Election Day update: Candidates campaign in Pennsylvania; race remains a coinflip
Connor Niszczak & Evan Dillow
Today is Election Day, and with more than 75 million ballots already cast, voter turnout is expected to reach unprecedented levels.
Here on the campus of Shippensburg University, shuttles from the Ceddia Union Building to the Vigilant Hose Co. are available to students from noon until 8:30 p.m.
Much of SU’s student body is among the crucial demographic of first-time voters that both campaigns have been trying to entice in their final days on the trail.
Campaigns in overdrive during final week
Both parties’ nominees and their surrogates have been crisscrossing the country with dozens of campaign events in battleground states over the past week. Both the Harris and Trump campaigns are aiming to leave no stone unturned and connect with voters who do not always come out to vote.
In the campaign’s final days, Trump hosted a dozen rallies in Wisconsin, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania and a final pre-Election Day rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, late Monday night.
Harris has spent time across the state of Michigan and spent her final day on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania with rallies in Allentown, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
Harris has relied on celebrity appearances in the final weeks of the election, enlisting A-listers like Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Lizzo, Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B and Eminem to
encourage voter turnout. The vice president also made a surprise appearance alongside Maya Rudolph on “Saturday Night Live” this weekend.
Despite making multiple visits to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia during her campaign, Harris made her first stop in the Susquehanna Valley this week. She rallied several thousand supporters at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg on Wednesday afternoon.
She criticized Trump for divisive rhetoric and called him “unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed with grievance and out for unchecked power.”
Harris told voters that her presidency would focus on preserving freedoms and lowering the cost of living for working-class families.
“At the top of my list is bringing down your cost of living,” Harris said. “That will be my focus every day.”
Voters concerned about political violence
One issue of concern for both sides is the possibility of political violence after the election results are known.
According to an Ipsos poll of 1,000 registered voters, 74 percent of respondents said they are concerned about extremist violence in the aftermath of the election.
Prior to Election Day, attacks have already begun at polling stations and political offices across the country.
In Texas, a 69-year-old election worker was reportedly attacked for asking a voter to remove a proTrump hat. It is illegal under Texas law to wear clothing that supports a
Township residents, which includes
University’s campus, can vote at the
candidate inside polling areas.
In Washington and Oregon, hundreds of early ballots were burned in two suspected arson attacks against drop-off ballot boxes. According to police, a vehicle involved with the attacks has been identified.
In Arizona, prosecutors charged 60-year-old Jeffrey Michael Kelly with shooting at the DNC office in Tempe. More than 120 guns and 250,000 rounds of ammunition were found at his home. The size of Kelly’s arsenal led authorities to believe that he was preparing for a mass casualty event.
Polls continue to show tossup races
Even with constant campaigning and a barrage of texts to swing state
voters, neither candidate has been able to maintain a significant lead in the most crucial states. Polls have shown Pennsylvania in a statistical tie while Arizona is leaning toward Trump and North Carolina toward Harris.
Pundits continue to hypothesize on how the Electoral College map will look, and all eyes are on the seven swing states: Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Harris’ best path to 270 is for her to carry the “blue wall” states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, along with winning one electoral vote from Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District.
If the blue wall crumbles and Trump wins Wisconsin, Arizona,
Georgia and North Carolina while Harris takes Michigan and Pennsylvania, he would win with 272 electoral votes.
Many in the political world were shocked when an Iowa poll released this weekend showed Harris with a 47-44 lead over Trump, a 21-point gain since a June poll had Trump 18 points over then-candidate Biden.
“It’s hard for anybody to say they saw this coming. She (Kamala Harris) has clearly leaped into a leading position,” pollster Ann Selzer said.
Regardless of how the race ends, it is unlikely that the president-elect will be known on election night. Both campaigns are preparing for legal battles that are sure to continue in the coming weeks.
Redemption BBQ mixes faith and food to give back to community
Ian Thompson News Editor
Many people express their faith through the food they cook and share with loved ones. For Redemption BBQ owner Justin Kauffman, faith is the cornerstone of his business.
“We’re believers, and we just like to put God in everything that we do in our lives,” Kauffman said. “Leaning on faith is what gets us through our day.”
Redemption BBQ celebrated its five-year anniversary this September, having operated under that name since 2019 at its location on South Earl Street.
A previous incarnation of the restaurant was named
Holy Smokehouse, but after Kauffman went separate ways with the previous owner, the name was changed to reflect a new dynamic.
“We came up with the name ‘Redemption’ because we’ve been redeemed and we believe in second chances and third chances,” Kauffman said.
That belief in opportunity extends to Redemption BBQ’s hiring as well. “I like to hire people that won’t get that chance somewhere else just because they’re overlooked,” Kauffman said.
In Kauffman’s mind the barbeque restaurant is a way to provide for his family, live out dreams, and give back to the community. “Without the community, I don’t think
we would have a business,” Kauffman said.
In partnership with other local organizations, Redemption BBQ has given away food to those in need. In June 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, they partnered with King’s Kettle Food Pantry, buying roughly $30,000 of food to feed over 300 local families.
This past summer, Kauffman partnered with the Shippensburg First Church of God to feed those in need.
Inspired by the biblical story of Jesus feeding 5,000, Kauffman set a more modest goal of feeding 500. In the end, they fed 518. “It’s about giving back and trying to help others,” Kauffman said.
See “REDEMPTION,” A2
Editor-in-Chief & Asst. News Editor
Grace Harbour / The Slate
Shippensburg
those registered on Shippensburg
Vigilant Hose Co. located at 20 Walnut Bottom Road.
Redemption BBQ operates a food truck and several trailers they use to cater events, which, Kauffman said, is part of the community outreach.
“It takes a community to survive,” Kauffman said. In the past, they have helped out with funerals, sporting events, as well as donating meals to police, EMS, food pantries and homeless shelters.
Shippensburg University students are important to Kauffman’s business. College students make up 80% of his staff, and he always appreciates the business of students, faculty and parents.
Redemption BBQ offers a 10% discount to students. That interest in bringing in students is visible in the interior of the restaurant, which features a pool table and a mix of picnic tables, bar chairs and traditional seating. “We wanted to be like a family atmosphere in here for the kids to come in and have a safe place to chill and hang out,” Kauffman said.
As the only barbeque restaurant in town, Redemption BBQ does not have much competition. While there are several food trucks in the area that serve barbeque, Kauffman does not think of them as competition. Instead, he likes to try other
people’s food and support their businesses.
The business is not without its challenges though. Being family-owned and operated, Redemption does not have the safety net of being a part of a corporation or chain. “You’re really laying it all out there and just trusting and believing, and that’s where the faith comes in.”
With five years under their belt, Kauffman is hopeful for the next five. Whether that means more expansion into food trucks or another location “down the road,” Kauffman said they will go wherever God leads them.
“This isn’t my business,” Kauffman said. “It’s God’s business.”
SGA Corner: Do you hear me?
On Oct. 24, Student Government Association (SGA) hosted President’s Hour for the first time.
President’s Hour traditionally creates a space for students to bring concerns to Shippensburg University administrators without the need to jump through hoops or play “email tag.”
SGA hopes to keep this event true to its roots. Despite the success of the first SGA-hosted event, we are reflecting on how the event can be made accessible to more students for next semester.
Additionally, SGA is looking for at-large members to join its Elections Committee. If you are interested, please reach out to SGA President Lillian Sellers at sgapresident@ ship.edu. If you want to join any of the SGA committees, please reach out to me at sgavpinternal@ship.edu.
The last two public SGA meetings will take place on Nov. 7 and Dec. 5 in CUB 119. If you cannot make the meeting for any reason but want to stay informed, our meeting minutes are posted outside of the SGA office and on the SGA website.
Overall, the semester has been quiet, yet productive, for SGA. However, as an SGA vice president, I feel like the entire student body can be identified as my “constituents,” and it has seemed like this semester
I urge you, student body, for your own mental health, start saying, “No.”
has hit harder for a lot more students than usual.
I am not a mental health professional, but I want to give two pieces of advice: Visit the University Counseling Center to set up an appointment and start saying “no” to what you do not have time for. Maybe that second one seems obvious, but I doubt that I am the only person at Shippensburg University that feels obligated to do the things they are good at to help others.
