The Slate 08-28-25

Pres. Patterson’s campus message, B1

Fall Welcome Week, C1

One Night of Queen, D1

A “lift” to remember, E1

@ShipUSlate Thursday

Friday

77/55

73/50

The Slate @ShipUSlate

Please recycle

Reporting truth. Serving our community.

Volume 69 No. 1

Shippensburg University honors the life of Ms. Di

Thursday, August 28, 2025

Your World Today Commentary: The beginning of the end

Evan Dillow News Editor

The Rev. Diane Jefferson, director of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) at Shippensburg University, died Saturday, June 21, at age 72.

Heading into the Fall 2025 semester, MSA has drawn up its plans to honor Jefferson’s memory.

Ms. Di, as she was often affectionately called by students and faculty alike, was a first-generation college student, graduating from SU in 1976. She was an early member of the Afro-Am Organization and Harmonic Voices of Truth while at SU. She also held a master’s degree from the University of Iowa and a Master of Divinity from Payne Theological Seminary in Ohio.

After working as a counselor at Dickinson College in Carlisle, she joined the staff at SU in the 1980s and was named director of MSA when the organization was founded in 1989.

“Ms. Di supported, mentored and educated thousands of students during her

Jayden Pohlman Editor-in-Chief

Photo courtesy of Megan Silverstrim / Shippensburg University

Ms. Di addresses attendees at the “Quilt to Cover Us All” unveiling as a part of Shippenburg University’s Diversity Week celebration in February. time at Ship,” SU President Charles Patterson said in an email announcing Jefferson’s passing to the campus community. “From alumni to staff and faculty, she was more than a resource to students, she was a leader and a change agent for our entire campus community. Her loss is felt deeply across generations of Raiders.”

A service was held on June 28 at Luhrs Performing Arts Center for Jefferson. A visitation preceded the service.

Grace Harbour / The Slate

Ms. Di leads students, faculty and President Patterson in song during Diversity Week.

The memorial was held in the Luhrs Performing Arts Center.

Marquis Lupton and Sean Hearn, both 2007 alumni of SU, hosted a Facebook Live on June 25 to commemorate Jefferson’s life and impact at SU. During the more than 90-minute program, they read comments and accepted live calls from the public.

“This is a really, really big emotional time. She meant so much,” Lupton said.

“Everybody has those special memories of being at Ship with Ms. Di,” Hearn added. “No matter when you came in, everybody has one.”

Lupton and Hearn endorsed renaming Gilbert Hall, the home of MSA, in Jefferson’s memory for her many years of service and contributions to SU. Contributions to honor Jefferson’s memory may be made to Bethel Cito AME Church in McConnellsburg and a fund established in her name at the Shippensburg

University Foundation. More information is available in her obituary online.

Shippensburg University has plans to honor Jefferson’s life and service to the community during homecoming this October. Additionally, a piece about her will be run in the Shippensburg Magazine.

Following homecoming, there are plans to name Gilbert Hall 100, the location of the MSA office, after her.

For MSA leadership going into the Fall 2025 semester, offers have not yet been sent out to fill the associate director and director positions.

MSA is awaiting approval from the Shippensburg University Human Resources Office to begin the interview process.

On Aug. 15, the university opened a job posting to fill the role of director. The anticipated salary is $75,000 annually with benefits on a full-time, permanent position.

Warning: cliché incoming.

When I was a kid, I never quite understood why adults made such a big fuss over how much taller I had grown since they last saw me.

Family friends or relatives that only came around once every few years often would say something along the lines of: “You were only about this big the last time I saw you. Man, does time ever fly.”

I always smiled and nodded my head, but truthfully, in my adolescent mind, time did not fly. Year after year, I went through the same routine — 180 grueling days of school, followed by 70 sweet days of freedom in the summer.

Like most kids, I could not wait to grow up. I was constantly looking ahead — always chasing the next milestone: 16, then 18, then 21.

Now, as I enter my senior year at Shippensburg University, I find myself baffled by how quickly time has flown by. Who would have thought the adults were

right all along?

The last four years have been, without a doubt, the most impactful of my entire life. I came out of my shell, embarked on a oncein-a-lifetime adventure and met so many amazing people. But I also cut ties, experienced multiple burnouts and lost one of the most important people in my life.

I am excited for what is to come after college, but I am also terrified. I do not want to leave the comfortable routine I have followed for the past four years, but I know that I must.

My goal for my final year at Shippensburg University is simply to enjoy it. To soak in those late-night study sessions, early morning classes and everything in between.

