Opinion: Editorial: All in arms against hate and injustice (pg. 9)
Friday, October 13, 2023 Volume LV, Issue 8 Est. 1969
LIFE
The Editorial Board takes on The Big Bounce America
Sara Khorshidi Copy Editor
The Case Western Reserve Observer’s Editorial Board explores The Big Bounce America’s two-weekend stop in the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds last Friday. Clay Preusch/The Observer
For the last two weekends, Northeast Ohio was blessed with the presence of The Big Bounce America stopping at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds as part of their national tour. The Big Bounce America advertises itself as “the largest touring inflatable event in the world … suitable for all ages.” With expansive media coverage and one testimonial describing their attractions as “the Taj Mahal of bounce houses,” I begged the Editorial Board to let me review it for an article. Luckily, Executive Editor Shivangi Nanda thought it was such a good idea that she made it our staff bonding event for this semester, and even had custom tshirts made to drum up excitement. The Big Bounce America offers tickets for bounce sessions for the toddler age range all the way up to “adults only.” We checked into our three-hour adults-only time slot at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 6 and headed to our first bounce house. Continue reading on page 4
NEWS
Offbeat anecdotes: Unraveling the unusual tales of CWRU’s history Zachary Treseler News Editor With the federation of two universities—Western Reserve University and the Case Institute of Technology—Case Western Reserve University has a deep history. In the spirit of Homecoming, we will examine stories from CWRU’s past that are slightly bizarre and funny in order to appreciate the students that came before us. Satire vs. President Cutler President Carroll Cutler may be one of the most influential presidents in CWRU’s history. Before he became president, he enlisted into the Ohio Militia during the U.S. Civil War, becoming an officer to lead his own students. Once he became president, he made Western Reserve University coeducational, allowing for his daughter to attend the college. He also moved Western Reserve from Hudson, Ohio to Cleveland. He never enjoyed criticism, though, which caused conflicts with Tempus, a Thanksgiving tradition. This is a satirical show put on by the students of Adelbert College, where they poke fun at themselves, their professors and the
rest of the world. The first Tempus occurred in 1858, where participants noted they gave speeches, “all of humorous nature, and after we had partaken of our cider and eaten our doughnuts, we had a procession, marching by the homes of the President and members of the faculty, cheering each place.” In 1882, the year that the campus moved to University Circle, Cutler ordered that the year’s production be canceled. The year before, a member of the class of 1884 portrayed a woman who was in the Class of 1885, which Cutler incredibly disliked. As a result, he forbade the event publicly at a recitation with the entire Class of 1884: His only daughter was in the Class of 1885. The class still put on the show. The result was dramatic: “With the exception of a few, who had been providentially and otherwise prevented from taking part in Tempus, all members of the class were expelled” from Western Reserve University, according to “The Adelbert,” a book dedicated to Western Reserve University history. In solidarity, the other years went on strike, not attending recitations for a week. Continue reading on page 2
The 1886 Tempus program showcases the satirical and self-deprecating nature of the production. Courtesy of the CWRU Archives
News
The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, October 13, 2023 observer.case.edu Volume LV, Issue 8
Offbeat anecdotes from page 1 Students from Ohio Wesleyan University proceeded to invite those expelled students from Adelbert College to their university, which made Ohio Wesleyan faculty threaten to expel their junior class as well. Under pressure, Cutler allowed the junior class back to the university under a probationary status. It took until after winter break for the junior class to resume their studies, while the Tempus tradition slowly started dying out. Everything about the 1862 Tempus production—the program for which is pictured above—was satirized and used to make fun of themselves and others. Courtesy of the CWRU Archives
Charles Thwing as a person
A cartoon produced by the Evening Telegram of New York pokes fun at President Charles Thwing’s comments permitting girls to use the word “damn.” The Evening Telegram/Courtesy of the CWRU Archives
President Charles Thwing was CWRU’s longest serving president, active from 1890 to 1921. Known by the nickname of “Prexy,” many noted that he was one of the last personal university presidents—he knew students by name and frequently attended student-sponsored events and programs. To say he was a character is an understatement. In 1915, he made national news for telling a first-year girls theology class that “I think it is all right to say even ‘Damn’” when he asked if the class swore. “If some man did something terrible to you and you said ‘Damn that man’ that’s all right—that man should be damned,” was reported as his follow-up statement. In another moment, Thwing once won a $250 prize—which is equivalent to $4,500 today–for first place in a Chicago newspaper contest for suggestions on how the U.S. can prevent future wars. To quote The Plain Dealer, Thwing explained, “I can’t remember what the suggestions were.” He ended up calling the prize “a joke.” In essence, while he may have been a character, Charles Thwing was beyond impactful for the university. He opened the majority of graduate and professional programs that exist on campus today. Furthermore, he spent a large part of his career working for the NAACP and advocating for women’s education.
Stunt Night In the Flora Stone Mather (FSM) College for Women, there was a tradition of an annual Stunt Night. The premise is relatively simple: each class performs an elaborate show every December for spectators to watch and a panel of alumni and faculty to judge. Each class was responsible for writing and performing an original skit followed by a song. In addition, they were the ones responsible for creating the set and costumes for their performance. As the event became more popular, it moved from the campus gymnasium to even bigger theaters, like the Cleveland Masonic Temple. To celebrate, not only was there a dance at a downtown hotel, but there was an early morning breakfast in Haydn Hall. A superb example of the type of stunts pulled is the winner of the 1945 Stunt Night. The junior class put on a play with the name “Adelbert or Die,” a parody on Romeo and Juliet. Romeo was Adelbert and Juliet was Mather, and the play was set in the phantom Western Reserveshire. A group photo of FSM students depicts the fun handmade costumes created for the 1924 Stunt Night. Courtesy of the CWRU Archives
Continue reading on page 3
Pictured above is the cover of the program of the FSM College for Women 1941 Stunt Night, wherein each class presented an original skit and song, complete with self-made sets and costumes. Courtesy of the CWRU Archives
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Offbeat anecdotes from page 2 Flag Hunt
In the 20th century, the FSM College for Women had a university-sanctioned “Hazing Committee” which was in charge of traditions during Freshmen Week. During Freshmen Week, there were traditional orientation events, including a predecessor of the Farm Harvest Festival—known as the Pink Pig Picnic—followed by tea with alumni. The Hazing Committee stepped in for the event known as “Flag Hunt.” The premise is simple: a four-by-two inch flag will be hidden in any public space on campus and must be found by 4:25 p.m. The losing class will then have to wake up at 7:30 a.m. to report for institutionalized hazing. Students going through this process noted how losing students, who were always first years, had to dole “out
candy and cigarettes to mooching sophomores and wears clothes that identify her as a queen species halfwit.” The Mather Record, a student newspaper for the women’s college, stressed how following hazing was lunch, which “shows the freshman that the sophomores are good sports too.” The Observer vs. Alpha Phi
This is a bizarre Observer-related story: In October 1983, the CWRU chapter of the Alpha Phi sorority stole 4,000 copies of The Observer, valued at $5,000. The following week’s issue proceeded to tell this dramatic tale: Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) student Chris Luxem and a manager of the Thwing Center noticed two women walking out with an excessive amount of newspapers from Thwing. They followed the
two women into a parking lot and “placed themselves in a position so that the car could not get to the exit without running them over. “When the car stopped, a woman in the back handed Luxem a stack of newspapers. There were five persons in the car and the back seat was covered with Observers.” reported The Observer. The Thwing manager recognized one of the girls as being in the sorority: They were the subject of some unflattering news that week on The Observer’s front page. Once word spread to The Observer’s staff, they sent reporters to Taplin House, the residence of the sorority at the time. These reporters were “thrown out by an irate member, who claimed that the reporters were trespassing and harassing the sorority. She threatened to call the police if they returned.” In the next few weeks, Student
Affairs made Alpha Phi pay $400 and issue an open letter of apology. Minutes from a University Media Board general body meeting stated how this money was used to increase security of its Thwing office. KSL Slip and Slide In 2004, a group of CWRU students laid out a slip and slide and filled it with soap on the stacks of the third floor of Kelvin Smith Library (KSL). Former News Editor Phuong Nguyen uncovered the video which was unlisted on YouTube; later it was hidden. Acknowledgments: The author would like to thank the staff at the CWRU Archives and Janice Gerda, the associate vice president of student engagement and learning, for their help in researching this article.