I force myself to wear multiple different hats around campus — a secondary education student, a mathematics minor, a Slate editor, a Reflector editor, an SGA vice president, a Writing Fellow, a director of Shippensburg’s Rocky Horror production and a general investigator of small injustices on campus — to interact with many different types of people on campus.
Despite my ability to juggle these roles in the past, my passion has been snuffed out this semester. I no longer find joy in trying to rebuild each corner of this campus that is fraying at the seams — instead, I am fraying at the seams. When I took stock of my life last week, I came to a devastating realization — I am over three weeks behind in three out of four of my classes, and the one I am not behind in, I am currently failing.
I had another realization as well: The things causing me so much stress and anxiety were not my assignments or my exams — it was my extracurriculars and the pressure I put on myself to stay just to be “helpful,” so I
Your World Today
Commentary: Senioritis
Reagan Gardenhour Managing Editor
Growing up, I heard of “senioritis.” I never knew what it was because, in all honesty, I do not think I have ever experienced it. I had a different style of growing up with education. By that, I mean that I only attended one full year of high school.
In my sophomore year, when COVID-19 was known by most of the population and we were meant to complete a synchronousonline version of learning, I decided that I didn’t want to go back — ever.
In my junior year of high school, we were meant to come back and wear masks. This was scary to me, as I felt like I was in a video game or an alternate reality. I did not mind the masks. I minded going to high school. I had a bad experience, so I decided to complete cyber school after a few weeks of coming back.
I am not sure if it is because I had grown accustomed to online learning or if my high school experience was utterly detrimental to my development as a human, but for my senior year, I never went back. With that
quit.
Two weeks after I started my freshman year at Shippensburg University, I became the assistant Ship Life editor for The Slate. At the time, the Slate had under 20 members, and every editor wrote nearly all of the stories for their section. I gave the organization days upon days of my life every week, so even the idea of quitting made me want to throw up, but it was for the best.
I also gave up my position on the Budget & Finance committee. In the last year and a half, I canceled two concerts with friends just to attend meetings and produce equitable student group budgets. I missed events on and off campus, lost friends due to my position even though they told me to apply for it, and I ended up quitting a year later.
These are not the only extracurriculars that I have quit in the past week or two, but perhaps the ones that I have given the most to mentally.
Despite leaving multiple extracurriculars, my inbox is still full of meeting reminders and forwards from some of these groups, so I wonder if they truly understand the pressure I have put onto myself. If I keep ignoring them to write my lesson plans, will my passion for teaching return? Do they even hear me when I say that I quit? Do they think this is another “Katie bit?” It is not.
Being in so many different groups has forced me to choose between different people who I appreciate in my life and has left me a broken woman, but now that I have freed myself from the pressure of my obligations, I feel so much lighter, happier and more passionate about what I love. I urge you, student body, for your own mental health, start saying “No.”
being said, I spent my senior year of high school doing a program called Early to College.
So, there I was, a 17-yearold walking the hallways and sidewalks of Shippensburg University. While it was mildly terrifying, I was more than elated to be amongst the passionate, driven individuals attending university. I finally felt that I had found a place for my existence to come together.
I never experienced “senioritis” because I was never a “senior.” I was a 17-year-old girl attending college part time. That is all I was allowed to do, as most Ship Start (high school students taking classes at SU) students go to high school and come to the university later to be present in their classes.
I should be graduating in 2026, as I graduated high school in 2022. However, I am graduating in 2025 because, even though my first year of college was meant to be half of a semester, I spent all of my winter and summer breaks completing classes to land myself on one singular classstanding. I guess you could say I was tired of saying, “I’m technically a freshman, but I have enough credits to be a sophomore.” Now, I am a senior. A real, graduating senior. This may be too soon, as it is only October, but I cannot help but reflect on the way my college experience has been or if I will ever have the feelings of “senioritis.”
Since being at ShipU, I have experienced more stress than I probably will at any other point of my life. I hope, at least.
This has not been easy. Balancing schoolwork, relationships, friendships, work, organizations and mental health has not, and will never, be easy. To be transparent, I have lost sight of some of the things that were important to me before because of how seriously I take academics and my future.
Maybe that is what “senioritis” feels like to me. I have noticed that “senioritis” does not necessarily mean you have to want to give up when the time starts to come; maybe it is the fear of having to. Giving up, for lack of better words, on my college self. I am almost done, and yes, I know I still have the rest of this semester, winter break and the spring semester. I just cannot help but wonder how different my life will be in times to come, or if one day, I’ll be so excited to leave that I can barely stand it.
To be a senior is to be both happy, sad, sentimental, emotional, annoyed and tired. I will not speak for everybody, but I’m sure a lot of people have felt these ways, too. I think it is normal to not know how to grasp the idea of “future” when it has not come yet.
“Senioritis” is awaiting my hand. That is my future, for now.
Weather Forecast
Ian Thompson News Editor
Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) made 13 arrests while patrolling Shippensburg during the university’s Homecoming weekend.
State police from Carlisle’s Troop H made the arrests during the nights of Oct. 18 and Oct. 19. None of the arrests were made on campus or involved university students, according to PSP.
One of those arrests was more eventful than others.
Close to 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 19, PSP troopers heard gunshots, which they traced
to the area of South Penn Street and Dykeman Road. In a statement, PSP said that officers found two males, who both fled on foot. One was apprehended and identified as Evan Sipes, aged 22 of Shippensburg. The other suspect was not caught. Sipes was in possession of a concealed handgun with an “obliterated” serial number and several magazines, according to PSP’s statement. Sipes resisted arrest and attempted to escape once in custody. Sipes was later arraigned on multiple charges relating to the incident.
Over the Homecoming weekend, the PSP detail also made an additional 12 arrests: ● 1 illegal firearm seizure during a traffic stop
3 for drug
1 for harassment
1 for public drunkenness
3 for underage drinking ● 3 for fake ID. Additionally, SUPD made one arrest for public drunkenness over Homecoming weekend, according to SU Director of Communications Megan Silverstrim. The arrested individual was not a university student.
Ian Thompson / The Slate
The Redemption BBQ dining room during dinner. The restaurant is located at 13 S. Earl Street and is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Katie Huston SGA VP of Internal Affairs
Grace Harbour / The Slate
The Shippensburg University Counseling Center is located on the ground floor of Naugle Hall. Students can make an appointment by calling (717) 477-1481.
Opinion
The Slate Speaks: Election Angst? Try Touching Grass
Election Day is here. This means the endless stream of political advertisements and solicitations for donations will soon be over.
There is one small hanging chad to account for first, though — awaiting the announcement of who will be the next president.
With political divisions at a fever pitch and proclamations that this is the most consequential election of our lifetimes, there is going to be anxiety to contend with as Americans potentially wait for days to learn the final results.
It all may be too much, which is why it is important to find ways to keep yourself occupied.
For those inclined and able to do so, exercise is always a good distraction. Go outside. Touch grass. Get those endorphins flowing. You can do this by taking walks outside or heading over to ShipRec and trying one of the fitness classes offered there.
Spending time with friends and indulging in your hobbies is always time well spent as well. Plan your next Dungeons and Dragons
More music, more movies, more online!
Scan the QR code to find it all at theslateonline. com
game. Hit the town and try that new restaurant you have all been meaning to go to. The ballot counting will continue just fine while you sip a London fog at a café. Though it may seem counterintuitive, other stressors are a good distraction. We all have plenty to do. The writers at this publication as well as most of its readership are college students, after all. Exams are always on the horizon and projects are due regardless of whom the president is. The bonus of these stressors in comparison to election anxieties is that feeling of relief and accomplishment that accompanies the completion of work. Staying off the internet and avoiding the results may be easier said than done. After Tuesday, there is nothing more you can do. Instead of focusing on what the future holds, you can focus on what you can do for yourself in the present. Spend time with loved ones and loved moments; those things, you enjoy. If it is too overwhelming, it is fine to need a mental break. This is a significant time in history,
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.
