The Slate 5-4-21

Hosting large events at SU, B1

SU students receive awards, C1

SU band department holds concert, D1

Carson hopes to bring awareness, E1

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Volume 64 No. 20

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

SGA/SUSSI budget saves student activity fee increase Reduces most student group budgets 6% Hannah Pollock Editor-In-Chief

Shippensburg University students will not see a rise in student activity fees for the 2021-22 academic year, but almost all student group organizations will experience a minimum of a 6% reduction in budget allocations for next year.

The SU Student Government Association (SGA) approved these measures, along with the entire 2021-22 fiscal year SU Student Services, Inc. (SUSSI) Budget during its meeting April 22. SU President Laurie Carter approved the budget prior to the meeting.

SGA Vice President of Finance Chase Slenker and Vice President of Student Groups Christopher Higgins explained the situation in an email sent to students on April 23.

Slenker and Higgins noted the financial challenges facing SU and other higher education institutions as a result of “constantly changing circumstances” including decreasing enrollment across

the state.

When students pay their semesterly bills, there are lines for tuition and a variety of fees. One of the fees is the undergraduate student activity fee, which SGA collects and uses to fund student activities.

The 2021-22 budget includes $2,253,745 in collected activity fees.

When combined with other SGA forms of revenue like athletic ticket sales and vending, the total is $2,633,873.57.

The 2020-21 total budget was $2,999,402.66, a 12.19% difference.

The fees, along with other forms of revenue, fund almost all student activities, organizations, athletics, club sports and events, according to SGA officials.

This includes student group operating budgets, which are determined by SUSSI and SGA Budget and Finance Committee members.

“This budget is not what we had initially hoped for, but we have concluded this to be the best we can do given the situation we were given,” Slenker and Higgins explained. “Issues such as de-

clining enrollment, financial challenges related to COVID-19, expectations from the university and a currently unsustainable budget brought about these decisions.”

Slenker said the committee reviewed many possible scenarios on how to address the issues. The 2021-22 budget reduces almost all student group budgets by a “broad cut” of at least 6% but saves students from a rising student activity fee.

The largest 2021-22 expense listed on the budget is intercollegiate athletics, with $1,888,5000, the same allocation as the 2020-21 budget. Each individual allocation within athletics also remained the same.

The Interfraternity Council (IFC), National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and Collegiate Panhellenic Council did not receive budgets in 2020-21 but will receive in 2021-22. IFC and Panhellenic will receive $1,993, while NPHC takes $1,873.

SGA welcomes new 2021-22 executive leadership Noel Miller

Managing Editor

The Shippensburg University Student Government Association (SGA) held its annual Transition of Power ceremony in-person Thursday April 22 to inaugurate the 60th SGA Executive Leadership Committee (ELC).

Chairs were set up 6 feet apart in the Ceddia Union Building (CUB) multipurpose room for guests and newly elected senators. The 2020-21 SGA cabinet and the 2021-22 cabinet sat together on the stage. After taking roll call with 19 members in attendance, Brenda Aristy, vice president of finance, presented the 2021-22 budget. The SGA approved the budget with a unanimous vote.

Stephen Washington, 2020-21 SGA president, introduced SU vice president of student affairs Barry McClanahan to give remarks on behalf of the university.

McClanahan shared leadership advice that benefited his early career and commended the 2020-21 SGA cabinet on moving forward despite facing COVID-19.

Before swearing in the next SGA president, Washington congratulated the incoming SGA board and reflected on the hardships SGA faced over the past year.

“This past year was not a walk in the academic park.

It was quite far from it, but despite the trials and tribulations we were able to come together and do great

things,” Washington said.

Washington introduced the newly elected 2021-22 SGA President Riley Brown and swore him into office.

Brown thanked those in attendance and expressed his enthusiasm for the coming year.

“Today marks the optimistic hope for our future, a future that includes a campus that we once knew before the coronavirus pandemic,” Brown said. “A future that includes the resilience that has been on full display this past year in an effort to stay connected. And to our students, a future in which your college experience lives up to the expectation you have set for it.”

Brown swore in the new executive board, Imani Cameraon, vice president of internal affairs; Chase Slenker, vice president of finance; and Christopher Higgins as the vice president of student groups. Skylar Walder was the only executive board member to not be sworn in at the ceremony due to technological issues with Zoom.

Walder would be sworn in as the vice president of external affairs at a later date, Brown said.

After the executive board’s oaths, Brown swore in three groups of new senators: Class senators, academic senators and the student life senators.

The SGA hosted a reception in the CUB Great Hall following the ceremony.

See “BUDGET,” A2

Image Courtesy of PASSHE

The consolidations are part of the system redesign.

PASSHE votes to merge 6 universities Noel Miller

Managing Editor

The plans to consolidate six universities into two were approved at the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s (PASSHE) Board of Governors meeting last Wednesday according to a PASSHE press release.

The approval is part of PASSHE Chancellor Daniel Greenstein’s System Redesign. The plans are approved but there is a 60-day public comment period being held with two virtual public hearings in June, the press release said.

Greenstein said the integration is “less about how to

make students college-ready and focuses far more about how to make colleges ready for our students.”

Individuals involved in the planning “did exactly what you’d expect of mission-driven professionals who are passionate about the role public higher education plays in transforming students’ lives,” Greenstein said.

“Rather than thinking about how to pour students into the mold we have developed over decades, they asked: ‘How do we build an institution that meets our students’ needs now and into the future.’”

See “PASSHE,” A2

File Photo/The Slate

The fall 2021 semester will welcome back face-to-face classes for SU students. A university press release said, “New and returning Raiders can expect the full Ship experience” next fall. Campus dining, in-person meetings for student groups, sports and homecoming will all be back.

SU to have in-person classes, experiences for fall 2021 Siobhan Sungenis Asst. News Editor

Shippensburg University announced it will be offering in-person experiences on campus for the fall 2021 semester.

Because of widespread vaccinations and safety mitigations lifting, SU is opening up the campus to students again, university officials said in a recent press release.

“New and returning Raiders can expect the full Ship experience,” the press release said.

Students can expect to be attending in-person classes with no social distancing, on-campus sorority and fraternity events, and in-person club meetings.

Athletic games, tailgating and homecoming will be back during the fall semester, as well as performing arts events.

The press release said all on-campus dining options will be available.

Safety measures will still be in place, which may include face masks, testing, vaccinations and more. The university will follow the Pennsylvania Depart-

ment of Health and Center for Disease Control guidelines.

“What our campus community accomplished in the last year is nothing short of extraordinary, and we’re excited to keep pushing forward and provide students with opportunities that look more like campus prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Tom Ormond, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said in the release.

Officials said more information will be available May 15.

