Life: “Electra” brings an ancient tale of vengeance to CWRU with a modern twist (pg. 4) Friday, November 17, 2023 Volume LV, Issue 12 Est. 1969
NEWS
CWRU destigmatizes food insecurity during HungerThe and Homeless Awareness Week Case Western Reserve
Observer Zachary Treseler News Editor
This past week, various departments at Case Western Reserve University commemorated Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. These events shed light on the resources CWRU offers to students and how community members are pushing to better support students facing food insecurity. The problem of food insecurity in Cleveland is staggering. According to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, one in seven Greater Cleveland area residents face food insecurity, with children often at the forefront of this issue, as Cleveland has one of the highest child poverty rates among the largest U.S. cities. On Monday, Nov. 13, various on-campus offices kicked off the appreciation week by tabling in Thwing Atrium, including University Health and Counseling Services which brought a fruit salad station. The Center for Civic Engagement and Learning (CCEL) also arranged to bring CWRU students to various non-profit groups around Northeast Ohio who focus on addressing food
insecurity, including the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Kids’ Book Bank and the Hunger Network Food Pantry. Another organization that participated in Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week was the Physical Resource Center (PRC), a studentrun initiative that provides free resources to the CWRU community. Their secretary, third-year Syed Sudman Zaman, shared more about the PRC’s services: “We always stock up on food weekly or biweekly depending on the amount [that] the students use. We not only offer food resources, but clothing and even personal hygiene for [free].” In the spirit of combating hunger among students, Zaman mentioned ways in which the PRC can continue its mission, such as by “[g]etting more funding from the university or having a bigger place.” He also suggested that the PRC “[move] to a more visible and accessible location for all students.” Zaman said the issue of food insecurity has improved since th e creation of the Undergraduate Student Government’s meal swipe donation plan. The Dean of Students office noted
that there are other food pantries around campus, including those in the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Office of Graduate Student Life and the Writing Resource Center. Recognizing food insecurity is not just a problem faced by students, but by all members of our campus community, Gabrielle Parkin, director of the Writing Resource Center, started a Free Little Food Pantry at the center’s Bellflower Hall location. Parkin’s main goal was for “people to see the Writing Center as a place that recognizes that you are a whole person,” pointing out that “we cannot do our work together while hungry.” Parkin emphasized that the food pantry is well used: “I was in my office working on Saturday and I noticed some people had put in some food, and less than an hour later the food was gone ... It was just quick ready meals that were thrown in there and it was gone. Instantly.” She also explained that the structure of the Free Little Food Pantry, with its grab-and-go system, is designed to be accessible and anonymous. Besides on-campus pantries, last September the Greater Cleveland
Lucas Yang/The Observer Food Bank had a mobile food pantry on KSL Oval. The Dean of Students office noted a decent turnout where “about 500 people attended [and] the office distributed roughly 6,000 pounds of food.” Parkins believes that “the first step is to destigmatize [hunger] so that it’s not an invisible issue.” She recommends that students take action to combat food insecurity, emphasizing that it “costs nothing, but it makes a huge difference and creates safe spaces—and clearly identified spaces—where students know where to go to get food.”
SPORTS
Women’s basketball opens season 1-1 Paola Van der Linden Costello Staff Writer The Case Western Reserve University women’s basketball team started their non-conference play with a 69-49 win on the road over Waynesburg University on Nov. 11 followed by a 45-73 loss against Marietta College in their home opener. With two new grad transfers, this team has a new and exciting dynamic. We are excited to see how they continue to play as their season develops. The Spartans started the game against Waynesburg down four after Waynesburg’s Mia Henkins scored four points within the first 30 seconds of the first quarter. CWRU scored their first points of the night after fourth-year forward Kayla Characklis finished a layup with 8:31 remaining in the first quarter. This was quickly followed by another two points by the Yellow Jackets, leaving the Spartans trailing by four once again. Characklis answered once
again with a layup, but a 3-pointer by Henkins and a layup left the Spartans trailing by 7 with 5:02 left in the first quarter. The Spartans did not give up and were able to quickly bounce back once graduate student forward Morgan Micallef scored her first points of the night with a successful jumper followed by a 3-pointer, leaving the score 9-16 with 3:35 remaining. The Spartans continued to go on a 9-1 run until the end of the first quarter, and during that time, a 3-pointer by fourth-year guard Margaret Terry gave them the first lead of the night with 1:27 remaining. The game remained close during the second quarter.
A successful 3-pointer by a Yellow Jacket gave Waynesburg the lead to which third-year forward Evie Miller quickly responded, tying the game 20-20 with 9:29 seconds remaining. The Spartans took back the lead when Micallef scored 2 points with 6:09 left, making the score 26-24. Although the lead changed three times during this quarter, the Spartans once again ended the second quarter on top. After halftime, the Spartans came back on the court strong and never lost the lead again. They were able to maintain the lead throughout the entire third quarter, leading by 13 after a good jumper by first-year guard Mya Hartjes with 17 seconds left in the quarter. At the start of the last 10 minutes of the game, third-
year guard Nyah Moore completed a 3-pointer followed by another successful 3-pointer from Terry, giving the Spartans an even bigger lead with 7:54 remaining. But the Spartans did not lose their stamina, and they continued to go on a 4-0 run with two more successful shots by Miller and fourth-year guard Sarah Mitchell, giving them a 23-point lead with 5:59 left on the clock. The Yellow Jackets tried to come back, managing to make it a 14-point difference with 2:04 left on the clock. However, a good layup by fourth-year forward/center Preet Gill followed by a layup and a free throw shot by first-year guard/forward Maura Schorr ended the game at 69-49, giving the Spartans their first win of the season. The Spartans shot 35.1% from the field goal range, 19.4% from the 3-point line and 68.8% in free throws compared to the Yellow Yacket’s 26.6%, 24% and 40.9%, respectively. Micallef was the leading scorer of the game with 15 points and incredible accuracy (6-9 from the field goal range and 1-1 from the 3-point line). Characklis added 7 points and 11 rebounds, and Hartjes scored 14 with 4 assists. Continue reading on page 11
The CWRU women’s basketball team starts their season strong with a 69-49 win against Waynesburg University. Courtesy of CWRU Athletics
Life
The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, November 17, 2023 observer.case.edu Volume LV, Issue 12
Nintendo releases a sixth and final wave of new tracks for “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” with four returning characters Elie Aoun Director of Print On Nov. 8, Nintendo released the sixth and final wave of new tracks to “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” as part of the “Booster Course Pass DLC.” This update also added four new characters and included a controversial balance change to the game’s item system. A few minor additions were released in this update. There is now a “Music” button in the main menu that allows players to listen to the music from any base game or DLC track, even if they have not bought the Booster Course Pass. Nintendo has also made it possible for players to join online racing rooms by entering a Room ID. Finally, 17 Mii Racing Suits were added for those who purchased the Booster Course Pass. The four new characters are Funky Kong, Diddy Kong, Pauline and Peachette. Funky Kong, who was one of the most requested characters by fans of the franchise, is a heavyweight who first appeared in “Mario Kart Wii.” Diddy Kong, another character whom fans wanted to see, is a middleweight who debuted in “Mario Kart: Double Dash!!” for the GameCube, and later returned in “Mario Kart Wii.” Pauline is a heavyweight whose first appearance was in the mobile game “Mario Kart Tour,” and had fans who wanted to see her appear in another major game. But Peachette, a middleweight who first appeared in “Mario Kart Tour,” was