110 years in the making: Radio chess competition against The Ohio State University
CWRU loses to OSU, wins against RPI Zachary Treseler News Editor On Oct. 5, Case Western Reserve University’s Amateur Radio Club played a game of chess against The Ohio State University (OSU) over radio. This match was originally proposed in 1912, but was never formally hosted until a group of CWRU students found old newspaper clippings and decided to re-propose the tournament. The Case Tech, the Case School of Applied Science’s student newspaper—and one of the precursors to The Observer—stated that “Case students, lovers of chess, are planning to play the game wireless, with players attending Ohio State [U]niversity at Columbus” with the news that the then Wireless Club had procured a Morse code transceiver. “Although we couldn’t find any official records showing if the chess match ever happened, despite rumors of it happening in the 50’s, it was confirmed in December 1912 that they got a wireless [Morse code transceiver] working,” Adam Goodman, president of Case Amateur Radio Club, said about where the ideas
Andrew Stappenbeck makes the winning move against RPI. Courtesy of Zach Baldwin/Case Amateur Radio Club for the tournament started.
The Case Amateur Radio Club poses for a group photo before playing against OSU. Courtesy of Adam Goodman/Case Amateur Radio Club
When they found the old newspaper clippings, Goodman and his club reached out to OSU to re-propose the tournament. Though, unlike the previous attempt a century ago, many other schools, as far away as Texas, wanted in on the tournament. Goodman discussed this project with other collegiate radio clubs who expressed interest. “We figured it would be nice to add them into the fun,” he said. In terms of how the competition works, he notes that players are encouraged to play over Morse code, the same way clubs would have done over 100 years ago. Goodman also explains additional rules to ensure fair matches during the tournament. “Clubs are allowed to ask any university-affiliated human for help. However computers are not allowed to be used for anything except communication. Otherwise, all standard chess rules apply.” The tournament started in a round-robin phase and plans to move into an elimination phase in mid-October.
CWRU started the tournament off strong with a win against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) on Sept. 26. Unfortunately, CWRU lost in the long anticipated game against OSU. “This tournament is important for anyone interested in ham radio, chess, weird CWRU lore and supporting the university,” Goodman says about the importance of the tournament. He stresses the tournament’s importance to technicians in his club. “Overall it was quite a unique experience—I’ve played chess for many years, but never over the radio,” firstyear student Andrew Stappenbeck, main chess player for the tournament, said about participating in the competition. “The atmosphere in the radio shack was positive—we were excited after beating RPI, but everyone was still pretty positive after losing to OSU. Regardless of the results of the matches, radio chess was a great time.” “We are excited to celebrate ham radio’s rich legacy on campus by keeping a, quite literally, century-old tradition alive,” Goodman said.
Life
The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, October 13, 2023 observer.case.edu Volume LV, Issue 8
We love to bounce from page 1 The World’s Biggest Bounce House As soon as the group entered, we were allowed a 45-minute slot to enjoy the amenities of The World’s Biggest Bounce House, boasting 16,000 square feet of open bouncy floor space and a towering height of 32 feet. In the center of the main area was a DJ booth with large speakers, turntables and a bubble machine, and surrounding it were a variety of climbing towers, lounging canopies, slides both tall and short, basketball hoops and miniature obstacle courses. On the periphery was a ball pit room and a “wrecking ball room,” where patrons could hop on a hard rubber wrecking ball and knock over their beloved friends and family.
Auden Koetters/The Observer The floor of the entire area was very bouncy to the point where, after returning tothe ground, your gait felt noticeably heavier. The flow and placement of the obstacles were also very well done, and none of the distinct areas felt too in the way of one another or too crowded. However, the “wow factor” faded pretty quickly after seeing the other adults sitting exhausted on the sidelines due to over-exerting themselves too quickly. Regardless, the overall design of the bounce house was well done and cohesive, and it seemed like there was something for everyone to enjoy.
Opinion Editor Beau Bilinovich gleefully swings upon the wrecking ball in The World’s Biggest Bounce House, taking down all who dare to cross his path.Téa Tamburo/The Observer My one gripe about this course was the DJs. The activities they tried to get the crowd involved in to “hype them up” were reminiscent of a middle school dance and detracted from the vibe quite a bit. However, DJ Duffy and DJ Tre were two incredibly enthusiastic guys who clearly enjoyed what they were doing, earning each of them a personalized Editorial Board “We Love To Bounce” t-shirt. As we exited The World’s Biggest Bounce House at the end of our time slot, DJ Tre exclaimed over the speakers: “I love Cleveland! The hospitality!”
8.5/10
DJ Duffy (left) and DJ Tre (right) display their gorgeous custom gifts from The Case Western Reserve Observer. Sara Khorshidi/The Observer
AirSpace Sports: Sports Slam
Courtesy of The Big Bounce America
This was the first of the space-themed bounce houses available at The Big Bounce America, of which there were three at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. The most frequent description I heard about this arena was that it was basically a smaller version of The World’s Biggest Bounce House; the climbing wall structure, the basketball hoops and the large open floor plan were more or less the same. However, this area also included a large volleyball/dodgeball barrier in the middle, soccer goals lining the sides and a podium jousting area. There was definitely a structure to what activities should be happening in which sections, and there wasn’t really anywhere to sit or relax, in keeping with the AirSpace Sports name. On that note, this was easily the bounciest attraction at the fairgrounds, which was a huge plus for me. The attractions were a lot of fun to interact with, the space theme was incorporated well and the design of the course was great overall.
