The Slate 2-28-12

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Volume 64 No. 16

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February 28, 2012

Welcome to

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NEWS

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What’s Inside...

The Slate Celebrating 55 years as Shippensburg University’s student-run campus newspaper.

News

Chelsea Wehking / Editor-in-Chief Cara Shumaker / Managing Editor

The 4-1-1 on campus parking decals, A3

LIVE NEWS BROADCASTS THURSDAYS AT 7 P.M.

Live Sports Broadcasts during home Football and Basketball games For more information contact

Opinion

SUTV@ship.edu

A new sex to face anorexia, B1

Come check us out at our information meeting!

Sports

Men’s and women’s indoor track and field team capture PSAC title, E3

When: Wed., March 7 Where: Orndorff Theatre Time: 9:30 p.m.

TODAY IN HISTORY 1953: James D. Watson and Frances H.C. Crick announced that they discovered the chemical structure of DNA. 1983: The final episode of M*A*S*H aired.

1861: Congress created the Colorado Territory.

A&E

Front cover by Jenn Shimandle

Ship Life Danielle Halteman / Editor Natalie Schwind / Asst. Editor A&E Laura Hoffstetter / Editor Sarah Eyd / Asst. Editor

Sports Nick Sentman / Sports Editor Samuel Stewart / Asst. Editor

PR & Circulation Ashley Jones / Director Christina Pooler / Asst. Director Meaghan Ellis / Asst. Director Copy Lauren Cappuccio / Editor Lauren Miscavage / Asst. Editor Advertising Colleen Mee / Director

Web Kevin Battersby / Director Simon Neubauer / Asst. Director Adviser Dr. Michael W. Drager Contact Us

1993: Agents raided the Branch Davidian cult compound in Waco, Texas. The agents were trying to arrest the leader, David Koresh, on information that the religious sect was stockpiling weapons. A nearly twomonth standoff ensued after the unsuccessful raid.

Josh Vietti impresses SU on violin, D1

Opinion Katrina Panasiuk / Editor Samantha Noviello / Asst. Editor

Photography Leslie Douglas / Editor Jenn Shimandle / Asst. Editor

Ship Life

Ship Idols sing their favorite theme songs, C1

News Jessica Acheson / Editor Colleen Bauer / Asst. Editor

By email: slate.ship@gmail.com By mail: The Slate Shippensburg University CUB Box 106 1871 Old Main Drive Shippensburg, PA 17257

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Weather Forecast

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Commuters struggle to keep money in their pockets Sarah Smith

Staff Writer Shippensburg University teaches about 8,300 students. Of these students, more than 3,600 students requested commuter stickers between June 2010 and June 2011. (The number of decals includes repeats given to the same commuter due to loss, theft or a change in vehicle.)

But commuters may face differing struggles than those who live on campus.

Parking tickets and the cost of decals are common fees for students.

For students who have decided to commute, based on budgets, a homebody personality or being a mother of young children, they may pay as much as students who pay room and board each semester.

Parking decals At the beginning of each school year, commuters and students with cars on campus must pay $65 to obtain a parking decal.

The decal must be affixed to the right side of the vehicle’s bumper or attached onto the license plate. The decal, which changes color each year, is labeled with

the identity of the student: resident, commuter or storage parking only.

If additional decals are purchased, for either a second vehicle on campus or theft or loss of the first decal, they must be purchased for $10.

Faculty and staff are also required to have a parking decal, but receive it for $1 each school year.

The $65 fee goes to the Student Association budget, which is used for multiple clubs on campus.

Each club must submit a budget request form, which is submitted to the Senate, and it is either approved or dismissed by the Shippensburg University Budget and Finance Committee, said Kayla Nace, chairperson of the Campus Safety Committee.

The budget for each club differs as each club intends to use the money in different ways.

Ticket horrors After paying $65 for a parking decal, an added parking ticket expense may empty a pocket.

A general parking violation can cost up to $50, according to the Department of Public Safety’s website.

From June 2010 to June

2011, 7,326 parking tickets were issued, said Police Chief Cytha Grissom. The number of tickets and the reason behind them varies each year, she said.

“Many of them are issued because vehicles failed to display any kind of parking decal or the vehicle was parked in an area which did not match the area designated on the parking decal,” Grissom said.

Megan Mowen, 22 of Clear Spring, Md., received one of the 7,000 tickets issued that year.

“I received a $10 ticket my second week at SU. I had parked in the back lot.

Not knowing I was breaking a rule, I pulled through into a parking spot, so my car’s nose was facing directly into the aisle,” Mowen said.

Mowen said she pulled through in order to avoid backing out with low visibility.

“I got back to my car and found a ticket on my window saying that I was being charged for ‘pulling through,’” she said.

Patrick Cole, 20, of Waynesboro, Pa., said he received a $30 ticket after neglecting to buy a parking decal. He finally bought a decal after four weeks of

classes beginning. “I should have just bought the permit earlier,” Cole said.

Molly Sanders experienced a grueling walk to campus after having surgery on both of her shins.

After going to the campus police station to get a temporary handicap-parking pass, with doctor’s note in hand, Sanders was denied on the reasoning that it did not specifically say she needed a handicap pass.

Sanders disregarded the rule and parked in a handi-

cap pass for less than 10 on campus is to allow easy minutes to later find a $50 visibility for university poticket on her car. lice.

The parking lots are Keep your cash labeled and rules are exGrissom advises stu- plained in pamphlets given dents to park in areas des- out when purchasing a ignated for them, be it com- parking decal. muter or student lots. Most Hanging passes are not of the lots are monitored by given to students because it cameras and patrolled and is difficult to control them. regulated by university po“They can be passed lice officers, she said. around from vehicle to veAlso, be aware of the hicle. They are also much rules. more easily misplaced or The reason for the no lost entirely,” Grissom said. pull-through rule in all lots

tions on The Slate changing annually or biannually, mostly due to graduations, it proved to be very difficult to find someone qualified.

With this CMS program, students need to have little to no knowledge of HTML. The process for uploading content is simple and quick, giving us endless options for hiring staff members.

In conjunction with this, the simplicity of uploading means we can do more, show more and say more.

This means the website will have more content updated on a regular basis, as well as additional features

that will make theslateonline.com stand out.

Readers can share articles onto their Facebooks, comment on the articles and stay updated with our Twitter feed directly on the homepage. Viewers can even keep updated with the events on campus or in the community with our events calendar.

Readers can even view the website not only one their computer, but also on their smartphones or tablets.

Included with articles will be videos, slideshow and even sound clips from

performing bands and other important events. With the ability to create photo galleries, more photographers’ pictures can be published and viewed.

Writers have the opportunity to maintain their own blogs, and write about virtually any topic they see fit. Not only will writers have blogs, but staff members will as well. The section editors will each be responsible for updating their blog at least once a week. Writers will have the same responsibility.

If anybody wants to see what the print version of

The Slate looks like for a particular week, there is a feature that allows people to page through The Slate as if they were sitting down looking at the hard copy.

We are very proud of our staff for working so hard over this year to finally make this dream a reality.

We have spent a lot of time working hard, and there is still a lot of work ahead of us, but we have faith that our staff will pull through beyond our expectations.

We cannot thank the staff enough for everything they have done, and will do with this online publication.

Photo by Alexa Bryant

At the beginning of each school year, parking decals must be purchased in order to legally park on campus.

Letter from the Editors regarding new Slate website

Dear Slate Readers,

Throughout this academic year, The Slate Executive Board has been working with Detroit Softworks, a company that hosts a content management system (CMS). This company specializes in online college and university publications.

Before this CMS program, theslateonline.com was based in HTML code.

Students needed to have a thorough knowledge of HTML in order to consistently upload the content.

Unfortunately, with posi-

We also want to thank the readers who have supported The Slate through this transition period, and we guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Good things take time and, truly, this was worth the wait. So, we are very pleased to present to you the new theslateonline. com.

Thank you, Chelsea Wehking Editor-in-Chief Cara Shumaker Managing Editor

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SU students take part in Mock Trial Competition Stephanie Miller Staff Writer

Shippensburg University students put their criminal justice knowledge to the test on Feb. 11 and 12 at the University of Pittsburgh for a Mock Trial Competition.

Mock Trial takes place all across the nation and gives students the opportunity to act as lawyers and witnesses in order to compete with other schools.

The case that was presented to the students this year involved a 21st birthday celebration by Vanessa Sullivan and her two friends.

Sullivan is the daughter of a prominent prosecutor in the town of Midland.

After several hours of celebrating, Sullivan got in a car with her two friends.

The driver lost control of the car, resulting in Sullivan’s death.

Stephanie Jirard introduced SU students to the Mock Trial Competition when she joined the faculty and students have been competing in the event since 2005.

Each participant in the competition gets the same case and the same evidence and has to use their knowledge of the criminal justice system and critical thinking skills in order to beat his or her opponent.

Virtually all of the SU team that competed this year consisted of students who had competed in Mock

Trial last year. There were two new students: Lauren Hauck and Josh Silbersack.

“I learned so much from it. Our adviser, Dr. Jirard, was amazing and let us have fun with it while also making it a learning experience. I would recommend taking part in Mock Trial to any student who has an interest in law,” Hauck said.

The SU students won their case against Kent State University of Ohio but lost to Allegheny College and William & Jefferson College.

Jirard said, “Despite our losses, our team delivered outstanding performances and I am very proud of all they have accomplished.”

Congressional candidates to visit SU for first College Democrats Celebration Night

Bill Vinsko and Gene Stilp, who are both running in the Democratic primary for Congress to represent the newly drawn 11th district, are among several speakers slated for the Shippensburg University College Democrats first Annual Celebration Night.

The event is scheduled for Friday, March 2, in the Banquet Room of Knute’s Pub & Grill at 15 W. King St. in Shippensburg. Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. and the program will follow.

This is the first time Shippensburg College Democrats have held a fundraiser like this, and have a goal of selling at least 45 tickets.

In addition to Vinsko and Stilp, Susan Spicka, who is a candidate for Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 89th District, will be speaking.

Other speakers include

Cumberland County Commissioner Jim Hertzler, Cumberland County Democratic Committee Chairman Michael Fedor, Dickinson College Democrats President Jacob Sternberger and Franklin County Democratic Chairman Paul Politis.

Officers of the Shippensburg College Democrats also will provide remarks throughout the event.

The fundraiser is being held to support sending five SU students to the College Democrats of America National Conference in Chicago.

The conference will include trainings, as well as a visit from Obama 2012 Campaign Manager Jim Messina and Democratic National Committee Secretary Alice Germond.

“This is a huge opportunity for Shippensburg University to be represented at the national level in the

Democratic Party, and we know we will walk away learning a lot from this conference,” said Charles Black, President of Shippensburg College Democrats.

Tickets for the Celebration Night may be purchased by emailing CollegeDems@ship.edu or calling 570-337-2417.

The tickets are $20 if reserved in advance, and all proceeds go to Shippensburg College Democrats.

Shippensburg College Democrats is a member of the Pennsylvania Federation of College Democrats, and College Democrats of America.

-Courtesy of Shippensburg College Democrats

Photo by Stephanie Jirard

SU students demonstrate their knowledge and critical thinking skills at the Mock Trial Competition held at the University of Pittsburgh.

Q&A on Financial Aid

This is a weekly column that will address Financial Aid questions. If you have a question you would like answered, please email your question to finaid@ship.edu with the subject line of “SLATE QUESTION”. If your question is chosen, it will be featured in that week’s publication. Please note that all questions will be answered, but only some will appear in the paper.

Q: I filed a FAFSA when I first started school. Do I have to fill out a FAFSA every year?

A: Yes. Each year you must file a FAFSA in order to qualify for federal aid funds which can include grants and loans. You may now file the 2012/13 FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov in order to qualify for aid in the Fall 2012 and Spring 2013. To meet state grant deadlines, be sure to file before May 1.

Q: Can I get aid for summer?

A: It depends. If you used the maximum aid allowed for the fall and spring terms, there is none left for the summer term. If you did not use all of your funding or you have an alternative loan or a Parent PLUS loan, you may potentially increase those fund sources in order to get funding for summer sessions. Please call the financial aid office to inquire of your account specifically.

Q: My parents are divorced. Which parent do I file the FAFSA with?

A: The FAFSA requires you to file the FAFSA with the parent with whom you lived the most in the prior 12 months. If you lived with neither parent, it is the parent who provided the most support to you in the prior year. If you do not live with either parent and neither provides support to you, it will be the parent with whom you lived or were supported by most recently. If that parent is remarried, you must include the step-parent information on the FAFSA. Q: The FAFSA asks for my parent’s “current” marital status as of today. My mom and dad are divorced and my mother is now remarried.