a character whom nobody was expecting. Nintendo certainly listened to its fans when choosing the last characters to include in the Booster Course Pass, so Peachette’s inclusion was certainly an interesting choice. Some “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” players employ a strategy called “bagging”—short for “sandbagging” and often also called “item smuggling”—in which players purposefully lag behind during a race so that they’re awarded more powerful items from the regenerating Item Box, such as Bullet Bill or the Golden Mushroom. This strategy often works because the items that a bagging player can acquire only become better as the distance increases between that player and the player in first place. Bagging has been controversial for a long time in the “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” community, with some players considering it a valid strategy, while others think that there should not be an incentive to lag behind in a racing game. With this recent update, Nintendo decided to severely nerf bagging by making it so that a player cannot obtain powerful items from an Item Box by stopping or driving in reverse, or by sitting at the same regenerating Item Box multiple times in a lap. This drastic balance change has received much condemnation and praise from fans and opponents of bagging alike, and there is a lot of debate in the community about whether bagging is simply nerfed or outright dead. Like the previous five waves, this DLC includes two Grand Prix with four tracks each, bringing the total number of DLC tracks to 48. The base game with the Booster Course Pass DLC now boasts 96 tracks, a number which is three times greater than the
track count of any of the last several editions in the franchise, excluding “Mario Kart Tour.” The Acorn Cup
This Grand Prix opens with Rome Avanti, a track from “Mario Kart Tour.” Like most other city tracks, this one’s layout changes with each lap, and it takes racers through many landmarks in Rome, such as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Trajan’s Market and the Trevi Fountain. Players must take many winding turns, with only a few off-road shortcuts available. Fuzzies serve as aerial enemies on one of the glider sections, and there is a bridge that is guarded by two Chain Chomps. The nighttime visuals of the track are gorgeous, but the music is nothing special. Overall, Rome Avanti is a charming and fun track, but it does not have much that makes it stand out among the other tracks in this wave. 6/10 Next comes DK Mountain from “Mario Kart: Double Dash!!” and later “Mario Kart Wii.” This iconic track has been visually enhanced in the new wave, and received few major changes to its core design. Players still ascend a giant mountain through a cannon and must descend by maneuvering through sharp turns as boulders fall. The major ravine shortcut near the end of this track is still possible, and the bridge in this version was made wavy and trick-able. The track’s visuals are gorgeous, and the music is nostalgic and exciting. DK Mountain is a difficult track to play well, but it is a joy to race and a notable highlight in this wave. 9/10 The third track in this Grand Prix is Daisy Circuit from “Mario Kart Wii.” This track also received few major changes to its layout: The figure-8 section is unchanged, the elevated sidewalk still wraps around part of the track and the narrow off-road staircase is still there, but it now has a Glide Ramp. Also, Dash Panels were added around the tight hairpin turn. While the track presents no real obstacles, its curved paths can be tough to drive well. The track’s visuals are bright and colorful, and its music is rather calming. Daisy Circuit is an enjoyable and iconic track whose inclusion is a great addition to “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.” 8/10 This Grand Prix ends with Piranha Plant Cove from “Mario Kart Tour.” This track—which resembles an abandoned temple—has a different layout each lap, and it is one of the few tracks in the series to take place almost entirely underwater. The course is full of interesting creatures, including Thwomps, Cheep Cheeps, a giant Maw-Ray and a Clampy. There are also several off-road shortcuts in the third lap. The dark visuals of this track are beautiful, and its nautical music is unique. While Piranha Plant Cove is average in terms of its difficulty, its underwater setting and unique design make it a great experience for players of all skill levels. 8/10
The sixth and final wave of the Booster Course Pass includes some characters beloved by fans of old Mario Kart games. From left to right: Pauline, Funky Kong, Peachette and Diddy Kong. Courtesy of Nintendo The Spiny Cup The last Grand Prix of the Booster Course Pass opens with Madrid Drive from “Mario Kart Tour.” This city track’s layout changes with every lap, and it takes players through famous icons that include the Gran Vía, the Plaza Mayor and the Prado Museum. The track features a sleeping Wiggler in the first lap who wakes up in the next lap, Thwomps and a giant Piranha Plant in a torn painting. Before the end of the last lap, players pass through the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium where Shoe Goombas kick massive soccer balls at them. The track’s visuals are nice, and its Spanish flamenco music is very fitting. Madrid Drive is certainly one of the best city tracks in the Booster Course Pass and a great choice for the final wave of tracks. 7/10 The next track is Rosalina’s Ice World from “Mario Kart 7” for the 3DS. With the exception of a new shortcut over a wooden ramp before the final turn, this track has basically not changed at all. The three-quarters turn on a thin strip of ice beside a chasm at the start of the lap is extremely difficult to pull off smoothly; it is not possible in this version to skip this turn by leaping over the chasm. The track splits in half twice, once before the underwater section and once in the cave section. The track is slippery to drive on, and penguins slide around as obstacles. The track’s blue and purple visuals are beautiful, and the music is nice and relaxing. Rosalina’s Ice World deserves to be included in the last wave of the Booster Course Pass as a tough challenge for even the best of players. 8/10 The penultimate track of the Booster Course Pass is Bowser Castle 3 from “Super Mario Kart” for the SNES and later “Mario Kart: Super Circuit” for the Game Boy Advance. This track has received a significant visual overhaul since its first two iterations. The whole course is surrounded by lava, and there are fireballs and columns of fire that add to the atmosphere. The track is relatively simple, but it has a few split routes and a large shortcut through mud. Two Bone Piranha Plants and several Thwomps serve as obstacles. The track has remarkable visuals and some of the best and most exciting mu-
sic in the game. Though Bowser Castle 3 is a relatively simple track, it makes for an epic racing experience and a great addition to the last wave of tracks. 8/10 Many fans wanted it, and they received what they asked for: The last track in the game is now officially Rainbow Road from “Mario Kart Wii.” This nostalgic track retains all its charm and difficulty, forcing players to race on a wavy track in outer space, often with no guard rails. One of the notable shortcuts over a gap of space is still possible, and players also burst into flames when they fall off the track. This difficult track is sure to challenge all players as they maneuver through half-pipes, open gaps and dangerous turns. The beautiful visuals and music are, without question, among the best in the game. Nintendo could not have picked a more exciting and extraordinary track with which to conclude the Booster Course Pass. 10/10 Regarding whether the Booster Course Pass is worth buying, I can only reply with a resounding “Yes!” Fortyeight tracks for $24.99 comes out to about 52 cents per track, which is totally worth it considering how good so many of the tracks are and how much they can be replayed. “Mario Kart 9” probably will not come out for a long time, so playing “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” with 96 total tracks is the best racing experience that one can have at the moment. For those interested in the total ratings that I gave to each wave, I tabulated them all by adding the points I assigned to all eight tracks in each one. The ranking, from worst to best, goes Wave One (55 points), Wave Four (56 points), Wave Three (58 points), Wave Five (59 points), Wave Two (61 points) then Wave Six (64 points). It is with great sadness that I must conclude this series of articles that began over a year ago. I had a wonderful time writing about Mario Kart, to the dismay of much of The Observer’s Editorial Board. It amazes me to think about the thousands of people who have read my reviews. I give great thanks to all of you, and perhaps some day we will meet unknowingly in an online “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” lobby. In the meantime, I will be busy searching for my next great obsession.
