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Volume 65 No. 4
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
COVID concerns spark discussion on campus Noel Miller
Editor-in-Chief
Five weeks into the semester, uncertainty and rumors about how COVID-19 is affecting Shippensburg University have spread rapidly. Questions about moving to online instruction, how COVID-19 cases are calculated by the school and support students in quarantine are receiving are circling campus. Last week, Charles Patterson, Shippensburg University president, sent out an email to students addressing rumors about the school moving to online instruction. He assured students there were no plans being made to go online. Despite this assurance, some students remain uncertain about the university’s support and their safety on campus. At last Thursday’s Student Government Association (SGA) meeting, Hunter Cramer, the college of arts and science senator, said several students had expressed concerns about their safety in
classrooms. Although a cold was going around, students who spoke to him said they considered leaving classrooms due to how many people were coughing. On Thursday, Sept. 23, Abby Hollibaugh, an SU student, started a petition on Change.org titled “Shippensburg University Shows No Support towards students in quarantine.” In the petition description, Hollibaugh said some students are being advised to withdraw from classes. The petition said that professors have leeway on how they support quarantined students by giving them notes, lectures or additional time on tests and that there is no uniform policy to address this. “Suggestions are made by the university to these students to withdraw. Why should students have to withdraw from the class or semester because professors don’t supply covid 19 students with classroom material or provide Zoom
with equipment available in the classrooms?” The petition said. Students may not report COVID-19 symptoms or go get tested to avoid the academic hurdles presented by being quarantined and lead to more positive cases on campus, the petition said. As of Monday, Sept. 27, there have been 119 positive COVID-19 cases since Aug. 1, according to the Raider Respect website. The website, SU’s hub for COVID-19 policies, questions and information, includes statistics on the cumulative cases and tests. These numbers are updated every Monday and Thursday according to the university. Test and case totals are broken down into demographics of commuters, residential students and employee cases. Employee cases include campus partners like Aramark, according to Patterson. See “COVID,” A2
Noel Miller/The Slate
Aden Rusfeldt yells at students as they debate.
Demonstrators spew hate on campus Noel Miller
Editor-in-Chief
Last semester, demonstrators from Key of David Christian Center, located near Philadelphia, came to Shippensburg University holding signs with derogatory words about women, non-Christians and the LGBTQ community. Friday, the group showed up again, demonstrating on the lawn outside of Grove Hall. The group travels around and demonstrates at different schools in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), said Christopher Clark, the associate vice president of operations at SU. The group first came to campus last March; however, they had let the university know in advance they would be coming. This time, the
SGA hosts second meeting, discusses student groups and welcomes new member Noel Miller
Editor-in-Chief
The Student Government Association (SGA) met last Thursday in the Ceddia Union Building Multi-Purpose Room. Eleven members were absent due to COVID-19 contact tracing, said Riley Brown, SGA president. Those absent had not tested positive for COVID-19, but had been in contact with someone who had, said Madison Cole, the co-chair of external relations. With only 15 members present, SGA passed no motions. SGA gained a new member, Ethan Rosenberry, a first-year student as the senator for the Class of 2025. Imani Cameron, vice president of internal affairs, administered his oath of office. Senators discussed ideas
and upcoming business for campus groups during their reports. Chase Slenker, the vice president of the budget and finance committee, reminded members that student groups must re-register as an SGA recognized club by Oct. 8. Groups need to submit the number of active members and re-register so SGA can track which organizations are active, Slenker said. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several student groups died out or became inactive. If a group does not re-register, they will be unfunded and no longer SGA recognized, he said. Student groups that do not re-register their clubs through SGA by Oct. 8 will have their budgets frozen, Slenker said. See “SGA,” A2
group contacted the university an hour before their arrival, and the university had less time to prepare. The demonstrators, led by Pastor Aden Rusfeldt, spoke about premarital sex, homosexuality, feminism and the afterlife. Two rings of fence separated the demonstrators and the students, with five to 10 feet in between them. Those gathered around engaged with the demonstrators yelling back or trying to debate. Students led chants and brandished their own signs in response. Others brought Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ Pride Flags. At 12:24 p.m., soon after the demonstrators arrived, Stephanie Jirard, SU’s Chief Diversity Officer, sent out an email to students. Read the full story at theslateonline.com.
