how much they have achieved.

After investing so much time, not to mention money, in SU, this celebration is something to which graduating seniors are entitled.

The university has made it clear that increasing student retention rates is one of its biggest goals. Why is it, then, when students achieve just that and are retained for four years, they are met at the end with more financial obligations?

Jonathan Bergmueller/The Slate

Graduates must wear the cap and gown shown above if they wish to participate in graduation.

Cost of research conferences Assange should be pardoned jeopardizes student research

Thomas Fisher Guest Writer Some of the most impactful educational experiences take place outside of the classroom and away from campus.

These experiences provide the opportunity for hands-on learning and practical application of skills and knowledge obtained through classroom learning.

However, these opportunities often come at a cost.

In general, most institutions, including Shippensburg University, use a reimbursement system to cover expenses associated with these experiences. This means that a student will be asked to cover the cost of the activity and then will later be reimbursed for that amount. At first, glance this system seems acceptable as the student will receive the full amount of money

back eventually. In reality though, this system perpetuates inequality and can have lasting impacts on the financial wellbeing of students.

To illustrate this, consider the example of an upcoming research conference trip I will be taking. The cost for student registration totals $303. This trip presents an incredible opportunity to share my research findings and network with professionals in the field.

Under the reimbursement system, I am required to pay this fee initially. This system rests on the assumption that students have the financial means to make this payment. In reality, this total is more than some students have in their entire bank account and may take weeks to earn through on-campus employment.

Making this payment could leave students without the means to afford necessities. The second problem with this system builds upon the first. A student must then submit their receipt and then wait, sometimes weeks, to get reimbursed.

For a student with little

to no income, this would mean carrying this financial burden with them over an extended period of time.

Now, a student may be going several weeks not being able to afford necessities just so they can try and pursue their educational goals. On top of this, it must be noted that this system does not impact all students equally.

Students who may be struggling the most to afford these fees are the ones with the least amount of access to those that may be able to help them. These students sometimes are also the least willing to ask for help out of fear of being viewed as a burden.

The system needs to change to enable more students to take advantage of more opportunities.

If a university has decided to cover the cost of something, why not do it upfront?

Universities are much better suited to take on this financial burden than students, so they need to do it.

Students deserve the ability to achieve their goals without depleting their bank accounts.

Nick Sones Asst. Opinion Editor Julian Assange, once a liberal hero and friend of the Republican Party, is now a political bogeyman.

The crime Assange is accused of is simply providing citizens of the world with information that he argues would help people make better decisions. I can think of no other act more patriotic than the publication of documents the government is attempting to hide from its citizens. Assange is not even charged with anything dealing with the publication of documents harmful to the governing class, he is being charged with hacking.

Had he published something damaging to Trump, he would receive applause

Where’s your voice?

•

Shippensburg University students, staff, faculty, administrators and affiliated people are welcome to submit letters to the editor for publication.

•

Letters must be no more than 300 words and may not contain derogatory language or messages of hate or discrimination.

•

The Slate may reject letters for any reason.

•

Letters become property of The Slate.

•

Letters without a name and title (affiliation to SU) will not be accepted.

•

Letters should be sent to The Slate one week prior to the day of publication. Late letters may be accepted but published the next week.

Disclaimer •

The views and opinions expressed in this section are those of the writer and not of The Slate or Shippensburg University.

•

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.

from the left and many Democrats (likely myself included.) This was the case when it was revealed that WikiLeaks had published documents showing war crimes were being committed in the name of the American people. This including the extrajudicial killing of American citizens suspected of terrorism.

Republicans stopped cheering when the United Kingdom decided that they would extradite Assange to the United States. Hell, it is as if the only thing that unites both Republicans and Democrats in this nation anymore is their blind hypocrisy so long as it benefits them in the moment.

The greatest concern is that Donald Trump, who has a fascination for wanting to unilaterally change the Constitution, would use the Assange extradition to go after the media.

Donald Trump has previously stated he believes it is OK to target members of the media and he thinks we should reexamine our nation’s First Amendment

Management slate.ship@gmail.com Jenna Wise....................Editor-in-Chief Molly Foster.................Managing Editor

THESLATEONLINE.COM

News slatenews@gmail.com Shannon Long..............................Editor Hannah Pollock...................Asst. Editor

Reporting truth.

