Site-Wide Activity

  • Why JDogs Is So BelovedBy Dylan and Zach Every Thursday night at Millersville, students are treated to juicy, delicious, and most importantly, free hot dogs. […]

  • Embracing Imperfection in WritingOften, writing serves as a good representation of the experiences and opportunities individuals have had as writers, in addition to […]

  • kmauty wrote a new post on the site The Snapper 3 days, 23 hours ago

  • kmauty wrote a new post on the site The Snapper 3 days, 23 hours ago

  • kmauty wrote a new post on the site The Snapper 3 days, 23 hours ago

    NFL Honors recap Bills quarterback […] “”

  • jjester wrote a new post on the site Tell School of Music News 4 days ago

    Tehya Walters: Recipient of the 2025 Presser Foundation Award and Leader in Music Education Tehya Walters is a senior majoring in Music Education and Flute Performance. She served as president of the Flute Association at […]

  • jjester wrote a new post on the site Tell School of Music News 4 days ago

    Sydney Alexa Rauchut – Winner of the Vyner Competition Sydney Alexa Rauchut, a double major in Music Education and Music Industry at the Tell School of Music, Millersville University, was […]

  • First Time in 9 Years MU Students Perform at Festival For the first time in nine years, a Millersville University theatre production was invited to the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. MU students performed “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (revised) (again)” on Jan. 14, 2025, in Pittsburgh. While most Millersville students were enjoying their families and relaxing during winter break, the student actors, technicians and those involved with the production were on campus rehearsing for the festival. The play was directed by Jonathan Strayer, Director of Dramatics and assistant professor of communication & theatre at Millersville and was first performed in Dutcher Hall on campus in February and March of 2024. “It’s a fun play,” says Strayer, “and a great way to introduce people to the world of Shakespeare.” “Every year, Millersville submits our two major productions to be reviewed,” explains Strayer. You can submit the production as an associate or a participant. When a production is submitted as an associate, one person reviews the play, not as a critic but as a consultant for the students. When a production is submitted as a participant, two people review the play, and the top plays are then selected to perform at the festival. Millersville applied to be a participant, and the play was reviewed by trained respondents. Millersville’s production was one of five to be performed at the festival and was selected from approximately 75 entries. “We were not only selected to perform at the PNC Theatre at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, but we also opened the festival,” says Strayer.  “Rafters Theatre on campus holds around 80 people, our students performed in front of 600 while in Pittsburgh.” In addition to performing the play, the conference and festival included a variety of workshops for faculty and students.  Millersville students Madison Reisinger and Kat Thorpe both received recognition for their work. Reisinger was given an honorable mention for Stage Management and Thorpe applied for and was accepted to direct a 10-minute play at the conference. “It was quite the intensive experience for all of our students,” says Strayer. “In the case of Kat, she arrived, received the play and didn’t have much time before presenting it at the conference.” Thirty-one students along with Harry Schueren, production manager at Millersville and Adam Boyer, assistant professor in communication and theatre traveled to Pittsburgh. MU student Nathaniel Hawley was the assistant director of the production. “Nathaniel worked hard with Harry, Adam and the entire crew to get the space setup in Pittsburgh. It was very much a team effort,” says Strayer. “I am proud of and amazed by our students,” says Boyer. “They really took the initiative to make this happen! We made sure they had time, place and funds – but they did the work to make this a reality, from rehearsals to adapting the set for travel.” Strayer says the students all worked hard, and many received certificates of merit for their work. The last time Millersville was invited to perform at the festival was in 2016. Students performed “Bury the Dead,” directed by Tony Elliott. Strayer concluded, “I’d like to thank the Communication & Theatre Department, especially chair, Dr. Lowery Woodall, along with Dr. Ieva Zake, Dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and the Millersville University Alumni Association for their support. We c […] “First Time in 9 Years MU Students Perform at Festival”