Check out next week’s edition of The Slate for a farewell interview with President Laurie Carter

NEWS

A2 From “PASSHE,” A1

Faculty across the State System are sharing their concerns over potential job loss following the release of a University of Massachusetts-Amherst study. The study projected that more than 800 people could lose their jobs by 2023.

According to the study the job cuts from the integrations are “amounting to 14% of overall PASSHE employment,” and compared to the magnitude of the cuts to the largest private-sector plant closing and mass layoffs of the previous decade in the state.

While the structure of the potential layoff

is yet to be determined, the study said it is likely that 809 faculty members will be cut by 2023. The study, released on April 26, said the cuts and their spillover effects will have a “substantial” negative impact on the Pennsylvania economy.

The study said integration job cuts will severely impact women because they make up most of PASSHE university student bodies and untenured faculty.

State System officials are holding a 60-day public comment period and will finalize plans later this summer.

Following CDC, Pennsylvania revises masking order AP Newsfinder Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) —Pennsylvania revised its mask mandate on Tuesday to bring it in line with new federal recommendations that say fully vaccinated people don’t have to wear them outside anymore unless they’re at a crowded event.

The Department of Health said its updated masking order incorporates the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC said

Tuesday that people do not have to wear masks outdoors when they walk, bike or run alone or with members of their household, regardless of whether they’re vaccinated. They can also forgo masks at small outdoor gatherings with fully vaccinated people.

Unvaccinated people should continue to wear masks at small outdoor gatherings that include other unvaccinated people, the CDC said, and keep their faces covered when dining at outdoor restaurants with friends from multiple households.

The CDC also said that

masks should continue to be worn at crowded outdoor events such as concerts or sporting events.

“This is both welcomed and exciting news for individuals who are fully vaccinated and are at a significantly lower risk to serious illness from COVID-19,” Alison Beam, Pennsylvania’s acting health secretary, said in a news release. “However, those who are not vaccinated will still need to wear a mask in most situations, and those who are fully vaccinated should still wear a mask when in crowded spaces.’’

Waterloo? Battlefield rescue for man trapped in portable lav AP Newsfinder Associated Press

GETTYSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a man was rescued after a tree that fell during high winds trapped him inside a portable toilet at Gettysburg National Military Park in south-central Pennsylvania.

The Barlow Volunteer Fire Department said on its Facebook page that the crew was called to Little Round Top shortly before 4 p.m. Friday.

Assistant Chief Joe Robinson told the York Daily Record that they found a tree atop a vehicle but no one inside, and park rangers then told them the tree had trapped a man in the portable toilet.

Robinson said crews treated it like a car entrapment, cutting away the tree with a chain saw and then cutting the portable toilet open with another saw.

“He was very lucky,’’ said Robinson, who has been a volunteer firefighter for three

decades. “It was a large tree, and it just missed striking him. It could have been very serious.’’

The man was alert and talking to EMS as he was loaded into an ambulance to be taken to Gettysburg Hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.

Emergency crews across the region were responding to many calls of downed trees and wires as well as fires during the windy conditions, officials said.

The 5/11 edition of The Slate will have a special graduation insert for the Class of 2021 From “BUDGET,” A1

The largest student group budget increase was a 35.87% to the Green League, with a 2021-22 budget of $3,461.

Another expense for SUSSI is the “free laundry” for students living in the residence halls. SUSSI paid $103,200 last year and will pay the same this year. The student activity fee is paid per credit by students enrolled in in-person and hybrid classes. SUSSSI and the university began offering “free laundry” during the fall 2019 semester, after conversations during a Residence Hall Association (RHA) sponsored President’s Hour held the previous academic year.

The Activities Program Board (APB), which hosts student programming events like bingo nights, movie nights and Ship’s Got Talent, lost $57,190 of its budget, now totaling at $110,000 for the 2021-22 academic year.

The Activities Program Board (APB), which hosts student programming events like bingo nights, movie nights and Ship’s Got Talent, experienced a reduced income commitment and budget, now totaling at $110,000 for the 2021-22 academic year.

Student performing arts groups like the marching band,

May 4, 2021

Your World Today

Commentary: Thank you and (almost) goodbye

Hannah Pollock Editor-in-Chief

My time at Shippensburg University is quickly wrapping up. With graduation looming and only one more print edition of The Slate hitting newsstands next week, I am about to leave the place I called home for the past three-and-a-half years. I find myself sitting and reflecting as I begin to write the final lines in this chapter of my life.

I want to thank my mentor during my senior year of high school, H. James “Jim” Wolf of The Chronicle in southern Lancaster County. Jim served as my first internship supervisor and I would not be in the place I am today without the experiences The Chronicle provided me.

The Chronicle is the free local newspaper in my hometown. I always picked up a couple copies every Tuesday when it hit newsstands. When it came time for me to figure out an internship for my senior year, I wanted to write for the paper I loved reading.

When I emailed Jim to ask if they took interns, he initially turned me down citing previous poor experiences with interns. I asked

again, promising to be different. He agreed to a meeting with me and my high school guidance counselor at which he eventually came around to the idea.

I worked extremely hard to impress him, wanting to go above any expectations he had. Week after week my skills grew, and I gained the confidence to write and report. During my exit interview, Jim said I was the best intern he had ever had and set the bar high for any who followed in my footsteps.

My career in journalism and values of local reporting would not be the same without his guidance.

To the Shippensburg community: Thank you for reading The Slate’s content and supporting our mission to provide the community with news and entertainment coverage. I also want to thank every source who I have had the pleasure of working with on this campus and community. I learned something in every interview, and truly enjoyed being able to tell the stories of this campus through my work. One of the best parts of journalism is that I get to learn something new every day by having conversations with community members.

Every member of this campus plays a major role in our community, and you all deserve to be heard.

I also want to thank my staff for all of their work and dedication this semester. It was hard at times, but we overcame our obstacles and came together stronger on the other side. I appreci-

ate all of you and hope our paths cross again in the future.

Thank you to my family and friends for all of the dinners, conversations or late-night phone calls listening to me talk about stories or difficult page layouts.

Your support in helping me achieve my goals means the world.

Finally, I want to thank The Slate’s adviser, Michael Drager. Dr. Drager has molded me into the best journalist I can be — the journalist who I at times never knew I could be.

While he may dismiss or brush off the recognition, Dr. Drager is the best faculty member at this university. I have not met a more dedicated and caring person — and he knows a heck of a lot about journalism.

He spends countless hours advising The Slate and is always willing to help his students realize their true potential. Dr. Drager is there supporting students in their successes and offering his support and assistance when things are not going so well.

I would not be the journalist I am today without Dr. Drager and hope I can someday repay his gift of knowledge and time investment to the next generation of journalists.

Thank you everyone for following my journey as a journalist at SU. I am not quite sure what is coming next but I hope to continue telling the stories of the community in which I live.