Serving our community.

Opinion shipspeaks@gmail.com Shane Kaliszewski........................Editor Nicholas Sones....................Asst. Editor Tony Carravaggio...................Asst. Editor

Contact Us slate.ship@gmail.com (717) 477-1778

Ship Life slate.shiplife@gmail.com Hannah McMullan.........................Editor Justin Hawbaker...................Asst. Editor

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

Sports slatesports@gmail.com Nate Powles..................................Editor Matthew Gregan..................Asst. Editor Isaiah Snead........................Asst. Editor Christopher Wurtz................Asst. Editor A&E slateae@gmail.com Jonathan Bergmueller...................Editor Olivia Riccio.........................Asst. Editor Michael Donegan.................Asst. Editor discriminate against anyone based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity etc. Undergraduate and graduate SU students are hired based on skill, dedication and loyalty to the values and principles of journalism.

Funding for The Slate is provided primarily by the SU Student Government. The Slate is required to payback a portion of its funding via the selling of advertising space.

Ads do not represent the position of The Slate in any manner. See our Advertising Media Kit for rules and policies on ads.

laws protecting members of the press. This is why the issue of an Assange extradition is tricky, because while what Assange did was wrong and while I don’t believe him to be a journalist. He is more a facilitator of the truth.

Assange is more of a publisher, which is what they are going to try to argue in court. The fact remains that government transparency should always come before the government’s need to keep secrets from their citizens.

We should be willing to commend the actions Assange took to release what our own government sought to hide from us, and no citizens of the United States or any other nation should fear speaking the truth, even if that truth damages the power structure.

Trump should do what President Barack Obama should have done when he was leaving office, Trump should pardon Julian Assange.

Multimedia slatephotos@gmail.com Meghan Schiereck....................Editor Amanda Mayer................Asst. Editor Dave Krovich...................Asst. Editor Copy shipcopy@gmail.com Ali Laughman...........................Editor Olivia Riccio..............................Editor Mia Furby..................................Editor Public Relations slate.circpr@gmail.com Breann Sheckells.....................Director Michaela Vallonio............Asst. Director Advertising slate.adv@gmail.com Abrihet Zegeye......................Director Taren Swartz.................Asst. Director Samuel Fegan..............Asst. Director Business theslate.business@gmail.com Ahmad Jones............Manager Web web.slate@gmail.com Matthew Weisbecker............Director

Copyright Notice All content on theslateonline.com and in the newspaper is property of The Slate, unless otherwise stated. No content may be taken, copied, retrieved, used or published elsewhere for any reason, unless where the law dictates it is acceptable. A signed and dated agreement must be made for Slate property to be used elsewhere, and attribution to The Slate and the appropriate staff member(s) must be given.

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

C1

Ship Life

What’s the buzz about bees?

Molly Foster Managing Editor Behind the scenes of a beehive, bees are busy at work filling their honeycombs with nectar and pollen, and in a chain reaction, our plates with a well-balanced diet.

Almonds, apples, avocados, beans, carrots, coffee, cucumbers, grapes, strawberries, tomatoes and of course, honey — you can thank bees for all of that, and much more.

Without bees, we would be left with some staple foods, like potatoes, meats and grains, but we would still face famine, as many nutrient-rich foods would become hard to come by and skyrocket in price.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), honeybee populations have declined nearly 44 percent since 1947 (2.63 million measured in 2018), and this is concerning because bees, especially honeybees, are more than just pests. European honeybees, a species of bees introduced to the U.S. in the 16th century, are busy bees and play a large part in pollination.

“At least 80 percent of flowering plants need pol-

linators to reproduce, and bees are the most important pollinators, at least in our area,” said Heather Sahli, a biology professor at Shippensburg University whose recent research focuses on how humans have affected habitats, pollinators and plant reproduction.

Without bees, the hardly manageable task of pollination would fall into our hands. This is already a reality in southwest China, where farmers have overused pesticides and herbicides, and eradicated most of the bee population.

“They’re already seeing problems with food production because they don’t have enough bees. And so, they’re sending people out into orchards to hand-pollinate,” said Claire Jantz, a backyard beekeeper and geography-earth science professor at SU. “We need to think about how we would produce food without bees before we get to a world where we don’t have bees.”