Homecoming Court: 2021 Heather Ross/The Slate
Henry Mooney Asst. News Editor
At Shippensburg University, homecoming is a significant event to many members of the SU family. Alumni are able to connect with current students’ excitement and school spirit, and some students are able to showcase their love for Shippensburg in a larger way. The Homecoming Royalty title is both an honor and a staple for the season, and for these students, a place on the Homecoming Court is much more than just a nomination. “I personally value Homecoming Court and its role within the history of the university as it provides ways to both give back to our local community, while also showing Raider Pride as undergraduate chapters come to a close,” said Tyler Rock, the 2018 Homecoming King. The opportunity to be a part of the Shippensburg University Homecoming Court is given to a select group of hardworking and passionate students each year. Qualifying for Homecoming Court is no small feat. In order to join the ranks, students must submit a 200–350 word bio about themselves, showcasing parts
of their SU journey, as well as how they feel they make an impact on the campus community. Even after students make it into the running, they still have much more to complete in order to achieve the coveted title. After their initial work, the students need to start making a name for themselves by campaigning on campus in order to drum up support for their nomination. Following campaigns, voting opens for 48 hours, and then it’s all said and done. After the votes have been cast, the students that have been chosen for the Homecoming Court have even more work ahead of them. Finalists go through a month of fundraising and community service as they work towards becoming Homecoming Royalty, and during this time, truly focus on giving back and showing they are driven. As if this is not rigorous enough, the students then have to be interviewed by a committee of four graduate students. This is students’ final chance to prove themselves as worthy of the homecoming crown. The 2021 Homecoming Court is made up of a lively and enthusiastic group of students. This year, Hayley Anderson, Hunter Gross, Clarence Johnson III, Alycia LaLuz, David Maldonado and Jordan Newsome-Little are a part of
the court, as well as Robert Rainey, Julie Rehberg, Lindsey Spector and Abdul Omar Tucker. Every student on court is passionate about their process in different ways. For some, it’s about setting an example. David Maldonado believes that the bonds one makes with peers is important, and said, “I wanted to run for homecoming court because I want other transfer and non-traditional students to feel like they too can do this!” For others, it’s about their love for the community. Lindsey Spector said, “I wanted to run for homecoming court because of my love and dedication to Shippensburg University over the past four years here. Homecoming court is a great way to give back to the community which is a big passion of mine as well!” Everyone on the court is incredibly grateful as well and want to make positive changes with their platform. Alycia Laluz said, “It’s all about giving back and there are so many creative outlets we as a court can do and I’m super excited to see it all come together.” The passion and promise of the students at Shippensburg University is what makes running for Homecoming Court such a rewarding and memorable experience for everyone involved.
NEWS
A2 From “COVID,” A1
Numbers are compiled in two ways, Patterson said. They are self-reported by those who go to off-campus testing centers or notification from the R3 testing center and Etter Health center. “I know I have said it before, but the best method we have for maintaining the health and well-being of our campus community and retaining a normal experience is to get vaccinated and to mask up.” Patterson said. Students in quarantine or isolation get university support in several ways, Patterson said. This includes help from the COVID office, the Academic Affairs Division of the provost’s office, the counseling center, residence life, dining services and the university’s instructional technology office. When students enter quarantine the provost’s office tells their professors so they can provide students support, according to Patterson. “Our goal is always to help students achieve their academic goals. Withdrawing from a class should be the last option, and support networks are in place to help students make an informed decision,” Patterson said. However, not all students feel they are adequately supported with these tools. Hollibaugh made her petition “as a small peaceful protest that gives the university a visual idea of how many people disagree with their ways. As we learned in the past, change comes with numbers,” she said. When Hollibaugh was quarantined, she said professors told her to depend on other students for missed lecture material. She did not trust other students to do this as it is not their job,
Hollibaugh said. Those she did reach out to were not able to send her class notes, she said. “I simply want more accommodations towards the students. Ultimately all I’m asking is that students have access to Zoom during lectures or that professors send recordings of the lectures.” Hollibaugh said. When she reached out to multiple offices, she was told they could not force professors to do something they were not comfortable with. “I simply want the university to treat me as a student instead of a nuisance because I am sick,” Hollibaugh said. Hollibaugh had multiple students tell her similar stories, she said, so she decided to be the voice for all students by crating the petition. When asked for a quote regarding the petition, Patterson said there is no standard response on how faculty should support quarantined students dictated by the administration. The administration cannot tell professors how to approach the issue because each case is different. “Each course requires different types of accommodations by individual faculty for students that miss class due to an illness. The vast majority of our faculty have done an outstanding job in accommodating students’ different needs for isolation and quarantine, and we continue to ask all faculty to be as accommodating as possible in these cases.” Patterson said. Kara Laskowski, president of SU’s chapter of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF), has similar sentiments. Faculty work to ensure they are doing all they can to support students in and
From “SGA,” A1
The group would have to speak with the Budget and Finance Committee in order to get re-instated at that point. “We can use that as a weed-out tool so to speak; not to punish, but to make sure we can bring them back in, [and] get their information and help support them to grow,” Slenker said. Chase Carpenter, the college of business senator, brought up the idea of an “organizational checklist” for academic campus groups. This could be another way to track requirements and activity of academic campus groups within the different colleges. At the recent Dean of Students Advisory Committee meeting, this checklist was discussed, according to Carpenter. If used, it would help ensure that college of business student groups are meeting their specific requirements. He pitched it to the senate to possibly be used for other academic clubs in their respective colleges, Carpenter said in an
out of the classroom, Laskowski said. Part of that is helping students when there is a “necessary absence,” which includes isolation and quarantine. “I have been working with my colleagues who have been doing creative and difficult work to accommodate all needs that have been presented by students — including providing notes and class materials, facilitating contact with other students for in-class notes, extending deadlines and creating alternative assignments to replace in-class work,” she said. “The online petition is certainly disheartening because it reflects both inaccuracies about requirements and reflects a difficulty that a student has encountered,” Laskowski said. “With respect to requirements, it is actually important that we are simply saying that the student has the ability to make up the work, without prescribing the way or timeline in which that work is completed,” she said. How and when a student makes up work will look very different in an art class versus a research methods class, according to Laskowski. Some students may recover quicker than others who contract COVID-19 and may need less time to make up their work. “Having a uniform rule that requires students to complete their work in only a week would not serve our students well,” Laskowski said. As the semester continues, the university encourages students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated and mask up. Keep up to date on COVID-19 cases at the Raider Respect website: https:// raiderrespect.ship.edu
email after the meeting. “This has nothing to do with having the senate judge clubs, it is more so for the individual colleges (education, business, engineering, etc.) to ensure that their clubs are offering the best experience to their members,” Carpenter said. Another senator brought up that several students had voiced concerns over safety on campus. Hunter Cramer, the college of arts and science senator, reported several students had come to him expressing unease with COVID-19 on campus. While a cold is going around, Cramer said, some students felt uneasy in their classrooms because of the similarities in the symptoms to those of COVID-19. “Some of them felt unsafe, like they might have had to leave their class or have actually left their class because of the amount of symptoms going around,” he said. The next SGA meeting is on Oct. 7 at the Multi-Cultural Student Association office in Horton Hall.
