GOP falters, B1
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Luhrs reveals fall ’23 lineup, D1
Football seeks to improve, E1
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Volume 65 No. 1
President Patterson welcomes students back to campus Charles Patterson President of SU
Dear Raiders, Each fall semester marks the return of the incredible energy and enthusiasm that our Raider students infuse into every corner of Shippensburg University. The campus simply comes to life with the buzz of excitement, as fall marks the beginning of a fresh start filled with boundless possibilities, opportunities for individual growth, and the promise of creating memories that will last a lifetime. At Ship, you are part of a vibrant learning community that supports your aspirations and celebrates your achievements. Your decision to pursue a Shippensburg University degree sets you apart from your peers and is a testament to your unwavering determination and commitment to your future. Whether you are just beginning your journey at Ship or continuing your
journey as a returning student, Ship equips you with the knowledge and experiences that will shape your career aspirations. As you begin the fall semester, be sure to set audacious goals for yourself, step outside of your comfort zone, and believe in your ability to overcome any obstacle that you encounter. Our Ship faculty will guide you through transformative learning experiences that broaden your horizons and challenge your assumptions. And our dedicated Ship staff are here to ensure your campus life is enriching and engaging, whether you are a residential student or commuter student. Be sure to engage in discussions with faculty, collaborate with peers, and immerse yourself in the diverse experiences that Ship offers. As you navigate through your courses, seize every opportunity to expand your knowledge base, and accept that you will be challenged by the rigor of the coursework.
Copy Editor
The Republican Party held its first presidential debate in Milwaukee, Wis. on Aug. 23 without the frontrunner for the nomination, but the event was still rowdy and contentious despite former President Donald Trump’s absence. As eight candidates debated for two hours at Fiserv Forum in front of a live audience and aired on FOX News, Tucker Carlson released a pre-recorded interview with Trump on his X, formerly known as Twitter, account. The Republican Party required all debate participants to sign a pledge affirming their support for the nominee if it was not themselves. Trump trusted that skipping would not jeopardize his sizeable lead against other candidates, and he disavowed the pledge in an interview with Newsmax host Eric Bolling. “They want you to sign the pledge, but I can name three or four people that I wouldn’t support for President. So, right there, there’s a problem,” Trump said. While Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis entered Wednesday as the clear runnerup behind Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy was the source of the debate’s biggest highlights. Throughout the night, he argued with candidates and drew strong reactions from the audience. He and former Vice President Mike Pence sparred first. Pence accused him of previously saying “a President can’t do everything.” After Ramaswamy said, “This isn’t that complicated,” he summarized his positions on energy production, shrinking the size of government and welfare reform. Moments later, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said, “I’ve had enough already tonight of a guy who sounds like ChatGPT,” before comparing Ramaswamy’s opening remarks where he called himself “a
Changes for SGA lead by new president Harun Pacavar
Elizabeth Peters Editor-in-Chief
Adam Beam/The Slate
SU President Charles Patterson speaks at the MLK March for Humanity last February. You may experience setbacks, but this is part of the learning and discovery process, and everyone experiences and overcomes them. Finally, be sure to take advantage of the many learning and wellness resources available to support you along you
amazing journey. Colleen and I wish you the very best and hope this academic year will be one of inspiration, personal growth, and achievement. With great enthusiasm, Charles
First GOP debate highlights lesser-known candidates Luke Rainey
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
skinny guy with an odd last name” to President Barack Obama. In response to Christie, Ramaswamy said, “Give me a hug just like you did to Obama … and you’ll help elect me just like you did to Obama.” When asked if they would support Trump if he became the Republican nominee, six candidates raised their hands to affirm. Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson did not. The question preceded Trump’s arrest on charges related to his actions after the 2020 election in Fulton County, Ga. on Aug. 24. He was released after reaching a $200,000 bond agreement. Ramaswamy was the first to raise his hand and claimed Trump was the greatest president of the 21st century. He then targeted Christie and said, “Your claim that Donald Trump is motivated by vengeance and grievance would be a lot more credible if your entire campaign were not based on vengeance and grievance against one man.” The audience loudly booed Christie during his response, where he said, “Someone has got to stop normalizing misconduct … the conduct is beneath the office of President of the United States.” Ramaswamy also raised his hand first when the candidates were asked if they would stop funding Ukraine in their war efforts against Russia. He also took a nonverbal swing at DeSantis. As DeSantis blamed Europe for failing to “pull their own weight,” Ramaswamy fluttered his hand and licked his finger before pointing it upward. When Ramaswamy answered, he called out other candidates who have met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Former South Carolina Gov. and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley said, “(Ramaswamy) wants to hand Ukraine to Russia, he wants to let China eat Taiwan, he wants to go and stop funding