Do I list my parents as divorced since my biological parents are?

A: No. This question is regarding the parent you are filing the FAFSA under.

If your mother and father are divorced, but you live with mom and stepdad, then you will list mom as “married” to stepdad and include both mom and stepdad’s income on the FAFSA.

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New social networking site APSCUF president’s letter on serves as college event and fighting budget cut proposal party search engine Andrea Starliper Staff Writer

Most college students rely on interaction with friends and roommates to keep stress at a distance.

Almost every day they ask: What’s happening on campus this week, or where is the party at tonight?

To answer these questions, students today also depend on their social media network connections.

Sharing and tweeting are now hourly routines for teens and adults alike. In college, it is how a student may contact a member of a group project, introduce themselves to someone for the first time, or more importantly, how they converse with friends and followers about hot topics or special events on and off campus.

However, popular sites such as Facebook only allow members to attend or respond to events that are posted by their subscribed friends.

This could be a problem for someone who has a limited amount of proactive friends and continually wants to know when and where events are happening on campus.

A new website created last year could help someone do just that.

Qwicklr.com, brought to the public’s attention by a Virginia college student, is a new social networking website that serves as an online bulletin board for college occasions.

With Qwicklr, members can both search for and create events.

In a press release from November 2011, Qwicklr creators argued that sometimes school organizations have a difficult time

Photo courtesy of google.com

promoting their events because of students’ busy schedules.

On Qwicklr, and through its recently created smartphone application, students can now search for events just as easy as logging into their other social networking sites.

The site’s design allows students to find details of rush events, parties, sporting events, concerts and any other gatherings available.

Information on a particular event can be searched by a keyword, the type of experience it relates to or by the name of the university that is hosting it. An event can also be searched by past or upcoming events.

So far, colleges listed on Qwicklr are from the neighboring states New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland. Schools already posting on Qwicklr include Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University and Temple University.

Like other social networking websites, Qwicklr members can add friends and create a profile.

The difference in this site is its connection capability with other colleges.

When creating an event on Qwicklr, members have the option to make it public or private.

Private allows members to create an event with their friends, and public al-

lows them to post an event to their school’s page.

For instance, if a Virginia Tech member searches for an event under Shippensburg University, any public occasion that was created by an SU student will appear.

Once attending an event, members can choose to flag the event, comment, or change their present status.

Signing up for Qwicklr is free and will continue to be cost-free according to regional Vice President Preston Davis.

Qwicklr employees believe revenue generation might eventually include the use of targeted ads such as those featured on Twitter and other social media sites.

Although Qwicklr inventors claim that the site makes event searching easy for busy college students, the question of who and what individuals will have enough time to post on Qwicklr comes to mind.

Qwicklr could be a great way for sorority and fraternity leaders to get word out faster of their events. This could also benefit college sports teams that want more fan support at their events.

Will Qwicklr become the great college party search engine that its makers hope it to be?

As many of you know, two weeks ago, Gov. Tom Corbett proposed a budget that included a 20 percent ($82.5 million) cut to the state-owned universities.

This is the second year in a row that Corbett has proposed a budget cutting state schools by double digit numbers.

His actions, and the actions of the legislature, directly affect you and your college experience.

While he has not made his intentions for the state system clear, one can conclude that proposing such severe cuts to the state system is an attempt to dismantle the state-owned universities completely.

We face enormous challenges in the upcoming months fighting Corbett’s recent budget proposal, and, we need your help.

Last year, students and faculty stood unified to make a difference. Last year, the governor proposed a 54 percent cut, and with your help, we were able to lower that to 18 percent.

The 18 percent was still a considerably tough blow to a bare bones state system, as it forced a 7.5 percent increase in tuition.

This does not include the rise of other fees (student activity, transportation, technology, etc.) applied by the 14 state schools to cover budget gaps.

This year’s proposed 20 percent cut will exacerbate the severity of this situation. Tuition and fees will rise once more, even as the governor parades around stating tuition costs should remain low.

As a result, the faculty and students will unite for a series of events to let the governor and legislators know that this cut cannot stand.

Many students, faculty and coaches have already begun showing their displeasure with the governor’s proposal with rallies, letters and postcards.We only hope to enhance this enthusiasm with our series of events.

On March 26 and 27, we will have our lobby day in Harrisburg. You will have the opportunity to meet with your legislator and let him or her know the importance of keeping the cost of your tuition low, by funding the PASSHE system properly.

This activity is a great exercise in using your right to free speech and taking advantage of a democratic society.

On March 28, we will have our rally on the steps of the capitol, taking advantage of our right to assemble and letting our voices be displayed and heard on a wider scale. These two activities combined with

the countless rallies you will participate in on your campuses in the upcoming weeks is a great illustration of our displeasure of this proposal.

In an effort to unify students across the 14 PASSHE schools, we have established a number of social networking hubs to spur interaction.

Our Facebook page ‘PA Students’ Voice’ (facebook. com/pastudentsvoice) already has over 1,000 likes and has become a great source of advertising and informing other sister schools of your university’s activities.

Additionally, we have established a Twitter page (twitter.com/pastudentsvoice) to serve as our best way of getting the students voice out in 140 characters or less.

Lastly, we have recently launched our ‘PA Students Voice’ website (pastudentsvoice.org) a place to take your action even further, informing you of upcoming events and ways to contact legislators in your area.

This is your cause as much as it is faculties’.

Together we can fight this seemingly dismantling of the PASSHE system and let Corbett know to forget the cuts and take us back to the future.

Steve Hicks APSCUF President

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Rollin’, rollin,’ rollin,’: some of the basic rules of the road

Series Note: This is Part 3 of a series of legal information that college students can use. For more information, please visit www.pabar.org/thelawandu.asp.

Attention commuters!

As a college student, you need to know some basic rules before getting behind the wheel. In Pennsylvania, it is illegal to drive without at least the state required minimum car insurance. It is also important that you keep your insurance card on you when driving or face a fine.

It is unlawful for citizens to operate any vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription medication or even over-the-counter medications. You can get a DUI while operating any motor vehicle, horse, bicycle or boat. Pennsylvania

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law grades drunk driving

by Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). For individuals under the age of 21 Pennsylvania has a zero tolerance. Individuals over 21 will be subjected to three grades of BAC high, medium and low.

For a first offense, you could face an ungraded misdemeanor, up to six months probation, a $300 fine, alcohol highway safety school, and/or treatment. For more serious offenses and repeat offenses, the punishment becomes more serious.

In the state of Pennsylvania, each traffic violation adds points to your license. Licenses can be revoked upon reaching 6 points or more. However, 3 points will be removed from your record for each year you go without getting any new points. Some

common moving violations include failure to stop at a red light — 3 points, passing a school bus — 60 day suspension and 5 points, illegal U-turn — 3 points.

Exceeding the speed limit by 31 mph is 5 points and possibly a 15-day suspension.

Before you spend money to modify your ride it is best to consult your local vehicle inspection station. Tinted windows that are too dark, music that is too loud and modifications that reduce the strength, safety or controllability of the vehicle are prohibited.

Disclaimer: This information was compiled and written by Shippensburg University graduate students in the Communication Studies program and is intended for general use and not as a substitute for legal advice.

Police Logs UNDERAGE DRINKING On Saturday, Feb. 18, at approximately 12:08 a.m., an individual came into the university police department to inquire about a friend of his who was at that time in the custody of the university police. The police officer who was working the desk at the time observed that the male was visibly intoxicated. The officer went to the lobby area to speak with the male who initially provided him with his correct name, but gave a false date of birth that would have made him 21 years of age. After being advised by the officer of the consequences of providing false information the male then provided his correct date of birth which showed that he was only 19 years of age. The male was identified as Patrick Michael Wilson, 19, of Shrewsbury, Pa. Wilson admitted to consuming alcohol prior to arriving at the police station, and a portable breath test did show positive results for the presence of alcohol in his system. Wilson was issued a citation for underage drinking.

UNDERAGE DRINKING / PERMITTING VIOLATION OF TITLE On Saturday, Feb. 18, at approximately 1:46 a.m., a university police officer was monitoring traffic on North Prince Street in the area of the steam plant when he observed a vehicle travelling North on Prince Street with the high beams and emergency flashers activated. The officer followed the vehicle on Prince Street where it turned onto Adams Drive nearly striking the curb while making the turn. The officer continued to follow the vehicle on Adams Drive to the area of Naugle Hall where the vehicle stopped and parked across several parking spaces. The officer approached the vehicle and spoke with the driver who was identified as Dyneasha Davis Noville, 18, of Lackhove Hall. While speaking with Noville the officer determined that she was operating with only a learner’s permit. While the officer was speaking with Noville, the backseat passenger in the vehicle lowered the rear window and told the officer that she was teaching Noville to drive. While speaking with the passenger, who was later identified as Carilann M. Parr, 18, of Harley Hall, the officer observed that she had bloodshot and glassy eyes, slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol coming from her person. Also while speaking with the occupants of the vehicle, the officer observed alcohol in plain view inside the vehicle which was then confiscated.

A later consent search of the vehicle also resulted in additional alcohol being confiscated from the vehicle. As a result of the incident, Noville was cited for operating with a learner’s permit, and Parr was charged with underage drinking and permitting a violation of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code. A third passenger in the vehicle was not charged.

THEFT On Monday, Feb. 20, at approximately 11:12 a.m., Robert Lackey of Shippensburg came to the university police department to report that his wallet had been stolen from the Ceddia Union Building. Lackey said that on Sunday, Feb. 12, at approximately 12 p.m., he went to the CUB for lunch and placed his belongings, including his wallet on a table and went to get his food. When Lackey was finished and ready to leave at approximately 1 p.m. he realized that his wallet was missing. The wallet was a brown bi-fold style wallet that contained $10 in cash, his SU ID card, his Pennsylvania ID card and two debit cards. Lackey stated that he had cancelled the debit cards with his banks, and his university ID card was deactivated.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF On Monday, Feb. 20, at approximately 2:09 p.m., the university police were dispatched to the South Storage parking lot for a report of damage to a vehicle parked at that location. Officers met the victim, Leanna Rossi of McLean Hall, at her vehicle in the lot and observed the damage. The vehicle, a Honda CRV, had the passenger side mirror broken off the vehicle and the driver’s side mirror was broken from its mounts but was still hanging from the side of the vehicle. Rossi said she had parked the vehicle in its present location on Friday, Feb. 10, and did not discover the damage until the time of the report. No damage estimate is available at this time, and the incident remains under investigation.

UNDERAGE DRINKING On Friday, Feb. 24, at approximately 11:38 p.m., a university police officer was on routine patrol on Adams Drive near McLean Hall when he observed a male in the area attempting to hitchhike. The officer stopped to see if the male needed any assistance and found that he was covered in mud. The male told the officer that he was attempting to get back to Orange Street in the borough of Shippensburg and had gotten lost in the woods. The male was identified as Cody Benjamin McCollum, 19, of Northumberland, Pa. McCollum had bloodshot and glassy eyes, slurred speech and had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person. McCollum admitted to consuming alcohol and was given a portable breath test which showed positive results for the presence of alcohol in his system. McCollum was issued a citation for underage drinking.

opinion

shipspeaks@gmail.com February 28, 2012

Unfavorable gas prices

pressure other climbing costs Katrina Panasiuk Opinion Editor

With the recent Dow Jones boost, one may assume that our nation’s economic crisis is finally beginning to gain some stability.

Yet, every time we head to the gas pump, we are forced to ask ourselveswhether the stock market surge and minor economic boosts were just teasing our wallets.

Gas prices are increasing a few cents every few days.

This increase will inevitably have a ripple effect on our economy.

Earlier this year, Shell Oil president Jon Hofmeister predicted that we could soon be facing prices at $5 per gallon.

This amount is expected to hit by summertime.

In 2008, gas prices reached the $4 per gallon mark and it is terrifying to think that with these rising costs, just about everything we rely on in everyday life will simultaneously increase.

That is the ripple effect at its best. The price of food will increase.

“The value of oil will increase as many of us will be unable to afford the increased price.”

The amount of diesel it takes to fuel a tractor is unimaginable. Couple tractor fuel with having to haul and distribute these goods all over the country and we will simply be forced to make up the cost elsewhere.

Going to work will be another hassle as your boss will more than likely not be increasing pay rates to

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compensate for the increasing fuel rates.

Travel and vacationing will be much more expensive. The annual vacations and beach getaways so many of us frequent may have to become a memory.

There are always alternatives to dealing with these unfavorable costs that will evidently help with the looming problem that we as a whole country are facing.

“In 2008, gas prices reached the $4 per gallon mark and it is terrifying to think that with these rising costs, just about everything we rely on in everyday life will simultaneously increase.”

