Sexual orientation should not impede human rights. B1
SU cheer team seeks recognition, C1
‘Geography’ takes listeners on a trip, D1
Athletes cope with lost seasons, E1
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Volume 64 No. 2
Community struggles after use of racial slur on campus Hannah Pollock Editor In-Chief
The Shippensburg University community is grappling with another race-based incident on its campus. More than 20 campus community members gathered on the academic quad Monday afternoon to demonstrate their frustrations with the continued incidents. Students, staff, faculty and administrators peacefully sat with signs that read, “Black Lives Matter” and “End Racism Now.” The campus community was first made aware of the incident Saturday morning in an email sent by SU’s Chief Diversity Officer Stephanie Jirard. “We received a credible report of a race-based incident last night in one of the residence halls, specifically the use of the n-word written on a board,” Jirard wrote. In a follow-up email sent Monday morning, officials announced the Shippensburg University Police identified a
suspect in the incident. According to the email, officers obtained evidence that led to a confession. The person responsible is a juvenile and not a student at the university or a member of the Shippensburg community. However, officials referred the case to the Dean of Students Office for an investigation into a potential Code of Conduct violation. Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, SU updated its residence hall guest policies. No outside guests are allowed in the residence halls. Jirard shared the university’s bias-response protocol which includes these steps: Assess any threats of imminent harm, investigate to determine whether the behavior violates any policies or laws. If so, refer for adjudication and discipline, educate the offender and repair the harm done where possible.
See “COMMUNITY,” A3
Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate
Lucas Everidge, left, and Shippensburg University Police Chief Michael Lee sit with signs outside the Dauphin Humanities Center Monday afternoon. Demonstrators gathered 6-feet apart in response to the use of a racial slur in Seavers Hall over the weekend. The demonstration was organized by students and faculty, and administration members, including President Laurie Carter, attended the event.
Officials cancel Corn Festival Blake Garlock
Guest Contributor
Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate
Signs directing students are found in almost all parts of Shippensburg University’s campus. SU community members must adhere to new guidelines and safety protocols when attending classes on campus.
SU sets sail into new semester Noel Miller News Editor
Shippensburg University is aiming to keep its students afloat amid a nationwide pandemic where students, faculty and staff must be able to adapt at a moment’s notice if they hope to stay on campus for the semester. Even as students were sent home last spring, the inevitability of their return to campus hung in the air. When the initial COVID-19 coronavirus response dust settled, SU officials were tasked with creating a plan to eventually reopen the campus. SU Chief External Relations Officer Kim Garris said the road to reopening began in February. According to Garris, SU officials developed six committees composed of faculty, staff and students who met to work on various reopening-related issues. SU also brought Chris Clarke on board to serve as executive director of operations. Clarke has worked in higher education for several years and is experienced in crisis response, risk management and staff development. Clarke said almost every aspect of the campus would in some way be changed or modified.
Reopening changes started with campus outdoor areas. Campus community members needed more space to meet, eat and work. SU’s solutions include large tents with folding tables and chairs. Additional tables allow opportunities for spaced-seating outside of Kriner and the Ceddia Union Building (CUB). Some of the seats are marked off to create a 6-foot space between available seats. A large part of the average college student’s experience is gathering to hangout, meet or study with friends around campus. Many inside areas from the CUB and the Erza Memorial Library, to the many lounges scattered across campus have seen similar changes to meet social-distance guidelines. Clarke said crews moved a couple thousand pieces of furniture from these areas to decrease the number of occupants while also maximizing space for students. A group of students assisted the moving crews in transforming campus, Clarke said. In addition to physical changes, SU officials had to develop new procedures for the meeting areas, dining halls and the bookstore to combat the challenges posed by the coronavirus.
Crews placed signs and stickers throughout campus and inside buildings to help direct the flow of traffic. In the CUB, crews divided the main walking area into two lanes to minimize contact when walking. In the classroom, faculty members had to modify how they run their classrooms. Clarke said faculty members received online training over the summer, to prepare for in-person teaching and how to use the new technology that would be added to the classroom. Technology has allowed many colleges and universities to offer a hybrid of in-person and online classes while giving students the choice to come to campus. However, these classes look very different from the in-person classes in which students and faculty are accustomed. Classrooms must be able to keep students and faculty 6-feet apart, as well as have the technology for teachers to broadcast themselves and their lectures for students on Zoom. Some classrooms have a maximum occupancy as low as 14 or 15 students. So Clarke turned to unconventional classroom spaces for classes with a higher student capacity.
See “CAMPUS,” A2
An annual Shippensburg tradition is the latest victim of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Streets closed to traffic and full of food vendors, games and the annual corn eating contest will not be found on the last Saturday of August this year in Shippensburg on what would have been the 40th annual Shippensburg corn festival. In a press release from late June, the Shippensburg Corn Festival committee announced that the 2020 Corn Festival was cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions. Instead, the 40th edition of the local favorite will be held Aug. 28, 2021. In the press release, the corn festival committee listed several of the options it weighed to try and
keep the festival this year. The committee considered moving the event out of Shippensburg, reducing the number of vendors and limiting how many people could enter the festival at a time. Ultimately, however, the committee felt that those restrictions would change the corn festival so much that it wouldn’t be the same event that the community loves, according to the press release. Shippensburg Corn Festival President Debbie Weaver said the large crowds of people who attend the yearly event created additional concerns. “There’s just no way we can bring 30,000 or more visitors and almost 300 vendors to downtown Shippensburg and ensure that everyone stays safe,” Weaver said in the release. See “CORN,” A2
File Photo/The Slate
The Shippensburg Corn Festival attracts thousands of vendors and visitors each year.
NEWS
A2
August 25, 2020
SU updates food services
Where to eat on campus
Noel Miller News Editor
*Kriner Dining Hall Students can only purchase takeout food at this dining hall. *Reisner Dining Hall This dining hall offers a variety of foods for both take-out and dine-in. *Century Cafe (Old Main) This location offers sandwiches, seasonal and healthy food options. *King Street Subs (Kriner) King Street Subs offers a variety of subs, chips and drinks. *Dunkin’ Donuts (CUB) Dunkin’ supplies students with teas, coffees and donuts, of course. *Starbucks (Library) Starbucks offers coffees, teas, smoothies, pastries and more. *Big Red’s Snack Shack Students can find drinks, snacks and other essentials in this convenience store. *Pizza Hut (Kriner) This dining location offers pizzas, wings, bread sticks and drinks. *Bento Sushi (CUB) Students can find various sushi rolls, poke, donburi and teriyaki rice bowls at this dining location. *Grilleworks (CUB) Grilleworks offers burgers, fries, chicken sandwiches and more. *In the Mix (CUB) During the fall semester, this location offers nutritional salad bowls. *Kick’n Chick’n (CUB) This dining location offers chicken tenders, french fries and cole slaw. *Tavolino (CUB) Tavolino offers Italian favorites including ravioli and spaghetti. *Limon and Chile (CUB) This location offers Mexican food including burritos, quesadillas, tacos and salad bowls. During late night hours, it offers breakfast items.
