The historic side of Shippensburg University’s campus is getting an upgrade — courtesy of several alumni.

Over the past few weeks, construction began for an archway next to Stewart Hall and Rowland Hall on the west side of campus. The project is funded by the family of Class of 1973 alumnus, long-time member of the SU Board of Trustees and former Pennsylvania State Representative Jeff Coy, who passed away in 2018.

Coy was heavily involved in the Shippensburg community and was posthumously honored, along with his wife Jo Anne, with the renamed Jeffrey W. and Jo Anne R. Coy Public Library of Shippensburg in 2019.

Once completed, the archway is meant to serve as a new tradition. Incoming students will pass through the arch to begin their time as Raiders and will exit as they depart from the university, according to Megan Silverstrim SU director of Communications and Marketing.

The current timeline for the project has the archway’s dedication ceremony set for the last day of classes, May 3.

Additionally, construction has begun in front of Stewart Hall for new decorative “SHIP” letters, which is funded by the Class of 1973 as a gift to the university 50 years after their graduation.

The letters will each be painted red, stand approximately 6 feet tall and will arrive on campus later this spring, Silverstrim said. The administration is hoping to have the project completed by graduation on May 11, but that is yet to be determined. The dedication ceremony for the SHIP letters will occur during this summer’s Alumni Weekend on May 31 and June 1.

The sculpture was designed to create an opportunity for both current and prospective students to take photos that literally say Ship, Silverstrim said. Stewart Hall is where daily tours depart from, so any visitors will see the letters as one of the very first pieces of SU’s campus.

Both projects are designed by the architecture firm Weber Murphy Fox.

On Monday, SU President Charles Patterson announced in a video posted to the university’s Instagram that a “spacious and environmentally-friendly” habitat for a new hippo arriving on campus on Sept. 30 was being constructed in front of Stewart Hall.

Patterson said various academic departments will contribute to the exhibit. Biology will research hippos, earth sciences will ensure the habitat is environmentally sustainable, education students will build curriculum for elementary students visiting a live animal exhibit, business students will create a business plan to create unique ways to create revenue around the new exhibit and political science students will support legislation to protect wildlife. 

The university also created a webpage — ship.edu/hippohabitat — to explain the backstory for the so-called “Shippo’s Shelter.” 

“We understand that there may be apprehension surrounding this initiative,” Patterson said on the website. “Rest assured, the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff are our top priorities. We have taken every precaution to ensure that the hippo habitat meets the highest standards of care and security.” 

Unfortunately, “Shippo’s Shelter” was later clarified to be an April Fool’s Day joke, much to the dismay of Shippo fans everywhere.

Share