One might consider switching to a high mileper-gallon vehicle.

One does not necessarily need to go out and buy a brand new electric powered car, but maybe trade-in or sell the gas guzzler for a more fuel efficient car.

Finding alternate ways to heat homes can help combat climbing fuel prices too.

Instead of heating a home with expensive fuel oil, wood-burning or pellet stoves exhort a similar amount of heat at a fraction of the cost.

Food still seems to be the unavoidable element caught among the unwanted climbing costs.

Everyday foods like eggs, milk or vegetables will certainly be found on shelves at a much higher price than before.

Starting a garden can be a reasonable alternative to

paying top dollar for fruits and vegetables, though keeping up with the seasons can be time consuming.

Reports claim the prices of grain and dairy products are expected to increase as much as 45 percent this year and although not all foods will keep safe in bulk, many including rice, dried pastas and beans are preservable.

The economy is challenging us in many ways — to cut back on unaffordable oil, to resort to cheap fast foods instead of organic and home-growns, or to rely on resources other than the convenient ones presented to us.

But many of us are wondering why here and why now?

Sources claim Pennsylvania will be seeing some of the higher prices.

Why not attack bigger, more urbanized places such as New York and California?

Surely prices are facing a substantial increase because of the concept of supply and demand.

While the Middle East, our biggest oil supplier, is not providing us with enough oil to keep up with the demand we are in need of, the only option available is to raise the price and thus the value.

The value of oil will increase as many of us will be unable to afford the increased price.

Prices will exceed above our allotted allowance for travel expenses and we will eventually be discouraged to drive.

Cutting back on driving will be one way to alleviate the pressure of the rising price.

While the unavoidable climbing costs are rising at unfavorable rates, one must not solely focus on the price of oil, but more importantly the price of living.

Samantha Noviello

Asst. Opinion Editor When most people hear about the disease anorexia, young girls and women come to mind.

People seem to think that this disease only affects insecure, troubled women, but that is not true in our world today.

Past all the magazines, pressure from the media and all types of beauty products, anorexia has been affecting a new group of people, boys and young men.

Some may think anorexia affects boys and men at a small rate, but according to the National Eating Disorders Association, at least one million males in the United States are battling anorexia or bulimia.

Anorexia is a diesease where food cosumption is haulted for the time being, become dealthy thin and malnutritioned.

Bulimia is the purging of consumed food to lose weight.

The large assumption of young women only being affected by anorexia or bulimia is causing boys to feel ashamed of coming forward with their disease.

This confidence and hidden self-esteem issue is keeping them sicker for longer.

When researching eating disorders, most of the language and advice is targeted toward women, making it very hard for boys and young men to find help programs and facilities they can attend to get help.

It needs to be taken into account that this deadly disease is not just affecting girls and women and advice needs to be given out to boys and young men before it is too late.

Dr. James Lock, a psychiatrist at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, observes that most of his clients of eating disorders are straight-A students. Along with great stuents, kids are

athletes, perfectionists and Type-A personalities. This is strange to hear when we put insecure, bullied, troubled girls as our first thoughts of eating disorders.

Many perfectionists have a desire for control and being perfect, and that is easily done with this disease.

This disorder also takes control over itself at some point, when the person becomes possessed and obsessed with their weight, making it a fatal and tragic matter.

Boys who have eating disorders have become a lot more common and Dr. Jennifer Hagman, a doctor at a Children’s Hospital in Colorado says they almost always have one to three boys in their programs.

I believe that boys and men are overlooked when it comes to eating disorders, but they should be considered at the same rate and awareness as girls and women.

Awareness of eating disorders is where all of this begins. Health classes in schools teach children at a young age what foods are good and what foods are bad for the body to consume.

Parents at home should be making healthy lives for their children by cooking and discussing healthy lifestyle elements at a young age, without sounding too possessive and scaring their children away of eating the proper meals.

Health classes, parents and Internet information needs to come across in a way that is not telling people to cut out all fat, calories and sugars from your diet.

Effectively, they need to state what are the healthiest ways to maintain enough calories, fats and protein so that your body remains strong.

I believe it all begins with where people are finding information and how they are reacting to that information.

Starving your body does not make you lose weight

any faster; it just hurts your body and slows down your metabolism, creating fast weight gain once you do start eating again.

So many people who suffrom this disease do not understand what they are doing to their bodies.

They look in the mirror and see this horrible looking, obese figure staring back at them, even when they have already lost 20 or 30 pounds.

This is a mental matter that is very scary and harmful physically and emotionally.

In a world full of the media’s pressure of being the perfect person with the perfect body, damages the minds of people all over the world that are suffering from this disease or suffering from something like it.

No young girl, young boy, or anyone for that matter, should be so obsessed with their weight to the point that they are willing to harm themselves, subconsciously, in the process of having their “perfect” body.

I feel very strongly about this because beauty is not skin deap and masculinity does not only come from a fit and muscular body.

Being obsessed with your weight will ultimately lead to more than just physical troubles.

Some people never really get over their addiction and have to constantly maintain what they are eating, even when they have gotten help and recovered from their fatal state.

An estimated eight million people in America are suffering from an eating disorder.

If you know someone with an eating disorder or an obsessive personality, leading to this disease, contact someone; do not wait until it is too late.

And to everyone who looks at themselves and sees something they are not, help is out there.

Do not wait until your mind takes over your ability to love yourself.

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In My Opinion: The Price of Curves Ashley Price

Staff Columnist “Hotness comes in all shapes and sizes,” and “Bold Curves” on women are attractive — according to recent campaigns from Levi’s Jeans.

Levi’s Jeans released a controversial ad for its Curve ID line that claimed to accept women of all shapes and sizes, but only depicted women of one shape, in three very small sizes.

The successful Curve ID Jean line was launched in 2010.

This line of jeans was based on the idea that women’s sizes vary.

They created three basic shapes; the slight curve, the demi curve and the bold curve which are based on dimension differences between a woman’s hips and behinds.

They come in sizes based on width and length similar to men’s jeans, rather than the usual 0-12+ that curvy women often struggle with.

As a curvy woman, I have often had trouble finding jeans that fit “just right.”

The Curve ID Jean line is the perfect solution to that problem.

should have. The newest edition to the Curve ID line was made for larger women who cannot find jeans that fit their curvaceous figure.

Unfortunately, this shape has been given a name that is not flattering.

Instead, it is insulting and comical.

“The newest advertisement sports the tagline that “Hotness comes in all shapes and sizes,” above a photograph of three women who do not represent the various shapes and sizes the jean line claims to clothe.”

opinion

theslateonline.com/opinion

shipspeaks@gmail.com February 28, 2012

Are vasectomies the new male version of abortion?

Nick Sentman

with no baby-making-juice is at all a threat to society then what kind of example You know what really are we setting for our chilgrinds my gears? dren?

Vasectomies.

The name just sounds like something you would “Rep. hear in a “Saw” movie.

Yasmin Neal a A vasectomy is a man’s Democrat from the procedure to help prevent Atlanta suburb of the chance to procreate with a woman.

Jonesboro, planned It is the man’s version of on Wednesday to getting his tubes tied; only introduce HB 1116, he gets his snipped. which would prevent I hear that it is actually a quick and painless opera- men from vasectomies tion, but what man truly unless, needed to wants that? avert serious injury or Well, according to the death.”

Democrats in the Georgia House of Representatives there are too many vasectomies happening.

I just do not understand why a man getting a little Earlier this month, taken off around the edges Democratic Oklahoma Sen. is really such a big deal.

Constance Johnson added, Rep. Yasmin Neal, a and then withdrew a proviDemocrat from the At- sion to an anti-abortion bill lanta suburb of Jonesboro, that read, “Any action in planned on Wednesday to which a man ejaculates or introduce HB 1116, which otherwise deposits semen would prevent men from anywhere but in a woman's vasectomies unless needed vagina shall be interpreted to avert serious injury or and construed as an action death. against an unborn child.”

OK, I would really like The state Senate passed to know what type of life the bill this month. threatening situation a Now we are teaching our man would have to be in young men that we have where he would need his no choice but to save our thread cut. ammo for the bedroom.

Men are different than I want you to tell that women. We all obviously 13-year-old boy who found understand that. his mom’s Cosmopolitan God made it very clear to magazine that he cannot us that there is a biological read it secretly in his bathdifference. room. I want the represenYet, women are the ones tatives to realize this is not carrying the children, so immoral. in no way is a vasectomy Yes, God does not like the in the same ballpark as an procedure, but our foundabortion. ing fathers did not see anyWe have legislators aim- thing wrong with it; just go ing at attacking men and ahead and ask Benjamin their navy soldiers.

Franklin.

I find offense to that beI understand that our cause you cannot attack our orange juice added with a army without a legitimate woman’s hard-boiled egg reason. can make for a well-balIf people think that a guy anced breakfast, but why

Asst. Sports Editor

According to this campaign, hotness comes in all shapes and sizes — under a Size 5.

To take a step further into the bad choices made during this campaign, the Levi’s website shows an image of three different women next to the “FitFinder” tool.

The photograph shows three very thin women from behind.

These women have typical model body types; not a curve in sight.

The FitFinder tool is a short survey that asks women about their body shapes as well as issues they have had with previous jean shapes.

At the end of the short survey, the visitor is shown the “Perfect Fit” jean shape.

Next to the jean shape is a photograph of a woman in the jeans; another typical model.

Not only are these advertisements misleading, they are insulting to women who wear the larger sizes of these jeans.

Celebrating “real women” is an inspiring concept in advertising.

Refusing to show real women in that advertising is insulting and disappointing.

Why should curvy women buy a product if the company producing it is too ashamed to show the real consumer?

This new shape is the Supreme curve jean.

How is calling an item of clothing “Supreme” flattering?

What kind of cruel joke is this name?

The newest advertisement sports the tagline that “Hotness comes in all shapes and sizes,” above a photograph of three women who do not represent the various shapes and sizes the jean line claims to clothe.

Instead, these women “Not only are these are three slight variations of very thin women. advertisements Each a slight bit tallmisleading but, er than the next with they are insulting to maybe a quarter of an women who wear the inch more body weight.

That quarter of an larger sizes of these inch is not much conjeans.” sidering the smallest model looks to be between sizes 0 and 2.

Sadly, though, Levi’s The “largest” model marketing team did not of the bunch is, at the handle this great innova- most, a Size 4.

Image courtesy of www.easyvectors.com tion in the way that they

is it when we try to save ourselves from various unexpected accidents, we as men are being labeled in the same category as a woman getting an abortion?

There are procedures, aforementioned, that are better related and are being forgotten.

Men are not causing harm or killing a child when they go get this operation.

Would you rather them bring a kid into this world and treat it like Charlie Manson was treated, or would it be better to let them live their life how they choose?

The land of the free is now getting a little too greedy with our man money.

“I want you to tell that 13-year-old boy that found his mom’s Cosmopolitan magazine that he cannot read it secretly in his bathroom. I want the representatives to realize this is not immoral. ”

If Georgia upholds this and it spreads across the country then I will be shocked.

For some men this is a really big deal.

For young men this is probably an even bigger deal.

Now you have no choice but to load your gun for just one reason and one reason only.

They say the first cut is the deepest.

This one in particular just cut me really deep.

opinion

shipspeaks@gmail.com February 28, 2012

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theslateonline.com/opinion

Special editorial on budget from Check Out Our

Millersville University

Education is a luxury. It does not come with expensive trinkets, catered dining services or golden platters encrusted with rare jewels.

Education is quite the opposite, but its luxurious quality lays in the faculty who devote their lives to passing their immersive knowledge onto eager students.

Their passion for teaching allows their students to pursue their dreams and someday attain their definition of luxury.

Yet this promise is fading with another strike to education’s funding by Gov. Tom Corbett’s latest proposed budget plan.

This plan will cut higher education by $1.4 billion – specifically for Millersville University and the other 13 PASSHE universities, a 20 percent cut.

Similar to last year’s budget cuts, students are expected to face increase in class sizes, lack of available classes and a tuition hike.

In this rough economy, finances are scarce, and jobs are even more scarce.

A college degree will only get you so far; it does not always guarantee that you will gain a foothold in your career.

What are students to do if they cannot return to

Millersville or their respective university?

One option is to find a job and save the money to pay for college.

But for others, transferring to a community college is the best option to continue their education at a lower cost.

Regardless, Gov. Corbett is also hitting community colleges, albeit at a lower percentage.

There are numerous other areas that could alleviate these cuts from education.

Some examples include taxing prisons, especially eliminating last meal requests for Death Row inmates, taxing Marcellus Shale, big companies, and the upper class or the 1 percent.

There are even more areas that can be hit and not suffer great consequences as education does.

