The Slate 2-4-25

SU holds 37th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. March for Humanity

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in the moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

First spoken by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s, those words echoed through the halls of Old Main Tuesday afternoon as the Shippensburg University community gathered to commemorate its 37th annual March for Humanity.

Each year, SU gathers the week after Martin Luther King Jr. Day to reflect upon his fight for equality and assess the work that still must be done. Several student groups within the Multicultural Student Association, such as the Latino Student Organization, Elite Modeling Troupe and B.R.O.T.H.E.R.S, led the march of roughly 200 students, faculty, staff and administrators.

Khalid Mumin, former Pennsylvania education secretary and 1995 SU alum, served as the keynote speaker and emphasized the power students have as the next generation of changemakers.

“Tomorrow is not yesterday,” Mumin said. “You have to have courage. You have to be willing to lay it on the line.”

Executive members of SU’s African-American (Afro-Am) student organization spoke to the crowd about their reasons for continuing to march.

“I have been looked down on and judged for my accent,”

Kemi Adetunji said. “When I march, I can be myself.”

“ You have to have courage. You have to be willing to lay it on the line.”

Khalid Mumin Fmr. Secretary, Pa. Dept. of Education

“I march because I must,” Tymir Roher said.

While concepts like diversity, equity, equality, inclusion and social justice often get lumped together in modern discussions, Mumin spoke on the differences and how King “never got” to the point of equity.

“He was fighting for equality, and what came out of that dream is equity and now running toward social justice for all,” Mumin said.

However, as many continue the proverbial run toward social justice, others across the country are taking steps back as it relates to diversity.

In her remarks, Afro-Am

President Kennedy Holt said, “DEI is under attack,” and encouraged SU to stay focused on the work that must be done to push forward the fight for social justice.

Since taking office on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump has ordered the rollback and elimination of DEI-focused programs and employees within the federal government. In an executive order, he encouraged the private sector and corporations to “end illegal DEI discrimination and preferences.”

“My administration has taken action to abolish all discriminatory diversity, equity and inclusion nonsense — and these are policies that were absolute nonsense — throughout the government and the private sector,” Trump told the World Economic Forum on Jan. 23.

As it currently stands, SU has not been impacted by any Trump policy decisions because it responds to orders by Pennsylvania’s governor, according to SU Assistant Vice President of Inclusion and Director of Social Equity Manny Ruiz.

“When I march, I can be myself.”

Kemi Adetunji, Afro-Am Executive Board member

“I think it’s important that we don’t invoke fear upon students, and we provide the resources that are needed,” Ruiz said. “This work is of the utmost importance.”

Those sentiments were echoed by several students involved in the planning of the march, who emphasized the importance of maintaining support for diversity on campus.

“To me, this year did feel different with a lot of things that have been going around the last couple of months … a lot of politics and just too much going on,” AfroAm officer Kenny Horne said. “We just keep doing what we’re doing. Keep

remembering why we’re here.”

As diverse programs continue to face scrutiny, allyship from non-students of color continues to play a pivotal role.

“Seeing everybody’s support behind us and even nonpeople of color coming and marching with us and being at the speech with us” is so important, Adetunji said.

SU will continue to support the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. during February through its extensive schedule of Black History Month events across campus.

Connor Niszczak Editor-in-Chief

Multiple administrative offices within Old Main were burglarized in the early hours of Jan. 17, according to Shippensburg University police documents.

At 4:57 a.m., SU police responded to reports of Old Main Door 11, the entrance closest to the Admissions Welcome Center, being unsecured. SU’s police blotter shows multiple follow-up visits to Old

Update: Franklin Science Center renovations set to enter new stage

Connor Niszczak Editor-in-Chief

Shippensburg University students may notice a different look to Franklin Science Center (FSC) this month as ongoing renovations are set to enter a new stage.

The Department of General Services issued four construction contracts on Jan. 10, and an “initial job conference” to formally start the project was held on Jan. 29, according to Bruce Herring, SU assistant director for planning and engineering.

Fencing around portions of FSC is expected to be erected by Feb. 8 and will remain throughout the construction, which is estimated to be completed in early 2027, Herring said.

FSC’s renovation is divided in two phases, with the southern half of the building being restricted within days of this publication. Several entrances to the building –the door along Cumberland Drive and those closest to the F-1 parking lot and Grace B. Luhrs University Elementary

School – will no longer be available. Students also can anticipate the closing of the sidewalk on Cumberland Drive and periodic road closures as construction unfolds, according to Herring. As noted in a February 2024 story on the renovations, the biology and chemistry departments are sharing half of FSC and will relocate to the south half of the building when the first phase of construction is complete. The psychology department began moving out of Franklin last year and has been settled in Wright Hall, its temporary home until FSC is complete, since last summer.

Extensive renovations to Franklin Science Center, which was built in 1970 and received only partial renovations in 2002, have been discussed by the university since as early as 2010, Herring said. It took another decade before funding was available, and the plan was officially in motion by 2022.

Read the full story at theslateonline.com.

SGA Corner: Election Season

Welcome back to campus from Shippensburg University’s Student Government Association! We hope that everyone had a meaningful winter break and was able to spend time relaxing and enjoying the holidays.

SGA enjoyed the slower pace but was still at work representing this campus. Our senators and executives were busy behind the scenes and hit the ground running on day one, planning and gearing up for another semester of meetings and activities and getting committees back in action.

The entire Student Government Association reconnected in person at our first caucus on Jan. 30 to go over our policies, welcome a new RHA senator, and go over our current goals for the semester. We’re excited to have a dedicated group of individuals bringing your ideas and concerns to the table.

As always, it’s crucial for everyone to know how to get involved and provide their input on the decisions that SGA makes. Currently, petitions are available for the Executive Leadership Committee and need to be completed by Feb. 7. The executive positions are up for re-election every year and include the President, Vice President, Vice President of Finance and Vice President of Student Groups.

The president oversees the senators and functions of SGA, represents our student body to PASSHE and oversees the plan of action and goals of your SGA.

The vice president works

Your World Today

Commentary: Picking your battles

Connor Niszczak Editor-in-Chief

We have all heard the phrase “pick your battles” hundreds of times. It is one of those cliches that we eventually learn to tune out.

Last semester, however, I learned what it really feels like to pick a battle.

Let’s recap. I publicly resigned from my position as a resident assistant and dealt with the consequences of that decision while finding new housing. I took the reins of this organization and dealt with the ups and downs of leading a few dozen staff members.

The most headacheinducing battle by far was the political coverage and eventual endorsement of

Kamala Harris that graced the front page of The Slate’s Oct. 22 edition.

The Slate has published political endorsements in the past, but in this climate, we were very aware that it would ruffle feathers. As a quasiprofessional organization, we did our homework on the legal backing behind this decision. And as journalism students, we are well-educated about our First Amendment rights. In short, the legality of publishing an endorsement is well-founded.

However, our Student Government Association and university fiscal office, known as SUSSI, seem far less educated about the First Amendment and its protections.

Two days after Election Day, we were notified that our endorsement violated the standing rules of SGA’s Budget and Finance Committee due to a ban on student activity fees, from which we are funded, being used toward political

content.