8/10
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We love to bounce from page 4 The Giant After the first house, the rest of the bounce houses gave us unlimited access for the rest of our visit. The Giant was the next most notable attraction of the bunch, and even more menacing in nature than The World’s Biggest Bounce House. From the outside, it looked like two separate attractions from just how expansive it was, stretching over 900 feet in total. Like most obstacle course bouncy houses, The Giant was constructed for the purpose of racing through with your friends, but that would be the last thing I recommend. If you take off at top speed—like you might for any other obstacle course—you will certainly get winded before reaching the halfway point, unless you’re some kind of ultra-marathon sprinter. As I traversed the seemingly endless maze, I passed countless (probably three) other groups desperately clinging to inflatable obstacles to avoid falling from physical exhaustion onto The Giant’s inflatable floor. I wouldn’t call myself an unathletic person, but getting through the last third of The Giant forced my body into some sort of energy-conservation mode only reserved for getting lost in the wilderness for 10 days. While the course itself was creatively designed and executed, its “wow factor” was massively overshadowed by the sheer length of it. Overall, it was worth it, but worth it in the way that a 12-hour hike uphill in a colorful inflatable prison would be worth it.
7/10
Courtesy of The Big Bounce America
AirSpace Alien Squid This attraction was definitely different from the others, serving more as a conversation pit than anything else. Primarily, there was little to no bounce except for a circular track surrounding the body of the alien; every time you took a step in any other part of the course, you had to brace yourself on one of the tentacles to keep from falling over. There were two small jacuzzi-sized ball pits for more private conversation, and a larger ball pit encasing the body of the alien that was roughly 20 feet in diameter. Because of the lack of bounce, many of the balls from the ball pit were crushed or broken from people stepping on them. I really appreciated the design of this whole attraction and thought that it was very creative. We soon learned that it was also a great environment for dodgeball fights—the tentacles served as great shields when trying to avoid being pelted. When we first ventured into the AirSpace Alien Squid, we were disappointed by its lack of bounce and calmer mood, but it ended up being the perfect way to end the evening, between the good conversations we had there and the several impromptu dodgeball fights.
6.5/10
Courtesy of WUSA9
AirSpace Slide This slide was much more in alignment with the typical bounce house obstacle course. Once again, the design included a racing element, with five distinct paths that each had their own set of obstacles you had to complete before climbing up to the communal slide to finish the course. The slide was also the fastest out of any of the other attraction’s slides. Because it was a much shorter course, we were tempted to go back again and again. This course stood out to me the most in terms of its theme, and I really enjoyed the little alien bobbleheads at the end of the slide.
News Editor Zachary Treseler (left) and Director of Print Elie Aoun (right) recline on the vibrant nylon of the AirSpace Alien Squid as they rejoice in the spirit of The Big Bounce America. Téa Tamburo/The Observer
Auden Koetters/The Observer
8/10
I can safely say that everyone on the Editorial Board was able to satisfy their craving for bounce at The Big Bounce America and its many attractions. Overall, I would highly recommend this experience to any families with young children or any adults who want to try something new with their friends. The Big Bounce America is touring all over the country for the next several months, with its next stops in San Francisco and Kansas City, Missouri this upcoming weekend.
6 Life
Friday, October 13, 2023
The CWRU Theater Department presents a poignant staging of “The Moors” Madeline Golya Contributing Writer Halloween is swiftly approaching, as seen in the changing of the leaves, the emergence of chunky sweaters and every social media site making lists of the best autumnal recipes and horror movies to try this fall. In keeping with the season, if you’re looking for a haunting and captivating experience that deviates from the traditional 19th century drama, then the Case Western Reserve University Department of Theater has quite the treat for you. Written by Jen Silverman and brought to life on stage by David Vegh, associate professor and director, “The Moors” is a production that will satisfy every gothic bone in your body. Set on the desolate English moors from which the play derives its name, Silverman tells the story of the house of two sisters, their maid, their dog, their ambitions and what happens when two outsiders are thrust into this precarious environment. Silverman’s tribute
to the Brontë sisters is an amalgamation of 19th century themes and modern ideas that has made it a hit, specifically among college theaters, since its publication in 2017. Chock-full of stomach-knotting tension, delicately-handled comedy and objective-driven characters, “The Moors” is “tonally all over the map,” a feature that inspired Vegh to tell this story. Sensitive themes contrast starkly with the harsh environment of the show, and they beg the question of what it means to be truly “seen by another person” and “what it means to be chosen.” When watching the play unfold on stage, it’s quite easy to be swept along with the story through a plethora of engaging acting techniques as well as atmospheric design qualities. Through thrilling lighting, costumes that convey distinct characters and sound design that ranges from melancholy to entertaining enough to have you dancing in your seat, the design team manages to draw each one of your senses into the performance. Beyond effects, there is a genu-
ine drive from all of the actors to “raise their [own] personal bars for performance.” Each actor uses pacing, breath, pitch and sincere reaction to create larger-than-life characters from the moment the show begins. It is clear the cast is tightknit, and their understanding of their peers on stage is just as deep as their understanding of their own characters. This quality creates an interconnectedness between characters, and as the show progresses, each character begins to subconsciously assume attributes of their scene partners. While many of the characters grow to mirror and emotionally intertwine with those around them, the contrast between every combination of pairs on stage is truly human. From her first appearance, Agatha (Tabitha Raithel) holds a steely control over herself and her house that can be only momentarily pierced by the exuberant and explosive nature of her sister, Huldey (Jasmyn Zeigerson). The Mastiff (Dominic Monczewski) and A Moor-Hen (Lisa O’Brien) delight with quizzical and heartfelt discus-
sions throughout the piece about what emotions mean and how they are experienced. Emilie (Liv Carle) explores the strength found in softness while Marjory (Rachel Greidinger) provides a harrowing and witty performance that both unnerves and amuses audiences. One thing’s for sure: Every person working on “The Moors” brings with them unique qualities that create an eerily wonderful experience for the viewer. Upon viewing CWRU’s production of “The Moors,” the audience is challenged not only to watch, but to consume and digest the play, something that sets Silverman’s script and Vegh’s directorial abilities apart from other, more contemporary pieces. This production is a must-see for the fall season, and after a stellar first weekend of performances, be sure to buy your ticket in advance for this coming weekend. Tickets are $5 to reserve a spot in the Maltz Performing Arts Center’s Black Box for either Friday, Oct. 13 or Saturday, Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m., or Sunday, Oct. 15 at 3 p.m.
