The Slate 4-1-25

Local Democrats rally against Trump

Ian Thompson News Editor

Democrats from Franklin and Cumberland counties came out in downtown Shippensburg on March 22 to show their distaste for the Trump administration’s policies on a wide range of issues.

Around 60 protestors demonstrated around the intersection of King Street and Earl Street, protesting issues like potential cuts to government services like Social Security, attempts to dismantle the Department of Education and other agencies and cutting support to Ukraine.

Some drivers greeted protestors with approving honks and calls of support as they drove past. Others challenged the demonstrators by “rolling coal” and shouting expletives.

According to demonstrators, several pickup truck drivers were seen circling back to repeat such signs of disapproval.

The protest was organized by the Franklin County Democratic Committee in collaboration with their counterpart in Cumberland County. According to Sheri Morgan, the state committeewoman for the Franklin County Democrats, the committee had hosted another protest in Orrstown the week before.

Two protesters, Carol Hozman and Betty Schreiber, stood together on King Street. The pair had protested during the Vietnam era, according to Hozman. “We were all hippies. This ain’t my first time,” Schreiber said.

Schreiber is a retired teacher and said that she was upset over the Trump

administration’s “tearing down” of education. As a special education teacher, she taught programs made possible only through federal grants.

“It wouldn’t have been possible to have that kind of education that disabled students have,” Schreiber said. “I thought that’s what made us great. I thought we were a country that had humanity. Trump has no humanity,” said Schreiber. “He’s got us old ladies all fired up.”

Hozman spoke to that point as well. “He’s threatening to take away our Social Security,” Hozman said. “We paid into that for a whole lot of years. It’s not entitlement, it was insurance for us.”

Morgan said that the committee has plans to host similar “Save Our Squares” protests on Saturdays from

12-1 p.m. On March 29, it hosted a demonstration in Mercersburg, and two more are planned — in Chambersburg on April 5 and in Mont Alto on April 12. The protests, Morgan said, are in response to

Poli. Science professors discuss deteriorating political situation

As political tensions continue to rise across the country in the wake of the Trump administration’s tumultuous shake-up of the federal bureaucracy, a panel of professors from Shippensburg University’s Political Science Department sought to provide a clarifying overview of the political landscape in 2025.

The panel was made up of four professors who offered their perspective and expertise in various areas of political science. The evening was hosted and led by political science Chair Alison Dagnes, who was joined by her colleagues Lonce Bailey, Mark Sachleben and Steven Lichtman.

Sachleben described three trends in international politics.

The first of these was the ongoing transition from a manufacturing-based economy to an information-based one. Just as the transition from agriculture to manufacturing ushered in mas-

Weaving

Ian Thompson / The Slate

Four professors from SU’s Political Science Department briefed students on the current state of politics in the U.S.

sive social and political shifts, Sachleben argues, so too will this modern shift.

In a similar vein, he spoke about how in history, the time following pandemics and disease outbreaks were often marked by large realignments of political power and economic upheaval.

According to Sachleben, in just about every pandemic there is fear, governments failing to re-

act effectively, pushback against any reaction, misinformation and extreme political and economic upsets.

“In the Black Plague, you had the first successful peasant revolution in 1381,” Sachleben said. During the AIDS epidemic in Africa, there was a spike in military violence and urban instability.

A

constituents asking what they can do to push back against what they see as tyrannical Trump administration policies.

“Don’t be fearful,” Morgan said. “Join us and organize, and we’ll take our country back.”

Harry Stutts was particularly troubled by the Trump administration’s attacks on veterans’ benefits and jobs.

President’s-less hour

Evan Dillow Asst. News Editor

SGA’s spring 2025 President’s Hour was kicked off at 7 p.m. in the Orndorff Theater in the CUB on Monday, Mar. 24. In attendance was Director of Facilities Management Matthew Dominick, Vice President of Student Affairs Lorie Sheetz, Provost Darrell Newton, SUPD Chief Patrick Taylor and Shippensburg University Dining Services General Manager Will Anderson. SU President Patterson was not in attendance as he was recovering from minor surgery.

Monday night’s session was moderated by SGA President-Elect Nathan Garber, who also passed along questions that were asked online.

In previous years,

more than one President’s Hour session was held each semester. According to Lorie Sheetz, President Patterson and campus faculty are easier to reach out to and ask questions than in prior years, lessening the need for in-person Q&A sessions.

During the hour-long meeting, topics discussed included construction on the Franklin Science Center, improvements coming to online courses and how current political issues regarding the Department of Education and how anti-DEI efforts will affect Shippensburg University.

On the Franklin Science Center construction, Dominick stated that the project should wrap up in spring 2027. A follow up question was brought up by sophomore chemistry major Ryan Mills, who asked

why the Franklin project started as late as it did. Dominick responded, “There were some issues of awarding of bids to contractors that were not responsive. With the rebidding process it took time.” Junior Roderick Porter Jr. asked each of the panelists what upcoming projects they are excited about.

Provost Newton discussed his plans to expand educational opportunities for nontraditional students, particularly in the online field. Newton went into detail on the advantages online courses provide for students who work or are involved with campus activities.

“You self-govern. You self-pace yourselves,” Newton said.

things together: Shari Horner on her time at Shippensburg University

After completing 27 years at Shippensburg University, Shari Horner has a great deal to be proud of.

Horner served for four years as the irector of the Women’s Studies Program, which became the Women’s and Gender Studies Program under her watch, and she was the chair of the English Department for nine years.

She has received the Vagina Warrior award for her advocacy of the Vagina Monologues event, and is a two-time recipient of the Gero Award, honoring

those who have made a remarkable contribution to the status of women on Shippensburg University’s campus.

As Horner reflected on her time at Shippensburg, she shared that much has changed since she first stepped foot on campus.

“I finished my dissertation in 1993, and I got a job at a university in Nebraska, and my husband got a job at Shippensburg University. We moved across the country from each other and were apart for two years,” Horner said. “After two years, I decided to take a leave from that job and got an adjunct job at

Dickinson College. Then, I got a job at Penn State Mont Alto, and then the medievalist retired at Shippensburg, and I’ve been here ever since.”

Horner shared that there was a profound difference in the campus culture when she first arrived at Shippensburg.

“When I first arrived at Ship, our department had a lot more people in it. It was just busier,” Horner said. “We had a lot more money and brought in great speakers. It was a really vibrant place. Ship has had a lot of financial challenges over the years, and the pandemic hurt every university. It’s a lot

quieter, and we’re a lot more stretched.”

The volume of students and faculty was not the only difference on campus at that time.

“The other thing that was different in the English Department was that it was not a very friendly place in the past,” Horner said. “There were a lot of factions, a lot of infighting, and a lot of different camps with different opinions. It’s taken a long time for the English department to gain a sense of real trust and build collegiality with each other.”

Stutts, a Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War, said, “We’ve got an awful lot of veterans who’ve gone through hell. Somebody who puts it all on the line — they deserve our help.”

Mark Hartman, a music professor who retired from Shippensburg University in 2024, joined the protest with Larry Klotz, a biology professor who retired in 2009.

“Our country is in such a terrible position right now with oligarchy taking over and Trump’s bent toward fascism,” Hartman said. “Someone has to stand up and say something.”

A protester who wished to be identified as a teacher in a neighboring school district out of fear of political reprisal explained why she was protesting. “No one elected Elon Musk, and they are decimating the Constitution,” she said.

Another protestor named Enid sported a National Park Service ranger uniform and spoke about the threat that in her view Republicans pose to national parks.

“The drastic cuts to the U.S. National Park Service don’t benefit anybody,” Enid

said. Enid, who identified herself as a former NPS park ranger, explained that there were so many things to protest about that it would have taken all day to explain.

“I chose the one I had a hat for,” she said referring to the park ranger hat she wore.

In Enid’s view, national parks and other natural spaces are a place where people can come together, regardless of political identity. “Politics and religion don’t matter in a campground,” she said.

Mary Jane Fair, who has a 13-year-old grandson, said she is afraid of him growing

up in a world full of hate and intolerance.

“I want a world that believes that all people are important,” Fair said. “I think our country can do that.”

