Journalism 717.

Shippensburg’s Assault Problem

Shippensburg’s Assault Problem

Sarah woke up to her roommate yelling and the front door of her Shippensburg apartment slamming shut. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes she stumbled into her living room and was shocked by what she saw. The wall by her bedroom had been carved with capital letters nearly a foot-tall spelling “CASE.” Her upset roommate pointed Sarah towards the kitchen table where the same message was carved along with many others, combining to make part of the table look like it carried a skeleton of scratchy words and drawings. Sarah tried to stay calm. She wanted to look up the Shippensburg Borough Police number. The SU Sophomore went to retrieve her laptop, but it was gone, stolen from her room while she slept.

The night before, Sarah and some of her friends had gone out. They ran into a group of four guys at a party and after talking for a while it seemed they shared some close mutual friends. “I was like they know my really good friends. There is no way these guys would do me harm,” said Sarah.

These men were visiting Shippensburg University and all lived in Chambersburg, a city 15 minutes from the school. At the end of the night, saying they were too drunk to drive home they asked if they could sleep at Sarah’s place. She let them stay on her living room floor. “I was trying to be nice. That was definitely a mistake,” she said.

Shippensburg has never had much of a crime problem. According to CLR Search.com, a nationwide real estate site, Shippensburg’s crime rate is lower than the US average in every one of the site’s seven categories of crime. In four of these categories; rape, robbery, burglary and motor vehicle theft, the risk for crime in Shippensburg is at least two times lower than the national average. Assaults in the borough are historically uncommon as well, totaling a risk rate that is barely half the country’s percentage.

Now these rates are sure to rise after a crime spree in Shippensburg that has left the borough averaging one attempted assault a weekend since late March. In the early hours of March 25^th a Shippensburg man was attacked by a group of three assailants and sustained injuries that resulted in a visit to Chambersburg Hospital.

SU Junior Kane Williams was walking alone by his apartment on High Street when the group of three men approached him. They asked Williams whether he knew of any parties. As Williams responded one of the men sucker-punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground. According to Williams the group of three then fled the scene. Less than 24 hours later, there was another assault, this time on Richard Avenue, a party street in Shippensburg. Pennsylvania State Police said that two people were injured.

Over the next three weeks no assaults were reported in the borough. Still, this was a time filled with turmoil for Shippensburg. While assaults are low in the area, they are not unheard of. Drunken fights are a staple of most college towns and Shippensburg is not an exception. This set of drunken fights was made different because of the way the university’s administration reacted to them. The school sent out a mass email and text alert warning students of the attacks hours after the incidents.

In an interview with Ship News Now, SU spokesman Peter Gigliotti explained the University’s rationale for the alert. “We felt in general because the (suspect) was not in custody we wanted to alert students. We warned them so if they were in that area to be careful and if they weren’t to stay away from it.”

What the administration failed to consider was the lingering effect this mass alert would have on the psyche of the University’s student-body. It was impossible to escape conversation about the assaults because every student knew about them. Local newspapers and TV stations began covering the story. What had started out as just a bad weekend for Shippensburg was transformed into this threat that had students looking over their shoulders every time they went out. “Thanks attackers, for I can’t even step outside of my house without being paranoid after hearing the wind rattle the trash. (Expletive) you, Shippensburg,” said Williams on Facebook the day after he was assaulted.

This microscope of attention started with the emergency alerts and left a void that could be filled by only one thing; more attacks.

There is evidence that the next string of crimes were committed by the same group of three to four individuals. While they were possibly involved in earlier crimes in the borough the first crimes that they can be directly traced to are theft and destruction of property during the early morning of April 15^th. These are the men who stole Sarah’s laptop and used knives to carve words and symbols into her wall and kitchen table.

Unfortunately for Sarah and her roommates these men would come back less than a day after stealing her laptop. The night of the 15^th the men arrived at Sarah’s apartment knocking on her door. They were looking for one of Sarah’s friends. Sarah’s roommate slammed the door in the men’s face.

According to people watching from a balcony above Sarah’s apartment the men then walked away from the complex and slashed the tires of a green Tahoe in the parking lot before jumping into a “black SUV-type” vehicle.

When a State Trooper arrived about a half hour later not only were the owners of the green Tahoe waiting for him, but so too were Sarah, her roommates and people who had witnessed the tires being slashed from the balcony. They all told their stories. The cop was shocked that Sarah had let these men into her apartment asking her “What the (expletive) is wrong with you?”

Less than 90 minutes later knives were pulled by a group of four to six men at a party in a different apartment complex in Shippensburg. A man at the party said that an argument started after the apartment’s tenants tried to kick a group of people out. Instead of leaving, the men started threatening the tenants and other people at the party with knives. The attackers left only after police were called. State Troopers said the men were African-American and drove a black Chevy Tahoe. Another SU emergency alert was issued.

Sarah gave the names and phone numbers of the people who stole her laptop, slashed the tires of a car and probably threatened an SU party at knifepoint to two state troopers. No arrests have been made in any of these cases.

Another attempted assault a week later underscored the point that Shippensburg does now have a problem. Police said that a large knife was used in this incident. Whether the man who wielded it is connected to the group that stole Sarah’s laptop is unclear.

http://www.shipnewsnow.com/2012/03/su-alerts-students-of-sat-assault/

http://www.theslateonline.com/index.php/article/2012/04/police_alert

http://www.abc27.com/story/17589336/shippensburg-students-concerned-about-recent-assaults

http://www.whptv.com/news/local/story/Attacks-near-Shippensburg-University/f3zhZxZYx0C1otnn24AdtA.cspx

SU ALERTS:

Sunday, April 22, 2012 2:02 AM

SUALERT: Pennsylvania State Police report a large knife was used to threaten individuals on Richard Avenue early this morning. Suspect is described as a black male in all black clothing. Use caution and contact State Police at 249-2121 if you have further information that may help.

SUALERT: The local police is advising individuals to be on the lookout for two vehicles possibly involved with the attempted assault reported Saturday night in Shippensburg.

The vehicles descriptions are as follows:

* A black Chevy Tahoe

or

* A dark colored PT cruiser with wood green sides.

Anyone with any information regarding these vehicles or with the reported incident is encouraged to contact Pennsylvania State Police, Carlisle Barracks.

SUALERT: Police report attempted assault in area of 35 College Park involving a knife. Suspects are 4-6 African American males. Please be on alert and take appropriate caution.