The biggest consequence is the decreasing classes available to students, important for seniors seeking to graduate on time, and increasing class sizes that will imminently destroy a teacher and student’s personal experience.

But this change will not matter if students are transferring to out-of-state colleges, which are cheaper compared to the cuts.

Instead of losing valu-

able assets like alumni staying in the state, government officials, such as those in Gov. Corbett’s cabinet could cut their salaries.

It is the purpose of the recent discussion to tax the rich, or the 1 percent, instead of heavily taxing the working class.

At that rate, the public would know where the money is going that is being cut.

More than likely, a majority of the public is not aware what their hardearned money is spent on.

So, who better to regulate the budget plan than the people who are being impacted by these cuts?

Business people, faculty and administrators of colleges and even students could possibly perform a better job.

They know better than anyone else the current situation of who needs to be cut and without much though, Marcellus Shale, the 1 percent, and other areas of society would immediately be hit.

Or perhaps they would see that education is too costly.

Maybe the best option would be to follow other countries that allow free education.

Even more pleasing is eliminating general educa-

tion classes, allowing immediate hands-on experience for students who are certain of their career.

That would definitely reduce the amount of years in higher education and more time earning your luxury in your field.

Students need a proper, affordable education to succeed in today’s world.

It is ever-changing, everevolving yet is consistently producing the next leaders of the world.

Some of the people who make decisions on these cuts are the same people who attended higher education, attained their degrees and made a difference.

Will we see this trend suddenly evaporate with these cuts or will we, the future leaders thrive through these tough times, and prosper? Stand up and let your voice be heard.

-“The Snapper” Millersville University

New Website

w w w. t h e s l a t e o n l i n e . c o m

Participate in our newest poll and let us know what YOU think.

Winners of the 2012 Student Keystone Press Awards contest, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Foundation 1st place:

Ashley Price for Editorial “In My Opinion” This is the second of a series of editorials being written and exchanged by PASSHE newspapers.

Interested in writing for the Opinion section?

All majors are welcome and you can write as much or as little as you want!

Get involved by emailing us at:

shipspeaks@gmail.com

2nd place:

Hannah Brant for Sports photo “SU women’s soccer team fell to Edinboro Unversity on Saturday”

The Student Keystone Press Award winners will be honored at a luncheon on Wednesday, March 14, during the American East Technology and Operations Conference at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Pa.

opinion

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shipspeaks@gmail.com February 28, 2012

theslateonline.com/opinion

College internships make many pay to work Cara Shumaker Managing Editor With the way the economy is right now, many people are scraping to make and save as much money as possible.

People with and without jobs, alike, are saving money in order to survive in the tough economic struggle.

While people in the work force hang onto every dollar, here I am in college, spending $14,000 a year to get myself into the work force with a piece of paper

that says I am competent and have some kind of skill set in a specific area.

These skills are only sharpened through experience and the best way to do that in college is to take an internship.

However, finding an internship is becoming incredibly difficult, let alone a paid internship.

I have accepted an internship for the summer that is unpaid because the company I am interning with cannot afford to pay me.

It is a small newspaper

that is located in my hometown.

I am OK with taking the internship for experience.

I am also OK with not getting paid because the company I am working for cannot afford it.

What I am not OK with is the fact that if I want to show that I had this internship, I have to take it for credit through the university.

Not only do I have to take it for credit but I also have to pay for the credits.

If money is so tight for everybody, everywhere,

Interested in writing for the Opinion section?

All majors are welcome and you can write as much or as little as you want!

Get involved by emailing us at:

shipspeaks@gmail.com

why in the world am I paying to work?

Why do I have to keep paying thousands of dollars to work?

I thought the point of working was to make money, not pay it.

Another thing I do not understand about internships is how they are always highly encouraged, but they are extremely difficult to come across.

Many places are cutting down on personnel.

They are trying to save money and be as frugal as possible.

That means companies are not hiring interns whether they are paid or unpaid. Companies that were always reliable for giving students internships have eliminated programs entirely.

If experience is the best teacher, then why are companies not offering positions to teach the future of the workforce?

My brother will graduate in May with a degree in engineering.

He has had a paid internship since his junior year.

At the beginning of his

final semester, he had a professor tell him that if a firm will not offer a paid internship to an engineer, the firm is not worth it.

Well, not everybody is an engineer. I think everybody should be given the opportunity to have a paid internship and to not pay for one.

I do not want to struggle in the economy as much as the next person, but if I have to continually dish out money to work and to get experience, I am on a fast track to joining people in economic distress.

DISCLAIMER

The opinions expressed within these pages are those of the writers. They are not directly the opinions of The Slate, its staff members, or Shippensburg University as a whole.

Concerns or letters to the editor can be emailed to

shipspeaks@gmail.com

shiplife

slate.shiplife@gmail.com February 28, 2012

Ship Idols sing their favorite theme songs theslateonline.com/shiplife

After the elimination of Marcella Best, there are seven contestants of Ship Idol left. The fourth round’s theme will be country songs.

Natalie Schwind

Asst. Ship Life Editor With two weeks down, the aspiring singers of Ship Idol begin to feel comfortable as the competition continues into its third week.

On Tuesday, Feb. 21, the remaining eight idols sang popular theme songs from various movies and television shows.

Judging the singers this week were former Ship Idol contestants Jozalyn Gregor, Bri Spayd, John Zimmerman and Jean Martinez.

Kicking off the night was Briana Blewett who got the audience pumped up as she sang “Car Wash.”

It took a while for the lyrics to kick in after the song began, but Blewett took advantage of what could have been an awkward moment

by showing off her high-energy dance moves and getting the audience excited.

The judges said that Blewett’s performance was great, in which she demonstrated confidence with great high notes and beautiful runs. All of the judges agreed that this was Blewett’s best performance thus far.

After Blewett’s performance, Marcella Best took the stage. She sang “Get it Together” from the show “702.”

The judges were hoping for an improvement from Best’s performance last week, but she did not fulfill their expectations.

Martinez said that he was waiting for something amazing to happen throughout the entire song, but it never did.

Although the judges were not very impressed with the

performance, they said that she always chooses songs that fit her voice and they really like that.

Hoping to salvage the somber mood of the judges and audience was Kaneisha Stern who sang “As Days go By” from “Family Matters.”

The song was very upbeat, but Stern started off very nervous and soft, but tried to pump it up.

After she got going, she forgot the words, but still tried to persevere.

As she continued to stumble the audience cheered her on for support.

While this was not Stern’s best performance, the judges encouraged her to not be worried about forgetting the words because it happens and that she should just do better next week.

After Stern’s performance, Alexis Matthews

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Photos by Leslie Douglas

Gillian Dolen sang “I Believe I Can Fly” from the movie “Space Jam.” The judges were impressed at her ability to sing a male song. belted out one of the most romantic and remembered songs from the hit movie “Titanic.”

As she sang “My Heart will Go on,” the audience and judges were impressed by her big powerful voice.

Martinez admitted that he was worried when he first heard she was singing that song because it is such a huge song to live up to, but she surprised him and did a great job.

Following Matthews’ powerful performance was contestant Conor Kennedy who sang “Nature Boy” from “Moulin Rouge.”

The judges were truly impressed and shocked by his performance. Kennedy got into the character of the song and delivered what the judges had said was the best performance of the season so far.

After this stunning per-

formance was the crowd favorite, Emily Keen, who perfectly portrayed the innocent role of Dorothy as she sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz.” Keen pranced and danced around the stage and even sat down toward the end of the song which gave the audience a chuckle.

Like all of Keen’s performances, the judges were once again impressed and left in awe. Keen knows how to work the audience and makes them pay attention to her.

Following Keen’s fun little song was Gillian Dolen who sang “I Believe I Can Fly” from “Space Jam.” The judges were very impressed by her voice and the fact that she sang a male song.

They said she started off a little shaky, but powered

up the song with chorus and the second verse.

Last, but definitely not least, was Emily Bentzle singing “Only Hope” from “A Walk to Remember.”

The judges said that she was better than Mandy Moore and that she is giving the other idols a run for their money.

After all of the contestants sang, the remaining idols sang “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey as the audience voted.

Once the votes were counted, it was revealed that Marcella Best would not be continuing on in the competition.

The audience cheered for her and her attempt in the competition.

Ship Idol will continue this week with its fourth round where the theme will be country songs.

shiplife

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slate.shiplife@gmail.com February 28, 2012

theslateonline.com/shiplife

Women’s athletic sorority seeks items for Project Prom Dress

For many teenage girls, going to the prom may be financially out of reach.

Now, thanks to Shippensburg University’s Tau Kappa sorority and the second annual Project Prom Dress event, they will have that chance.

Tau Kappa, the women’s athletic sorority, is seeking donations of gently used prom and formal dresses and accessories for Project Prom Dress, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

March 25 in Heiges Field House.

Tau Kappa’s Project Prom Dress offers teens an opportunity to purchase formal wear and accessories at greatly reduced prices.

“The cost of the dresses range between $5 and $30 depending on length and quality. All the proceeds

will go to a local charity,” said Caitlin Bamberger, one of the event organizers and a member of the sorority.

Before the doors of field house can open March 25, the sorority needs donations.

“We are collecting the dresses and accessories now.

We will continue to collect them until the week before the sale,” Bamberger said, noting that spring break may be the perfect time for students to clean the formal dresses out of their closets at home.

“We’re looking for items that girls took to their prom but aren’t going to use any more.”

She added that accessories are just as welcome as dresses.

“We need hair accessories, dress shoes, purses and

jewelry,” she said.

While the dress and accessories collection is on-going, Bamberger said the sorority is making posters to distribute to area high schools and other locations where girlsin-need might see them.

“We’re going to Shippensburg, Chambersburg, Big Spring, Carlisle and Waynesboro high schools.”

Bamberger said that last year, Project Prom Dress served 130 girls and this year the hopes to serve even more.

Tau Kappa has placed a box outside of the office at Heiges Field House for donations or for more information, send an email to the sorority at projectpromdress20102@hotmail.com.

-Courtesy of Shippensburg University

Photo courtesy of Shippensburg University

Tau Kappa is looking for gently used prom dresses and accessories for Project Prom Dress.

SU hosts its annual Tunnel of Oppression Stephanie Miller

during the event.

“We aren’t going to get everyone here who needs to be, but we may get bystandShippensburg University ers that see these kinds of Residence Life held its annual Tunnel of Oppression event at Naugle Hall on Feb. 22 and 23.

The Tunnel of Oppression is a program that takes place at colleges and universities across the nation in order to raise awareness about various issues that plague all areas of society.

Gender roles, depression, suicide, abusive relationships and things going on and hopefulprejudices are just a few ly it will get them to stand topics that were brought up up to something someday,”

Staff Writer

Photo by Lauren Cappuccio

On Feb. 22, some of The Slate staff visited the Grace B. Luhrs Elementary School to teach students about news writing.

said Jen Milburn, assistant director for Residence Life at Shippensburg University.

The Tunnel of Oppression first began at Western University, in Illinois in 1993.

The program has been taking place at Shippensburg for at least 10 years, according to Akirah Massenburg, Naugle Hall residence director.

It takes members of Shippensburg University’s Residence Life a couple of months to organize the event with the hopes that it will make an impression on students and encourage them to take a stand against social issues in society.

Interested in writing for Ship Life?

Contact Danielle at Slate.ShipLife@gmail.com.

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slate.shiplife@gmail.com February 28, 2012

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True Life: I am on my own

Danielle Halteman Ship Life Editor

Many college students are lucky enough to have their parents put them through college, but there are a select few of us who are not as fortunate.

One of them happens to be me. I am not saying that anyone who gets help from their parents are spoiled, I am simply saying that because I do not have this privilege it is a little harder for me to get by in everyday life.

I have been making my own money since I was 14 years old.

In 2004, my parents decided it was time for me to get a job. They could not afford to pay for me to go to the movies or the mall or anything that involved them giving me money to go have fun.

I began working at a local diner as a bus person at around $4 an hour plus tips.

Since I am frugal and I was living with my parents, I was able to save up $5,000 dollars by the time I was 16.

I was able to buy a 2000 Plymouth Neon for myself on my 16th birthday.

I still have that car today and it is my most prized possession.

I had to pay my car insurance, gas, inspection

and anything that got done to my car by myself, but it was all worth it.

From there I started saving for college. I got promoted to hostess at the diner when I was 15 and I picked up a second job at an ice cream parlor which paid me under the table (in cash), plus tips.

I did everything I could to keep my school work up, play volleyball for my school and work both jobs.

I actually enjoyed it. It was fulfilling.

Eventually, both the

diner and ice cream parlor went under new management and were failing.