Shippensburg University students have new on-campus dining opportunities this semester. Aramark Educational Services replaced Chartwells, the former dining provider. While some dining locations are serving similar food options, others have completely changed. Rich Coburn, Aramark resident district manager, shared the various changes and updates that officials have made to SU’s dining options. Reisner, Kriner and the Ceddia Union Building food court all look different this year. Stickers on the floor designate the flow of traffic and places for students to stand measured 6 feet apart. Signs hang on walls reminding students to use sanitizer and wear masks unless seated and eating. Dining halls and areas have one-way traffic, require masks when not seated and eating and have Plexiglas installed at counters and registered to minimize contact between workers and students. Other safety measures include staff members being required to take their temperature upon arrival at biothermal scanners seen across campus. Areas are sanitized and flatware is changed out every 20 minutes. All food is served by workers or wrapped up for grab and go dining. “We do our best to politely and professionally remind our guests of the social distancing guidelines and ask any groups to separate into the designated tables as quickly as possible,” Coburn said. “We are proactively always looking for ways to improve and make it simpler and easier to stay apart while being together,” Coburn said. Both Reisner and the CUB food court offer limited indoor seating as well as the option to take food to go. Ensuring that seating is available at 6-foot intervals has decreased the seating capacity in Reisner from 976 to 260. The CUB food court has a food pick up area that will be for meals ordered on the new dining app. The mobile ordering app is available on the Apple store and Google Play and the goal is for the app to be up by Sept. 1. Participating locations for the app are Pizza Hut, King Street
Hannah Pollock/The Slate
Take-out and grab-and-go items are popular at many dining locations during this fall semester Subs, Limon and Chile, Kick’ Chick’n, Grilleworks and Bento Sushi. Kriner is the only dining hall to be take out only. Students go through a one-way line to pick up their meals and while all indoor seating has been removed, the tables outside are still available. Prices in the dining halls have changed including the cost of a meal increasing from $5.90 last year to $6.40 this year.
For hours and more information, visit
ship.campusdish.com From “CORN,” A1
The Corn Festival committee is operated entirely by volunteers. This allows all the profits earned from the festival to be donated to the community. In the 39 years since its inception, the festival has donated more than $400,000 to community projects, the press release said. Although the Corn Festival will not produce any income this year, the Corn Festival committee will still accept funding requests from the community and award grants in 2021. More information on the grants will be
Hannah Pollock/The Slate
Signs directing students are found in almost all parts of Shippensburg University’s campus. SU community members must adhere to new guidelines and safety protocols when attending classes on campus.
released on the Corn Festival’s website later this year. The Corn Festival has always been about serving and preserving the community. The committee originated from the Shippensburg Heritage and Recreation Planning Society (SHARP). Local volunteers founded to promote awareness for and preserve Shippensburg’s heritage. Volunteers originally created the Corn Festival to fundraise for a consultant who surveyed the town so it could apply to become a historic district. The event continued and became a Shippensburg community staple.
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Some of the first preparations concerned the amount of technology and resources the campus would need to provide an environment compliant with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) regulations. SU was ahead of the curve with ordering these items, according to Clarke. In many classrooms, panes of Plexiglas provide a barrier between students and professors. OWL meeting cameras are also a staple in classrooms. These cameras follow the professors as they move allowing for an enhanced experience for remote students attending class on Zoom. In larger classrooms and converted rooms, such as the CUB multipurpose rooms, one of the key modifications is an alternating seating schedule. These are referred to as “blue green schedules.” During a “blue class” students are only permitted to sit in seats with a blue designation, which leaves green seats between them to keep a 6-foot distance. This way students who are in “green classes” will be sitting in green seats, which are untouched by earlier classes.
Garris said these schedules were changed several times to line up. While the university has made many changes and plans to adapt to the challenges posed, students also have a responsibility for keeping campus open. Garris said this led to the creation of the “Raider Respect Pledge.” The pledge is the code and behavior campus community members are expected to uphold during the 2020-21 academic year. She said it is a way to positively reinforce the coronavirus rules and procedures such as wearing masks and practicing social distancing. The pledge reads: “I understand, as a member of the Ship community during the 2020-2021 academic year, that I have an important role in keeping the community strong. I understand that the mitigation protocols I am being asked to follow are necessary to protect the health and well-being of others in my community and beyond. I agree to abide by all federal, state, PASSHE, local, and Shippensburg University mandates, policies, protocols, and procedures related to COVID-19, and I agree to participate in any required training.” Anyone can take the “Raider Respect Pledge” via
email or by going online to the SU website. The pledge includes short training videos about the new standards and procedures to mitigate the risk of spreading the coronavirus. Those who take the pledge are expected to abide by coronavirus policies including using designated walkways, monitoring health and wearing a mask while encouraging others to wear masks as well. The pledge initiative also includes social media and email engagement by sending out information and new slogans throughout the week. Garris said one from the first week was “mask up or pack up.” The first week of the fall 2020 semester has concluded and students, faculty and staff have had the chance to become familiar with a campus changed by the coronavirus. Garris said she was impressed by the initiative students have taken to embrace the many new changes without complaint within the first week. She said while campus regulations and procedures may change throughout the remainder of the semester, everyone has an important part to play in keeping campus open during the pandemic.