As noted, we had done our homework and expected this, and we quickly contacted the Student Press Law Center, which confirmed our endorsement as perfectly legal. In fact, a ban on political endorsements using student fees has been litigated in the past, and the students won.

We went back and forth with SGA for weeks and did not get a finalized response until Dec. 27, more than two months after the endorsement was published. SGA made the correct decision to overrule their initial ruling and pay for that edition with funds from our operating budget; however, they threatened to cut our budget if we violate rules in the future.

In every piece of communication shared with us by both SGA and SUSSI, the words First Amendment did not appear once, which is the core of why this decision should never have been made. Your Budget and Finance Committee

bylaws and standing rules are well and good, but when competing with the First Amendment, you will lose every time.

SGA may claim that The Slate is not an independent student-run paper, but that is incorrect. The Slate has and will never censor or limit its content based on fears of retribution from SGA, SUSSI or any other branch of this university.

Journalism has been under attack for years — centuries, really — and the industry is not going to become any less threatened under a president who has called for news programs and networks to be taken off the air.

Journalists do not control the news. We, The Slate’s journalists included, are a voice for our community and report on the good, the bad and the ugly.

Politicians do not control the news, no matter how much you may want it to go away. SGA included.

Trump tackles immigration and DEI in first two weeks

Evan Dillow Asst. News Editor

directly with the president to oversee and facilitate the scheduling of meetings, enforce commitment and attendance policies and assist with various functions of our public meetings and caucuses.

The vice president of finance is largely responsible for overseeing the use of your student activity fees and directing the Budget and Finance Committee toward fiscally responsible decisions while enforcing policies regarding student activity fees.

Finally, our vice president of student groups leads the Student Groups Committee, enforces student groups policies and reviews applications for new student groups.

If you have interest in any elected senator or ELC positions, feel free to reach out with any questions about petitions, responsibilities, the required commitment or the function of SGA overall. Questions can be directed to our president via email at sgapresident@ship.edu and we will be happy to help.

Additionally, there are multiple committees you can get involved in without being an elected representative. Committees are essential to our role as your representatives and a great way for you to positively influence change.

Currently, we are looking for members for the Budget and Finance Committee, the Student Groups Committee, food service and sustainability, and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. These committees are largely made up of at-large students, and their decisions and recommendations impact the decisions that are voted on by the Student Government Association.

We’re excited to work alongside you this semester to strengthen the various communities here at Ship. Your input is invaluable, and we encourage you to get involved. We look forward to a productive and collaborative semester!

Since he took office on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump has signed a flurry of executive orders aimed at fulfilling the promises he made during his 2024 presidential campaign.

Going after federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs has been one of Trump’s main initiatives during the first two weeks of his second administration.

This initiative includes executive orders aimed at reforming federal hiring practices and prohibiting transgender individuals from enlisting in the U.S. military.

On his first day of office, Trump signed Executive Order 14151, titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.”

hiring practices based on race or sex rather than personal merit. During his remarks at the World Economic Forum, Trump stated, “America will once again become a merit-based country. You have to hear that word: merit-based country.”

The president’s freeze on federal funding that was announced in a memo on Jan. 27 also targeted DEI, climate change and immigration programs that receive federal funding. The widespread confusion and legal battles that resulted from Monday’s memo caused it to be rescinded on Jan. 29.

Trump’s battles with federal DEI programs were not the only initiatives taken by the president during his first two weeks in office.

On Jan. 20, Trump

The aim of the order is to have the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management terminate DEI programs, mandates and policies throughout the government.

One of Trump’s main reasons for opposing DEI programs is that he believes they promote unfair

issued about 1,500 pardons and commuted the sentences of 14 individuals convicted of offenses related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who was speaker of the House during the Jan. 6 attack, issued a statement regarding Trump’s pardons.

In her statement, she drew attention to the police officers who were harmed or killed during the riot, stating, “It is shameful that the president has decided to make one of his top priorities the abandonment and betrayal of police officers who put their lives on the line to stop an attempt to subvert the peaceful transfer of power.” On issues of immigration and border policy, the president has also begun to fulfill promises he made during his campaign. During his inaugural speech, Trump stated that he would declare a national emergency at the southern border. Through executive orders, he has called for the border wall to be finished and has moved toward ending automatic citizenship for those born in the United States.

President Trump has begun a campaign toward halting what he has called an invasion by ordering the U.S. military to protect against drug and human trafficking and

mass migration. Actions along the southern border are only one part of Trump’s immigration policy.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been ramping up arrests since Trump took office. On Jan. 26, the agency posted on X that 956 arrests were made and 554 detainers were lodged, which notify other law enforcement about potential undocumented status.

The actions of ICE officers have triggered a battle in schools, with some Republicans arguing that ICE should be allowed to enter schools to search for undocumented students, particularly those who may be affiliated with gang activity.

In an interview with ABC News, Trump’s border czar Tom Homan said, “ICE officers should have discretion to decide that if a national security threat or a public safety threat is in one of these facilities, then it should be an option to make the arrest.”

This issue has received significant pushback from some public school districts, especially districts in blue cities that have higher concentrations of undocumented families. For these districts, it is the mission of their faculty to deny ICE officers entry to protect undocumented students. The issue of ICE officers entering schools is expected to be challenged politically and legally in the months ahead. In California, state Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) introduced the SAFE Act, which aims to establish a communication network in schools and college campuses so that students and faculty can be notified when ICE officers are present on the premises. While Trump’s second administration has only just begun, it has been an active first two weeks. Still, the president releases executive orders and policies aimed at fulfilling his promises.

Opinion

The Slate Speaks:

The Chinese government-owned social media app, Tik Tok, was granted a writ of clemency by President Donald Trump, staving off a ban passed by Congress and former President Joe Biden last year.

This reprieve is only temporary, though, with Tik Tok slated to be banished once again come April. For many, its one-day absence was enough to trigger delirium tremors, while others wished to salt the earth and murmur an incantation to ensure its continued absence.

We consider ourselves in both camps. For the day it was banned, Tik Tok felt like a phantom limb. Even though the app was no longer available to use to watch videos, it was difficult to not click on it out of habit. Going through morning social media checks, the app’s absence was felt and caused a shift in routine that truly showed everyone how dependent on the app we are.

While it may seem melodramatic to older generations, it’s not. Many use the app as a search engine. If you take a trip to New York and want to eat, Tik Tok will have you cov-

In recent years, the Roman Catholic Church has received an abundance of criticism from both outsiders and the Catholic faithful. It has come not only in response to appalling misconduct from clergymen, but as opposition to official church teachings.

Among these is the church’s position against ordaining women, which has been its official stance for its entire history.

Ever wondered why you have never seen a female priest in a Catholic church? It is because they are literally not allowed to become one. This has come up again and again as a contentious issue. One grassroots organization, called the Women’s Ordination Conference, has been advocating for women to be allowed to enter the priesthood for fifty years.

The pressure placed on the Vatican is especially high since Roman Catholicism is the largest religious denomination in the world, with more than 1 billion followers.