For my fellow seniors, I hope you can make the most of your final year of undergrad. Time is a thief, and we have reached the beginning of the end. But time is also a gift. Make the most of every moment.

If you’re an underclassman, time is still on your side. What are you waiting for? Go get involved in that organization that piqued your interest. Study abroad halfway across the world.

Seize every opportunity you are presented with. And go to that gen ed class you hate.

The beginning of your end will be here before you know it. I can confidently say that I have made the most of my time here at SU thus far.

Will you feel the same?

Trump sends National Shippensburg’s Art & Design Department Guard to D.C. in crime adds faculty following recent retirements crackdown operation Megan Sawka Evan Dillow News Editor

About 800 National Guard troops and 500 federal law enforcement agents were deployed in Washington, D.C., starting Monday, Aug. 11 under the orders of President Trump in what he calls an effort to crack down on the rise of violent crime in the city.

As a part of his plan, Trump placed the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) under federal control.

In a Presidential Action titled “Restoring Law and Order in the District of Columbia,” published by the White House on Aug. 11, the president addressed recent incidents of assault and murder in the city as the reason for the mobilization.

When asked about his goals for D.C. during a press conference held at the Kennedy Center on Aug. 13, Trump said, “If it’s dirty and unsafe, it sets a bad tone for

the rest of the world. We’re going to have this capitol fixed up, safe, clean and beautiful, in a very short period of time.”

Additionally, Trump directed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to coordinate with state governors for the deployment of National Guard soldiers as Hegseth deems necessary.

According to Trump, the deployment of National Guard troops and federal agents will last until he determines that “law and order” have been restored.

The federal control over the MPD is under a 30-day limit unless Congress approves of a long-term extension.

Opposition to the Trump administration was quick to address the president’s inaccurate claim that crime has been rising in the U.S. capitol. According to D.C. MPD statistics, the number of violent crime incidents is down 26% compared to last year.

Read the full story at theslateonline.com.

Managing Editor

Shippensburg University’s Department of Art & Design has filled key teaching positions after all four of its tenured faculty members retired at the end of last semester.

Professors Steve Dolbin, Ben Culbertson, Michael Campbell and William Whiteley stepped away over the summer, leaving the department without any tenure-track faculty for the first time in decades. Their departures came amid broader challenges for the university, including budget pressures, declining enrollment and administrative turnover.

Trever Famulare, interim chair of Art & Design, said the university has hired four new adjunct faculty members to cover areas such as drawing, ceramics, sculpture, computer design, painting, art history, art appreciation and art education. One adjunct remains from last year, and only one is full time.

“The positions filled al-

low us to offer 16 courses students need within their major, minor and general education,” Famulare said.

“There has been no change in course offerings this semester as compared to previous semesters.”

The department currently serves about 70 students, many of them art education majors. Famulare said staffing changes have not affected

degree requirements.

“We are committed to continuing to offer the courses students need for degree completion,” he said. “A talented adjunct faculty has been hired within a short time frame, and we are confident that students will have an amazing educational experience this year.”

Discussions about a possible merger of the Art &

Megan Sawka / The Slate

Huber Arts Center, home of the Art & Design Department, gains new faculty going into Fall 2025.

Design and Music & Theatre Arts departments have also been paused, according to Famulare, who serves as chair of both programs. If talks resume, he said, the focus will remain on ensuring students have access to the classes they need.

Famulare added that the department is looking ahead with a positive outlook.

“I recently had our first department meeting with the faculty of Art & Design, and I came away from the meeting with pure excitement,” he said. “The faculty we have put in place are a vibrant and ambitious group willing to go above and beyond to assist all students in the Art & Design Department.”

He encouraged the campus community to visit the Huber Art Center, calling the department’s students, faculty and facilities “one of the hidden gems on our campus.”

More updates on the department’s staffing and longterm plans are expected later this semester.

Thursday, August 28, 2025

B1

Opinion Matthew Scalia / The Slate

A Welcome Back From President Patterson Dear Students, Welcome to the 2025-2026 Academic Year! Whether you are just starting your academic journey, or counting down the weeks to graduation, I hope that your year is full of opportunity.

College provides you with the opportunity to broaden your understanding of the world around you, find a new direction in your path and grow as an individual.

Sometimes opportunity presents itself as a hurdle or challenge.

These challenges may be big or small, but regardless, they are opportunities I am confident you can handle, especially with the community of support available to you at Ship. Engage with your faculty, seek guidance and support from staff, and connect with your fellow students in meaningful ways so that you are ready when opportunity, in any form, arises.