State Police Briefs
Associated Press
Police responded to a report of a smashed window at Sterling Property Management on Richard Avenue on Sept. 25 at 1:30 a.m. There are no suspects at this time and the investigation is ongoing.
Police investigate a robbery over the weekend Police responded to a call at 9:25 p.m. involving a robbery of multiple items, including an Xbox, an unknown SKS rifle, an unspecified amount of money and a 40” flat-screen TV. The victim was a 23-year-old male from Dallastown, Pennsylvania. The investigation is currently ongoing.
Police currently investigating the theft of a motor vehicle Police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle at 12:51 p.m. The theft is believe to have occurred at Britton Road in Shippensburg. The stolen vehicle is a 2008 silver Kia Rio. The investigation involving the theft is ongoing.
Police say man was driving under the influence Police conducted a traffic stop on the corner of North Queen Street and Coy Avenue on Sept. 25. The driver, a 20-year-old male from Pottsville, Pennsylvania, was found to be driving under the influence. The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody. Police are still investigating the incident.
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Pennsylvania ‘well prepared’ for vaccine boosters Associated Press AP Newsfinder
Pennsylvania’s network of vaccine providers is ready to deliver booster shots of the coronavirus vaccine as soon as federal authorities sign off, the state’s top health official said Tuesday. More than 2,000 providers have COVID-19 vaccine inventory and will be able to administer the extra doses to people who are eligible, while continuing to offer initial vaccinations against the coronavirus, according to the state Health Department. “Vaccine providers are well prepared to start administering booster shoots as soon as the CDC gives final approval and issues guidance later this week,” Alison Beam, the acting health secretary, said Tuesday at a pharmacy in Hershey. A panel of outside experts who advise the Food and Drug Administration has recommended extra Pfizer vaccine doses for people aged 65 or older and those who are at heightened risk from COVID-19. The FDA still has to weigh in, as does the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Anticipating approvals, Beam ordered providers to offer online vaccination appointments as well as live telephone support, serve walk-ins where possible and work with agencies to help get boosters to people who can’t leave their homes. In Pennsylvania, more than 1 million people aged
65 and over are fully vaccinated with the Pfizer shot, according to CDC data. Moderna also has asked the FDA to allow a booster dose of its vaccine. And on Tuesday, Johnson & Johnson said a booster of its vaccine enhanced protection against COVID-19. The results of its study have not been published. The Biden administration had proposed giving extra Pfizer shots to all Americans eight months after they get their second dose, but the FDA advisory panel rejected that plan, citing a lack of safety data and questioning the need for extra doses across the board. The preparations for booster shots come as Pennsylvania tries to coax more people to get vaccinated. Nearly 66% of the state’s 12-and-older population are considered fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. Dr. Denise Johnson, the state’s acting physician general, cited the daily coronavirus statistics in pushing Pennsylvanians to get the shot: Nearly 5,000 new, confirmed infections, nearly 2,400 people in the hospital, and 68 “preventable” deaths attributed to COVID-19. “Millions of Pennsylvanians who are eligible have not yet taken that step to get themselves vaccinated,” Johnson said at the news conference in Hershey. “And that is what is causing our current surge.”
Pennsylvania high court OKs ‘comfort dogs’ for witnesses during testimony in some cases Michael Rubinkam
Police receive a report of a smashed window
September 28, 2021
Canines in the courtroom? The Pennsylvania Supreme Court says yes — under certain conditions. A trial witness may be accompanied by a “comfort dog” if the animal will help yield reliable, complete and truthful testimony, the justices ruled Wednesday in a precedent-setting opinion that established a “balancing test” for Pennsylvania judges with such a request. Ruling unanimously in a murder case, the Supreme Court pointed to other states that allow witnesses to testify with the help of emotional support dogs. The justices said it’s permissible, as long as steps are taken to minimize any potential harm to a defendant.