  • Sevan Sinton wrote a new post on the site The Snapper 5 days, 13 hours ago

    Medical jet leaves seven dead after crash in Philadelphia Kaya Wagner Staff Writer Friday evening, a Medevac jet crashed in a busy Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood, killing at least seven and injuring nineteen others.  It has been confirmed by the Federal Aviation Commission that the plane, a forty-three-year-old Learjet 55, took off at 6:30 p.m. from Northeast Philadelphia airport en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri, and crashed shortly after. The crash occurred on Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, near the Roosevelt Mall. It has also been confirmed that Philadelphia air traffic control tried to reach the doomed plane, but an operator responded to a question, “What’s going on down there?” by responding, “We have lost the aircraft. We’re not exactly sure what happened, so we’re trying to figure it out.”  At a press conference on Saturday morning, Philadelphia mayor Cherelle Parker confirmed that all six on the medical plane had not survived the crash. On the plane were a pediatric patient from Shriener’s Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, the patient’s mother, and a four-person flight crew. At least one other person was in a car that passed due to the accident.  Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also gave thanks to first responders. He said Saturday morning, “This is not just a group of emergency response professionals working together at the state, local and federal level, this is neighbors working together to look out for one another.”  President Donald Trump also responded to the crash on Friday night. In a post to social media app Truth Social the president wrote, “So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More innocent souls lost. Our people are totally engaged. First Responders are already being given credit for doing a great job. More to follow. God Bless you all.”  Little is known about what caused the crash, the total extent of injuries of those […] “Medical jet leaves seven dead after crash in Philadelphia”

  • Sevan Sinton wrote a new post on the site The Snapper 5 days, 13 hours ago

    Trump uses D.C. midair collision as ammo toward diversity initiatives Sevan Sinton News Editor Wednesday, Jan. 29 saw 64 passengers and crew aboard American Eagle Flight 5342 lose their lives after a midair collision with an Army helicopter, which was carrying three soldiers on a training flight above the Potomac River.  One day later, President Donald J. Trump issued a memo titled “Immediate Assessment of Aviation Safety,” which aims to force the Federal Aviation Administration to “assess damage that had been done” by former President Joe Biden’s “DEI and woke policies.”  The president even threw jabs at former President Barack Obama and the Biden administration for “putting policy first” before safety.  “FAA diversity push includes focus on hiring people with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities,” President Trump stated in a briefing. “And they want them in, and they want them. They can be air traffic controllers. I don’t think so.”  Despite Trump’s comments, no evidence has been found that diversity, equity, and inclusion were the cause of the crash. Investigators found that short-staffing within the control tower may have been the cause. At the time of the crash, one controller was managing both helicopters and airplanes from the airport, a job that usually is done by two or more people.  The crash came one week after Trump signed executive orders to slash funding for DEI programs within the federal government, an ongoing Republican effort that Trump spearheaded prior to the 2024 presidential election.  “Despicable. As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying,” wrote Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg on X.  “Time for the President to show actual leadership and explain what […] “Trump uses D.C. midair collision as ammo toward diversity initiatives”

  • Sevan Sinton wrote a new post on the site The Snapper 5 days, 13 hours ago

    Sanders, Kennedy Jr. exchange remarks in key confirmation hearings Sevan Sinton News Editor Former presidential candidate and Trump appointee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced a two-day bombardment of questioning from senate leaders in pursuit of his confirmation to become Head of the Department of Health and Human Services; a nomination he received from President Donald Trump in November.  Kennedy fended off questions from the Senate’s Finance and Health Committees, who lunged at Kennedy’s previous comments regarding topics such as vaccines, abortion, and government corruption. “I want to make sure the Committee is clear about a few things. News reports have claimed that I am anti-vaccine or anti-industry. Well, I am neither; I am pro-safety,” read Kennedy’s testimony. “All of my kids are vaccinated, and I believe vaccines have a critical role in healthcare.” Despite Kennedy’s testimony, in a 2023 interview with Fox News’ Jesse Watters Kennedy explicitly stated, “I do believe that autism comes from vaccines . . . you know, all I have said about vaccines, we should have good science.”  Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) pushed on the topic, quoting the aforementioned interview and saying, “You talk about the need to be science-based . . . what studies have you utilized to come to the conclusion that vaccines cause autism?”  “I wouldn’t rest on a single study, all studies can be used in different methodologies,” Kennedy responded.  “I have asked to put into the record 16 studies, done by scientists and doctors all over the world, saying that vaccines do not cause autism,” stated Sanders while showing the paper to Kennedy. “Are you happy now?”  Kennedy’s inconsistencies also arose in questions regarding his stance on abortion, where Sanders grilled Kennedy on his “flip” on the issue of abortion, “A year and a half ago you went to New Hampshire . . . you talked about [the] government should not tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her own body,” recounted Sanders. “I have never seen any major political flip on that issue quite as quickly as you did when Trump asked you to become HHS secretary.”  On the issue of healthcare, Sanders asked Kennedy if he will “fight to do what every other major country does” and support universal healthcare for all.  “I will make America healthier than other countries in the world right now,” Kennedy shot back.  “It’s a simple question, Bobby,” responded Sanders, pawing at Kennedy’s vague answer.  “And by the way, Bernie, the problem of corruption is not just in the federal agency, it’s in Congress too. Almost all the members of the board are accepting money, including yourself, millions of dollars from the pharmaceutical industry,” added Kennedy, which drew applause and cheers from the crowd. “I ran for president, like you. I got millions and millions of contributions,” said Sanders amid the applause. “They did not come from the executives, not one nickel of PAC money from the pharmaceutical industry, they came from workers.”  According to Sanders’ career campaign finance summary, out of $12,000,000 from “Health Professionals,” only $99,554 came from PACs.  The committee is scheduled to vot […] “Sanders, Kennedy Jr. exchange remarks in key confirmation hearings”