I am confident this semester will be a great one, and I look forward to every opportunity we encounter together!

Good luck and… GO SHIP! Charles E. Patterson

Megan Sawka / The Slate

My bed is my happy place... and my cat Tilly’s too!

The case for cozy nights in Managing Editor

There is a certain peace that comes with choosing to stay in. As a senior in college, I find myself gravitating more toward the comfort of my own space instead of the constant pull of going out. I used to feel a little pressure to say yes every time friends wanted to grab food or stay out late. Now, I value those nights here and there, but more often than not, nothing sounds better than crawling into bed and watching Netflix or getting lost in a rabbit hole of YouTube videos.

It is not that I dislike socializing now. I still enjoy getting dressed up and spending time with friends,

especially when there is an occasion to celebrate. The difference now is that I do not feel the same urgency to fill every night with plans. I know that if I turn down an invitation, it is not the end of the world. The people who matter understand, and the world outside my room will still be there tomorrow.

There is something underrated about the rituals of a night in. I take a shower, get all cozy in my bed and let myself relax. College can feel like an endless cycle of assignments, emails and group projects, so I like to take these little moments for myself. I think many of us get caught up in the idea that we are missing out if we are not doing things at all times. For

Albums still matter in the streaming music What place does an abum play in our streaming future?

Mason Flowers Sports Editor

President, Shippensburg University

Megan Sawka

Matthew Scalia / The Slate

me, the real “fear of missing out” is not giving myself permission to slow down before this chapter of my life comes to a close.

Part of it might be that I am a senior. After three years of trying to do it all, I now realize that I am happiest when I give myself space to breathe. A cozy night in feels like a reward for all the work I have put into school, internships and everything else that comes with college life. It may not look as exciting as a night out, but it feels just as important.

So yes, you will still see me at Wibs from time to time, but chances are you will find me curled up in bed, watching Dexter, perfectly content with the quiet.

When discussing music with people, whether it is online or a face-to-face conversation, the focus tends to be either songs, artists, playlists or genres. It makes sense, those are all very broad, and trading playlists or favorite artists in a genre is a good way to find new music.

Albums seem to have fallen by the wayside though.

Outside of the hype from a new album being announced and the wave of reviews and discussion that occurs in the first week, discussion then turns back to the artist’s full discography or the singles from the album.

My viewpoint has always been that an album tells a story, and I imagine many others feel the same way.

But when we add a few songs from an album to a playlist, it is the same as pulling a random chapter from a book. It can be an enjoyable experience, but something is missing.

I had a goal entering 2025 to listen to 100 albums

this year that I had never heard. The first few were phenomenal. Albums like “Songs of a Lost World,” “Manning Fireworks” and “Blackstar” made me dedicated to seeing this goal to the finish.

As I neared the midway point, it got far tougher to find good albums. Part of it is because most genres I listen to — indie rock, americana, alternative, etc. — do not get tons of mainstream discussion. Another reason is because Spotify, my streaming platform of choice, did not recommend any albums, instead it recommended playlists.

Spotify, understandably, only promoted their playlists when viewing an album.

Playlists are all that most people listen to, but this really feels like a missed opportunity. Websites like Album of the Year and Rate Your Music are good for recommendations but just feel clunky. Spotify in general had been losing its appeal for me, especially considering the investments made by their CEO with the money

from premium subscriptions.

It got to a point where, about a month ago, I decided to make the switch to Apple Music. It was more rewarding than I ever thought it would be.

Everything just seems to make sense on Apple Music, especially when it comes to albums. You can add entire albums to your library with a couple taps, it recommends similar albums when viewing one and alternate players, like Marvis Pro, let you view a playlist as just its albums instead of individual songs.

This ease allowed me to get back to the initial interest I had in this goal and to see how picking an album to listen to is far more meaningful than a song. The whole story needs to be told, and hearing records like Jason Molina’s “Didn’t It Rain” made this swap worth it. Having just finished my 73rd album of the year today, it is clear that they still have value in streaming. Whether it is a new release or finding a gem from decades ago, a little effort can go a long way in expanding your listening habits.

Matthew Scalia / The Slate

Where’s Your Voice?

•

•

• • • •

Shippensburg University students, staff, faculty, administrators and affiliated people are welcome to submit letters to the editor for publication.

Letters must be no more than 500 words and may not contain derogatory language or messages of hate or discrimination.

The Slate may reject letters for any reason.

Letters become property of The Slate.

Letters without a name and title (affiliation to SU) will not be accepted.

Letters should be sent to The Slate one week prior to the day of publication. Late letters may be accepted but published the next week.