Facebook and Your Future - Pros and Cons of Social Networking

By Colleen Bauer

When I joined Facebook in January 2007, there were just over 12 million users.

Its popularity has significantly increased - Facebook currently has 901 million users, more than half of which are active daily users.

When I registered, Facebook was the “new” social networking site to use after MySpace. I was in high school and any other high school student making a Facebook at the time was looking to make a page that was nothing more than an easy, quick way to keep in touch with friends. It was essentially a way to keep up with gossip, stay up-to-date on friends’ everyday lives and in return, keep all of our Facebook friends up-to-date on ours.

During this time, we high school students were not thinking too deeply about college careers, graduation or job search and how a simple, social networking website like Facebook would turn into something professionals used in the business world. Essentially, social media websites can either really help you or really hurt you, depending on how willing you are to accept the professionalism aspect of it.

Thirty-seven percent of companies use social media sites to search for potential employees. Of course, certain careers are more likely to use social media as part of a background check than others. Human resource companies said that 70 percent of their rejected applicants were rejected due to information they found out about that person online.

While rejection from a job or internship is very possible due to poor judgment of Facebook posts or pictures, social networking sites can also help a student significantly in his or her job search so it is important not to appear unprofessional on these sites.

How can they help you?

Masudul Biswas, an assistant professor in the communications/journalism department at Shippensburg University, informs me that not only is LinkedIn an effective job searching site, but Facebook offers applications that are beneficial to career search, as well.

“Facebook has integrated an application called Branch Out. It is Facebook’s version of LinkedIn,” Biswas says. “It helps people to locate who can be in their network. If you go to a convention, you can make contacts and include them in your Branch Out. The same thing works for LinkedIn. It is more job-oriented. When someone looks at your page, it is more like an electronic resume. You need to talk to people to network. Social media can help with keeping in touch with professionals from your industry.”

In job search, networking is becoming more and more vital. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 85 percent of career opportunities aren’t even advertised – meaning networking is essential for success. The Internet is a huge resource, and networking with as many people as possible will only further your connections in the professional world.

That being said, any and every piece of information you put on the Internet can, and will, be used to evaluate you, whether it is in a negative or positive light.

They can also hurt you

“You may get all A’s but you also party, and you have pictures of that, but if they are not protected, an employer may find those pictures on Google. So your privacy content is important,” Biswas says.

This goes back to the very first day you created a Facebook. The new Timeline feature on Facebook allows immediate access to any posts you have ever posted, even years ago. Is this information something that a potential employer even needs to know? Probably not. But if it is available and publicly displayed, who says they will not take it into account while forming their opinion of you and choosing a candidate to accurately represent their company?

Biswas suggests making two separate profiles, whether it is Facebook or even Twitter. He integrates Twitter in his class material, and many students do not feel comfortable sharing his or her personal information alongside educational “tweets” used for class. Therefore, they make a separate profile. Biswas says this is beneficial but not only for class purposes – you can have a private one for family and friends with high privacy settings, then you may have a separate one in which you will contact professionals and potential employers.

“Here, you can show pictures and posts of your more professional life,” Biswas suggests.

Edward Stone, assistant director of SU’s Career Development Center, says he has seen many students take this approach to social networking sites. However, Stone has heard of this method working ineffectively, as well.

“Even having something and not posting a lot on it shows that you’re not dedicated to what you start,” Stone says. “I know a lot of students are using their real name for a professional one and then a pseudo name for their personal Facebook. Well, if you don’t keep the professional one updated and post on it, say, every two months, it looks like you don’t finish what you start and that can get you ruled out.”

Stone believes many students are aware of how social media sites can affect them, but they are not willing to accept it or adapt to the reality of it. Although these websites were essentially created for personal use, it is not entirely that way anymore.

“So many people are on it all the time now, and a lot of people have started marketing information on it and it is turning more and more professional,” Stone says.

Taking an approach

Although Stone believes that many students have not taken an approach to this idea, several have. Kellina Keown, a graduating Shippensburg University student, is an elementary education major.

“I took my last name off of Facebook and Twitter and made them both private. I deleted pictures and anything that would look negative,” Keown said.

She also says since she is a teacher, she needs to be an appropriate role model for children so employers in her profession are likely to use social media in a background check.

“In the beginning it was just a way to communicate with my friends and socialize. Now, it’s eve like a storage place for pictures, but at the same time it’s also a way for employers to subject me to a background check,” Keown tells me.

Essentially, there is not a sure way to avoid the “don’ts” of social networking sites, but I ask Stone for advice (regarding social media) to any graduating student looking to get a job. He provides great insight that any student could take advantage of.

“On a resume, I would put my LinkedIn account. I would put a link to my Facebook profile. Play damage control. As long as it would portray you properly, I would put it out there. If you’re willing to put it out there, they’re going to be more impressed than having to go a round-about way to find you because they are going to look for you anyway,” Stone says.

“Your child has Autism”: What it Means for Parents

By Angela Wagner

Not Like a Normal Child

            There is a slight mist in the air on the morning of April 14^th, the day of the 2012 Logan’s Run and Walk for Autism, an annual event which raises funds for Autism awareness.  The run has already taken place earlier that morning; but the walk does not start until noon.  Though a great deal of people are leaving, there are a great deal more arriving at City Island in Harrisburg. 

In a covered garage, vendors sell autism awareness merchandise, including armbands, bumper stickers and jewelry.  Outside there are inflatable slides and moon-bounces for the kids to play on.  The area around the starting line for the walk is crowded with parents, children, and even several dogs.  This is where the Albright family meets me.

The Albright Family: Bottom: Evan Albright.  Middle: Brayden and Miranda Albright.  Top: Scott’s mother, Scott Albright, Sandra Kindness, Margo Albright.

Margo and Scott Albright have three children: Evan, Miranda and Brayden.  Scott and Margo’s mothers have joined them for the walk as well.  Brayden, age seven, is the youngest of the three.  Brayden is different from his siblings: he was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of Autism, at the age of five.

You Can Never Be Prepared

“It’s pretty sad to know there is something wrong with your child,” says Margo Albright, who remembers the day quite well.  It was a Friday around Christmas time.  Albright had plans to make cookies with her mother and aunt, but after hearing the diagnosis, she didn’t want to do anything.