NEWS
August 25, 2020
A.C.T to hold rally Thursday Hannah Pollock Editor-in-Chief
Ask. Communicate. Teach Tolerance. (A.C.T.) is a group of students who strive to create a more inclusive and safer campus environment for all Shippensburg University students. They work with other student groups and offices to engage the campus community and work toward solutions to problems that plague the campus. The group holds a rally annually, typically in mid-September. However, this year’s event is taking place days after the use of a racial slur against a student in an on-campus residence hall. The A.C.T. Call to Solidarity Rally is Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Hockey Rink and Rec Fields. Ramses Ovalles, A.C.T. member, said the A.C.T. committee is a diverse group of students who are fighting for justice and equality. Another member, Katherine Hargrove, said the students focus on long-term problems that impact all communities. “These issues haven't disappeared. They have not and shouldn’t be swept under the rug just because people have chosen to forget about them. Many people don't have the privilege to forget or ignore,” Hargrove said. “So we as a committee and a community recognize that these are ongoing issues that we continent to work to change.” Group member Leah Mottershead said she and her peers work to communicate the values the SU community should hold. “We want everybody to have a clear understanding of where Shippensburg wants to go
and what values we hold, as well as letting people know that Shippensburg University doesn’t accept these kinds of actions.” Hargrove added, “We are here to speak up.” Student Quamia Wells said she wants to make sure their voices are heard.
A3
Your World Today
Commentary: Education, advocacy, conversation and action lead to change
“We want the university to know our voices matter and what we say matters.” Quamia Wells A.C.T. Member
“We want the university to know our voices matter and what we say matters,” Wells said. Following the death of George Floyd and the protests across the country, the A.C.T. Committee put together town halls to discuss what was going on. “Students were concerned and scared. They wanted to know that people will support and protect them on-campus,” Ovalles said. The Rev. Diane Jefferson, who is the director of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, shared a saying that hangs on the wall in their office in Gilbert Hall. “It’s not a Black thing. It’s not a white thing. It’s not a LGBTQ thing. It’s a human thing.” “That’s what A.C.T. is trying to say to the campus. It’s a human thing,” Jefferson said. Mottershead added that due to COVID-19 coronavirus gathering restrictions, the event can only have 250 people. “We want to see 250 people with their masks on,” Mottershead said. “This is our job to step up and make a change.”
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Hannah Pollock Editor-in-Chief
Over the weekend, a racial slur was written on a board inside an on-campus residence hall. This is not the first time an incident like this has occurred at Shippensburg University. There were a few very public incidents during the 2019-20 academic year in which Black students were harassed, intimidated and had the n-word used against them. And now, a week into the 2020-21 academic year, we find ourselves in the same situation. As a community, we must ask ourselves, “Why does this keep happening?” What can we do to combat hate on our campus? Unfortunately there is no clear-cut answer that will solve the issues we face overnight. Does it start with more intensive academic diversity requirements for freshmen? One part of the solution could be a manda-
tory class that teaches tolerance and understanding of different races and cultures. Perhaps all students could be required to attend one “Courageous Conversation” or “Days of Human Understanding” event each semester. Is it increased visibility and funding for the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA)? (Shoutout to the wonderful work Ms. Di, Kapri and the entire staff and student body in Gilbert Hall. You guys rock and never cease to amaze me with your love, passion and hospitality!) I attended the Saturday afternoon Zoom meeting hosted by Chief Diversity Officer Stephanie Jirard. I was happy to see so many members of the campus community from all levels join the conversation. The topics of the conversation ranged from how the university reacted to the situation to the yearning of more information about what exactly happened. The most important takeaway from the Zoom was the fact community members came together and had a conversation. These participants showed their devotion to one another by speaking up and sharing their voices about the injustices that plague SU and our greater com-
munities and world. It is our job to speak out against these injustices — to use our voices for change and to amplify the voices who are not prominently heard. We must use our voices to drown out those who choose to root their opinions in hate. I believe a conversation must start — and be continued. It is one thing to pledge one’s support for a cause and then gradually lose passion until something new comes along. It is another to follow through. We must listen to each other and be willing to have conversations. Every act of change starts with the humility to listen, learn and begin to understand a different perspective. To the students impacted through this incident and every incident like it, you have a right to be on this campus. You are welcome on this campus. You belong on this campus. To those who choose to use racial slurs and perpetuate the associated toxic culture, I hope you use this situation as an opportunity for education. I hope that someone chooses to have a conversation with you or maybe you can challenge your own beliefs and try and see the other side. Educate yourself. SU community members, we must be better.
Photos by Carmine Scicchitano The Slate
Shippensburg University President Laurie Carter, left, holds a sign at Monday’s demonstration. Carter and other members of the administration showed their support for campus community members. Below: Noah Steinfeldt sits with a sign during Monday’s demonstration in the academic quad. Shippensburg University community members gathered with signs to show support for their peers following the use of a racial slur in an on-campus residence hall over the weekend. From “COMMUNITY,” A1
The protocol also is to support victims and the community and communicate to the community about the incident, support resources and the university’s actions. She also invited community members to a “Drown Out the Hate” Zoom where around 50 members from various levels of the community gathered to talk about the incident and called for action and change. Members of the community praised the university for listening to concerns about communication during the Townhalls Against Racism over the summer. Community members called for more information about the incident and the process the university follows when one occurs. Other community members shared their grief and concerns over another race-based incident occurring on campus. Various students asked if the university officials would follow through on their promises. A couple of students echoed the feeling of broken trust in recent years. Jirard responded by telling the students to, “Demand our [the university] response today, demand our response tomorrow and demand our response the next day.” In a phone interview on Sunday, Jirard further explained the university’s
response and her hopes for the community. Jirard, who was appointed to her position in May, said officials held “Town Halls Against Racism” over the summer to engage the community. “We had to do something,” Jirard said. “We had to put a plan in action.” During the sessions, Jirard said they repeatedly heard a call for more communication about incidents and how the university is responding. “What we heard was the university’s response to race-based incidents appeared anemic,” she said. The university did have a protocol in place, but Jirard said there is now more information available to the community while still meeting legal privacy requirements. “We are being much more mindful of letting the community know information that we can disclose,” Jirard said. Jirard also noted the university is showing more of an immediacy in offering forums for the community to gather and process these events. Jirard held a Zoom where members of the community came together and discussed their reactions to the incident. “The community is in pain when these things happen. There seems to be a frustration that these incidents indeed do happen,” Jirard said. “What I heard for yesterday was a call for a unified response.”