Weather Forecast Tuesday

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The PASSHE Foundation announces scholarships for 2021-22 Through various scholarship programs, the PASSHE Foundation supports all 14 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Universities by providing scholarships to their students.

To learn more about these scholarship opportunities available to you as a Shippensburg University student, please visit the PASSHE Foundation Scholarship page at thepafoundation.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com.

community orchestra and other ensembles all received a 6% cut, leaving the groups with $133,956.41 for the 2021-22 year. This excludes Act V Productions, which did not apply for a budget, resulting in no allocation. The performing arts groups had $154,306.82 in 2020-21, and $166,501 in 201920.

Student media including The Slate, SUTV, WSYC and PRSSA received 6% cuts, while the Cumberland Yearbook received a 22.87% cut, lowering the budget from 2020-21’s $37,600 to $29,000.

Slenker said the overall budget cuts accomplished a few key goals: ● Expand funding to newly approved organizations, including the three Greek life councils ● Keep the broad percentage cuts to student groups as low as possible ● Prioritize allocations that would benefit the greatest number of students ● Prioritize the day-to-day operations of student groups over additional experiences, such as conferences and post-season tournaments ● Work toward a sustainable operating budget to miti-

You will find detailed information about eligibility requirements and award amounts. Carefully review each posting for application instructions. The deadline to apply is listed individually in each scholarship posting. Please remember to file your FAFSA for 2021-22 in order to determine need.

gate large-scale cuts in the near future Slenker and Higgins explained that SU bought the residence halls back from SUSSI in September 2018, giving up annual housing fees for a lump-sum sale amount. The loss of housing fees was never adjusted for through expense cuts, resulting in “unsustainable” spending out of the lump-sum.

“Within the next two years, those reserves will be greatly diminished, and we will have but no choice to cut expenditures down to a balanced budget,” Slenker and Higgins said.

“We must now address this impending situation and will continue to work to mitigate the effects from this.”

Slenker said officials are working to help the campus combat the budget cuts by updating policies, creating a “collaborative programming fund,” where students in different programming groups like APB, Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) groups and the Residence Hall Association (RHA), can host events together using money allocated to the fund.

The collaboration fund has a $20,000 allocation. SGA will offer new leadership development opportunities and fundraising tools and resources for student groups.

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

B1

Opinion

The Slate Speaks University hosting large external events irks grads, students As Shippensburg University comes out of the pandemic, we continue to make progress in recreating the normal we once knew.

SU recently announced it would expand in-person on-campus experiences including homecoming, face-to-face club meetings and athletic events. A post on Shipnews.org said, “students can expect the elimination of social distancing in the classroom.”

Until then, warmer weather and vaccinations create safer environments for clubs and student organizations to hold meetings, for friends to play a game of volleyball or to have lunch with a friend on a set of Adirondack chairs in the Academic Quad.

These are earned achievements our community has reached ­— achievements that seemed so far out of reach 365 days ago. As the semester winds down, SU continues to offer testing and opportunities for on-campus vaccinations.

Life is crawling toward “normal,” but restrictions still remain in place for our campus.

We still find ourselves dealing with limited capacity, space restrictions and the inability to truly have the campus experience we once took for granted.

SU is hosting the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Track and Field Championships this weekend. The university

is also home to Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc., District 3 and State Track and Field Championships, to be held later this month.

PSAC and SU officials recently announced spectator policy updates, preparing for the upcoming championships.

“In an effort to permit at least minimal fans, each participant of the 2021 PSAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be able to designate no more than two visitors for each day they participate,” a press release said.

School officials must submit their team’s spectator pass list for each day of the championships to SU officials prior to the start of the championships, and those not on the list will be turned away, according to the release.

Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, only the Top 16 performers in each event will be invited to the PSAC Championships. There are 18 schools in the PSAC. While some athletes compete in multiple events and may overlap in the Top 16 spots, this is still a lot of people from Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and everywhere in between flocking to our campus.

Teams include qualifying athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, support staff and two spectators per student. The number of people in attendance can balloon quite quickly.

The PIAA meets are even larger events, with more people from a variety of places attending. The PIAA competition bubble may not be as tight as it is for collegiate competitors.

But we as a society have made progress in managing and combating this pandemic. Most of these athletes have lost a year of competition eligibility (the NCAA granted an additional year), and deserve the opportunity to safely compete.

These types of events also help boost our town’s economy. The town and local businesses rely on customers drawn in by the university hosting these events. They too have lost that opportunity in the past year. The university is helping itself, the local restaurants, businesses and hotels when hosting events that draw out-of-town visitors.

But the university should also make every effort to help its graduates and their families.

Our graduation ceremonies were split to accommodate students and families because one commencement ceremony would be “too big” or cause discomfort among guests. The problem most graduates faced was not feeling uncomfortable sitting on the football field socially distanced, but the presented decision of choosing only two family members to watch them celebrate four years (or more) of hard

work.

Graduates are grateful the university gave them the option of an in-person or drive-in ceremony — the class of 2020 was not so fortunate.

But it hurts when we hear faculty members and campus maintenance and facilities officials say, “We could have done more.”

Instead, graduates will now pile into the family SUV or minivan so Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa and other loved ones can see them walk across the stage. It takes more than two people to help someone get — financially, emotionally or physically — through college.

The class of 2021, both college and high school, has lost a lot of our senior years. We knew homecoming was not really going to happen and there would be no traditional spring break. But we held onto the hope for graduation.

But now we watch as our peers at other universities participate in more traditional ceremonies while we wait in our cars to include our support systems in one of the biggest days of our lives.

The community and university have made enough progress to host large events with external visitors. But it needs to also honor the sacrifice and progress of its graduates and their families.

Chaela Chats: Why can't women value physical attraction?

Chaela Williams

Asst. Ship Life Editor

Why is it every time a woman talks about the importance of having a partner who she finds physically attractive it is considered shallow? It is frustrating to see people automatically shut down women just because they value physical attraction in addition to emotional connection.

Society enforces that women should accept men’s flaws regardless of whether or not they find them attractive. They are told if he at least has a “nice” personality then he should be given a chance.

A lot of children’s literature and movies focus on stories in which women accept the outcasts of society — the “ugly” men. They are then reward-

ed for their kind, forgiving nature.

Fairy tales like “The Frog Prince” and “Beauty and the Beast” were created to sell the idea of never judging a book by its cover. In both of these stories, the female protagonists are paired with male animal counterparts.

Within each story, the woman accepts the male’s monstrous flaws before they are magically transformed into a handsome prince by the end of the story. To avoid public scrutiny, girls try to fit the role of being the “understanding” Belle and settle for men who they are not attracted to, thinking they are finding their “prince.”

But should we not be teaching ourselves and our daughters that we can have a partner who is both physically and emotionally attractive? Our partners should not be a project, they should be our equals.

Women must speak up for what qualities they want in a partner – someone who is both physically attractive and has an amazing personality – and not shamed for having “high standards” or asking for too much.