Disclaimer •

•

The views and opinions expressed in this section are those of the writer and not of The Slate or University.

The unsigned staff editorial, “The Slate Speaks,” represents the views and opinions of The Slate as an organization. Participating editors help shape the staff editorial.

THESLATEONLINE.COM Reporting truth.

Serving our community.

Contact Us slate.ship@gmail.com (717) 477-1778 Mailing Address The Slate - Shippensburg University CUB Box 106 1871 Old Main Drive Shippensburg, PA 17257 Office Location Ceddia Union Building Room 250 Shippensburg University Adviser Dr. Michael Drager About The Slate The Slate is a weekly, independent, student-run newspaper printed by Gettysburg Times. Its print edition is published on Thursdays and its website, theslateonline.com, is maintained 24/7.

Weekly editorial meetings are held Sundays in The Slate office. Students interested in The Slate may request to attend the meeting by contacting management prior to the meeting.

Staff positions are held on either a one semester or one academic-year term. There are no term limits. The Slate hires new members throughout the year based on its needs. The Slate does not dis-

Management slate.ship@gmail.com Jayden Pohlman................Editor-in-Chief Megan Sawka.................Managing Editor News slatenews@gmail.com Evan Dillow............................ Editor Opinion shipspeaks@gmail.com Matthew Scalia................... Editor Ship Life slate.shiplife@gmail.com Jordan Neperud...................Asst. Editor Sports slatesports@gmail.com Mason Flowers............................. Editor Hannah Stoner.....................Asst. Editor

A&E slateae@gmail.com Abbygale Hockenberry.....................Editor Multimedia slatephotos@gmail.com Madison Sharp...................Asst. Editor Hayden Highlands..............Asst. Editor Copy theslatecopy@gmail.com Kyra McCallister...............................Editor Public Relations slate.circpr@gmail.com Mara Eberle........................Director Web web.slate@gmail.com Elisa Reitman.........................Director

criminate against anyone based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, political philosophy etc. Undergraduate and graduate SU students are hired based on skill, dedication and loyalty to the values and principles of journalism.

Funding for The Slate is provided by the SU Student Government Association. A portion of those funds are required to be paid back via the selling of advertising space.

The Slate as an organization does not endorse any products or services advertised on its pages.

See our Advertising Media Kit for rules and policies on ads.

Copyright Notice All content in the print version and on theslateonline.com is the property of The Slate, unless otherwise stated. No content written or visual may be used, copied, downloaded or published elsewhere without the express written consent of Slate management.

Content granted permission must include attribution to The Slate and the appropriate staff member and creator of the work.

Thursday, August 28, 2025

C1

Ship Life What not to do during your first year of college Jordan Neperud Asst. Ship Life Editor

The first year of college contains the unique experience of having your first taste of independence while also having no idea what you’re doing.

My experience with my freshman year was no different. I was dropped off at Shippensburg University with mixed feelings of homesickness and excitement for the upcoming year. After surviving my first year, I have decided to pass on my wisdom to the upcoming class of freshman so they are not doomed to repeat my mistakes.

The biggest issue I dealt with during the beginning of my freshman year was homesickness. I was away from my parents, my dogs, and my little sister. My sister, being 3 at the time, did not understand why I was leaving home for school.

Everyday I would receive a text from my mom telling me that my sister was knocking on my bedroom door, waiting for me to come out.

Understandably, this made me want to go home.

It was all I could think about

during those first couple weeks.

The only “cure” for homesickness is to find things you love about being at school.

This can be anything.

Whether it is picking up a new hobby or finding a place you enjoy spending your time, it will eventually ease your homesickness.

As you are trying to find things to love about school, you should consider finding a club to join.

While this is not the case for everyone, I arrived at SU knowing exactly zero people. I am an out of state student, so I dealt with both not knowing anyone and not being in close proximity to people that I do know.

The thing that finally introduced me to people was joining The Slate. It forced me to go out and go to campus events I would not otherwise go to. It surrounded me with people I would not have met if I had not joined and put myself out there. It gave me the confidence to join other student groups, such as WSYC. With that in mind, get involved in something. Join a club, a student organization,

a fraternity/sorority, or anything that gets you to interact with the people around you.

On the topic of being social, try to make at least one friend in all your classes.

Throughout my freshman year, I found that classes were much easier if there was someone I knew with me. Beyond having someone that you can ask for help, having a friend in a class makes you more likely to go.

Even if you are just going to class so you can talk to your friend afterward, it still gets you to go to class.

This leads me to the next piece of advice: go to class.