Let’s get one thing out of the way: The Catholic

ered in your search to find the best restaurants near Times Square. Tik Tok made things like work with their customized “For You” tab by giving us the results that most aligned with our preferred content.

Some were unable to cope with its absence and were recalcitrant in the face of politicians who wished to keep them and their data firmly in the hands of American social media companies. Those users moved to other Chinese apps like Xiaohongshu or Red Note, in effect telling the government, “I don’t care if the Chinese Communist Party has my data.”

Others were never on the app and support the ban even more after seeing their friends go through tangible signs of withdrawal, similar to nicotine detox. All of that may be experienced again, as the app will be removed again if Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary doesn’t buy it. The Trump administration has been less than clear on the subject, supporting the ban initially and then saving it. It will likely come down to whatever way the wind blows when the time comes, and such uncertainty is never good for addiction recovery.

Church does not teach that women are inferior to men.

This may seem contradictory to excluding women from ordination, but the Catholic worldview does not see it that way. Women are declared to be equal in dignity with men, possessing equal rights. Both men and women are made in God’s image and may inherit His Kingdom. The Catholic worldview asserts that men and women are made different, but complementary.

For example, men are physically stronger, but women nurture life with their bodies. This complementary nature is said to come to full fruition in marriage, with husband and wife coming together as two halves of a whole and starting a family. This is critical to the Catholic view of gender.

This view can be seen as antiquated by many, especially since our contemporary understanding of gender is separated from biological sex. Although some Church Fathers have made sexist remarks reflective of their times, this has not dictated canon doctrine regarding gender.

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 Shippensburg 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.

It also does not help that some influential male Catholic creators and influencers have made overtly sexist comments, making it easy to confuse the ramblings of an individual with official church teaching.

The biblical case against the ordination of women largely comes down to one passage in the New Testament. In Chapter 2 of the first book of Timothy, Saint Paul tells his student, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” This passage, according to Catholic tradition, is stating a prohibition against women teaching men through the role of an ordained minister. Women are allowed to teach men in other circumstances, however.

The Vatican asserts that they are not only forbidden to ordain women, but that it is impossible to do so. It is commonly stated by apologists that, just as the bread and wine of the eucharist can only be made from wheat

The power of poetry

Reagan Gardenhour Managing Editor

Throughout my life, I have always been inspired by writing. Regardless of the writing style, it has always been a large part of my everyday consciousness.

When I think about my younger self and how I learned to cope with specific things I dealt with, I notice now that I would always resort to poetry to help me through different occurrences — happy, sad, confusing or frustrated.

Writing is meant to release tension, and everybody has the skill to do so. Writing is not ever inherently good or bad; it is personal.

Even as a journalist, I’ve been taught that there is nothing quite like the human emotion that is conveyed through writing. Though journalism may be unbiased, emotion is still able to be portrayed.

And it is.

When I chose the career path of journalism, I thought of it as the ability to aid in the healing of others.

Whether the story dealt with a court case, a highway closure, an album review or an editorial piece about the power of poetry, it was meant to tell others information that can benefit them.

In a way, journalism is like

and grapes, respectively, a priest can only be male. This does not make rice inferior to wheat, or apples inferior to grapes.

Some apologists point to the church’s Consecrated Virgins, distinct from nuns in that they do not live within a cloister or take a vow of poverty, and who can only be women, as proof that women are valued equally within the church. However, it is worth noting that there are fewer than 5,000 Consecrated Virgins in the world, while the United States alone has over 37,000 Catholic priests. In addition, priests have power and influence within and outside of their congregations that Consecrated Virgins do not possess.

Ultimately, this prohibition cannot be lifted without hundreds of millions of Catholics losing their faith. When the Second Vatican Council affirmed that Mass can be held in people’s native tongues, rather than Latin, some were outraged.

Vatican II also instituted other changes meant to make the faith more accessible in modern times, such as permitting priests to face

poetry. Most of the time, it is just less outwardly opinionated, and it doesn’t use the same level of language.

We spend large portions of our lives trying to find who we are, and sometimes that can be painful and difficult.

Writing, for me and many others, has been the light at the end of the tunnel that teaches us the truth of passion, inspiration and resilience. Many people choose journaling to help them through a conglomeration of emotions, and I relate to this.

Sometimes, people find it difficult to afford, schedule or find comfort in therapy.

Therapy is a major help for mental health globally, and I believe that each person could benefit from it; nevertheless, everybody’s story begins and ends differently.

If you are a person who does not go to therapy but wishes for assistance, it is valuable to discuss your emotions between yourself and your consciousness.

Poetry is not a linear style of writing. However, there are genuine poetic forms, such as sestinas, sonnets, ghazals, villanelles, haikus or pantoums. Poetry — in its natural shape — is anything made up of words that portrays a meaning or feeling. You can create a poem about anything. You can write a weekly grocery list, and it could be considered poetry about the stress of finding food for each week, or it could be a reflection of who you are based on your favorite foods.

Poetry is about perspective; each reader or writer has a separate interpretation. Each person on Earth has an individual story, and it’s made up of several chapters that others will never experience because they are not inside of the same mind. There will always be an independent perspective, and it will never be the same. That is the power of the human mind. There is magic in writing. I guess, in this way, life is a perfect example of the power of poetry.

Each person — including you and I — is a single line. We’re all, humanly, part of a group of stanzas to make one big, inspiring poem.

If you think about writing in a literal sense, it is everywhere. When you go to class, lesson plans are constructed from writing. When you go to a restaurant, the menus are created from writing. When you go to the bookstore, the stories you’re introduced to are a product of writing. When you listen to music, it is a rhythmic flow of writing. The best part about all of this is that no matter what, these are all forms of poetry.

the congregation during the eucharistic prayer. These changes did not contradict previous canon doctrines or alter any core beliefs.

Nonetheless, some became so outraged by the changes that it spawned an entirely new Christian sect called Sedevacantism, which claims that all Popes following Pius XII are invalid. To change what the church teaches about the nature of the priesthood, which is critical to Roman Catholic doctrines and practice, would tear the church apart from the inside.

Catholic Apologist Joe Heschmeyer, in his July 2024 video “Why the Church Can’t Ordain Women,” said, “If the church were tomorrow to declare women’s ordination is valid, it would be declaring itself no longer the church of Jesus Christ. It’d be declaring the 2,000 years of tradition invalid. It would be denying something taught infallibly. And so we know that the future does not include a female priesthood in the Catholic church.” It is abundantly clear that this is not a flexible tradition that can change with the times.

Perhaps more people would feel content with the status quo if they were presented with any actual limitations a woman would have that would keep her from fulfilling the role of a priest, related to her biology. There have been no such sound explanations for excluding women from the clergy. There are only sentiments about the “rightful order” of things, and dubious claims about female psychology. Nothing about the liturgy or administering sacraments can obviously only be performed by a male body. It is also not because men are better people, and thus more worthy. Men are considered being equally capable of sin, and women equally capable of virtue.

Ship Life

Wawa opens in Chambersburg

Wawa has expanded into central Pennsylvania, bringing with it charitable donations, a promise of more locations to come and, of course, coffee.