A Taste of Case (Western Reserve University) at UDC’s World Expo Shejuti Wahed Social Media Content Creator Every day, Case Western Reserve University undergraduate student leaders work diligently behind the scenes to make our campus more welcoming to the various identities in our community. To showcase their efforts, the Undergraduate Diversity Collaborative (UDC) hosted their flagship World Expo event on Sunday, Oct. 8, celebrating the community-building that many of our students partake in outside of their academics. Over 35 student organizations, largely UDC- and USG-affiliated, tabled in the Thwing Atrium and Ballroom and displayed their events and accomplishments in a Monopolythemed event. The UDC organizers started off the event with free World Expo tote bags at the sign-in table. But that was not the only giveaway I encountered—the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in STEM (SACNAS) table held a squishmallow raffle, there were UDC t-shirts in Thwing 101 and most tables had candy or other tasty treats. I spent much of the event sampling foods from around the world, from Mexican tamarind candies at the UWC@ CWRU table to Indian soan papdi at the Undergraduate Indian Students Association (uISA) table. Of course, in between snacking on delicious treats, I learned a lot about the different cultures and advocacy happening on campus. I met with leaders of the AfricanAmerican Society, which is the oldest Black student organization on campus, and the Filipino Student Union, which connects Filipino stu-
dents to their heritage through activities like lumpia-making. Several clubs, such as Know Your Neighbors and the Underrepresented Minority Women in STEM Club, seek to connect the Case Western Reserve community to the Greater Cleveland area and bring students out of the “CWRU bubble.” Others, like the Minority Association for Premedical Students, the Latino Medical Student Association and the National Society of Black Engineers, focus on equipping minorities with the tools they need to find success in fields that historically lack diversity. When asked about their favorite part of World Expo, multiple students brought up the intersectionality of issues that the student groups are passionate about. Both the CWRU chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association and the American Sign Language Club focus on bringing awareness to the deaf community and emphasize the universality of communication. CWRU Nadaam, an Indian classical music organization, highlights music’s significance in all cultures, which is something that the Cheza Nzuri dance team and uISA, along with many other clubs, also promote through their clubs’ music-oriented events. Since so many organizations overlap in their values and goals, the World Expo was the perfect place to bring them all together. Even when organizations did not overlap, the enthusiasm and room for learning that attendees displayed was exciting. One Cheza Nzuri dancer commented on how excited non-African students were to come play their dancing game. Many students brought up how they first enjoyed the complemen-
tary Turkish tea and baklava at the Turkish Student Association table but stuck around to learn more about their culture. For many UDC organizations, there is no requirement to identify with whichever religious, ethnic or gender background the club represents—we are all here to learn. More than just the posters, the food, the games and the music, the people and their eagerness to share ideas were what made this event such a success. The World Expo was both entertaining and informa-
tive, and hearing about the various causes that students are passionate about—and actively advocating for—filled me with a sense of pride. As a member of The Sisterhood commented, “Diversity is not just making sure everyone is there, and not just that everyone is represented, but that they are adequately represented.” I look forward to seeing more World Expos in the years to come, as UDC continues to bring more student voices to the table and work towards representation in every corner of our campus.
Courtesy of CWRU UDC
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Sweet rivalry: Presti’s Bakery and Café vs. Corbo’s Bakery Shivangi Nanda Executive Editor Noah Henriques Web Editor Cleveland’s historic Little Italy is famous for its scenic streets and highquality restaurants. Located just outside University Circle, the neighborhood is beloved by many Case Western Reserve University students looking to enjoy authentic Italian food and take in some of its Old World charm. For us, the two true gems of Little Italy are its bakeries—Presti’s Bakery and Café and Corbo’s Bakery. Presti’s was founded by Rose and Charles Presti Sr. in 1903, with the humble beginnings of making only fresh bread. As the bakery grew, so did its repertoire, and four generations lat-
Shivangi Nanda/The Observer
In terms of presentation alone, Corbo’s and Presti’s offer a nearly identical tiramisu experience— clean layers of cream and ladyfingers accompanied by a generous dusting of cocoa. Upon first taste, the tiramisu at Corbo’s has a beautifully moist texture, complemented by a delicate cream. We found that this pairs well with the richer coffee flavor and bittersweet cocoa. Presti’s, on the other hand, offers a slightly drier cake with a less pronounced coffee flavor. The subtly is further overwhelmed by an abundant yet fluffy cream. We found that Corbo’s far excelled in providing a pastry that was moist and definitely coffee flavored, with Presti’s version coming across as a little lackluster.
An Italian staple, the cassata cake from Corbo’s and Presti’s has notable differences in flavor and appearance. Corbo’s offers a moist sponge that is sweet and complements the subtle flavor of the cream filling. While there are fewer fresh strawberries than we would have hoped, the cake still has its signature rosy color and tartness. But the main drawback for us is the large volume of cream, which sadly overwhelms the rest of the cake. Presti’s cassata cake, on the other hand, features a much better cream-tostrawberry ratio and has a burst of fruity flavor. Its presentation is also more pleasing, embodying the essence of the traditional Italian dessert. The cream, though a bit sweeter than the one at Corbo’s, supports the fluffy, spongy cake well.
Shivangi Nanda/The Observer
Corbo’s: 4.5/5 Presti’s: 3.5/5
Corbo’s: 4.25/5 Presti’s: 3.5/5
Shivangi Nanda/The Observer
Cannoli
Sfogliatelle
Shivangi Nanda/The Observer
Presti’s and Corbo’s both offered commendable cream puffs. Presti’s cream puff boasts a larger size and a chocolate sauce garnish, which is a little too sweet for our liking, but it makes for a good presentation. Its crust has that ideal hard shell and light interior, and the filling is a heaping serving of cream— fluffy and airy in texture, similar to whipped cream. While pleasant, the filling differs starkly from the typical custard cream of a cream puff. In contrast, Corbo’s has a slightly smaller pastry than Presti’s, but offers a superior cream-to-pastry ratio and a completely different flavor profile. Its thicker, sweeter filling is much more in line with a traditional cream, and this pastry’s only real flaw is the excessive dusting of powdered sugar on top.
Tiramisu
Cassata Cake
Presti’s: 4/5 Corbo’s: 3/5
Cream Puff
er the shop continues to produce bread, pastries and cakes, all with original recipes. Corbo’s—located just across the street from Presti’s—has been family-owned for over 50 years and specializes in Italian cakes and pastries. Given Presti’s and Corbo’s history as well-established bakeries, it’s no surprise that many of their popular pastries overlap. This has led to some debate among local residents as to which establishment is better. We decided to save you the trouble—and the cash— by providing a detailed comparison of five popular pastries: the cream puff, sfogliatelle, tiramisu, cassata cake and, of course, the renowned cannoli. Judging them by texture, flavor and presentation, we hope that our review will have you craving a good pastry, plus make it easier to decide where to get it from.