According to Psychology Today, men consciously recognize the importance of physical attraction more than women. Men are allowed to value physical attractiveness because they were always told to get a beautiful girl

and that a “good girl” who is gorgeous will come along and accept them for who they are.

On the other hand, women who dream of finding their handsome and perfect “Prince Charming” are immediately dismissed for being too judgmental and high maintenance. I had a conversation with my friends on the subject where I unapologetically spoke about how I view physical attractiveness as important.

They immediately verbally tackled me and said my belief is not popular.

They said I need to abandon it in order to get a boyfriend.

One of my friends even went out of her way to talk about how she personally did not find her current boyfriend attractive in the beginning, but she convinced herself that he was attractive since he had a good personality.

They told me to settle because the idea of a woman actually finding her partner physically attractive was too much to ask for. I believe that we should love and value all aspects of our partners.

Society needs to encourage women to not expect to settle when they find a partner, but to truly find someone that they are 100% comfortable and happy with.

Where’s your voice?

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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.

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The Slate may reject letters for any reason.

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Letters become property of The Slate.

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

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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.

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

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

Management slate.ship@gmail.com Hannah Pollock...................Editor-in-Chief Noel Miller........................Managing Editor

THESLATEONLINE.COM Reporting truth.

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Contact Us slate.ship@gmail.com (717) 477-1778 Mailing Address The Slate - Shippensburg University CUB Box 106 1871 Old Main Drive Shippensburg, PA 17257 Office Location Ceddia Union Building Room 250 Shippensburg University Adviser Dr. Michael Drager About The Slate The Slate is a weekly, independent, student-run newspaper printed by the Gettysburg Times. Its print edition is published on Tuesdays and its website, theslateonline.com, is maintained 24/7.

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Tuesday, May 4, 2021

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Ship Life

Your May horoscopes Chaela Williams

Asst. Ship Life Editor

Looking for guidance in your life?

Here are your horoscopes for May. Let us know if we got it right on social media @ShipUSlate.

Aries

Last month you got a wall trying to figure out what you want in life. This month, start a manifest journal and start doing some soul-searching. It will help you figure out what you most desire.

Taurus

This month will bring you financial prosperity. Rather it is getting a higher-paid job or getting a raise, your hardwork will be recognized. Do not forget to take breaks between your tasks to avoid burnout.

Gemini

You will be losing friends this month but it is for the best. People who do not have your best interests will walk away while your true friend will continue to support you and your dreams.

Cancer

Complaining about your problems will not change anything, take action and make a plan on how you want to change the situation. Do not focus on what others are doing, pay attention to what is right for you.

Leo

It is time to take a step back from relationships for a while and focus on yourself. Romantic relationships can wait and do not be tempted to go back on dating apps or slide into anyone’s DMs, it will only set you back.

Virgo

Use this month to do some shadow work.

It will be intimidating and mentally exhausting but through it you will grow into a better version of yourself.

Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate

The Student Life Awards ceremony awarded multiple students, advisers and organizations on April 29.

SU organizations recognized and rewarded at Student Life Awards Chaela Williams

Asst. Ship Life Editor

Shippensburg University students and organizations were recognized for their hard work and accomplishments throughout the 202021 academic year at the annual Student Life Awards at the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center on April 29.

LEADER@SHIP hosted the award ceremony to celebrate members of the campus community’s achievements.

“The Student Life Awards are important because it provides us the opportuni-

Scorpio

Focus on strengthening your mental health this month. Participate in wellness activities such as yoga, meditation and even gardening to clear the mind and to keep a glowing energy.

Sagittarius

Keep calm this month, you are going to interact with things that will push you to be aggressive and stress you out. Remember to take a deep breath and let things go and remain peaceful. Any type of outburst will backfire, leaving you with more hardships.

Capricorn

Start planning out what you want to do this summer with friends and family.

Share your list and ideas on your vacation plans and plan something fun like a picnic date. Tap into your creativity and you will be blessed with opportunities.

Aquarius

Do not be such a downer this month when summer is just around the corner. Yes, another school year is coming to a close and you are going to miss your college friends but remember to stay in touch and focus on things that make you happy outside of school.

Pisces

After a long and exhausting April try to take things slow this month to protect yourself from unwanted energies. Write yourself positive notes to keep going.

Looking for more Ship Life?

Read more at theslateonline.com

Brown, MSA assistant director, winning Outstanding Adviser.

Greek life was also recognized with sorority Alpha Omicron Pi and fraternity Phi Delta Theta awarded Best Group Collaboration.

Exemplary Leader was awarded to students Tonji Bell, a senior, and Jasmyn Williams, a junior. SU’s Enactus won for the Community Service and Engagement category.

Senior Averie Bye Dickerson won Raider Legacy for her exceptional spirit and values that represent the SU community.

Outstanding First-Year was given to Skyler Walder; Outstanding Sophomore had two winners: Chase Slenker and Neilia Fairfax; Outstanding Junior was awarded to Erika Ebersole.

Other award winners were: Tyler Rock for Outstanding Graduate Student; Zoe Williard, sophomore and Lillian Simmons, sophomore for Emerging Leader; 88.7 FM WSYC for Emerging Student Group; The Slate and SU Marching Band for Exemplary Student Group; and Michael Drager as the second winner for Outstanding Adviser.

Recipe of the Week:

Libra

Are you really attracted to the person you have been talking to or are you just lonely? Evaluate what you want in a partner and what you find attractive. Dropping your standards will only damage your self-esteem and mental health.

ty to recognize our students and clubs who have gone above and beyond,” Emily Javitt, assistant director for engagement and leadership said. “These individuals and groups spend so much time trying to make a difference on our campus and they deserve to be applauded. It is such a fun event to plan and organize.”

The ceremony had a total of 14 awards with six group awards and eight individual awards.

Multi-cultural Student Association (MSA) won the award for Innovative Cultural Awareness with Kapri

Ingredients:

Homemade Vanilla Cupcakes

-1 ½ cups all-purpose flour -1 ½ teaspoons baking powder -½ teaspoon salt -½ cup unsalted butter -1 cup granulated sugar -2 large eggs room temperature - ½ cup milk room temperature - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract American Buttercream Frosting -4 cups confectioner’s sugar -1 cup unsalted butter room temperature -3 to 4 tablespoons heavy cream -1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Recipe and photo by Chaela Williams/The Slate

INSTRUCTIONS 1, Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cupcake pan with liners, set aside.

2. In a bowl, sift or whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

3. In a large bowl, add butter and sugar. Beat until creamed and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.

4. Add half of dry ingredients to butter mixture. Stir until just combined. Add half of milk, again stirring until just combined. Repeat once more, adding remaining dry ingredients, and remaining milk, stirring until well mixed.