In Defense of The Slate’s Endorsement
In the Oct. 22 edition of The Slate, the editorial board endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. This decision was met with backlash from some members of the campus community who did not think it was our place to take such a stance.
Some argue that as a student group, The Slate is not allowed to engage in political behavior. A PASSHE rule exists that disallows student activity fee funds being spent on partisan political endorsement.
That rule, however, does not supersede constitutional law. Several courts have held that prohibitions against student media endorsements infringe on those publication’s First Amendment rights. Political endorsements are core political speech, which is protected by the First Amendment.
The Slate is not alone in endorsement drama. The Washington Post and Los Angeles Time recently made headlines by choosing not to endorse a presidential candidate, breaking tradition.
The motivation behind those papers’ decision not to endorse has also made headlines — the influence of their billionaire owners. Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos blocked that paper’s endorsement, a move that has inspired over 200,000 people to cancel their subscriptions, about 8% of their paid circulation. Thankfully, The Slate is an entirely student-run organization. The way it operates is not dictated by any member of faculty or administration. Its editorial voice is made up of the
individual students who come together each week to spend countless hours reporting, writing and laying out pages. The decision to endorse Harris was not made on a whim. It was decided after multiple weeks of discussion between staff, editors and management, and with consultation from legal experts and other PASSHE student newspapers.
Newspaper endorsements have a long tradition, and have become a regular feature of newspapers during election years. Student media
is no different. The Rocket and The Quad, the student newspapers at Slippery Rock and West Chester — both PASSHE schools — endorsed Joe Biden in 2020.
This election is important. Granted, we have all heard that during every election cycle for, well, ever. But this year is different.
The Slate’s endorsement does not argue Harris is a perfect candidate, nor that all her policies are agreeable. In fact, we have faced criticism for spending too large a word count on why one should vote against Donald Trump rather than why one should vote for Harris. That criticism bears some weight, but it is important to recognize why so much attention was paid to Trump. He presents an existential threat to the future of this country’s democratic institutions. As journalists, we have a duty to speak the truth. The truth is Trump is a danger to the country he wants to run, in his own words, as a dictator. The truth is that Trump is unfit to be president, and we have a duty to make that fact known.
The Holidays Are Still Fun. You’re Just Lame
Megan Sawka Ship Life Editor
I have always loved celebrating holidays. Ever since I was a child, I loved putting on a special outfit, whether it’s a Spider-Girl Halloween costume or a red and green plaid Christmas dress, and going to my grandma’s house to celebrate with my family.
When I was about 14 or 15, I noticed that holidays did not feel the same. I did not have words to dictate why or how they felt different, they just did. I would put on my fancy Christmas Eve dinner dress, do my makeup and go to my grandma’s house, but I did not feel that same sense of wonder. I soon concluded that this must just be a part of growing up. As we mature into adults, we are burdened by a number of responsibilities and have less time or energy to devote into celebrating holidays like we did as children. I was devastated by this realization. I loved the feeling of
sitting around the Christmas tree and opening presents with my family. It was never about the gifts themselves, it was about the feeling of celebrating with family. When I came to college, I missed spending time with my family every day. My family has become close over the past few years, and it sucked to not see them and spend ordinary moments with them like eating dinner or watching TV. Those normal moments had become special to me,
and I had not realized until they were gone. When it came time for the Christmas of my freshman year, I was nervous about how it would feel. That sounds silly, but I wanted to make the most of the limited time I had with my family during winter break. I spent intentional time with my family and avoided distractions, like the endless doom scroll on social media, by putting away my phone and laptop whenever possible.
I realized that yes, holidays are still fun,
and you can do things to make them feel like they did when you were a child.
Last year, I decorated my Christmas tree with my sister and mom a few days after Thanksgiving. We put on a Christmas movie and spent an hour or so talking, laughing and preparing our home for the holidays. This was such a special moment that I was able to share with my family by being in that moment. Intentionality has become important in my life as I have
gotten older. Being intentional about the way I spend my time, especially with people that I love, has made my relationships richer and my days fuller. If I’m watching a movie with my boyfriend, I will put my phone on “do not disturb” mode and set it in my drawer to be fully present in that moment with him. If I am getting lunch with my friend, I will make sure to put away my laptop so I can have an engaging conversation with them. This even applies to when I am alone. Watching one of your favorite movies and relaxing is time better spent than two hours in bed scrolling on your phone. Going into this holiday season, I want to remind you to be intentional with the way you spend your time. Spend time with those you love and do not take things too seriously. Rather than lamenting that holidays do not feel the same as they did when you were a child, embrace that change and make holidays fun for yourself again.
Matthew Scalia / The Slate
Adirondacks sit awaiting students among fall foliage
Ian Thompson News Editor
Courtesy of The Sawka Family
My dad lifting up a 5-year-old Megan to put the angel on top of the Christmas Tree, December 2008
Matthew Scalia / The Slate
The issue of The Slate featuring a front page endorsement of Kamala Harris for President
Trump Chooses New Media Over Legacy
Gabe Rader Staff Contributer
Former President Donald Trump has turned down prestigious news interviews like “60 Minutes” to defer to social media influencers and podcasters.
His 18-year-old son, Barron Trump, has been his new campaign adviser for choosing his interviews, which shows many different sides to Trump that his two previous campaigns did not.
Barron has gotten his dad on the most popular podcasts with young audiences, including an Adin Ross Twitch stream and “This Past Weekend with Theo Von,” which has a younger, sillier style that tries to bring out Trump’s personality.
Trump also appeared on podcasts with a larger age range of viewers like comedian Andrew Shulz’s YouTube podcast “Flagrant” and Spotify’s leading podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience” that felt more like an informal interview.
While we see more candidates go on non-news or ra-
dio station interviews. Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on “Call Her Daddy” with Alex Cooper and “The Breakfast Club” with Charlamagne. Politicians who have been trained on how to bob and weave through questions professionally can maneuver around without answering them authentically. When Trump was asked whom he thought was behind the second assassination attempt and how Apple did not allow the FBI to bypass encrypted messages, instead of answering the question, he said, “These are great ques tions. What the hell? I don’t get questions like this from the fake news.” Shultz had to ask the question again when Trump instead rambled on about how dangerous it is to be a president. He avoids questions effortlessly, and once he is called out for his uncanny ability to dodge an uncomfortable question, he admits he has already came up with
Donald Trump made headlines in recent weeks when he sat down with famous podcaster Joe Rogan for a three-hour
a name for it — “the weave.” He iss not ashamed of it, either. After taking a question about Iran and weaving, Trump deferred to talking about his weaving ability, saying that “some people think it’s so genius, but the bad people, what they say is, ‘You know, he was rambling.’ It’s not a ramble; I don’t ramble.” Eventually Trump
“weaves” back to the question regarding Iran’s open threat toward the former president. These non-professional interviews allow for some really weird but funny moments that both sides of the political party can enjoy. When making fun of the 81-year-old President Joe Biden in his bathing suit on the beach, Shultz rushed to Biden’s defense saying it all “depends on what he’s packing” to which the former President of the United States of America replied with “I don’t wanna know what he’s packing.”
After Trump’s appearance on the Joe Rogan Experi-
ence, a CNN article reported over 30 false claims were made by the former president over “immigration policy, environmental and energy policy, the legitimacy of the 2020 election, Trump’s record in office, Vice President Kamala Harris, crowd sizes and how schools deal with transgender children.” Rogan wanted to approach this rigidly, especially during moments that Trump once again made false claims or weaved around his questions. Rogan says, “He starts to answer it, and then he takes you on a totally different route. You got to bring him back,” to get him anywhere close to the original question.
As more podcasts invite political candidates hosted by comedians or content creators without trained interview experience, more disinformation without immediate fact-checking accountability will continue to slip through the cracks.
Your Ex Wasn’t a Narcissist
Natalie Nichols Staff Contributer
The term “psychobabble” became popular around 1980, following the publication of a book with the same name written by R.D. Rosen.
Nowadays, a more common term for the same phenomenon would be “therapy speak” — the kind of vocabulary you need for when you need to trauma dump about your narcissistic ex gaslighting you into trauma bonding during your emotionally laborious situationship.