Life 3
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Flavors of frustration: TASA Night Market fails to satisfy Shivangi Nanda Executive Editor Zachary Treseler News Editor Case Western Reserve University brings together students from all kinds of backgrounds, and our student groups reflect that. With dozens of cultural and diversity organizations on campus, students can find numerous ways to reconnect with their roots. We are lucky to be witness to this degree of diversity, but as a result of having so many cultural events happening around campus, we often miss out on some of the best ones. Just this past weekend, the Taiwanese American Student Association (TASA) hosted its flagship night market event, promising students an evening of good food, games, live performances and celebrations. As anticipated, the promised food drew in a large crowd, but the event itself was mismanaged, leaving many attendees dissatisfied with their experience. As the name suggests, TASA Night Market is known for its roadside stalllike foods from restaurants around University Circle such as Phusion Cafe and Chopstick Chinese Restaurant, as well as some broader Cleveland favorites such as Siam Cafe and Koko Bakery. Enticed by the food, we bought $14 dollars worth of tickets—36 to be exact—and arrived promptly at the Thwing Center Atrium at 6 p.m., only to be greeted by a 34-minute line. By the time we entered the Excelsior Ballroom, there was a swarm of students eagerly scouring the tables for food. At this point, only appetizers were being served, such as pot stickers for one ticket each and spring rolls, as well as scallion pancakes, for two. All
three were quite greasy and cold, but they did satisfy our cravings. We also took this time to enjoy a pineapple bun from Koko, which was perfectly sweet and soft, just as we would have liked. The most anticipated entrees of the event were from Phusion, which was set to open at 7 p.m. sharp. So by 6:45 p.m., a small herd of students had formed around its table, counting out their tickets so they could snag one of those meals as soon as possible. Once opened, it was pure chaos as students started throwing their tickets at the volunteers and grabbing their desired meals. Within the first two minutes, Phusion had run out of the beef noodle soup, and just a few minutes later all the other entrees were gone, too. Luckily, we were able to grab our favorite dishes—the peking pork chop, popcorn chicken and beef noodle soup—all of which were quite good and well worth the tickets they cost. Aside from the Phusion entrees, the only other substantial food was from Siam Cafe, which was—in our opinion—not that appealing. Both the vegetarian and chicken fried rice were a whopping three tickets each for only a small spoonful. Even the mapo tofu served on the side—an additional three tickets—was bland and insipid despite its spiciness. Needless to say, we were disappointed by the portion size of this entree, especially when compared to full-sized meals provided by the Phusion table. To end the night, we returned to the Koko’s table to try the passion fruit bubble tea and egg tart. Both were deliciously sweet and made for a good end to our meal. While many of these food options were good considering the cost of tickets, and some were even quite tasty, the difference in portion sizes and low quantity of food overall was not nearly enough considering the
A playlist for late fall Kate Gordon Life Editor The end of the semester can be downright depressing. The deadlines for final exams and papers, which seemed so far in the distance at the beginning of August, are now only weeks away. Plus, the weather’s getting colder, the campus is growing quieter and if you look outside at 5 p.m., the sun’s already starting to set. It’s inevitable that through all these changes I turn to sadder, more folkinspired music to keep me company on my walks to and from class. I hope these songs will keep you company, too. “I’m Not My Season” – Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes dominated the indie music scene of the late 2000s and early 2010s. Their pop-folk songs combine literally down-to-earth nature imagery with more highbrow references to Greek mythology and texts like “Beowulf.” “I’m Not My Season” sticks to the former, and its wistful message of not wanting to be “the season you’re in” is probably one that a lot of us can relate to during this time of year. “Come And Play In The Milky Night (Demo)” – Stereolab There’s barely any singing in this short, stripped-back song, and what is there is nearly impossible to understand. But I think that this only adds to the track’s off-kilter appeal.
“Can’t Catch Me Now” – Olivia Rodrigo “Can’t Catch Me Now” was written by Olivia Rodrigo and her producer Dan Nigro for the latest installment of the blockbuster “The Hunger Games” franchise, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” Rodrigo sings a haunting melody that grows in scale until its final chorus, which with all of her harmonies layered together, sounds like multiple people singing their hearts out. I must say that folk music suits Rodrigo well—I would love for her to release an entire album in this style. It complements both her voice and songwriting abilities well. “Jasmine” – Arlo Parks I had no idea that “Jasmine” was a cover until I started doing my research for this article. Arlo Parks’ version is similarly lofi and synth-heavy, but much less busy than the original by British pop singer Jai Paul. “When the Sun Hits” – Slowdive For a song with the word “sun” in its title, this shoegaze classic is about as melancholic as they come. Part indie rock, part ambient, “When the Sun Hits” manages to feel both reflective and full of barely-contained tension. It’s also one of my top-played tracks of 2023. “I’m Your Man” – Mitski All of the tracks off Mitski’s latest album, “The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We,” have a spirit of melancholy that would fit right into a fall
sheer number of tickets in circulation. Despite TASA President Nina Chereath’s claim that “[p]eople who had many tickets were able to try almost all foods,” many attendees shared our sentiments, expressing frustration at not being able to get the foods they had wanted, and some not getting any food at all. One student claimed, “I [felt] like they should have been more organized with how they sold their tickets. I understand that they [wanted] a lot of people at their event, but it seems very irresponsible that they had such little food.” Another student agreed, saying they also wished that “the food could have been evenly distributed, since they did run out and a lot of [students] had leftover tickets.” TASA’s solution to extra tickets was to allow attendees to use them in the raffle. Still, for students expecting a meal—and one they spent money on— entering a raffle does not feel like an even trade. “[It’s like when] planes oversell their tickets then they freak out when every-
body shows up,” said another student. Despite the negative feedback, some students still lauded TASA for putting on this event, stating that it was really fun and brought people from all different backgrounds together in one space. Even with its flaws, we definitely enjoyed the food at the night market and made some good memories along the way. However, we hope this event will be a learning opportunity for the group, highlighting the importance of good management for running large-scale events. Chereath herself acknowledged some shortcomings, saying that “next year, we need to order more entrees and cap the amount of food individuals can take from each vendor, so that the amount of food at each hour of the event is fair.” We also recognize that organizing something like a night market is quite a feat, and TASA is not alone in struggling to meet expectations. So, while the night market was not a complete success, TASA will have time to regroup, plan and devise an even better event, and we are certain they won’t disappoint the next time around.