“Trial courts have the discretion to permit a witness to testify with the assistance of a comfort dog,” Chief Justice Max Baer wrote for the court. “In exercising that discretion, courts should balance the degree to which the accommodation will assist the witness in testifying in a truthful manner against any possible prejudice to the defendant’s right to a fair trial.” The defendant, Sheron Purnell, was convicted of third-degree murder in the 2016 shooting death of a man in Coatesville and was given a prison sentence of up to 47 years. Purnell’s lawyers argued that a Chester County judge abused his discretion by allowing a comfort dog to accompany a teenage witness who testified against Purnell at trial. The defense argued
the dog would “generate sympathy” among jurors for the girl. Prosecutors argued the dog was trained to accompany witnesses in court and would help allay the girl’s fear of testifying. The judge allowed it but said the dog, a black Lab named Melody, had to remain under the witness stand throughout the teenager’s testimony. He also instructed jurors to ignore the dog for purposes of assessing the witness’s credibility and said they should not view her more sympathetically. The Supreme Court said the judge had acted reasonably. “We note that there is nothing in the record to suggest that the comfort dog was in any way disruptive to the trial,” the court said.
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
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Opinion The Bob Franken Column: Political Passwords
Microsoft announced recently that individuals using their various accounts won’t need to use passwords. Big bloomin’ deal! If you were underwhelmed by that declaration, you were probably aware that password-less access has been available for Microsoft’s corporate clients since March. More importantly, various competitors have offered such features as fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, odor recognition (best used with a dog), driver-less cars (best used with a
driver; they have a tendency to have accidents), and now cashier-less grocery stores where Amazon is making everyone happy (except cashiers and shoplifters). And speaking of meaningless exercises, here’s another case in point: the California recall election scam (another redundancy), which was accompanied by the punditocracy filling the void with words, proving that Aristotle was right: “Nature abhors a vacuum.” The outcome was never in
doubt; Gov. Gavin Newsom was never in danger of losing. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1 in California. Donald Trump lost California in 2020 by 30%. Newsom’s leading opponent, conservative radio host Larry Elder, was even more of a buffoon than Trump was in the state, and President Joe Biden got a lot of mileage out of it. “All of you know last year I got to run against the real Donald Trump.” He went on, “Well, this year, the leading Republican running for governor is the closest thing to a Trump clone that I have ever seen in your state.” Biden wouldn’t have said that if Trump or Elder was a threat to Newsom. He wouldn’t even have been out there if he didn’t expect that Gavin would wipe the floor with Larry, and the other 40 odd opponents (and some of them were really odd), which he did. But pundits got to “puntificate,” and they did, both
before and after it was over. “The key to this election is turnout,” said the political experts. If Democrats were not going to turn out, there would have had to be a disease that wiped out only their party. And did anyone point out that if consultants specialized in turnout, they would be hired at exorbitant wages? I mean, how many would be employed if they said something like, “This is a slam dunk; the Democrats have got this in the bag!”? It got worse after the polls closed. Not only did Newsom lap the field by a 30 point margin, but he automatically became one of “the mentionables,” meaning he would be one of those mentioned if Democrats with presidential appeal were the topic of conversation. Of course, that line of thinking has limited appeal, because Joe Biden has a lock on the office -- until he doesn’t, if, say, something unpredictable were to happen. In which case the lock would switch to Kamala
Harris, unless she pulled a Mike Pence. Pence was Donald Trump’s No. 1 bootlicker until the last moments of the administration, when he dared not do anything illegal, like telling a big lie about his power to sway Trump’s “big lie.” The Trumpster controls the party through intimidation, and the next presidential nomination is Trump’s if he wants it, unless he goes to jail or something. Or the Democrats live
down to their reputation of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Actually, it’s premature to talk presidential politics since there’s a midterm election for control of Congress before then. If that goes bad for the Ds, it could open an entire can of worms. Although the worms have already turned with Afghanistan and the new surge in COVID, thanks to the delta variant and the lack of patriotism on the part of anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers.
