SU MSA director Diane Jefferson passes away at 72
ByThe Rev. Diane Jefferson, director of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) at Shippensburg University, died Saturday, June 21, at age 72 .
The Rev. Diane Jefferson, director of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) at Shippensburg University, died Saturday, June 21, at age 72 .
Shippensburg University student Tavian Gill, 24, was charged with aggravated assault following an incident in which he allegedly attacked a woman in a residence hall.
Continuing a campaign of spending cuts in the federal government, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) placed around 85 percent of the AmeriCorps programs federal staff on paid administrative leave in April. In addition to the staff cuts, DOGE terminated around $400 million in AmeriCorps grants, according to an America’s Service Commissions (ASC) report. This represents around 30 percent of AmeriCorps’ $1.3 billion 2025 budget.
Shippensburg University’s Student Government Association (SGA) hosted its final meeting for the 2024-2025 academic year in the CUB MPR on May 1. On the agenda for Thursday’s meeting was the swearing-in of officers and senators for the 2025-2026 academic year and the approval of four new student groups. Noted for this meeting is the unprecedented situation regarding the new SGA President Nathan Garber, who will only be serving as president for the fall 2025 semester. For Garber to be able to run for president, previously set rules in the SGA Constitution had to be reevaluated.
As wildfires burned nearly 3,000 acres of Michaux State Forest this past week, Shippensburg area residents rallied to support both first-responders and one another. The Thompson Hollow and Hammonds Rocks fires, which began Wednesday and Thursday respectively, prompted evacuations in Southampton Township and drew hundreds of emergency responders from across South Central Pennsylvania and beyond. The fires, fueled by dry conditions and high winds, taxed local fire companies beyond the scale of normal operations — and the community responded in kind.
U.S. Army War College research professor John R. Deni gave a lecture on the future of German national security policy in the Grove Hall Forum from 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23. Deni previously worked as a political advisor to U.S. military commanders stationed in Europe. Also in attendance representing the International Studies Program was professor Jonathan Skaff, joined by Global Languages and Cultures professor David Wildermuth.
Hundreds made their way to the Shippensburg Fairgrounds earlier this month for the Pennsylvania Chainsaw Carvers Festival. Now in its fifth year, the three-day festival is hosted by the Shippensburg Area Chamber of Commerce and was held April 17–19. Carvers from across the country attended this year, carving “quick-carves” and a “masterpiece” carving.
A message from next year’s SGA leadership: As finals week and the end of semester approach, your representatives and Student Government Association want to thank everyone for a great semester and everyone who was involved throughout the campus community.
After 20 years of service at Shippensburg University, José Ricardo-Osorio is preparing for a new chapter. As the semester comes to a close, so does Ricardo’s time at Shippensburg. Beginning in June, he will serve as dean of the College of Public Service at the University of Houston–Downtown. Ricardo, by his own admission, is a well-known face around campus. Whether it be from attending one of his classes or his iconic salsa dancing, most of the Shippensburg community has heard his name.
Wednesday, April 30, will mark the 100th day of President Donald Trump’s second administration. Since taking office, Trump has unleashed a flurry of executive orders and actions aimed at fulfilling his campaign promises, which have many critics warning of future authoritarianism. In the past three months, much controversy has arisen over the president’s zealous immigration enforcement policy. During his 2024 campaign, Trump stated his goal to deport millions of undocumented immigrants each year.
2024-2025 Slate Managing Editor Reagan Gardenhour: "Before I was born, The Slate was producing quality work for Shippensburg University’s community. For over 60 years, there have been hundreds of people who have created content for The Slate. It is now 2025, and all I have been able to tell myself lately is how lucky I am to be one of those hundreds."
2023-2025 Slate News Editor Ian Thompson: "Unlike many of my colleagues here at The Slate, I am not a communication, journalism and media major. When I walk the stage next Saturday, I will be receiving a degree in political science (well, an empty folder with an IOU for one)." "I have never been certain of what my future holds. In high school, I attended Franklin County Career and Technology Center for culinary arts. I wanted to be a chef. After working in a restaurant for a few months, I knew that was not for me." "When I entered college, I had a vague idea of working in Harrisburg or Washington, D.C. Whether as a Congressional staffer, lobbyist, consultant — I did not know specifics, but that was the gist." "I definitely had no intention of being a journalist. Yet here we are."
Incoming 2025-2026 Slate Editor-in-Chief Jayden Pohlman: "Throughout my college career, “everything happens for a reason” was the mantra I adopted to soften disappointment’s harsh blow." "I repeated the phrase to myself when I drifted apart from my best friend from high school, when my car was towed sophomore year and when I didn’t leave Australia engaged to Robert Irwin." "No matter what obstacle got in my way, this cliché consistently helped me look at the bright side, and I began to view every hardship as a minor setback in the grand scheme of life."
2024-2025 Slate Editor-in-Chief Connor Niszczak: "I hate clichés." "Time flies. Opposites attract. And around here, one cliché reigns supreme — Ship Happens. So, in my final column, a reflection on all the Ship that has happened to me and a warning for the future."
Despite a six-fold increase in turnout for the spring 2025 SGA officer elections, turnout for last week’s senator elections did not recover from last-year’s record low. The results for Shippensburg University’s Student Government Association senate elections were announced on April 18. Only 63 votes were cast, compared to 301 in the officer elections and 61 for last year’s senator election. Of the 14 positions up for grabs, only five were filled.
Shippensburg University’s Department of Art & Design is preparing for a major transition — all four of its tenured faculty members are retiring at the end of the semester. Professors Steve Dolbin, Ben Culbertson, Michael Campbell, and William Whiteley will step away this summer.
Shippensburg University faculty are navigating a period of administrative and academic uncertainty as the university faces budgetary challenges, potential department mergers and the departure of Provost Darrell Newton earlier this month. Newton’s exit was announced by SU President Charles Patterson on April 8. Since then, very little has been said.
A chain of wildfires on South Mountain, just miles south of Shippensburg, have prompted authorities to issue an evacuation notice in Southampton Township. Residents near Thompson Hollow Road and Three Turn road have been requested to evacuate to a base camp at 2460 Shippensburg Road. This is a breaking story and will be updated.