The committee also plans to demonstrate in front of elected officials’ offices on Tuesdays from 12-1 p.m. On March 25 they protested in front of PA State Rep. Rob Kaufman’s Chambersburg office. On April 1, they plan to rally in front of PA State Rep. Chad Reichard’s Greencastle office, and a week later, the venue will be U.S. Rep. John Joyce’s (PA13) Chambersburg office.

SGA Corner: Exciting updates

As the semester winds down, the Student Government Association has been hard at work making progress on various initiatives around campus. Additionally, we have been preparing for our leadership transitions at the end of this year, as well as getting ready for electing new senators.

Senator petitions have been submitted, and candidates are gearing up for election week. Speeches will take place on April 10 at 5 p.m. in McFeely’s Coffeehouse, giving students a chance to hear from those running. Voting will be open from April 14 at 8 a.m. to April 17 at 4 p.m., so make sure your voice is heard. Results will be announced by 4 p.m. on that Friday, April 18. We have had so many new

From “POLITICAL,” A1

Sachleben also placed emphasis on the upcoming 80th anniversary of the end of World War 2. “A lot of the things that were learned from that have not been passed down to the next generation,” Sachleben said. Among those lessons are that other countries have agency, and that appeasement does not work.

Bailey, who specializes in American government and public administration, spoke about the recurring question of “Can they do that?” in reference to the Trump administration.

“You can do as a government official whatever you want to do if nobody stops you,” Bailey said. “We’re used to a system of checks and balances. What we’re seeing right now is a scenario in which Congress is in an unprecedented position to not have responded to

developments this semester as well. We’re excited to announce that a new Graduate Student Senator position has been voted for approval by SGA. We wanted to ensure that the concerns and ideas of graduate students will be represented by your student government. We have also had multiple student groups be approved, adding more opportunities for engagement on campus.

During President’s Hour, students had a chance to ask questions and give ideas directly to administrative leadership. We were saddened that President Patterson was unable to join us, but we wish him a speedy recovery and still had a very productive time hearing from the student body.

Additionally, last Wednesday, SGA attended the Residence Hall Association’s Mocktail Night! Shoutout to our amazing senators and ELC members who attended and helped set up the table with our Minecraft Potion mocktails!

In upcoming events, our next public meeting will be this Thursday, April 3 at 4 p.m. in CUB 119. SGA is planning to vote on the 20252026 activities budget.

anything.”

According to Bailey, the answer to ‘Can they do that?’ is “It depends, will anyone stop you?”

Some suggest that the courts could offer resistance, but Bailey and Lichtman agree that their opinions are easily ignored by a dismissive executive.

“Courts can’t do anything,” Bailey said. “They have no money and no police. They make a decision and who carries it out? The executive branch.”

Staying on the topic of the courts, Lichtman offered a prediction he is certain of: “At some point in the next 18 months, an attempt is going to be made to impeach the Chief Justice of the United States.” The success of that attempt is not as important as the attack on judicial independence itself, according to Lichtman.

“At some point, the Supreme Court is going to tell Donald Trump

Your World Today

Commentary: You’re paying too much for toothpaste

Connor Niszczak Editor-in-Chief

If you are paying for toothpaste, you shouldn’t be.

I’m sorry to break it to you, but it’s time to accept that you have spent years spending far too much on your favorite Crest and Colgate products.

The solution to your troubles is one of life’s simplest but most underappreciated joys — a coupon. Yes, those pesky sheets of paper that used to get delivered in the weekly newspaper are the key to fighting inflation as a college student.

Let me explain.

Stop by the CUB Amphitheatre for a fun end-of-semester treat on Tuesday, April 29 at 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., or until supplies last. Bring your friends and enjoy a break before finals with free ice pops and ice cream sandwiches.

On May 1 at 4 p.m. in the MPR, we will officially welcome in new Student Government members at the annual transition ceremony. This meeting is a celebration of the hard work put in by outgoing officers and senators and welcome in the next incoming team.

Starting soon on our Instagram (@ship_sga), we will be highlighting one of our outstanding senators each week to showcase their contributions. Stay tuned for these upcoming events and to see our senators in action.

As always, the Student Government Association remains committed to building a stronger, more connected campus. We encourage everyone to get involved, attend meetings, and share ideas or concerns as we move forward. With so many opportunities on the horizon, there has never been a better time to be engaged.

‘No, you can’t do that,’” Lichtman said. He predicted that Chief Justice John Roberts will be in the majority and write the Court’s opinion.

“When that happens, Donald Trump is not going to react to this with sober-minded, avuncular magnanimity,” Lichtman said. “He is going to go ballistic.”

“That is what is coming,” Lichtman continued. “When they tell him no and when he throws that hissy fit, he’s not going to confine himself to say John Roberts is stupid, John

Last summer, I was here on campus working for Orientation and Residence Life, and despite what you may think, SU is still quite active when not in session. During an off-day for orientation, several of our team members sat in for a Couponing 101 class with SU Vice President of Inclusion, Belonging, and Social Equity (and money-saving expert) Manny Ruiz. Manny opened my eyes to the world of couponing and

money-saving — he told us that all SU students get 5% off at Giant, taught us about the differences between store and manufacturer coupons and explained the world of rebate apps. I have rarely been one to do anything partially, so I took the lessons and ran with it.

Throughout last summer’s Academic Success Program, I kept a small pantry stocked with cereal, granola bars and other items I got for pennies or totally free, and it only grew from there. I slowly became an expert in shopping at CVS, Walmart and Giant, and I have just about mastered the various rebate apps that you’ll see used by couponing influencers — Ibotta, Fetch, Inbox Dollars and Shopkick. In most cases, it could not possibly be easier to save money. CVS drops over 100 coupons every Sunday and Giant has a new ad every Friday. Open your app, clip the coupons you want to use and watch those prices drop — there’s really nothing better.

Shortly before writing this, I took my weekly trip to CVS, spent $32 of $75 worth of items and got $36 back — aka, it was all free!

As my closest friends (especially those who I have made set up accounts on some of those apps) would happily tell you, I have become quite obsessive about these things. I needed a non-SU-related hobby, and this happily filled that

void. But, of course, I do not expect our entire student body to make this a part of their lives.

But in the name of fiscal responsibility, you should. Especially as college students, most of us live on a limited budget and have to manage paying bills, buying groceries and still having some money left over for extracurriculars. But as students, we also struggle to plan ahead and often make plans at the last minute.

So, my challenge to you is this. Take 30 minutes away from social media every week and look at what’s on sale at Giant, CVS or wherever you may shop. Have half a bottle of your favorite shampoo left but see it’s on sale and there’s a coupon — buy it now! In order to ball (survive) on a college budget, you have to make those prices work for you. Craving burgers but seeing pasta and chicken breasts are on sale that week? Go with the chicken — I promise you, ground beef and buns will be on sale soon. Be willing to make your diet and your budget work together.

Shopping is all about strategy. Waiting until you desperately need a product will almost always cost you more because as life tends to go, it won’t be on sale the one week you truly need it. So get that free toothpaste — pearly whites never hurt anyone.

Student Keystone Media Awards

The Slate was recognized with several 2025 Keystone Media Awards in the Division II category.

First Place, Column -Editor-in-Chief Connor Niszczak

First Place, Editorial -Opinion Editor Matthew Scalia

Honorable Mentions, Sports, Feature and News Photo -Staff Contributors Hanna Atkinson and Jashton Best -Assistant Multimedia Director Grace Harbour

Roberts is crooked, John Roberts is treasonous. He’s going to say John Roberts should be impeached.”

Criticism of the Supreme Court is not unprecedented, Lichtman acknowledged. “A presidential call for retaliation against the Court or against a Justice is,” he said. “This is the first truly revanchist presidential administration in our history — it is a presidential administration built on revenge”

March News Roundup

Here’s some stories you might have missed

2025–2026 SGA officer election results

The results of the spring 2025 Student Government Association (SGA) officer elections were announced on Feb. 28. Starting in late April, SGA will be led by a new group of executives.

SGA approves new student groups via emergency vote after failing to meet quorum

Three new student groups were approved by the Student Government Association (SGA) through unorthodox means after the Student Senate failed to meet quorum at its March 6 public meeting.

SUPD gives SGA updates on student concerns over racism & traffic speeds

At the March Student Government Association meeting, SUPD Police Chief Patrick Taylor gave the student senate updates about issues discussed at previous President’s Hours.