She said the administration has a responsibility to make sure the university is aware of what is acceptable conduct. Jirard added that the students have and must continue to also encourage one another to engage in the “Raider Way” of respect. Jirard encouraged students to support and challenge one another. “Speak your truth about race. It doesn’t matter what race you are, every person is an expert on race. If you were raised here or if you came from another country and spent time, you have witnessed American race relations,” Jirard said. “A lot of people are afraid of saying the wrong thing, so they don’t say anything. They have good hearts and good intentions, but people need to learn from one another.” She explained how attending SU is an opportunity to get to learn from different people. Jirard said she has heard students time and time again talk about how they were never exposed to someone different than them until they got to the university. Jirard said that it can all start with a conversation. “You have possible solutions to the race problem in America. But you have to have some willingness and courage to engage everyone in the dialogue,” she said.
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
B1
Opinion
The Slate Speaks: The Shippensburg Borough Council is set to vote on a non-discrimination ordinance that identifies and prohibits discrimination against people based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. The vote comes after months of advocacy by community members and Shippensburg University student Michael Bugbee. Bugbee first shared his experience of discrimination with The Slate in a Letter to the Editor in March. Currently, Pennsylvania does not have housing laws that prevent discrimination based on sexual orienation, gender identity and expression. The decisions now fall to local government bodies. Some are developing non-discrimination ordinances that call out and outlaw discrimination in public accommodations and business matters. In Shippensburg, there are no resolutions or ordinances that prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation. The ordinance, if
Race, gender, sexual orientation should not impede human rights
approved, would declare support and protections for members of various groups including the LGBTQ+ community. Carlisle approved a non-discrimination ordinance showing its support for those who are discriminated against. Its ordinance covers a wide-variety of groups including LGBTQ+. While Shippensburg may not be as culturally and socially progressive, this ordinance is certainly a step in the right direction. Ordinances like this advocate for a better society with equal rights and protections. Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to succeed. We as a community are better when all members are represented and protected. The U.S. Fair Housing Act lists the things that cannot impact a landlord’s decision to not rent to an individual — sexual orientation is not included. Until the borough, state or federal officials take action, this type of discrimination can and will continue. The denial of public accommodations can
Give it a thought:
place individuals in potentially unsafe and harmful conditions. It becomes dangerous when members of these communities are all grouped into one area; this sets the group up as a target. The Supreme Court has made it clear — the LGBTQ+ community has a sufficient constitutional right to be free of discrimination. However, the Supreme Court has also ruled in favor of people of faith who resist actions that contradict their religion. If the person who seeks to become a tenant is respectful, has the monetary means to pay rent and does not cause trouble, it should not matter who they go to bed with at night. Your sexual orientation has no impact on a credit score, which is a large consideration in housing approval. Yes, the person can seek out other opportunities. The point is, they should not have to seek other opportunities. This falls in the same vein as a Black person having to use a
separate, lesser-in-quality bathroom, or as a woman not being able to obtain a certain job simply because she is not a man. We may not agree with all of the personal choices our community members make but a person’s race, gender, religion or sexual orientation should not dictate whether or not they can get a home, a loan or a job. There have been a lot of societal changes since the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Being openly LGBTQ+ is more publicly accepted. There is still a lot of work to be done, but LGBTQ+ community members now have more of their rights that their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts have always had. We as a community must voice our opinions in matters that impact us and those around us. Get involved with your local government by writing letters or attending the Shippensburg Borough Council Meeting on Zoom on Sept. 1.
Commentary: Here lies the
New cameras aid in bringing justice America of old 1776-2020
Chase Slenker Staff Columnist
Shippensburg University has had pressure from students in the past year to add additional security and surveillance in and around our residence halls in order to address incidents occurring in the buildings as well as to prevent future problems. Last year, a resident in Seavers Hall had hate speech written on her door by another resident telling her to “get out n*****.” This incident of course led to an investigation but it ignited numerous conversations about race relations on our campus, as well as surveillance and security in our residence halls. Conversations regarding the matter were held within many student groups as well as with university officials including former vice president of enrollment management and student affairs Donta Truss. I happened to be in one of those discussions with Donta, where members of the Student Government Association (SGA) asked officials if cameras could be installed in hallways. Cameras were only at entrances, elevators and stairwells at the time. We were specifically told that cameras were too expensive to be installed and that cameras in the hallways would be a conflict
with residents’ privacy. A change in heart and or a change in funding has certainly occurred. Cameras have been added to every hallway of every residence hall, totaling more than 20 new cameras per building. According to SU Housing and Residence Life, the cameras are specifically positioned to not point into any residents’ personal room. When asked about who has access to these cameras, SU Police Chief Michael Lee hesitantly commented that the footage from these cameras is fed to the police station and that the footage is reviewed in the event of an “incident in the halls.” Students have had varying reactions to the new cameras. Speaking with residents, many are concerned that staff members are monitoring them for policy violations and feel uncomfortable with their addition. Others, including myself, look upon their addition favorably. “Too many incidents happened last year that shouldn’t have happened and too many people got away with breaking the rules. I greatly appreciate these new cameras,” a resident assistant directly involved in one of last year’s incidents said. If what the university says is true and these cameras are accessed only by a select group of officials on a select basis and do not peer into people’s rooms, then I fully support their addition. With this week’s new incident, these new cameras will be integral in serving justice to those who intend on spreading hate on our campus. The addition of the new cameras is certainly a start to deterring violence and damages in our buildings but SU must continue to explore ways to ensure a safe and welcoming environment, while protecting the privacy of residents. As with all new changes, we are left to discuss, debate and share our voice on our campus and in our community.
Noah Steinfeldt Staff Columnist
Today in our country we are facing many issues. Sickness being the one at the forefront of the media, and racial injustice on the back burner. Both of these things are issues that have infected the human race since the beginning of time. Why is that? Sickness is natural and there is absolutely nothing
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we as human beings can do about it. The only solution for sickness is to let it run its course and hope for the best. With that being said, have you ever noticed that is how the United States of America reacts to racism and other social injustices? It is treated as something that will just go away in two to three weeks. The media gives our cries for freedom maybe a month or two of television air time. It also depends on what else is going on in the news cycle. This is a problem that has been rooted in American culture for decades. Many people assume racism does not exist anymore because it is “not as bad” as it was in pre-2000s America. Ask yourself this; how can people believe racism and other biases do not exist in our modern nation if they are not directly impacted by it? Every day, members of
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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
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the Black and brown community face acts of racism — implicitly and overtly. Countless victims ignore it due to the fear of satisfying a stereotype, while others speak out and in turn get labeled as the antagonist in the conversation. This my peers is an issue that needs to be fixed. During the 1950s and 1960s people fought for their freedoms through marches and boycotts. Today the same thing is happening for the same reasons. The reason would be social justice for all. There is an idea that if this nation satisfies our requests for social justice it will cause many people to give up their seat at the table. In reality, fixing the systemic oppression that has plagued people of color since the late 1500s will only add more seats to the table, thus creating an equal and just nation.