The TASA Night Market was intended to be a celebration of Taiwanese culture, but the event was mismanaged, leaving many students unsatisfied with their experience. Shivangi Nanda/The Observer
playlist. Her Billboard Top 100 debut “My Love Mine All Mine” and the comparatively cheerful “Buffalo Replaced” are certainly two that come to mind. But I particularly love the way that “I’m Your Man” slowly builds into a crescendo, and ends with Mitski singing a series of “ohs” and “ahs” set over the sounds of barking dogs and chirping crickets. As someone who spends much of her day stuck inside, it’s nice to be able to feel like I’m out in nature, if only for a few minutes. “Rosyln” – Bon Iver, St. Vincent I love this song because it was featured in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” It’s impossible to listen to its plucky guitar and banjo chords without dreaming of hiking through the Pacific Northwest on a rainy day. “Crush” – Ethel Cain Released in 2021, “Crush” is a contemporary classic. When asked on Tumblr if this song was “inspired by any experiences or relationships in particular,” Ethel Cain replied that it was about “this dude i ‘dated’ when i was 16 and he was 23 and he asked me to run away with him and i said no i have school.” Despite its odd origins, “Crush” manages to capture the titular feeling quite well, with its deceptively upbeat chorus “Can you read my mind? I’ve been watching you” never failing to hit hard. “Just Like U Said It Would B” – Sinéad O’Connor
I recently saw this song’s genre listed as “Celtic Alternative,” which I think is an apt description. Sinéad O’Connor’s voice is otherworldly, and listening to the late artist’s music is a good way to keep her memory and spirit of activism alive. “Drown” – The Smashing Pumpkins “Drown” combines “alternative rock, psychedelia and dream pop” into a singular approachable song that was a surefire hit after its release in 1992. “Cannock Chase” – Labbi Siffre I had a friend recently introduce me to 1970s singer-songwriter and poet Labbi Siffre, and I couldn’t be more grateful. His song “Bless the Telephone” is also good, if not better than “Cannock Chase.” “Diamond Day” – Vashti Bunyan Though Vashti Bunyan’s 1970 album, “Just Another Diamond Day,” was initially panned by critics, it’s since been rediscovered in the 2000s and dubbed a staple of the folk genre. “Diamond Day” is a short, sweetsounding song with a flute melody and accompanying high-pitched vocals from Bunyan. As the semester winds down, I like to keep her lyrics in mind whenever things get tough: “Just another life to live / Just a word to say / Just another love to give / And a diamond day.” I’m praying for a lot of diamond days in the weeks ahead.
4 Life
Friday, November 17, 2023
“Electra” brings an ancient tale of vengeance to CWRU with a modern twist Elie Aoun Director of Print The Department of Theater at Case Western Reserve University is staging a quintessential ancient Greek tragedy with modern elements. “Electra” by Sophocles is a tale of sacrifice, adultery, grief and revenge. Professor Christopher Bohan from CWRU’s Department of Theater directs this production with Anne Carson’s translation. There have been shows on Nov. 10, 11 and 12, with three more scheduled for Nov. 17, 18 and 19 for those still eager to witness the tragedy of the House of Atreus. Sophocles was an ancient Athenian playwright who wrote tragedies, of which seven have survived in full. He was the most celebrated playwright in his home city, and alongside “Electra” he wrote other plays that are still beloved and widely-taught, including “Antigone” and “Oedipus Rex.” Sophocles is one of three ancient Greek tragedians with full plays that have survived to the present day, the other two being Aeschylus and Euripides. Each of them wrote a play about the story of Electra that is extant, and each version features a different telling of the story with the same core characters. Director Bohan said that he chose Sophocles’ version because he fell in love with Carson’s “vibrant and nuanced” translation, as she “created dynamic, compound words to retain a sense of poetry, while modernizing the ancient text.” To fully understand “Electra,” it helps to have a cursory understanding of the Trojan War and the House
of Atreus. Agamemnon, the mythical king of Mycenae and member of the House of Atreus, could not get favorable winds from Artemis to sail the Greek fleet to Troy because he had killed a deer belonging to her sacred grove. A seer revealed to Agamemnon that he had to sacrifice Iphigenia, one of his own daughters, in order for Artemis to allow him to sail, which he eventually did—after only some hesitation. This angered his wife Clytemnestra, and when Agamemnon returned home after the decade-long Trojan War, his adulterous wife and her lover Aegisthus, Agamemnon’s cousin, murdered the king in his palace and usurped the Mycenaean throne. Shortly after, Agamemnon’s daughter Electra sent away her brother Orestes to the region of Phocis to protect him from his mother, hoping that he would one day return and kill Clytemnestra and Aegisthus. This is when Sophocles’ play begins. Set at Mycenae before the palace of Agamemnon, “Electra” follows the children of Agamemnon as they seek to avenge his murder. Orestes (Mary Coulter) appears first with his Phocian friend Pylades (Jack Exline) and the Old Man (Macy Dickerson). After Orestes recounts the prophecy from Apollo’s oracle and resolves to kill his mother and her lover, the three characters leave. Electra (Emily Kuntz) then appears on the stage, unaware if her brother is alive or not. She laments her tragic circumstances to the six-person Chorus, longing for her brother’s return and the death of their mother. Electra later encounters her sister Chrysothemis (Madeline Golya) who seeks to appease her mother in order
to survive; such opportunism clashes with Electra’s desire for revenge. Clytemnestra (I’Maya Gibbs) later comes out and argues with Electra, sharing her side of the story and saying that her justification for killing Agamemnon was the sacrifice of Iphigenia. Orestes eventually makes his return, but not before causing Electra much grief. Near the play’s end, a haughty Aegisthus (Sam Michalski) takes the stage with a dramatic entrance, and the climax of the tragedy proceeds in a brilliant cinematic fashion. While staying true to Sophocles’ text, this production of “Electra” included many elements that would not have been found in Ancient Greek theater. At several points in Director Bohan’s production, the characters on stage break out into dance, either out of extreme sadness or joy. In one captivating monologue, the Old Man picks up a microphone and recounts the stellar performance of Orestes at the games at Delphi as silhouettes of charioteers race in the background. Music accompanies many scenes, adding ambience, excitement or suspense. Director Bohan was inspired to add music to “Electra” after playing the role of a non-speaking servant in the play while in graduate school; in that production, he put his headphones in his ear and realized how well his music—specifically “Hyperballad” by Björk—fit the theme of the play. “The music and dance add a sense of celebration to the theme of revenge. When we think of getting revenge, we tend to think of how amazing it would be to enact that revenge, how exciting it would be to confront a person who has wronged us … and watch them
squirm,” he said. “And so, I wanted to use the music, dance and movement to propel the action of the play toward the climax, to give the audience that sense of joy of seeing revenge enacted! Most of us turn the other cheek because we are good people, but Sophocles wants us to live vicariously through Electra … and celebrate … her victory.” In Greek tragedy, there are few villains who simply love evil for its own sake; instead, the major characters possess virtues and vices alike, and have understandable reasons for acting as they do. The essence of the tragedy occurs when two characters with reasonable but irreconcilable goals, motivations or values clash. In “Electra,” Electra and Orestes are justified in avenging the murder of their father, but Clytemnestra, on the other hand, who had to endure the sacrifice of her own daughter at the hands of Agamemnon, is also an understandable character even while overcome by misery and wrath. The audience is thus forced to grapple with difficult moral questions such as: Was the death of Iphigenia a good enough reason for Clytemnestra to kill Agamemnon? Was Chrysothemis wrong to try to appease her mother at first instead of undermining her? Is it ever right to kill one’s own mother? There are no easy answers to these complicated moral dilemmas. Director Bohan shared what he wants viewers to grapple with: “I want the audience to celebrate with Electra, to purge their desire for revenge, but then also to share in the aftermath of that decision with Electra. Revenge seems like it would be a cathartic experience, but what does it really get you?”
In the center of the stage, Electra (Emily Kuntz) confronts members of the Chorus as she explains that she wants to kill her mother, Clytemnestra, to avenge the murder of her father, Agamemnon. Courtesy of Christopher Bohan/CWRU Department of Theater
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Life 5
Fun
The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, November 17, 2023 observer.case.edu Volume LV, Issue 12
What We've Been Listening To
Auden's ahahahas
Concorde Black Country, New Road Clay Preusch
Maria Tambien Khruangbin Sara Khorshidi
Plush Stone Temple Pilots Beau Bilinovich
Why Don't We Go UMI Bowen Zhang
Wanderlust Eloise
Sudoku
Lexy Jensen
Driving Myself Home Rose Betts
Very Hard
Easy
Zachary Treseler
mirrorball Taylor Swift
Auden Koetters
illicit affairs Taylor Swift
Shivangi Nanda
Overheard CWRU
Compilation of out-of-pocket things heard across campus
"All I need is for a few hundred people to die in sequential order." "This religion article's author description is a poor, unknown, unglamorous lesbian." "He is rizz." "You must use the stick."
