The boy who cried wolf, B1
SU police host annual picnic, C1
ABC hosts first Ship “Story Slam,” D1
Women’s soccer starts 3-1 E1 (2,3)
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Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Reporting truth. Serving our community.
Volume 63 No. 3
Students see changes to historic Gilbert Hall rooms Hannah Pollock Managing Editor
Gilbert Hall, the home of Shippensburg University’s Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA), is facing physical changes, but its message will remain the same. The historic building is undergoing repairs and renovations during the 2019–2020 academic year. According to Ezra Lehman Memorial Library Archives, the building was constructed in 1912 and has housed an elementary training school and business education department. Now, it is used for exercise science classrooms and is the home of MSA. It offers office spaces, recreational areas and study locations for students as well. Student Government Association Sens. Isaiah Smith and Danielle Williams, who represent Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA), stood among facilities workers on Wednesday in an uncharacteristically empty “AM,” recalling the prior conditions of their beloved “home.”
“The AM” is a popular area for students to do schoolwork, hangout and socialize, as well as the venue for many MSA events. Smith called it “a place for everyone, a second home and a safe-haven.” “The paint was chipped, and the furniture needed updated,” said Williams. “There was no air circulation either,” Smith said. The radiator was not functioning properly and on windy days doors would not stay shut, Smith added. Smith and Williams applauded the renovation. “It is well-needed,” Smith said. Megan Silverstrim, SU media relations manager, said work in Gilbert will continue through December. “Work continues in Gilbert Hall with wall repairs and painting on the ground and first floor. Floor repairs and replacements will also be addressed in designated areas,” she said. There are additional plans for more painting, once this work is completed, according to Silverstrim.
Hannah Pollock/The Slate
During the fall 2019 semester, “The AM” will be filled with workers instead of students. Repairs will continue in the building into December. The AM’s iconic mural will not be changed during renovations. Both Smith and Williams expressed their gratitude for Diane Jefferson (Ms. Di), director of MSA; SU President Laurie Carter; and all of the people who advocated for MSA. “We’re excited to see
what the future holds. We’ve been needing this for years,” Smith said. There are a couple of aspects that will not change once renovations wrap-up — the mural overlooking The AM and MSA’s message of
inclusivity. The mural, a visual representation of MSA’s history at SU, remains protected under plastic and painters’ tape. While its home is under construction, MSA is still holding programming, but
Smith said they are improvising by using other spaces across campus to hold activities that would normally take place in The AM.
Students volunteer, serve SU earns national recognition community in day of service Noel Miller
Guest Contributor
Shippensburg University held its annual Fall Day of Service Saturday, at which almost 250 volunteers served various local organizations from food banks to community parks. SU students, faculty and staff took buses to 17 organizations including the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Renfrew Park in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, and the Shippensburg Historical Society as part of the day dedicated to giving back. Of the volunteers, 220 were students. Many of them were students who came with their professors as part of their first-year seminar. Javita Thompson, director of first-year experience and community engagement, said the volunteers went out across Franklin, Cumberland and Adams counties. On campus, volunteers helped to clear brush from Shippensburg’s portion of the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail. Thompson said one of the highlights of the day was that volunteers harvested 145 pounds of tomatoes and 1,300 pounds of potatoes at the Gleaning Project. After a morning of service, the volunteers returned to campus and had a lunchtime reflection on how the day of service had gone.
The reflection served as an opportunity for students and faculty to share their experiences — what they enjoyed about it and what they had learned through volunteering, according to Thompson. The Fall Day of Service is an outlet for students, especially new students, to explore and make connections within their community, Thompson said. When asked about what she most wants students, faculty and staff to know about the day of service, Thompson spoke of the “connections” formed. “When faculty and students get involved together, they are able to see each other in a different light which helps students create a humanistic connection with their professors,” she said. Thompson noted that students getting involved in their community is vital for students to form an extended family at college. This also helps them balance their academic and social lives. The opportunities to volunteer on campus will continue throughout the academic year. Next month, SU will host “Treats not Tricks,” trick-or-treating event in Old Main on Oct. 21. In November, they will have the Angel Tree project, at which students have the opportunity to buy a gift for an underprivileged child.
Photo courtesy of Bill Smith
Almost 250 students served across Cumberland, Franklin and Adams counties.
Sebastian Riefkohl Asst. News Editor
Shippensburg University has been ranked as a top university in the latest U.S. News & World Report’s, ranking 100 on the Best Regional Universities in the North list. In addition, SU was also ranked 27 on the Top Public Schools in the North list. The report, published by U.S. News & World Report, also recognized strategic growth for the university in core areas such as an increased graduation rate, decreases in student-to-faculty ratio, and increased SAT scores for incoming first-year students. SU President Laurie Carter expressed her pleasure with the honor. “We are delighted that Shippensburg University’s excellence is recognized in the U.S. News ranking mode,” she said. According to U.S. News and World Report, the magazine’s ranking model uses
“only thoroughly vetted academic data from our surveys and reliable third-party sources [when calculating] each ranking factor.” “Although rankings cannot fully capture educational experiences and opportunities, the university’s demonstrated growth is a testament to the dedicated efforts of our faculty and staff to provide an unparalleled educational journey,” Carter added, “It is rewarding to see Shippensburg University earn national prominence,” said Tom Ormond, provost and vice president for academic affairs. He attributed the growth in the national ranking to the dedication of SU’s “outstanding faculty and the university’s deepening commitment to excellence and access.” “We are proud that an increasing number of top-performing high school students recognize our passion and choose Ship for advancing their academic and personal growth,” Ormond said.
Freshmen vie for SGA positions Samuel Fegan Staff Writer
Freshman Student Government Association candidates took to the stage in McFeely’s Cafe last Thursday to convince the student body why they should be elected as one of the next freshman SGA senators. Six first-year students are competing for two positions as representatives of the class of 2023. The candidates include Mia Randall, Ian Thompson, Ashley Smith, Andrew Hare, Riley Brown and Sasha Bretous. Only members of the class of 2023 are able to vote in the election, which began on Monday and will last until Thursday at 4 p.m. Randall said she wants to be an ear and a voice to her constituents. “I look forward to meeting more people on campus and getting everyone’s vision on what they want and what they struggle with,” Randall said. Randall explained her feelings of isolation and wanting to be inclusive, as she was one of only four other African-American students at
her high school. “If anyone is feeling alone or different, I understand — I got you,” she said. Randall said her experience in raising $7,000 in school supplies and leadership in youth softball also qualified her for the position. Thompson, who serves as the Political Science Club vice president and Commuter Student Association treasurer wants to inform students of university resources and stress management. “We’ve all had the experience, where you have an exam tomorrow, a paper due the next day, homework from three different classes and to top it all off, your friend wants you to hang out,” Thompson said. During Smith’s speech, she talked about community, diversity and connection. “We, as a university, can make a difference in our local community,” Smith said. Smith also plans to promote programs that can help students find interests they are passionate about. See “FRESHMEN,” A2