“I cried most of the night,” Albright told me, explaining as best she could her feelings at the time.  Brayden was first diagnosed with PDD-NOS, or “Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified,” at the age of four, and was officially diagnosed with Asperger’s about a year later.

An Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a form of neurological disorder according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).  The spectrum includes several different conditions, including Asperger’s syndrome.  Diagnosis is usually made during early childhood, and finding out your child has an ASD can be devastating.

“It was a shock,” Says Lisa Quinones-Fontanez, whose six-year-old son, Norrin, was diagnosed with an ASD in 2008, when he was two and a half years old.  Though she tried to prepare herself for the news, she was not ready to accept it.

“You can never be prepared,” Quinones-Fontanez said, and explains that it was a challenge finding an appropriate school for him in New York where they live.

The dominant characteristic of ASD is impaired social interaction, such as avoiding eye contact and focusing on a specific object for an extended period of time.  Some children engage in repetitive behavior such as rocking back and forth, or abusive behavior such as head-banging or biting themselves.  Dr. Kathryn Potoczak, professor of psychology at Shippensburg University, explained to me how she studies and treats these behaviors in Autistic children.

The Problem Behavior Eliminator

Dr. Kathryn Potoczak is a behavior analyst who specializes in children with Autism and other special needs.  She tells me about her work during a conversation in her tight office in the Franklin Science Center.

photo courtesy of www.ship.edu

“What I do is to figure out what makes a behavior pay off, and take that and give it for a positive behavior” Potoczak tells me.  This means figuring out what causes a certain behavior, and finding the means to prevent it and promote good behavior in its place.

 “I’m like the problem behavior eliminator” Potoczak laughs.  She tells me that a major concern of parents and of hers is the idea of “labels” being stuck to children with diagnoses.

“It’s not just a label, it’s part of the person,” explains Potoczak. “I hate when Autism takes on a life of its own.  We treat the person, not the label.”

Dr. Potoczak tells me that the statistic of one in 88 children having Autism is inaccurate.  “One in 88 is ridiculous,” says Potoczak, noting that as ASD diagnoses rise, other diagnoses such as ADHD and the like are falling.

A Spectrum of Challenges

In her work with parents, Dr. Potoczak explains to parents what to expect and how they can help their children.  She tells me that three major areas of impairment for Autistic children are language, social skills and stereotypical behaviors, which are repetitive, ritualistic behaviors seen in Autistic children.

“Some children, instead of racing toy cars with other children, will sit and spin the wheels for hours at a time,” notes Potoczak on non-social behaviors she has seen.  An example of repetitive behavior is lining toy cars up a certain way and doing it the same each time.  

Margo Albright described some of the behavioral challenges Brayden experiences at school. “Brayden hits and kicks impulsively, and says inappropriate things” Albright tells me, comparing his past experiences in kindergarten his experiences in first grade.  This school year, Margo tells me, she and Scott get weekly phone calls from the school Principal.  “This year he is having a lot of trouble” Albright explains.  Riding the school bus is a particular challenge for Brayden, as he doesn’t get along with other kids very well. 

Brayden’s diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome is one of many diagnoses that make up the Autism Spectrum.  Asperger’s is a milder form of Autism on the spectrum.  At the other end of the spectrum is Autistic syndrome, also known as classic Autism, the most severe diagnosis on the spectrum, according to NINDS.  PDD-NOS is also on the spectrum.

image courtesy of parenting4tomorrow.blogspot.com/2011/07/autism-spectrum-disorders.html

The challenges of school faced by the Albright family are not unlike what Lisa Quinones-Fontanez’s son Norrin goes through.  One particular challenge for Norrin is that he does not deal well with eating in the school cafeteria with a lot of other children.

“His preschool did not have a cafeteria,” explains Quinones-Fontanez, “so eating in a normal cafeteria is sensory overload.”  She tells me that Norrin does better in one-on-one situations.

Reaching Out for Understanding

Having an ASD presents challenges not only to the child who is diagnosed, but also to the parents.  Quinones-Fontanez tells me she has had challenges finding special services for Norrin, as well as getting him involved in extracurricular activities.

“He used to be in a social playgroup for Autistic children,” Quinones-Fontanez tells me.  This year Norrin is involved in very few extracurricular activities.  He has therapy after school and, and Quinones-Fontanez takes him to a sensory gym on weekends.  Quinones-Fontanez tells me that reaching out to other parents of Autistic children has helped her cope.

“Building a community of people who understand is important” Quinones Fontanez tells me. She uses Facebook and other social media to reach out to other parents who understand.  She also has a blog called Autismwonderland.  She tells me that friends and family try to give support, but it’s not the same as talking to people with Autistic children.

“Friends and family may want to help, but unless they understand [the diagnosis], they can’t.”  In addition, Quinones-Fontanez says, it is hard to get people to understand unless they have to.

A Break from Brayden

While Quinones-Fontanez reaches out to other parents through social media, for the Albright family it is a different story.  With three children, it is harder for Margo and Scott to find time for support groups and the like. 

“We have gone to some of the meeting for Autism groups,” Albright says, “but with our work schedule it is hard to get to them.” Brayden sees a therapist to deal with his issues, but Margo Albright tells me there are a lot of things they simply don’t do anymore because of Brayden’s difficulties.

“We stopped doing Wonderful Wednesday at our church,” Albright explains, “because it was more of a hassle than it was worth.”  Brayden also did “Challenger Little League,” a baseball program for disabled children, for about a year, but was not interested in continuing.

 Brayden’s parents often get frustrated by his behavior, and sometimes, Albright says, she needs a break from him.  “Getting away for a while helps,” she tells me, because it allows her to re-energize.  “Scott runs,” Albright says of her husband.  “I think that helps him.  As for Brayden, his therapist does sensory activities with him, such as rolling him up in a rug like a burrito.  “Sensory things like getting squeezed or wiggling like a jellyfish calm him down” Albright says.

A Learning Experience for Parents

While Margo Albright and Lisa Quinones-Fontanez both experience the frustrations of impulsive behavior and trouble at school, they both see a lot of positives about their children as well.

 “He’s really bright,” Quinones-Fontanez remarks on her son. “He has been a learning experience.  She notes that Norrin is “normal” for her, since she has no other children to compare him to.

Margo Albright feels the same about Brayden, noting that he is very imaginative.

“Brayden is really smart and very creative and knowledgeable about certain subjects” Albright comments on her son’s personality.  Brayden behaves fairly well during the walk on City Island, aside from becoming anxious to play on the inflatable rides. 