  • So Thou Desire to Write in Early Modern English… Dost thou find Shakespeare confusing? Have you ever wanted to write like a fancy aristocrat in the 16th century? Are you getting […]

  • The Spring Semester Has Sprung!Hello, all! Welcome to the Spring 2025 Semester at Millersville University! My name is Devin Sparwasser, and I am a new tutor […]

  • Fall 2025 – Spring 2026 Housing Application / Room Selection Process (*Reminder*) The on-campus room selection process is now open for the Fall 2025 – Spring 2026 academic period. Below is a reminder of the four (4) d […]

  • Janet Kacskos wrote a new post on the site Millersville News 1 week ago

    Meet DSW Graduate: Dr. Miranda Blackburn   Dr. Miranda Blackburn, a clinical social worker and associate professor, has dedicated her career and research to supporting veterans, engaging in crisis response, preventing suicide and advancing social work education. Blackburn graduated from Millersville University’s Doctor of Social Work program in May 2024. Since her graduation, Blackburn has used her experience and expertise to navigate the field of social work with a passion for impactful change.  MU: Why did you choose Millersville for the DSW program?  Blackburn: Millersville offered coursework relevant to my career goals and is one of the DSW programs that requires a dissertation. This was important to me because I wanted a program that would prepare me to engage in meaningful research that is informed by clinical and practice experience.   MU: Tell us about your background.  Blackburn: My social work experience has mainly been corrections, military social work, crisis response, suicidology and academia. While working in corrections as a clinical social worker and later as an administrator, I found myself interacting with lots of justice-involved and incarcerated veterans. This inspired me to learn more about factors that influence what I was seeing and become more culturally aware. This directly informed the decision to be commissioned into the Army National Guard as a social worker.   MU: How are you using your degree?  Blackburn: Currently, I am fortunate enough to be in an associate professor position at Concord University’s accredited social work program. Additionally, the knowledge gained through the dissertation process has provided platforms in the professional space to address issues that are meaningful to me. I am also an active member of the West Virginia Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide in Service Members, Veterans and their Families. Recently, I was invited to join the West Virginia Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention as a board member. I am developing training and coursework to inform helping professionals about working with military and veteran populations.     MU: What inspired you to pursue a DSW degree?  Blackburn: Honestly, I wanted to remain in higher education, and the DSW gave me a pathway to increased job stability through access to tenure-track positions. Additionally, I wanted to get back into research because research-informed practice is an essential part of social work.   MU: Can you tell us about a specific project or research you worked on during your program that had a significant impact on you and your understanding of social work?  Blackburn: As someone who does not have a BSW (my undergraduate degree is in psychology), a lot of professional history was provided through the coursework, which helped me better understand social work origins and frameworks. I enjoyed the opportunity to formally research a topic that was important to me.  For the dissertation, I focused on the topic of military suicide. This was done through an examination of post-mortem investigations that were completed with National Guard service members where suicide was the cause of death. The Adjutant General of the Ohio National Guard invited me to discuss the findings of the research. This support provided the opportunity to engage in further discussions around prevention, intervention, and postvention within the organization. There is an amazing community that has been brought together through shared experiences around suicide. And while this carries a profound sadness, it also shows what people can accomplish when there is hope that things can get better.  This experience was a great reminder of the value of collaborative work and the impact that social work can have at all levels of practice. The dissertation structure at Millersville allowed me to explore areas of practice in ways that I would not have otherwise considered.     MU: What were some of the most challenging aspects of the DSW program, and how did you overcome them?  Blackburn: Life. Life happens no matter what your personal or professional career goals are. I had a lot of setbacks during the process due to health, military obligations, work and family. The cohort model was helpful because all of us supported each other through the process. I gained a lot of valued friendships. Some good mentorship arose from these challenges.   MU: Were there any mentors or professors who significantly influenced your journey through the DSW program? Blackburn: I would like to thank my committee members. I am planning to collaborate on future research with members of my committee as they continue to support my professional journey after the doctorate.  MU: How do you envision applying your DSW degree to influence change within communities, organizations or the broader social systems?  Blackburn: There are a lot of opportunities to influence change through research and curriculum development. I have found that there is a dearth of formal training on suicide prevention and military culture in undergraduate and graduate social work programs.   Through collaborative efforts that come with working at a small Appalachian university, especially one that provides education to many first-generation students going into social work, current and relevant issues of the geographic region are brought to the forefront. This allows for engagement with all levels of systems in a more personalized and real way that bolsters not only the community but also student learning.   These students are the future of social work and having the opportunity to be a part of their journey influences change for the future. The skills and knowledge gained during my time in the DSW have shaped my approach as an educator.    MU: Looking back at your time in the DSW program, what are you most proud of accomplishing? Blackburn: Although I have a lot of self-criticism on what could be better with my research, I know that the dissertation is only an introductory work that I will build upon as I continue to engage in research. It was important to me to tackle an issue and topic that would provide a challenge and be meaningful in my future work. I am proud that my topic created a forum for difficult conversations around suicide prevention and military populations. I hope that this discourse continues in a way that increases awareness and decreases stigma about suicide and military populations.   MU: What advice would you give students considering the DSW program today?  Blackburn: Understand your “why” for doing the program. It is a lot of time, money and work to invest in this journey. Have a clear intention with your journey, and it will make it easier to navigate the obstacles that will inevitably arise. The value is in the journey, and it will be worth it.   MU: What are your career goals moving forward, and how do you plan to use your DSW degree to shape your future in social work?  Blackburn: I plan to continue working in education (for which the DSW is essential) and incorporate clinical work more actively into my professional arena. I also hope to start working on some new research and community projects. An area of significant professional interest to me is the development of suicide mortality review boards, which are becoming more recognized and supported in suicide prevention work. I am also taking steps to engage with crisis response and crisis intervention teams in […] “Meet DSW Graduate: Dr. Miranda Blackburn  “