Except, this is not just a vocabulary or a method of speaking, but an extension and cementing of ableism in the common lexicon. In a day and age of “#neurospicy #mentalhealthmatters,” it can be all too easy for someone to wash their hands of any concerns of being an ableist before skipping into the sunset to tell their bestie
how “delulu” they were for thinking they could get their crush to like them.
Merriam Webster defines semantic bleaching as “the reduction of a word’s intensity.” We have seen this in the words “literally,” “very” and even “awesome.” Now, though, it’s also happening at a rapid pace to words used commonly in psychiatry and diagnosis. Psychiatry as a system is built largely on racism, eugenics and sexism, but that doesn’t make the language associated with it useless.
For many, these routes are their best path to treatment, identification and recognition for various conditions – options that become harder and harder to reach as the language needed to pinpoint concepts is put through a social media blender and
turned into goo. People have become far too comfortable diagnosing their ex-partners and exfriends from the comfort of their armchairs, all while holding up the facade of advocating for mental health. I feel like I’m in some elab-
orate prank where I’m being gaslit into believing that “gaslit” is just a fancy word for lying. Every confrontation is overstepping a boundary, every upsetting situation is traumatic, self-care is embodied entirely by taking long baths and wearing face masks. Every interest is a hyper-fixation, spacing out for a minute is dissociation, on and on and on and on and on and on and on.
Using mental health conditions to label and demonize anyone who slights you is, at a bare minimum, an excellent way to tell the peo-
The Liberal Arts Matter
The
A few years ago, I began to suffer the effects of stagnation. Every day seemed the same and there were no moves being made to change that. A word of warning to those readers who may identify with this feeling — it is a recipe for discontent. Setting goals is the remedy to this malady, as striving toward something gives one purpose. For me, the goal was to return to school. I worked in healthcare at the time and naturally believed that the next logical move was to improve my standing in that field.
I considered getting an associate’s degree in nursing. Working full time [LR1] and proceeding with some trepidation because of nerves and self-doubt, I decided to test the waters by taking two classes at a local community college — an English 101 class and an intro to philosophy class. They would forever change the trajectory of my life for the better.
On the first day of my English 101 class, my professor, an adjunct who taught high school full time, asked the
class to define what it meant to be an educated person. The example he used to define the answer to that question was to ask the class to imagine that they were invited to dinner. At this dinner, you are seated with people that speak eloquently about many topics. Their knowledge and their ability to keep up with whatever is being discussed captivates you, and on your way home, you know that your fellow dinner guests were “educated.” That ability to speak with authority on a bevy of topics is the result of being wellversed in the liberal arts, he concluded. I promise you that I am underselling this lesson and the vigor with which it was passed onto us. Meanwhile, in philoso-
phy, we were assigned to an excerpt from “Medita tions on First Philosophy” by Rene Descartes. In it, the French philosopher ponders how many inaccuracies he has been exposed to in his life. He resolves to dispense with everything he believed he knew to be true and start from scratch. To do this, he would need to start with one thing he knew to be true. That first truth would be the famous proclamation, “I think, therefore I am.” I would eventually learn
that there were various philosophical lessons connected to that excerpt. Chief among them was the idea of “first mover” and the questioning nature of the Platonic method. The former was a theory for God’s existence put forward by Thomas Aquinas, who argued that there cannot be an endless chain of cause and effect without a starting point — God.
For Descartes, that starting point was his rational mind. As for the latter, Descartes was practicing the art
of the Platonic by posing a series of questions to test his theories. This same method leads philosophy to bleed into the sciences, as it is the foundation of the scientific method.
Speaking of Plato, he would make an appearance back in my English class. To follow up on the importance of liberal arts education, the professor taught us Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave.” The crux of the lesson revolved around how our perceptions can be changed by what we are exposed to. In our class’s case, it served to demonstrate the value of a liberal arts education. You can begin to see how these courses synergize despite the professors not coordinating with each other in any way.
I lasted a month before I decided to change my major to philosophy. It would eventually transition to jour-
ple with mental conditions in your life that you are not a safe person to be around. Changing the definition of a specific abuse tactic to just mean “lying” leaves victims without the vocabulary they need. Sometimes, self-care means doing that laundry you don’t want to do, making a phone call or doing taxes.
Language will always shift and grow over time, but the laser focus of the definition shifting of words most commonly needed by victims of abuse and disabled populations is indicative of disregard by the common population in favor of themselves — And, really, at this point, I shouldn’t be shocked.
At this rate, in a year or so, nothing will mean anything anymore, and we will all yed euwng anduqp. Naowqu, qodugnh ndusu wjdgue #closure.
nalism, but that is a different story. This classical form of education enthralled me. The pursuit of truth forged in the internal quest to challenge my own convictions gave me purpose. I became an avid reader and set out to become a better writer. The lessons learned in those classes stick with me today, but they are not in any way new. Aristotle’s “Nicomachean Ethics” teaches us how to model our lives after what we observe to be a virtuous life. For me, that was a life of education.
If done correctly, many would benefit from the virtues of a classical education provided by the liberal arts. Never once was I told what professors thought about an issue involving contemporary politics. Instead, I was taught to ponder life’s biggest questions and given the tools to either reinforce or challenge my beliefs.
This is the path to a better life, but do not take my word for it. Take Aristotle’s, who defined happiness, essentially as rational activity done with excellence in accordance with virtue. The liberal arts, namely philosophy, give us the tools to do just that.
Matthew Scalia Asst. Opinion Editor
Courtesy of Flickr
As therapy becomes more mainstream, its practice gets co-opted by the general public, which can sometimes distort words’ meanings.
Courtesy of Flickr
There are many benefits to the often-criticized liberal arts educaton model.
benefit of a classical education is a life of purpose.
Courtesy of Flickr
interview.
SU’s fifth annual mental health fair checks the box
various therapy dogs and informational packets.
Shippensburg University
hosted its 5th annual mental health check-in fair, Fresh Check Day, on Oct 29 to an impressive turnout. The event was organized by Kurt Dunkel, the coordinator of Connection AOD & Wellness Programs.
Fresh Check Day aims to assist the student body in maintaining strong systems of mental health support. As the semester moves toward final exams, many students, particularly underclassmen, can find themselves subjected to more stress than they know how to handle. The resources made available to students can help them to manage their time, stressors and emotions.
Activities and information tables included a suicide awareness board, schizophrenia awareness and anti-hazing. Students were also given access to
Most of the tables were student-led, with trifold displays and personalized handouts. Focus on less commonly represented forms of neurodivergence are particularly valuable, as many such conditions become prominent and diagnosable around the general age of college underclassmen.
Tables for community connection were a common theme at this year’s fair.
Various organizations provided opportunities for students to use markers, paints or handwritten cards to express personal anxieties alongside positive affirmations and goals. By the end of the event, previously blank posters and papers were filled with names, statements and goals from students.
Water and snacks were also provided at the event to promote the impact of eating balanced meals
and staying hydrated on maintaining good mental health. For students facing food insecurity, Big Red’s Cupboard provided a table of information and operating hours.
Students can find additional support through the Shippensburg Community Resource Guide, which was distributed at the event and can be found at www.shipresources.org.
The guide covers a range of topics, including clothing assistance, rape crisis services and homelessness support.
Fresh Check Day is a national program from the Jordan Porco Foundation. It has recently been approved for inclusion in the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)’s Best Practices Registry, a library of resources and programs that provide suicide prevention and support. More information can be found at www.freshcheckday.org.
University’s annual Fresh Check Day was held in the
Hall and hosted different clubs and campus organizations. Students could access various resources, both on- and off-campus.
Shippensburg University’s ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ honors queer celebration
Megan Sawka Ship Life Editor
successful until 1976, when the film had its first midnight screening at the Waverly Theater in New York City. It soon became a cult classic, with midnight screenings
pansexuality. In this world, a traditionally straight, white and conventionally attractive young couple, Brad and Janet (Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon), both virgins until marriage, are true outsiders.
Meanwhile, a “sweet transvestite from Transylvania” (a dazzlingly charismatic Tim Curry), dressed in high heels, suspenders, full makeup and little else, steals the show.