The convenience store chain, known for its sandwiches and hand-crafted drinks, opened its first Franklin County location on Jan. 23. Located on Wayne Avenue in Chambersburg, the opening drew a crowd that lined up around the building despite a temperature of 3 degrees.

Wawa’s general manager, Cassandra Robinson, and mascot, Wally Goose, had the honor of counting down the door opening for the cold customers, the first 100 of whom were given a free Wawa “coffee and connections” t-shirt.

One of those customers was Dakari Dinish of Chambersburg, whose birthday lined up with the grand opening. She has been looking forward to this day for nearly three years.

“My first Wawa I went to was in Ocean City, Maryland,” Dinish said. “When I actually got food from Wawa, it was in Frederick, Maryland. That’s the next closest one, it’s about an hour from here; I looked it up before I came.”

Like many birthday celebrations, this one, too, was a family affair. Dakari’s daughter, Angela Dinish, was present to celebrate the birthday as well.

“Are you crazy?” Angela responded to being asked what brought her out to the celebration. “It’s because of the Wawa grand opening, and I needed their Wawa coffee, because they are the best.” Tony Strickland, also of Chambersburg, said the store is an experience for his family as well.

“Me and my family would actually drive to Frederick from Chambersburg just to get food and coffee,” Strickland said. “It’s like a treat for us.”

The Chambersburg location is certain to bring visitors who have taken road trips similar to Strickland’s, but they, too, may have a Wawa coming to them.

According to a press release from the store, Wawa has plans to open 12 more stores in south-central Pennsylvania this year.

Some of the towns named in the press release are Williamsport, Hanover, Lewisburg, Coal and “additional sites in Franklin and Northumberland counties.”

How does a location for a future Wawa get chosen?

Area manager Tony Davis described the research that starts the process, up to two years ahead of a store opening.

“We have a solid real estate department that does all kinds of studies and sees what markets are not saturated,” Davis said.

“They look for brand recognition, and the brand recognition we’ve had in Central Pa. has been just beyond expectations.”

What fuels that recognition? Davis says, like the t-shirts imply, it is the connection Wawa fosters with its customers.

“It’s all about our people and our values,” he said. “We have a crazy culture. We take care of each other. We’ll learn our customers by their buying habits, time of day, what they buy. We’ll learn their names and just no other retailer out there does it like we do.”

The connections go deeper than their customers, as Wawa brought charitable donations with them. One of Wawa’s guests on opening day was Kir Evancho, a

The

Jada Lee Guest Contributor

Trey Paul is a freelance photographer with a “creative eye.”

“One thing that I hear a lot is that I have a good eye. Which is the only thing that really kept me going,” Paul said.

Paul values feedback from both peers and mentors, but he knows he is always his own harshest critic. Paul

Fashionably Slate: The influencers’ influence

In recent times, TikTok’s future has been placed into the hands of the unknown. As of 2024, the popular app had accumulated more than 1.9 billion active users. From an American perspective, more than 170 million users have downloaded and participated on the app.

in distributing trending clothing pieces. It sold other items, but the fashion industry played an enormous role in the success of the shop.

says he constantly searches for ways to enhance his work even if it was just by a small increase.

“A lot of my best work is work that I didn’t really like at first and I’d really obsess over the details,” Paul said. He is a former athlete at Shippensburg University, and his background in sports fuels his competitive nature.

“My goal is to be better than before and the competition…I can be just

giving officer at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, who was present to discuss the store’s contribution to their mission.

“Wawa is one of our generous donors,” Evancho said. “They’ve been partners with us over the last 23 years, donating over $123,000. And as they’re expanding their footprint, they’re bringing Wawa into the 27 counties that the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank serves.”

Also present to accept a donation for the Ridge and Valley Region of Special Olympics was Dominic Johnson, an athlete within the chapter, who said, “These funds and the upcoming instore campaign at Wawa will go a long way to support our athletes in the future.”

“Our customers range in age from 8 to 72 and have the opportunity to compete with many sports fans this year,” Johnson says. “Without the change to travel or to be at places, I never would have imagined being here.”

That community connection was on display as the store hosted a “Hoagies for Heroes” competition at the event that say Chambersburg’s police and fire departments face off in a hoagie building competition. The police officer beat the firefighters 21-14 to bring home a trophy.

In the audience to watch his town’s first responders was Chambersburg Borough Council President Allen Coffman, who said that his father used to go to a Wawa in New Jersey when he was a student. Now, he has a Wawa in his own community.

“They’re going to be good neighbors to us because they really have community outreach,” Coffman said. “I couldn’t be happier that they’re here, and we wish them a lot of success here.”

as good, if not better,” Paul said. Regardless of how the goal is met, Trey Paul’s main focus is the end goal.

Despite his accomplishments, he has continued to spend time properly defining his own style. Paul remains “picky” with detail.

Paul works toward achieving his goals. He takes on tasks without compensation when necessary. Over the

Over the course of the past few years since TikTok’s creation almost a decade ago, several users have become largely influential in specific niches. For example, there are influencers for sportsrelated, “bookish,” makeup, music, game-related, newsrelated and — most notably — fashion content.

Fashion content has always been popular online. However, fashion content became extremely heightened once TikTok rose to its social pedestal. Millions of individuals relied on TikTok influencers to elaborate on recent trends, desired pieces, new aesthetics and unique looks.

One of my personal favorite fashion influencers is Wisdom Kaye (@wisdm8). He creates interactive videos that discuss the prices of clothing items, best and worst outfits, specific pieces and their fluidity, controversial fashion choices and much more. I have always been inspired by his fashion sense because, even though it is different from mine, his passion is undeniable.

A good influencer knows how to influence, hence the name. The passion for a subject is what leads to influencing others. I have always been influenced in fashion by social media. Though I have a style that is my own, I have caved in to trendy items in hopes of understanding the appreciation for such trends.

The TikTok Shop became viral over the past year because of its ease

In early 2024, the shop was known for its advertisements about shapewear bodysuits. As time went on, it began to advertise other stunning pieces such as sundresses, cheaper versions of Ugg boots and two-piece lounge sets.

Each user’s For You Page is different, as its algorithm is organized based on your primary interests. It is possible that my algorithm showcased clothing because I love it, and it is possible that another user’s algorithm rarely advertised anything.

Nevertheless, I am aware of the influence that multiple users created surrounding fashion.

Before TikTok’s influence on a fashion basis, Instagram and YouTube were successful in pushing content for outfits and overall aesthetics. However, it wasn’t often that the influencers showing the clothes and accessories would link those pieces to their posts. It was as if social media was real life; when we walk past somebody on a street, they do not have a lingering tag above their head that links their outfit.

Tiktok, however, normalized the ability to easily access certain pieces.

For example, when a user liked a pair of platform Converse, a Miu Miu purse lookalike, tortoise-shell bluelight glasses, gold ring sets with a custom initial or an off-the-shoulder pink sweatshirt, they could go to the caption of the influencer’s post or the link in their bio to order the same items, or they could find other interesting pieces.