SU alumni share Peace Corps experiences

Shippensburg University welcomed back several alumni for a virtual workshop titled “Peace Corps: Global Opportunities.” Four SU graduates and a Peace Corps recruiter joined Career Center Executive Director Victoria Kerr to discuss their experiences as volunteers for the Peace Corps.

Trump has ordered the dismantling of the Education Department. Here’s what it does

WASHINGTON (AP) —

Moving to fulfill a campaign promise, President Donald Trump signed an executive order March 20 calling for the dismantling of the Education Department, an agency Republicans have talked about closing for decades.

The order says Education Secretary Linda McMahon will, “to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by

law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities.”

Eliminating the department altogether would be a cumbersome task, which likely would require an act of Congress.

In the weeks since he took office, the Trump administration already has cut the department’s staff in half and overhauled much

of the department’s work. Trump adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has cut dozens of contracts it dismissed as “woke” and wasteful. It gutted the Institute of Education Sciences, which gathers data on the nation’s academic progress.

The agency’s main role is financial. Annually, it distributes billions in federal money to colleges and schools and manages the federal student loan portfolio. Closing the

20, 2025.

Gabbard calls leaked Signal chats a ‘mistake’

David Klepper Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Wednesday it was a “mistake” for national security officials to discuss sensitive military plans on a group text chain that also included a journalist — a leak that has roiled President Donald Trump’s national security leadership.

Speaking before the House Intelligence Committee, Gabbard said the conversation included “candid and sensitive” information about military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. But as she told senators

during testimony on Tuesday, she said the texts did not contain any classified information.

“It was a mistake that a reporter was inadvertently added,” Gabbard said.

Wednesday’s hearing was called to discuss an updated report on national security threats facing the U.S. Instead, much of the focus was on the text chain, which included Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance and other top officials.

Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was also added, and on Wednesday his pub-

lication released more details from the chats, showing the level of detail they offered about the strikes.

Democrats have demanded an investigation into the sloppy communication, saying it may have exposed sensitive military information that could have jeopardized the mission or put U.S. service members at risk.

The National Security Council has said it will investigate the matter, which Trump on Tuesday downplayed as a “glitch.” Goldberg said he received the Signal invitation from Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security adviser, who

was in the group chat and has taken responsibility for the lapse.

Even though the texts contained detailed information on military actions, Gabbard, Ratcliffe and the White House have all said none of the information was classified — an assertion Democrats flatly rejected on Wednesday.

“You all know that’s a lie,” Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, told Ratcliffe and Gabbard, who said that any decisions to classify or declassify military information falls to the secretary of defense.

Read the full story at theslateonline.com.

Democrats score upset win in a GOP-leaning Penn. state senate district

Levy Associated Press

MANHEIM, Pa. (AP) —

Democrat James Andrew Malone narrowly won a special election for a Pennsylvania state Senate seat in Republican-leaning suburbs and farming communities, scoring an upset for a party roiled by infighting since President Donald Trump’s victory.

Malone’s victory over Republican Josh Parsons in Tuesday night’s election might provide a light in the darkness for Democrats who are at each others’ throats publicly and struggling to unify around a strategy to counter Trump.

Malone’s victory came in a county that Democrats say they haven’t represented in the chamber in over a century.

Malone said in an interview Wednesday that he was helped by Trump’s embrace of chaos and rejection of a methodical, cohesive and by-the-book strategy of accomplishing his agenda in his first two months.

“He’s chosen to do it the way he does everything, right? Throw a brick in the basket and see what comes out,” said Malone, a computer application designer and mayor of tiny East Petersburg, population 4,500. Several voters backed that up, saying they hoped to send a message about Trump and Republican policies and politics.

Michelle McCall, a registered independent who said she has voted for both Republicans and Democrats in the past, cast her ballot for Malone as more of a

department would mean redistributing each of those duties to another agency. The Education Department also plays an important regulatory role in services for students, ranging from those with disabilities to low-income and homeless kids.

Indeed, federal education money is central to Trump’s plans for colleges and schools. Trump has vowed to cut off federal money for schools and colleges that push “critical race theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content” and to reward states and schools that end teacher tenure and support universal school choice programs.

Federal funding makes up a relatively small portion of public school budgets — roughly 14%. Colleges and universities are more reliant on it, through research grants along with federal financial aid that helps students pay their tuition.

Here is a look at some of the department’s key functions, and how Trump has said he might approach

them.

The Education Department manages approximately $1.5 trillion in student loan debt for over 40 million borrowers. It also oversees the Pell Grant, which provides aid to students below a certain income threshold, and administers the Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( FAFSA ), which universities use to allocate financial aid.

President Joe Biden’s administration made cancellation of student loans a signature effort of the department’s work. Even though Biden’s initial attempt to cancel student loans was overturned by the Supreme Court, the administration forgave over $175 billion for more than 4.8 million borrowers through a range of changes to programs it administers, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

The loan forgiveness efforts have faced Republican pushback, including litigation from several GOP-led states.

Trump has criticized Biden’s efforts to cancel debt

as illegal and unfair, calling it a “total catastrophe” that “taunted young people.” Trump’s plan for student debt is uncertain: He has not put out detailed plans. Through its Office for Civil Rights, the Education Department conducts investigations and issues guidance on how civil rights laws should be applied, such as for LGBTQ+ students and students of color. The office also oversees a large data collection project that tracks disparities in resources, course access and discipline for students of different racial and socioeconomic groups.

Trump has suggested a different interpretation of the office’s civil rights role. Under his administration, the department has instructed the office to prioritize complaints of antisemitism above all else and has opened investigations into colleges and school sports leagues for allowing transgender athletes to compete on women’s teams.

Vance visits Greenland as Trump presses for annexation of Arctic island

of this incredible, beautiful landmass filled with incredible people. That has to change.”

NUUK, Greenland (AP)

— U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Friday that Denmark has “underinvested” in Greenland’s security and demanded that Denmark change its approach as President Donald Trump pushes to take over the Danish territory.

moderate than Parsons.

She also described the Republican Party as becoming less centrist than she would like and exhibiting “a general attitude in the party that ‘I’m going to do whatever I want and to heck with lawfulness or the Constitution.’”

Patty Mazzei, a loyal Democratic voter working at a clothing boutique in touristy downtown Lititz, said she is “tired of the bullyism” under Trump and wanted to “stick it” to Republicans.

The Associated Press called the race Wednesday after receiving information from county officials that there were fewer ballots left to be counted than the margin in the race. Parsons conceded Wednesday.

The pointed remarks came as Vance visited U.S. troops on Pituffik Space Base on the mineral-rich, strategically critical island alongside his wife and other senior U.S. officials for a trip that was ultimately scaled back after an uproar among Greenlanders and Danes who were not consulted about the original itinerary.

“Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” Vance said. “You have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security architecture

Vance said the U.S. has “no option” but to take a significant position to ensure the security of Greenland as he encouraged a push in Greenland for independence from Denmark.

“I think that they ultimately will partner with the United States,” Vance said. “We could make them much more secure. We could do a lot more protection. And I think they’d fare a lot better economically as well.”

The reaction by members of Greenland’s parliament and residents has rendered that unlikely, with anger erupting over the Trump administration’s attempts to annex the vast Arctic island. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen pushed back on Vance’s claim that Denmark isn’t doing enough for defense in the Arctic, calling her country “a good and strong ally.”

Soon after arriving, Vance briefly addressed U.S. troops

stationed at the base as he and his wife sat down to lunch with them, saying that the Trump administration is very interested in “Arctic security.” He and his entourage, including national security adviser Mike Waltz, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, later received briefings from military officials. It was minus-3 degrees F when the delegation landed at the remote base 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

“It’s cold as s— here. Nobody told me,” Vance said, prompting laughs.

The revised trip to the semi-autonomous Danish territory comes as relations between the U.S. and the Nordic country, a traditional U.S. ally and NATO member, have soured. Trump had repeatedly suggested that the United States should in some form control the island.

The Slate Speaks: Debating Mandatory Courses

Mandatory Non-Major Classes Make You Well Rounded

General education requirements are a vital part of a university’s curricula. Whether your degree is in English or software engineering, having a variety of subjects under your belt is key to the higher education experience.

An English major should take courses in math and science because they teach you about the world you live in.

An engineering major is not some lifeless automaton — humans need art and literature to thrive. They might not use their philosophy lessons at work, but it gives them a more nuanced view of humanity.