Skipping class is a real temptation, especially if you end up with the dreaded 8 a.m lecture. While skipping class does not seem to be that big of a deal, it can easily become a hard-to-break habit. As painful it may be, dragging yourself out of bed and into class is the best thing you can do for yourself.

Along with going to class, studying and homework are other things you will have to force yourself to do.

I found myself struggling with the lack of structure when I first came to college.

I had so much unstructured time that I never had in high school. This was a blessing and a curse, as I struggled to give myself enough time to complete my assignments.

It is incredibly easy to tell yourself that you will do it later. The problem with that statement is that you probably will not do it later.

The more likely scenario is you will stay up late desperately trying to finish the assignment the night before the deadline. This is a rabbit hole you do not want to fall down.

Time management is one of those tricky things that is different for everyone. The only way to know what works best for you is trial and error.

I learned that I do not work well in my dorm room, so I found other spots around campus or around downtown Shippensburg to work.

Once you find what works best for you, it becomes easier and easier to get your work done while having time for a social life.

On top of academics, a social life and maybe having a job, you need time to be a person. Everyone needs to eat, sleep and take care of themselves. This category

tends to be the most neglected by students who are overwhemled by the other aspects of their lives.

Ignoring your basic needs is a one-way street to burning out, which is hard to bounce back from. Pulling all nighters or skipping meals will not make you more productive. It will only make you more stressed and exhausted.

I learned this the hard way my freshman year. The only way to avoid dealing with this is to learn how fit in relaxing with everything else you have going on.

I gave myself a cut off time

for doing work or activities.

Once that time came, I would stop whatever I was doing so I could give both my mind and my body time to rest.

It cannot be overstated how important self care is. It does not have to be the stereotypical image of putting on a face mask while reading a magazine. Self care is anything that helps you recuperate.

Freshman year is a very difficult time for a lot of people. It comes with unique challenges. If you face those challenges head on, you will have an amazing time.

Courtesy of Casey Hall

My sister saying goodbye before I left for college.

Fall Welcome Week Shippensburg University welcomed the new freshmen class on Thursday, Aug. 21.

Photos couresty of SU Marketing and Communications.

Courtesy of Pixabay

Snoozed your alarm? Make this easy breakfast!

Mornings in a Mug: Omelet Edition Megan Sawka Managing Editor

Happy first week of classes! Right now, you might feel motivated to wake up early for your 8 a.m. classes, but once the semester picks up, you will be much more tempted to hit the snooze button. Having an easy, filling breakfast on deck can make mornings much smoother and fuel the rest of your hectic class-filled day. This mug omelet is perfect for mornings when you do not feel like heading to the dining hall. It is fast, customizable, and made right in your dorm microwave with almost no cleanup.

Ingredients 2 large eggs 2 tablespoons milk 2 tablespoons shredded cheddar cheese Optional add-ins: frozen vegetables, deli meat, or hot sauce Salt and pepper, to taste Instructions 1. Crack two eggs into a microwave-safe mug.

2. Add milk and whisk with a fork until combined.

3. Stir in shredded cheese and any add-ins you have on hand.

4. Microwave for 1 minute, stir, then microwave for another 30 to 60 seconds until the eggs are cooked through.

5. Season with salt and pepper and let cool slightly before eating.

With simple ingredients, quick preparation and minimal cleanup, this mug omelet is a dorm-friendly breakfast that will keep you full and focused all day.

Megan Sawka / The Slate

A quick, delicious breakfast before class.

Thursday, August 28, 2025

D1

A&E A Royal Revival: ‘One Night of Queen’

Abbygale Hockenberry / The Slate

“One Night of Queen” started at 7:30 p.m. with full energy from vocalist Gary Mullen. The Works played the classic songs from the famous band Queen.

Abbygale Hockenberry A&E Editor

It has been nearly 35 years since Freddie Mercury passed away, and Saturday night felt like the Queen singer was alive again — maybe even reincarnated. Gary Mullen embodied the stage presence that Mercury had and even had the crowd go “Ay-Oh!” The show was full of classic Queen songs that have become so loved by many, like “Under Pressure,” “Another One Bites The

Dust,” “We Will Rock You,” “Radio Ga Ga” and many more.

Gary Mullen and The Works have been performing their Queen concert for over 20 years. They have performed in various countries and are known as one of the best tribute bands of Queen.

I was highly impressed with The Works.

The drummer, Jon Halliwell, brought the thunder to the set. The deep percussion had me feeling the beat in my toes, especially during “We Will Rock You,” which was sped up slightly. Halliwell was on a raised stage

that had steps so that Mullen could venture, and it even had lights underneath of it.