Common criticisms of the show point at two main plotlines: the portrayal of Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s “transvestite” character and the sexual coercion that takes place about halfway through the show. People often criticize the portrayal of Dr. Frank-N-Furter as being offensive to the transgender community, as he is referred to using terms like “transvestite” and “transsexual.”
This year, Shippensburg University’s production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” was directed by Katie Huston and Alyssa Sheriff. Huston stressed the importance of the show to the queer community, “It’s important because even though there are some terms and ideas that are outdated, the community that has been built around it, even since the ’70s, has been so important.”
The show also transcends generational divides. “It brings people together of all ages. I can bring it up that I’m directing to someone who’s much older and they’ll be like, ‘Oh my gosh, I love Rocky Horror’ and we’ll talk about it, which I think is really important to staying involved and in touch with queer elders. That’s a part of the Rocky Horror community, keeping in touch with those people,” Huston said.
“I saw the energy of people doing call-outs and getting active in it,” Landis continued. “I’ve been doing theater a long time but that was exceptional in a lot of ways. That got me really driven to be that person, who sparks off doing the callouts.”
However, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” almost didn’t happen at SU this year. “They had asked someone else to direct, but that person was too busy this year. [The PAGE Center] had reached out to the cast from last year and was like ‘Hey, if no one is going to direct, there’s probably not going
the queer influence of this year’s performance, “I think that really shows…I have everybody up there grabbing each other’s asses, and then Columbia and Eddie have a little bit more of a lesbian touch.”
“I really appreciate Ari being willing to take up choreography as well as their actual role in the production and also Alyssa for agreeing to co-direct with me,” Huston said. “I think we all really worked well together to bring this vision together through all of our different ideas. I really appreciate the cast and how much work and effort they’ve put into
From feather boas to fishnets to fake pearls, “The stage show in London. It was written by Richard O’Brien, who later starred in the film as Riff-Raff. The inspiration for the show came from science fiction and B-horror movies that O’Brien watched as a kid. The play was met with positive reviews and eventually opened on Broadway in 1975 at the Belasco Theatre.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” film premiered in London in August of 1975 and drew small audiences. The film did not seem
dialogue” that became a standard practice, repeated almost verbatim at each screening. Since 1975, the film has become a cult classic, especially in the queer community. At a time when gay rights were just beginning to find a voice following the Stonewall riots, the Waverly drew a crowd of outcasts, eccentrics and social misfits. This audience, eager to embrace a story of sexual awakening, delighted in the celebration of gender fluidity and
Jayden Pohlman / The Slate Aidan Bertram, who played Dr. Frank-N-Furter, spoke about the confidence and ability to express himself that Shippensburg's production of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" gave him.
Frank is portrayed as promiscuous, seducing both Brad and Janet against their will and creating Rocky solely to fulfill his sexual desires. Despite this, the show has been championed for showcasing a trans character in a leading role almost 50 years ago, creating roles for people that may not have been in the spotlight prior.
Additionally, the lines of consent are blurred in the show, as both Brad and Janet are coerced into sex by Frank-N-Furter. Modern productions and showings of the film warn audiences of these scenes and critique them as a whole. Many productions educate audiences about consent and rape as well, either before the production begins or during the scene itself by holding signs. As the show has been performed over the last 50 years, it has evolved and changed to adapt to the times.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” has become a staple of self-expression. Aidan Bertram, who played Frank in this year’s production, spoke about his performance. “It feels very elegant. It’s definitely a step outside my comfort zone, but I’m enjoying it so far,” Bertran said. “It’s good to be surrounded by all these people.”
The show has become a staple at SU during the Halloween season. Each year, students line up at Memorial Auditorium and wait in their costumes to see the show.
Seamus Landis is known for actively participating in the show’s callouts in previous years. This year, however, he played Rocky. Landis reflected on his transition from audience member to show star, “It’s a little bit sad that I can’t be that active audience member because watching the shows and being a part of it from that side is always incredibly fun,” Landis said.
with rehearsals beginning in mid-September. An important piece of the show is the choreography. Ari Stevens, who choreographed the show and also starred as Columbia, spoke about where their inspiration for the choreography came from.
“I watched a lot of heels videos online, because those are something that you can incorporate with everybody wearing heels on stage,” Stevens said. Stevens also spoke about
PAGE Center and the campus Trans Affinity group.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” has almost 50 years of cult-like following, and with productions like this at Shippensburg University, it will hopefully continue to be a safe space for the queer community.
For resources and information about queer identity, consent and more, visit the PAGE Center in the CUB or at www.ship.edu/ life/diversity/page/.
Natalie Nichols Staff Contributor
Gabe Rader / The Slate
Shippensburg
CUB Great
Jayden Pohlman / The Slate Griffyn Imes playing Brad in this year's production of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."
Treats no Tricks brings spooky fun to campus
Lydia Elmy Staff Contributor
The Halloween spirit made its way onto campus on Oct. 28 during Treats no Tricks, an annual event at which various student organizations volunteer to bring spooky fun to people of all ages.
Children, parents and even students were dressed in costumes. From Bluey to Spider-Man, many different characters were in attendance.
As the evening began, a long line of excited children and parents made their way onto Old Main lawn. Across the entire lawn, student organizations and groups such as PRSSA, Activities
Program Board (APB) and Greek Life handed out candy and hosted games for children.
SU President Charles Patterson was also in attendance, dressed as Mario, with his dog, Oliver, dressed as Luigi.
Throughout the evening, families enjoyed different activities such as pumpkin picking, cornhole, rubber duck fishing in the Old Main Fountain and taking pictures with Big Red and Shippo the Hippo. The cotton-candy machines were also popular spots for the children.
The night was filled with music, laughter and a sense of togetherness that brought the spooky night to a close.
Liberty Bar & Grill: A Diamond in the
Do not let the fact that it is attached to a casino scare you off from this gem.
Liberty Bar and Grill, part of Parx Casino in Shippensburg, provides delicious meals and fun cocktails for all occasions.
One does not even need to step one foot onto the gaming floor to reach it. When I suggested the restaurant to my grandparents, they were skeptical, too. However, even my gambling-aversive grandfather was pleasantly surprised by the lack of obnoxious, slot-machine noises.
The menu has a diverse enough selection to please any diner. I ordered the schnitzel, and felt a twinge of guilt at the $17 price since I was not the one footing the bill.
However, when it arrived, I was shocked at how massive it was compared to my grandmother’s version. It covered most of the plate, overlapping slightly with the mashed potatoes. It also had a sunny side up egg on top of it, which I have never seen before. It was not hard to cut the tender meat, and the crunch of the breading was quite satisfying. I noted
that the meat is not seasoned very much, making it less flavorful than I anticipated. At the same time, the rich and savory onion sauce that came with the dish compensated for this.
As for the sunny side up egg on top of the cutlet, I added a pinch of salt and dipped some of my grandfather’s fries in the yolk. If dippy eggs make you queasy, then you might want to request that they hold it. The mashed potatoes are rich and buttery with a golden yellow hue. They certainly used more butter than milk or cream for their recipe. My grandfather mentioned that his pastrami reuben was a bit dry, and my brother said that his sandwich was dry, too. However, they stated that the sandwiches were delicious, otherwise.
Overhead, there are long, rectangular screens showing scores for sports games, like a stock market update for sports bettors. There is a window that allows diners to look out at the slot machines. This could be a turn-off for some, seeing the gamblers in action. However, it does substantially contribute to the atmosphere of the restaurant. Casinos are their own aesthetic. Fortunately, my family and I were seated away from view of the
gambling floor.
For dessert, I ordered the thin mint martini cocktail. This creamy, minty green drink is like a boozy, melted shamrock shake. If it was not $12, I would have ordered another one. The drizzles of chocolate syrup inside the glass add both a flavorful and aesthetic touch to the drink. My grandparents ordered a slice of cheesecake to share between them. Our waitress brought two thin slices, each equaling one half of a typical slice.
Whoever decided to serve the cake in this way was remarkably thoughtful, as this made it easier for them to eat their portion without maneuvering around each other’s forks. I was offered a bite and found that the cream cheese was surprisingly light, almost as if it were puffed up with little air bubbles. In the dim lighting, the raspberry drizzle looked like chocolate syrup.