NDOs are a no-brainer for safety of LGBTQ2IA+ individuals Christina Zeigler Guest Contributor
I’m what you might call a “late bloomer.” I was in my late twenties when I realized my attraction to, well, everyone meant that I wasn’t the straight girl I thought I was. As I began to explore my queer identity, I had to reconcile how my coming out would affect various aspects of my life. One question I found myself asking was, “Can I lose my job for being a queer woman?” As it stands today: yes, I can. The Supreme Court of the United States of America recently announced that it will take up three cases regarding the question of whether or not Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 extends to discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Until that time, however, there are
no clear, consistent and explicit federal non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ2IA+ people. Only 21 states have non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ2IA+ people, meaning that queer folx have to rely largely on local governmental protections. This is a lot of power to give positions that are usually either elected in non-federal election years or are political appointee positions. Mirriam-Webster defines “folx” as a term “used especially signal the inclusion of groups commonly marginalized. The Movement Advancement Project (MAP) is an independent, nonprofit thinktank that provides rigorous research, insight and communications that help catalyze efforts for equal opportunity for all. One of the things MAP
tracks are municipal nondiscrimination ordinances (NDOs). According to MAP, there are currently only 330 municipalities nationwide that have passed NDOs that prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity in private employment, housing and/or public accommodations. As a queer student on campus, I thought it was important to know where both Shippensburg University and Shippensburg Borough stand in protecting the LGBTQ2IA+ folx that live, work, and learn here. In 2019, Shippensburg University passed an Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy,which was revised as recently as April of 2021. The scope of this policy is large, with protections outlined for individuals regardless of age, race, color, national origin,
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, physical or mental disability, marital status, pregnancy and parenting status, religion, or veteran status. In September 2020, PennLive reported on Shippensburg Borough Council passing an NDO by a 5-1 vote. Shippensburg Borough became the 59th municipality in Pennsylvania to enact an NDO, which is something only a little over 2% of municipalities in Pennsylvania have done. Shippensburg Borough’s NDO, however, is too broad and too vague. In fact, their entire NDO can be summed up as follows: “The Council of the Borough of Shippensburg desires that all residents and visitors be treated fairly and equally.” While Ordinance number 20947 includes a glossary, there are no directives about what “fairly” means. Furthermore,
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while there is an NDO within the Borough of Shippensburg, once you leave and step foot into Shippensburg Township, the NDO no longer applies. An NDO in Shippensburg Township would further cement protections for LGBTQ2IA+ folx in the area. It’s difficult to stomach the fact that, as a queer woman, the majority of places I go in my life do not protect me from discrimination based on my sexual orientation. It is evident that LGBTQ2IA+ folx are not offered the same protections as their cisgender, heterosexual counterparts. Queer folx may be able to marry, but we can also still be fired from our jobs, denied housing, profiled by law enforcement or kicked out of establishments simply because of who we are. Nondiscrimination laws are important so that discrimina-
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tion can hopefully be stopped before it happens. A large part of why I chose to get my masters of social work at Shippensburg was the university’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Shippensburg University’s Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy as well as Shippensburg Borough’s nondiscrimination ordinance are the first lines of defense in protecting queer students from harassment or other unfair practices. While I can only speak for myself, I know that the nondiscrimination efforts made by the university and the Borough make me feel safer as I travel around Shippensburg. I urge Shippensburg Township to stand with LGBTQ2IA+ folx both on and off-campus by passing a nondiscrimination ordinance of their own.
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Tuesday, September 28, 2021
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Ship Life
Women’s Center celebrates 35 years Heather Ross
Asst. Multimedia Director
The Women’s Center of Shippensburg University celebrated its 35th anniversary last Thursday, Sept. 23. Arielle Catron, director of the Women’s Center, hosted the celebration in Stewart Hall. There was food, fellowship and passionate messages from guest speakers. “We owe a debt of gratitude to the forward-thinking women in 1986,” SU President Charles Patterson said. The Women’s Center was founded in 1986 in Horton Hall. The celebration began with a moment of silence for the victims of colonization and discrimination. According to Catron, COVID-19 pushed unprecedented numbers of women out of the workforce. Catron said to help women, people should speak up when they hear “locker-room talk,” vote and get vaccinated. “Women have been harder hit by the pandemic and have had to leave their jobs to support their families,” Catron said, adding that the pandemic also contributed to domestic vio-
lence. According to UN Women, The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and The Empowerment of Women, domestic violence reports and emergency calls have increased by 25% since social distancing measures began being enacted. Alithia Zamantakis, director of SU’s Pride Center, urged attendees to examine the present moment even though society has made improvements for women. She called for health plans to include IVF (in vitro fertilization) and gender affirmation surgeries in the United States. She also pointed out Shippensburg University’s predominantly white campus and the presence of only one transgender woman on staff. According to Shippensburg University’s website, 93 percent of undergraduate students enrolled are Caucasian. The event focused on the center’s accomplishments over the last 35 years, including the events they hosted. One of these events is the annual tulip planting ceremony that honors domestic assault survivors. This year’s tulip planting will be on Oct. 6 at 4 p.m. in the Janie Fecker Garden by Lackhove Hall.
Heather Ross/The Slate
The celebration was held in Stewart Hall.
Another event Shippensburg University has participated in is the Clothesline Project, an effort to raise awareness for survivors of assault and abuse. The project is a visual display of violence statistics using colored T-shirts created by survivors or family members of victims of assault or abuse. Finally, in 2006 the SU Women’s Consortium, a community within a statewide group, established the Student Emergency Fund, which provides small amounts of money to help students who are experiencing serious difficulties to meet their daily needs. The Women’s Center, located on the first floor of Horton Hall, provides sexual assault and domestic violence counseling. They also have free condoms, pads and tampons available for individuals who need them. The Women’s Center also directs safe sex discussions in residence halls and feminine and personal hygiene talks for student athletes. For more information about the Women’s Center, visit their website at www. ship.edu/life/resources/womens-center/.
Heather Ross/The Slate
Arielle Catron, the director of the Women’s Center, spoke at the 35th anniversary celebration.
Heather Ross/The Slate
Shippensburg University’s In-Motion Dance Troupe performed at the celebration.