Knowing how to curb the bee decline begins with knowing what is causing it. Habitat destruction and diseases are two causes recognized by the USDA, but several backyard beekeepers

in the Shippensburg area attribute the issue to climate change and the overuse of herbicides and pesticides, as seen in China.

Sahli said farms used to be floral resource providers for bees with weeds. Now, with modified crops that are immune to pesticides and herbicides, farmers can spray a whole field and kill all the weeds.

“And I understand from the farmer’s perspective that’s been helpful, but from the bee perspective, that’s been really detrimental,” Sahli said.

In addition to herbicides and pesticides reducing floral resources such as dandelion and clover, climate change is also contributing to a shift in blooms. Tim Hawkins, a professor of geography-earth science at SU who specializes in climatology and hydrology, has found that Pennsylvania has warmed about 1.5 degrees and heavy precipitation events have increased 71 percent in the last century.

“Climate models suggest that PA will continue to warm, and precipitation will increase,” Hawkins said.

Read the full story at theslateonline.com.

Molly Foster/The Slate

Claire Jantz believes it is important to know what bees provide for society.

SGA VP applauds SU for involvement opportunities Hannah Pollock Asst. News Editor

Photo courtesy of Ship Link

Isaac Dietrich encourages SU students to get involved and to utilize opportunties the university provides.

Isaac Dietrich is the Student Government Association (SGA) vice president of internal affairs elect for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Dietrich was born and raised in West Africa, before he moved to Chicago to start 8th grade. He then moved again to Montgomery, Pennsylvania, where he graduated from high school.

When it came time to pick a college, Dietrich chose SU for practical reasons. “I chose SU because I thought I would get a competitive education with elite schools for a much better cost,” Dietrich said.

Dietrich is an international studies major and minors in public administration.

In his new position, Dietrich said he will be responsible for internal oversight

of the Executive Rules Committee (ERC) and SGA Senators. He said he will also “make sure that everyone is actively doing their job and is working to better the student union.”

“I’ll work side-by-side with our president to pursue SGA’s agenda, and although I will focus on maintaining a well-organized student government, I will also push for increased representation by the students for the students.”

When asked what he enjoys most about Shippensburg University, Dietrich praised the opportunities available at SU and the faculty.

“Every student has the opportunity to be involved and better themselves as leaders. I believe that all the professors here also truly care about their students and

that’s always reassuring,” he said.

Dietrich was involved in student government in high school before coming to SU where he represented the Residence Hall Association (RHA) in the SGA. Dietrich is also a resident assistant and the fundraising co-chair of the Wood Honors Student Organization.

Dietrich said he wants to see SGA act as a cohesive unit, where the organization’s members actively pursue the betterment of the student body.

“I want to see us all going above and beyond in fighting for the student voice,” he explained.

When asked what single accomplishment would allow him to feel satisfied as vice president of internal affairs, Dietrich said he will be proud but maybe never satisfied.

“I have a large role to play in setting the standard for this position in the future. I will probably never be satisfied with what I am doing in the role myself, but once I leave and the next person takes over, I will be proud to see them continuing the work of internal affairs and continuing to ask for more from our senators and ERC members.”

After finishing college, Dietrich says he hopes to join the Peace Corps and then work for either an intergovernmental organization or non-governmental organization.

“As long as we never give up on our efforts to continue to do better and be better, I will be proud…” said Dietrich.

New senator reveals importance of SGA Hannah Pollock Asst. News Editor Ramses Ovalles has been sworn in as the Executive Rules Committee (ERC) vice president of finance of the Shippensburg University Student Government Association (SGA) for the 20192020 academic year.

Ovalles previously served in SGA as a senator for the office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA).

Originally from the Bronx in New York City, Ovalles came to Shippensburg simply because he “liked it.”

However, he stayed because of the various opportunities for campus involvement. He credits Diane Jefferson, director of the

MSA office for keeping him at SU. Ovalles enjoys the community of the campus and all the friends he has made along the way.

Ovalles’ activities include involvement in the Latino Student Organization, B.R.O.T.H.E.R.S, Building Bridges and the Homecoming committee.