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OPINION
August 25, 2020
Exposing the incompetent left following the Democratic National Convention
Take five minutes:
Maria Maresca Staff Columnist
The Democratic National Convention kicked off Aug. 17 and conveyed a predominant mantra of destruction and disarray directed not only at President Donald Trump’s time in office but at our country’s basic principles. Each speaker ripped Trump for failing to protect us as American citizens and his supposed no interest in “putting in the work” as stated by former President Barack Obama but conveniently left out how this was supposedly achieved. Perhaps it was when his administration announced
limited travel between foreign nations and declared the COVID-19 coronavirus a public health emergency. Or when thousands of medical supplies such as ventilators and masks were distributed throughout the U.S. and to other countries, such as the United Kingdom. and Iran. Appeasement is lethal on the world stage with terrorists and Trump has shown no hesitation in bringing top terrorist leaders, such as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, to justice. If it had been left up to Democrats to decide, our cities and country would be left in shambles. This has become a reality for many blue states through the lack of leadership by Democratic governors as shown by their response to the riots that have swept the country. The damages go far beyond mere monetary expenses. Small businesses were obliterated all in the name of Black Lives Matter (BLM) leaving countless Americans without livelihoods that were built on
trust, diligence and painstaking, backbreaking labor. The so-called “peaceful protests” that erupted on a national scale took an innumerable amount of innocent lives producing more death and annihilation in American cities. This is not productive or morally acceptable. Democrats instead sat on their laurels and watched as our cities fell to anarchy and will continue to do so as Biden’s vice presidential choice, Kamala Harris, vows to enforce gun control across the board. Where will we be left without our Second Amendment freedom to protect our homes, businesses and children? Again, this idea eradicates what John Locke professed about how our rights as people are not given to us by the government. Rather, these rights are inherent and God-given, and the government is the vehicle through which those rights are protected. The denial of reality that was reiterated during the DNC speeches only proves
the crux of the problem with the left: their aim to slowly chip away our basic freedoms by employing an all-powerful government structure. The Biden and Harris duo will only narrow our choices for our healthcare providers, but it will also ban key industries such as fracking taking away millions of jobs and mandate mask wearing for months, if not years. It will proliferate abortion and Planned Parenthood’s market of baby parts and spike taxes upward for “free” benefits with the first two years of college. Harris has shown her cards and twisted efforts at playing politics and changing the narrative for personal gain. She was once an avid opponent of Biden and believed his sexual assault accusers and his racially charged past. As our country inches closer to election, I ask readers to self-educate about who they are voting for and what repercussions could ensue if the choice is made only based on feeling, and not fact.
Commentary: Black culture should be celebrated, appreciated not appropriated
Tiana Thomas Opinion Editor
Debates have been surfacing on the internet over the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. Whether it be a white influencer uploading a photo to Instagram with his or her skin tanned dark enough to “blackfish” or a non-Black creator speaking in a tone that is associated with urban African American culture called a “blaccent,” it will surely be talked about on
social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. For a culture that has been denied rights since the days of slavery back in the 17th century, nowadays, it seems to be oddly popular for non-Black people to pick out their favorable attributes of Black culture without receiving the same backlash as Black people or acknowledging them for the creation. For example, Black people are known to have thicker, curlier hair. Though some choose to straighten it, others decide to wear it in its natural state or use protective styles like box braids or locks to further manage their natural hair. Some workplaces find these protective styles as unprofessional. So when a white person tries to copy ethnic hair styles to join a trend without proper education, it is seen as disrespectful to the Black community. While white people have the opportunity to take the hair styles out and still fit the normalized professional criteria, Black people have to find another hair style. This also pertains to the usage of
African American Vernacular English (AAVE) online. AAVE is a type of slang that was made up and exclusively used by African Americans until it was adapted by pop culture. Though non-Black persons using AAVE is not appropriation in itself, it is popularly used on social media platforms where people often forget that its roots are from urban African American culture. In addition, it is also not uncommon to see non-Black people on such media platforms pairing AAVE with the aforementioned “blaccent” for comedic purposes. Not only is that appropriation, but it is also disrespectful. Whether the mockery was intentional or not, building a persona that is often negatively associated with Black people just to get a cheap laugh is unnecessary. One’s culture is not a trend that you can adapt when you want to. My culture should not be plastered and celebrated by non-Black people but dismissed when some one from the actual culture does it.
Read more on theslateonline.com
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Commentary: DNC
virtually engages voters
Adam Friscia Staff Columnist
Without any pomp and circumstance, the Democratic National Convention was virtually broadcast last week to a national audience. Although lacking the grandeur of a traditional assembly, the Democrats produced an innovative and engaging program. Throughout its four day showcase, the Democratic Party presented a multicultural platform that celebrated the diversity of its voting base. With an emphasis on social justice and racial equality, constituents shared their stories of tragedy and triumph. As the Democrats called for unity, they focused heavily on persuading women, Latinos and African-American voters to join their cause. To leverage their political power, the convention featured speeches by former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, former presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and former first lady Michelle Obama. Party favorites including Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg and Andrew Cuomo also appeared. But despite an array of democratic celebrities, not everyone was pleased with the choice of speakers. In an effort to expand their coalition, prominent Republicans
former Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former secretary of state Colin Powell were given speaking roles at the expense of the Democratic party’s more progressive members. In particular, many were irked at the brief 60-second time slot allocated to one of their most high-profile leaders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. However, the convention was not intended to highlight any of the aforementioned individuals. It was a launching pad for the presidential campaign of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. When Harris accepted her party’s nomination for vice president, she did so as the first woman of color to anchor a presidential ticket. In her acceptance speech, Harris blasted President Donald Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and blamed his “failure of leadership” for costing “lives and livelihoods.” The proceedings culminated with Joe Biden’s acceptance of the Democratic presidential nomination. Although expectations for his speech were low, Biden delivered a powerful performance. He rebuked Trump’s presidency and criticized his handling of the country. “Our current president has failed in his most basic duty to this nation,” Biden said. His attacks notwithstanding, Biden offered a positive outlook. “Love is more powerful than hate. Hope is more powerful than fear. Light is more powerful than dark,” Biden said. All eyes now turn to the Republican National Convention which is August 24-27. Although the Republican’s presentation may be similar in style, their message promises to be markedly different.