The same goes for languages. You might not think you will ever get any use out of those three courses in Spanish until you find a job at a firm that does a lot of international work.

There is a part of the population that believes college should be a pipeline — in comes a high schooler, and out comes a worker. It is

the sort of view of education Pink Floyd satirized in “The Wall.” That view is stupid. The value of education is not in producing workers to feed the machine; it is in creating a more educated society. Society benefits when people know the difference between democracy and authoritarianism, between history and propaganda, and between science and dogma. Ideally, those things would be taught in high school. But there’s not enough time in the day to cover everything they are required to teach. Until there is a fundamental restructuring of our education system from pre-school to post-grad, this is the best we have.

Students may also get “boxed in” by their majors. Topics such as media literacy and standards for reading and writing well should be higher. The required courses are not about making sure you retain content for the rest of your life. They are training you to be a better thinker.

Editor’s Note

It is time to register for classes. Many students who visit their advisors over the coming days will have to decide between the classes they want to take and the ones the university believes they should take — whether they deal directly with a student’s major. Higher education in other countries does things differently, focusing solely on utility: you only take classes associated with your major. Nearby, Slate writers debate the two sides of the argument.

Schumer’s Spineless Opposition

Since November’s elections, there has been no shortage of criticism levied at the Democratic Party. Whether directed at the electoral strategy of the Bidenturned-Harris campaign or party politics, there is plenty to complain about.

A recent Quinnipiac University poll found that just 40% of Democratic voters approve of congressional Democrats’ job performance, compared to 75% this time last year. Despite this nosedive in support, the leadership of the party seems content to say “steady as she goes.”

In 2016, First Lady Michelle Obama popularized the phrase “when they go low, we go high.” While I will agree that sentiment is virtuous, I would argue it illustrates a weakness that is killing the Democratic Party. Politics are messy. Whether it is scandals, mud-slinging or just the regular day-today back-and-forth between political rivals, no one leaves Washington unscathed. Republicans have seen this, proudly covered their face in

the filth and readied themselves to fight in the dirt.

Democrats, meanwhile, sit off to the side, talking about how disgusting the Republicans are and how they could not and should not get down on their level. How outside the norm such actions are and how they wouldn’t want to get mud all over their freshly starched shirts.

A few weeks ago, Senate Democrats were confronted with a choice: allow a budget bill to pass that would give Donald Trump additional power to slash federal programs or use their leverage to threaten a government shutdown to force Republicans to the negotiating table.

House Democrats voted unanimously against the bill, showing a united front against Trump’s attempts at dismantling the federal government. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer initially echoed this stance, spending most of the week criticizing it as a power grab by the GOP and telling Republicans they did not have the Democratic votes.

But as usual, he folded. As the shutdown approached, Schumer switched his tune and voted to move the bill

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.

forward. The GOP got their spending bill, and Democrats got nothing.

The switcheroo justifiably caused uproar among Schumer’s Democratic colleagues in the Senate and the House Democratic caucus. Even Nancy Pelosi, a longtime ally of Schumer, called his refusal to fight unacceptable.

Schumer voted against the bill during the final vote, but its passage only required a simple majority compared to the earlier 60-vote cloture motion.

It was a purely symbolic act of opposition. Unfortunately, that represents the current state of the Democratic Party. A spineless, ineffectual, and pushover opposition that feigns fighting back against Trump’s overreach, but which falls apart at the slightest pressure. A party that wags their finger at fascists, but won’t vote against their own destruction.

The Democratic Party needs real leadership that is not afraid to put up actual opposition, and Schumer is not up to the task.

The way universities handle curriculums now infantilizes the educational process, taking passion and dreams and turning them into an extension of high school. This does not begin to mention that it establishes a hierarchy where language and math departments are prioritized over philosophy, history and English.

European universities, to speak broadly, may miss out with their narrow focus on major-related work, but they make up for it by not subjugating students to sit through something they have no interest or need for. Academics are supposed to love the process of learning, and it is a university’s job, and virtue of that, a teacher’s job to inspire the pursuit of life-long learning. We are teaching them to hate it and transforming the college years into a grind, further perpetuating the diploma mill stigma universities have. No one is saying the study of history is irrelevant. But it is irrelevant for a student

to sit through three years of language that they forget the moment they graduate and do not possess enough fluency to perform any function outside of asking where a library or bathroom is anyway. Intellectual curiosity should be within students. Why else would they be here? Why put guardrails on it? If we do not believe that they have drive, then what are we pretending to do here? To accept that premise is to give up the plot on the whole process. At that point, you might as well do a degree shop online and just have a degree mailed to you for money. International transfer are students are another factor. While they do not make up a large number of the enrolled population, they would be shocked to see that they have to sit through topics they learned in high school back home. Shock and annoyance would be the best-case scenario, unfortunately they, like home-grown students, have to pay for the “privilege.”

The Andrew Tate Problem

If there ever was a sign of the consequences of the fall of media and academic institutions, it comes in the form of who is rising to prominence in the void left behind.

One figure who has attempted to fill that void that is the loathsome Andrew Tate. Tate, for those who do not know, is the founder of “Hustlers University,” an online course, where you, the student, can get a “Pimping Hoes Degree” by learning how to be as much of a man as Tate, a former kickboxer who was accused of sex trafficking and organized crime by Romanian authorities. All that value for only $4.99 a month. Wow! What a deal, if you do not consider the fact that paying to learn how to be a Tate alpha male is self-defeating — that it makes you a “beta,” by his philosophy.

But the contradiction is the point, and it is a problem that many in the right-wing influencer-sphere are going to have to deal with. Tate has been growing in popularity with young men, who polls show are moving right politically.

With the growth of “alternative media,” social media, podcasts, etc., the views of this generation will be shaped by those who claim to represent a new, better truth than the one “peddled” by the “mainstream media” or “woke” universities.

In my observations of this growing online community, I have found chaos reigns supreme. It is a community that demands purity and wars with itself over what that is.

The number of followers you have determines if you are the one that is right. They say Christ is King, but accept Tate, a man who invested his wealth into a mass-OnlyFans business. They say they are critical over billionaires buying power but have no problems with Tate, who brags about having a Bugatti and measures people’s value by their financial success. They have “trad-wife” trends on social media while Tate says, “If all your children come from one woman you are not a conquerer. [sic]”

There is no truth here, no actual belief system. What is right? What is virtue? It does not exist to these influencers because it does not matter to them. They want followers

and impressions. They covet the same power that they say they are critical of, and the Tate hypocrisy is the chief sign of it. The fake news? Who needs it? You now have an influencer with a Pepe the Frog meme for a profile picture that you go wage an online crusade for. And if you are a truly loyal follower, you have the special opportunity to invest in their meme coin. We are in a fragile time in our culture. The young men who voted for Trump feel he has let them down. The administration is a circus, and I observe many of them believing Trump has been bought off by Elon Musk. They do not trust the news. They do not trust universities or health agencies. All they are left with are crypto scams and influencers who lack the logic or courage to recognize Andrew Tate invalidates everything they claim to believe in.

Without institutions or a belief system, we are left with no doors to keep the wolves out. All anyone can do now is focus on the first philosophy — something to build a belief system on. With any luck, we will have a better tomorrow than we have today.

Disclaimer: In the name of silliness, the stories, names and titles featured on this page are satire and should not be treated as legitimate news.

Council of Trustees approves plans to change name to ‘Shippo-sburg University’

Shippo made its debut on April 1, 2023, and stopped to pose in front of Harley Hall on SU’s campus while filming a video to welcome incoming students.

In a move reflecting the surging popularity of Shippensburg University’s secondary mascot, Shippo the Hippo, the SU Council of Trustees has voted to rename the institution “Shippo-sburg University.”

The decision comes after several months of intense discussion following a shift in popular support for Shippo.

Shippo’s rise to prominence began with a contested election in 2005, in which Shippo was erroneously defeated by Big Red.

During a recount of the original ballots 18 years later, it was found that Shippo had won.

SU President Charles Patterson announced April 1, 2023, that Big Red would be retired, and Shippo would claim its rightful place.

The Council of Trustees, responsible for overseeing the university’s strategic direction, met last week to give final approval to the name change. Student Trustee Colin Arnold addressed the council, stating, “Shippo has become an important part of our university’s identity.