Without the realm of TikTok influencers, fashion may become more difficult to keep up with for trending aesthetics or new releases.

These influencers created a world in which their fashionrelated decisions were welcomed and appreciated. In a way, TikTok is like a news channel. Lots of people — whether it is always factual or not — rely on TikTok to access simple news. Some of this news includes fashion choices or information about different brands.

Before the announcement of TikTok’s potential banning, I enjoyed reading about brands’ new collections and the inspiration behind them. I thought it added life and reasoning to what was being dropped to consumers, including myself. Without TikTok, those stories would be harder to distribute. Hopefully, another platform will take the lead and steer us back to the influences we know and love.

Long before TikTok, YouTube was a social phenomenon. Thousands of people gained leverage posting long videos about the things that they were passionate about. I have always loved YouTube because it offers a space for everybody to flourish. My hope is that if TikTok does get banned, YouTube will make a comeback to showcasing the fun parts about fashion and others’ favorite forms of content.

Regardless of what the future holds for TikTok, the app was and is a powerful tool for the generation with cell phones. People found their hobbies, interests, identities and jobs through the app. Nonetheless, our inspirations and newfound selves will live on outside the app.

We have been shaped by millions of others without knowing it; TikTok brought strangers together without realizing it. We’ll still always be interlinked, and I think that is a very cool fact. There is always going to be a goldhardware belt that keeps us in the loop.

past three and a half years, he has dedicated time to defining his personal style. He maintains a strong focus on details and precision in his work.

From there, he continued to incorporate a sharp and rich style to his photos.

Paul’s images are made with “deep, soulful colors that evoke a series of emotions.”

“Sometimes you have a vision for what you want but you don’t know how to create

it,” Paul said. “That’s what cost me a lot of long hours.”

He refers to himself as a perfectionist who will go to the furthest extent just to get to his desired look.

“A lot of what the public sees are things that I’ve spent hours on behind the scenes just to get that look,” Paul explained.

Paul began learning about Adobe’s Photoshop, Lightroom and Premiere programs during his senior

year of high school in a production class. However, the course wasn’t what drove his passion for photography. What started as a shared hobby with friends grew significantly, leading Paul from a high school classroom to working with college students, all before owning his own camera.

Love Lines

day <3 - Karlie :)

Dear Jack, Happy Valentine’s Day I love you so bad!!! - Carly

Dear Adam,

Happy Slate-y Valentine’s Day! I am so happy The Slate helped bring us together! I love you! - Allyson

Dear Karlie Martin, Happy Valentine’s Day, I can’t wait to spend so many more together. Love you tons <3 - Adam

Dear Slate Son,

The M in your CJM must stand for menace. Keep up the good work! I’ve never been prouder. - Slate Mom

Dear Mara

Miss Mara, you are one of my closest friends! I love spending time and kikiing with you. I’m so glad we’ve gotten closer over the last few months. Love you <3 - Meg

Dear Madi,

Madi I’m so glad we’ve become so close!! You’re one of my best friends and I’m so lucky to have someone like you in my life. I’m so proud of you and can’t wait to see what else you do. Love you <3 - Meg

Dear Adam,

You are the love of my life. I’m so lucky to have met you. I can’t imagine my life without you. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you and watch you grow. I love you so much forever and ever <3 <3 <3. - Meg

Dear Heather, meow - Mara

Dear Mara, You low key look like caseoh - Charlie

Dear Sherlyn, Roomie aka ex coworker aka peer aka bestie. I’m so lucky we were randomly placed into a dorm together freshman year. I love hanging out with you and I hope we get to spend more time together this semester. Love you lots.

- Meg

Dear E.R., Thank you for everything bubs. You have made 2024 the best year of my life, and I’m so excited to make 2025 even better. You’re my best friend, five-ever. - I.T.

Dear Madison, This past year with you has been the best year of my life. Every day I wake up so excited to spend time with you and continue to grow and thrive together. Can’t wait to cherish you this Valentine’s Day and every Valentine’s Day after. Love you!

- Nick

Dear Caroline, You rock my world sweetheart everyday is a new adventure.

- Gabe Rader

Dear miss caitlyn, you slay so hard and i’m so excited to work with you this semester! i love you!

- miss grace

Dear jenna, thank you for being the best jennaral manager <3

- WSYC

Dear Megan, Ur so wonderful! Thx for being a great friend and Ship Life editor combined :) i heart u

- Mara

Dear Julia B, text me when u see this so i know u read The Slate this week! #loveu <3

- Mara

Dear Jadyn, i can’t thank u enough for being my saving grace this year, please don’t graduate :(

- Mara

Dear Hindy, Luke, JR, Andrew, and Alex, Thank you for your leadership and commitment to A Brotherhood Like No Other. We thrive because of your efforts.

- Anonymous Brother

Dear Joey, You make me smile everyday <3 I love you!

- Reagan

Dear Reagan G, How sweet it is to be loved by you! You provide me with so much love and happiness and I’m so lucky to have you. I love you!!! <3

- Joey D

Dear Megan Sawka, It’s crazy to think it’s been over one wonderful year with you. Everything we’ve experienced together has taught me that love can grow more and more without ever stopping. I hope that you will forever be my north star and will continue to make me feel at home wherever we are. You are my ray of light eternal.

- Adam Hughes

Dear Tammy in the CUB, You are officially this campus’s number one fan! Thank you for always supporting us and keeping up with everything we do. You make us all feel special even on our worst days.

- Your Campus Kiddos

Dear Nick, You make my life better! Thank you for making the hard days easier and the great days greater; I wouldn’t trade any of them for the world. Thank you for showing me that love can be gentle. I love my life with you!

- Madison <3

Dear Madi Shively, You are my sound, you are my color, you are a match I never thought I’d meet! I look up to you, and I know you can always light up my mood at a moment’s notice. Stay supa freaky~

- Thomas Landis

Dear M&M, You two and your friendship mean so much to me! Our queen-outs truly fulfill my soul and I’m so happy to know that a bond like ours can exist. I love you both endlessly and excitedly anticipate a million more Bachelor Tuesdays, watch parties, Panera dates, et cetera...

Much love, M No. 3

Dear Thomas, Tommy, love of my life..., Our double shantay was truly one of the most treasured moments in recent memory. Seriously — I can never listen to BREAK MY SOUL by Beyoncé without thinking of it!! In the short time I’ve known you, your friendship has taught me what it means to live and express myself authentically and unapologetically. I look forward to many more slays, serves and sidequests together <3 Stay supa freaky designer!

- Madi <3

Dear Drager, Keep being “the happiest SOB alive.” - Connor and Reagan

Dear WSYC 88.7 FM, We couldn’t ask for a better neighbor and organization to share a wall with. Keep slaying those setlists!

- The Slate

Dear Kieffer RAs, Wednesday nights have never been better. Those koalas are lucky to have you! <3

- Slate Dad

Dear Fortnite Friends, You are the #1 victory royale of besties!

- Santa Snoop

Dear Craig, My first love line deleted itself I might actually EXPLODE.