He is also a student worker at the First Year Experience and Community Engagement Office and is Chair of the Diversity and Cultural Affairs Committee and sits on the Budget and Finance and Student Groups Committees.

“I don’t sleep,” Ovalles said with a smile after listing all of his campus activities.

He does all of this while staying on top of his work

as a political science major with a minor in international studies.

One of Ovalles’ favorite aspects of participating in SGA is the ability to help his peers through his involvement.

“You are able to know the ins and outs of how things happen,” said Ovalles.

Ovalles’ goals for next year including making the budget and finance committee more progressive.

But most importantly, he wants to remain present for the students. “I want to continue to advocate for student groups,” he said.

Ovalles would also like to look into creating a campaign where students can use their IDs and flex dollars at off -campus locations.

As vice president of finance, Ovalles will also serve as the chairperson of the budget and finance committee, which manages $4 million including the student activity fees collected every semester. He will also sit on various committees.

“I knew I wanted to be treasurer since Day 1. You can see the impact of it,” said Ovalles.

He wants students to be aware of how important SGA is to the student body. “SGA makes a lot of the important decisions that impact students on a daily basis,” said Ovalles.

After finishing college, Ovalles would like to attend law school.

Photo courtesy of Ship Link

Ramses Ovalles hopes to create a plan that will allow students to use their flex at off-campus places.

D1

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

A&E

Dave Krovich/The Slate

A real clock is installed on the outside of the skeleton that viewers can hear tick when standing near. Swenson found that skeletons are used often to depict time, inspiring her sculpture of skeletons, “Father Time.”

Students win awards for work at 41st Annual Student Art Exhibit Olivia Riccio Asst. A&E Editor Shippensburg University students filled The Kauffman Gallery with their works of the semester, celebrating the 41st Annual Student Art Exhibit opening on Saturday.

SU students showed a variety of mediums they used throughout the semester. Refreshments began at 1 p.m., then students, faculty and visitors could roam the gallery before the awards ceremony.

Senior Amanda Cruickshanks won second place for her pieces “Catharsis I” and “Catharsis II.” She used wood, felt, acrylic paint and real insects to make the two collage pieces.

“I knew all along I wanted to work with the color black, [a] collage, and insects. Instead of drawing and painting insects, I bought real ones

and had to spread their wings and mount them,” Cruickshanks said. “I titled them ‘Catharsis’ because it was like I was finally purging my artistic ideas and feelings and going big and doing something weird that was unlike anything I’ve done before, something way out of my comfort zone from my usual work.”

Junior Liana Culbertson won the Mixed Media Merit Award for her oil painting called “Got Lucky I Don’t Deserve It.” The piece shows a woman’s body with a die for her head, while holding her actual head in a bathroom.

Culbertson described it as one of her more personal works that is rooted in the exploration of her subconscious through “stream of thought” image-making.

“I’m trying to understand myself better with my art in general by seeing the images and symbols that come out

of the process,” Culbertson said. “I try to do this without having a specific feeling/idea that I’m trying to express, because I think my conscious brain takes over too much and the metaphors become too heavy-handed.”

Senior Gaby Binder used wax for her piece “College Life.” The colorful collage includes real money and different types of paper.

“I found all these interesting papers to start off with and build the background, but ultimately I knew I wanted the piece to look like one of those cartoon thought clouds from a distance,” Binder said. “However, only after the viewer gets up close and personal with the painting do they see all the small details that I think run through most college students’ minds on a daily basis in this time period now.”

Read the full story at theslateonline.com.

Review: ‘Endgame’ concludes 11-year saga of Marvel movies (spoiler-free) Jon Bergmueller A&E Editor Fans hurried into theaters ahead of spoilers, no matter the cost, to see “Avengers: Endgame,” the amazing finale to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), last week.

Anthony and Joseph Russo, collectively known as the Russo Brothers, outdid themselves in creating the climax of eleven years’ worth of movies. “Endgame” united the entire MCU and featured every Marvel superhero to date. This film explored unfamiliar territory in the realm of superhero films: What happens when our heroes fail and the bad guy triumphs?