A.C.T. Rally: Call to Solidarity The community will gather together to stand against racism and racial injustice Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m. Hockey Rink and Rec Fields
Commentary: Restorative Justice can be powerful
Stephanie Jirard
SU Chief Diversity Officer
I eat a steady diet of reality crime shows, cultivated by an early interest in forensics. I recently caught the episode “The Last Dance” of the show “The Perfect Murder.” In the show’s last frame, Karen Silas tells of meeting in prison her daughter’s killer where he apologized. Silas said the expression of remorse “was so freeing.” Without giving the meeting a name, Silas had engaged in restorative justice. Restorative justice is a form of punishment where an offender accepts responsibility and takes the chance to repair the hurt the offender caused. In our latest town hall against racism on Satur-
day, Aug. 22, many called for harsh punishment (suspension, expulsion even criminal charges) for those found culpable for a reported n-word written on a residence hall white board. As a former prosecutor, I share in the call for clear and swift retribution. I also, however, pledge fidelity to our race-based incident protocol which provides for restorative justice in principle number three to “Educate the offender and repair the harm when possible.” Let me be clear, I am not saying people who engage in race-based hate do not deserve to be banished from the community. I am saying that our protocol reflects tenets of American justice. When we talk of living out our shared Ship values, those are not just empty words. We, at our core, believe in the power of education as the agent for change in individuals and the world. We choose to act with civility and respect for each other. In determining justice, we should not separate our value system from other societal challenges we confront. Privacy laws dictate secrecy in resolving code of conduct violations. Let us ask whether having a chance to confront the offender and hear their voice in repairing harm, listening to the community’s pain, accepting training on the issue of race and discrimination, may be of equal value to anonymous banishment? As Karen Silas discovered, the exchange with a remorseful offender may be a vehicle to greater freedom from the hurt caused.
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
C1
Ship Life
SU cheer team fights to gain respect and status in the athletic department Chaela Williams
Asst. Ship Life Editor
The Shippensburg University cheerleading team spread Raider spirit with energetic chants and performances. Yet team members feel their positive energy is tested from battling stereotypes and lack of recognition. Before COVID-19, the SU cheer team would practice for game days three times a week to perfect their performances. Members of the team are expected to have skills in stunting and tumbling. Tumbling is the advanced gymnastic side of cheerleading where members use their bodies to flip and roll. SU cheer member Danielle Diehl wants people to understand that cheerleading is more than putting on a smile and shaking pompoms. She expresses that college stunt-
ing takes massive amount of skills, muscle and body control. “College and high school [cheer] is completely different,” Diehl said. “[Members] must have body control. If they don’t people can end up getting hurt.” The cheerleading team perform for both football and basketball seasons. With comparing the two, the team prefers football season due to the electrifying atmosphere of dancing to the SU marching band and having more fans attending games. Even though the squad enjoys cheering and supporting sport teams, they wish to branch off and become a competition team. Competing is the main goal for the SU cheer team. Last year, the team participated in an exhibition at Waynesboro High School to get its name out there. But due to lack of funds and con-
Photo courtesy of Jon Bergmueller
The SU cheer team hopes it can represent the university at a national cheerleading competition. Members feel the team is underrepresented in the sports department. sideration from university officials, Diehl says have stalled the team’s process of achieving their goal. The team tried to raise
money last year with an event called “Pie a Cheerleader” to fund their compettion dreams. According to Diehl, the team has tried
Question of the Week: What is your favorite music album?
Bergslyne Thomas, junior “Coldplay’s ‘A Head Full of Dreams’ album because it is out of this world and magical.”
other fundraising events but with the amount they made it is not enough. Read the full story at theslateonline.com.
ShipRec strives to support students
Morgan Barr
Asst. Ship Life Editor
This semester is bringing change to Shippensburg University’s campus due to COVID-19, but luckily the ShipRec will be bringing a sense of normalcy to students this fall. The university has allowed the ShipRec to reopen for student use this semester for personal and group fitness activities. ShipRec will be taking precautions to ensure safety for those who use its facilities. “Students can expect to see a lot of changes in the Rec this semester to comply with guidelines and promote safety,” said senior Courtney Lesik, a ShipRec employee. “We have made the necessary changes so that social distancing is possible throughout the building as well as requiring temperature checks upon arrival.” In addition to distancing
and temperature checks, there is now one entrance and exit to the building. Students and staff will be required to wear masks throughout the building with the exception of some cardio machines that have plexiglass shields for protection. ShipRec staff will be doing their part to help keep the ShipRec a safe place as well. “Rec employees will be wearing masks at all times and sanitizing commonly touched surfaces and equipment more often throughout the day,” Lesik said. There will also be more ShipRec staff members placed throughout the building to make sure cleaning is being completed and that students are following the new policies. In order for the ShipRec to stay open, following the new policies is a must, according to Lesik. “Unfortunately, we
have already seen some defiance regarding mask wearing, but staff members are knowledgeable on how to approach these situations to make sure everyone can feel safe and comfortable at the Rec,” she said. Students who choose to not wear a mask will be asked to put one on the first time. After a second offense, the student will be given a warning and if they choose to continue to disobey the mask policy, may be asked to leave immediately, according to Lesik. As for group fitness, the ShipRec will still be offering fitness classes such as yoga and cardio kickboxing. Students can choose to participate in outdoor classes, or join the classes via zoom. The ShipRec’s social media keeps students up to date on what classes will be offered and when.
Recipe of the Week: Shrimp Tacos
Cindy Dam, junior “ ‘How I’m Feeling’ album by Lauv features several personalities of the singer and all the songs depicts his emotions which is amazing.”
Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate
Bria Flynn, Senior “ ‘Kirk’ by DaBaby. I love his energy. He really gives me positive vibes.”
Students must keep their masks on while exercising in order to use equipment and other facilities at ShipRec.
