How AI trains psychology students, B1
APB hosts Halloween Dance, C1
SU gets “A Taste of Ireland”, D1
Volleyball goes 3-0 at home, E1
@ShipUSlate Thursday
Friday
64/38
65/49
The Slate @ShipUSlate
Please recycle
Volume 69 No. 7
Reporting truth. Serving our community.
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Disabled Students Union pushes for accessibility and advocacy on campus Megan Sawka Managing Editor
Shippensburg University’s Disabled Students Union is pushing to make campus more accessible for students with disabilities, both in its infrastructure and awareness. The student-led organization was formed last year, and it has become a place for advocacy, resourcesharing and community support. For many members, the group’s mission stems from daily challenges navigating a campus not built with accessibility in mind. “I do not feel as though anyone is out to get me,” said Natalie Nichols, the DSU’s member disciplinary officer. “But I very frequently feel reminders that this world, and by extension, this campus, were not made with someone like me in mind.” Nichols and public relations director Eliot Chute
said the DSU’s revival began when students noticed that many accessibility issues fell outside the scope of the Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR). While they praised the office for its support, they saw the need for a student voice to address broader systemic and cultural barriers. “We love OAR,” Nichols said. “They’re a godsend. But sometimes you want to turn up the heat, and you want to do that without causing problems for them.” For students with mobility or sensory impairments, parts of campus can be difficult to navigate. The sloped pathways, steep hills and limited signage often make it harder to move between classes or reach key buildings. “I actually got lost and separated from my orientation group because I was winding around to find an accessible route,” Chute
said. “It’s very obvious this campus wasn’t built with accessibility in mind.” Even when accessibility features exist, they do not always meet students’ needs. Nichols said some ramps are too steep, visual indicators at crosswalks are worn down and automatic door buttons are often broken or poorly placed. “There’s an effort, but sometimes it’s stopped by infrastructure, poor planning or ignorance,” she said. “There are things you don’t have to think about, so you don’t include them. And sometimes that means some people stay home.” Accessibility issues extend into the classroom, where some professors struggle to accommodate students effectively when unexpected situations arise. Chute recalled a recent experience when he forgot to schedule a test through the OAR and asked his professor
Megan Sawka / The Slate
Members of the Disabled Students Union smile for the camera at one of their meetings. The DSU works to make the Shippensburg campus more accessible. to take the exam at a later date. Instead, the professor required him to take the test with the rest of the class. “The font was so tiny that I got a headache that lasted all day,” Chute said. “Pain is a trigger for my
fainting condition, so that could have caused a lot more problems. We’re not trying to inconvenience anyone. We’re trying to be there and work with you.” Nichols said that kind of experience is common.
“My accommodations don’t make class easier,” she said. “They make class possible to begin with.”
Read the full story at theslateonline.com.
New senators sworn in and The SU community comes campus groups approved together to celebrate the life at October SGA meeting of Professor Robert Lesman Evan Dillow News Editor
Courtesy of the Student Government Association
Senators Alexandra Warke, Karissa Springer, Alarice Huff and Caleb Tilden have joined the Student Government Association as it has grown this fall. Evan Dillow News Editor
Shippensburg University’s Student Government Association (SGA) held its second Fall 2025 public meeting in CUB 119 on Thursday, Oct. 2. Thursday afternoon’s meeting included the swearing-in of four new SGA senators, an update on student financial aid from Megan Luft the vice president for enrollment management and marketing, and the approval of two new student groups. Luft reported that the FAFSA has been open since Sept. 25 for the 2026-27 student aid application. She encouraged students to file their FAFSA before May 1, which is the deadline for state grants. The floor was then opened for questions, in which three senators asked questions: Senator Ryan Mills, Senator Ashlynn Gill and Senator Caleb Tilden. Of note was the question on refund checks by Mills. According to Luft, refunds are on hold until the state financial aid budget passes. Federal funds started being issued in the past weeks.
Luft’s guest presentation was followed by officer and senator reports, which included updates from the Budget and Finance Committee and updates on student groups. During his report, SGA Vice President Daniel McCleary welcomed the four new SGA senators. The new senators are as follows: •
•
•
Alexandra Warke, College of Business Senator. Karissa Springer, College of Education and Human Services Senator. Alarice Huff and Caleb Tilden, Class of 2029 Senators.
Vice President of Finance Emily Wojnarski reported that the Budget and Finance Committee voted to remove special funding requests for the current academic year. Additionally, the committee unanimously approved a 10% reduction in the 202627 operating budget in anticipation of a decrease in enrollment in 2027. During officer and senator reports, recognition and congratulations were given to Noah Pratz, the new coordinator of Rec
Sports. Reports by SGA senators were followed by board reports. Of note was the announcement of the new Activities Programming Board (APB) President Tori Sutherland. APB also announced several upcoming events, including Haunted Henderson with the Residence Hall Association, which will be held on Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. Three motions were passed toward the end of Thursday’s meeting. Wojnarski motioned to table the amendment to the Budget and Finance standing rules, which were approved unanimously, followed by motions to approve of the two new student groups. The two groups are the Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) and the Feminists of Shippensburg. Professor of Management and Marketing Jerry Carbo will be the advisor for YDSA, and Associate Professor of History Gretchen Pierce will be the advisor for Feminists of Shippensburg.
Members of the Shippensburg University community were welcomed to a celebration of the life of Professor Robert Lesman in the Luhrs Performing Arts Center on Sunday, Oct. 12. In attendance was the Lesman family and the many friends of his family. Additionally, rows of seats were filled by faculty and students whose lives Lesman had touched during his 19-year career at Shippensburg University. Over the course of the memorial, speakers recounted cherished memories of Lesman and reflected on what lessons he taught them, both inside and outside of the classroom. Others shared poems that reflected his love of poetry in English and Spanish. Musical reflections were performed that celebrated his love of music. Lesman was an avid piano player throughout his life. Following a welcome by Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Sabita Manian, the Spanish poem “Elegía a Ramón Sijé,” by Miguel Hernandez, was read by Maria Black, one of Robert Lesman’s former students. The oldest brother of the family, Chad Lesman, spoke on how difficult it was to capture all the emotion and wisdom that his younger brother imparted on him throughout their youth.
“While I was thinking about all the adjectives that I could use to describe what a great man he was, I realized that everybody here in this room has a memory of him that they’re going to hold and cherish,” he said. Chad Lesman continued by addressing his younger brother’s brilliance, recalling a time when Lesman had helped him with his schoolwork despite being in a lower grade level. Following an interlude performance of “Arioso,” by J.S. Bach, more memories were recalled by friend of the family Scott Shephard. Shephard, who met the family through teaching Lesman’s son, Kai, in seventh grade English, spoke on the long-lasting friendship he held with Lesman. The two bonded over cooking, music and a shared love of mountain biking. “There is no better person on the face of the Earth to endure long drive times with than Rob Lesman,” Shephard said. “We talked politics, we talked religion, philosophy and boy did we talk about music. Lots of music.” Associate Professor of Geography and Earth Science Sean Cornell arrived at SU the same year as Professor Lesman in 2006. Cornell shared the trials and tribulations they experienced together as fresh faces. He recalled how Lesman made him laugh when he was in a moment of despair after losing his dissertation file. See “LESMAN,” A2
Evan Dillow / The Slate Read the full story at theslateonline.com.
The oldest brother of the family, Chad Lesman, emotionally reflects on his younger brother Robert’s brilliance both inside and outside of the classroom.