What to know about Knotweed, an invasive plant on campus
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Recipe of the Week:
Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry Ingredients: - 1lb chicken, cubed - 1 tsp salt - 1 tsp pepper - 1 cup broccoli, chopped - 1 cup bell pepper, diced Stir-Fry Sauce: - 1/3 cup soy sauce - 1/4 cup honey - 2 cloves garlic - 1 tsp ginger - 1 tbsp sesame seed
Japanese knotweed, known scientifically as Fallopia japonica, can be beautiful. It has bamboo-like stems, heart-shaped leaves and tassels of white blossoms. It is also invasive and aggressive and chokes out native wildlife — and it is on campus. Heather Sahli, a botany professor at Shippensburg University, described the school’s efforts to control the plant’s growth. The plant’s rhizome, an underground stem which can produce new shoots, is problematic, “Once it is established in an area, it is difficult to eliminate because even small fragments of the rhizome, if left in the ground, can re-sprout and continue to grow. As far as I know, the university has tried herbicides to eliminate it,” Sahli said. “Dr. Sean Cornell had an effort to try to remove it through the use of goats, but this requires continual browsing by the goats to keep eating all the new shoots that come up,” Sahli said. So we would have to have goats on campus for quite a while to finally eradicate it.” Invasive plants are a problem because they lack the predators found in the plant’s native environment. Japanese knotweed grows in thick, tall clusters and crowds out the plants local insects and animals need. Not only is it destructive to plants, the rhizome network of this plant is strong enough to crack concrete. “Research by a student in my lab has found
lower invertebrate abundance and diversity present on Japanese knotweed plants compared to native plant relatives, so having large areas of land dominated by this one species can greatly reduce both plant and animal diversity,” said Sahli. Japanese knotweed is edible according to Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, a peer-reviewed medical journal, Japanese knotweed is a source of resveratrol, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. “I’ve never tried it but I keep meaning to. It’s supposed to be best in spring and the young shoots can be used similar to rhubarb,” Sahli said. “We should definitely do some harvesting next spring and have an ‘eat the invasive’ meal along with garlic mustard, another widespread and tasty invasive species.” Identifying Japanese knotweed is easiest when the plant is flowering at the end of August and in early September. Do not eat wild plants without checking with a professional that they are safe for ingestion. In Pennsylvania, people who find an invasive species should alert local authorities who may not be aware of its presence. Call 1-866253-7189 or email badbug@pa.gov, to notify the Governor’s Invasive Species Council (GISC). The GISC is made up of seven state and non-government agencies with the goal of identifying invasive threats to Pennsylvania’s agricultural resources.
Noel Miller/The Slate Recipe from Tasty.com
Directions: 1. Mix together all sauce ingredients in a small bowl. 2. Heat oil over a nonstick pan and add chicken stirring until cooked. 3. Pour sauce in a pan and stir to coat meat. 4. once the sauce is bubbling, add the vegetables to the pan and stir again to coat. 5. Cook until meat is cooked through and veggies are soft. 6. Server over rice or alone. Heather Ross/The Slate
Pictured above is Japanese knotweed.
D1
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
A&E
Photo courtesy of Facebook @CodyFry
Cody Fry’s new single “Eleanor Rigby” is streaming on Apple Music and Spotify.
Fry brings together ‘all the lonely people’ in cover of ‘Eleanor Rigby’ Bailey Cassada Staff Writer
There is no question that The Beatles are one of the most quintessential bands of all time. Despite their music nearing 60 years old, their iconic tunes are still popular today. Singer-songwriter Cody Fry has always loved the song “Eleanor Rigby.” When he decided that he wanted to cover the iconic song, Fry realized that he needed a little help from his friends. Fry took to social media asking his fans to submit voice recordings for the song. He provided audio recordings and sheet music to help fans learn the part, and then put all the submissions together. The resulting project included an overwhelming 346 person choir and involved nearly 500 people, making this arrangement truly special. Fry has a clear love and passion for orchestral music. He includes an orchestra in nearly all of his songs, and “Eleanor Rigby” is not an exception. He transformed the song into something that is raw and emotional, and it sends chills down my spine every
time I listen to it. I’m a huge fan of Fry’s music, and as soon as he announced that he was looking for singers, I instantly knew I wanted to be involved. Listening to that song is really neat knowing that I played a part in the beautiful arrangement. Especially since we are still in the COVID-19 pandemic, the words of “Eleanor Rigby” just hit a little closer to home. Fry’s vision was to bring together “all of the lonely people” into making a truly special collaboration with his fans, and I would say he succeeded.
Photo courtesy of Codyfry.com
Commentary: Student’s perspective ‘Made in America’ Jade Pennyman Guest Contributor
I was extremely fortunate to be offered the opportunity to go to the 2021 “Made in America” music festival. As a native from the Philadelphia suburbs and a music enthusiast, it felt like a rite of passage to attend. I was filled with excitement when I saw the set line ups; however, I didn’t know what to expect. The event had three performance areas: the TIDAL Stage, the Liberty Stage and the Rocky Stage (in front of the iconic Rocky steps). Even though the weather was hot, sticky and humid, Day one is a day I will cherish. The first performance I saw was Morray. Before going to his set, I had never heard of him. However, his stage presence was lively, and his energy filled the set with passion. After his performance was over, I saw Coi Leray, who was pretty mediocre by comparison. As I was sitting down, I saw a familiar face in the massive crowd. I realized it was local Philadelphia rapper MattOX. I could not pass up the opportunity to introduce myself, and he was gracious enough to take a picture with me. As a fan of his music, it was an experience I will never forget. Seeing Baby Keem live was exhilarating. He opened with “MOSHPIT,” which is one of my personal favorites. The wave of energy that went through the crowd while he was performing was euphoric.