When it comes to sfogliatelle—a shell-shaped, cream-filled pastry— Presti’s and Corbo’s stay true to the authentic presentation, but differ in flavor and texture. The sfogliatelle from Presti’s is slightly smaller, and the one at Corbo’s has a little too much powdered sugar garnish. The pastry from Presti’s is filled with an overwhelmingly heavy filling that is partially redeemed by its rich cardamom flavor. However, the most disappointing part is the pastry’s extreme toughness. Biting into its layers is the equivalent of eating dry pasta or even a thin rock, far surpassing what would be an enjoyable level of crunchy. On the other hand, the version at Corbo’s has a less-intense texture that makes the pastry easier to chew. The filling, though on the sweeter side, boasts a rich flavor and spongy texture, and the thinner pastry makes it easier to savor. In this contest, the sfogliatelle at Corbo’s definitely takes the cake. Corbo’s: 3.5/5 Presti’s: 2.5/5
Shivangi Nanda/The Observer
A review of an Italian bakery wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the cannoli. In terms of presentation, both Corbo’s and Presti’s offer a shell of fried pastry generously topped with powdered sugar and filled with a rich ricotta cream. The cannoli cream at Presti’s is a little too sweet for our tastes, but it has the perfect amount of mini chocolate chips inside. Its texture is pleasantly thick as well, and it is complemented by a solid pastry that is only a little chewy. On the other hand, Corbo’s offers a cannoli that is freshly piped, with a cream that has the perfect level of sweetness. Its texture is lighter and airier as well, with a comparably enjoyable crunchy shell. While we found both cannolis to be delicious, Corbo’s provides a cannoli experience that excels in both cream and crust quality. Corbo’s: 4.25/5 Presti’s: 3.5/5
Based on numbers alone, Corbo’s comes out on top. However, we truly enjoyed our experience at both bakeries and feel each has something special to offer. So whether you find yourself drawn to Corbo’s for its superior cream puff or Presti’s for its classic cassata cake,
either bakery is sure to leave you satisfied with time-honored recipes and cherished family traditions. The debate between these two iconic bakeries will likely persist, but in the end, the true winner is anyone lucky enough to enjoy these bakeries’ iconic desserts.
Fun
The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, October 13, 2023 observer.case.edu Volume LV, Issue 8
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Weekly Horoscope
PUZZLE BY PETER KOETTERS
The signs as President Eric Kaler’s emails Aquarius “Police Brutality in Memphis: We All Must Be and Do Better” (1/29/23) Pisces “Standing with Our Iranian Community” (10/6/22) Aries “Support for our LGBTQ+ Community” (9/19/23) Taurus “Testing Positive for COVID-19” (1/24/22) Gemini “Celebrating a Victory for Marriage Equality” (12/9/22) Cancer “Friday’s Supreme Court Decision—CWRU’s Next Steps” (6/28/22) Leo “Case Quad Renovation Project: Additional Information” (5/25/22) Virgo “Supporting Informed Debate, but Rejecting Hate” (11/9/22) Libra “Support During a Time of Conflict” (10/9/23) Scorpio “Today’s U.S. Supreme Court Admissions Decision” (6/29/23)
ACROSS 1 It may involve a pyramid || Bamboozle 5 Ullman of "Persona" 8 Struggled for breath 14 Torpedo ___ 15 Joined 16 Dr. Pepper competitor 17 Sign offering relaxing teas? / Sign on a bathroom door? 19 Bikini and 48-Down 20 Onetime Rodeo maker 21 Lose transparency 23 Noble ___ 24 Sign giving a fire and brimstone warning? 28 Ultimate goal 30 Yahoo! rival 31 Play chicken? || Place 32 Debacle 35 Kid 36 Sign at the vet? 40 Actress Delany 41 Welcome digits on a paycheck 42 Most excellent ending 43 Whimsical 45 It's sacrificed to the sea 49 Sign pointing to Othello biding his time?
53 Start to angulate? 54 Comment to Wayne or Garth 55 "I Am...___": Neil Diamond hit 57 Dig up 59 Pilot's mistake with the rudder, or when the last word is reversed, the sign that is this puzzle's theme 61 Impatient bride 62 The naked ___ 63 See 52-Down 64 Driven balls 65 Like a worthless cent 66 Fix a Spot? DOWN 1 Struggle 2 Brings up to speed 3 Farcical 4 Historic city just south of Luxembourg 5 Head across the pond 6 Tagging along 7 Big name in scooters 8 Greek trio usually portrayed naked 9 Sly genre? || Shout on the set 10 Show disdain for, with "at" 11 Speaker of many tongues 12 Common sofa shape
13 "___ Kapital" 18 Like many schools 22 Knight's defence 25 Valley where David fought Goliath 26 Stately trees 27 Color 29 Shaving brand 33 Astronomical eclipse configuration 34 Iowa college 35 Kid 36 "It ___ dark and stormy night" 37 Chanted psalmic refrain 38 65-Across, in Spain 39 Look through a microscope 40 Morning slickness? 43 More solid 44 Records 46 Refuse to turn in 47 "Problem" singer Grande 48 Pivotal WWII battle site 50 Brownish gray 51 Yard care item 52 With 63-Across, pescatarian sandwich order 56 Cpl.'s superiors 57 Reef dweller 58 Prime number after XXXVII 60 Multivolume ref.
Overheard CWRU
Compilation of out-of-pocket things heard across campus
Sagittarius “Divestment of Fossil Fuel Holdings” (11/30/21) Capricorn “Last Night’s Robbery and Campus Safety” (9/12/21)
"What other bounce can I be talking about"
Tyler Vu/The Observer "They'll go to a party on like a Tuesday night and still end up being so much more successful in their careers than me"
"Kill yourself" "I'm never finding love" "Their parents probably beat the sh*t out of them"
"Man on man" "It's over. It's completely done. It's finished" "If you want to be skinny eat like a poor person and eat the same thing every day because they can't afford to buy a bag of Cheetos"
Opinion
The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, October 13, 2023 observer.case.edu Volume LV, Issue 8
Self-care isn’t always great advice Snehal Choudhury Staff Writer
It’s that time again where we often dwell on how we “suck” at life and school and how we’re concentrated balls of stress and spite. This is also when The Observer does an obligatory mental health check-in as we grind for midterms and complete a boatload of assignments before fall break. In order to trudge through these trying times, we’re frequently told to practice “self-care.” It’s a trendy term that society has latched onto in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and has been shoved down our throats by administrative wellness programs and well-intentioned individuals. But what does this term mean? Unfortunately, self-care does not mean binge-eating several scoops of Mitchell’s ice cream for dinner; rather, it involves a set of activities you do that results in better physical, mental and emotional health for yourself. While people commonly think of recreational tasks such as journaling as self-care, it also includes essential routines: maintaining personal hygiene, eating nutritious meals, sleeping enough, staying active, doing laundry and cleaning your living space. However, this version of self-care is only great when everything goes smoothly—which is rare in college. It’s mostly unhelpful advice. Let me set the scene: You are stressed juggling coursework, jobs, extracurriculars and a social life. And don’t forget you have to boost your career prospects by applying for internships and polishing your LinkedIn profile! Sounds exhausting already! These self-care tasks seem simple, but they require you to make lots of little decisions and plan them around everything else. Consider laundry: You have to think about how much detergent is left, when to do laundry, how much you need to wash, what to do if the machines
break down and so on. The sheer mental strain of tackling these care tasks when you are already stretched thin results in decision fatigue, which can leave you too drained to do anything. But most of us contend with far worse problems—mental illness, homesickness, past trauma and executive dysfunction to name a few. During those times, self-care doesn’t help when just getting through the day is hard enough. Additionally, we often put value in societal expectations regarding self-care that are thrust upon us by Instagram and wellness programs. For instance, we are told to make and eat nutritious meals and are given “great” ways to tidy-up our living space. Oftentimes, these expectations aren’t realistic due to limited time and finances, but we abide by them anyways. Compared to these standards, our version of self-care is never “good enough.” When we consider all of these aspects, self-care becomes an additional burden that we don’t have the capacity or time to handle. Rather than making our working conditions less stressful, society shifts the onus on us to better ourselves when we’re already struggling. As a result, when we understandably can’t manage it all, we feel immense shame and failure. That’s not what self-care should be. Personally, the idea of self-care frustrated me because I have often lacked the will or energy to carry out these care tasks. I wondered what was wrong with me if I couldn’t do something as simple as self-care. Then I watched a revolutionary TED Talk by licensed therapist KC Davis called “How to do laundry when you’re depressed.” I rarely give much value to TED talks, but she helped me realize that the current concept of self-care was faulty for many others, too—as she puts it, “hundreds of thousands of people in my comment sections [were] telling me that these daily care tasks were a major pain point in their life.”