During “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the original soundtrack was played during the opera portion of the song, as that part is extremely hard to recreate live. The most recent success of this recreation I can think of is Benson Boone performing “Bohemian Rhapsody” with Brian May on the guitar at Coachella with a live band and operatic singers.

Mullen interacted with the crowd and had them laughing throughout. He came out into the crowd standing on a few seats, grabbing

people’s hands, high fiving them, putting his arm around an usher and danced the entire time. Mullen encouraged the crowd to get up out of their seats.

“We will rest when we are dead,” Mullen said.

I have been to many Luhrs shows, and I have to say out of all of them, this was the most lively I have seen the crowd. Everyone standing, clapping their hands, laughing and hollering — they were right, the show did go on.

Setlists of our Summer Fully Recharged playlist After Hours Til Dawn Abbygale Hockenberry A&E Editor

One of my dreams came true being able to see The Weeknd on his highly grossing “After Hours Till Dawn” tour. From fireworks, laser-like lights, fire and extraordinary music, it was a night I will never forget.

Playboi Carti opened the show with lots of energy and screaming that got the crowd excited for what was to come, singing songs like “FE!N” and “EVIL JORDAN.”

The Weeknd started things off with wearing a mask while singing “The Abyss.” After performing five songs, he did a dramatic mask removal, and I screamed like a little girl. One thing I hate about concerts today is when the artist has the backtrack so loud that you have to guess if they are even singing, or if they will sing bits and pieces.

The Weeknd did not even have a vocal backtrack and serenaded me all night long.

He quite literally took my breath away.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Mason Flowers Sports Editor

Isbell and his band put on a phenomenal show, with plenty of variety throughout.

The main highlight was hearing songs from his new album, “Foxes in the Snow,” with the full band, which is a major difference from the acoustic studio versions. The band truly brought those tracks to life, making it sound like they were designed for full-band performances from the start.

The encore opened with “Decoration Day,” a personal favorite of mine from Isbell’s time with Drive-By Truckers, his former band from the early 2000s. Hearing that song live was something I’ll never forget, and the guitar sections on “King of Oklahoma” and “This Ain’t It” were perfect ways to end both the main set and encore. Add in good weather and a beautiful venue in Pier Six Pavilion, it was close to a perfect night.

Get Booked: Sunrise on the Reaping Abbygale Hockenberry A&E Editor

*Spoiler Alert*

Evan Dillow / The Slate

The crowd and stage at the heavy metal music festival in York, Pennsylvania, “Summer of Loud” tour.

Summer of Loud tour Evan Dillow News Editor

Thousands visited the York Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 19, to attend the 2025 Summer of Loud concert, part of the event’s trip across North America.

The Summer of Loud tour celebrates the various popular subgenres of heavy metal music. The sights and sounds of the performances were influenced by genres like emo, metalcore, nu metal and grunge.

The roaring crowd cheered on various metal bands, including the

four headliners I Prevail, Beartooth, Killswitch Engage and Parkway Drive. Special guest performances were also given by the bands The Devil Wears Prada, The Amity Affliction and Alpha Wolf.

An entertaining highlight of the night was I Prevail’s performance of the song “Blank Space,” which is their metal remix of the Taylor Swift song of the same name.

This song and all other songs performed throughout the night threw the metalhead audience into a frenzy of headbanging and crowd surfing.

Wisp and More!

Hayden Highlands Asst. Multimedia Editor

Hayden Highlands / The Slate

From left, Wisp, Aldn. Two out of three of the performers at a concert in Washington, D.C.

This summer I went to a concert in Washington, D.C. The headliner was the shoegaze artist Wisp, and it was a unique experience for me. It was the first concert I’ve ever got VIP tickets for.

VIPs got to see an acoustic set, and before the show

we received early access to merchandise.

Two openers were also at the show — Aldn and Dream, Ivory. Usually when I go to concerts, I don’t know the openers, but for this one, I enjoyed the openers just as much as the main act. Wisp is touring after releasing her first studio album, “If not winter,” and if you haven’t

My love for reading started during the PSSAs in seventh grade. I was reading “The Maze Runner,” by James Dashner. Of course, I read the book because the movie with Dylan O’Brien was ecstatic. I remember rushing through the test, totally flunking it because I was randomly answering A, B, C or D. That is how captivated I was by the world of Gladers.

Ever since, I have wanted to chase that “high” I got from reading a book. When everything else around you disappears, and everything goes quiet for as long as you want — or until you make it to that last page. Truly the best possible addiction.