I quit both jobs and got a job at a country club as a server. Around this time, I had graduated high school and was going to a community college to save money while I got my general education courses done.

Working as a server was not bringing in enough money for me as I saw it at the time. So as soon as I turned 18, I started bartending. When I heard there was a position open

for a pro-shop attendant, I took on that job too.

By the time I was 18, I would go to school in the morning, work in the pro shop in the afternoon and sometimes close the bar at night.

During the weekends, I would wake up at 5 a.m. to go to work. I put every spare dollar I made in my savings account.

At 19, I decided to transfer schools. I thought it would be easy, especially with all the money I had saved up.

I figured I would be fine, but I did not take into consideration the expenses my parents would no longer pay, like groceries, cable, internet and electric.

I was lucky enough to move in with my friend Kristi and our landlord did not require us to pay for heat, sewer, water or trash.

I realized that it was not as easy as I thought when I started becoming low on funds.

My savings account was dwindling the first few months before I realized

Photo by Leslie Douglas

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that I needed to put out a lot more money than I expected.

When I moved to Shippensburg, I applied for jobs right away. I knew that if I did not work I would eventually go broke and have nowhere to live.

I ended up getting a serving job at the Black Horse Tavern which is now the University Grille. I started working there in June of 2009 and am still working there now.

In May of 2011, I moved into an apartment by myself and pay around $600 or more every month in rent and utilities, which include electric, cable, Internet, heat, water, sewer and trash.

In some ways I am thankful for my parents making me start working so young.

It has taught me responsibility, work ethic, the value of a dollar and many other very valuable lessons.

It is rough working three days a week, taking 15 credits and finding time to be the Ship Life Editor.

Sometimes I wonder how I do it, but I am not expecting sympathy from anyone.

Instead, I want people to count their blessings.

Take into consideration how much time and money your parents save you. And if you are in the same boat as me, then keep doing what you are doing, I feel for you.

Treat yourself at The Treat Sean McClellan Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Sean McClellan

The Treat has a lot of the same options as The Hop, including ice cream, wings and many breakfast options.

Many Shippensburg students may remember The Hop, a dinner just offcampus near Old Main.

The Hop was sold over the summer, leaving students without a nearby diner for their eating needs.

The Treat, located in town on 9849 Molly Pitch-

er Highway, is the new Hop. In fact, it is owned by the same people and has many of The Hop’s old options, as well as ice cream, wings and more.

Arguably the best part of any diner is breakfast, and The Treat comes through in spades.

The Hop Breakfast, an old standard from The Hop days, is two eggs, pancakes or French toast, a

sausage pattie, bacon and toast for only $5.99.

Trying to finish this breakfast is a challenge, but the reward is a full stomach that lasts all day long.

Combine this with its old school dĂŠcor, friendly and capable staff and timely service, and Shippensburg students have a diner on which they can rely.

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SHIPLIFE theslateonline.com/shiplife

Pet of the Week

slate.shiplife@gmail.com February 28, 2012

Hi, my name is Mar vin. I am the crosscountry team’s cat and even though I am only four months old, if there is one thing I have picked up from my team, it is that it is not about the size of the animal, but the size of the fight. I think I am a mountain lion stalking deer in the meadows of Colorado. My secret weapons can be seen if you look closely at my picture. I have extra digits with working “thumbs”. Once my paws grow a little more, I will go from stalking deer to taking down a moose.

No limits.

Fun Facts: Even a small amount of alcohol placed on a scorpion will make it go crazy and sting itself to death.

We share 70 percent of our DNA with a slug.

Squirrels forget where they hide about half of their nuts.

The elephant brain weighs about 6,000 grams.

Couresy of www.funfactz.com

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Luhrs stage sizzles with the sounds of The Temptations Charles Mitchell Guest Writer

On Thursday, Feb. 23, The Temptations stepped with flair and grace as they delighted the crowd with music from their new CD “Still Hear” with their performance in the H. Ric. Luhrs Preforming Arts Center.

The Temptations have been making music since

1961, and have been a part of the foundation that created the Motown sound for decades.

The group’s earlier roster reads with such musically acclaimed voices as Eddie Kendrick, David Ruffin, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin and Dennis Edwards.

Speaking with patrons as they waited to take their seats, Nate McDaniel, Mel Clarke, Ernie Watterson

and Jane Peyton all agreed that in their generation.

The Temptations were the group that other groups wanted to imitate.

Peyton explained her first time seeing The Temptations was in Harrisburg in 1968, fondly remembering David Ruffin being the lead singer.

The Temptations’ earlier hits read like the soundtrack of American history, “My Girl,” “Since I Lost My Baby,” “Poppa was a Rolling Stone,” to name a few.

The group has lost many members over the years, but the one thing that The Temptations have never lost is showmanship.

The members of The Temptations are Ron Dyson, Terry Weeks, Joe Herndon, Bruce Williamson and the last original and founding member, Otis Williams.

The show started with a line from their new CD: Photos by Christina Pooler “After all these years, we’re

still here. Thank you.”

The Temptations took the stage, stepping with the synchronized moves that made them famous. Doing a medley of the classic tunes “Standing on the Top,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” and “How I wish that It Would Rain” and “Just my Imagination.”

Williams, who rarely takes the lead on the group’s songs, gave his rendition of “For Your Love I Would Do Anything.”

The group then preformed the classic tune “Get Ready” that brought the crowd to their feet.

With their 10-piece horn section it brought back the true essence of the Motown sound. There was no doubt that after 50 years, they are still Motown royalty.

The Temptations’ new project “Still Hear” is the group’s 49th album and is still setting a standard of what good R&B music is all about.

The Temptations performed at the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center on Feb. 23. The long-lived music of the band has continued to entertain audiences for more than 50 years.

Hip-hop and pop violinist Josh Vietti performs at SU Lauren Miscavage Asst. Copy Editor

Talented violinist Josh Vietti performed various genres of music such as his specialties, hip-hop and pop, as well as a twinge of country, Irish music and more at the Ceddia Union Building at Shippensburg University on Thursday, Feb. 23.

Vietti’s main goal during each of his shows has to get as much audience involvement as he could.

Interacting with the crowd and livening-up the

Photos by Lauren Cappuccio

atmosphere is what Vietti strives to accomplish during his up-beat performances.

“Basically, what makes my show is that it’s interactive,” Vietti said.

“That would be the key.

Interaction. Having fun. If people are not into a certain thing, I’m going to go to the next song,” he said.

Vietti started off the show with a popular cover of “Lean Back” by rapper Fat Joe. “I also played ‘Lean Back’ on the Ellen DeGeneres show; my own classical arrangement to it,” Vietti said.

“After I did that, I think the date was Nov. 14, 2011, on Twitter, Reservoir Media, a publishing group that owns the rights to that song and represents Mr. Scott Storch, the producer, tweeted me on Twitter and Scott Storch, who is a mega producer and produced that song and was like, ‘Hey check out this crazy, awesome classical violin version of ‘Lean Back.’

That was awesome because

they’re a huge publishing company,” he said.

Vietti also covered “Forever” by Chris Brown, “Flashing Lights” by Kanye West, “No One”

by Alicia Keys, “Single Ladies,” by Beyoncé, “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton, “Wobble”

by V.I.C., “Amazing Grace,” “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by Charlie Daniels, “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion, “Because of You” by Ne-Yo, “Black and Yellow” by Wiz Khalifa, “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson and more.

During “No One,” Vietti called up two girls from the audience and asked them to sing the lyrics along while he played. He also asked an audience member to beat box during one of his songs as well.

During “Wobble,” people went onstage to dance, which got the crowd extremely involved by clapping and singing to the beat. During “Billie Jean,” a male and female assisted Vietti’s performance by

having a “dance off.” Due to the audience’s vote, the male won a free CD. Vietti collaborated with SU music students and included them in his show.

One student accompanied Vietti on the guitar while covering “I Hear the Train a Comin’” by Johnny Cash, and Vietti also performed with the SU string team, as well as with music professor, Mark Hartman.

Toward the end of the show, Vietti entertained the crowd with a “freestyle” rap session, and audience members had the chance to demonstrate their talents.

Vietti said he began playing the violin when he was 4-years-old, and he started street performing in Los Angeles, Calif. around seven years ago, where he was discovered by prominent labels.

He said his interest in the violin began when he went to a classical concert with his mother.

“I was literally singing along in perfect pitch with the symphony, so she put

Josh Vietti, hip hop and pop violinist impressed SU students in the Ceddia Union Building. me in violin lessons. We could not really afford violin lessons, but fortunately, I was naturally inclined and soon after, I got a violin scholarship from the Maestro Foundation, which enabled me to study with Mischa Lefkowitz,” Vietti said.

“He is a Latvian virtuoso violin player in the L.A. Philharmonics. I studied with him over 10 years.

That’s where I got my training and technique, but

I do contemporary now, like hip-hop, country, R&B, pop and that stuff,” he said.

Vietti said if it was not for YouTube, he does not think he would be touring as much as he is right now. Also, being on the Ellen DeGeneres show has enabled him to book many gigs.

Right now, Vietti is on his three-month college tour. You can check him out www.joshvietti.com.

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‘Born to Die’ and play video games theslateonline.com/ae

Lisa Andrews Guest Writer

Lana Del Rey is the selfproclaimed “gangsta Nancy Sinatra” with overly pouty lips that spout soulful ballads on stage and snarky comments offstage.

Born Elizabeth (Lizzy) Grant, Del Rey has erupted into the music scene with her debut album “Born to Die” released on Jan. 31.

An album mostly comprised of ballads, Lana Del Rey’s sultry voice is not easy to define.

There are solid moments of Gwen Stefani-esque vocals rocking an R&B style before smoothly transitioning to mournful tones that might have made Peggy Lee and Sarah Vaughn stand up and take note.

Much of the album has a direct focus on current American culture. Fireworks open “National Anthem,” and the attack launched in this track make it a multifaceted piece.

At first listen, it seems petty. It is poppy with a hint of rap, and at times she seems to be nearly mimicking Gwen Stefani in softer tones.

Breaking down the lyrics though, one realizes that this song clearly mocks America and its current culture. She raps “drinking and driving excessive buying overdosing, dying on our drugs and our love” mocking American society and its wanton spending and waste.

I cannot help but wonder if the near mimic of Stefani in this song was not intentional. Stefani’s most recent album was heavily commercialized to the point that her clothing line L.A.M.B. was mentioned within her songs. Del Rey seems to be coming out of the gates on the attack.

The gothic sounds of church bells and harps open the starring track “Video Games” before Lana Del Rey cocoons us in her honeyed vocals.

It is easily one of the best tracks on the album and has more passion infused with this song than with any other.

This is the ballad of an album of ballads.

If you have no interest in any of her music, still, look up this song. It was originally released online and then as a single for “Born to Die.” A remix of “Video Games” is included at the end of the album.

Do not waste your time.

The remix contains odd techno beats and an electronic pulse that completely overwhelms the vocals and forces them into the background. Spend your time on the original recording.

The tracks blend together well, but that is partially due to the fact that it is fairly repetitive in its tempo from song to song.

It is the sort of album you listen to while driving through a desert in the middle of the night with the flash of white lines passing

in a blur, the moon as your only company and residual heat rising off of the sand.

It is soulful, riddled with passion and completely captivating.

Existentialism pervades much of this album. Excluding the title, the most obvious instance of this is in one of the more simple tracks titled “Dark Paradise.”

The introduction to this track momentarily provides the sweeping tones of string instruments reminiscent of ballrooms and sweeping skirts before picking up a mild R&B beat. In “Dark Paradise,” we hear the line “I’m scared that you won’t be waiting on the other side.”

Take a few listens; it is a catchy, if bittersweet, track.

“Dark Paradise” mourns a dead lover.

The bittersweet lyrics tug at all the right heartstrings by capturing the sorrow wrapped in remembrance, an inability to let go and a touch of fear of the great unanswerable question.

Jason Mahone treats audiences at SU to many soulful stylings Lauren Mease Staff Writer

Chills went through my body as I watched soulful singer Jared Mahone sing on Friday, Feb. 24 at the Ceddia Union Building.

His performance that started at 10 p.m. was superb. However, I was disappointed that more people were not in attendance. The Activities Program Board (APB) hosted the artist and it did a lot advertising so I am not sure why the audience was so small.

I really liked Mahone’s down to earth personality and the space made the performance more intimate.

Mahone is a singer from Columbus, Ohio.

He has been playing music and thoroughly enjoying it for the past seven years.

He and his band have an independent label.

Mahone relies on the sup-

port of his fans to make music.

When he first started, he said, “Most of the stuff I write maybe by the end of the night you’ll like.”

Mahone has this innovative system called a loop station. Basically he hits a pedal and he can record himself playing the guitar and loop it to play back.

