The Slate 9-1-20

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Surveillance invades privacy, B1

Greek life adapts to pandemic, C1

Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ star dies, D1

SU graduate nominated for award, E1

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Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Reporting truth. Serving our community.

Volume 64 No. 3

SGA holds debates for senator seats Blake Garlock Staff Writer

Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate

A.C.T. Committee members who organized the rally kneel in front of a “Black Lives Matter” banner.

A.C.T. rallies community Noel Miller News Editor

Students, faculty, administrators and staff gathered Thursday at the Hockey Rink and Rec Fields for the “A.C.T. Call to Solidarity Rally.” The Ask. Communicate. Teach Tolerance. Committee has an annual rally every September; however, the focus of this one was in response to the racial slur incident in Seavers Hall two weekends ago. A.C.T. Committee members organized the rally to unite all people who believe that racial injustice should not be tolerated at Shippensburg University. Attendees stood in solidarity to bring people from all parts of the university together. Dark clouds filled the skyline behind the stage and thunder distantly rumbled as Ramses Ovalles, an A.C.T. member, began the event. He welcomed the crowd and explained how important it is that the community come together to say that SU will

not tolerate racism. Several other members of the A.C.T. committee stood in front of the stage wearing shirts and masks that read “Just Act.” Ovalles mentioned the names of some of the recent victims of police brutality including Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, and told attendees they would repeatedly hear these names as society had failed them. Following his address, the other A.C.T. members including Abdulomar Tucker, Brenda Aristy, Kate Hargrove, Zaire Avant, Roneka Jones, Jessica Brown, Quiamia Wells and Leah Mottershead gave short speeches about why they came. SU President Laurie Carter took the stage and began by thanking A.C.T. for organizing the rally. “Meaningful change will come on our campus by acts of leadership at all levels” Carter said. Carter then shared her own story as the mother of a Black son. See “ACT,” A2

The Student Government Association (SGA) Senate candidates delivered their campaign speeches via Zoom Thursday. There are five students campaigning for four senate seats. Voting for the Senate race began Monday and ends Thursday at 4 p.m. Lucas Everidge, SGA class of 2021 senator and elections committee chair, moderated the debate and introduced the candidates campaigning for the first seat — senator for non-traditional students. “Essentially, non-traditional students have a little more on their plates,” Everidge said. “Maybe they’re parents or they started college late. The non-traditional student senator advocates for those students.” Imani Cameron, a 23-yearold junior with a three-yearold daughter, is campaigning for the non-traditional stu-

dent senator seat. “When I arrived at Shippensburg, I was amazed at the diversity on campus,” Cameron said. “I wanted to be a part of the diversity, and that’s why I’m running for non-traditional student senator.” If elected, Cameron said she will advocate for more storage locations for non-traditional students to keep supplies. She also plans to work to provide better child care opportunities for non-traditional students. “I would like to have lockers in the [Ceddia Union Building] CUB and other locations,” Cameron said. “This would prevent commuters and non-traditional students from returning to their cars between classes.” Cameron said she will also propose a cost-effective child care program for non-traditional students.

Senator Candidates

Imani Cameron Non-traditional student

Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate

Ramses Ovalles welcomes attendees with a short message about the importance of racial solidarity.

Kevin DelaCruz Class of 2022

Borough to vote on ordinance prohibiting discrimination, including against LGBTQ+ Hannah Pollock Editor-in-Chief

The Shippensburg Borough Council will vote on an anti-discrimination ordinance impacting many groups including the LGBTQ+ community during its Tuesday night meeting. The “Shippensburg Borough Anti-Discrimination Ordinance,” Ordinance No. 20-947 will prohibit discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations or educational institutional access, according to the document. The ordinance protects community members on the basis of race, color, familial status, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, handicap or disability, or the use of a guide animal. Discriminatory acts include any unlawful act noted in the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. “The fact that the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act would not define a practice as unlawful when that practice is taken on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, genetic information, or marital status shall not exempt such practice from being considered a discriminatory act under this ordinance,” the or-

See “SGA,” A2

dinance reads. There are no overarching laws that prevent discrimination against sexual orientation, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status and disability. Sexual orientation and gender expression are not included. When state and federal governments fail to extend protections, Shippensburg University psychology professor Connie Bertram said local ordinances fill in the gaps. “If we were to experience denial of housing or service based on being LGBTQ, most of us could not afford to bring a lawsuit against an individual or business and wait for that case to travel through the court system to create a new precedent in civil rights law,” Bertram said. “An ordinance provides a local hearing for complaints and redress. It acknowledges that a municipality might set a higher more inclusive bar for its residents because it wants to promote a broader community and recognizes that unequal treatment harms all residents and visitors.” See “LGBTQ,” A2

Jose Lopez Class of 2024

Skylar Walder Female Athletics


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