Embracing this change reflects our campus’ commitment to evolving with our community’s spirit and

Raider Bowls served daily, chaos arises in Galley Food Court

Shippensburg University announced last week that Raider Bowls, the beloved Galley Food Court meal consisting of mashed potatoes, corn, gravy, popcorn chicken and cheese, will be served daily in the Ceddia Union Building.

Students rejoiced at this news, excited to feast on this delicious meal every day of the week. The initial excitement of this announcement has quickly turned to chaos. With the CUB now flooded daily with students eager to grab a bowl, lines have reportedly stretched from the food court all the way to the bookstore.

“I just wanted to grab a coffee before class, but I got caught in the Raider Bowl stampede,” Toby Tater said. “I ended up with a bowl of mashed potatoes instead. It’s madness.”

To accommodate the sudden influx of Raider Bowl enthusiasts, CUB staff attempted to implement a “bowl limit” policy, restricting students to just one bowl per hour. The plan failed miserably as students began showing up with disguises, swapping jackets and hats to trick staff into serving them more Raider Bowls.

One particularly determined student reportedly walked through the line six times wearing a different club T-shirt for each attempt.

“I regret nothing,” they said between mouthfuls of mashed potatoes. The Slate obtained a memo addressing the probowl movement.

with posts ranging from photos of impossibly long lines to videos of students smuggling bowls out of the CUB in their backpacks.

Despite the logistical nightmares, university

“We were thrilled to see such enthusiasm for Raider Bowls, but we didn’t anticipate the sheer demand,” the memo said. “Our suppliers are concerned they may run out of potatoes by the end of the month.”

Students have even taken to social media to document the chaos. The hashtag #BowlGate has been trending locally,

officials say they are committed to keeping Raider Bowls on the menu. Plans are underway to convert several underutilized meeting rooms into makeshift Raider Bowl assembly lines. Until then, students are advised to practice patience, bring a snack for the wait and perhaps consider trying a meal that doesn’t come with mashed potatoes.

enthusiasm.”

The decision has sparked excitement across campus.

Many students have expressed delight about the renaming, seeing it as an example of the university’s responsiveness to student concerns.

Senior Connor Niszczak was especially content with the decision. “It’s incredible to see our love for Shippo recognized at such a significant level,” said

Niszczak, who’s had a photo of Shippo as his iPhone lockscreen for over a year.

“It makes us feel more connected to our school.”

Faculty members have also weighed in on the change.

Anita Anchor, a professor in the history department, noted that “universities are living institutions that grow and adapt to an everchanging world.

This renaming marks a unique chapter in our school’s incredible history.”

The transition to “Shipposburg University” will involve updates to official signage, legal documents and branding materials.

Patterson’s administration has assured that these changes will be implemented gradually to manage costs effectively.

Merchandise featuring the new name and Shippo’s likeness is already in production.

A Shippensburg Word Search

Ship Life

Student groups battle it out at RHA’s annual mocktail event

karaoke machine.

Shippensburg University’s Residence Hall Association (RHA) hosted its annual Mocktails event on

Wednesday, March 25, in the CUB MPR.

Student groups had to sign up in advance and use their creativity to compete against one another for the best mocktail.

compared their favorite childhood and recent games.

This year’s theme, “Game On: Fight for the Win,” inspired each table to represent a different popular game. One table featured the classic game “Sorry,” while another showcased Connect Four. The theme added an enjoyable element, as people

Sixteen student groups participated, presenting their mocktails throughout the evening. First place earned a $300 cash prize, second place received $150 and third place won $50. There was also a prize for the winner of the popular vote, which awarded the winner a

Once the drinks were completed, the popular vote was conducted. Each group visited the other tables, sampled the mocktails, scanned the QR code at the table and voted for their favorite drink.

After the tasting, judges

Jen Milburn (director of Housing and Residence

Life), Emily Javitt (director of Campus Life), Kyle Miller (director of Student Conduct and Community Standards), Tammy Garrett and Julia Downs (Connection Program GA) selected the evening’s winners.

After much consideration, third place went to Women’s Rugby, second place was awarded to the Bio Club, and first place was claimed by Student Veterans of America. Each group was ecstatic and well-deserving of their victories. The popular vote, which awarded the highly anticipated karaoke machine, went to Kieffer Hall Council.

To learn about future RHA events, follow them on Instagram at @rha_raiders.

Celebrating leadership and advocacy with the 2025 Gero Award winners

Megan Sawka and Mara Eberle

Ship Life Editor and Asst. Ship Life Editor

The Gero Awards were held at Shippensburg University on March 5, alongside the annual International Women’s Day celebration.

The awards ceremony honored three members of the campus community: a student, a staff member and a faculty member. Additionally, three more awards were given to individuals at SU for their impact on women’s safety, inclusion and equality. Among those honored at this event were Jenna Cornell, Professor Sharnine Herbert and Marsha Bonn.

SU senior Jenna Cornell received the student award and was honored to be recognized among the other nominees. Cornell is a communication, journalism and media student and has served as the general manager of SU’s studentrun radio station, WSYC 88.7 FM since fall 2023. She also previously served as a peer educator and content creator at the PAGE Center. Through both roles, along with many more, Cornell has been able to advocate for women on SU’s campus through discussions of women’s health and autonomy and by encouraging female leadership.

One of Cornell’s most important takeaways from her work at SU is uplifting women in leadership roles. Cornell takes pride in encouraging her female peers to face their fears and embrace their strengths. To support women on campus, Cornell works hard to be an exemplary but realistic female leader and pushes women to apply for roles they are fit for, even if it may be out of their comfort zone. Ultimately, Cornell wants women to be themselves, advocate for each other and face the uncomfortable.

“Don’t let anyone tell you who you are or what you should be because ultimately, the only thing that matters is what you want to be,” Cornell said. “Don’t be afraid to positively correct things when you hear them because we are a community, and if we don’t have people looking out for one another and for themselves, then things are going to stay static forever.”

Sharnine Herbert, Interim Associate Dean of the College of Education and Human Services, received the faculty award. Herbert has supported countless women at SU through her roles as the former chair of communications studies and ethnic studies, director of the Frederick Douglass Institute (FDI), and her current role as interim associate dean. Herbert was both excited and humbled by winning a Gero Award. Advocacy and collaboration are very important to Herbert, as she grew up in a diverse environment and has experienced the progression of acceptance for women and LGBTQ+ individuals at SU. She believes it is important to include multiple points of view and form connections to help avoid misunderstandings between people of different backgrounds.

“No movement has ever come to fruition without the help of all people, so all people have to be on deck,” Herbert said. “If you come for one and nobody addresses that, you’re going to come for the rest of us eventually, so we have to stand together and build a stronger society.”

FDI has been a crucial part of Herbert’s advocacy journey at SU. As the director of FDI, Herbert works with undergraduate students to practice the ideologies of Frederick Douglass. The group introduces contemporary topics and brings them to life through research and passion. FDI is also very collaborative by hosting events, such as their recent paint night, that bring together a variety of campus groups.

“I found that my teaching, my working with student groups, my community work is really how I want to give back,” Herbert said. “I don’t think that everybody can be Martin Luther King [...] and I don’t know that I’m supposed to be that person, but what I can do on this earth, I want to continue doing for those who are in need.”

Marsha Bonn, associate dean of students, received the faculty award. Bonn has worn many hats over her time at SU, and her leadership for the ShipCARES program is one of them. ShipCARES, to Bonn, is much bigger than what people think. Through this referral program, individuals can find a less intimidating approach to guidance, especially those who are weary of seeking professional help. Bonn prioritizes being an approachable safe space, even giving her phone number to students who need to talk.

“I think a lot of it is, people just don’t feel like they have anybody they can talk to here, so that means so much,” Bonn said.

Winning a Gero Award was a breath of fresh air for Bonn. Bonn’s advocacy journey has been long and rewarding. Throughout her roles at SU, Bonn has strived to connect with students, especially women, and she remains in contact with students after they graduate. Inspiringly, one of Bonn’s former female students pursued not only a similar career as Bonn, but has gone through similar life experiences.

“In this job, there’s a lot of bad that we try to make good, and it’s those stories that keep you going,” Bonn said.