“Endgame” brought the surviving cast of heroes from the show-stopping “snap” at the end of Infinity War, when Thanos, the mad titan, used the “Infinity Stones” to

eliminate exactly half of all life in the universe, including the Avengers. Much of the original cast of the 2012 “Avengers” movie remained, while other characters introduced over time disappeared into dust. This set the stakes for our beloved heroes: They lost, but not all was lost.

“Endgame” is filled with fun fanbait and references to the other films that are not obnoxious or needless fillers.

The action scenes are visceral, and while computer-generated imagery (CGI) is often used to capture the scope of all the action, it is suitable in the large environment and battle-scapes. The writing was impeccable and the characters all felt like their authentic, and sometimes quirky, selves. It was fun, witty and though it lasted almost three hours, it never dragged.

Even though “Endgame” is an incredibly strong movie, it has its faults. The introduction of “Professor Hulk,” no better described as Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) held in-between his human and hulk forms, was an oddity that detracted from the quality of the film.

Ruffalo’s acting and voice were modified — His face was green and inflated and he spoke lower and slower.

These changes were hardly explained within the movie, and the modifications disconnected him from the rest of the actors and actresses. It ruined what otherwise would have been a quality performance.

Read the full story, with spoilers, at theslateonline.com

Movie Showtimes Showtimes for Tuesday and Wednesday, April 30 and May 1 at AMC Classic 7 in Chambersburg

Shows

Times

1. Avengers: Endgame

6:30 p.m.

2. The Curse of La Llorona

7:30 p.m.

3. Breakthrough

6:45 p.m.

4. Dumbo

6:00 p.m.

5. Pet Semetary

4:00 p.m.

6. Shazam!

6:45 p.m.

Billboard Top 10 1. Old Town Road - Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus

6. Sucker - Jonas Brothers

2. Wow. - Post Malone

7. Dancing With a Stranger - Sam Smith & Normani

3. Sunflower - Post Malone & Swae Lee

8. Boy with Luv - BTS feat. Halsey

4. 7 Rings - Ariana Grande

9. Bad Guy - Billie Eilish

5. Without Me - Halsey

10. Please Me - Cardi B & Bruno Mars

E1

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Morgan DeFloria, E2

Sports

Lacrosse, E3

Softball clinches third straight playoff appearance

Photos courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.

The softball team honors their two seniors Taryn Wilson and Jayci London on Senior Day before their doubleheader against East Stroudsburg University.

Matt Gregan Asst. Sports Editor The Shippensburg University softball team clinched a playoff berth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) tournament by sweeping Millersville University on Saturday afternoon.

The Raiders (24-20, 9-7 PSAC) defeated Millersville, 11-5 and 10-3, to clinch second place in the PSAC Eastern Division at Seaber Stadium in Millersville.

The Raiders’ bats exploded against Millersville’s pitching, totaling 25 hits and nine walks on the day. Shippensburg combined for 21 runs, the most scored by the team in a PSAC East doubleheader since the 2005 season. All nine starters totaled at least one hit, with eight hitters tallying more than one hit on the afternoon.

The scoring began early, with the Raiders putting up four runs in the first inning of Game 1. They added three more runs courtesy of a three-run homer by freshman Hannah Marsteller in the second inning, increasing their lead to 7-1.

Senior Taryn Wilson received the win on the mound for the Raiders, allowing five runs and 10 hits while also striking out 10.

The Raiders continued their hitting onslaught against Millersville in Game 2, scoring 10 runs and receiving an excellent performance on the mound from freshman Tressa Kagarise. She tossed a complete game in the victory, allowing three runs and striking out 15 hitters.

Shippensburg scored six of their 10 runs in Game 2 in the second inning. Freshman Morgan DeFeo broke the game open when she drove in two runs with a single in the second inning to make it 4-0.

From that point on the Raiders held control of the game.

The Raiders finished out

their regular season with a PSAC doubleheader against East Stroudsburg on Sunday afternoon at Robb Field.

The team brought its torrid hitting from Saturday into Sunday, although it wasn’t enough to avoid getting swept by an equally hot East Stroudsburg team, 8-7 and 12-11.

Game 1 of the doubleheader went back and forth. The game was tied 4-4 heading into the final inning of play before the Raiders’ pitching fell apart and allowed the Warriors to put two runs up on the board. However, Shippensburg fought back to tie the game on a two-run home run by sophomore Courtney Coy. The SU pitching continued to struggle on Sunday afternoon, allowing two more runs as Game 1 went into extra innings. The Raiders, who totaled 13 hits in Game 1, continued to try to fight back.