  • Janet Kacskos wrote a new post on the site Millersville News 1 week ago

    Iron Chef Competition Returns   A dash of creativity, a pinch of competition and a whole lot of flavor — Millersville University’s Iron Chef Competition returns this year. Teams will chef it up to impress a panel of judges as they compete for the title of Iron Chef and this year’s theme is Local Lancaster. The competition will be held March 4, 2025, in the Upper Deck.     “When I returned as a staff member, I wanted to revive the event since it was a unique and different way to bring the campus community together,” says Samantha Wary, assistant director of campus recreation. “This event allows the campus community to find ways to celebrate their own culture and personality while accepting the challenge of our theme and secret ingredient.”    Since its re-establishment, the Iron Chef event has made some upgrades. Teams have been expanded to eight members rather than five and the event is now a partner of the Hunger Free Taskforce.     “The theme of Local Lancaster came from the State of the ‘Ville address that celebrated the vibrancy the local area offers. We wanted to continue this idea,” says Wary.    The contestants are expected to create small plates to serve to the judges that fit within the annual theme. At the start of the competition, Millersville’s Executive Chef, John Johnson, will announce a surprise ingredient that the teams will need to incorporate into their planned recipe.   Teams will be judged based on three criteria:     Organization (15 points)    Cooking Skills and Techniques (15 points)    Taste (15 points)    The winning team crowned the Iron Chef, will receive a plaque with a photo of the winning members. This plaque will live in a public place on campus to celebrate the team throughout the year. Other category winners will also receive prizes.     “We are hoping to have a large audience this year after relocating into a larger area in the Upper Deck,” says Wary. “We also are hosting the event during dinner to encourage students to stop by and watch the competition when they come in for food.”    Wary encourages contestants to have fun and celebrate what they enjoy most. “One of the dishes last year was a fried rice dish with a Cajian spin, and we’re still talking about it. The international student team found a way to celebrate their culture while still matching the theme,” she adds.    Team registration is now open and will conclude on Feb. 14, 2025.    Teams can sign up now using this link: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=lDfskvC4k0-3M3owqKK1G2f […] “Iron Chef Competition Returns  “

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