These women, and every Gero Award nominee, perfectly encapsulate the meaning of Women’s History Month. Showcasing the work these individuals do for the women on Shippensburg’s campus is an important part of inspiring others to do the same. During and after Women’s History Month, women like Cornell, Herbert and Bonn will remain advocates for the issues that matter.

PAGE Center’s ‘Who’s Afraid of Vagina Woolf’ trivia event sees massive turnout

The Shippensburg University’s Women and Gender Studies Department hosted its third annual “Who’s Afraid of Vagina Woolf: A Healthy Body Trivia,” on March 24 in CUB 119. The event aimed to raise awareness and rid longstanding misconceptions about the female body, emphasizing the importance of women gaining accurate knowledge about their health and anatomy, while not being afraid to speak about it.

Miller Hoffman, director

of the PAGE Center, opened the event by introducing himself, the event’s purpose, and special guest Clair Roden, an OB/GYN.

When Hoffman first hosted this event, only 15 people attended. The following year saw slight growth, with 30 attendees.

However, this year’s turnout was far greater, with around 110 participants, surpassing previous years’ numbers. As the start time neared, it was clear the room would be packed.

Event organizers had to bring in additional chairs and print more trivia sheets

to accommodate the crowd. The high turnout proved to be beneficial, as there were plenty of prizes to distribute to students.

The trivia game followed simple rules: six rounds of 10 questions each, with participants required to put away their phones to avoid cheating. As the game began, students showed enthusiasm and engagement, working in groups with their friends.

The event also served as an educational opportunity, with Roden occasionally pausing the trivia to explain various aspects of the female anatomy. Her insights

helped attendees deepen their understanding of the topics at hand. Throughout the event, students asked questions, expressing surprise and curiosity about their bodies. Those who actively participated in discussions and asked questions were rewarded with prizes from the prize table. Students also completed a post-quiz after the trivia for event organizers to gauge its effectiveness.

To learn more about upcoming events, follow @shipuwmst and @shippagecenter on Instagram.

Femme fashion representations on campus

LSO hosts Pa’Lante Summit and Latin Night

Eberle Asst. Ship Life Editor

Shippensburg University’s Latino Student Organization held its annual Pa’Lante Summit on Saturday, hosting over 60 attendees. LSO collaborated with students invited from Wilson College Alliance of Latin American students (ALAS), Penn State Harrisburg and Penn State Main Campus. The event included speakers such as Nikki Rivera from the House of Representatives and an appearance by the Pennsylvania Latino convention chair, Norman Bristol-Colon. Que Viva La Cultura, or Latin night, also returned on Saturday. Latin Night was full of culture, dance and music. It featured performances from local artists and step teams, and highlighted a Dominican carnival. For more information on LSO events, students can follow @lso_ship on Instagram.

Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Latino Convention

The theme of this year’s Pa’Lante summit was “Together We Rise, Separated We Fall,” highlighting the power of unity and community.

Scan the code for more Ship Life online!

For many female presenting students on campus, fashion is a major part of their lives because it allows them to express who they are and what they believe in.

According to a journal article titled “Fashion as Cultural Expression” by Meera Nair, “fashion serves as a visual language through which individuals express their belongingness, affiliation, and aspirations within society.”

Jenny Russell, a junior at Shippensburg University, likes to dress up in blazers and light colors. She tends to wear “a bit of everything.”

“It’s an expression of who I am,” Russell said. “I like to present myself as approachable.”

According to Russell,

trends have played a large role in her own personal style. When she was younger, she used to wear ripped jeans but changed to baggy jeans when she noticed the current trend had changed. She also said that she never wore rings until she noticed other people wearing them.

Heather Kemp, another SU student, also uses her clothing to express herself. She enjoys formal wear and prefers dress pants over skirts. Growing up in a conservative family, she felt restricted. She eventually found fashion as a means of expressing herself.

“It’s a great way to just show personality,” Kemp said.

Kemp’s fashion was also inspired by popular culture. She said that she is involved with forms of Asian media. A lot of her styling is from J-pop artists and Filipino

artists and how they play with different textures and patterns. Fashion can also be used in support of pop culture movements as a way of expressing beliefs and non-conformity.

Madi Shively is another SU student who enjoys fashion. She often wears bright colors, fun patterns and a variety of silhouettes and materials. She said that her day always gets a little brighter when she sees her outfits in the mirror.

“Fashion dictates who you are as a person,” Shively said. Shively said that she often bases her outfits on different decades or movements. She said that sometimes she will wear a leather jacket, which expresses her support of the Riot Grrrl movement, a feminist punk rock movement from the ’90s.

Various forms of popular culture, especially social

media, continue to influence the fashion choices of many female students on campus.

Many scholars give credit to social media as a way of popularizing fashion trends.

According to “Media Influence on Fashion and Identity” by Maria Ilyas, social media specifically “serves as a powerful tool for disseminating fashion trends, providing updates, and influencing personal style choices.” Ilyas continues “Media platforms, including television, social media, and fashion magazines, play a significant role in shaping the apparel choices of teenage girls and young women.”

While the industry certainly is not perfect, fashion allows people of all genders across the world to express themselves however they would like.

Sesame Street friends visit Luhrs

The Sesame Street friends made their round to Luhrs Performing Arts Center on March 23. Children were seen dancing alongside their favorite characters.

Abbygale Hockenberry

A&E Editor

Most of the Sesame Street crew joined the Luhrs Performing Arts Center on Sunday, March 23.

Parents were seen bringing their children to enjoy watching their favorite characters in the “Sesame Street Live!” experience.

Sesame Street has been around since 1969, created by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett. It is an educational program that teaches a variety of valuable lessons.

The show started off with two Sesame Street civilians singing “Heads, Shoulders,

Knees and Toes,” each time it got faster and faster. The children in the crowd stood up to dance along to the song.

Throughout the show, toddlers could be seen with bubble wands that were sold at the merchandise table for $20. Each character was greeted by the audience with cheers, but Elmo gained the loudest uproar from the crowd. After his entrance, they sang a catchy song called “Hello.” Elmo expressed to the audience how important it was to greet someone with a warm welcoming hello and a goodbye at departure. It was educational for the children all around.

Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, Big Bird,

Grover, Rosita, Oscar the Grouch, and Count von Count all helped Elmo in a game of hide and seek on his quest to find his beloved dog, Tango.

Oscar the Grouch sang a song called “I Love Trash,” before the group headed to a food pantry to look for Tango. The Sesame Street friends donated food and Cookie Monster brought boxes of cookies. Those boxes turned out to be empty and were filled with cookie tambourines instead. He then sang a song about cookies, teach the children that “Cookie, cookie, cookie starts with C.”

The friends then went to the pet store to see if Tango was hiding there. They found a

New Snow White review

*Spoilers ahead*

“Snow White” hit theaters on March 21 and has already received its fair share of critics. I was optimistic about Disney reimagining a classic movie in live action, but I found the movie lacking in multiple areas. One very jarring thing about this movie is its use of CGI (computer-generated imagery). The opening scene featuring the song “Good Things Grow” caught me off guard because the background characters looked very off, almost like AI-generated videos that look like moving pictures. I was unsure to what extent CGI was used in this scene, but it took my eyes a while to adjust to the look of the movie. Had the movie continued to look like an AI moving picture, I might have had to walk out of the theater. Of course, this is not

the only use of CGI in the movie. Despite being a live action remake of “Snow White,” Disney chose to use CGI for the seven dwarves rather than human actors. I understand the criticism about this; however, I think that the CGI serves the fantasy element of the story. I thought about it like this: in this story, there is a princess who talks to wildlife and who gets poisoned by an apple. It makes sense for the dwarves to be CGI because there is so much CGI around them already. On top of that, the voice actors for the dwarves were very funny and one of the highlights of the movie for me.

One of the best changes this movie made was changing the love interest from a prince to a bandit named Jonathan, who was played by Andrew Burnap. In the original cartoon, the relationship between the prince and Snow White felt less like true love and more like the damsel in distress

cliche that is common in fiction. In this remake, they spend a significant amount of time trying to flesh out their relationship and make it more meaningful. This makes the “true love’s first kiss” at the end mean more to a viewer. Burnap also has some standout moments of his own in the movie outside of his scenes with Rachel Zegler, who plays Snow White. His escaping the Evil Queen’s dungeon with the Huntsman (Ansu Kabia) is one of my favorite scenes in the movie.