They made it a one run game, 8-7, on an RBI double by freshman Hannah Johnson.

SU had a chance to tie or win the game when they loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

However, Marsteller popped out to shortstop to end the game.

In Game 2, The Raiders did not take long to take a lead, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 4-1 lead. Marsteller opened up the scoring with an RBI single and later scored on a two-RBI single by freshman Lacey Hunter.

East Stroudsburg scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning to take the lead 5-4. However, they didn’t hold the lead for long.

SU took the lead right back with a five-run bottom of the fourth inning, headlined by a Marsteller three-run homer.

The Raiders added some insurance runs on a twoRBI single by Marsteller to increase their lead to 11-

8. However, senior Taryn Wilson, who came into the game in the fourth inning in relief of Kagarise, struggled through three innings of work, coughing up the game by allowing eight runs (six earned) in three innings of work.

East Stroudsburg scored four runs in the final frame to take a 12-11 lead.

Hannah Marsteller led the way at the plate for the Raiders throughout the week. She wrapped up the week with two homers and 13 RBIs. She finished the season hitting .277 with a team-leading nine home runs and 41 RBIs. The Raiders are the second seed in the PSAC Eastern Division and are scheduled to play either Mansfield University (17-12, 11-6 PSAC) or Lock Haven University (2616, 12-6 PSAC) in the first round of the PSAC tournament at 3 p.m. on Wednesday in Quakertown.

The Raiders are headed back to the PSAC tournament for the third season in a row. The will face either Lock Haven or Mansfield in the opening round.

Tessa Kagarise throws a complete game with 15 strikeouts Saturday against Millersville University.

SPORTS

April 30, 2019

E2

DeFloria leaves legacy in two sports Abigail Lee Staff Writer Being a student-athlete is hard. Only a small percentage of high school athletes continue their athletic careers in college. Competing in two collegiate sports yearround is even harder.

As a two-sport college athlete in volleyball and track-and-field (javelin), Shippensburg University senior Morgan DeFloria excels in everything she does on the court, runway and classroom. It was not smooth -sailing for DeFloria and her busy schedule, however. “I was constantly on the go,” she said.

“A typical day was 6 a.m. lift, classes, T25 (team workout videos), practice — if it was scheduled — for volleyball, and then I would head down to the runway to get some throws in.”

“School was very hard to focus on at night because it was generally pretty late when I’d get done with practice and I was exhausted,” DeFloria said.

DeFloria said her coaches played a big part in her success. They both worked with her to make a schedule so she would not be over-training — her shoulder needed to both throw and swing. “Coach [Leanne] Piscotty (volleyball coach) always tried to bring the team to my home meets too, which always made me really feel supported,” DeFloria said.

Both her coaches are glad they were able to have DeFloria on their respective teams.

“Morgan is an exceptional two-sport athlete who transitions between the two sports seamlessly,” Piscotty said.

“To have the high level of success in both sports is very rare and she is the model student-athlete,” track-andfield coach David Osanitsch said.

As a 5-foot 11-inch outside hitter for the Raiders, DeFloria led the team in kills as a freshman with 395 and was fourth in blocks with 52. She played a big part in the 2015 team that won the PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) championship.

“She has played a huge leadership role for our team the past four years. Not only is she an incredible volleyball player who lead us in kills and points, but she leads us emotionally as well,” Piscotty said.

The leadership role, emotion and positive energy DeFloria brings to the court

Photos courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.

DeFloria is one of a handful of dual-sport student-athletes at SU. She experienced tremendous success in both volleyball and track. is crucial to any successful team, especially a championship-winning team.

DeFloria was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2015 conference tournament. She was also named to the 2015 Atlantic Region All-Tournament team for scoring double-digit kills in 22 matches.

During her freshman year throwing the javelin, she placed 10th at nationals with her 44.37-meter throw and placed second at the PSAC championships, breaking the school record in the javelin as a freshman.

In her 2016 volleyball season, DeFloria was All-PSAC Third Team; was second on the team with kills by putting up 310; had double-digit kills in 15 matches; and earned a single-match career high of 24 kills.