It gives the sound of a full scale band not just him.

I found it interesting and quirky that Mahone is inspired by television theme songs.

He played “The Wonder Years” and “Full House” theme songs. The problem with theme songs, according to him, is they are cheesy.

However, he does not care.

He also beat-boxed some recognizable songs such as “My Humps” by the Blackeyed Peas. He said, “I’m getting into it and I don’t care.”

In 2010, his goal was to produce a song every week

of the year. Mahone titled it, “The Mixed Tape Project.”

He would post them online and receive feedback from people on what songs they liked and did not.

He let fans choose their favorites and placed the top 12 into an album. The CD was selling at the CUB for $5.

After hearing his song, “Hometown Girl” I wanted to buy the CD. The lyrics and the chill beat really spoke to me. Mahone is a combination of Jason Mraz, Blake Lewis and Smoky Robinson.

I am definitely downloading some of his songs to my iPhone.

I also found Mahone to be extremely funny and relatable. He talked about meeting girls at summer camp.

“Girl, you know I’ll write you,” Mahone said.

But it was just a summer fling according to him and he never did keep in touch.

Mahone said he did eventually meet someone and sang “Girl you got the best of my love.”

Mahone said there is no barrier between himself and the audience. He loves to stay connected to his fans online.

He welcomed the audience to contact him. I found this really amazing; most singers are not so laid back and chill.

Mahone also encouraged the audience, “Find the thing that lights you on fire.

It doesn’t have to be music.”

Overall I loved his performance and his personality. I hope his songs will be on the radio someday.

He has a lot of talent and deserves some of the spotlight even though I do not think he cares about it.

Mahone just wants to make music and inspire people.

Reports on Del Rey’s attitude and live performance contrast heavily with the solid musical talent presented in her album.

Del Rey is foul-mouthed and unapologetic in person.

Perhaps this is the “gansta” persona that she has adopted pushing to the forefront.

Her live performances are, at best, wooden.

She appeared on “Saturday Night Live” on Jan. 14 and nearly destroyed her album opus “Video Games.”

While her opening was spot on the rest of her performance was less than stellar.

The gorgeous low vocals we hear on the album sounded more like she had a cold.

Del Rey occasionally moved her hands but otherwise barely moved on stage and almost never had any facial expression.

The airbrushed, plastic glow of too much makeup combined with her lack of movement made her seem more like a mannequin than a musician.

She redeemed herself later on “The Late Show with David Letterman.”

Del Rey clearly has a difficult time infusing any real soul into her music during a live performance, but on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” she sang mostly in key and acted like she wanted to be on stage.

Even with the hit or miss live performances, Del Rey’s album has made it to the top of the Billboard 200 list at No 2.

She has a tour in the works for fall 2012. The clever lyrics and sultry voice presented in the album are probably enough to hold her in the industry for at least another album; however, her personality and performances could end her career.

At the very least, she has attracted enough media attention with her antics that she will continue to hold the spotlight for a little while longer, even if it is not the kind of attention that she is hoping for.

Interested in writing for A&E? Contact Laura or Sarah at slateae@ gmail.com Upcoming Events at the Thought Lot March 1 Only Living Boy and Crobot March 3 Sketties, Beyond the Sun, Bratcore March 3-20 Art exhibit

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/ Who’s Not!

Katrina Panasiuk Opinion Editor

Who’s Hot?

SU assistant professor’s ‘Annulments’ are honest and intimate Rachel Wrigley Guest Writer

S h i p p e n s b u r g University’s English Department recently welcomed Zach Savich on board as an assistant professor.

Savich is a published author of poetry, creative non-fiction and a chapbook.

He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and his master of fine arts from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop.

Additionally, he has lived and taught in France, Italy, New Zealand and across the United States.

Savich’s second book of poetry “Annulments” is the winner of the Colorado Prize for Poetry.

His first book “Full Catastrophe Living” won the 2008 Iowa Poetry Prize.

Zach Savich’s poetry is captivating.

Savich’s inspiration for “Annulments” comes from several sources.

Poets Rosmarie Waldrop, Carl Phillips, and the lyricism of singers like Sam Cooke were a few mentioned in an interview with Savich.

Savich creates lyricism with a “cut-to-the-chorus, cry-in-your-coffee-withsplendor” feeling.

The poems in “Annulments”

could easily fit into the confessional coffee dates I have with my best friend where I desperately need to get something off my chest; that relieving, weight-lifted feeling I get after finally releasing bottled up feelings and emotions.

Waldrop’s contemporary style, including lots of personal narrative, is certainly similar to Savich’s deeply personal experiencebased poetry.

Phillips is also well known for emotional and spiritual poetry. Savich expresses emotion so well with his words and imagery, it is easy to relate to his poetry and feelings.

The contemporary poetry is thought provoking and emotional. Several poems are designated specifically to someone, some include italicized parts to signify that they are sung rather than read, and others take advantage of enjambed lines or end suddenly.

However, every poem includes authentic emotion.

Savich says he hopes they are “honest poems” and have a hushed, yet thrilling feel of real intimacy.

“Many of the poems try to capture the particular sense of love at a threshold, before it becomes a story,” Savich said.

“The Mountains Overhead” is a hard to miss

poem in Savich’s sophomore book. It takes up Pages 4 through 39 of the 65-page book and consists of 113 brief sections.

Many of the sections are italicized, giving the sung phrases an emphasis and significance.

The poem expresses an emotional struggle, the result of a difficult separation.

Savich writes “have fun, we said for goodbye” implying maybe separating would not be so difficult or final if no one really said goodbye.

“Be how you were, be how you were” appears more than once in the poem, really drawing attention to the plea for someone to be how they were before so that everything could go back to how it was before.

“Tell me a secret I don’t know I have” is a reminder of how things were before, the connection and closeness of the relationship before things changed.

This small alteration of italicizing font not only catches the readers’ attention but may make their wonder how much more of an impact words could have if they were sung as opposed to spoken.

There is a significance to the word “mountain” in the title of the poem.

Readers may also notice

snow commonly mentioned within poems in the book.

These words have significant meaning to him.

The poet moved to Iowa where “mountains and water determine buildings and roads.”

In a world of non-stop construction of buildings and homes, mountains still halt or deter the process.

They are large, natural, and powerful determiners of what will or will not happen next.

He also admitted a fascination with snow, saying “It is skin.”

Snow is like a layer of skin, temporarily covering everything, that will eventually fade away to reveal something deeper beneath it.

Much shorter is “Reversible Sun,” which compares the extension of a helping hand to the way the heart conditions emotion.

Both relatively active concepts are quickly followed by “[do you know what birdlime is?]”

This sticky substance, used to trap small birds, seems to imply freezing or trapping the ideal assistance of extending a hand or handling emotions.

I can identify with the feeling of comfort that comes with someone helping me through something difficult and wanting to always

have that assistance when I experience struggle.

Or when my heart has finally regained composure and control after something has shocked my emotional system.

Savich follows his birdlime question and ends with “leans back as when saying grace or after taking up a hand of cards.”

It is as if Savich is leaning back while patiently waiting for my response.

An aspect of many of the poems in “Annulments” is a sudden or unexpected finish.

I did not find this leaving me unsatisfied at all. If anything, it tied the title of the book even more into the poems inside it.

Almost anyone can relate to the mental process of annulment, where negative or painful ideas are terminated from the mind.

The quick finish to some poems subtly hints toward erasing unpleasant memories.

I think any fan of poetry will be able to appreciate “Annulments.”

Savich’s poetry touches on emotions that almost everyone has experienced.

It is easy to compare your own relationships to his and it might be difficult not to reevaluate them after reading this book.

Model/producer/talkshow host Tyra Banks has solidified a package of beauty, bucks and brain with a degree from Harvard Business School.

Her pursuit for higher learning is truly an inspiration.

Courtesy of beautyriot.com

Who’s Not! Fox News reporter Douglas Kennedy is being charged with child endangerment. The son of late Robert F. Kennedy reportedly kicked a nurse in the pelvic region and twisted another one’s arm. He fought several nurses in a New York hospital while trying to carry his newborn from the maternity ward.

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Sports

Sam Stewart, Sports Editor Nick Sentman, Asst. Sports Editor Contact: slatesports@gmail.com

OFF TO NATIONALS Cody Myers and Kenny Stank qualify, E3

Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track teams are PSAC Champions, E3

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Betty White Boys capture intramural basketball crown Hot Shots win women’s title by 14 in Wednesday’s championship contest Zach Rivera

Staff Writer The men’s and women’s intramural basketball championships were held on Wednesday night at Heiges Field House featuring team Swagg vs. team Betty White Boys in the men’s division and team Answers vs. Team Hot Shots in the women’s division.

The story line behind the men’s game was immense.

Swagg came in as the heavily favored team, going undefeated through round robin play and the playoffs while the Betty White Boys lost one early in the playoff

round and had to go through the loser’s bracket to get to the championship game.

The Betty White Boys relied strongly on defense, chemistry and teamwork as they pulled off the upset and beat Swagg, 63-57, for the Intramural Championship.

Perry Mattern got hot early in the game, and was absolutely unstoppable from long range. However, with about two minutes left to go in the game, Swagg came inches away from taking the lead, but the Betty White Boys held on to the lead and the victory.

On the women’s side, the Hot Shots came in as the

favorite and did not disappoint as they used a dominant post game to control the game early.

The Hot Shots took the lead early and kept pressing. Jean Morrow was too much for the Answers to handle in the low post. With only one substitute, the Hot Shots did not let fatigue set in and were able to defeat the Answers, 40-26, for the intramural championship.

With another season come and gone, the intramural focus shifts to volleyball with games starting this week. Games are held Sunday through Thursday night at ShipRec gymnasium.

Photo by Sam Stewart

The Intramural Basketball League brought attention to SU’s campus.

The Betty White Boys capped off the league with a victory over Swagg.

The Hot Corner SU Sports Sam Stewart Sports Editor and

Alaina Rodriguez Staff Columnist With Nick Sentman missing in action for this week’s Hot Corner debate, Sam enlists staff columnist Alaina Rodriguez to replace him.

The topic is none other than the NBA All-Star game. Is the game worth watching or is it simply time to end the festivities?

Alaina Rodriguez:

The NBA All-Star game weekend is a great, profitable event for the NBA. The MLB and NHL have All-Star events for their fans, so why shouldn’t the NBA? The celebrity All-Star Game can be boring to some fans, but it is certainly better than the Major League Baseball’s. Who did not like Kevin Hart’s ejection this year?

The Rising Stars Challenge gives fans the opportunity to look at different stars who are just coming up from all over the NBA. Some fans would not know who some of these players were if it was not for this game. The Taco Bell Skills Challenge even helps the community. Each player represents a child for whom they are trying to win a scholarship.

The All-Star Game does need some improvement though. During the main event on Sunday night, the players certainly do not get adequate playing time.

I understand they are just playing for fun and not for a “real” win, but I still would enjoy seeing the players get more playing time. I did vote for them so why can

I not watch them play the length of time that I want.

Sam Stewart:

It feels weird not bantering with my usual cohort but Alaina, you forgot to mention the real issue that surrounds this game. It is called the, who the *blank* cares issue. The NBA, as well as the NHL and the NFL, go to extremes to get viewers to watch their games, and so far the only sport that has gotten it right is baseball. In baseball, the All-Star Game actually holds weight. The winner of the game earns home-field advantage for the World Series for their respective league. Sure, the game can still produce athletes who under perform or just do not show up; i.e. 2012 NFL Pro Bowl, but it still provides a reason to hold the game.

Your NBA skills competition, please. The Sprite Dunk Contest featured none other than Paul George.

Reader’s who do not know who Paul George is do not worry; he is not the household name that this competition used to offer. Gone are the days of Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins showcasing true talent.

Now, viewers are subjected to little-known players who try to make the contest into the next AND-1 mix-tape.

However, last year was the only year since the Vince Carter days that the dunk contest lived up to the hype. Blake Griffin from the L.A. Clippers brought back the days of Jordan, Wilkins and Carter with his perfomance.

The All-Star Game itself provides zero entertainment. There is little to no defense and the way these players score becomes stale

Upcoming Schedule

home games in

CAPS

Women’s Basketball Feb. 28 PSAC QUARTERFINALS at Bloomsburg 5:30 p.m.

Softball March 4 CHOWAN (DH) noon Baseball March 3 at Concord (DH) noon March 4 at Concord noon Athens, W.Va. Tennis March 3 GOLDEY-BEACOM 5 p.m.

and bland towards the end of the first half.

I did not vote for these players. Yao Ming was voted an all-star for two years that he was either injured, or limited due to his injuries. Thankfully, that problem was resolved with his retirement but I want to see the best players play, not the ones I, or the person next to me voted for the All-Star game? No thanks. I tuned out on Sunday afternoon, and for good reason.