This movie does improve the pacing of the original cartoon, giving Snow White and her family more time to develop deeper character traits. The adaptation poses the question, “What does it mean to be the fairest one of all?” For the queen, it is meant in terms of beauty. The magic mirror says at the end of the movie that Snow White’s beauty is more than skin deep, which makes her truly the fairest of all. This is shown with her kind actions

toward the people of her kingdom, as well her ability to be a leader and stand up to the Evil Queen at the end of the movie.

Zegler delivers a standout performance in this movie. The classic songs such as “Whistle While You Work” and the new songs like “Princess Problems” allow Zegler to show her skill as a singer. I will say that I liked Burnap’s performance on “Princess Problems” as well.

The main takeaway I had after seeing this movie is that there was some value to making a live action “Snow White.” Disney did not just make this movie live-action; they changed significant parts of the plot while keeping the ending the same.

I think that the storyline was great, but the acting and CGI hold this movie back significantly.

However, if you are a fan of great music and classic Disney films, then this movie should satisfy that craving.

trail of pup treats and continued to follow the trail. Cookie Monster took the treats, thinking it would lead them to finding Tango.

Elmo and his friends finally make it to the dog park. They asked the audience to call for “Tango.” Tango ran across the stage without the Sesame Street crew seeing him twice, causing the audience to yell “Behind you” and “He’s right there.” Elmo ultimately found Tango hiding in the puppy tunnel.

The show ended with them doing a happy dance with Tango and saying goodbye to everyone. Families were able to meet the characters after the show with a photo experience of $50.

Jump into the new season with this Springtime playlist created by The Slate Staff.

Abbygale Hockenberry A&E Editor

Wallows’ new EP “More” came out last Friday, with seven tracks.

“More” opens up with the song “Not Alone” that is filled with synth beats. The first half of the song is sung by lead singer Braeden Lemasters, while the second half is sung by their other lead singer, Dylan Minnette. The lyrics to this song are quite beautiful. My favorite three lines are about sheep, which are metaphorically talking about how he cannot sleep. “Maybe all the slaughterhousеs got the sheep / Or maybe they’rе just out getting sheared / To make a blanket of my fear.”

“Not Alone” talks about being up late thinking about an ex and reminiscing. I love those lines because it highlights how the mind wanders.

I normally hate it whenever artists release another version of a song on the album, because normally that version is worse than the original. For Wallows, it was not that experience. “Deep Dive” is slow with a soft beat and mellow feel. As the song

progresses, it picks up and Minnette changes notes by Verse 3. It makes the song more colorful. “Deep Dive — Reprise” starts with all those colors. It has a catchy beat in the beginning that persists throughout the song. An echo is even added to Minnette’s voice at the end of the bridge, which makes the chorus more impactful. In this version, Verse 3 is cut out completely and we do not get to hear the note change. It is also a little faster pace, which makes it a more fun, upbeat song.

“Your New Favorite Song” originally made me re-listen to Wallows. It popped up on my Spotify as their new song in early January, and I felt challenged to listen to it because of the title. It indeed is not my new favorite song, but that does not mean it is not worth listening to. The horns in the beginning and throughout the song add a bit of a jazz feel to it, which I love.

“Hide It Away” is my favorite song off “More.” The lyrics caught me.

Lewis sets school record during strong track-and-field weekend

Shippensburg University’s track-and-field teams picked up some impressive results this weekend at the Dr. Jack M. Toms Invitational at the University of Lynchburg.

The men’s team earned 19 efforts that qualified for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships, while the women’s team added another 23.

Sophomore Gabriel Lewis made school history in the meet, breaking the Shippensburg University record in the 100-meters at 10.41 seconds. The result also provisionally qualified him for the NCAA championships.

Another NCAA provisional qualifier was senior Robbie Hrabosky II, taking first place in the 400-meter hurdles at 52.46 seconds. It was a new personal best for Hrabosky and places him fifth in SU history.

Freshman Jackson Hersh was the standout for the men’s field team, winning the

javelin throw at 212 feet, 3 inches (64.71 meters). Hersh also provisionally qualified for nationals, an impressive feat in just his second collegiate meet.

Sophomores Donovan Kitchen and Gian Greggo placed 1-2 in both the shot put and discus, both qualifying for PSACs in each event.

Kitchen earned marks of 51 feet, 5 inches (15.67 meters) in shot put and 161 feet, 9 inches (49.31 meters) in discus, while Greggo put up results of 51 feet, 2.25 inches (15.60 meters) and 153 feet, 11 inches (49.31 meters). The star of the women’s team was senior Sasha Lee, who picked up a pair of provisional NCAA marks. Lee placed first in the triple jump at 40 feet, 9.75 inches (12.44 meters), placing her fourth in SU history. She was also victorious in the 100-meter hurdles at 14.09 seconds.

Junior Madison Malcolm also had a fantastic day in the hurdles, winning the 400-meter hurdles at 1:03.40, a new personal best

Gabriel Lewis runs in the

that puts her 10th in Shippensburg history. She also placed third in the 100-meter hurdles, qualifying for PSACs at 14.96 seconds. A pair of Raiders provisionally qualified for nationals in the women’s javelin throw, with senior Abby Reasoner placing first at 155 feet

(47.25 meters) and sophomore Hannah Cassner coming in second at 144 feet, 5 inches (44.02 meters). Their efforts were good enough for third and fifth place in school history, respectively.

Reasoner commented on what the throw means for her, saying “It means a lot to

me and those around me who have supported me. All the years of hard work and extra practice sessions paid off, but I’m not done yet. I’m hoping to keep growing as a thrower to go out with a bang in my final season.”

SU’s track-and-field teams will be split across two meets next weekend. One squad will compete in the Colonial Relays at William & Mary, with action at 9 a.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday. The other group will take part in the Millersville Metrics at 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday.

Softball earns four conference wins in perfect week

Following a 1-5 start in conference play, Shippensburg University’s softball team swept a pair of home doubleheaders this week to move to 16-10 on the season. They beat Millersville 6-1 & 4-0 on Tuesday before taking down No. 25 West Chester 4-0 and 5-4 on Saturday.

Tuesday’s first game saw

SU score three in the first inning, with junior Caitlyn Martell, junior Rilee Ehrlacher and senior Aryanna Briddell each driving in a run to put the Raiders ahead 3-1.

Sophomore Reagan Bauman added some insurance with a two-run homer in the fifth.

Senior Alicia Ball earned her fifth win of the season in the circle, pitching all seven innings and allowing one unearned run. She struck out

seven while allowing five hits and two walks.

SU struck first in Game 2, with sophomore Brie Wilmot’s RBI single in the second giving the Raiders a 1-0 lead. Bridell and junior Emilee Sullivan each had RBI singles in the fourth, before sophomore Emily Lafferty had a run-scoring triple for the final score of the game.

The Raiders had a balanced attack in the second

game, with eight players combining to rack up 12 hits. Wilmot, Briddell, Sullivan and sophomore Sarah Sabocsik each had a pair of hits.

Freshman Dani Hayward threw her first collegiate shutout, striking out nine on five hits and a walk. She moved to 4-3 on the year.

Ball pitched the first game against West Chester and threw an absolute gem. She struck out 10 batters in a one-hit shutout with three walks. She now sits fifth in the PSAC this season with 85 strikeouts.

SU began their scoring with a solo home run from Briddell in the second inning, with Sabocsik driving in two more runs on a double later in the inning. Wilmot joined the party with a solo home run in the fifth, finalizing the 4-0 victory.

Game 2 against the Golden Rams began with three scoreless innings, with the Raider bats awakening from there. Martell had an RBI triple, followed by Sabocsik hitting a two-run homer to center. Freshman Gianna Cimino hit her first collegiate home run in the fifth to put SU ahead 4-0.

West Chester responded with a four-run sixth to tie the game, and it remained knotted into extra innings. After a scoreless eighth for

WCU, Sabocsik hit a leadoff single and came around to score on a walk-off double from Ehrlacher to give Shippensburg the sweep. Hayward went five innings in her start, allowing two earned runs on five hits and a walk, striking out two. Sophomore Madalyn Dyer earned the win after pitching the final three innings, allowing just one hit. She moves to 5-0 on the year.