Autism Awareness bumper sticker

Albright comments that recently, Brayden has gotten a little better, and the family has been able to do more things that they previously had stopped doing. “We can do more than 2-3 years ago,” Albright says. 

While a diagnosis of an Autism spectrum disorder means social and behavioral challenges, it also proves to be a learning experience for the parents, one which can at times be enjoyable.  Albright tells me that Brayden often teaches her about the things he is interested in.

“He teaches me about things that I probably wouldn’t learn about on my own,” Albright notes, and remarks that “his personality makes life interesting.”

http://www.autism-society.org/

http://www.autismspeaks.org/

http://www.autismwonderland.com/

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm

http://www.autismharrisburg.org/

http://www.ship.edu/Psychology/Faculty/#Potoczak

What do you see in the mirror?

Women are under pressure to be perfect that sometimes they feel as though they should look like the models on TV or actresses with bony arms and slim bods.  Others feel as though they cannot handle their life and it is spiraling out of control.  One way for women more than men cope with the stress of their lives or perfect their image is to starve themselves, making every bone in their body stick out.  Skin and bones these people look like due to anorexia nervosa. 

            A woman Kathy Carey, battled anorexia said, “It wasn’t bec ause of my eating disorder, my life was bigger than I could handle.”

            Her life was out of control, from a demanding childhood and stress, she needed a break and felt good starving herself.  She gradually lost weight and soon, from lack of calorie intake, excess exercise and running every day for triathlons.  She went from weighing 115 to 85 lbs in a short amount of time. Carey is now out of treatment and counseling other people with eating disorders.    

             Anorexia is life threatening when you get too skinny because your body shuts down, the system cannot handle the lack of food let alone no nutrition.  Anorexics lose all their weight with the bones protruding out of the skin, the skeletal outline is so visible they end up dying.  In the world, about 20 percent of anorexia people will die of starvation and the disease.  Ages 15-24 year-old females is 12 times higher than all other causes of death.  One teenage girl, who wishes to remain anonymous, was anorexic for a few years because she felt she needed to be skinny for her dance team. 

            She spent most of her senior year of high school in and out of treatment centers helping her beat the disease.  She became so skinny, every bone was visible that she fit into a size double zero and she was so skinny she was close to death.  No one would want to leave their family due to an eating disorder.  There are many treatment centers around the world that are willing to help anyone with an eating disorder.  Patients can spend about 30-90 days in treatment to get better and gain more weight going through therapy. 

            According to Carey who suffered from the disease, not many people recover from their eating disorders.  Statistically, people with treatment, 60 percent recover, 20 percent do not recover and the other 20 percent make partial recoveries. 

Anorexics need to go to treatment centers so they do not lose their loved ones.  Dr. Harry Brandt is the director of the Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt.  Brandt has expertise on anorexia and all eating disorders consisting of the effects of eating disorders on the patients at Sheppard Pratt and how it affects the families.  He has expertise on how to treat patients and the factors contributing to the onset of eating disorders. 

Sheppard Pratt is a treatment center in Baltimore, MD treating all patients with eating disorders.  Their goal is to get them better, not to relapse, to eat and to help them with their psychological issues.  Although attending treatment centers to help with anorexia is the best option for help, the centers are very expensive and some families may not have the financial support to pay for treatment.  It can cost up to $1,200 and more to get the help one needs.  One out of every ten people with anorexia receives the treatment they need.

Many women become anorexic for years, needing treatment for extra time.  The longer the disease takes over and women starve, the more treatment they need.  Some women endure anorexia for about 1-15 years and that includes 77 percent of the women.  Imagine, 15 years with low or no calorie intake of food.  About 85 percent of women are diagnosed or developed with anorexia eating disorders before the age of 20. 

The disease includes the mind and body, for the women and men who suffer the disease, they need to be helped by the best trained doctors, counselors, dieticians and psychologists.  The first few signs of noticing anorexia are “dieting despite being thin, obsession with calories, pretending to eat or lying about eating, preoccupation with food and strange or secretive food rituals.”  The first step to recovering with anorexia is admitting you have the disease and then admit yourself into a treatment center according to Brandt and his staff at Sheppard Pratt. 

Anorexia has many effects that follow suit, it changes a person.  They could become depressed with severe mood swings, develop tooth decay, become dizzy and develop a poor memory.  The disease affects your whole body and eventually takes over.

Other than the psychological causes of anorexia nervosa, involving depression or low self-esteem, it could be because of how the media portrays women.  In movies, on the runway or even on the cover of magazines, actresses and models are never overweight or “fat”.  The world watches television and reads magazines, women are a majority of those demographics and feels they need to look like them to be pretty.  The media is another factor leading to women developing the disorder.    

The disease is not curable, but it can be successful with the right treatment and team of experts providing the care to ending the eating disorder.  It is highly recommended by doctors to seek help immediately or talk to someone you know with eating disorders convincing them to get the help they need.  A college graduate was once anorexic for three years, she almost died due to the disease.  She “unnaturally thin” as her brother said it and eventually she checked into a treatment facility in Pennsylvania.  It was very expensive and her disorder took a large toll on the family.  A daughter, a sister, a cousin could have died due to no eating and an overwhelmed lifestyle.  Everything could change in a minute.       

A New Direction: Mediating the Relationship between Blacks and Gays

In the article below, you’ll hear from Dr. Sharnine Herbert, Director of Ethnic studies at Shippensburg University as well as Cherise Daniels, sociology major and self identified black lesbian on the indirect, sometimes trouble relationship between blacks and gays, as it applies  the leak of internal documents from the National Organization for Marriage

In the wake of 2008’s anti-gay marriage bill, Proposition 8, it was revealed that something like 70% of California’s black voters had ticked yes on the ballot. Naturally, there was some contention between black and gay Americans. Four years later, gay marriage is up for popular vote again, and this time, the opposition is up to some dirty tricks to get the job done.

The National Organization for Marriage, a traditional marriage advocacy group, was recently subject to a major investigation by the state of Maine. Having been forced to surrender internal memos that documented their annual budget, NOM grew nervous about who might be privy to their plans for the upcoming year. With all the stealth of a jewel thief, the Human Rights Campaign got a hold of the memos, and in the last week of March, leaked NOM’s “National Strategy for Winning the Marriage Battle” to the web.