Next up was A$AP Ferg. He opened with “New Level,” and the sound of the gloomy trumpets and eerie high-pitched chimes rang through the stage speakers rattling the parkway and invigorating the audience. Halfway through his performance, he gave a heartwarming tribute to the late A$AP Yams, and then closed his set with “Plain Jane.” As Day one was coming to an end, the energy was slowly declining, but leave it to Lil Baby to liven up the crowd again. I didn’t think anyone expected him to bring out a guest artist during his set, but to our collective surprise, he brought out Lil Uzi Vert and together, they performed “Commercial” and “XO TOUR Llif3.” Entering Day two, I felt exhausted from the previous day, but I had to see Doja Cat perform. Her performance was breathtaking. Hot pink lights beamed throughout the parkway while she performed “Rules.” The audience sang along with her to the newly released “Ain’t Shit” and an array of phone flashlights swayed back and forth in the crowd. Ending Day two was Justin Bieber, and his set was sorely lacking in my opinion. Part of me expected to hear more of his older songs. Though he did perform “Baby” and brought out notable guests Kid Laroi, Chance the Rapper and Don Toliver, I left Bieber’s set unsatisfied. Overall, my experience at “Made in America” is a memory that I will hold dear to my heart, and I hope I am able to go again in 2022.
Billboard Top 10 1. Stay - The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber
6. Industry Baby - Lil Nas X
2. Way 2 Sexy - Drake feat. Future
7. Good 4 U - Olivia Rodrigo
3. Bad Habits - Ed Sheeran
8. Kiss Me More - Doja Cat feat. SZA
4. Knife Talk - Drake feat. 21 Savage
9. Levitating - Dua Lipa
5. Fancy Like - Walker Hayes
10. Girls Want Girls - Drake
The Music Corner What has A&E Editor Ryan Cleary been listening to this past week?
Songs 1. Can’t Stop 2. Eleanor Rigby 3. Follow the Light 4. Hora Loca 5. Industry Baby 6. Quarter Past Midnight
Artists Red Hot Chili Peppers Cody Fry Cory Wong & Dirty Loops BIP Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow Bastille
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Sports
Field Hockey, E2
E1
Gallery, F1
Football routs Bloomsburg; moves to 4-0
Photos courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.
Football starts the season 4-0 after a 51-7 rout of Bloomsburg in front of a packed house in Seth Grove Stadium for Parents and Family Day on Saturday. Isaiah Snead Sports Editor
The Shippensburg University football team and its high-powered offense beat the visiting Bloomsburg Huskies 51–7 Saturday during the univeristy’s Parents and Family Day. SU (4-0, 1-0 PSAC East) scored 24 points in the second quarter to open the game up after a 0-0 first quarter. Redshirt-junior quarterback Brycen Mussina was red hot, throwing 24-30 for 392 yards and two touchdowns. Mussina connected with eight different receivers and also ran for his first rushing touchdown of his collegiate career. Freshman wide receiver Ian Sheehan finished the game with five receptions for 128 yards and two scores. Sheehan caught a 78yard touchdown throw from Mussina, the longest touchdown of Mussina’s career. Graduate receiver Evan Morrill and redshirt-junior tight end David Balint III also hauled in five passes each. Including Mussina, four Raiders scored rushing touchdowns. Redshirt-sophomore Khalid Dorsey scored from 5 yards out in the fourth quarter and redshirt-freshman Nasai Moon wrapped up the scoring with his first collegiate touchdown late in the fourth. Redshirt-senior Kyle Evans also scored on
a 4-yard scurry in addition to returning the opening second-half kickoff 63 yards. SU’s defense allowed just one score on a 48-yard slant route late in the third quarter. They had five tackles for loss (TFL) and picked off two Bloomsburg passes. Redshirt-freshman Khi’on Smith returned an interception 31 yards for a pick six in the second quarter. Senior safety Trey Paul intercepted his third pass of the season while also leading the team in tackles with a total of four. Junior Mike Brewer also had four tackles in the game. Bloomsburg as a team had just four plays of 10 or more yards and they punted the ball 11 times. This was the 85th matchup between Shippensburg and Bloomsburg dating back 104 years. The 44-point margin of victory was the largest ever in the matchup between the two teams. For SU through four games, they lead the PSAC in scoring offense, time of possession and rushing defense. They rank fifth in scoring defense and second in total defense. The Raiders will return to the road next Saturday to take on nationally ranked Shepherd University at Ram Stadium at noon.
Running back Khalid Dorsey scored a touchdown in SU’s blowout win.
Men’s cross country takes home team title at Dickinson College Short Invitational
Photo courtesy of SU Sports Info.
The men’s cross-country team celebrates with the winning plaque after taking home the title in the 4K race in Newville at Big Spring High School on Saturday. Isaiah Snead Sports Editor
Shippensburg University’s men’s cross-country team traveled to Newville on Saturday to compete in the Dickinson College’s Short Invitational and claimed the team title at Big Spring High School. SU had runners finish consecutively 1-6 to take home the title in the 4K race. The team opted to run in the 4K instead of the 8K to focus on speed work. Even though the meet only counted each team’s top three
finishers toward team scores, the Raiders posted the lowest possible score thanks to their top six runners. The individual champion was sophomore Hayden Hunt who crossed the finish line at 12:31. Junior Chayce Macknair clocked in four seconds behind him finishing second. Junior Alexander Ermold and sophomore Aiden Gonder each finished just one second behind, and junior Drew Dailey’s fifth-place finish was clocked at 12:41. Sophomore Ian Sherlock finished in sixth place at a time of 12:46. Junior Kevin Wagner came in 11th but also broke the 13-minute mark at 12:56.