Anyways, thank you for always being there for me. You have been a person I could talk to at my lowest and picked me up when I didn’t want to get up at all. You have genuinely encouraged me to try to put myself out there more. (Whether or not I’m good at it is another thing.)

I could not ask for someone better to fill that role. You contribute so much to everything you work on. Your talents and achievements on campus will definitely be looked back upon because they’re genuinely so amazing and cool. Once you graduate, I know you’re going to do what you do but ten times better. Thank you for being a part of my stupid chungus life, I’m more than happy to be a part of yours.

- Tweek

To my beautiful roommates, Thank you for making our house a

Luhrs Center puts on its ‘Boogie Shoes’

KC and The Sunshine Band transported the audience at the Luhrs Performing Arts Center back to the ‘70s on Thursday night — filling the room with vibrant colors, disco grooves and endless energy.

KC and The Sunshine Band is an American disco and funk band started by Harry Wayne Casey, or KC for short, in 1973.

The band is known for its

groovy hits like “Boogie Shoes,” “That’s the Way (I Like It),” “Shake Your Booty,” “Get Down Tonight” and more. Celebrating the band’s 50th anniversary, KC is still bringing the sunshine to audiences on the Doin’ It World Tour.

Before the show began, the iconic disco song “Y.M.C.A.” played on the pre-show playlist, and the audience cheered in response, dancing along in their seats.

This gave a glimpse into how enthusiastic the crowd was going to be that night.

The show began with one of the performers singing the band’s new song, “Back in My Cadillac.”

The band then performed a prelude medley of its famous songs, building anticipation before KC arrived on stage.

The crowd roared as KC appeared and began performing “Shake Your Booty.”

After singing another hit, “Boogie Shoes,” KC greeted the crowd saying, “Look how young we look!”

The show turned into a

10-minute comedy routine as KC emphasized how his performance has changed, using song titles to make jokes: “‘Getting Down Tonight’ is really easy. Getting up? Lord Jesus!”

He took a moment to tell any critics to be kind, saying he is “not going anywhere” and will perform until he cannot do it anymore.

Casey’s passion for his band 50 years later shined through.

Casey slowed things down with “Yes, I’m Ready” and “Please Don’t Go,” giving an

emotional performance.

The show returned to the energetic mood as Casey said, “Let’s go back to 1977,” and performed “I’m Your Boogie Man.”

When introducing the song

“Rock Your Baby,” Casey explained how it inspired ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” and how John Lennon said it was the one song he wished he had written.

The song was clearly a crowd favorite as Casey let them sing along to the chorus.

The energy went on as KC

and The Sunshine Band continued to play their biggest hits mashed up with The Commodores’ “Brick House” and Jackson 5’s “Shake Your Body.”

The dancers and performers made an extravagant finale as KC sang “That’s the Way,” giving the audience one last chance to get up and groove. Even after 50 years, KC and The Sunshine Band proved they still know how to bring the party. And for one night at Luhrs, disco was very much alive.

The Weeknd’s ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ is timeless

Abbygale Hockenberry A&E Editor

Tomorrow could not come quickly enough on Thursday night. The Weeknd’s eighth and final studio album, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” came out on Friday, including 22 tracks.

The Weeknd announced on Instagram a while back that his last record would be a completion to a trilogy, connecting his last two album releases, “After Hours” and “Dawn FM,” together in one storyline.

Listening to all three albums, it is clear that there is a journey of heartbreak, loneliness, regret, vulnerability, purgatory and ultimately acceptance.

The song “Hurry Up Tomorrow” was so strategically placed as the conclusion to the album and this journey; it blows my mind. It is an emotional ballad that is all about confessing his sins and being okay with dying. It is my personal favorite off the album, and it gives me this strong urge to cry every time I hear it.

His voice always melts into the chords on any of his songs, but the piano adds a layer to this song that makes it sadder in general.

If you listen to the end of the song, it perfectly transitions into his first song, “High for This,” from his 2012 album “Trilogy.”

“Open Hearts” is my favorite upbeat song on the album. It is about his fear of falling in love and being vulnerable. I find it interesting that the lyrics focus on this fear, but then there is this crazy synth pop beat that reflects the

adrenaline of love. A line in the chorus goes, “It’s never easy / falling in love again.” There is resistance, but he cannot help this feeling.

One of the darker songs on “Hurry Up Tomorrow” is “Reflections Laughing,” which features Travis Scott. He is talking about being haunted with who he once was, when he gets a call from a woman who is concerned that he is going back to his old self again. Drums are added to Scott’s verse, and his voice is reverbed deeper. Given what the song is about, it seems like Scott’s verse was tastefully added to represent the part of himself that’s “laughing” at him now.

“Timeless,” featuring Playboi Carti, is one of the most popular songs on the album, and it was released weeks prior to promote the album. “Take Me Back To LA” is another upbeat song that has direct correlation to The Weeknd’s song “Escape from LA” on his album “After Hours.”

In “Take Me Back To LA,” he is reminiscing on how things used to be and cannot go back, where in “Escape from LA” he is begging to leave. There’s an underlying meaning presented within the two that sometimes you do not realize what you have until it’s gone.

Similar correlations can be heard in his songs “Cry For Me” and “Die For You.” In “Die For You,” he is talking about being deeply in love with someone and there is this self-sabotage thing happening, and in “Cry For Me” there is this deep regret he has.

Read the full story at theslateonline.com.

Scan to listen to The Slate’s picks of both heartbreaking and loving Valentine’s Day songs!

‘Cowboy Carter’ takes country crown at 67th Grammy Awards

Musicians swept onto the red carpet in Los Angeles in anticipation of the 67th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, as nominees hoped to take home one of the coveted awards by the end of the evening.

Tensions were high as the ceremony pulsed with possibilities for the nominees on music’s biggest night.

Beyoncé extended her all-time record of 33 Grammy awards, while breakout artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, Shaboozey, Clairo, Doechii and Chappell Roan entered the ceremony with their first-ever nominations.

The award ceremony opened with a recognition of the devastation caused by the Los Angeles wildfires, launching the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort to Support Music Professionals, raising over $7 million for those in the music industry affected by the wildfires.

The ceremony also featured a touching tribute to the spirit of Los Angeles with a rendition of Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” performed by Dawes, featuring Brad Paisley, St. Vincent, Brittany Howard, John Legend and Sheryl Crow.

Throughout the night, the Grammys launched a live fundraiser to MusiCares Fire Relief, encouraging audiences to provide support to first responders and local housing centers.

Advertisements also aired in support of local businesses in Los Angeles that were impacted by the wildfires.

Seven-time nominee Billie Eilish performed her triple-nominated “BIRDS OF A FEATHER.”

Six-time nominee Sabrina Carpenter performed a showgirl sensation as

she sang a medley of her nominated songs, “Please, Please, Please” and “Espresso.”

Doechii received her first-ever Grammy for Best Rap Album for her mixtape “ALLIGATOR BITES NEVER HEAL,” becoming the third woman of all time to do so.

“I know there is some black woman out there watching me and I want to tell you, ‘You can do it. Anything is possible,’” Doechii said. “Don’t let anyone project any stereotypes on you [or] tell anyone that you can’t be here … You are exactly who you need to be.”