APB hosts outdoor movie night
Ingredients: 1 bag of extra small shrimp 1 package of low-carb tortillas 1 avocado 1 tomato Fresh spinach leaves 1 bag Taco blend shredded cheese 1 bag SteamFresh rice Taco seasoning packet Olive oil 1 lime INSTRUCTIONS 1. Coat a pan or electric grill with olive or vegetable oil. 2. Set the grill or burner on medium heat 3. Add in the shrimp, make sure it has a solid coating of oil then add in the taco seasoning. 4. While the shrimp is cooking, cut up the tomato, avocado and lime. Microwave the rice as well. 5. Toast the tortillas in a toaster oven or on the stove for 4 minutes. 6. After the shrimp is finished cooking, squeeze ¼ of the lime over the shrimp. 7. Put the tortilla in a bowl, add rice, shrimp and other toppings. Enjoy! Recipe and photo by Morgan Barr
Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate
Shippensburg University’s Activites Program Board hosted its first outdoor movie screening of the semester with Disney Pixar’s “Onward.”
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Tuesday, August 25, 2020
A&E
Archive photo/The Slate
Members of Act V Productions, one of the musical companies at Shippensburg University, perform a scene from “Clue” during spring semester 2018.
Commentary: Musical recommendations for ‘Hamilton’ fans seeking new musicals Bailey Cassada Guest Contributor
While “Hamilton” brought many tears to people’s eyes, including mine, it is not the only musical people should watch. For anyone interested in stepping into the world of musicals, check out these four musicals to get you started. “In the Heights,” With music and lyrics written by and starring Lin-Manuel Miranda. If the name sounds familiar it is because Miranda also wrote “Hamilton.” This musical is a story about a Latino community in Washington Heights, New York City. Since Miranda wrote the musical score, its style is similar to “Hamilton.” This musical offers a look into the culture of The Heights through the music. A movie adaptation is scheduled to hit theaters in 2021 starring Anthony Ramos, who played John
Laurens and Philip Hamilton in “Hamilton.” “SIX” King Henry VIII had six wives, but what do you know about them? Refusing to be known as just a number, the six ex-wives join together to create a girl band. This show is in the style of a pop concert, with songs highlighting each wife and how their relationship with the king ended. It is yet another great way to dive into the musical genre. “Mamma Mia!” After reading her mother’s diary, a bride-to-be sends out wedding invitations to three men from her mother’s past, in hopes that her real father will walk her down the aisle. The show, which features hit songs written by ABBA, has hit the big screen twice, with a movie adaptation in 2008 and sequel in 2018, “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.” “Hairspray” In 1960s Baltimore, Maryland, a plus-sized teenager dreams of being a dancer on
“The Corny Collins Show.” After she is cast, she strives toward integrating the show. It is an upbeat musical that brings light to issues including racism and body image. There are movie adaptations, with the two most recent being “Hairspray” and “Hairspray Live!” While it is unclear when Broadway will open its doors again to the public, actors and actresses are still practicing for when it is time to get back into the spotlight. They will just have to “Wait For It.” Popular Broadway Shows 1. “To Kill a Mockingbird” 2. “Hamilton” 3. “Wicked” 4. “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” 5. “The Phantom of the Opera”
Review: ‘Geography’ brings listeners on a trip around the world from their home Ryan Cleary
Asst. A&E Editor
As a musician, I am open and willing to listen to any type of music. During the summer, with my enormous amounts of free time, I found myself searching for new artists to listen to every week. The album “Geography” by Tom Misch combines numerous musical genres into one album. The album has 13 tracks. According to Apple Music, Misch is a London-based producer, singer and songwriter who blends hip-hop-inspired beats with smoothly soulful vocals and guitar. Misch’s musical background includes playing the violin as a child. Throughout his years in school, Misch listened to rock n’ roll until he was introduced to hip-hop music. The album “Geography” shows Misch’s style of blending numerous styles of music to create a masterpiece. While listening to this album, I found three songs that really demonstrates his diversity of giving the love to every genre. The album starts off with the song “Before Paris” which opens up with a singular person (most likely Misch himself) explaining how his philosophy is to be a musician because you love playing music, and not for the money. After Misch finishes his dialogue, the drums and bass come in playing a solid pocket, which is a musician term that means a beat that is together. The genre Misch is trying to portray to his listeners in this track is a funk style when people listen to this song. In my opinion, when the drums and bass come in, listeners should be bopping their heads back and forth. Later on, in the album, the song “Movie” produces a ballad style. The time signature, which is determining how many beats are in a musical measure, is in 3/4 time. This gives the listeners’ ears a break from the three other songs they heard,
which were considered to be loud and inyour-face. Throughout the first three songs, Misch incorporates hip-hop into his music, ranging from 30 seconds to half of the song. Since Misch found a liking for hip-hop, it makes sense that he would try and incorporate it into his music. Finally, toward the end of the album, the song “Water Baby,” featuring Loyle Carner, introduces the listener to a jazzier style of music. The song features a horn section that is put through special effects to make it more modern. While listeners are enjoying the song, it is hard not to realize how the flow of the song is natural. It is not forced to distract the listeners. It helps project the listeners toward the lyrics. According to Apple Music, “Geography” is considered to be an alternative album. Yet, I’d argue it is more of a funk or world album. The amount of bass and drum combo that is present during the album makes listeners enjoy it even more. “Geography” is avaliable on all streaming devices and apps. Apple Music is $5 for college students. Students must verify their academic email to receive the discount.
Billboard Top 10 1. WAP -Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion
6. Roses - SAINt JHN
2. Rockstar - DaBaby feat. Bobby Ricch
7. Savage Love (Laxed- Siren Beat) -Jawsh 685
3. Blinding Lights - The Weeknd
8. Smile - Juice WRLD & The Weeknd
4. Whats Poppin -Jack Harlow feat. DaBaby
9. Go Crazy - Chris Brown & Young Thug
5. Watermelon Sugar - Harry Styles
10. Before You Go - Lewis Capaldi
Editor’s Corner What has the assistant A&E editor Ryan been listening to the past week?
Songs 1. Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked
Artists Cage the Elephant
2. Before Paris
Tom Misch
3. Bluebird feat. Chris Thile
Cory Wong
4. Kenni and the Jets 5. Thinking About You 6. What About Me?
The Fearless Flyers Cody Fry Snarky Puppy
Artists and Musicians: How has COVID-19 impacted you? Image courtesy of Instagram @tommisch
Misch holds his new album “What Kinda Music,” which is available on all streaming platforms.
Email slateae@gmail.com for a chance to be featured in the Arts and Entertainment section!
E1
Baseball, E1
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Sports
Football, E1
Hope loses second professional year Christian Eby
Asst. Sports Editor
Photo courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.
Former Shippensburg pitcher Michael Hope lost his second professional year.