Israel...you are choosing a murderer over a pro-American country.” Each candidate presented closing arguments and answered why they were the person who could inspire the nation to a better day. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Hutchinson said the country needed better leadership than President Biden’s. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott cited his humble beginnings to celebrate the individualist spirit of America, and Christie said he is the only candidate who can defeat Biden. Haley discussed her husband’s military experiences and said, “If (soldiers) are willing to protect us from there, we should be willing to fight for America here.” Pence claimed he has proven himself to “move a conservative agenda forward” and has faith in the American people. Ramaswamy recited his 10 truths, the core of his presidential campaign. His truths range from “God is real” to “The nuclear family is the greatest form of governance known to man.” DeSantis cited his political résumé and personal experiences as proof of his potential as president. “In Florida, we showed it could be done. I made promises and I delivered on all of those promises.” After the debate, CNN’s Gary Tuchman spoke with 15 Iowa Republicans, seven of whom believed Ramaswamy had the best performance. “Vivek understands that young folks … don’t really love America, and if you don’t love it, you can’t protect it,” one voter said. Results from a Washington Post, FiveThirtyEight and Ipsos poll featuring 775 Republican voters showed DeSantis as the best performer at 29 percent, with Ramaswamy receiving 26 percent.
Harun Pacavar, a senior political science major, is the president of the Student Government Association (SGA) at Shippensburg University for the 20232024 academic year. Pacavar became involved in Shippensburg University’s SGA as a freshman and gradually became more invested as time progressed. In the spring semester of 2023, he became the Vice President of External Affairs and discovered he wanted to continue his involvement as president in the following semester. “I always like to face new challenges,” Pacavar said. Pacavar expressed a personal interest in advocating for better mental health assistance on campus. He discussed that when he initially ran for a position in SGA as a freshman, he heard a lot of students had issues getting access to these kinds of resources on campus. “For me, mental health is something that is frequently looked past,” Pacavar said. “It is something I want to focus on to make sure students have access to on campus. This coming academic year, Pacavar is looking to find ways to expand hours and better programs for more students to receive the help they need with mental health. “Right now, the biggest focus is on restructuring the organization as a whole,” Pacavar said. Last academic year, SGA had some issues with the structure of their organization coming loose as members left. To combat this, Pacavar said the Executive Leadership Committee has worked to reword their constitution to adjust wording to make requirements clearer. Another shift Pacavar said SGA would be making is to the structure of their bi-
weekly public meetings. He referred to these events as being more like “town halls,” in the sense that students would have time to voice their concerns. He wants the student body to feel more a part of the meetings and less like bystanders when it comes to discussing the issues impacting themselves. Pacavar also acknowledged that with the incoming freshmen there will be a shift in what concerns the student body has about student life. He is prepared to find ways to help by listening and communicating, specifically at the public meetings and through campus-wide emails. Going into the 2023-2024 academic year, SGA has quite a few openings for new students to get involved. Particularly, the Executive Leadership Committee which includes the president and the four vice presidents of committees, still needs a student to step up for the roles of Vice President of Finance and Vice President of External Affairs. “We are doing our due diligence, specifically for the VP of Finance, to find a qualified person to fill that role,” Pacavar said. Until a student is nominated, the Executive Leadership Committee will be filling in the gaps. In terms of qualifications for a position within SGA, Pacavar encourages all students to run in the coming election. “Any position can be learned,” Pacavar said, as he noted that like any club on campus, SGA is meant for students to grow. Pacavar cited integrity and responsibility to be attributes he valued in a candidate. Roles within SGA require persons who want to take on leadership within their community, so having these qualities help a candidate stay strong, according to Pacavar.
Photo courtesy of Flickr
Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy garnered reactions from the audience when he went against Mike Pence at the first presidential debate.