That feeling started to revive whenever I read “Sunrise on the Reaping,”

by Suzanne Collins. We will talk about the book that completely revived this love at another time. I read “Sunrise on the Reaping” over the summer, and I had no idea what to expect.

I realized that Collins is not an author you should even try to predict, unless you want to end up getting your feelings hurt — which is exactly what happened to me. I should have known this about Collins after reading “The Hunger Games” trilogy and “The Ballad of Songbirds and

Snakes.”

I knew a few things about Haymitch before reading this book — he won the games at a young age, he was the first recorded District 12 tribute to win, he was an alcoholic, his family was dead and he had no love interest. After reading his story, I want to cry for him. I had to even re-watch the original movies to pay more attention to his character to see if there was a breadcrumb I missed.

The one part I loved the most in this book was how Haymitch was so loyal to his other tributes even when he tried acting like he was not. He tried several times to distance himself from the others to protect them because he thought the capitol was targeting him. Ultimately, he realized that made things worse, and he tried so hard to save his friends. The loyal trait is one of my favorites to have in a main character because if they are going to be loyal, then there is no reason I am not going to be loyal to them as the reader.

My jaw completely dropped when Mags and Wiress were revealed as the District 12 mentors, and it was the second quarter quell. I knew I was in for a ride as soon as I read that it was a quarter quell. I quite literally got this nervous feeling in my stomach — kind of like butterflies, but not in a good way.

Read the full story at theslateonline.com.

Thursday, August 28, 2025

E1

Sports A Lift to remember: Levi Maciejewski honored

Photo courtesy of Bill Morgal/SU Sports Info

Community members hold signs and walk to honor Levi Maciejewski. Participants completed workouts based on numbers important to Levi.

Hannah Stoner Asst. Sports Editor

This past Wednesday marked the one-year anniversary of the death of a local teenager, the son of Shippensburg University’s head football coach.

On Aug. 20, 2024, Levi Maciejewski, the son of head football coach Mark Maciejewski, passed away. A year later, the community came

together to honor his spirit and remember his presence through Lift Like Levi, an event hosted by the Live Like Levi Foundation.

Family, friends, Shippensburg University athletes and members of the community gathered at Seth Grove Stadium to “Lift, Lap, and Lunge” in honor of Levi.

Shippensburg University’s Director of Sports Performance Dennis Kerstetter helped plan and organize the

event. He was grateful for all the community support.

“This is a tremendous visual to see, to celebrate his life and the life that he lived, the tenacity and the spirit and everything that that young man had and I think it’s awesome that so many people were able to come out here and do this today,” said Kerstetter.

The lift was organized into five “flight” times. The earliest time drew the larg-

est crowd at 7 a.m. in the morning while the last group worked out four hours later at 11 a.m. Over 100 people registered to exercise throughout the morning.

Within the flight times, there were four tiers of workouts that individuals could choose from. These included Tier 1 as a traditional body weight workout, Tier 2 requiring a medicine ball, Tier 3 introducing lighter weights and Tier 4 dealing with heavy weights.

Participants sported the foundation’s bright blue T-shirts and bracelets as they completed the workout level of their choice while listening to Levi’s playlist comprised of mostly country music. “[I’ve] grown up with the Maciejewski family, beautiful family, beautiful cause, so I felt like coming out to support,” said community member and Tier 3 participant Cole Trn. Photo courtesy of Andrew Miller/SU Sports Info Within each tier, the num-

The SU women’s soccer team laps the track as part of “Lift Like Levi”.

ber of repetitions for specific exercises were based on numbers important to Levi.

The first three exercises represented his date of birth: one, 18, and then 11. Next was 13 for the age he was when he passed, followed by a 420-meter run/walk referencing Levi’s baseball number (42) and the number of his favorite player, Jackie Robinson.

Before the workout, Tricia Maciejewski, Levi’s mother, delivered a small speech.

Toward the end of her message, she said, “While you’re working out today, I encourage you to remember the significance of each of those numbers. Let your mind wander to a time you spent with Levi, a memory you created together or a way you’ve been impacted by his beautiful life.”

The Shippensburg University Marching Band gathered to perform “Cadillac in the Skies” and “Amazing Grace” before the workouts com-

menced.

Throughout the event, people were challenging themselves physically and emotionally as they reflected on the loss of a fellow community member in hopes of making Levi proud.

“He definitely would have went around and told people they could have went harder today for sure,” Kerstetter said. “I think he’s looking down right now and he’s proud and he’s super appreciative of the fact that so many people came out in his name.”

