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The Slate 4-2-24

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Language around cancer, B1

Students mix at RHA mocktails, C1

Annual senior art exhibit, D1

Softball sweeps four-games, E1

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Volume 67 No. 17

Reporting truth. Serving our community.

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

1973 SU alumni fund campus projects for 50-year anniversary

Courtesy of Weber Murphy Fox

Proposed designs of the archway and SHIP letters were both funded by the family of Jeff Coy and members of the class of 1973. Both projects are set to be completed later this year, and were designed by the architecture firm Weber Murphy Fox. Connor Niszczak & Elizabeth Peters Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief

The historic side of Shippensburg University’s campus is getting an upgrade — courtesy of several alumni. Over the past few weeks, construction began for an archway next to Stewart Hall and Rowland Hall on the west side of campus. The project is funded by the family of Class of 1973 alumnus, long-time member of the SU Board of Trustees and former Pennsylvania State Representative Jeff Coy, who passed away in 2018. Coy was heavily involved in the Shippensburg community and was posthumously honored, along with his wife Jo Anne, with the renamed Jeffrey W. and Jo Anne R. Coy Public Library of Shippensburg in 2019. Once completed, the archway is meant to serve as a new tradition. Incoming students will pass through the arch to begin their time as Raiders and will exit as they depart from the university, according to Megan Silverstrim SU director of Communications and Marketing. The current timeline for the project has the archway’s dedication ceremony set for the last day of classes, May 3. Additionally, construction has begun in front of Stewart Hall for new decorative “SHIP” letters, which is funded by the Class of 1973 as a gift to the university 50 years after their graduation. The letters will each be painted red, stand approximately

6 feet tall and will arrive on campus later this spring, Silverstrim said. The administration is hoping to have the project completed by graduation on May 11, but that is yet to be determined. The dedication ceremony for the SHIP letters will occur during this summer’s Alumni Weekend on May 31 and June 1. The sculpture was designed to create an opportunity for both current and prospective students to take photos that literally say Ship, Silverstrim said. Stewart Hall is where daily tours depart from, so any visitors will see the letters as one of the very first pieces of SU’s campus. Both projects are designed by the architecture firm Weber Murphy Fox. On Monday, SU President Charles Patterson announced in a video posted to the university’s Instagram that a “spacious and environmentally-friendly” habitat for a new hippo arriving on campus on Sept. 30 was being constructed in front of Stewart Hall. Patterson said various academic departments will contribute to the exhibit. Biology will research hippos, earth sciences will ensure the habitat is environmentally sustainable, education students will build curriculum for elementary students visiting a live animal exhibit, business students will create a business plan to create unique ways to create revenue around the new exhibit and political science students will support legislation to protect wildlife. The university also created a webpage — ship.edu/

Editor’s notes for March 5 edition: In an article titled “Record low turnout in SGA officer election,” published in the March 5 print edition of The Slate, the names of two of the election’s winners were switched. The article incorrectly states that Ella Zinn was elected as the 2024–2025 SGA Vice President of External Affairs and that Natalie Nichols was elected as the Vice President of Student Groups. Zinn was elected as the VP of Student Groups, while Nichols was elected as VP of External Affairs. In an article titled “Pennsylvania governor’s vision for higher education,” in the March 5 print edition of The Slate, Governor Josh Shapiro is quoted regarding declining enrollment in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and Pennsylvania community colleges. The figures that Shapiro gave were a 37% decline for community colleges and 30% for PASSHE schools. Shapiro misspoke; these figures are the reverse according to the PASSHE Office of the Chancellor. The state system has experienced a 37% decline in enrollment, while Pennsylvania’s community colleges have seen a 30% decline over the past decade.

To read the corrected articles, scan the QR code to theslateonline.com

hippohabitat — to explain the backstory for the so-called “Shippo’s Shelter.” “We understand that there may be apprehension surrounding this initiative,” Patterson said on the website. “Rest assured, the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff are our top priorities. We have taken every precaution to ensure that the hippo habitat meets the highest standards of care and security.” Unfortunately, “Shippo’s Shelter” was later clarified to be an April Fool’s Day joke, much to the dismay of Shippo fans everywhere.

Screenshot of Shippensburg University Website

A graphic depicting a hippo in “Shippo’s Shelter” in front of Stewart Hall was posted to the SU website.

SGA submits activity fee proposal to administration Connor Niszczak Managing Editor

Shippensburg University’s Student Government Association (SGA) unanimously approved amendments to its constitution and bylaws at its March 28 public meeting. The amended constitution will reduce the required number of meetings SGA must hold from once every two weeks to once a month. Amendments also clarified the duties of vice presidents and updated SGA committees. Additionally, SGA approved a proposed increase to the student activity fee, which will be sent to SU administration for potential approval and next steps. In other business, SGA President Harun Pacavar shared that senate candidates will deliver their

speeches at 4:30 p.m. on April 4 in McFeely’s Coffeehouse, and voting will be open April 8 to 11. During Senator Reports, Residence Hall Association (RHA) Senator Isabelle Schannauer noted a successful Mocktails event, which saw nearly 150 attendees and more than a dozen student group participants. RHA will also be co-sponsoring the Solar Eclipse viewing party on April 8 from 1 to 5 p.m. Interfraternity Council (IFC) Senator Ethan Sommer said the IFC is working with Theta Chi to hold a celebration of life for a member of the organization who recently passed away. Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) Senator Philicia McArthur shared that members of MSA recently met with Pennsylvania State Police and Shippensburg

Borough Police Department officers to discuss policing procedures before the upcoming Statewide Conference on April 19 and 20. Activities Programming Board president Nicole Baumgardner said APB’s recent Ship’s Got Talent event saw nearly 200 attendees show up to the Luhrs Performing Arts Center. Later this month, APB will be hosting a bus trip to Washington, D.C., and the final Bingo of the year on April 26. WSYC General Manager Jenna Cornell gave updates from the various student media groups and noted WSYC’s 11th annual “Up All Night” broadcast on April 13 and PRSSA’s Networking Night on April 11. SGA will hold its secondto-last public meeting of the year on April 11 at 4 p.m. in CUB 119.


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