Tyler Vu/The Observer
"I forgot my warcrime book! Ugh!!!!"
Guest speaker: "What makes someone a friend or a f*ck buddy?" Professor: "Excuse me, what does that mean?" "The UMB water hits different." "Everyone and their mom knows about this ochem exam." "The golden professor— no bachelor."
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Arts & Crafts!
Weekly Horoscope
Fun 7
The signs as dating shows
Aquarius Dated and Related Pisces Love is Blind Aries Love after Lockup Taurus The Bachelor Gemini MILF Manor Cancer 90 Day Fiancé Leo Love Island Virgo Too Hot to Handle Libra Naked Attraction Scorpio The Ultimatum Sagittarius Sexy Beasts Capricorn Single's Inferno
T H A N K S G I V I N G B I N G O Thanksgiving bingo! Can you get five in a row? To play this game, take a photograph completing as many of the tasks on the bingo card as possible. Each set of tasks making five in a row earns players 1 point. The player who earns the most points by the end of Thanksgivng Break (11/27) wins an Observer hoodie! Email photos and completed bingo score card to observer@case.edu.
Watch the parade
Run into one of Wear a fall your prisweater mary school teachers
Spot a house that Leave has campus already Christmas decorations
Eat a meat that is not turkey for Thanksgiving dinner
Break a Visit your dish durold high ing your school Thanksgiving day meal
Eat pecan pie!
Rake leaves
Watch football
Fly home on a plane
Free!
Cook a Thanksgiving dish!
See an inflatable Turkey
Watch a Christmas movie
Decorate your home
Jump into Run a a pile of Turkey Trot leaves
Peel potatoes
Eat Tofurkey
Spot a house that Do school- still has Halwork loween decorations up
Go Cyber Monday shopping
Go Black Friday shopping
Opinion
The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, November 17, 2023 observer.case.edu Volume LV, Issue 12
My “Champagne Problems” with Taylor Swift Rebecca Warber Copy Editor Like countless others, on Oct. 27, I sat down to listen to “1989 (Taylor’s Version).” I have to admit I was excited, but that excitement dissipated almost immediately after I pressed play. Disappointingly enough, I found myself incredibly underwhelmed by both the updated versions of my former favorites and by the album’s vault tracks. The new songs, I thought, lacked the compelling lyrics Taylor Swift is known for while the “revamped” hits felt like softer, dull versions of their hard-hitting counterparts. I really do think that “1989” should have stayed in 2014. It seems, though, that I’m in the minority when it comes to my opinion on Swift’s latest re-release, as fans and critics alike are labeling it as a success. And while I can’t justifiably label their infatuation with this album as “wrong” or “incorrect,” I can suggest that it’s a reflection of an obsessive, and unfounded, fascination with Swift—a fascination I would like to challenge. Swift is certainly a talented musician, but some of her most recent re-releases leave something to be desired. As previously mentioned, there is the notably lackluster “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” that is audibly lacking in terms of music and sound quality—especially relative to some of Swift’s earlier work. But then there is also “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version),” which was released earlier this year. While not as disappointing as “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” it was still a definite letdown. Among the album’s songs there were very few, if any, deviations from the originals—and there should have been—thus making the album feel redundant. Of course, I am well aware that the purpose behind Swift’s re-recording project is not necessarily to revitalize her music, but that does not mean she should refuse the opportunity to do so and improve upon her current discography. In fact, I think this should be expected of an artist of her stature. It’s also important to note how Swift doesn’t do much with her broad fanbase and expansive influence. Swift is undeniably popular: She has over 276 million followers on Instagram and
an estimated global fan base of over 500 million people. A recent survey found that over half of the U.S. adult population likes Swift; she is also incredibly popular among young adults. Her fanbase is, suffice to say, impressive, as is the level of influence it gives her—though Swift, unfortunately, fails to utilize it. Swift, in all fairness, did endorse a senate candidate in 2018 and has released two songs—“Only The Young” and “You Need to Calm Down”—that include, or are believed to include, political statements. However, this is not enough. Swift not only has the opportunity to speak out on important issues, but also to be heard by, and influence, millions around the world. And yet she mostly remains silent— even at times when her commentary could be considered to be incredibly warranted. When she and singer Matty Healy, for example, were rumored to be dating, she chose not to address his racist and sexist actions and comments—a disappointing decision on Swift’s part. Potentially worse than Swift’s silence, though, is the “performative activism” she’s been most recently accused of after her collaboration with rapper Ice Spice. Many thought the timing of the collaboration was suspicious given that just three months before its announcement Healy laughed at, and joined in on, derogatory jokes made about the rapper during a podcast appearance. Considering the former connection between Swift and Healy, a number of fans believe that Swift and Ice Spice’s collaboration was nothing more than a PR stunt and find the possibility extremely upsetting—and rightfully so. The duet, in the words of Swiftie Brooke Giles, exemplifies Swift’s tendency to “[find] more ways… to profit off of controversy” rather than directly addressing or confronting the issue at hand. Swift is an undoubtedly talented musician, but her music—and even Swift herself—aren’t necessarily meeting the expectations I believe should be set for an artist of her caliber. Her rising levels of fame and popularity should not make her immune to meeting certain standards—both with respect to her music and to what she does with the level of influence she has.
LTTE: President Kaler’s administration’s support of Israel violates its free speech policy Ted Steinberg Adeline Barry Davee Distinguished Professor of History Nothing Case Western Reserve University President Eric Kaler wrote in his Nov. 10 statement acknowledging Palestinian suffering, a development noted in The Observer, changes the fact that the
university has pledged public support for the Israeli government, which is the cause of that Palestinian suffering. By signing the university’s name to a letter, written by the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, which appeared in the Plain Dealer, Kaler effectively committed everyone at CWRU, as the title to the letter puts it, to “stand with Israel.”
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. Signing the university’s name was a bad idea. What makes a university a university is the opportunity for independent thought. No one is supposed to tell teachers and students what to think. Universities are supposed to be neutral when it comes to political action. In his Nov. 10 statement, Kaler also claims the university supports “freedom of expression.” That claim rings hollow, however, in light of the university’s recent history. In 2020, the year before Kaler became president, CWRU’s administration canceled a speaker who, ironically, aimed to raise awareness about the censorship of Palestinian voices. Instead, the university replaced that speaker with one from the pro-Israel Anti-Defamation League. Palestine Legal,
a group that promotes Palestinian rights, intervened in the case and noted that CWRU was violating its own policies on free speech. Openly siding with a foreign government—any such government—and breaching its own policies constitute conduct unbecoming of a university. Universities have a responsibility that largely rests on challenging received wisdom and accepted propositions. CWRU’s Policy on Freedom of Expression even reads, in part, that the “University’s mission requires an openness to new ideas, and the protection of expression, which is critical toward conventional thought or established interests.” Instead of standing by Israel, the university ought to stand by that.