A busy week is ahead for SU softball, with three conference doubleheaders on the schedule. They will travel to Mansfield for a pair of games at 2 p.m. on Tuesday before going to Lock Haven for two at 2 p.m. on Friday. They will return to Robb Field to take on Kutztown for a twin-bill of home games at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Baseball drops three of four in tough series against Millersville

Jonathan Burton/The Slate

Shippensburg University’s baseball team in a team huddle against Millersville on Saturday. After losing both games at Millersville on Friday, the team bounced back to win Game 1 on Saturday at home.

In a crucial series against first-place Millersville, Shippensburg University’s baseball team lost three of four games.

The series began with 2-1 and 4-3 losses on Friday before SU won 12-10 and lost 6-2 on Saturday. The Raiders are 17-10 on the season, 4-4 in conference play.

Friday’s series opener was a pitcher’s duel, with each team picking up two hits. SU did not have a baserunner until the fifth inning and did not have a hit until senior Gio Calamia had a leadoff single in the final inning. Freshman Mason Morris brought him home with a sacrifice fly, but that was all the offense could muster in a 2-1 loss.

Senior Jaxon Dalena pitched six strong innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits and two walks while striking out six. The loss puts him at 4-2 on the season.

Game two saw the Raiders take the lead early, with an RBI single from junior Mike Heckman and a two-run knock from graduate Carter Arbuthnot putting SU ahead 3-0 in the fourth.

Millersville did some damage against the Shippensburg bullpen though, scoring two runs in each of the final two innings for a walk-off 4-3 win and a doubleheader sweep.

Redshirt Senior Cam Goble threw five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks. He struck out two and took a no-decision. Junior Jack Robinson took the loss after giving up two runs in 0.1 innings.

The series continued Saturday with Millersville striking first in a wild game.

The Marauders led 6-1 in the fourth inning, but SU began cutting into the deficit with a two-run double from freshman Evan Shoffler and an RBI single from senior Gio Calamia.

SU’s bats came alive in the fifth, scoring eight runs in the inning. Shoffler brought home the first run on a sacrifice fly, the first of six Raiders to earn an RBI in the frame. Shippensburg sent 14 hitters to the plate in the inning, earning five hits and five walks.

Millersville struck back with four more runs, but junior Brendan Anderson entered the game and earned the save after leaving the bases loaded in the seventh.

Junior J.T. Weaver went three innings in his start, giving up four runs (one earned) on five hits. SU head coach Matt Jones spoke on Weaver’s effort postgame.

“He was really sick, so we didn’t know if he was going to be able to throw,” Jones said. “He couldn’t have thrown one more pitch. That was a gutty effort by him.”

The series finale saw the Raiders hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning, with Calamia and junior AJ Wenrich each hitting solo shots. SU failed to score again, and Millersville prevailed 6-2.

Sophomore Bryce Amos went five innings in his start, giving up five earned runs on six hits and two walks. Freshman Jacob Dennis pitched two innings of one-run ball in relief.

said. “We felt like we should have at least split, if not won the series. We let an opportunity get away.”

Another strong opponent awaits the Raiders next weekend — a four-game series against West Chester. The action begins with a home doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Friday at Fairchild Field before two games at West Chester starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Burton/The Slate Gio Calamia takes a lead off first base against Millersville.

Field hockey head coach

Tara Zollinger departs SU for University of Delaware

Shippensburg University field hockey head coach

Tara Zollinger left the Raiders to become the University of Delaware field hockey head coach on Wednesday, March 26, as the Blue Hens announced by press release on March 17.

The position at the University of Delaware became available in early February after former head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof stepped down.

Zollinger had been the SU field hockey coach since 2017 and has won three NCAA Division II National Championships during her eight years. During her tenure at SU, the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so she only coached the Raiders for seven seasons.

“Tara did an exceptional job during her time at Ship,” said Jeff Michaels, the director of athletics at Shippensburg University, in the University of Delaware´s press release. “Tara’s tenure as head field hockey coach leaves a lasting mark on our program, department and university.”

Michaels acknowledged not only the success of Zollinger´s teams on the field, but also how she impacted her student-athletes off the field.

“Her teams performed very well in the classroom, were contributors to the community and were invested socially on our campus,” Michaels said in the press release.

Zollinger herself thanked Michaels, Carrie Michaels and Ashley Grimm in the press release for the opportunities they provided her with to “grow as a coach and further my development” while she was coaching the Raiders.

with a 59-8 record in the regular season and earned the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Coach of the Year award twice.

In her first two years of coaching the Raiders, Zollinger won back-to-back NCAA Division II National Championships with the team in 2017 and 2018 and was the first person to do so in her first two years as a collegiate head coach.

In 2021, Zollinger guided the Raiders to an undefeated 20-0 season that culminated with her third NCAA Division II National Championship and her first ever PSAC Championship.

The Raiders kept advancing to the NCAA and PSAC tournaments in 2022 and 2023, before they won the second PSAC Championship under Zollinger´s guidance in her final season in 2024.

Overall, SU made six NCAA tournament appearances and seven PSAC tournament appearances under Zollinger, which led to three national championships and two PSAC titles.

During her time with the Raiders, Zollinger instructed 23 All-Americans and 41 AllPSAC players.

The press release from the University of Delaware states that Zollinger is excited for her new task.

“I am incredibly honored and excited to join the University of Delaware as the head field hockey coach,” Zollinger said. “Delaware field hockey has a rich tradition of excellence, and I am eager to build upon that legacy alongside our talented student-athletes, dedicated staff and passionate community. My goal is to foster a culture of hard work, resilience and a championship mindset — both on and off the field.”

Jones expressed frustration with the series result. “We’re disappointed,” he

Raiders fall short against ESU in Alumni Appreciation game

Shippensburg head coach Brooke DellaValle acknowledged the team’s struggles in the first half but remained hopeful after their strong fourth-quarter performance.

Shippensburg University lacrosse faced off against East Stroudsburg University (ESU) on Friday on a warm and windy day at Robb Sports Complex. Saturday’s contest was also the Alumni Appreciation Game, with current players forming a tunnel for the alumni to run through prior to team introductions.

Despite holding the ESU Warriors scoreless for the final 16 minutes, the Raiders came up short, ultimately losing 13-7. The result brings Shippensburg’s record to 5-5 overall and 0-5 in the PSAC East.

The Raiders started strong with freshman Maddie Phommachanh scoring a goal on the team’s first possession. Phommachanh finished the game with two goals, making her the second-highest scorer for the team, also contributing two ground balls.

Although Shippensburg had a promising first possession, the Warriors gained momentum as the game progressed. ESU scored the final three goals in the first quarter and added four more at the end of the second to take a commanding 10-3 lead at halftime.

“I think the biggest thing is, if we play the way we played in the fourth quarter, we are golden when it comes to the PSAC,” DellaValle said. “We were able to shut them out, and we were able to put points on the board when we were struggling a little bit with that in the first half. But we made some adjustments at halftime.”

The Raiders had some bright moments throughout the game, finishing with a 25-16 advantage in shots on goal and a 15-9 edge in draw controls. However, ESU goalkeeper Abby Simonetti had an outstanding performance, recording a season-high 18 saves.

Despite Simonetti’s efforts, senior Sara Vosburg delivered an exceptional performance, scoring four goals, her sixth hat trick of the season — along with three draw controls and two ground balls. Junior Ali Pioli also contributed with a goal, two assists and four ground balls.

The Raiders’ next two games will be away at Shepherd and Millersville. They will return to Robb Sports Complex on April 9 to face the West Chester Rams.

“Lastly, I am forever grateful to the student-athletes, fellow coaches and support staff I have had the honor of working with,” Zollinger said in the release. “It is through their dedication, passion and commitment that I have been able to evolve into the coach I am today.”

SU coaches and players were not available to media contacts when a request was made, according to SU Sports Information Director Bill Morgal.

Zollinger coached the Raiders to a 118-25 overall record in her seven seasons,

Carrie Michaels, senior associate director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator at Shippensburg University, thanked Zollinger for her engagement at Shippensburg and wished her and the University of Delaware well for the future.

“I am now officially a Blue Hens field hockey fan and look forward to seeing her and the program thrive,” Carrie Michaels said.

The process of finding a new head coach for the Raiders´ field hockey team has already started. The position of head women´s field hockey coach was posted to the university´s jobsite on March 20.

Spring Sports

Spring has Sprung