Freshman Jacob Mavretic ran a time of 13:13 for a 15th place finish and senior Nate Kaplon finished 22nd clocking in at 13:30. Every SU runner in the field finished among the top 30 with freshman Jake Lawson finishing 29th with a 13:40 time and junior Nathan Harding two seconds behind him. The Raiders will now shift their focus to next week’s Paul Short Invitational, hosted by Lehigh in Bethlehem on Friday. The team will be looking to see where they stand just a few weeks before the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championships.
SPORTS
E2
September 28, 2021
No. 1 field hockey stays undefeated; Petrantonio sets school record
Carmine Scicchitano/The Slate
Shippensburg’s field hockey team moves to 6-0 on the season after picking up wins over Mansfield University and Queens University of Charlotte this weekend. Jack Ansley
Asst. Sports Editor
Photo courtesy of Bill Smith/SU Sports Info.
Jazmin Petrantonio is tops in goals in SU history.
Field hockey continues its undefeated season with weekend wins against Mansfield University and Queens University of Charlotte. On Saturday, the Shippensburg University field hockey team returned to the field to play Mansfield University. The game would be the opening of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) division play for the Raiders. The Raiders were recently ranked No. 1 in the national polls. Shippensburg defeated the Mountaineers 2-0. The Raiders (6-0 1-0 PSAC) would strike first in the fifth minute as Jazmin Petrantonio scored to give the Raiders a 1-0 lead. With the goal, Petrantonio sets the SU career goal record with the 81st of her career and her 12th goal of the young 2021 season. The record was previously held by SU alumnus Kristina Taylor. Shortly after the goal, the Raiders would strike again when senior Jenna Sluymer received a corner pass from freshman Mya Kemp and put it in the back of the net to extend the Raiders lead to 2-0. In the first quarter the Raiders out-
shot the Mountaineers (3-4 0-1 PSAC) 4-2. The teams did not commit any fouls in the first quarter of the game. Mansfield’s Alex Esterling was given a green card in the first quarter which gave the Raiders a two-minute power play. The second quarter was scoreless as the Raiders would have five shots in the quarter. The Raiders led the Mountaineers at halftime 2-0 In the third quarter SU’s Adrienne McGarrigle received a yellow card in the 58th minute. The card gave Mansfield a five-minute power play. However, the Mountaineers would not be able to find the net during the advantage. The Raiders had 14 shots on goal in the third quarter and outshot the Mountaineers 14-2. They would have nine penalty corner chances in the third quarter. The Raiders would outshoot the Mountaineers 27-6 SU freshman goalkeeper Lindsay Tripodo made the start in net for the Raiders. She recorded three saves and did not allow a goal. Tripodo earned her fourth win of her collegiate career and her third shutout of the season. The teams would not score in the final quarter and the Raiders would defeat the Mountaineers 2-0. On Sunday the Raiders hosted Queens
University at Robbs Sports Complex. The Raiders struck first in the game in the sixth minute when Petrantonio found the back of the net for her 13th goal of the season. The Raiders extended their lead later in the first quarter when graduate student Tori Albright scored her first goal of the season to give the Raiders a 2-0 lead. Later in the first half, Sluymer netted her fifth goal of the season to extend the lead to three goals. The Raiders did not allow a shot on goal in the first half and had nine penalty corners. The Royals did not have a shot on goal in the first half either. Neither team scored in the third quarter but in the fourth quarter Queens forward Cassie McKenzie scored to cut the score down to 3-1. Later in the quarter Gabe Lechner scored to cut the lead to one. Petrantonio then scored her second goal of the day to put the game on ice for Shippensburg and give the Raiders a 4-2 win. The 6-0 Raiders will travel to East Stroudsburg on Wednesday to take on the Warriors at 3 p.m.
THIS WEEK IN RAIDER SPORTS
FIELD HOCKEY
WOMEN’S SOCCER
MEN’S SOCCER
Wednesday: vs. East Stroudsburg 3 P.M.
Wednesday: vs. East Stroudsburg 4:30 P.M.
Wednesday: vs. East Stroudsburg 7 P.M.
Saturday: vs. Mercyhurst 11 A.M.
Saturday: vs. West Chester 2:30 P.M.
Saturday: vs. West Chester 5 P.M.
FOOTBALL
VOLLEYBALL
Saturday: vs. Shepherd 12 P.M.
Friday: vs. Kutztown 7 P.M. Saturday: vs. East Stroudsburg 1 P.M.
CROSS COUNTRY
Friday: Paul Short Invitational 9 A.M.
F1
Multimedia
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Fall Fest Gallery
The Activities Program Board (APB) held a Fall Festival on Saturday for Shippensburg students and their families. Air ball, tug of war, an escape room and other actives filled the C-7 parking lot from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. for families to enjoy. Photos by Carmine Scicchitano and Mark Ross