The 40-page document outlines a number of racially-motivated strategies the organization would implement to turn voters against gay marriage. Among these plans for attack is the “Not a Civil Right” project, a 1.5 million dollar initiative that would exploit the perceived tension between the black and gay communities. The document reads:

Since the document’s leak, response from NOM has been short and unapologetic. President Brian Brown had this to say:

“Gay marriage is not a civil right, and we will continue to point this out in written materials such as those released in Maine. We proudly bring together people of different races, creeds and colors to fight for our most fundamental institution: marriage.”

While these divisive tactics have left NOM in a state of disrepute amongst news writers, video bloggers, and late-night hackers alike for being few writers have considered what cultural assumptions led NOM to think they could drive a wedge between blacks and gays in the first place. Why blacks, one wonders? Why not Asians or Native Americans? What convinced NOM that black people, specifically, would be susceptible to their ploy?

“It’s religion,” says Dr. Sharnine S. Herbert, director of Ethnic Studies at Shippensburg University. “Because of the leaning towards the black church, a lot of [black] people don’t talk about [homosexuality].”

It’s true that religion is at the center of African American experience. A 2009 study by the Pew Center of Research reported that 78% of African American citizens identify with the Protestant church. Of that 78%, 62% agree that homosexuality is against the bible. NOM sought to take advantage of what they perceived to be hostility between the black church and the gay community. However, while the lack of dialogue between blacks and gays is problematic, Dr. Herbert asserts that NOM incorrectly assumes there to be hostility between the two minorities.  

“I think it was a poorly-researched strategy—it does not take into account the traditional communication style of African Americans.” The professor states that African American communication is indirect—meaning hesitant to grapple with subject matter that might jeopardize community morale. “It seems antithetical” she says, “when you see how vibrant we are, how excitable, but when it comes down to the issues that really impact home, there are thing we just don’t discuss. It’s cultural.”

NOM’s strategy considers this cultural characteristic an opportunity to “drive its wedge”, but Herbert also argues that NOM underestimates the importance of family in the black church. While its Christian leanings might discourage homosexuality, she says that the black community would never collectively ostracize its gay members. “When you start to denounce [homosexuality], your start to denounce your brother, your son, your sisters, and so forth…You’d be driving a deep wedge between mother and son, grandmother and son, and father and daughter—a wedge that exists, but really only at the communicative level.”

Despite the black community’s reluctance to openly address homosexuality, Herbert see a light at the end of the tunnel—one that NOM was not banking on. She says, “What the organization has also missed is that more and more churches are being forced to deal with issue of homosexuality within the black church. There are people who are speaking of these things from the pulpit. There are new positions emerging—I do see hope and change.”

With all this in mind, one wonders how someone who identifies as both black and gay negotiates their identity. By considering two minorities mutually exclusive, who has NOM attempted to put in the crosshairs?

“Nobody in church knows I’m gay,” says Cherisse Daniels, a senior Sociology major at Shippensburg. Cherisse was raised in the church by God-fearing grandparents—grandparents who, despite their religious fervor, have learned to accept her sexuality. When asked about her grandfather’s response to her coming out, she says: “He told me, ‘I love you regardless…Your business is your business.’ We haven’t talked about it since.”

Like Dr. Herbert, Cherisse acknowledges the avoidance of touchy subjects in the black community. Her admittance to SU, a predominately white institution, made it all the more evident:. “Maybe this is a little stereotypical,” she says in almost a whisper, “but I think white people are maybe a little more accepting of things.” For Cherisse, black people consider homosexuality as added baggage: “We have so many negatives against us because of our skin color, but then to be gay—it’s just another strike against us.”

Yet, for all the cultural negotiation that takes place indirectly between blacks and gays, Cherisse finds herself becoming more open with black friends about her sexuality—which is why a tactic like “National Strategy for Winning the Marriage Battle” is particularly offensive to her.

After reading the details of the strategy, she’s momentarily speechless. “The world is…cruel,” she sighs finally. When asked what consequences a wedge between black and gay people might cause, she simply says, “We would feel like we didn’t belong anywhere. Where would be the sense of belonging?”

While being black and gay is discouraging at times, Cherisse is finally comfortable with both her sexuality and spirituality. “Being Black gives you tough skin,” she says, “Being gay gives you tough skin as well—Be yourself and God will protect you.”

With the democratic primary coming up in November, the gay marriage debate is slowly making its way back into national headlines. North Carolina, a state boasting a large black voter population, might pose a threat to President Obama, who advocates for same-sex unions—especially if the National Organization for marriage continues cooking up hostility between black and gays. Will the controversy surrounding Prop 8 repeat itself? Who can say. Hopefully, NOM’s exposed tactics will spur a conversation between blacks and gays that wouldn’t have been possible before—a more direct conversation. 

- Matthew Thompson

Underage Drinking

Shippensburg University has many selling points. There are things that the university highlights in order to make it shine and stand above the rest. There are also key things that repeated to the prospective students. One of those things are that Shippensburg is a dry campus. The phrase “dry campus” means that alcohol is forbidden to be consumed or sold on campus, but the sad truth is Shippensburg isn’t as dry as they like to think. There is as much of a chance of Shippensburg being a dry campus as there is a chance of it not raining on a Wednesday.

Students, especially underage students, celebrate in the weekly ritual of “Thirsty Thursday.” This ritual preparation from all involved. The girls spend time taking over the mirrors of their dorm applying makeup, doing their hair and making sure their outfits are perfect before making their way to a party as a group of at least two or more. The boys, as always, take about five minutes to get ready and head over to the party house.

Living on campus and staying indoors on Thursday nights (along with the weekend), you know when the party is beginning. The sound of the heels echo throughout the halls like thunder echoes in the night sky. Students have the tendency to relate to birds. They travel in packs and their chirping is incessant and comes at the worse times.  The chirping only seems to get worse once alcohol enters the system of the birds.

Here are some scary stats given by the university regarding college students:

21% percent report academic consequences of their drinking  or drug use including missing class, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grades overall (CORE, 2012)

30% reported having memory loss (CORE, 2012)

57 % reported being hungover, nauseated or vomiting due to their alcohol use (CORE, 2012)

30 % reported that they either got into a fight, argument, done something that they later regretted, or have been criticized by someone they know due to their drinking or drug use (CORE, 2012)

15% have been seriously hurt or injured due to their alcohol or drug use (CORE, 2012)

6% reported being taken advantage of sexually while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs (CORE, 2012)

 Scary huh?