Eating at Liberty Bar and Grill is an excellent experience, with quality food and great hospitality. Although it is on the pricier side, it is worth a visit with friends and family. The restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Rough
APB and D&D Club present ‘D&D Night’
Madi Shively Staff Contributor
Bards, druids, artificers and barbarians alike gathered in McFeely’s on Friday to celebrate Dungeons and Dragons night, presented by the Activities Programming Board (APB) and the D&D club. Refreshments and snacks were provided, and most attendees wore costumes.
The event was themed after the popular game of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), a tabletop role-playing game where players work together to complete an imaginary adventure in a medieval fantasy world. Mystical music played as players gathered by the table of “minis,” which are miniatures that can represent your character during the game.
Paint and paintbrushes were presented beside the minis and attendees were encouraged to paint a mini of their choice, allowing an arts and crafts aspect into the event, enticing many
attendees as they decorated their characters. As they painted, players made conversation about their latest campaigns and their greatest rolls.
Several sets of colorful dice were presented at the event for all players to take a set of dice home to play in their current or upcoming campaigns.
As attendees mingled and painted, there was a raffle at the event that gave away a battle map for players to use during their games, as well as a dice tower that can be used to roll dice during the game.
D&D Club has been active since 2018. Club president Thomas French said, “The idea to collaborate with APB for this event came from one of our members, Vivian Ulsh, who is also part of APB.”
“She suggested the idea of mini painting because it’s an arts and crafts activity that anyone can enjoy, but it’s also tied to D&D,” French said. “Our hope is that we can continue to throw these kinds of events.”
French shared that his
passion for the D&D club comes from the synergistic nature of the game. “One of my favorite parts about the game is the collaborative aspect,” French said. “A lot of times when you play games with people, there’s a competitive environment to it, which isn’t bad. We love competition. But D&D is one of the few games where people can actively work together to reach a goal.”
“It’s what makes it feel unique, and when everyone gets into character, it’s so much fun to see someone roll really well and you all celebrate. That’s my favorite part of it,” French said.
“My favorite part of the community is that you get to hear people’s stories and chat with people about their favorite games they’ve played. You just get to share that joy,” French said.
For more information on D&D Club, visit the Fireside Lounge located in the Ceddia Union Building on Fridays at 7 p.m.
Sophia Bartash Staff Contributor
Connor Niszczak / The Slate
SU President Charles Patterson and First Lady Colleen Patterson greeting attendees.
Connor Niszczak / The Slate Children visited campus to trick-or-treat.
Sophia Bartash / The Slate
Liberty Bar & Grill offers a variety of desserts, including cheesecake, creme brulee, chocolate lava cake and apple tart.
Photo Courtesy of Visit Cumberland Valley
Liberty Bar & Grill is inside of the new Parx Casino in Shippensburg.
Photo Courtesy of Pexels
Dice of various numbers are used in Dungeons and Dragons to decide the outcomes of random occurences. Free dice sets were given to attendees.
Photo Courtesy of Flickr
Dungeons & Dragons, commonly referred to as D&D, was first released in 1974.
Doing the ‘Time Warp’ again in Memorial Auditorium
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” came back again this year to do the time warp at
Abbygale Hockenberry A&E Editor
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” made its annual reappearance for a three-night stand. Kicking off on Friday, Oct. 25, at 8 p.m. doors opened a half hour early for the audience to find seats and get ready for the show.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” originated in 1975, nearly 50 years ago, and since then, it has become a Halloween theatrical tradition. The show follows the story of newlyweds Brad and Janet who get stranded with a flat tire during a storm. Then, they find the mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, who is a transvestite scientist. Through a compilation of rock songs and wild dances, Frank-N-Furter reveals his newest creation of a man named Rocky. The choreography throughout the show was very different to what it has been in the past, which was a refreshing change. The cho-
‘The Nutcracker’ returns to bring that early holiday spirit
“The Nutcracker” made its reappearance Saturday evening at Luhrs Performing Arts Center. The State Ballet Theater of Ukraine took Luhrs on a whimsical night of the renowned ballet.
“The Nutcracker” was created by Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky, who also created Swan Lake, in 1892. It became a cherished holiday ballet because it is about imagination and wonder on Christmas Eve. The show was separated into two acts, with each act lasting for 50 minutes. The story follows a girl named Clara who gets a nutcracker doll for Christmas, and it comes to life. In the middle of the night, Clara helps the Nutcracker fight the evil Mouse King. The Nutcracker then turns into a prince after Clara saves him from the Mouse King. They celebrate in Candy Land and are surrounded by dancing dolls from all over the world. Clara then wakes up and realizes that it was all just a dream. I never went to a ballet before, and it was a different experience to watch. The dancing was enough to take my breath away. Choreographers Marius Petipa and Andrei Litvinov put
together an enticing show through unique moves.
The outfits were vibrant and made dancers stand out onstage. The colors used were carefully chosen to correlate with the scene’s mood. The setting is inside a dream of a child, where imagination and dreams are endless, and the wardrobe has a special way of mirroring that. The intermission began at the most climatic part of the story, when the Nutcracker becomes a prince. It leaves the audience with a reason to come back. The show lasted for two hours but kept families and children engaged the entire time.
reographer, Ari Stevens, put together an engaging show through the dancing techniques.
One unique part about the show is that the audience purposefully heckles the actors. Stephen Smith, who played Magenta, shared that the callouts were a part of what he loved about the show.
“The audience engagement was great. I loved listening to the callouts people came up with,” Smith said. Madi Shively, who played an Usherette, expressed her gratitude she had toward the flexibility within the cast and directors Alyssa Sheriff and Katie Huston. “If someone had an idea of something their character could do or a way their character could move, they fully embraced it,” Shively said. The show was free to attend all nights, but donations were accepted at the door. A total of $514 was raised for the PAGE Center and Trans Affinity.
The Reflector Halloween Open Mic
Stewart Hall was enveloped in a warm, supportive environment on Thursday night during The Reflector’s Halloween Open Mic.
Jenny Russell, editor-in-chief of The Reflector, opened the event by reading a poem called “Our Halloween Party” that was published in the 1926 edition of The Reflector, when it was known as The Campus Reflector. The story described a Halloween open mic that took place in a similar setting almost 100 years ago.
Attendees then took turns
reciting poems, original or retold, and singing songs. Each performance was met by enthusiastic applause, Kylie Saar, associate editor, read a Halloween poem that reminded her of the students that she teaches.
“This is definitely something I’ve wanted to try to come all my years [at SU] and I’m glad I finally could,” SU student Emma Fasnacht, one of the open mic’s attendees, said. “It was a nice escape. I was able to celebrate Halloween without going all out.”
Hailee Rauch, head prose editor, was dressed in a Ghostface costume and read
two horror-themed poems, including a surprisingly touching one titled “Self-Portrait of Jason Vorhees’ Machete.”
Ethan McAllister, who opened his performance by self-proclaiming himself a “Swiftie,” sang and played on his acoustic guitar “Betty” by Taylor Swift and was met by warm applause and cheers.
“We’re very happy with the turnout… we had a lot of people who came and were so willing to share their voices,” Russell said. “It was a great night.”
Follow The Reflector on Instragram at shippensburg.reflector
Listen to this fall themed playlist
The leaves are falling and the air is getting colder. The Slate put together a playlist that says goodbye to Halloween and hello to November.
Jayden Pohlman / The Slate
Memorial Auditorium sponsored by the PAGE center.
Abbygale Hockenberry
A&E Editor
Jayden Pohlman / The Slate
Clara dances with the Nutcracker Prince in the second Act.
Megan Sawka Ship Life Editor
Megan Sawka / The Slate
The Head Prose Editor of The Reflector, Hailee Rauch, at open mic night.
Volleyball falls 3-0 at Pitt-Johnstown, clinches pair of home wins
Nicola Puggé Sports Editor
After falling on the road to Pitt-Johnstown on Tuesday, Shippensburg University’s volleyball team rallied at home to defeat Kutztown 4-1 and East Stroudsburg 3-0 in two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division matchups on Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
On Tuesday, Pitt-Johnstown won all three sets over the Raiders, 29-27, 25-20 and 25-13.