5. Portion batter between 15 cupcake liners, filling about halfway full. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes.

6. Remove pan from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before transferring cupcakes to a wire rack to finish cooling.

American Buttercream Frosting 1. In a large bowl, add room temperature butter and beat until creamy.

2. Add confectioner’s sugar and slowly mix until ingredients are fully combined.

3. Whip at high speed for 2-3 minutes, or until light and fluffy.

4. Add vanilla extract and heavy cream, then whip until fluffy.

5. Pipe or spread frosting with a knife onto cupcakes and serve.

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

D1

A&E Photos by Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate

The SU Concert Band prepares for its next piece while Aaron Trumbore, concert band conductor speaks to the audience Sunday afternoon.

SU music department holds concert Ryan Cleary A&E Editor

The SU Band department hosted its Wind Ensemble and Concert Band concert at the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center Sunday.

The groups performed four selections each ranging from popular pieces, like the main theme song of “The Mandalorian,” to pieces with the goal of completing it under two minutes, “Windsprints.”

Both bands performed for

the first time together since spring of 2019. The Wind Ensemble performed last year in California in March 2020 before the COVID-19 coronavirus shut down everything.

The Wind Ensemble featured first trumpet and senior Maggie Myers in the piece “Manhattan Saturday Serenade.” Myers was praised before the piece as being one of the trumpet players to go to the Intercollegiate Band Festival as first trumpet in all four years of her college career.

The concert band performed the piece “Excerpts from Appalachian Spring,” a classic and well-known piece written for the 1943 ballet for Martha Graham.

There is one more concert scheduled for Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center. The SU Percussion Ensemble will close out the concert series.

Editor’s note: Ryan Cleary performed in the SU Wind Ensemble and SU Concert Band.

Billboard Top 10

New SHAPE exhibit focuses on mental health, self-expression Austin Trevino Asst. A&E Editor

The SHAPE gallery is hosting a new exhibit to coincide with Mental Health Month in Shippensburg. The latest showcase, “Ele-Mental Expressions,” opened April 23 with Mayor Kathy Coy declaring that May be known as mental illness awareness month in Shippensburg.

The opening night also featured live poetry readings and presentations from those struggling with specific mental health issues.

The exhibit promotes the early identification of mental illness, destigmatizing seeking help when needed and educating those on local and national resources that provide help for those in need.

The exhibit runs through May and features many local artist’s works. The exhibition is curated by the treasurer and educational director Pamela “Soaring Raven” Nelson.

The SHAPE Gallery is open Wednesday through Friday 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The SHAPE Gallery exhibit is free to the public and located at 19 E. King St. Shippensburg. For more information, visit shapeart.org or the gallaries Facebook page.

1. Rapstar - Polo G

6. Save Your Tears - The Weeknd

2. Leave The Door Open - Silk Sonic

7. Astronaut In The Ocean - Masked Wolf

3. Peaches - Justin Bieber feat. Daniel Caesar & Giveon 8. Kiss Me More - Doja Cat feat. SZA 4. Montero (Call Me By Your Name) - Lil Nas X

9. Up - Cardi B

5. Levitating - Dua Lipa feat. DaBaby

10. Drivers License - Olivia Rodrigo

The Music Corner What has A&E Editor Ryan Cleary been listening to this past week?

Songs 1.Anagram

Young the Giant

2. Break My Stride

Matthew Wilder

3. Leave The Door Open 4. I Feel It Coming (feat. Daft Punk) Image courtesy of SHAPE Gallery

Artists

5. Runnin’ with the Devil 6. Woke Up Today

Silk Sonic The Weeknd Van Halen Jacob Collier

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

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

E1

Sports

Softball, E2

Baseball, E3

‘I want to be the change’ Cason shares experience as a Black man in baseball Christian Eby Sports Editor

Since his elementary school days, Shippensburg University outfielder JuJu Cason has connected with fastballs and covered his pants in grass and dirt stains.

Cason, an East Arcadia, North Carolina, native, grew his baseball roots in Dixie Youth Baseball and is a first-generation ballplayer in his family.

But by climbing through the ranks of baseball, Cason began to take notice to something that was not as apparent at a younger age: the lack of diversity in the sport, specifically at the collegiate level.

According to the NCAA demographics database from 2012-20, the median of Black athletes in Division II baseball has not exceeded 6%. When you narrow the demographics to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), that median becomes even smaller — 2%. At a managerial level, the PSAC has not had a head coach of color, spanning the last nine seasons.

Cason — now a graduate student — spent his first four seasons with the Crusaders of Belmont Abbey College in the Conference Carolinas. He said he recognizes the absence of diversity in baseball and remains optimistic about the diversifying of the sport.

“It’s different,” Cason said of the lack of representation in the PSAC. “But we take this as a positive moving forward because if we can make a change to the league, the league play in the PSAC, we might be able to get more recruits who are colored in the league and on our team.”

Baseball has historically failed to break the color barrier compared to sports like football and basketball.

According to the NCAA demographics database from 2020, Black athletes account for 50% of the players in Division II men’s basketball and 47% in Division II football. In the PSAC, the median of Black athletes in men’s basketball sat at 51% and football 44% in 2020.

Cason was a multi-sport athlete in high school, playing basketball.

From his perspective, what separates baseball from other sports is the challenges it presents.

He feels most young athletes

want to a play a sport they succeed in. They want the flashy plays and the consistent highlight reel. That is not always the case with baseball.

“The game’s a little slower than most. You can’t go out there and hit somebody in baseball. You can’t go out there and score 40 on somebody like in basketball,” Cason said.

“It’s one of those things where our excitement is you go out there and make a diving play. You go out there and hit a home run. That’s the exciting part of baseball.”

“It’s a hard sport but you have to understand it. If you can build off of your failures, you’ll be able to be successful in the future no matter what because baseball is one of those games where it teaches you about life outside of the game. I’ve become a better person, a better teammate and a better worker because of baseball.”

Another issue is the scarce availability to baseball in low-income communities. And with the costs of equipment and travel ball programs continuously skyrocketing, it does not make entrance into the sport any easier.

Plus, having experience in travel ball programs is key, according to Next College Student Athlete (NCSA), an online scouting organization where future collegiate athletes and recruiting coordinators can connect. Without that experience, the recruiting process for some may be more taxing and it may be harder for coordinators to find statistics on athletes.

Even with the incessant lack of diversity in baseball, Cason said he has seen the strides that the sport has taken to improve the representation aspect of the game at all levels.

Over the last year, civil unrest swept and continues to sweep the United States in response to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, most recently Daunte Wright and many others. Protests, marches and movements have also unfurled across the country, bringing together groups of different races to show their support for the Black community, especially in the sports world.

In his senior year at Belmont Abbey, Cason along with help from peers and campus counselors,

founded the Black Student Alliance, an organization that allows students to voice their opinions and stand in solidarity with the Black community. Cason later became the president of the organization prior to his graduation. At the start of the organization, there were not any other Black groups or fraternities on campus.