Following her win, Doechii performed songs from her freshly awarded mixtape, including “DENIAL IS A RIVER” and “CATFISH.” Shaboozey performed his nominated track “Bar Song (Tipsy).”

One of the most nail-biting moments of the evening was the announcement of the Best Pop Vocal Album, where the breakout artists of the pop industry clashed.

Among Chappell Roan’s “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet,” Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” Ariana Grande’s “Eternal Sunshine” and Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department,” “Short n’ Sweet” came out on top, earning Carpenter her first Grammy award.

Olivia Rodrigo introduced sixtime nominee and Midwest princess Chappell Roan for her debut performance at the ceremony. She delivered a rhinestone-studded, Midwestern-themed performance of her breakout hit “Pink Pony Club” as she danced with the rodeo clowns of her hometown. This was the perfect segue into

announcing the Best Country Album, which went to Beyoncé’s genrebending “Cowboy Carter.”

“Genre is a word that is used to keep us in our places, and I just want to encourage people to continue to do what they are passionate about,” the songstress said.

Roan won in the Best New Artist category, taking home her first-ever Grammy, but not before demanding music labels provide livable wages and health care to new artists in her acceptance speech.

“If my label had prioritized it, I could have been provided care from a company I was giving everything to,” the “Good Luck Babe!” singer said.

“Record labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees with a livable wage and health insurance and protection.”

Later in the night, Stevie Wonder, Janelle Monae and Harry Hancock performed a tribute to renowned producer and composer Quincy Jones.

The tribute was accompanied by a choir of students whose high schools were lost to the Los Angeles wildfires. At this year’s awards, Beyoncé became the most nominated artist with 11 nominations (99 total) for her album “Cowboy Carter,” breaking a tie with her husband, Jay-Z.

Beyoncé attended the event with 18time nominee Post Malone, nominated for his features on Beyoncé’s “Levii’s

and on Taylor

“Fortnight.”

Women’s basketball wins at home, splits week

end of the frame.

Shippensburg University’s women’s basketball team went 1-1 this past week, beating Shepherd 74-67 at home on Wednesday before losing at Bloomsburg 77-60 on Saturday. The results moved the Raiders to 8-12 overall and 5-9 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play.

Wednesday’s victory over the Rams saw the SU offense shoot 53.7% from the field, its highest percentage of the season. It needed every one of those points early on, as the game was tied 39-39 at the half.

The third quarter proved to be the turning point, as Shippensburg went 9-for-13 from

the field and 8-of-12 on free throws to score 26 points in the frame. This turned a tie game into a 10-point lead for SU.

The Raider offense went cold in the fourth quarter, only scoring nine points, but the defense held on for a seven-point win.

Shippensburg head coach Kristy Trn was proud of the win and said, “We had some players with season-ending injuries, and we were missing a player tonight due to illness, so I’m very proud of the team and how they came out and systematically supported each other, and really put a strong effort on the floor.”

Seniors Taja Colbert and Abbie Miller led the Raiders in scoring, putting up 23 and 20 points respectively to their career highs. Trn

Track and field wins six events, sets multiple season bests

inches.

Shippensburg University’s indoor track and field teams competed at the Bison Open & Multi at Bucknell University this past weekend, with the athletes winning six events and earning 24 qualifiers for the Pennylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championships.

The two-day event began on Friday, when the men’s distance relay team of sophomore Tommy Crum Jr., junior Chase Hensinger, senior Robbie Hrabosky II and graduate Ian Sherlock combined for a time of 9 minutes, 59.73 seconds. The time was good enough to provisionally qualify for the NCAA Division II championships. The team will look to improve that mark in later meets, likely needing a 9:45 to qualify.

Two of the distance medley runners also earned individual event wins on Saturday, with Sherlock pacing the 800-meter at 1:55.64 to qualify for the PSACs. Crum placed first in the 3K at 8:28.75, the fastest time for any PSAC runner in that event this season. Sophomore Jak Kearney was the remaining winner on the men’s side, taking the long jump with a season-best effort of 22 feet, 7

Left:

Other notable performances on the men’s team included freshman Colin Melhorn placing fourth in the shot put and qualifying for PSACs at 48-5 1/4 inches. Freshman Jae Galloway finished fourth in the 60-meter dash at 7.05 seconds to qualify as well.

The women’s team earned a pair of wins in the event, one on the track and one in the field.

The Raiders took first place in the 4x400 relay at 4:07.62 with the team of juniors Alyssa Wert, Madison Malcolm and Melanie Barger and sophomore Addalynn Brower. The other win was from Allyson Richwine, victorious in the high jump at 5-4 1/5.

The team also notched several personal bests, including senior Victoria Mattioli placing third in the 3K at 10:30.38, qualifying for PSACs. Freshman Anne Gardner placed third in the triple jump at 36-7 1/2, and junior Lauren Bellows placed fourth in the weight throw at 49-8 1/2.

Another pair of events are on tap for the indoor track and field teams this weekend, with the River Hawk Friday Night Showdown starting at 3 p.m. Friday at Susquehanna University, as well as the Sykes & Sabock Challenge starting at 11 a.m. Saturday at Penn State University.

Right: Tommy Crum ran the fastest time in the PSAC in the 3K.

Tuesday

Wrestling vs. PittJohnstown, 7 p.m., Heiges Field House

Wednesday

Women’s basketball vs. Millersville, 6 p.m., Heiges Field House

Men’s basketball vs. Millersville, 8 p.m., Heiges Field House

also commented on their efforts and said, “That’s the experience they’ve had over the last four years, but Taja, Abbie and Makayla Foddrell are our three captains, and I think they did an excellent job leading the group in a positive way.”

The team also hosted Diversity Night at this game, with the SU Global Education Center, Multicultural Student Affairs, Pride and Gender Equity Center and OneShip all having tables at the event. The team also wore shirts promoting diversity during warmups and on the bench.

SU lost its other game of the week, falling behind early after allowing a 14-2 Bloomsburg run late in the first quarter.

This put the Huskies ahead 24-13 at the

The Raiders did not allow Bloomsburg to pull away, as the remaining three quarters were each within three points. SU could not shoot well enough to cut into the deficit, going 0-for-6 on three-point attempts.

Colbert led Shippensburg in scoring with 16 points, including going 10-of-11 on free throws.

Foddrell and Miller each reached double figures, with 12 and 10 points respectively.

Shippensburg women’s basketball has a pair of home games at Heiges Field House this week, beginning with a matchup against Millersville on Wednesday at 6 p.m. SU hosts Lock Haven on Saturday at 1 p.m., with it being both Alumni Day and a pink out.

Men’s, women’s swimming finish regular season at Bison Invitational

Shippensburg University’s men’s and women’s swimming teams competed at the 2025 Bison Invitational hosted by Bucknell University on Saturday to finish their regular season.

The meet served as the final chance for the Raiders to get in more races and times in various events before the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championships in two weeks.

While some Raiders tried to clinch a PSAC qualifying mark in their last opportunity, others wanted to swim in new events and establish times. Athletes who have qualified for the championships in one event can enter in all the events they have competed in throughout the season.