Opinion 9
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Why every student should study abroad: From the perspective of a study-abroad alum Connor Flores Contributing Writer
Last semester, I embarked on a transformative journey to Vienna. While I was unaware at the time, the four months that I spent abroad was the greatest experience of my life. Although I knew that studying abroad would be beneficial, I was surprised by the immense impact it had on me. I had heard amazing things about studying abroad and was keen on improving my German, so I chose Vienna as my destination. While studying abroad may not always be the picture-perfect experience portrayed on social media, the journey is full of adventure and unknowns. Therefore, I believe that every student should consider their own study-abroad journey, due to the numerous academic, career and personal benefits. The greatest benefit of studying abroad is personal growth. Living and studying in a new country forces you out of your comfort zone and requires you to adapt to unfamiliar surroundings. The adjustment period involves navigating a new culture, language and way of life which can help you become more adaptable, confident and independent as you develop new
habits. There is also the sense of accomplishment that comes with successfully adjusting to a new lifestyle, especially when using the local language or learning new customs. It also increases maturity—a statement supported by an Institute for the International Education of Students alumni survey in which 97% of respondents agreed with it. Studying abroad also enhances a student’s academic experience by exposing them to different perspectives and unique classes. In that same survey, 87% of alumni stated that studying abroad influenced their future educational decisions. By attending classes at a new university, you will gain access to new and different ideas, resources and connections. Some classes are also more immersive, such as my Viennese history class, where we learned about the local history and took weekly field trips to sites that we had learned about. These new perspectives and classes are essential, as it helps you become a more well-rounded student and provides opportunities to learn or improve foreign language skills. The skills acquired while studying abroad can also improve students’ job prospects. According to the University of California, Merced, 97%
of study-abroad alumni were employed 12 months after graduation compared to the national average of 49%. Additionally, studying abroad can help students expand their professional network, with several programs offering internship opportunities. Regardless of the availability of internships, the experiences and skills obtained during study abroad can be tremendously beneficial for your future career. Immersing yourself in a foreign culture also fosters a better understanding of cultural differences and challenges stereotypes. In a globalized society, gaining a broader perspective on life outside the U.S. is crucial, and works in tandem with newly acquired skills that interest future employers. Studying abroad also improves communication skills through interactions with new cultures and languages. While studying abroad offers numerous benefits, it also presents challenges with respect to course requirements, financial concerns, culture shock and homesickness. However, there are solutions that can help overcome these problems. Course requirements can sometimes be met through programs focused on specific fields or majors and can provide opportunities not available at Case Western Reserve
University. Financial obstacles can be remedied through study-abroad scholarships, such as the Gilman-McCain Scholarship, which awards up to $5,000 to recipients. The CWRU Office of Education Abroad also offers scholarships to help alleviate financial burdens and, in some cases, programs may also have lower tuition and housing costs, making studyabroad a feasible option. Among these challenges, though, homesickness and culture shock can be the most difficult to overcome. It is important to note that homesickness and culture shock are normal and vary in intensity among students. In addition to building up a routine and familiarizing yourself with your new surroundings, it is important to maintain communication with friends and family back home and create new connections while abroad. Furthermore, students can take advantage of resources provided by their program to help tackle these challenges. Overall, studying abroad should be an integral component of the American educational experience, as it promotes personal growth and global awareness. The study-abroad experience is unique and full of unknowns, which makes it a worthwhile journey for every student.
term, are necessary to protect our citizens. The first necessary change is to adjust health care costs. During my first year, I visited the emergency room because I had low blood pressure and almost passed out during my clinical. I was diagnosed with anemia, received two units of blood and had to spend the night at the hospital as I waited for blood to be available. A month later, I received a medical bill of over $9,000 for five hours in the emergency room, a liter of normal saline, two units of blood, sleeping over in the observation room and blood labs. Although I was lucky enough to have insurance and only ended up having to pay a copay, those that cannot afford insurance risk having to spend an unbearable
amount of money to get treated. As a result, people are less likely to seek medical attention, which can impair their health. In order to find solutions, we must understand the reason why health care is so expensive. According to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, health care prices have increased at an average rate of 2.5% per year and the U.S., compared to other wealthy countries, has spent the most on health care. Reasons for the increase in cost include unnecessarily prolonged administrative processes that require more staffing, a lack of government regulation, inflated costs of medication and procedures, the enormously high salaries of medical professionals and corporate greed and price gouging. To address
this problem, the government must maintain strong control of the health care system by regulating the cost of procedures and medications, set legal standards for how insurance providers cover and charge patients, distribute tax money to improve the quality of health care and expand access. The second change to make health care accessible and improve its quality is to improve the working conditions of hospital staff. During labs, the teaching assistants—who were mostly graduate students training to become nurse practitioners—would tell us about the measures that hospital administrators take to cut spending by overworking the staff. As a result, nurses experience burnout from performing under constant pressure, juggling large workloads and dealing with disrespectful patients; meanwhile, the staff remain underpaid. During my first year, I would constantly doubt my career path as a nurse after observing all the stressors nurses complain about. In my short time as a nursing assistant, I was stressed out from patients treating me as if I were their subordinate, the endless amount of work given to me by my colleagues and having to deal with an overload of patients at the same time; I quit soon after. Such trends can be dangerous as they lead to increased costs and errors and longer processing times. To address this concern, hospitals need to become better working environments by implementing pay increases and measures to protect staff from mistreatment and malpractice lawsuits, increasing staffing to reduce the workload and changing the public perception about staff.
A nursing student’s perspective on the broken health care system and how we can fix it Catherine Choi Staff Writer
As a third-year nursing student, I was taught about various diseases, how to provide care and use hospital equipment, and I learned about laws that are designed to protect patients and their rights; I even got the opportunity to visit a hospital and apply the skills I learned. The experience taught me things that we cannot learn just by reading a textbook, and it also showed me the dark side of health care that is not getting enough attention from the public. Systemic flaws, hospital staffs’ mentality and outdated systems all contribute to the nation’s health care crisis. Changes, both short- and long-
Courtesy of Katty Huertas/TODAY
Continue reading on page 10
10 Opinion
Friday, November 17, 2023
Broken health care system from page 9 The last change needed to be made is to reconcile the conflicting sentiments of patients, medical professionals and insurance companies. Patients want to get the most coverage while paying the least. However, a high reliance on insurance companies and frequent hospital visits can put a tremendous financial toll on facilities and insurance companies. Health care professionals need to pay off their student loans and want to be compensated for the hard work they put in. Hospitals and insurance companies want to make enough
revenue to sustain their facilities. Even the government wants to choose the most efficient option for spending tax money so as many people as possible can benefit out of the limited funds. These conflicting desires lead to a vicious cycle: Patients rely heavily on insurance, creating a hefty financial toll on hospitals and insurance companies, leading to worsened coverage. Hospitals then generate less revenue, which forces them to cut costs in management, staffing and employment. Skilled employees in search of high
incomes become burnt out, and the quality of service patients receive will decline. In order to address the current health care crisis and for everyone to benefit, insurance companies need better regulation. Additionally, patients should attempt to take care of their health so they can reduce the need to visit the hospital. Insurance companies and hospitals should follow the government’s guidelines for covering and charging patients. Hospitals should improve the working environ-
ment, and health care professionals should focus on improving their quality of service. Although health care is a complex system linked to multiple fields, it is a basic human right that needs to be extended to everyone, not only for “the privileged.” Many short- and longterm changes are needed so that everyone can be satisfied and content.