Registration for the event was free, however, the organization was collecting donations. The money raised goes toward enhancing and giving back to the community.

For those that could not make it to the event in person, there was an option to participate virtually following along with the workouts and posting to social media with the #LiveLikeLevi and #LiftLikeLevi.

Field hockey enters new era with same expectations Mason Flowers Sports Editor

Shippensburg University’s field hockey team is set to begin a 2025 season that will look quite different from any in recent memory.

Former head coach Tara Zollinger was hired for the same position at the University of Delaware in March after eight seasons at SU, winning three NCAA Division II titles with an overall record of 114-25. Shippensburg hired Rayell Wallace in May to take over the team. She had coached five seasons as the head coach at Slippery Rock University.

For Wallace, the decision to take the SU position was twofold.

“I’m moving close to home, my family is an hour away… so it was a great family decision.

There are more resources here. They have built a successful championship program, and the area for recruiting is much more favorable,” Wallace said.

It was not an easy decision for Wallace though. She reflected on her time at Slippery Rock fondly and detailed the difficulty in leaving a program she helped build.

“We were building a program. The team

that’s there now would have been all players that were recruited by my staff and I together,” Wallace said. “It’s hard to develop those relationships with those student athletes and then leave them.”

Wallace was a prolific player, a two-time NCAA Division I All-American at the University of Connecticut and played nine games as a defender on the USA National Team after her collegiate career. She took plenty of that experience into her coaching career.

“Whether it’s tactics, technical stuff, strength and conditioning pieces. I would say there’s a lot,” said Wallace.

The transition to SU was made a bit easier by Wallace’s relationship with Zollinger, as the two are friends off the field. Zollinger preached the importance to keeping the Amanda Strous Memorial Scholarship, which was awarded to junior Lilly Cantabene this year. Cantabene will wear Strous’ No. 22 for the season.

The Raiders return several key pieces from the 2024 team that won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship and reached the national semifinals with a 19-2 record.

Redshirt Senior Emma Albee enters her

Photo courtesy of Emma Monismith/SU Sports Info

Agus Garibaldi takes a shot as Savannah Silvestre closes in on the play.

Photo courtesy of Emma Monismith/SU Sports Info

Head Coach Raycell Wallace (far right) assists Emily Bitters (#11), McKenna Boyle (#2) and Lilly Cantabene during a preseason practice. third full season as the Raiders’ starting goalkeeper as the 2024 PSAC Defensive Player of the Year. She had nine shutouts and was second in NCAA Division II with just 0.77 goals allowed per game, holding opponents to 16 goals all season.

Senior forward Agus Garibaldi is hoping to cap off a phenomenal career at SU with another great season. She has been named to the PSAC first-team and a first-team All-American in each of her three seasons as a Raider, and she is in the Top 10 for career goals and points at Shippensburg. Last season was her best yet, with 19 goals and 48 points, second most of any PSAC player.

Two more All-PSAC selections also return, including senior Savannah Silvestre, who tallied three assists, including one in the NCAA semifinals. Junior Hannah White has earned second-team All-PSAC honors each of the past two seasons, anchoring the team’s defense as part of her midfield play.

Four freshmen will join the team this year, all midfielders and defenders. Madison Fissel and Gracie Hivner are the in-state recruits, while Sierra Crews and Ava Kientzy represent Virginia and Missouri, respectively. Wallace hopes the newcomers “push the intensity and are not afraid to get out of their comfort zone.”

The coaching staff includes assistant coach Katie Lammando, entering her third season at SU. Wallace praised Lammando’s work, saying, “[she] has ideas that she’s bringing to the table, and she knows the team, so they have that trust in her. She did a lot of behind the scenes work behind the transition of everything.”

The team began practice this past week, and Wallace had a plan in place.

“For the first couple of sessions, it’s a little bit of a creating of understanding of language. What I am looking for, what they are looking for. It is an intro, really.”

Shippensburg field hockey’s schedule begins with a game against Belmont Abbey on Sept. 6, which will take place at IUP. Their first home game will be on Sept. 12 at 5 p.m. at Robb Sports Complex against Assumption.

The team was picked to finish third out of 10 teams in the preseason PSAC coaches’ poll.

The schedule features road conference games against each of the top two teams, including the season finale at Kutztown.

Wallace mentioned the simple key to success in those games is this — “Playing Shippensburg field hockey. Honestly.”

F1

GALLERY

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Summer Slips Away This gallery contains photos taken by staff members of The Slate over summer break.

Photos Courtesy of Hayden Highlands, Jayden Pohlman and Madison Sharp