In response, Davis introduces a more practical, compassionate version of self-care known as “struggle care,” born out of her struggle to simultaneously manage her household and family during the pandemic. One tenet of struggle care is that “care tasks are morally neutral.” What she means is that self-care tasks don’t define your worth as a person. Struggling to do them isn’t shameful and doesn’t make you a failure. Practicing self-care is a terrible metric of your self-worth. Be kind to yourself—no matter how much you’re currently struggling, you still deserve to eat, stay clean and live the best life you can at the very least. But how do we put that into action? As Davis says, “throw away what you think care tasks ‘should’ look like and work towards a way of
Tyler Vu/The Observer
doing them that works for YOU.” This could mean “showering” with wet paper towels, using disposable plates and utensils instead of real dishes and heating a frozen meal or ordering out for dinner. Allow yourself to do the bare minimum to care for yourself because that is usually good enough. Likewise, if you’re currently unable to manage all of your academic and extracurricular commitments, taking a step back is also “morally neutral”; it’s not a reflection of weakness or failure on your end. At the end of the day, our wellbeing is a fragile entity that requires constant upkeep. While it can be challenging in a taxing environment like Case Western Reserve University, we can approach selfcare in a way that is far easier on the mind and body, because that’s how it should be.
EDITORIAL
All in arms against hate and injustice Editorial Board Early in the morning on Oct. 7, Hamas militants invaded southern Israel and fired upon innocent civilians. The militants targeted more than 20 areas, including the Nova music festival, where 260 Israeli citizens were horrendously shot and killed. In total, more than 1,000 people died, countless others were injured and an estimated 150 people have been taken hostage by Hamas. In response, President Eric Kaler sent out an email to the Case Western Reserve University student body. As a show of support in a time of unspeakable conflict, President Kaler stated that “this violence will not advance the goal of peace” and that CWRU stands together “to denounce violence and hate in all forms.” The Observer stands in arms, too, with all CWRU students and faculty against this reprehen-
sible violence and bloodshed. No one, regardless of race, religion, class or nationality, should have to suffer at the hands of evil. No amount of reactionary violence against an innocent group of people will ever bring the world closer to peace. These terrorist actions are not a force for liberation; they merely exist to drive Israel and Palestine further into conflict—leaving behind a bloody trail of suffering, innocent people. For too long this region has seen almost continuous conflict. These recent terrorist attacks will only ensure the continuation of war. Soon after the shootings, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to enact “mighty vengeance” against Hamas. Air strikes are being launched into Gaza, where the Hamas militants invaded from. In addition, 300,000 reservists of Israel’s ground forces have been called up to the border between Israel and Gaza, a sign of a potential
direct counterattack into the region. No such order, however, has been made. Israel’s response to the attacks has left 1,500 Hamas militants dead inside its border, according to Israeli officials. Airstrikes have destroyed large parts of Gaza, leaving many homes and structures in ruins and cutting power to around 2 million residents, plunging Gaza into complete darkness. Amidst the fighting, more than 1,000 Palestinians were killed and more than 5,000 were wounded. Countless individuals have been displaced from their homes with no place to flee. A very important distinction must be made here: Hamas is not representative of all Palestinians. The actions of an unequivocal terrorist group do not define the beliefs and lives of innocent Palestinian civilians. The deaths of all innocent people should be remembered, regardless of what part of the world they are from, and all of us, as CWRU
students, should stand together in arms against hatred, bloodshed and the tools used to divide us. As humans, we are more than what makes us different. All of us should strive to make the world a better place for everyone. We can only accomplish peace through the honest hard work of every one of us. We need to stand resolute in the face of evil because as long as evil is allowed to continue to prosper, peace can never be achieved. We are at our best when all people are allowed to live their lives freely and without judgment. In the midst of conflict, The Observer hopes to provide an outlet for student voices to prosper and for compassion to be extended to all students, faculty and their families. All of us deserve to live in peace and comfort—here at CWRU and in Israel and Gaza. As President Kaler remarked, “Together we can hope that peace will prevail.” Let’s all stand together in arms through these difficult times.
10 Opinion
Friday, October 13, 2023
The Case Western Reserve Observer Established in 1969 by the undergraduate students of Case Western Reserve University
Shivangi Nanda Executive Editor & Publisher PRINT Elie Aoun Director of Print Téa Tamburo News Editor Zachary Treseler News Editor Kate Gordon Life Editor Beau Bilinovich Opinion Editor Puneet Bansal Sports Editor Lexy Jensen Development Editor Rebecca Warber Copy Editor Darcy Chew Copy Editor Sara Khorshidi Copy Editor Sarah Karkoff Copy Editor DIGITAL MEDIA Joce Ortiz Director of Digital Media Nandana Vinod Social Media Manager Aambar Agarwal Social Media Editor Shejuti Wahed Social Media Content Creator & Video Editor Clay Preusch Photo Editor Noah Henriques Web Editor DESIGN Auden Koetters Director of Design Anjali Bhuthpur Layout Designer Phuong Nguyen Layout Designer Bowen Zhang Layout Designer Lucas Yang Graphic Designer Tyler Vu Graphic Designer BUSINESS Khushali Desai Director of Business Operations Matthew Chang Business Manager Sophia Ran Business Manager Cayley Ng Business Manager The Observer is the weekly undergraduate student newspaper of Case Western Reserve University. Established in 1969, The Observer reports news affecting students and provides an editorial forum for the university community. Unsigned editorials are typically written by the opinion editor but reflect the majority opinion of the senior editorial staff. Opinion columns are the views of their writers and not necessarily of The Observer staff. For advertising information, contact The Observer via e-mail at observer@case.edu. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR should be e-mailed to observer@case.edu or submitted on our website at observer.case.edu. Letters can be mailed to Thwing Center 11111 Euclid Avenue, Suite 01, Cleveland, Ohio 44106. For policy and guidelines related to the submission of Letters to the Editor, refer to observer.case.edu/submit-a-letter. The Observer is a proud member of CWRU’s University Media Board. Follow The Observer on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram @cwruobserver.