According to graduate JC Greenwood, who competed in the 50-yard freestyle, the 100yard freestyle and the 500-yard freestyle, the goal for this meet was “to get a few final races in before the conference meet in two weeks.”

A highlight at the Bison Invitational was the men’s team successfully repeating the feat from last season to have every athlete on the team’s roster qualified for the conference meet.

Junior Carter Hawkes swam the 200-yard butterfly in 1:59.95, which was about 3.5 seconds faster than the qualifying standard in the event (2:03.62). Hawkes was the last Raider on the men’s side to qualify for the championships.

Thursday

Wrestling vs. East Stroudsburg, 7 p.m., Heiges Field House

Friday

Baseball at Catawba, 1 p.m.

Men’s/Women’s track and field at River Hawk Friday Night Showdown

Other notable efforts on the men’s side came from sophomore Robbie Ferlick, who finished with the best times for SU in the 100yard freestyle, the 100-yard butterfly and the 50-yard freestyle, and fellow sophomore Mason Koeth, who finished right behind Ferlick in those races.

On the women’s side, graduate Laurel Gingrich and freshman Olivia Carver highlighted the Raiders’ day with their respective performances.

Gingrich was the pacesetter for SU in four events, showing her versatility. She led the Raiders in the 200-yard individual medley (IM), the 100-yard freestyle, the 100-yard butterfly and the 50-yard freestyle. Carver paced the Raiders in the 400-yard IM as well as the 200-yard freestyle.

Junior Hannah Hudson, who joined the Raiders over winter break, was the SU pacesetter in the 100-yard backstroke and swam a solid 200-yard IM.

The women’s team has 16 athletes qualified for the conference championships, as no athlete earned a conference qualifying mark who was not already qualified for the meet.

Overall, both teams showed effort and had a good meet, according to Greenwood, as they are getting ready for the PSAC meet.

“[We] did not worry about the times since we are training through and getting ready to taper off for the conference meet,” Greenwood said.

The 2025 PSAC championships will be held at the Graham Aquatic Center in York from Monday, Feb. 17, through Thursday, Feb. 20.

Saturday

Men’s/Women’s track and field at Sykes & Sabock Challenge (Penn State), 11 a.m.

Women’s basketball vs. Lock Haven, 1 p.m., Heiges Field House (Alumni Day, pink game)

Men’s basketball vs. Lock Haven, 3 p.m., Heiges Field House (Alumni Day, pink game)

Baseball at Catawba, 1 p.m.

Sunday Baseball at Catawba, noon

Wrestling falls to Millersville at home, 38-9

Savannah Silvestre Staff Contributor

Shippensburg University’s wrestling team fell to Millersville, 38-9, at Heiges Field House Thursday night. SU’s overall record moves to 5-8, and its conference record falls to 0-3.

The Raiders had a slow start to the match, going down by 15 points after the 125, 133 and 141 weight classes.

Junior Mike Trainor changed the momentum

with a strong comeback win against Millersville freshman Danny Sinclair. The match was scoreless until Sinclair put up the first points with a reversal in the second period.

To gain the edge, Trainor earned two escapes and one stalling point to overcome Sinclair, and with five seconds left, Trainor sweetened the deal with a takedown.

The match ended 6-2 in Trainor’s favor.

At 165 pounds, graduate Nick Delp dominated over his opponent, Millersville’s

Chase Bish. Delp managed to secure a 13-0 lead on Bish before earning the fall in the second period.

Despite the strong individual efforts by Trainor and Delp, the Raiders struggled overall and fell to the Marauders.

The Raiders will aim to bounce back against Pitt-Johnstown on Tuesday and East Stroudsburg on Thursday.

Both matches will start at 7 p.m. at Heiges Field House.

Baseball eyes more success in 2025

The Shippensburg University baseball team officially begins its season this weekend, looking to build on a strong 2024 season that saw the team win its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) tournament game since 2018.

The Raiders went 27-21 last season, with a 19-13 record in PSAC East division games, good enough for fourth place. Postseason play saw them knock off Seton Hill, the top seed from the PSAC West, in the first round of the conference tournament.

SU’s pitching staff is highlighted by the return of senior Jaxon Dalena, who was named to the All-PSAC Eastern Division Second Team last season. Dalena put up a 2.52 ERA in 60.2 innings last season, good enough for fifth best in the conference and top 20 in all of NCAA Division II. He also ranked second in the PSAC in batting average allowed at .192, the best of any returning pitcher in the conference.

Last season was Dalena’s first as a full-time pitcher, transitioning from a two-way player. This transition was a key to his success, and he said, “Time in the training room was a huge part of it, being able to recognize the things you need to get better at and really focusing on those.”

Other notable names returning to the mound are junior J.T. Weaver, coming off a 12-start season with a 4.51 ERA, and sophomore Conner Barto, who cemented himself as a strong

long reliever and swingman in his first season with SU, putting up a 2.98 ERA in 42.1 innings.

Six new members have been added to the pitching staff for this season, including one transfer in junior Jack Robinson, coming from Roanoke. Dalena commented on overall improvements to the pitching staff, saying, “One thing I have noticed is a huge improvement on our ability to throw strikes. We struggled with that last year; it seems like the staff is really focused on pitching to contact.”

“It’s

a tough game, anything can happen, but we all trust God and each other.”

Carter Hinds SU shortstop

The Raiders lineup sees several returning faces, highlighted by the one-two punch of seniors Carter Hinds and Gio Calamia. These two were at the top of the order in most games last season, with Hinds hitting .314 with 12 extra-base hits and Calamia hitting .327 with 24 RBI. The two also combined for 34 stolen bases on 39 attempts.

The starting infield sees two other returning starters to go along with Hinds. Junior Mike Heckman is a strong fielder who had an All-PSAC Eastern Division Second Team season in 2023. Sophomore Brady Harbach also looks to build on a strong freshman year that saw him become the team’s everyday third baseman, putting up a .321 on-base percentage.

Seven players have been added to the offense, highlighted by junior AJ Wenrich, coming off two seasons as a bench player at Division I Georgia Southern.

On the newcomers, Hinds said, “The new hitters showed up on day one ready to go. We are not a very big power-hitting team, and I think everyone here knows that. We all just try to catch barrels and spray the field.”

SU’s schedule begins with a weekend series at Catawba Feb. 7-9 before a 10-game homestand at Fairchild Field that begins with four games against Saint Michael’s on Valentine’s Day weekend.

Conference play begins on March 21 against Bloomsburg, the first of seven straight weekend series against PSAC opponents.

Hinds’ hopes for the season are simple. “I think we can have some fun this year,” he said. “If we stay locked in, stay focused on the everyday goal together as a team, I don’t see why we can’t. It’s a tough game, anything can happen, but we all trust God and each other.”

Men’s Basketball Gallery

SU’s men’s basketball team lost two games this week, falling 65-51 to Shepherd and 89-78 to Bloomsburg. The team has two home games this week, hosting Millersville at 8 p.m. Wednesday and Lock Haven at 3 p.m. Saturday.

March for Humanity

March for Humanity