break, forcing students to somehow juggle PE between commitments— all for a zero-credit hour class. Furthermore, few first-years or second-years are even able to snag a PE class during course registration, defeating the rationale for mandatory college PE. Rather than wideeyed underclassmen familiarizing themselves with the campus and its workout facilities, the majority of PE classes are filled with weary upperclassmen scrambling to complete the requirement before graduation. Rather than creating a new exercise habit at the start of their college years, students are made to disrupt their preexisting routines to accommodate a PE class. They have become yet another box to check off instead of an important introduction to college life and an opportunity for staying healthy during the next four years. Take me as an example. Only this fall semester, in my third year, was I able to enroll in PE classes. Before, most were taken up in previous waves of course registration, and the few that were still open were held at odd times that simply would
not fit in my schedule—and oftentimes, they were for a sport I was not keen on participating in. And even though I was able to squeeze them in after my major courses this semester, doing so has come at a price: I no longer have enough time for my own preferred workouts. Going to and from PE class takes over the time I could have been using to work out for longer. I’m not even exercising at the time I would enjoy, resulting in a poor workout experience. My experience is not unique. How can CWRU expect to encourage physical fitness when PE classes are offered at incompatible hours and largely taken up by upperclassmen? After their PE requirement is fulfilled, students are more likely to revert to their old college routines— whether that entails working out regularly or forfeiting exercise for their studies—that is, if they have not already graduated and left campus altogether. It is time for mandatory PE at CWRU to go. Removing the PE requirement would undoubtedly lift a large burden off students, allow-
ing them to focus on their other commitments. And while doing so, CWRU could better encourage physical fitness. Instead of maintaining PE classes, CWRU could lower fees on exercise classes and memberships and invest more in their fitness centers, ensuring that all students are motivated and able to access the facilities, just as other colleges and universities have done. Then, students would have the freedom to choose when and how they want to work out, not barred by any costs. Not only that, CWRU could begin to encourage all facets of healthy living, such as having a nutritious and balanced diet; the meal plan at CWRU is limited and could use an overhaul. But if CWRU still cannot follow the lead of top institutions and part with their PHED courses, why not offer them at later times during the school year and in the summer? It would at least give students more flexibility during the academic year and might allow them to take PE earlier during their time at CWRU. Until then, we are left racing after PHED courses in SIS.
Mandatory PE: Is it really needed? Aambar Agarwal Social Media Editor From Harvard University to Stanford University, the Ohio State University to Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University to the University of Virginia, there is no physical education (PE) requirement to be seen. The list of PE-less institutions is seemingly endless: Princeton University, the University of Chicago, Yale University and other top institutions are devoid of it. In fact, only around 32% of colleges and universities in the United States have mandatory PE—including Case Western Reserve University. With most institutions eschewing PE, it is hard to understand why CWRU continues to stick with its physical education (PHED) course requirement. After all, squeezing in a PE class is a tall order for college students who are already managing a plethora of breadth requirements, major coursework and extracurriculars. PE classes are not even offered after 3:20 p.m. or during summer
EDITORIAL
Editorial: CWRU is building for the future despite the urgent needs of the present Editorial Board
Case Western Reserve University is in a perpetual state of transformation, with plans for new buildings and grand visions of the future. However, the predominant focus on physical facilities has cast a shadow over the fundamental mission of providing a high-quality education. This reflects a skewed allocation of resources and a prioritization of construction endeavors over crucial academic programs, student support and proper maintenance. The CWRU campus is littered with numerous pre-existing buildings left to fall into disrepair. Have you ever been in a classroom with no air conditioning during a hot Cleveland summer? It’s tough. Students and teachers sweat it out, trying to focus on learning. And guess what? Most buildings still don’t have it. First- and second-year dorms have especially outdated resources, with a plethora of broken or unusable living essentials such as showers, washers and dryers. Even so, the focus remains on constructing new buildings that may not even be completed before the graduation of the students
whose tuition is funding these projects. Instead of pouring funds into expensive new structures, CWRU’s time and financial resources would be better invested in upgrading existing facilities for practical student use. Rather than solely focusing on future aspirations, let’s address the pressing needs of the here and now. Enhancing existing resources and including academic support programs and infrastructure should take priority over these projects. Yost Hall, the longstanding hub of the Department of Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Statistics, is set for demolition to pave the way for the development of the Interdisciplinary Science and Education Building (ISEB). Despite the building’s unsightly exterior, its interior functions perfectly well while the department housed within lacks institutional support. As many students already know, CWRU is highly regarded for its toptier engineering and advanced science programs, thinking beyond the possible and driving innovation. Given the school’s reputation, one might reasonably anticipate a vibrant math department, rich with resources to support students to excel. Unfortu-
nately, that is not the case. Despite the pressing need for math support, crucial courses such as MATH 121 and MATH 122—Calculus for Science and Engineering I and II, respectively—are offered without Supplemental Instruction (SI) sessions. For students who struggle with calculus, they keenly feel the absence of these sessions that could have provided crucial, accessible extra help. Additionally, these sessions could have significantly eased the learning process and bridged the gap between lectures and comprehension. The lack of technological unity across classrooms is striking, especially when transitioning from spaces equipped with advanced technology, such as smartboards and computers, to those where basic tools like chalkboards remain the norm. In particular, areas such as Mather Quad or the Nursing Research Building suffer significantly from this inconsistency. There’s a noticeable absence of upto-date technological resources in many of these classrooms, hindering the learning experience and limiting accessibility for students. These spaces lack projectors or even consistent access to Wi-Fi, which impedes engagement and collaborative learn-
ing. It is hard to believe the university would prioritize the construction of a $300 million building over the basic educational needs of students, such as additional help and qualified professors. Redirecting funds towards hiring experienced educators, rather than lavish buildings, could significantly improve foundational courses such as calculus; however, the university’s decision to prioritize the construction of a high-cost building over addressing fundamental educational needs raises significant concerns about its genuine commitment to fostering an enriching learning environment for its students. Dreaming big is admirable, but not when it undermines the immediate needs of the student body. CWRU has the opportunity to channel resources toward meaningful improvements that directly impact the daily experiences of its students. While the promise of new structures may be exciting, it’s imperative not to lose sight of the needs of the present. The administration can strike a balance between investing in futuristic visions and addressing immediate campus concerns, ensuring that students benefit today and tomorrow from the changes at CWRU.
Sports
The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, November 17, 2023 observer.case.edu Volume LV, Issue 12
Women’s basketball from page 1 On Nov. 13, CWRU fell to Marietta College in its home opener, dropping to a 1-1 season record. The Spartans started the first quarter with a layup by Characklis, giving them a two-point lead. But that would be the only lead that they would have for the remainder of the game. A jumper by Olivia Gribble from the opposing team tied the game with 8:55 left in the first quarter, and another jumper gave the Pioneers the lead. CWRU tried closing
the gap for the remaining part of the first quarter but were still down by 3 to start the second quarter. With a slow start, the Pioneers made the first points of the second quarter with a successful 3-pointer, leaving the Spartans trailing by 6. Marietta took their biggest lead of the half, leading by 9 with 5:32 left. CWRU managed to bring the deficit down to 4 after Characklis and Miller successfully completed a layup and a 3-pointer, respectively. The Spartans
continued to struggle into the third quarter and even though they managed to get as close as 3 points after a jumper by Micallef, they ended the third quarter 17 points down. In the end, CWRU was unable to catch up with Marietta, and the game ended with a jumper by Layla Lammert of the opposing team, leaving the score 73-45. Characklis led the team with 9 points and 7 rebounds. Mitchell added 7 points and 3 rebounds. The team shot
26.7% from the field goal range, 7.4% from the 3-point line and 73.3% from the freethrow line. With a win and a loss, the team will be facing Penn State Harrisburg in the Pablo Coto Tip-Off Tournament on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. and will be playing in the Consolation/Championship game the day after. With new players on the court, we hope this team continues to bring the energy as they face their new opponents in the coming weeks.