The first set featured many runs from both teams and saw a tie at 25-25. After defending a set point, the Raiders made another point to have a set point themselves at 27-26. However, UPJ went on a 3-0 run to win the set.
In Set 2, the Mountain Cats used an 8-0 and a 4-0 run on their way to winning the set. Set 3 saw a 6-1 scoring stretch for UPJ and another 8-1 scoring stretch that put the Mountain Cats up 156. The Raiders were unable to start a comeback and lost in three sets.
Junior Isabelle Bombas paced the SU offense on Tuesday with six kills, hitting .600 from the floor.
On Friday night, SU hosted the Kutztown Golden Bears for a PSAC East matchup in Heiges Field House.
Despite committing 27 attack errors, 12 service errors and allowing Kutztown eight aces, the Raiders won the match in four sets, 25-19, 2025, 25-23 and 25-13.
The first set was a backand-forth that featured 10 ties of the score, before the Raiders used a 7-1 scoring stretch to take the set, 25-19.
Kutztown opened Set 2 with a point before SU scored three points in a row to take a 3-1 lead, its only lead in the second set. Kutztown responded with a 6-0 run that the Raiders were unable to overcome for a while.
SU tied the score at 17-17, but a 5-1 scoring stretch by the Golden Bears gave them the momentum to win Set 2.
In the third set, the Golden Bears took a 16-9 lead before the Raiders rallied to go on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to one. Kutztown was able to extend its lead one more time to 18-16 before the Raiders went on another 6-0 run for the lead. Kutztown managed to keep the set close until the end, but the Raiders persevered and took home the set and the 2-1 lead in sets.
An 11-2 scoring stretch and a 5-0 run helped the Raiders win the fourth set in a dominant fashion, 25-13.
Kayla Johnson led the Raiders with 14 kills and hit .278. Senior Emily Gardner served a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs. Sophomores Kylie Snyder and Natalya Montague also had double-digit kills at 10 each.
Junior Kearstin Davis amassed 41 assists and added 13 digs.
On Saturday afternoon, the Raiders swept the East Stroudsburg University (ESU) Warriors in another PSAC East matchup in
Heiges Field House. The set scores were 25-17, 25-18 and 25-17.
SU served 10 aces and had 45 kills, while only allowing two aces and 24 kills from ESU.
In Set 1, the Raiders never allowed ESU to score more than two points in a row and benefitted from an early 8-1 scoring stretch to convincingly win the set.
The second set saw a 10-9 Warriors lead before the Raiders went on a 10-0 run to take the 19-10 lead. From there, SU cruised toward victory in the second set.
Keeping the momentum, the Raiders started the third set with an 8-0 run before an SU service error gave the first point to ESU. ESU was unable to recover, and the Raiders went on a 6-1 scoring stretch to end the third set and complete the sweep.
Gardner ripped a teamhigh of 18 kills, just one shy of her career-high.
Davis finished with 37 assists and four aces. The 37 assists helped her surpass 3,000 career assists. Davis is now one of six players in school history to surpass 3,000 career assists.
With four matches to go in the regular season, the Raiders sit in second place in the PSAC East, which would see them qualify for the playoffs. They are three games ahead of three teams tied for third place in the standings.
The Raiders return to the court on Friday at 7 p.m., to host Bloomsburg in Heiges Field House.
Junior Kayla Johnson goes for a spike against
Raiders with 14 kills in the Shippensburg victory.
Field hockey splits week, falls to IUP
Mason Flowers Asst. Sports Editor
Shippensburg University’s
No. 1 nationally ranked field hockey team split a pair of matches this past week defeating Frostburg State 4-1 on Tuesday before falling in overtime to IUP 1-0 on Wednesday.
The Raiders finished undefeated in conference play at 9-0 but suffered their first loss of the season to move to 16-1 overall.
The first match of the week saw Frostburg keep SU in check for the first half, with the Raiders only getting six shots on goal and unable to score. The game was 0-0 at the half. Senior Taryn Mayer put the Raiders on the board
midway through the third quarter with her second goal of the season.
The Raiders controlled the match from there, adding another third quarter goal thanks to senior Yasmin De Meyer scoring off an assist from freshman Anne Gardner.
De Meyer then scored again in the fourth, this one assisted by senior Alexa Michielsen. Senior Valu Paul then scored her fifth goal of the season less than 30 seconds after De Meyer. Frostburg State scored with 7:50 remaining, but that was the Bobcats only goal in the match. SU outshot the Bobcats 33-10, with 23 shots on goal. Redshirt junior goalie Emma Albee picked up
four saves in the victory.
The victory capped off a perfect season on conference play for the Raiders, outscoring opponents 30-7 across nine games. They only allowed 0.77 goals per game in PSAC play, also having a conference-leading .840 save percentage.
SU then traveled to Indiana for Wednesday’s contest against IUP, where the Crimson Hawks gutted their way to an overtime win. The Raiders had plenty of chances to get on the board but could not find the back of the net.
The Raiders outshot IUP 13-8, with all but one of their shots being on goal, with IUP goalie Brooke Everly posting 12 saves. SU also racked up
16 corners, allowing just five on defense.
It was one of those five corners that proved to be the difference in the match.
IUP’s Jess Davidson scored her eighth goal of the season off an overtime penalty corner insert to put IUP ahead 1-0, the match’s result.
SU field hockey will host the PSAC field hockey championships this weekend, with both semifinals and the championship set to be played at Robb Sports Complex. The Raiders will host the winner of Monday’s contest between Bloomsburg and West Chester at noon on Friday, with the conference championship game scheduled for noon on Sunday.
Wrestling opens season at Tonee Ellis Memorial Invitational
Savannah Silvestre Staff Contributor
Shippensburg University’s wrestling team traveled to Alvernia College on Saturday to compete in the Tonee Ellis Memorial Invitational.
The Raiders placed sixth as a team, scoring 68.5 points.
Sophomore Diesel Koser, junior Trey Shoemaker, freshman Anthony DeAngelo and junior Cole Lang clinched the top four placements in their respective weight classes.
Koser, wrestling up in weight from his normal 197 pounds, dominated in the 285-pound bracket clinching the first place title. He pinned his first two opponents and then majored his SU teammate senior Connor Livingston in the semifinals and Western New England wrestler Spencer Dickson in the finals.
Shoemaker made his debut at 174 pounds. after wrestling at 197 last season. He placed third, picking up three pins. In the third place match, he ultimately took a forfeit win over his freshman teammate Anthony DeAngelo.
DeAngelo finished with a 4-2 record on the day to earn the fourth place spot in the 174 bracket. Both losses came from Shoemaker. Lang finished fourth in the 184 bracket after winning four consecutive matches during wrestle backs.
Junior Owen Koch won three matches in the 184 bracket. Livingston and sophomore AJ Stayton won two matches each and juniors Anthony Lavish, Calvin Lederer and Noah Gilgore also recorded wins.
The Raiders are back in action for their first dual meet at Elizabethtown College on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Grant Thompson / The Slate
Kutztown. Johnson led the
Photo courtesy of SU Sports Info
Freshman Anne Gardner goes for a shot in Tuesday’s game against Frostburg State. SU won 4–1.
Swimming swept by Clarion on senior night
a backstroke start for the 400 medley relay in Friday’s
picked up an event victory Friday evening, Koeth in the
with a time of 4:57.90.
Shippensburg University’s swimming teams lost at home against Clarion on Friday evening, with the men’s team losing 115-70 and the women by a score of 136-50. The results move each team to 3-4 on the season.
SU honored its eight seniors before the meet in a senior day ceremony. Seniors David Johnson, Nathan VanNatter, Zaidian Van Orden, Lauren Croll, Laurel Gingrich, Emma Grove, Emily Newton and Gracie Wetzel were each gifted authentic Hawaiian leis from Croll’s family, who are from Honolulu. It is a tradition the team has kept for each of Croll’s four seasons.