Attention from the music world

Shippensburg University, also known as a “party school,” sets up the feeling of students needing to drink to belong on campus, and the feeling that drinking is a necessity to have a positive college experience, but is that a case? Does it make sense for people to do something illegal to fit into college? Peer pressure doesn’t end with high school graduation. It never ends. The band “Bowling for Soup” said it best, “High School Never Ends.” The idea of drinking in general was popularized by the media with songs like “I love College” by Asher Roth. With lyrics like “Time isn’t wasted when you’re getting wasted. Woke up today and all I could say is, um, that party last night was awfully crazy. I wish we taped it. I danced by ass off and had this one girl completely naked. Drink my beer and smoke my weed, but my good friends is all I need. Pass out at three wake up at 10. Go out to eat, then do it again. Man I love college,” it makes students feel like this is a typical, and expected part of college.

On the other side, some musicians use their music and fan base to try and spread the word about the dangers that involve drinking. For example, Simple Plan’s “Untitled,” which doubled as a PSA, and Cute is What We Aim For’s “Fourth Drink Instinct.” Both songs revolve around drinking and its affects.  

Ship’s Method to Keep the Students Afloat

Shippensburg, although not as dry as they like to be, has rules and regulations regarding the movement of Shippensburg being a wet campus:  “The University complies with the Federal, State, and Local laws including those that regulate the possession, use, and sale of alcoholic beverages and other controlled substances. Shippensburg University students, who use, sell, exchange, consume or possess, alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia on University property or at University functions will be dealt with in accordance with the Commonwealth, Federal, and Local laws as well as the University Student Code of Conduct. As Shippensburg University is a dry campus, even students who are 21 years of age or more are not permitted to possess or consume alcohol on campus property.”

                Despite Shippensburg’s attempt at bringing down the proverbial hammer, they acknowledge that alcoholism is a problem on their campus, and they offer help. Connections is a drug and alcohol education service that offers education and counseling in order to help students and staff in any way possible. Also, the University provides a list of places, dates and times were Alcoholics Anonymous is offered. On the website, there is also a list of signs pointing towards alcoholism. Of course, the counseling center is always there to lend a helping hand.

                The University also tries to plan events to keep the students occupied. The Activities Program Board hosts several events a week just to give the students things to do. Let’s face it, there isn’t much to do in Shippensburg, but you have to give them points for trying.

                There is also a nationwide advocacy of trying to help teens fight the influence. Abovetheinfluence.com is all about helping teens stay above the influence of alcohol with TV ads such as “Sick” and “Follow your heart.” Above the influence, with each commercial they release, aims to reflect every teen and every scenario.

Here’s What Could Happen

Not only are students faced with the dangers of drinking, such as, alcohol poisoning, car accidents, fights, unwanted sexual attention and the cursed hangover, but there are other consequences that can make things a whole lot worse. Shippensburg has their laws, but they also have punishments that go along with these laws. For being in possession of illegal drugs and paraphernalia, the first offense can get you a fine of $500 (it can be higher). Do you like dorm life? You aren’t going to when you have to live with one for 15 years in prison. Doing anything whatsoever with alcohol under the age of 21 can get you, on the first offence, up to $300 and a driving suspension for 90 days. If convicted, students are fined no less than $1000.

                The city has also been participating in crackdowns among the students.

What Students Say

Samantha Justice, freshman at Shippensburg University, says: “I don’t think underage drinking is too bad, in moderation. In Europe, teenagers drink at an age younger than 21, but are educated enough about it not to get hammered and drive a vehicle, while in America people who wait until the legal age are more likely to drink to excess and make stupid choices because they are allowed to. My mother is a bartender, and she taught me that alcohol isn’t a bad thing, it’s just dangerous in excess. ‘Everything is alright in moderation,’ and that goes for a lot of things. If a lower drinking age were implemented, there would probably be less cases of reckless behavior.”

                Naz Ashura, former student of Central Penn College, says:  “Underage drinking is really common now a days. I’ve seen kids as young as 14-years-old do it. It’s bad, and it’s getting out of hand because the kids that start drinking also go towards drugs and smoking more often that those that do not drink. I honestly want to see a stop to this. Too many 21+ year olds are buying alcohol for kids. Police officers are focusing on stupid things instead of investigating underage drinking. In my opinion, it’s a serious matter no matter how ‘cool’ or ‘chill’ it is to have your parents serve drinks to you and your friends when you are in middle school.”

                Nicole Carr, HACC student, says: “I started drinking when I was 12-13 and I never cared. My parents were ok with the occasional bottle, it was never excessive. Since I’ve been exposed to alcohol for longer than most teens, I didn’t and won’t go crazy once I reach 21. I know my limits and when I should stop drinking. And since my family trusted me I never felt the need to rebel and get super drink at a friend’s house or any other occasion where alcohol has been provided for me. In Europe, the age for legal consumption of alcohol is a lot lower in many area than it is here, yet I’m sure if you look, their alcohol related deaths are a lot less and they have fewer alcoholics and their teen alcohol deaths are fewer too. Because our laws are strict on such things like alcohol, young adults will feel more push to rebel and/or act out and possibly could end up hurting themselves or others because they aren’t taught to respect alcohol because people don’t view it as the drug it is.”

                Paul Deichmann, Shippensburg University student and member of Student Senate says: “I would suggest that the laws create a dangerous counterculture, in the same way prohibition did. The law, established by those who would see all drinking eradicated, are antiquated and absurd. The law should be removed, and education improved as to alcohol’s dangers. Alcohol has been a staple of human existence since we knew how to make it and attempting to deny that has serious consequences.”

Making Students Safer

A lot of the students spoke about Europe and their drinking habits. Until America takes on a more European eye, we must follow the saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” When in America, do as the Americans do and follow the law. Safety of the students in always in question, and maybe with a little help, kick and a shove, students will be able to get safe and make their own decisions. Don’t fall into peer pressure and follow your own path.

 By: Stephanie Santiago

Ultrasound Abortion Bill: The Debate Between Pro-Life and Pro-Choice

(Photo Courtesy of Google)

Should it be passed in Pennsylvania?