For track-and-field in the spring, DeFloria earned All-America First Team honors in javelin, throwing 157.6 meters with her third-place finish at nationals. She also claimed first place at the PSAC championships that year.

During her junior year on the volleyball team, DeFloria was named to the All-PSAC

Second Team and the NCAA Atlantic Region All-Tournament Team.

DeFloria became the ninth player in school history to record 1,000 career kills and led the team in kills again with 386 kills and finished seventh in the conference.

She was also second on the team in digs with 403.

In track-and-field that year, DeFloria earned All-America Second Team honors in the javelin with a 12th-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships after her first-place finish at the PSAC Championships.

She was also named the 2017-2018 SU student-athlete of the year.

“Morgan is a unique athlete. Dedicated, positive and very driven,” Osanitsch said.

“We have been very lucky to have Morgan be a part of our program and my hope is she can put the finishing touches on a Hall-of-Fame track career here at Shippensburg University.”

Her senior year, DeFloria was All-PSAC First Team and was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Atlantic Region team. She was seventh in the conference for kills per set,

sixth for points per set and fourth in the conference for total kills.

DeFloria is currently in her final season of trackand-field for SU, starting off strong and not slowing down.

After her first throw of the year, she was named the athlete of the week and achieved her DII national provisional mark.

DeFloria said she owes her success to her parents and teammates. “I couldn’t have asked for better parents and I would never have been nearly as successful without them,” she said.

“My teammates have always been very encouraging in the pursuit of personal goals and team’s goals.”

“She is a joy to be around on and off the court and is loved by her coaches and teammates,” Piscotty said.

After she graduates in May, DeFloria will travel to the Division II national tournament for outdoor trackand-field before taking a gap year, and continuing her education by attending graduate school for biology shortly after.

Raiders’ Corner Baseball splits doubleheader with Mansfield, 3-2, 4-5 • Jack Goertzen: 4-for-7, 2 home runs, 2 RBIs • Kyle Lysy: replaces Noah Inch after 2 2/3 innings, fires 6 K’s to close out final 4 1/3 innings for the Game 1 win

Track excels at Paul Kaiser meet • Charles Bowman: breaks 35-year-old school record in 110 hurdles (14.24) • Shamar Jenkins: new lifetime best in triple jump (51 feet); fourth in nation • Morgan DeFloria: takes first in the javelin with national mark (144 feet, 9 inches) Lacrosse drops season finale against Slippery Rock, 10-7 • Alana Cardaci: 2 goals, totaling 53 this season — biggest Raider tally since 2007 • Valerie Hertz: 4 caused turnovers, three groundballs • Madi Newman: 1 goal, 1 assist, totals 98 career points Softball falls on Senior Day against East Stroudsburg, 8-7, 12-11 • Morgan DeFeo: 5-for-8, 2 RBI’s • Hannah Marsteller: 4-for-9, home run, 6 RBI’s • Hannah Johnson: 4-for-8, 3 RBI’s

DeFloria has already clinched a spot in the outdoor national championships at the end of the semester.

SPORTS

E3

April 30, 2019

Lacrosse notches huge performances in split

Photos courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.

The Raiders celebrate one of their 17 scores in a home victory over Lock Haven that included an 11-2 scoring run in the second half. Sophomore Alana Cardaci and junior Kami Holt scored the most goals and assists, respectively, in a single game for SU in six years. Cardaci had the most goals for SU since 2007 (53).

Chris Wurtz Asst. Sports Editor The Shippensburg University lacrosse team played its best game of the season in a dominant 17-9 victory over Lock Haven University on Wednesday at Robb Sports Complex.

The game was historically significant for Shippensburg (5-11, 3-9 PSAC) on multiple levels. The Raiders’ win over the Bald Eagles was their first in 15 years, ending an 18-game drought that dated back to 2004.

SU dominated Lock Haven on all fronts, outscoring the Bald Eagles 11-2 in the second half. The Raiders took 48 shots (36 on goal) while Lock Haven took just 18 (13 on goal). The Raiders matched a season-low with 15 turnovers while forcing 29 turnovers out of the Bald Eagles.