Michael Hope SU Career Stats - Hope notched 144.2 innings pitched over 69 appearances with 13 saves and 166 strikeouts. - Hope owns a 3.67 ERA over his four-year tenure that is backed by an impressive six complete games. - Hope’s 6-4 record, 3.86 ERA and two shutouts in his 2019 campaign earned him All-PSAC East Second Team honors.
After waiting months to hear the fate of his second season in professional baseball, former Shippensburg University pitcher Michael Hope learned that he would not be taking the mound this season due to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, native was looking to repeat his success after a noteworthy rookie season with the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks in the American Association of Independent Baseball. The SU alumnus dominated out of the bullpen in his rookie campaign and even launched a home run in one of his seven at-bats. Hope finished the season with a 3.47 ERA over 31 appearances, going 8-0 and compiling 46 strikeouts. He also walked 25 batters and added a save to his season stat line. On Jan. 15, Hope was dealt to the Sussex County Miners of the Frontier League in a three-for-one trade. The transaction brought him to Augusta, New Jersey, only four hours away from home. The move would allow family and friends to see him play in-person more often. Before that, they traveled halfway across the country to Fargo, North Dakota, where the Redhawks play. “I loved my time in Fargo and made lots of lifelong friends there,” Hope said. “However, it was a hike for my family and friends and now with being so much closer to home, I was really looking forward to being in a new atmosphere and getting the chance to see my family more often.” In a June 24 press re-
lease, the Frontier League announced the suspension of the 2020 championship season due to ongoing gathering and travel restrictions. However, all teams were granted the permission to pursue baseball and other activities in their facilities if state and local regulations allowed, according to the release. While Hope understood the league’s reasoning to suspend the 2020 season, he said it was tough to hear the decision. “I had been in contact with my coaches almost every day up until then and had been given the impression that there was a good chance our baseball season would happen,” Hope said. “So, when I was given the news, I was somewhat shocked.” Hope added if the season did occur, he was not fearful of contracting the virus. However, he knew that it would have required him to be away from home for a few months. “While I’m disappointed that I’m not playing baseball, I knew a lot of complications could’ve happened if we did have a season,” he said. Despite the situation, his desire to be back playing organized baseball prevailed. Hope found his way onto the diamond. Hope and former SU teammate Tommy Baggett have been playing recreational baseball with other local players in the Williamsport, Pennsylvania, area. While he is not seeing the same level of competition as he does in professional ball, Hope said it has still given him the chance to stay loose and continue to work on his craft. Additionally, Hope said he has maintained a pitch-
ing program and also worked with current Raider pitcher, Kyle Lysy, over the past couple months. “Working with Kyle was awesome, and it allowed both of us to continue to grow our games and work on our mechanics,” he said. Officials recently granted Frontier League teams permission to play baseball, within reason. The Sussex County Miners announced on July 18, in a press release, that they would be returning to the field on July 23. The Miners and five other New Jersey and New York teams will make-up the All-American Baseball Challenge. The recreational league consists of minor league and collegiate baseball players in addition to players who are on the current rosters. Hope said he decided not to participate in the league. “While I would’ve loved to get out there and play, it simply was not possible,” he said. “I could not find housing in the area and it was too long of a drive to come up and back between here and New Jersey.” On the bright side, Hope said he will continue to perfect his craft and prepare for next season. He added if an opportunity to play in a local league arose, he would jump on the chance immediately. “Even though a lot of negativity has come out of this pandemic, the best way to go about it is look at the positives,” Hope said. “I may not be pitching this year, but I can take this as an opportunity to work on my game and come out better than ever next season.”
Mussina reflects on postponed season
Photo courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.
Quarterback Brycen Mussina is hoping to lead his team and improve on his sophomore season this spring. Christian Eby
Asst. Sports Editor
If this was a normal season, Shippensburg University quarterback Brycen Mussina would only be weeks away from his third season as the Raiders’ signal caller. Instead, the Montoursville, Pennsylvania, native now finds himself casually throwing to teammates while wearing a mask rather than launching deep balls down the field during a Raiders’ practice. Mussina is coming off another strong season at the helm of the Raiders’ offense. Despite a 4-7 record, Mussina totaled 2,646 passing yards with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions. While some stats were lower
compared to his first season at SU, Mussina showed great composure in the pocket and cut his interception total by 13. With a lot to prove as a team this year, the Raiders were more than ready for their redemption season. However, with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic surging in March, Mussina and the Raiders lost their spring season. Without any time to prepare as a team, Mussina knew that the fall season may be a challenge. But with the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) suspending all fall sports through Dec. 31, Mussina and the Raiders never got the chance to overcome that challenge. “We have to trust the people who are in charge and while it’s unfortunate, it is what
it is,” Mussina said. “We know it can’t be this way forever, but it just has to be this way for now.” Throughout the summer, Mussina continued to stay as sharp as possible. While he was unable to see many of his teammates in person, the team held numerous Zoom calls, allowing the players to talk football, catch up on life and discuss the current situations they were facing. Without many current teammates in his area, Mussina said it gave him the opportunity to workout and throw with high school teammates. However, Mussina said he is grateful to be back on campus working with his fellow Raiders. “It’s great being back on campus now since so many more guys are available for work-
outs and you get to meet the new freshmen,” he said. “Before now, everyone was kind of scrambling to find guys to workout with at home and since we’re all back together, it makes it so much easier.” Even with his third season on hold, Mussina is finding positives out of the state of uncertainty in which he is in currently. He realizes this will give players more time to work on their craft and get stronger. Additionally, players who are on the bubble of a starting position now have more time to take a run at the player who owns the No. 1 spot on the depth chart. In Mussina’s case, he has been working on a handful of mechanics since the end of last season. His two primary areas of improvement are his mobility and footwork. The starting quarterback also wants to improve on his in-game awareness and vocal leadership. “I’d like to be the most well-rounded quarterback I’m capable of being,” Mussina said in an interview back in June. “Team goals are made possible when personal goals are met. So, I’m ready for whenever we take the field again.” In the end, Mussina’s main goal is to capitalize on all this extra time. He knows all other teams in the PSAC are in the same boat and are hungrier than ever to get back out on the field. “We have to use this time wisely and continue to get better,” he said. “While there are a lot of negatives to all of this, it gives our new guys more time instead of one month before the season starts, and everyone else can use this to get bigger and gain more experience. There’s always room for improvement.” The PSAC is eyeing a return to the field in the spring. All Mussina and the Raiders can do now is wait.