up a strong defense. CMU started the second quarter, scoring again when quarterback Ben Mills threw a 20-yard pass to wide receiver Ethan Reifer for a touchdown and making the score 14-0. With a little over five minutes left in the quarter, fourth-year Spartan quarterback Alex Fromberg threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to third-year wide receiver Noah Coyne, which put the Spartans on the board and cut their deficit to 14-7. This was Coyne’s 11th touchdown of the season. The score remained unchanged going into the third quarter until the Tartans, with less than eight minutes to go, scored a field goal to expand their lead to 17-7. This 10-point lead was cut short when the Spartans fought back with less than a minute left in an impressive 9-play, 83-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Fromberg to third-year wide receiver Ethan Dahlem. With a score of 17-14, the
Spartans were within scoring range, giving them hope for a win. The start of the fourth quarter saw CMU complete a touchdown drive, pulling the Tartans ahead by 10, 2414, with a little over eight minutes left in the game. The Spartans countered with Fromberg throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to fourth-year wide receiver Riley Knurek in the end zone, bringing CWRU within a field goal, 24-21. With CWRU’s defensive momentum flowing, Carnegie Mellon was shut down on the next drive by the Spartans defense, forcing a punt. However, a turnover gave the Tartans the ball back and subsequently resulte d with CMU scoring a touchdown w h i c h
would be the final points of the game with a final score of 31-21. The Spartans finished the season with a record of 7-3, and they ranked fourth in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference standings.
Football season ends in disappointing 21-31 loss to CMU Angelina Minaya Contributing Writer
On Saturday, Nov. 11, the Case Western Reserve University football team traveled to Pittsburgh to face off against long-time rival Carnegie Mellon University in their final game of the season. The Spartans went into the game with a 7-2 record, coming off a dominating 42-14 win over Allegheny College on Senior Day the week before. On the other side, the Tartans stood at 8-1 overall as they hosted the Spartan’s season finale at Gesling Stadium for the 37th Annual Academic Bowl. In the first quarter, the Tartans got on the scoreboard first when running back Tre Vasiliadis capped off a 14play, 92-yard drive that culminated in a one-yard touchdown run that took 6:45 off the clock. The first quarter ended at 7-0, with both teams putting
The Spartans valiantly fought back from a 10-point deficit, but the Tartans scored a last minute touchdown to win the game. Courtesy of CWRU Athletics
12 Sports
Friday, November 17, 2023
Women’s soccer postseason ends in second-round loss to John Carroll Puneet Bansal Sports Editor
The Case Western Reserve University women’s soccer team hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Division III Championship tournament this past weekend. Finishing off their season with 11-1-4 overall and 3-1-3, the Spartans were gearing up for a strong playoff push. After trouncing Grove City College on Nov. 11 by 5-1, CWRU fell 0-1 to Cleveland rival John Carroll University the very next day. Against Grove City, the Spartan offense completely dominated the game. In front of a home crowd on DiSanto Field, second-year forward Alexis Sassower hit a turnaround shot from the edge of the box to put the Spartans up 1-0 in the 20th minute of the game. It marked the second goal of her career. Though CWRU attempted 18 shots in the first half, they could not find the back of the net. However, the defense remained stalwart as ever, preventing the Wolverines from getting a single shot attempt in the first half. The floodgates opened in the second half. Second-year midfielder Ceci Dapino notched her third goal of the season in the 53rd minute. Less than eight minutes later, third-year Carolyn Koutures scored her fourth goal of the campaign off an assist from second-year forward Molly Shamah. In the 66th minute, Dapino set up fourth-year forward Helina VanBibber for her third goal of the year, recording her first assist of the year and putting the Spartans up 4-0. Grove City managed a score off a
The CWRU women’s soccer season comes to a close with a 0-1 loss to John Carroll University. Courtesy of CWRU Athletics header from a corner kick, but second-year forward Maggie Farra put the cherry on top in the 89th minute to seal the game 5-1. CWRU outshot Grove City 32-3 overall and 15-1 in shots on goal, not allowing a shot attempt from the Wolverines until the 71st minute. CWRU also led in corner kicks 11-2. With the victory, the Spartans moved to the second round to face John Carroll. In the first game of the regular season, the Spartans handed John Carroll their only loss of the season. The Blue Streaks were out for revenge and they got it, but not without a fight from the Spartans. The loss was truly heartbreaking, because CWRU dominated possession for most of the game. The Spartans had a 32-9 advantage in total
shots and 14-4 in shots on goal. John Carroll slipped in their sole goal of the game in the 26th minute. Fourthyear Spartan goalie Maggie Storti deflected the corner kick attempt but John Carroll recovered it and scored a goal from 27 yards. Storti leapt to block it but the ball was just out of her reach. The Blue Streaks jumped ahead 1-0. In the final 20 minutes of the first half, the Spartans took 14 shots to John Carroll’s 6 but could not equalize the score. It was a similar story in the second half. Dapino and fourthyear midfielder Aniya Hartzler both had unsuccessful free kicks. Farra had an opportunity in the final minute but her shot went just a little wide of the post. The Blue Streaks held on for the
1-0 win, giving the Spartans their first loss to a non-nationally-ranked team since Oct. 18, 2019. The loss concluded the Spartans’ season. They qualified for the tournament for the fourth-straight time and reached at least the second round for the third-straight year. The current senior class holds the highest winning percentage of any group in program history, sporting a 48-5-7 record over the last three years. On Nov. 13, five members of the women’s team were awarded AllUniversity Athletic Association honors. Hartzler was named to the First Team as a defender, second-year midfielders Jamie Goldfarb and Mackenzie Mueller received Second Team honors and Sassower and Storti received honorable mentions.
Scores and Upcoming Games Men’s Basketball CWRU vs Pitt-Bradford (11/10) - W 104-73 CWRU at La Roche (11/15) - W 78-58 CWRU at Denison (11/18)
Volleyball UAA Volleyball Championship CWRU vs WashU (11/10) - W 3-0 CWRU vs NYU (11/10) - L 0-3 CWRU vs UChicago (11/11) - W 3-2
Swimming and Diving
NCAA Championship CWRU vs Wisconsin-Stevens Point (11/16)
CWRU vs Rochester (11/4) Men’s team: W 227-60 Women’s team: W 220-80
Cross Country
CWRU at Total Performance Invite (11/16-18) CWRU at CMU Diving Invitational (11/17-18)
CWRU at NCAA Great Lakes Regional (11/11) Men’s Team: 5th of 40 teams, Women’s Team: 8th of 40 teams
Women’s Soccer
CWRU at NCAA DIII Championships (11/18)
NCAA DIII Championship: CWRU vs Grove City (11/11) - W 5-1 CWRU vs John Carroll (11/12) - L 0-1
Football CWRU vs Allegheny (11/4) - W 42-14 CWRU at Carnegie Mellon (11/11) - L 21-31
Women’s Basketball CWRU at Waynesburg (11/11) - W 69-49 CWRU vs Marietta College (11/13) - L 45-73 2023 Pablo Coto Tip-Off Tournament: CWRU vs Penn State Harrisburg (11/17) CWRU vs Consolation/Championship (11/18) CWRU at John Carroll (11/21)
Men’s Soccer NCAA DIII Championship: CWRU vs Hobart (11/11) - W 3-2 CWRU vs Cortland (11/12) - L 1-1 (3-5 OT)