The performances of sophomore Alana Cardaci and junior Kami Holt were among

the best in Raider history.

Cardaci continued her breakout sophomore campaign with a career-high seven goals. According to SU Sports Information, the seven goals are the most in a game by a Raider since Bennett Widlake notched seven goals against Slippery Rock in 2014.

Holt, who had not recorded more than two assists in a game all season, racked up a career-high six assists in the contest. The six assists are the most in a game by a Raider since Lindsey Kennedy recorded eight assists against Gannon in 2013.

In addition to Cardaci, two other Raiders scored hat tricks against Lock Haven. Sophomore Maddy Siejk scored three goals to pick up her first hat trick of the season and the third of her career. Sophomore Jessica DeMarte, who entered the game with just two goals this season, scored on all three of her shot attempts to score

her first career hat trick.

Senior Kyra Shank notched two goals in the final home game of her career, while sophomore Jena MacDonald had two assists.

Senior Valerie Hertz continued to display her defensive prominence in her final home game, leading the team with five groundballs and tying for the team lead with five draw controls.

On Saturday, the Raiders dropped their season finale — a close 10-7 road loss to Slippery Rock.

The game was close throughout, as neither team led by more than three goals at any point. After jumping out to an early 3-0 lead, the Raiders eventually led 7-5 with under six minutes to play. But, five consecutive goals by The Rock in the final six minutes sealed the deal.

Cardaci scored two goals, bringing her season total to 53. This stands as the most in a single season by a Raider since Kristin Crutchfield

Boxing club athletes qualify for national championships Nate Powles Sports Editor A new era of Shippensburg University boxing has brought success, already. As members of the athletic club competed in the National Collegiate Boxing Championships this season, sophomore Clayton Wilson was one of two athletes to qualify for nationals. Wilson placed second in the East Coast regional tournament earlier in the semester to earn a spot in the national tournament at 125 pounds.

Freshman Ziad Ahmed was the other club athlete to make it to nationals, finishing at the top of his weight class in the regional championship. Thanks to his win at regionals, he entered the national tournament as the No. 1 seed in the country at 147 pounds.

Both boxers put on great showings at nationals, as Wilson placed third in the nation after upsetting a Naval Academy boxer.

Ahmed fell victim to an upset of his own, as he was defeated by an athlete from the University of California, Berkeley. Coach Travis Wylie was proud of his athletes and

said that their hard work this semester paid off with their performances at nationals.

Ahmed credited Wylie for helping him reach the heights that he did in his debut season.

“I totally admit that Coach Travis made me a stronger person by the end of the season thanks to his amazing coaching strategies,” Ahmed said.

He said his teammates were also a big part in his success because of their encouragement to train harder every practice.

Ahmed said that more than 30 people showed up at the beginning of the season to try out for the club, but most dropped out after realizing the commitment and physical training that was required to compete. For Ahmed, he aims to reach even higher in the coming seasons.

“Winning regionals and going to nationals was not a bad step as a freshman,” Ahmed said. “Even though the season is over, I am still working hard, aiming for winning nationals next season. I am only getting better and one day I will put Ship on the map.”

Wilson also admitted

that while he was confident coming into the season, the support and training he received from his teammates and coach were crucial to how he performed this season. “My teammates helped in regionals and nationals by boosting my confidence as well as training with me and pushing me to my limit for preparation,” Wilson said.

Coming from Philadelphia, Wilson said the style of boxing at Shippensburg was much different so he needed to adjust to a different style than he was used to at first.

At times during the season, Wilson said he did not train as hard as he could have or prepared mentally and physically as much as he should have, but he plans to change his attitude for next season.

“Next year, I hope to go hard with training all year and not here and there, and actually be prepared for each fight,” Wilson said.

Wilson’s ultimate goal is to win regionals and nationals .

Both he and Ahmed will be joined by their teammates in the pursuit of a national title next season.

scored 53 in 2007.

Hertz concluded her Raider career with a handful of lofty statistical accomplish-

ments. She is the program’s all-time leader in caused turnovers with 154, and is second in program history in

both groundballs (227) and draw controls (180).

Sophomore Maddy Siejk scores a hat trick Wednesday afternoon against Lock Haven in Shippensburg. Siejk tallied two hat tricks her freshman season.