Cason said he was not able to witness the progress of the organization as much as he had hoped due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Black Student Alliance began its embarkment when the pandemic made its appearance last March.

“I feel like the advancement, moving forward, it was great for Belmont Abbey,” Cason said. “Being a PWI [predominately white institution], we were able to put our stepping stone in the ground at the school, and I’m excited to see where it goes.”

Within the sport, Cason said he feels baseball leagues and groups at all levels have supported its athletes in the discussions and movements that advocate Black lives, specifically Major League Baseball.

Starting last season and stretching into this year, MLB has permitted its players to wear patches on their jerseys, showing support for social justice movements. Additionally, players have also worn batting practice shirts and message-generative cleats that bring awareness to social equity.

For Cason, that is what matters most — raising awareness.

“We’re not trying to agree to disagree, we’re just basically trying to get a viewpoint from people, spread the awareness that this stuff happens all the time,” Cason said. “I remember my parents would tell us whenever a cop pulls us over, it might be different for you. When a cop pulls us over, we don’t move at all. We ask the officer for permission to move. We keep 10 and two on the steering wheel. And we just had those rules that we learned from a very young age. I learned this at 10, before I even had a driver’s license.”

Cason wants to bring awareness with his voice and be the change on the baseball field. Cason said when he goes home to North Carolina to

Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate JuJu Cason steps to the plate in a game earlier this season against Shepherd University. He leads the Raiders in stolen bases this season with 15.

visit family, he typically works out with the high school ball players in the area.

“I have to continue to play hard and give it my all out here, so they can see that there is promise as well moving forward. To see that they can do it too,” Cason said.

In the end, Cason said he is going to play ball just like he always has.

And with coming to SU, it has made the gravitation to the field that much easier. He said he is thankful to Coach Jones and Williamson for the opportunity to keep playing and

competing in the game he loves.

While baseball does have a diversity problem, Cason said it is about how you compose yourself on and off the diamond. How you go out and put your team on your back.

“I don’t care what color I am. I’m going to go out there and try to win for my team and I know that my team would do the same thing for me,” Cason said. “I’ll run through that wall for them, take the hit, just anything to put ourselves in play and put our team in a position to win.”

Lacrosse concludes season with loss to Warriors

Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate Bailey Krahl cradles the ball in a game earlier this season. She scored 11 goals in her debut year.

Jack Ansley Staff Writer

The Shippensburg University women’s lacrosse team faced off against East Strouds-

burg University in its final game of the regular season Wednesday.

The Raiders were not able to surpass the quick start by the Warriors and fell 18-2 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference

(PSAC) Eastern Division play.

The Warriors (9-2, 8-2 PSAC East) jetted out in the first half with three straight goals from Kiki Fitzpatrick, Hanna Cicerelle and Gianna Leduc, giving ESU the early advantage.

Freshman Addie Kalama responded, scoring her second goal of the season, cutting the lead down to 3-1.

After the Raider goal, Fitzpatrick and Leduc scored back-to-back goals and extended the Warriors’ lead to 5-1.

The Raiders (5-8, 5-7 PSAC East) would strike back as junior Alana Cardaci netted her 25th goal of the year, cutting the deficit to three at 5-2. At the end of the first half, the Raiders trailed 9-2.

The second half did not fare any better for the Raiders, with the Warriors scoring nine consecutive goals. To make matters worse, ESU stymied the SU offense, as the Raiders were unable to find the back of the net, losing the contest 18-2.

The Raiders were outshot in this game 4012 and turned the ball over 23 times in the game.

Freshman goalkeeper Ally Weneta had six saves, allowed 14 goals and received the

loss in the net. Additionally, she paced SU in ground balls (5).

Freshman defender Carly Switala recorded career-highs with four ground balls and three caused turnovers. Sophomores Hannah Seifried and Gabby Savarino led the way from the center circle, notching four draw controls apiece. Seifried also tallied the lone assist of the day and was held scoreless for the first time this season.

The Raiders round out their 2021 campaign at 5-8, the loss snapping their threegame win streak. The Raiders finish the season in 4th place in the Eastern Division, leaving them on the outside looking in of PSAC postseason competition.

May 4, 2021

SPORTS

E2

Graybill enhances record, T&F ends regular season at WCU man Cole Harris debuted in the 3K steeplechase, finishing third with a navigation of 10:33.83.

On the women’s side, freshman Lieke Black paced the 400-hurdles in 1:05.10 for first place. Junior Rachel Bruno was a hair under a second off Graybill’s pace in the 200-meters and sophomore Adriana Baxter jetted to third in the 100-meters.

In the infield, the women’s team reached two gold-medal jumps. Freshman Kayla Dalhouse tied atop the high jump at 1.55 meters and senior Zarria Williams marked 5.70 meters in the long jump. Sophomore Jenna Lytle followed Williams to the tune of second place in the long jump.

Junior Shaquille Mitchell had the best jumping performance for the men, notching third in the triple jump. Freshman Robert Lissner rose to sixth place in the pole vault.

The Raiders now transition to the PSAC Championships, hosting the three days of events Thursday-Saturday. The top 16 athletes in each event from across the PSAC will compete in the championships. Action is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. Thursday with the men’s decathlon as the first scheduled event.

Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate Brooks Bear competes in a hammer event earlier this season at Paul Kaiser Classic. He took sixth place at Saturday’s Last Dance Invite at WCU.

Christian Eby Sports Editor

Leah Graybill’s 2021 campaign is on repeat like a newly released Taylor Swift album.

Meet in and meet out, the Shippensburg University freshman continues her historic pace of breaking school records, some being improvements of records she already owns.

And Saturday’s Last Dance Invitational at West Chester University was no exception as Graybill enhanced her 200-meter record pace (24.63 seconds), a record she previously broke this season at Lehigh University’s Happy Easter Races. It is the fourth time this year Graybill has either eradicated a new school feat or heightened one of her own.

Other than Graybill’s duplicative success, both the men’s and women’s teams saw oodles of top marks, a handful of Raiders solid-

ifying their acceptance entries in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships.

In the field, the Raiders cemented themselves with a trio of NCAA provisional throws.

The pairing of graduate student Cam Strohe and sophomore Pat Maloney bested their previous season lengths in their respective events (hammer and discus). Strohe topped teammate Josh Herbster for best throw in the conference and Maloney setting a new personal record by 6 inches. Freshman Jordan Leake launched a second-place throw in shot put.

For the women, junior Kate Matrisciano upped her preceding throw in shot put, posting another NCAA provisional throw.

Her new personal record sits at 14.27 meters.

Sophomore Madisen Kling also measured impressive hurls in discus and hammer, claim-

ing second and fourth place.