The NBA will not be getting any viewership from me on All-Star weekend until they change the trash they call entertainment.

VISIT US AT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SLATESPORTS and WWW.THESLATEONLINE.COM/SPORTS

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SU is PSAC champs SU Wrestling finishes 9th at The Shippensburg University women’s and men’s indoor track- and- field squads both won the PSAC Championship on Sunday afternoon at the 2012 PSAC Indoor Track and Field Championships, their third in four years.

The men’s squad won its third conference crown in four years on Sunday afternoon by scoring a historic 213.5 points, placing at least one athlete in 17 of the 18 contested events and posting a 129-point margin of victory.

The men won eight event championships, including five on Sunday, to complement 14 All-PSAC finishes and 34 PSAC placewinners.

SU had at least one individual placewinner in every event but the 200 meters.

As a result, the Raiders are now tied with Lock Haven for the most PSAC indoor titles (five) in league history.

“What a great performance by the men. That’s the most dominant performance in the history of the PSAC indoors,” said head coach Dave Osanitsch. “It truly came from all areas and all facets of the track and the field. There are just so many things to touch upon that I don’t even know where to start.”

Senior Stephen Schelander was named the overall MVP of the men’s indoor championships after finishing with a PSAC crown in the mile, a second-place finish in the 3K and a championship in the DMR as its anchor leg. Graduate Bryan Beegle flipped places with Schelander by winning the 3K and taking second in the mile.

In the 800 meters, redshirt freshman Tom Kehl emerged as the champion with a time of 1:54.72 while freshmen Bernard England and Matt Bee took third and fourth place respectively.

SU took four of the Top 5 places in the mile. In addition to Schelander’s win in 4:17.54 and Beegle’s second-place finish in 4:17.98,

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freshman Ryan Spangler finished fourth in 4:18.69 and junior Matt Gillette took fifth with a time of 4:19.02.

Sophomore Herman Kirkland, who finished second on Saturday in the long jump, won his first conference championship in the 60-meter dash with a virtuoso performance and a new school-record time of 6.83 seconds.

In the field, freshman Steve Waithe tied the school record in the triple jump that was set at last year’s PSAC indoor championships with a victorious mark of 48 feet, 6 3/4 inches. Juniors Kyle Dickinson and Elijah Trusty placed fourth and fifth respectively with Dickinson’s lead mark being 45 feet, 7 inches.

Meanwhile, the women’s squad won its third consecutive conference title and league-best fourth overall by scoring 166.5 points and placing at least one athlete in 17 of the 18 contested events for an 80-point margin of victory.

The women won seven event championships and had nine All-PSAC finishes in the two-day competition to go along with 26 PSAC placewinners. The only event in which the Raiders did not have a place-winner was the 5K. As a result, SU now moves ahead of Kutztown and Slippery Rock, who both have three league titles to their credit. SU and The Rock share the 2008 championship.

Junior Katie Spratford was named the most valuable track athlete of the meet after winning the mile and the 3K on Sunday in addition to running the opening leg of the champion distance medley relay squad on Saturday that improved its NCAA standing by 10 seconds.

Spratford’s victory in the mile was an impressive wire-to-wire effort in 4:56.77 while her 3K triumph featured a kick that afforded her a foursecond cushion over gradu-

ate teammate Lara Crofford. Spratford’s 3K time was 9:50.72, while Crofford crossed the finish line in 9:55.22. Crofford also placed fourth in the mile.

“I’m really happy with the blend of our veterans and our freshmen on this women’s team,” Dave Osanitsch said. “We’ve lost a lot of big names from this team over the last two years. I think a lot of people had a lot of questions about this program, seeing if it could continue to be competitive, and I think today the ladies made a great statement in saying that we have new people who can come in and fill the roles along with some crafty veterans who get the job done.”

In the 200 meters, Butler, freshman Yaneshia Gaston and junior Courtney Martin ended up placing fourth, sixth and seventh respectively.

In total, SU had nine women score points in the sprint events Junior Erin Flick won her first conference championship in the high jump after clearing 5 feet, 5 1/4 inches in a jump-off with Lock Haven’s Brittany Whitmer.

It is the second-straight All-PSAC performance for Flick, who tied for third at last year’s indoor meet.

Senior Lauren Redington wrapped up a banner indoor career with a third-place effort in the triple jump of 36 feet, 9 3/4 inches. It was the first All-PSAC performance in the triple jump for Redington, who had placed five other times entering this weekend’s competition.

“You’ve got to have people step up and have them bring their best games to win,” Osanitsch said.

“That’s how you win championships. I could go on and on about the number of people that deserve mention, but the numbers will do it justice.”

SU will send runners to nationals March 8.

-Courtesy of SU Sports Information

Region I Championships

Cody Myers and Kenny Stank both secure trips to NCAA national ‘ships.

Sophomores Cody Myers and Kenny Stank secured trips to the NCAA national championships with fourthplace finishes on Saturday as five Raiders placed to help the Shippensburg University wrestling team achieve a ninth-place team finish at the 2012 Super Region I Wrestling Championships hosted by UNCPembroke.

Junior Simon Rice earned fifth place at 141 pounds, marking the second straight year he has reached the podium after a fourth-place finish a year ago. Freshman Neil Grudi and Luke Etter took sixth place at 165 and 174 pounds, respectively.

Myers was pinned in the championship semifinals of the 133-pound bracket

by Kutztown’s Evan Yenolevich in 4:27. Yenolevich went on to win the regional championship. Once in wrestlebacks, Myers picked up an 11-0 major decision on Gannon’s Adam Weinell to secure a spot in the third-place match. In his final bout of the day, Myers

was pinned by Mercyhurst’s Kody Young.

Stank recorded two impressive wins at 149 pounds to book his trip to Colorado.

After beginning with a 10-5 win over MU’s Michael Griffith, Stank pinned Newberry’s Deral Brown, the region’s No. 1 seed, in 19 seconds. It was the fastest pin by any wrestler in the tournament. In the thirdplace match, Stank had a rematch with University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown’s Nathan Link and dropped a 7-4 decision.

Grudi was pinned in the first period by KU’s Micah Bollinger. In wrestlebacks, Grudi was forced to injury default against East Stroudsburg’s Thad Frick and medically forfeited the fifth-place match. Overall, Grudi won 10 his final 13 bouts this season to achieve a 14-14 overall record.

Rice opened the day with an 8-4 decision over West Liberty’s Nick Wykoff that set him up for a confrontation with UPJ’s Jack Bachman, the region’s No. 2 seed.

Bachman recorded a 6-1 decision. Rice’s opponent in the fifth-place match took a medical forfeit. He finished the year with a 16-15 overall record.

Etter picked up a 5-0 decision over Gannon’s Bret Terry to set up a dual with the region’s No. 2 seed, August Mizia of Mercyhurst. Mizia ended up with a 4-3 decision. Etter then dropped a 7-3 decision to West Liberty’s Matt Littleton in the fifth-place match.

He finished his debut campaign at SU with a 14-10 overall record.

Sophomore heavyweight Jacob Nale also competed on Saturday but was eliminated from the competition after a loss by fall to Gannon heavyweight Chaz Lear. Nale finished the year with a 7-6 record.

The 2012 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships will be held March 9-10 at Colorado State University-Pueblo.

-Courtesy of SU Sports Information

Photo courtesy of Gannon University

Cody Myers finished fourth at UNC-Pembroke on Saturday night.

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SU slips up late in season, readies for PSAC playoffs tonight at Bloomsburg theslateonline.com/sports

Strybuc nets 20, comes up huge in SU’s victory SHIPPENSBURG 60 Sam Stewart

Sports Editor The Shippensburg women’s basketball team overcame a sluggish first half start to overcome No.3-seed Millersville University ,6054, in a regular season contest at Heiges Field House on Wednesday night Coming off a big game on Saturday, Sarah Strybuc continued her scoring ways as she netted 20 points, including two big 3-pointers in the first half that helped catapult SU from the brink of utter collapse.

Shawna Wert and Dana Wert also made their presence felt on the court, both

MILLERSVILLE 54

making clutch shots in the second half. Shawna finished the game with 15 points.

SU, the newly claimed No. 4 seed in the PSAC East had a hard time getting anything going, falling behind early, but eventually arose and began the seesaw battle for the lead. MU would go on a 10-0 run to make it 2822 but SU would go on a run of its own and would score a last second jumper to tie it at 32 at the half.

The tug-of-war continued early in the second half but SU pulled away with big threes from Strybuc and Dana Wert.

Strybuc hit two jumpers late in the game to cement the victory for SU.

Monae Baker followed up her 15-point and nine rebound game against Cheyney last Saturday with an 11-point, 8-rebound game against the Marauders. Baker continued to be a presence in the post and has settled in a late-season groove. She currently has double-doubles in four out of her last six games.

SU was 14-17 from the stripe in the first half, one of its best free-throw performances to date.

SU will play in the playoffs for the first time since 2008 tonight when the Raiders travel to Bloomsburg. The Raiders last playoff appearance ended in the first round.

Photo by Grimaldo Berrios

Sarah Strybuc had a huge game on Wednesday scoring 20 against MU.

SU’s senior night dampened by poor shooting effort, loses to Kutztown SHIPPENSBURG 61

The Raiders The Raiders

The Shippensburg University women’s basketball team was unable to overcome a poor shooting effort in its final regular season game on Saturday afternoon, as it dropped a 66-61 decision to Kutztown University on Senior Day from Heiges Field House.

SU honored its three seniors Monae Baker, Lindsay Howard and Erin Varley in its pregame Senior Day ceremony before the game.

Sarah Strybuc led a group of four Raiders in double figures, draining three three-pointers en route to 15 points. Baker recorded her 11th doubledouble of the season, going 10-of-10 from the freePhoto by Grimaldo Berrios throw line to finish with 14 points and 10 rebounds. during a timeout Wednesday night against Millersville.

Shawna Wert scored used strong efforts from Baker to earn the victory.

13 points to go along with a game-high five assists and three rebounds. Dana

KUTZTOWN 66

Wert added 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Howard earned her third start of the season and contributed two points, two rebounds and her teamleading 16th block of the season. Varley recorded a rebound and an assist in her fourth start of the season.

SU used an 8-for-8 performance from the free throw line to take control in the first half, as the Raiders entered intermission leading 26-22 despite shooting just 30 percent from the field.

SU was unable to shoot any better in the second half, but the Raiders built a 38-31 lead six minutes in. The Golden Bears answered by scoring eight straight to go up 39-38.

Shawna Wert made threepointers on SU’s next two possessions, however, to

put the Raiders back up 44-41 at the 11:33 mark.

A subsequent 10-3 KU run put the Raiders into a 51-47 hole with 8:14 left.

KU made timely buckets down the stretch to hold off any Raiders runs, as SU failed to get any closer than two points in the final eight minutes of regulation.

SU shot just 29 percent from the field for the game for its second-worst shooting percentage of the season. KU, meanwhile, shot 60 percent from the field in the second half to pull away.

The No. 4-seed Raiders will travel to Bloomsburg today to face off against the No. 1-seed Huskies in the first round of the PSAC playoffs. The tip is set for 5:30 p.m.

-Courtesy of SU Sports Information

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SU uses strong shooting effort from Statsyszyn to overcome Marauders SHIPPENSBURG 81

Five different players scored in double figures on Wednesday night as the Shippensburg University men’s basketball team posted an 81-70 victory over Millersville University from Heiges Field House.

The Raiders shot 29-of53 from the field and a season-high 89 percent from the free throw line as SU avenged a Jan. 25 five-point road loss at MU. Senior Jordan Stasyszyn led all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-6 from three-point range. The 19-point effort is his most since scoring 20 in a Jan. 3 home win over Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

Senior Dane Lauber made his 10th start of the season and added 17 points and a game-high eight rebounds

MILLERSVILLE 70

in addition to three assists.

Lauber’a contribution did not go unnoticed.

A trio of players scored 10 points, senior Will Royal, sophomore Dylan Edgar and freshman Sam Pygatt. Edgar and Royal each pulled in four rebounds while Pygatt came off the bench and recorded his second consecutive double-figure scoring performance.

Senior Craig Van Scyoc contributed nine points and seven rebounds while senior John Corrigan poured in six points to go along with five rebounds off the bench.

The Raiders jumped out to an early 9-2 lead in the first few minutes. Up, 13-8, at the 14:08 mark, a Stasyszyn three sparked a 12-0 SU run that opened up a 25-8 lead with 8:38 left in the

first half.