Photos of the week
Tyler Vu/The Observer
Tyler Vu/The Observer
Affirmative action was wrong from the start Catherine Choi Staff Writer
This summer, the United States Supreme Court decided in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina (UNC) that higher education institutions could no longer consider race as a factor in admissions, thus severely limiting affirmative action programs. In California v. Bakke, it was ruled that affirmative action programs must not result in harm to non-minority applicants; however, as in the cases of Harvard University and UNC, many affirmative action systems failed to meet non-discrimination requirements. White and Asian American applicants were particularly negatively affected, as colleges relied on faulty stereotypes to promote unjust discrimination. Furthermore, there is no proven correlation between enforcing racial quotas and promoting a school’s cultural diversity. So , educational institutions, employers and legislatures should put a higher emphasis on a candidate’s merit rather than promoting diversity. Quotas are a violation of the Constitution. In the case of affirmative action, educational institutions and employers recruit qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities and covered veterans. As a result, there is an increase in diversity, equality and social mobility. But these benefits come at the cost of discriminating against those who are not part of protected classes and violating the Equal Protection clause of the Constitution. In the case Fisher v. University of Texas (UT), UT was required to admit students with grades in the top 10% of Texas highschools. For the rest of their applicants, race was a determining factor. Abigail Fisher was one of those applicants. Fisher claimed she was not accepted due to not being in the top 10% of her highschool and for being white. The Supreme Court ruled that such discrimination was not a violation of the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection clause; however, admissions cannot utilize a racial quota without violating the Constitution. In that same court case, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg stated that race was merely one factor of many that colleges considered in admitting students. However, not all college applicants are alike: Some who are considered to be privileged applicants are not necessarily more advantaged than those considered to be minority ap-
plicants. Considering factors irrelevant to a candidate’s merits can lead to counter-discrimination and an overall decline in an institution’s performance. Perceptions of unfairness from affirmative action programs can result in a decrease in applications, impaired work ethics and a decline in professional commitment. Schools are more likely to be successful by electing applicants with a diversity of ideas and those that can excel in their academic programs. But selecting students based on stereotypical assumptions about race, gender and disability can end up erasing the efforts of students who were fairly admitted to their school of choice, undermining the value of merit and hard work. Quotas increase the possibility of recruiting unqualified candidates, and in the case where they fail to adapt to the college atmosphere, schools can suffer from high dropout rates. In a society which values educational excellence, applicants should be evaluated based on merit to prevent unqualified applicants from taking the place of qualified ones. Adopting quotas can, in fact, promote stereotypes and discrimination. Quotas often force recruiters to accept unqualified candidates just to fill available spots. Providing unfair advantages in areas that have a huge impact on one’s life—such as education, employment and government positions—based on criteria irrelevant to one’s skill and beyond one’s control—such as gender, race and disability—can foster the stereotype that certain applicants are incapable and can only succeed with additional help. These stereotypes can lead to workplace tension by perpetuating the thought that unqualified candidates are stealing opportunities from those who are more qualified, as well as by undermining the voices of minority candidates. We should instead focus on changing the recruitment process to exclude bias as much as possible and on providing more resources and opportunities for people to succeed. Educational and professional requirements for acceptance into school or the work force exist for a reason. By focusing on merit, schools and companies can select the most qualified people for the position. The best method of combating discrimination is by providing more opportunities for people to succeed and to reject the social stereotypes that have hurt generations of students and workers alike.
Zachary Treseler/The Observer
Sports
The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, October 13, 2023 observer.case.edu Volume LV, Issue 8
Students compete for eternal glory and fame in ancient Olympic Games Elie Aoun Director of Print
Cason Willman Contributing Writer On the 7th of the month of Pyanepsion (October), classicists, athletes and fans alike gathered in the Thwing Center Ballroom to witness and participate in the Olympic Games held by a collaboration of Judo Club and Atlantis, the classics club at Case Western Reserve University. Students competed for prizes in four different events: wrestling, long jump, shot put and sprint. Lunch was catered from Aladdin’s Eatery, a pankration exhibition was held and the top three winners of each event received glorious prizes. The first competition was wrestling, where members of Judo Club wrestled in a Greek tradition stretching back to the funeral games in Book XXIII of Homer’s Iliad. In this format, it is permissible to choke and arm-lock opponents. Competitors earned points by forcing their opponent onto his back or off the mat, and the first wrestler to earn three points won the match. Some matches were slow and long while others were rapid and explosive. Fourthyear student Walker Cox fought valiantly to make it to the finals but was eventually defeated by graduate student Mitchell Arch. Second-year student Daniel Passmore finished in third. In the long jump, which was open to all students, contestants leapt one after another onto a mat—as Alexander the Great leapt into the citadel of the Mallians—for a chance at glory. Cox redeemed himself in this event, earning a solid first place. Arch followed closely behind in second place and Passmore again earned a third-place finish. Between the competitive events, a pankration exhibition was held by experienced fighters. These students sparred in a mix of boxing and wrestling before a captive audience. The pankration matches often began with bouts of quick jabs and eventually ended with the two fighters grappling each other on the floor. No winners were crowned since the pankration was simply an exhibition, but it greatly enhanced the Olympic spirit of the day. In the following shot put event, students tried to throw a heavy metal ball as far as they could by
twisting their bodies or thrusting it directly. The competition was fierce, and a great clamor resounded from the ball continuously striking the floor of the ballroom. An employee from Jolly Scholar walked upstairs and informed the organizers of the Olympics that the din produced by the balls slamming into the ground made it “sound like the ceiling was gonna fall in,” but the event was almost over by that point. Thirdyear student Joe Ferrari finished in first, followed by graduate student Jonathan Karkour in second and Cox in third. The day ended with a sprint outside of Thwing in the chilly rain. Though this unpropitious omen from Zeus was interpreted disfavorably by the seer of evil things, everyone still ran with great alacrity by the side of Mather House. To the amazement of all, there was a three-way tie for first between Cox, fourth-year student Max Hudak and fourth-year student Teja Paladugu, who all finished in six seconds precisely. Perhaps such an occurrence is a first in the nearly three-millennia history of the Olympics. The top three winners of each of the four events were crowned with a gold laurel wreath and received a bust of an ancient historical or
mythological figure. In a stunning feat of athleticism, Cox won a crown for each event. Swift-footed Achilles would surely be proud. “The event was exactly what I hoped it would be, minus the weather! I’m very proud of both our Atlantis and Judo exec boards for coming together to create this Ancient Olympic Games!” said fourth-year student Laila Ramadan, the president of Atlantis. “The wrestling and pankration events were incredible to watch, the guys really went all out and showed their skills. It was nice to see everyone participating overall in the shot put, long jump, and sprint events. Personally, the sprint was my favorite event.” Inspired by Pindar, an ancient Greek lyric poet of odes to victorious athletes, third-year classics major Cason Willman composed the following sublime verses: An Ode in the Style of Pindar: Sīc certāmen alacre fuit tum Ātlantide coepit. Primum audax Vādēns venit ambō in corpore sānus Menteque sānus et occīdit fortēs eius hostēs. Quisque genūque manūs utrius tum bracchia cēpit.