By: Lauren Miscavage

Abortion is a term that should not be thrown around loosely. To some, it hits a sensitive nerve, giving them a flashback of what they had gone through to come to this decision. To other women, it gives them a flashback of the time they were raped. As of Feb. 2012, Virginia passed a bill requiring women who are seeking abortions to get an ultrasound of the fetus they are about to abort. In the U.S., there are approximately 1.2 million abortions per year. This number has significantly dropped since 1990, but the number is still high today. Whether the abortion happens due to rape, financial issues or just not “feeling ready,” getting an abortion is a life-changing decision they cannot go back on. The decision is final.

Transvaginal Ultrasound

Before a newer bill was implemented, women were required to undergo a transvaginal ultrasound, which is a painful, unwanted procedure that can be looked upon as state-sanctioned rape since it requires uncomfortable penetration in the vagina. A probe would be inserted into the vagina in order for the ultrasound to take place in order to educate the woman on the gestational age of her unborn fetus. Many women have said that the transvaginal procedure is unnecessary because it is a nonmedical procedure that is invasive and traumatizing especially for rape victims. People against this bill stated that requiring the transvaginal ultrasound would interfere with the doctor-patient relationship since it is going against the woman’s will. However, those who are in favor of the bill have retaliated by saying the abdominal ultrasound cannot adequately capture the gestational age and heartbeat of the unborn fetus as well as the transvaginal ultrasound. After many protests, the newer bill stated that the women would have the choice to choose whether if she wanted the transvaginal procedure or an abdominal procedure. Legislators say that getting the ultrasound will protect women’s dignity by educating them about what they are planning to do to their unborn child.

Passed in Pennsylvania?

Since many states have passed ultrasound bills before abortion, Pennsylvania may be up next. Under the Women’s Right-to-Know Act that was passed in February by the prime sponsor Pennsylvania State Rep. Kathy Rapp, women would be able to see a picture of their unborn fetus 24 hours before their abortion, but if they wish to decline seeing the fetus, their wish would be granted.

State Representative Kathy Rapp.

(Photo Courtesy of Google).

“Every pregnant Pennsylvania woman, regardless of economic status, insured or uninsured, or religious background deserves the right to be fully informed when considering the irreversible decision of abortion,” said Rapp.

“Informed choice is essential to making the most moral and compassionate choice. My legislation will bring current law up to speed with the latest medical technology by requiring the abortion facility to turn the ultrasound machine around and share this living, moving information upon request of the woman who is carrying the child,” she said.

“No matter where you fall on the issue—pro-life or some other point of view—the Women’s Right to Know Act is a bill that transcends far beyond the politics of abortion and touches thousands of Pennsylvania women and their families,” said Rapp.

“At the most fundamental level, it’s about respecting women by trusting her with all the facts to make a truly informed decision regarding the human life she is carrying,” she said.

Pro-Choice Opinion

With that being said, Democrats and feminists also have strongly worded opinions on the bill. Many believe this new bill is highly discriminatory against women and is not being passed in order to take women’s health into consideration, but because the government wants to influence women to choose not to get an abortion.

Stephanie Erdice, Director of the Shippensburg University’s Women’s Center said the decision to get the ultrasound should be between the woman and her health care provider.

“In my opinion, it’s not something the state needs to mandate for multiple reasons,” she said.

“To take up additional time, you know, additional cost, the additional time of the ultrasound techs and the nurses that are involved, to me is completely absurd,” she said.

Erdice also said that doctors don’t need to mandate certain regulations such as forcing the woman to look at the monitor or have the sound up to hear the heartbeat.

“The doctor does not have to mandate that kind of environment where the politicians that signed on to this are really trying to create an environment where it has nothing to do with health. They’re trying to create a situation that does not have to do with a woman’s health in making the decision. It’s more influential, and I don’t think it’s very opaque in making that known,” she added.

Not only do feminists think this bill is discriminatory toward women, but the reputations of health care providers are also at stake, according to Erdice.

“Not only do I think this discriminates women, I think that this is saying that health care providers don’t know how to do their job or health care providers should step outside that area of health into that area of maybe moral decision making. I think it puts them in a very compromising position,” she said.

Erdice also added that if Pennsylvania goes through with the ultrasound bill, it will block women’s rights to choose decisions about their bodies.

“It puts blockades up in front of women choosing different health care options. I think that could result in a bunch of different things. I don’t know what direction that could go in, but it could result in women making choices that maybe aren’t healthy like going to a place that’s off the books. That’s not O.K.,” she said.

Erdice thinks if the bill is passed, it could create a longer wait for women to get the help they need from health care providers.

“Anytime you’re putting blockades in front of someone’s ability to choose about their own health, their own family planning, you are running a risky game,” she said.

The Planned Parenthood Opinion

(Photo Courtesy of Google).

Planned Parenthood, a trusted health care facility for both men and women, also believes this new bill is discriminatory toward women. The goals of Planned Parenthood are to provide people with good medical care as well as educating them about using contraceptives and giving them ways to reduce the spread of STDs. Planned Parenthood also aids women with abortions if they wish to have one.

Heather Shumaker, Community Affairs Manager of the Planned Parenthood in Northeast and Mid Penn in Cumberland County thinks the bill discriminates against women, especially forcing the woman to view her unborn child.

“The bill mandates that the ultrasound screen be in the direction of the woman so that she would have to look away if she didn’t wish to see the screen,” Shumaker said.

“Planned Parenthood feels it’s very cruel and demeaning.The bill also says that the women would have to take two copies of the ultrasound with her, which is not something that’s done in normal medical practices. If the woman loses the ultrasound or forgets it or something, she can’t have her abortion procedure,” she said.

Shumaker also added that this can be a very dangerous problem if the woman was sexually abused and the abuser just so happened to find the ultrasound photo. According to Shumaker, the Pennsylvania Medical Society was also against the bill because, like Erdice said, they think legislation is telling doctors how to do their jobs.

“Legislators are not the ones who went to medical school,” Shumaker said. “It’s not something that should be legislated.”

Shumaker added that not only is the bill discriminatory toward women, but she feels that the bill is making women look stupid.

“The bill is essentially saying that women are too stupid to figure out what’s going on in their own bodies and make their own health choices, and seeing many women who have chosen abortion for themselves knows that’s not true. It’s not a decision a woman goes into lighthearted,” she said.

Shumaker says if legislation goes through with passing the Ultrasound Abortion Bill in Pennsylvania, she does not think it will change women’s minds about getting their abortion. She says women who go into the abortion clinic have already made up their minds and thought about their decision, and even though the bill is cruel, they will still continue with their decision. Shumaker says this process just makes everything more difficult for them.