Graduate JC Greenwood shined on the men’s side of the meet for the Raiders, picking up a pair of Top 2 finishes in his events. He placed second in the 200-yard freestyle before winning the 500-yard freestyle in comeback fashion, passing Clarion’s George Horey to win the event by just 0.24 seconds
Women’s soccer secures two draws to keep PSAC playoff hopes alive
Slate
The team’s huddle before the Millersville game.
Shippensburg University’s women’s soccer team fought to consecutive draws last week, keeping its postseason hopes alive in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division.
The Raiders first held Millersville to a 1-1 tie on Wednesday, due to a last-minute free-kick goal, and followed it up with a 2-2 comeback against East Stroudsburg last Saturday.
In the Wednesday match against Millersville University at David See Field, Shippensburg (5-7-3, 5-5-3 PSAC East) fell behind early after Millersville’s Aalivia Wainwright scored in the 31st minute.
The Raiders struggled to find scoring opportunities through most of the match but held off Millersville’s attacks with solid defensive play and five saves by sophomore goalkeeper Kirstin Brown.
In the final minutes, however, the game took an unexpected turn. A Millersville red card set up freshman Ashton Gonzalez for a free-kick attempt in the last minute. She curved past the defense and into the top cor-
ner for her second collegiate goal, securing the 1-1 draw. On Saturday, the Raiders traveled to East Stroudsburg University, where they faced another uphill battle, trailing 2-0 by the 84th minute. Junior Kaitlyn DiCandilo sparked the comeback, launching a free-kick goal to narrow the gap to 2-1. Moments later, a cross reached sophomore Ashley Hughes, who passed to freshman Lannah Werynski for an easy tap-in.
The Raiders defense held off a last-second East Stroudsburg attack, securing another valuable point in the standings. Brown once again recorded five saves to aid SU’s defense.
With two games remaining, the Raiders sit in a tight race for the PSAC playoffs, tied with East Stroudsburg and within two points of Millersville and Bloomsburg. Only the top four teams from each division qualify for the tournament, intensifying the Raiders final push for a postseason spot.
The Raiders will head to Shepherd on Tuesday for their road finale, looking to capitalize on their recent resilience and continue their playoff quest.
Greenwood, a sixth-year member of the team, also spoke about the seniors honored at the meet, saying, “These guys came in after the COVID year and immediately gelled with us as freshman. They’ve done a really good job leading the team.”
Two other Raiders won events on the men’s side, both in freestyle events. Sophomore Robbie Ferlick was victorious in the 50-yard freestyle at 21.79 seconds, while sophomore Mason Koeth took the 100-yard freestyle at 47.81 seconds. Both also qualified for Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships (PSACs) with their times.
The other men’s team members to qualify for PSACs were freshman Josh Einolf, placing second in the 100-yard butterfly at 52.93 seconds, along with VanNatter with his time of 48.91 seconds in the 100-yard freestyle.
Both men’s “A” relay teams placed second in their events, with the 400-yard medley team of Koeth, VanNatter, Ferlick and Einoff finishing at 3:35.14. The 200-yard freestyle team
of junior Kevin Noldy, Koeth, Ferlick and VanNatter earned a time of 1:27.48.
The women’s team could only muster one event win on the evening, coming from sophomore Charlee Shaw in the 100yard breaststroke. Her time of 1:09.83 was both enough for first place and to qualify for PSACs. Gingrich earned a pair of PSAC qualifiers in the meet, placing second in the 100-yard freestyle at 54.62 seconds and third in the 200-yard freestyle at 2:00.49. Freshman teammate Olivia Carter placed second in the same event at 1:59.79, also qualifying for PSACs.
The team finished the night with a second-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay, with the team of freshman Elyse Arnold, Gingrich, Croll and Wetzel clocking in at 1:41.82. Both teams will have the next few weeks off before several members will compete in the Franklin & Marshall Invitational from Nov. 22-24.
Men’s soccer honors five seniors
in
loss to ESU on Senior Day
Ryan Krumenacker, knocking him off balance and unable to make the save.
Shippensburg University’s men’s soccer team faced off against the East Stroudsburg University Warriors on Saturday afternoon at David See Field after honoring their five seniors in a traditional pre-game ceremony.
Seniors Luke Witham, Clay Waterman, Victor Vottero, Ashton Davies and Andrew Versis were joined by their families in the center of the field to be honored.
The mens’ messages to their families, coaches and teammates were read out to the audience while head coach Jeremy Spering handed each of the players a poster of them playing.
Both Witham and Waterman’s ceremonies included the reading of messages sent from their families back in England, Witham being from Leicester and Waterman from London.
The first half started with momentum that was present on both sides of the turf as opportunities came out of nowhere within the first five minutes. Sophomore Cam Henry shot on goal in the third minute of play to be blocked by the Warriors goalkeeper. Victor Vottero nearly made it 1-0 with his follow-up shot that floated just above the crossbar.
The half continued to run with opportunities from both the Raiders and the Warriors. With less than seven minutes to the first half, ESU player Nathan Bradway shot an awkwardly bouncing ball at SU goalkeeper
The halftime whistle was blown and the men were given some relief to regroup with their teams as the score was now 1-0 to the Warriors.
When the second half began, the first 10 minutes consisted of back and forth play until an opportunity arose on the Raider’s offensive half. A free kick was given and served into the box by senior Ashton Davies onto the head of Cam Henry whose shot veered just wide of the goal post to go out for an ESU goal kick.
Twenty-three minutes into the half, ESU player Jace Seara used some footwork to beat SU defenders and scored another goal to add to the Warriors lead. Less than five minutes later, an ESU player got a breakaway, forcing Krumenacker to make a crucial save with his feet. The resulting 50/50 ball in the box caused Krumenacker to clip the foot of the ESU forward as the referee awarded a controversial penalty kick to the Warriors. Cayetano Diaz lined up to take the kick and slotted it into the goal to make the score 3-0.
Within a short span of minutes, disaster struck for the Raiders. Continuing to advance towards goal with energy, the Raiders were determined to
make the game as competitive for ESU as possible. With only 10 minutes left, Shippensburg’s Vottero launched the ball into their offensive box off a throw-in and Luca Heusser flicked the ball off his head into the back of the net. Having a point on the board, the Raiders hurried to restart play as the clock kept ticking.
A minute later, a SU mistake in the back led to another goal for ESU, after the ball was mishit into the path of Connor Hanratty, making it 4-1. Both teams played a physical match, accumulating three yellow cards per side. With an unfortunate result for the Raiders, Senior Day was still a success in that the seniors have achieved successful academic and athletic careers in their time with SU soccer.
Andrew Versis said “it was a day for me to look back on the journey I’ve taken to get to this point I’m at now, and to be appreciative of all the people that have helped me get this far.”
Ashton Davies added to this by saying he is “very grateful to have had the opportunity to play soccer at a high level with great friends.”
The men have a 1-8-0 record in their conference this year and have fallen short in several of their previous games, but their effort and performance does not go unseen as they persist and play their hearts out in every game to finish out their season, and for many of the seniors, their careers.
Senior Victor Vottero emphasized this point in saying, “It was a great feeling to see the support that us seniors got from our teammates, coaches, and family and friends. I really wanted to take in the experience because it is something that only happens once in a lifetime. The result today wasn’t what we wanted, but the day was special regardless of the result.”
The men will appear again on Friday, Nov. 8, for their final match of the 2024 season against Shepherd on David See Field at 6 p.m.
Photos courtesy of Carly Rakes (left) and Nicola Puggé (right)/The Slate
Mason Koeth (left, Raiders cap in middle) gets ready to do
dual meet against Clarion. JC Greenwood (right) swims the 200 freestyle. Both Koeth and Greenwood
100 free and Greenwood in the 500 free.
Mason Flowers Asst. Sports Editor
Alexa Michielsen Staff Contributor
Patrick Crean/The
Libby Cogan Staff Contributor
Madison Sharp/The Slate Freshman Ethan Omondi goes for the ball against ESU on Saturday. The Raiders lost on their Senior Day 4-1.
Halloween Recap
Photos Courtesy of Patrick Crean, Libby Cogan, Hayden Highlands, Connor Niszczak, Jayden Pohlman, and Madison Sharp