Freshman Maddie Sieg rounded out the throwing squad, tossing a 33.78-meter throw in javelin, good enough for second.

Back on the track, the Raiders combined — outside of Graybill’s performance — for five first-place times.

Graduate student Charles Bowman Jr. returned to gold-medal form, clocking the best time in the 400 hurdles. Bowman would later contribute to the 4x400 relay first-place finish, a time that the foursome of Stephon Brown, Josh Booth, Drew Dailey and Bowman improved by nearly two seconds.

Freshman Eric Kirk, coming off a week which included PSAC Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week honors, ran to first in the 200-meters at 22.50 seconds. Freshmen Mo Whittle and EJ Dorwil sprinted to first and third in the 100-meters, respectively. Fresh-

Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate Kenny Rhyne leaps in a jumps event earlier this season at SU’s Seth Grove Stadium. Rhyne did not compete Saturday for the Raiders.

Raider of the week: Courtney Coy

- Slashed a 7-for-12 line in four games vs. West Chester - Posted a trio of home runs in the four-game series - Totaled seven RBIs and six runs - Ended season with a .322 batting average and 10 homers Photo courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.

Marsteller sets another record, softball season ends Isaiah Snead

Asst. Sports Editor

The Shippensburg University softball team finished its regular season with back-to-back doubleheader losses against rival West Chester University.

No one wanted to be a pitcher in the first series Friday as wind gusts reached over 50 mph and temperatures dropped as the day dragged on. The teams combined for 58 hits, 52 runs and 88 total bases.

The Golden Rams scored 13 runs in the first two innings of Game 1. Shippensburg tried to battle back and scored seven runs in the top of the fifth inning. A three-run homer from WCU in the bottom half of the frame ended the game due to the mercy rule.

In Game 2, SU had a 4-0 edge after two innings. WCU responded by scoring 10 runs in the next four innings.

Trailing 10-7 in its final at-bat, SU rallied for six runs and took a 13-7 lead into the bottom of the seventh.

The Golden Rams then hit a double, single, double and triple to even the score. WCU walked it off in the bottom of the eighth off an unearned run.

All nine Raider starters got a hit Friday including four apiece for sophomore Hannah

Marsteller and junior Courtney Coy. Coy hit two homers and plated five runs.

Marsteller broke the SU single-season record for RBIs with 59 in just 38 games. She broke the record of 58 set by SU Athletics Hall of Famer Jamie-Lyn Dacey in 2005.

The bats did not cool off for West Chester in Game 1 Saturday, as they won in five innings by a score of 12-1.

Game 2 saw Ship flip an 8-7 deficit into a 12-8 lead, using a five-run sixth inning.

However, for the second day in a row, WCU tied the game in its final at-bat, winning in the eighth inning by a score of 13-12.

Marsteller and Coy starred again, both knocking three hits and Coy hitting her 10th home run of the season. Marsteller extended her RBI record to 64 with five on the day.

Marsteller finished the season leading the PSAC in batting average, hits, RBIs and slugging percentage.

Overall, the two rivals combined for 90 runs, 105 hits, 156 total bases and 18 errors in the four-game series.

As a result of the losses, SU (22-16, 16-16 PSAC) finishes the regular season one spot shy of qualifying for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division tournament.

Heather Ross/The Slate

Freshman Taylor Myers tallied three hits and scored three runs against WCU.

SPORTS

E3

May 4, 2021

Men swim to second, women third, at PSAC Championships

Photo courtesy of Bill Morgal/ SU Sports Info.

PSAC Conference Champions JC Greenwood (far left), Matt Bochanski (second from left) and Michael Salvatori (far right) with head coach Tim Verge (second from right) after Thursday’s PSAC Championships in York. Greenwood claimed first in the 1,650 free, Bochanski in the 200 breaststroke and Salvatori in the 400 IM.

Christian Eby Sports Editor

Editor’s note: this story was previously published online April 27.

Any time a school record falls, it is a welcomed sight.

But when that record is broken on the biggest stage of the season, it becomes even more memorable.

For Shippensburg University junior Andrew Hale, this week’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Swimming Championships happened to be that stage.

The highly touted Raider touched the wall in 1:52.30 in the 200 individual medley, a time that would earn him third place in the event and served as one of his six AllPSAC swims over the course of Wednesday and Thursday.

But Hale’s record-breaking pace of the pool was just the cornerstone to the Raiders’ four days at the Graham Aquatic Center (York YMCA)

in York, Pennsylvania, as the men’s team placed second overall, and the women’s team finished third. For the men’s team, it was its best finish at the championships in 12 years and the women’s team in four years.

Days 1 and 2 The men’s squad, competing Wednesday and Thursday, did not waste any time climbing its way to the All-PSAC performances board.

Redshirt-freshman JC Greenwood kicked off the Raiders’ day with a second-place tally in the 1,000 freestyle. Hale followed suit with his record-setting 200 IM swim, giving the Raiders an early 2-for-2 in All-PSAC placings.

SU would wrap up Session 1 with two scorings in the 50 free — thanks to sophomore Elijah Zinn and senior Hunter Keck — and only trailed PSAC powerhouses Bloomsburg and Gannon University

in the 200 medley relay.

The opening of Session 2 resulted in a duplicative outcome in the 200 free relay, third place. The Raiders most triumphant event — the 400 IM — succeeded as SU garnered placings of 1-2-3-4.

Freshman Michael Salvatori crowned himself league champion in his championship debut with a time of 4:04.77. Juniors Hale, Matt Bochanski and Vin Salvatore would round out second, third and fourth place.

The Raiders cooled off in the 100 butterfly and 200 free before another thirdplace swim in the 400 medley relay, concluding SU’s day with a trio of Top 3 finishes in the relay events.

Come Day 2, the Raiders remained hot out of the blocks.

Greenwood and Savaltori claimed second and fourth in the 500 free, the third of four All-PSAC performances for Greenwood across the two-day span.

Hale returned to his All-

PSAC form in the 100 breaststroke two events later, notching third. Salvatore finished fifth in the 200 butterfly. Teammates Hale, Salvatori, Greenwood and junior Trevor Woolwine touched the wall for fifth place in the 800 free relay.

Entering Session 4, Greenwood displayed his first career conference-title swim in the 1,650 free, hitting a time of 16:23.34. Salvatori rallied for second moments later in the 200 backstroke, clocking a time of 1:52.77 on the pad.

And Bochanski — a school-record holder in the 200 breaststroke and conference winner in the event — defended his title from last year, using an impressive final leg to out-touch Bloomsburg’s Blake Nesbitt by .22.

The men’s team ended the meet with a third-place finish in the 400 free relay, claiming the runner-up trophy and scoring a whopping 560 points.

Days 3 and 4 The trio of freshmen Michaela Hersh, Marissa Bittner and junior Madison Breiner paved the way for the Raiders third-place rally Friday and Saturday in York.