Catholicism and Abortion

Our Lady of The Visitation Roman Catholic Church.

(Photo Courtesy of Google).

After seeing both the Democratic and Republican sides of this controversial issue, one may forget that religion also plays a role in this topic. Father David Hillier of the Our Lady of The Visitation Roman Catholic Church of Shippensburg gave an interesting standpoint on the matter. He said as a church person, he would advocate against abortion as a whole.

“But I really can’t change the fact that they want to make a law that allows abortion to be induced by ultrasound, which is a little bit different than the suction, that type of thing that’s used now,” he said.

Hillier said he wouldn’t see many benefits by trying to get his parish to demonstrate against it, but instead, encourage people to use alternate ways instead of using abortion in the first place.

“Our consciences kind of become calloused, if you will, with it so easily available,” he said, regarding receiving an abortion.

Hillier also mentioned that he believed forcing the women to view the unborn fetus is both fair and unfair. He thinks looking at the unborn child would be upsetting and emotionally scarring, but if looking at the child allowed them to think of it as a child and not just an embryo, it could allow them to think they are about to terminate a life.

Opposing Shumaker’s belief of the women still deciding to get an abortion after seeing the fetus, Hillier says he thinks seeing the fetus might change the woman’s mind before aborting it, if she wasn’t raped. He says maybe if the child was conceived with affectionate feelings toward her partner, she may rethink her decision because of creating the child in conjunction with God.

What will happen next?

Though this bill is currently tabled in Pennsylvania, one can only wonder what this year’s new presidential election will bring for the future of women’s decision-making on this issue.

Wine-ing A Day Away

By Kyle Rogers

As kids, grape juice in a box one of the coolest drinks around. Fast forward to your at least 21-year-old self today and when you drink your grape juice at the end of the week, you think, TGIF: Thank God, it’s fermented.

Now, if a night out in Shippensburg just doesn’t appeal to you, wine about it!

 Grab a few close friends – a designated driver, too – stay classy and head out to these local wineries, take a tour, and sample some vino. You might even go home with a locally-made, fresh wine better than the stuff down at the state spirits store down the road…

Sip Happens – Tuscarora Mountain Winery — Operating out of a small-cork-in-wall just a few miles away in the heart of Chambersburg, you’ll think you’re walking into winemaker Kenneth Hadley’s cozy living room. And, he’ll make sure you feel that way, too.

Hadley successfully fermented his career after turning his wine-making passion into a living. But, his wine is so popular, there’s the problem of overproduction. Though a true testament to his wine-making abilities, it’s a businessman’s spite of not having more to provide to his overwhelmingly-satisfied winos.  25 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, PA 17201, 717-261-9463, tuscaroramtwinery.com

Sample It:  Merlot will soak your saliva up for you dryers out there, but with a solid aftertaste, you sweeteners will be skeptical of every other Merlot you’ve tasted.  Plums, roses, blackcurrant and cherry flavors with a hint of spice. $12.99

Paper Bag It:  They say don’t judge a book by its cover, but just toss that rule up with your glass when it comes to the ‘No Name’ wine. This red will dry out your mouth, but you’ll detect just a hint of sugar adding a twist to the end of your swish.  $15.84

Wine for it:  It’s the Granny Apple Smith wine having locals biting to Tuscarora’s core. Using locally-grown apples, you’ll be sure to taste the sweet fruit but hopefully you get there before the apple wines fall far from the store.

You Had Me At Merlot – Adams County Winery – You’ll instantly acquire the flush stepping foot inside Adams County Winery. It’s no wonder the staff happily greets you when you stroll in, as you’re amazed how a powerful aroma of freshly made wine can make you stumble…and that’s not a bad thing.  

Tell ‘em you’re a first-timer you’ll be treated to a tour cooler than Charlie got at his little chocolate factory. (Bet you Willy didn’t have the chocolate wine you’ll taste-test here.)  You’ll wrap-up your tour with six complimentary samples of the fermented fruit juices, and they’re no sample size. 251 Peach Tree Road, Orrtanna, PA 17353, 717-334-4631, 877-601-7936, www.adamscountywinery.com

Sample It: We’re college students, so make the most of your free sampling and go for the most expensive wine on the list. ‘En’twined’ is a mixture red wine and chocolate leaving your wondering…is this wine or is this chocolate? Typically promoted as a specialty drink, this one would make for a great dessert after a night out with your special someone. $22.68

Paper Bag It: With a wine called Scrapple, you know it’s special. There’s not a hodge-podge-of-hog floating in this bottle, instead this white vino is sweetly-spiced with cranberry and apple.  Wino lesson of the day: Scrapple isn’t just served on a diner plate, but best served in a glass.  $13.98Wine for it: President’s Choice is my choice, too. If you’re at a social function, take one for only you because your friends will get annoyed with you saying, “Get your own bottle’”all night. $11.98

Taste and Savor the View – Hauser Estates Winery — Don’t disturb the “baby grapes growing” when you journey to Hauser Estates Winery outside of Gettysburg. 

Your DD will wind his or her way up a small dirt road taking you to the sparkling, glass-enclosed wine tasting room where you’ll step in and be totally corked out by the stunning view where you can see for miles.

Inside, a cozy atmosphere warmly welcomed by an self-described wine-obsessed wine merchant makes up for the $2 wine-tasting fee for the vino but bring more of the green stuff – cash; because these wines range higher on the price-scale than the others. 410 Cashtown Road, Biglerville, PA 17307, 717-334-4888, www.hauserestate.com.

  Sample It:  With a sip of their 2008 Merlot, you’ll think you swallowed a basket of cherries. The somewhat aged, dry, red richly flavors the fruit in an intense after-taste. For more than 20 bucks a bottle, stick to this one as part of your six comped wine-shots. $20.99

Paper Bag It: Glazing over the local landscape, you’ll see plenty of apple trees with the fruits soon to fill your glass. This Apple Table Wine is best served a little warm and steamy for the cold weather months. $9.99

Wine for it: Locals will tell you “‘ya gotta try Devil’s Den Red”. Well, they know what they’re talking about, so on your next visit back to the winery, find yourself a bottle of this fruity, somewhat dry red. $11.99

Kyle Rogers, a Shippensburg University senior, can be reached at KyleRogersTV@gmail.com.