MU cut its deficit down to just six, 30-24, with 1:59 left in the half. The Raiders finished the half on a 6-0 run, however, with four points from Royal and a Van Scyoc layup just as time expired, to give SU a 36-24 lead at intermission.

SU did not let up in the second half, eventually grabbing a 20-point, 54-34 lead, eight minutes into the half. The Marauders chipped away in the last few minutes of the game, trimming the lead to 13 points with 2:52 remaining. SU went 8-of-8 from the free throw line in the final 1:32, however, to cement the victory.

-Courtesy of SU Sports Information

Photo by Christina Pooler

Will Royal guarding a Marauder’s shooter in Wednesday’s nights action.

SU used a first half surge to overtake MU by double-digits that night.

SU unable to finish season with a ‘W”, falls on senior night Saturday SHIPPENSBURG 77 Michael Shipman Staff Writer

The season finale for the Shippensburg University men’s basketball squad spelled doom and gloom as SU could not overcome a half time deficit and eventually fell to Kutztown University Golden Bears 90-77.

Heiges Field House also hosted Senior Day, of which five of the Raiders’ top senior players were honored and paid tribute to before the tip-off against KU. John Corrigan, Dane Lauber, Will Royal, Jordan Stasyszyn, and Craig Van Scyoc were honored for their basketball careers and smothered with applause and standing ovations from the 615 in attendance.

Things got started right away in favor of the Raiders when the seniors exploded offensively. Will Royal put Photo by Christina Pooler up SU’s first two points.

SU’s Will Royal had a huge game last Wednesday night against MU.

KUTZTOWN 90 Lauber put up another field goal after KU missed their first scoring attempt, giving SU a quick 4-0 lead.

Then Van Scyoc and Lauber completed back-toback three-pointers. SU had a commanding early 15-4 lead after Corrigan completed a three-pointer of his own shortly after.

But the Raiders’ offensive explosion would soon begin to unravel when KU began to finally take care of business. KU stormed out of the first half with a 41-37 lead after a successful threepoint attempt at the buzzer.

Here is s a familiar scenario: SU trailing by only a few points going into halftime, coming so close in the second half, but ultimately unable to catch the lead.

Well, bad news, that was how the rest of the game went for SU. After KU’s Micah Fraction drained a three-pointer, extending the Bears’ lead, 44-37,

Corrigan sank a threepointer, and Royal put in a layup on their next possession, getting the Raiders within two points, 44-42.

For most of the second half, SU spent their time desperately trying to regain the lead, but only came within three or two points. That’s as close as SU would get.

Despite the tough loss, the five seniors had big days to end their SU basketball careers. Corrigan completed 14 points; Royal had 13; Stasyszyn with 16; Van Scyoc with 9; and Lauber leading the team with a solid 33 points. Nate Edwards led the Golden Bears, scoring 23 points.

With their season at an end, SU finished with a 1019 record, with a 7-15 PSAC record. KU will likely clinch the top seed in the Eastern Division, hosting East Stroudsburg on Tuesday.

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SU baseball wins first, loses next Softball wraps in doubleheader on Sunday up Catawaba A strong performance by catcher Tyler Invite at 1-4 Shover in Game 1 helped lift SU to victory The Shippensburg University baseball team split a Sunday afternoon doubleheader with Slippery Rock in its 2012 home opener from Fairchild Field. The Raiders won Game 1 ,3-2, before suffering an 11-3 loss in Game 2 to take three out of four in the weekend series.

The doubleheader was moved to Fairchild Field after having originally been scheduled to be played at the Ripken Baseball Complex in Aberdeen, Md., where SU won both games over Slippery Rock on Saturday.

In Sunday’s opener, junior catcher Tyler Shover tied the game in the fourth inning with an RBI single before roping the gamewinning RBI two innings later on another single to right field that plated freshman pinch runner Bobby Atwell for the game’s final run. Shover finished the day with four hits and three RBIs. After giving up two runs in the second inning, junior right hander Tom Bush re-

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covered, striking out five batters in five innings and scattering five hits. Senior southpaw Ted Williams got two outs in the sixth inning before senior Jimmy Miller came in to get the final four outs in succession and earn his first victory of the season.

With the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the third inning, junior left fielder Simon Beloff grounded into a double-play that scored senior center fielder Eric Herman and cut SU’s deficit in half, down 2-1.

Junior third baseman Tyler Basso led off the next inning by reaching first base on a throwing error from the Rock shortstop. Sophomore designated hitter Kyle Hollingsworth laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved Basso to second. Basso then took third base on a wild pitch with Shover at the plate, just before Shover sent Basso home with an RBI single to right field that tied the game at 2.

With no outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Atwell pinch ran for sopho-

more first baseman Pat Kregeloh and advanced to third after a Basso sacrifice bunt and a Hollingsworth groundout. Shover drove in Atwell in the next at-bat to finish off the scoring.

The Raiders got off to a rough start in Game 2, giving up 10 runs and eight hits and committing three errors in the first two innings. Junior right hander Josh Scott earned the start and was touched for five hits and five unearned runs in one inning on the mound.

Williams again came in for relief and didn’t fare much better in his one inning of work, giving up four hits and three earned runs in his second appearance of the day Sophomore left hander Austin Bartley, Kregeloh and Basso finished out the day on the hill and gave up zero runs while scattering three hits in five innings of work. Kregeloh fanned four batters.

Shover doubled to center field in the fourth inning to drive in a run. In the sixth inning, Herman doubled

Photo courtesy of Slate Photo Archive

Ben Miller takes a swing in Sunday’s contest against Slippery Rock.

down the left field line to drive in a run before crossing home plate himself on a Jimmy Miller sacrifice fly to right field.

SU will travel to Athens, W.V. next weekend to play three games at Concord.

The Raiders and Mountain Lions will play a doubleheader beginning at noon on Saturday, March 3, before playing a single game at noon on Sunday, March 4.

They return home March 10 for a three-game set against Gannon University.

-Courtesy of SU Sports Information

The Shippensburg University softball team wrapped up play at this weekend’s Catawba Invitational Softball Tournament with a 5-0 win over Barton on Sunday afternoon from Catawba College’s Salisbury Community Park.

On Saturday SU lost a trio of games at the tournament. The Raiders lost 4-1 to Massachusetts-Lowell in a game that was postponed from Friday before dropping a 4-1 decision to host Catawba and a 10-5 decision to Glenville State in the nightcap.

The win was a much needed one for the Raiders SU finished the tournament having won one out of five games between Friday

and Sunday. A record of 1-4 was a lackluster performance for the team.

SU will make its home debut next Sunday, March 4, with a noon doubleheader against Chowan University from Robb Field.

From there on the Raiders will head to Kissimmee, Fla. for a Spring Break tournament at the Rebel Spring games.

The Raiders are 2-5 on the season and will hope to rebound before PSAC play starts. SU will look for quality play behind Jenna Allen to gain the necessary momentum to make a run at the PSAC championship in May. -Courtesy of SU Sports Information

SPORTS

Did he do it? slatesports@gmail.com February 28, 2012

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Classic All-Star weekend in Orlando

NHL power rankings

The truth on Ryan Braun Alaina Rodriguez

breaks down the NBA All-Star weekend action

SAM STEWART

Sports Editor

ALAINA RODRIGUEZ Staff Columnist

Open curtain: A dark grey mist hovers over the right batters box. It stands about 6-foot tall and weighs about 200 pounds soaking wet. For what it used to be, this mist was once a fiery, energetic ball player, but because of recent allegations, the only thing that remains of him is a mist of doubt and confusion. Ryan Braun’s innocence will forever be cast into a shadow of skepticism.

Braun has taken the MLB world by storm. The reigning MVP of the league, Braun has produced gaudy numbers over his five-year career. His batting average over the course of his career steadies at an eye popping .312 and his 161 homeruns rank extremely high in the league over the last five years.

However, the phenomenon that is Ryan Braun, catapulted himself in the limelight in the dog days of last summer. Braun lifted his Brewers club into the playoffs, winning their first division title in 29 years.

They were ousted by rival St. Louis in the National League Championship Series in six games after a divisional series win against Arizona.

Thrust into the bright lights was Braun. He was a household name. Kids imitated his swing at local parks. He was the talk of ESPN for weeks. How could

DAVE BROWN

courtesy of Flickr.com

it get any better for him?

Reword that question.

How could things get messed up?

Well, simply, mention the S-bomb of baseball, steroids.

ESPN’s Outside the Lines reported that in October of 2011 Braun had tested positive in a drug test, and had recorded the highest testosterone level of anyone tested before. He was facing a 50-game suspension if he did not appeal.

Lights off. Curtain down.

The show of Ryan Braun was finished.

Or was it?

A spotlight peers down, and snoops behind the curtain. There is Braun. On the floor, beaten up but still functioning. He stands up.

The spotlight shines on him once again. His face now jeered in the public eye after a horrible performance.

Begin Act II. Act II begins as Braun calls for an appeal, and… wins? Braun comes up with the best performance he has had in years and calls out the MLB on a legal

technicality and for his final speech asserts himself as innocent. The test was not conducted by procedure and his testosterone levels were raised so high because of a prescription medicine to treat a private medical issue. However, the audience is still weary on these assertions, and for good reason as well.

With the advent of steroid testing in the mid 2000s, players have been caught and suspended for the use of performance enhancing drugs. But how can this one player, one who has not gained an inch, not gained one shred of muscle, be accused of such wrong doing?

Skeptics will question his personal medical issue and others will write him off as a cheater.

But let us wait. The Ryan Braun show is not over yet.

Act III awaits us. It is up to Braun to write it for his audience. Time will tell when this slugger rises to the stars, or comes crashes down to the dirt.

As the NBA season heads into the next stretch of play, fans and players alike were entertained by this past weekend’s all-star festivities. Throughout the weekend fans were treated to the Sprint celebrity game and the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, the Shooting Stars Challenge and the Sprite Dunk Contest on Saturday and then finally, the All-Star game on Sunday.

The Sprint Celebrity interested many considering Kevin Hart went on a tirade that led to him getting ejected from the event.

Hart threw his shoes off, ripped off his jersey, and even dropped his shorts to the referee before walking back to the bench. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was the Most Valuable Player.

The Rising Stars Challenge followed the celebrity game. All eyes were on Jeremy Lin, who was just put on the roster last week.

Although Lin did not rise to the occasion this time, Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving did and led team Chuck to a victory.

On Saturday, fans were treated to the Shooting Stars Challenge. New York Knicks’ Landry Fields, retired Knick, Allan Houston, and New York Liberty’s

Cappie Pondexter lifted team New York to victory.

Next, the Taco Bell Skill’s Challenge began strong.

The first round ended in a tie between Boston Celtic’s Rajon Rondo and Washington Wizard’s John Wall.

Rondo edged out Wall, but the final round did not go in Rondo’s favor as he was beaten by the San AntonioSpur’s Tony Parker.

The night concluded with the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest. Although Blake Griffin was not a contestant this year, there was still excitement. Houston’s Chase Budinger’s blindfolded slam dunk looked like it was going to be the winner, but Utah’s Jeremy Evans jumped over teammate Gordon Hayward, while slamming a two-ball dunk and won over the fans.

Evans did not even know he was going to be in the contest until earlier last week, when it was announced that the Knicks’ Iman Shumpert was not going to be able to compete.

Sunday brought dunk city and little defense to the television sets across the country. Highlights from Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and MVP Kevin Durant sparked the contest and gave it the necessary flavor needed to keep the fans watching. If one wanted to watch defense, then turn off the channel because it never showed up. Kobe Bryant wound up passing Michael Jordan on the all-time all-star scoring list and the West beat the East 152-149.

The NBA season will begin to heat up again this Tuesday with Minnesota visiting “Lob City” and the L.A. Clippers.

Staff Columnist

Power Rankings week of Feb.28

1. Vancouver Canucks:

The Canucks maintain a 19-point lead in the Northwest Division standings.

They also broke the winning streak of the Detroit Red Wings, so they earn the No. 1 spot this week.

2. Detroit Red Wings:

The thing about streaks is that they can be snapped at any moment. The Red Wings have dropped two straight at home, after winning a record 23. They will be glad to see Jimmy Howard back between the pipes again this week.

3. New York Rangers: The Rangers are doing well representing the Empire State on the ice, but they have not been as dominant or consistent as they were earlier in the season. But the Empire could strike back.

4.

St.

Louis

Blues:

The best two-man goalie combo in the league is the new “Spirit” of St. Louis. at any point.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins:

With his ninth career hat trick coming over the weekend, Evgeni Malkin has been on fire. Look for him to keep pace, and hit 55 goals with little trouble.

6. New Jersey Devils 7. Nashville Predators 8. Philadelphia Flyers 9. Boston Bruins 10.Chicago Blackhawks

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