(Left to right) Graduate student Mitchell Arch, fourth-year Walker Cox and second-year Daniel Passmore pose with their two laurel wreaths and miniature trophies after they placed top three in both wrestling and long jump. Courtesy of Laila Ramadan/Atlantis
Vādēns victor erat! sed eum post vincit et audax. Pancratium magnum sequitur, tam saltibus ingens. Dein iacimus fortēs quoque vīribus ultima saxa. Sīcut Ulixēs fēcit eās rēs sponte suā ōlim, Nōs adeō ardōrem dēmōnstrāmus (quoque pār sum). Cursus in hīs pluviīs factus (mīrābile vīsu!), Atque citō subitō videō (quem?) currere sēsē: Ēliās vīcit, quī celer est ut fulmine, Lailam! Tigranocertā iūdice sī tēcum Enkidu certet, Tigranocertā iūdice sē victum Enkidu dīcat. Iuppiter in caelō facit omnia maxima celsō, Nōs imitāre sumus cōnātī, forsan et rursus! Vīta hominis sōlum exemplum: sibi fīat alacris! English translation: And thus did the lively contest, because of Atlantis, begin. First up was the brave Walker, sound both in his body, And in his mind, and he slew his strong foes. Each one seized at the knee and the hands of the other, and then at the arms. Walker was the victor! But then an even braver fighter bests him. Followed the marvelous pankration, and a feat so great in leaping. Then we throw the last stones, too, we strong ones with our might. Just as Ulysses by his own will— long ago, “in those ancient days”— performed his deeds, So do we demonstrate our passion (I, the author, as well). Then the footrace was held in the rain—wonderful to see! And whom do I see suddenly running quickly? Why, it’s Elie, who is quick as the lightning, and he has defeated Laila in the footrace! If Enkidu were to challenge you, with Tigranocerta as judge, He would call himself conquered, with Tigranocerta as judge. Jove in high heaven performs all his greatest deeds, We tried to imitate his strength, and perhaps we shall try again one day! For the life of man has one aim: may it become lively!
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12 Sports
Friday, October 13, 2023
CWRU men’s tennis sweeps the ITA Central Regional Championships Sidharth Ranga Staff Writer
Looking to repeat their nearly flawless season as the NCAA Division III tennis team champions, the athletes from the Case Western Reserve University men’s tennis team entered the ITA Central Region Championships in Kalamazoo, Michigan with a winning mentality. The first day of the offseason tournament saw all five CWRU singles players advance to the round of 32. Meanwhile, two out of three doubles pairings advanced to the round of 16. Ninth-seeded third-year Casey Hishinuma and graduate student Michael Sutanto lost 8-6 in a tight match.
On the second day, secondyear Anmay Devaraj and graduate student Diego Maza lost in the round of 32 and 16, respectively. However, they did not go down without a fight, as Devaraj forced a third set against the top-seeded player Derek Hsieh of the University of Chicago, while Maza upset the second-seeded Rishil Kondapaneni of Kenyon College before losing in the round of 16. Though they both lost their singles matches, Devaraj and Maza still came out victorious in their doubles draw. The doubles pairing of Maza and fourth-year Vishwa Aduru won both of their matches to reach the semifinals, where they later faced the other CWRU doubles pairing of Devaraj and fourth-year Sahil Dayal. The other
Fourth-year Vishwa Aduru (left) and graduate student Diego Maza (right) win the ITA Central Regional Doubles Championship, qualifiying for the 2023 ITA Cup in Rome, Georgia. Courtesy of CWRU Athletics
Third-year Ajay Mahenthiran takes home the ITA Central Regional Singles Championship during the tournament in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Courtesy of CWRU Athletics three singles players, third-year Ajay Mahenthiran, Sutanto and Hishinuma, all won their respective matches on the second day to reach the quarterfinals. Following a respectable Day Two record with only two CWRU players losing their singles matches, Day Three consisted of several eliminations, as the two doubles pairings were pitted against each other as well as Mahenthiran and Sutanto in the singles draw. Devaraj and Dayal fell to the second seeded Maza and Aduru, who went on to win the ITA championship and earn All-America honors for the 2023-24 season. Following a similar trend, Mahenthiran beat fourth-seeded teammate Sutanto in singles play 6-0, 6-3 and followed up his impressive inter-team win with a three-set win against Denison
University’s Ethan Green to reach the singles championship match. Hishinuma saw the end of his tournament run with a 6-1, 6-1 loss to UChicago’s Emil Grantcharov, whom Mahenthiran was slated to play in the finals. The men’s tennis team capped off their incredible performance with a huge win from Mahenthiran in the finals against fellow ninthseeded Grantcharov. In doing so, he became the second Spartan in program history to win the ITA Central Region Championships. Mahenthiran bested Grantcharov in straight sets to not only take home the coveted trophy, but to also earn All-America honors for the 2023-24 season and clinch a spot at the 2023 ITA Cup in Rome, Georgia. He will be joined by Maza and Aduru, who will be in the doubles draw.
Scores and Upcoming Games Volleyball
Men’s Soccer
UAA Round Robin #2 CWRU vs Rochester (10/8) - W 3-0 CWRU vs Emory (10/8) - L 1-3 CWRU vs Hiram (10/11) - W 3-0
CWRU at NYU (9/30) - W 3-0 CWRU vs Emory (10/7) - L 0-1
UAA Round Robin #3 CWRU vs Carnegie Mellon (10/22) CWRU vs UChicago (10/22) CWRU vs Otterbein (10/28, 5 p.m., Horsburgh Gymnasium) - Senior Day
Men’s Tennis
CWRU at Rochester (10/14) CWRU vs UChicago (10/20, 7:30 p.m., DiSanto Field) CWRU vs WashU (10/22, 1:30 p.m., DiSanto Field)
CWRU at ITA Cup (10/12-16)
Women’s Soccer
Football
CWRU vs Emory (10/7) - W 3-1
CWRU at Saint Vincent (10/7) - W 19-0
CWRU at Rochester (10/14) CWRU vs UChicago (10/20, 5 p.m., DiSanto Field) CWRU vs WashU (10/22, 11 a.m., DiSanto Field) CWRU at Brandeis (10/28)
CWRU vs Westminster (10/14, 2 p.m., DiSanto Field) - 2023 CWRU Homecoming CWRU vs Waynesburg University (10/21, 2 p.m., DiSanto Field) CWRU at Washington & Jefferson (10/28)