The three swimmers combined for 11 individual Top 10 finishes across the two days of events.

Breiner and Bittner got the wheels in motion in Session 1, starting the morning with eighth and ninth place in the 1,000 free. Hersh and freshman Alyssa Tomb sported Top 10 crowns in the 200 IM as well, cruising to times of 2:10.71 and 2:11.54, good enough for seventh and ninth.

In Session 2, Hersh bested her previous IM performance, taking the runner-up spot in the 400 event. Tomb, not trailing far behind, claimed fourth. Senior Mari Reott — who earned the 2021 PSAC Women’s Swimming Champion Scholar

award — captured fifth in the 100 butterfly.

Breiner continued her success into the evening events, swimming to fourth place in the 200 free. Bittner came .41 shy of 10th place in the event.

In Day 2 action, Breiner and Bittner took to the pool first, navigating the water in 5:14.41 and 5:17.03 in the 500 free, roping in fifth and ninth-place finishes. Reott cracked the Top 5 once more in the 100 backstroke, with junior Tomomi Nakano and freshman Sammy Taylor hot on her heels, clocking the seventh and ninth best times.

Hersh rejoined the Top 3 in the 200 butterfly, pacing the lane in 2:09.04. She became the second Raider in school history to sneak under 2:10.00 in the event.

Hersh, along with Breiner, Bittner and Taylor, milled the pool for third in the 800 free relay to close out Session 3. The bronze-medal finish would be Hersh’s second of the weekend and the thrice piece of hardware to take home overall.

In the final session, sophomore Marina Cote and Breiner finished ninth and eighth in their respective events (1,650 and 100 free). Reott, Bittner, Nakano and Hersh would run the table at 5-67-8 in the 200 backstroke, before Tomb would notch eighth in the last individual swim, the 200 breaststroke.

The Raiders capped-off their championship weekend with a fourth-place tally in the 400 free relay, thanks to the team of Breiner, Taylor, Bittner and Reott.

The end result for the women: third place, only to be beaten by new conference champion Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) and Bloomsburg.

Higgins fires gem, baseball drops three to Golden Rams Christian Eby Sports Editor

Its odds of playoff contention already hanging by a thread, the Shippensburg University baseball team was in dire need of a series sweep versus West Chester University, Thursday and Friday.

Game 1 looked promising. Redshirt-sophomore Kiernan Higgins fired a complete game.

Junior Ben Werkhesier cleared the left field fence on a fourth-inning three-run home run.

Momentum was in the Raiders’ (15-17, 13-15 PSAC East) favor following a 5-1 opening-game victory.

But if the Golden Rams (17-9, 17-9 PSAC East) had any say in the fate of the next three games, they were going to make sure the pendulum swung their way. And that it did.

Over the course of Games 2, 3 and 4, WCU carried the mantel, winning by scores of 4-3, 11-8 and 14-2, seemingly ending the Raiders’ chances of a postseason berth.

Higgins’ (4-4) start Thursday was one for the ages. Tossing his second complete game in a Raiders uniform, Higgins squandered the Golden Rams’ lineup, limiting the Eastern Division powerhouse to a pair of hits, an unearned run and fanned 12 in the process.

The 12 ring ups — which tied his career-high

Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate Kiernan Higgins pitches in a game earlier this season. Higgins tossed a near complete-game shutout Thursday against West Chester, scattering two hits and tying his career-high 12 strikeouts.

— marked the third time this season he has reached double-digit strikeouts.

Off the rubber, Higgins received some help from the batter’s box as the SU bats tallied eight knocks. Outside of Werkheiser’s threerun blast, the Raiders scratched across runs on an Andrew Chronister single and a Lake Lloyd sacrifice fly. Both runs were plated in the second inning.

Transitioning to the nightcap, the SU starters saw similar success, but hitting up and down the lineup was held to a minimum.

Graduate student Kyle Lysy (4-3) remained prominent on the bump, going six innings, scattering seven knocks on three earned runs, and striking out seven. He also issued three free passes. However, once the Raiders turned to the bullpen, that is when things started taking a turn for the worst.

Freshman Austen Labarre — who garnered the loss — was tacked for an RBI-single in the top of seventh, the deciding factor in the Game 2 loss. He pitched 2/3 of an inning, conceding two hits to compliment the earned run.

At the dish, the Raiders mustered five hits, all three runs coming in the bottom half of the sixth. Freshman Jackson LoBianco tallied the lone extra-base knock, an RBI double. Also contributing to the sixth-frame cause was graduate student JuJu Cason and Werkheiser, both plating runs on RBI singles.

In Friday’s game action, the SU bats sprung early but slowly began to fade as the day went on. The pitching staff also struggled late as both teams endured wind gusts pushing 50 mph. However, the Golden Rams never seemed to mind the treacherous weather.

Cason opened the Game 3 scoring with a leadoff solo home run to right field. Sophomore Justin Darden and freshman Morgan Wyatt kept the train rolling, each plating runs on singles, giving SU the quick 3-0 edge.

WCU charged back the next four frames, teeing freshman southpaw Kaleb Sophy for

seven earned runs (eight runs total). LoBianco brought a run in on a sixth-inning walk, while sophomore Tony Vavaroustos doubled home three Raiders moments later, SU clawing back and tying the game at eight.

However, a Keith Flaherty three-run jack in the bottom of the sixth sealed the deal. Sophy’s line would end at five innings of work, permitting 10 hits across eight earned runs, five base-on-balls and whiffing four. Sophomore Noah Nabholz tossed the final inning which he was chalked up for two earned runs on two knocks.

Hoping to turn the tables in Game 4, the Golden Rams put a shellacking on the Raiders, cruising to a 14-2 win. With freshman Gabe Stotler unavailable, SU relied on four different pitchers on the back end of the twin bill.

Freshman Ethan Miller received his first career start, lasting a mere 1 1/3 innings. The Greencastle, Pennsylvania, native coughed up seven earned runs on four hits and walked three. Nabholz relieved Miller to stop the bleeding, granting five earned runs himself in 2 2/3 innings on the mound.

Freshman Chris Douglass and LoBianco combined for the final two stanzas, Douglass admitting two runs and LoBianco tossing the one-inning shutout with two strikeouts.

In the batter’s box, redshirt-freshman Andres Garcia had himself an evening, sporting a 2-for-3 line, including a solo homer to right field and a two-bagger. The round-tripper, which came in the third inning, was Garcia’s first of his collegiate career. Vavaroustos notched the other lone RBI on a ground out.

With the conclusion to the regular season nearing, the Raiders sport one last homeand-home series in their 2021 campaign. SU travels to Bloomsburg University Friday, before returning to Fairchild Field Saturday to wrap up the season. First pitches from Husky territory are slated for noon and 2:30 p.m.