Observer The Case Western Reserve
NEWS
Friday, November 8, 2024 Volume LVI, Issue 11 Est. 1969
CWRU gathers for ELECTION NIGHT
Zachary Treseler News Editor
Darcy Chew Sports Editor
On Nov. 5, the Case Western Reserve University community, and the rest of the country, gathered to watch the 2024 U.S. presidential election. While many students voted early or by absentee ballot, the day was still full of excitement with some students casting in-person ballots and anxiously awaiting the election’s results.
A university-wide email, sent out by President Eric Kaler, notes that “Election Day polls are now open, and I urge every eligible voter to exercise their right to vote in today’s general election.”
A large part of the voting effort this year was run by the Center for Civic Engagement and Learning (CCEL), who offered free transportation from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on election day. Running to three separate polling locations, 185 students took advantage of the shuttles running to the polling locations, and 16 additional students boarded a shuttle going to the Board of Elections to drop off their absentee ballots.
Student volunteers from CWRUVotes, described by CCEL as a “nonpartisan volunteer group,” helped run the operation. Students from the group were stationed at two tables—one outside Tinkham Veale University Center and the other outside One to One Fitness.
CWRU was not the only community group within Cleveland providing easy access to voting. For example, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, with funding from Cleveland VOTES and the Cleveland Foundation, made all RTA travel on election day free of charge.
Once the Ohio polls closed, and many students on campus proudly showed their “Oh(I)o Voted” stickers,
the post-election festivities began.
One of the major events hosted on the CWRU campus was a joint watch party between the Case College Republicans, Case Democrats and the Department of Political Science. The watch party was held in Tinkham Veale Ballroom B. There, they had three different screens running with NBC playing on the large screen and a local Ohio news source on the television.
Case Democrats President Jonah Ledet said, “I wanted to create a space where everyone can come and watch the election together, whether you’re on the left or the right, all that matters is that you are here with us now to come for the most consequential elections in our lifetime.”
President of Case College Repub-
lican Nicholas Soares, a fourth-year student, expands more on the purpose of the joint watch party. “The goal of organizing this event was to promote both the college Republicans and Democrats and show that we can work together to promote bipartisanship and fair discussion of political topics. The watch party was an event where students, regardless of their partisan affiliation, could celebrate American democracy at work,” he said. “We have collaborated with the Democrats before and will certainly do so in the future. This was a good opportunity for Case students to hear both side’s take on such an important political event.”
Many students attended the watch party for a sense of community. Juilana Graza, a second-year student, noted that she and her friends were “just really anxious about the results. And a watch party kind of eases that because at least you can be with your friends and talk about it as it unfolds.”
On the other end of the political spectrum, Stephan Norquist, secretary of the Case College Republicans and a second-year student, attended the watch party, as he likes “learning about politics and other people’s opinions on them.” He said, “A lot of the people who I hang around tend to not particularly have a particular political ideology, and I wanted to mix around people who have different ones.”
Through the commentary, professors from the political science department invited a variety of speakers to talk as the election results were coming in live. Makaila Burnham, a secondyear student, noted how helpful this was. They said, “I’m not a politician, I
don’t study political science, so just seeing them explain it while I’m here is really helpful.”
As of the morning of Nov. 6, Cuyahoga County reported a voter turnout of 64%, a number which may increase as provisional and late mail in ballots arrive. In terms of local races, Issues 49 and 55—a tax levy for Cleveland schools and an increased cigarette tax for Cuyahoga County Arts and Culture—passed. Issue 1, a measure to revise the redistricting process, did not pass. Senator Sherod Brown was not reelected and President elect Donald Trump received Ohio’s 17 electoral college votes.
Simon Fox, a second-year student, reflected on Issue 1 not passing. He said, “It’s always hard to make something that’s bipartisan and get people to agree to it … I just think the implementation wasn’t planned right.”
At the watch party, some students expressed melancholy about the result of Ohio’s electoral college votes. Graza explained that she was “pretty sad that Ohio was red this year. I’m really hoping that we get to see the first woman in office, just to see more humanity in politics in general, and more acceptance for, you know, the different people that we have in this country. I really hope that we go in that direction.”
Likewise, some students are disheartened about how much say they have as young voters in Ohio. Norquist said, “I was initially disappointed that I was not able to vote in this election, but I’m increasingly realizing that I don’t think it would have made as much of a difference as I wished it would have, and that’s a little sad.”
CWRUVotes student volunteers coordinate shuttle services outside Tink. The shuttle services were run by CCEL to support student voters. Moses Fleischman/The Observer
Students watch election coverage at the Joint Election Night Watch Party hosted by the Case College Republicans, Case Democrats and Department of Political Science. Darcy Chew/The Observer
CWRU promotes T.H.I.N.K. program
Auden Koetters Director of Design
Case Western Reserve University recently introduced T.H.I.N.K. training sessions, aimed at equipping students with essential skills to support peers facing mental health challenges. This program, named for its five key components—Talk, Hear, Identify signs, Navigate resources and Kindly refer—focuses on suicide prevention and the broader goal of mental health awareness. The T.H.I.N.K. program empowers students to act as first responders in situations where friends, classmates or even strangers may be exhibiting signs of mental health distress. It offers participants the tools to open conversations, actively listen, intervene appropriately, guide peers to resources and recognize the signs of someone who might need help. Mental health issues among college students are reaching alarming rates, with many experiencing high levels of stress and overwhelming anxiety. For some students, these challenges are further exacerbated by long wait times for professional counseling services, a common issue on many campuses, including CWRU’s. The T.H.I.N.K. program addresses these concerns by enabling students to play a proactive role in supporting one another, offering skills that are useful immediately rather than relying solely on
professional support.
T.H.I.N.K. training sessions pro vide participants with practice sce narios, role-playing exercises and resources that help normalize con versations around mental health. The exercises encourage students to practice opening conversations with friends or classmates who may be struggling, to recognize warn ing signs and to approach sensitive topics in a compassionate, non judgmental way. T.H.I.N.K. train ing places a strong emphasis on active listening, a skill that allows students to better understand the emotional needs of their peers and offer meaningful support.
The training also covers prac tical steps for connecting peers with additional resources such as University Health and Counsel ing Services and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. In cases where a friend or classmate might need further support, the training helps participants recognize when it is appropriate to suggest professional assistance and how to provide that guidance. By understanding these resources, T.H.I.N.K. participants become well-equipped to direct peers to the right type of help. This holistic approach to mental health support extends beyond individ ual actions and has the potential to influence campus culture as a whole; the program aims to foster a connected and caring community where mental health is openly dis cussed and students feel comfort
LICK ONE TOO MANY STAMPS?
“Dancing with the Stars” season 33 has revived a show previously on its last legs
Kate Gordon Life Editor
Before this most recent season, I was in second grade the last time I tuned in to “Dancing with the Stars.” The ballroom dancing competition show used to be a primetime staple of the late 2000s and early 2010s television catalog, gradually declining in popularity and viewership— even leaving ABC and going straight to streaming for a season—up until this year. A series of smart and risky casting decisions have hooked a surge of viewers back in for season 33, bringing the largest live voting numbers of the series’ history.
This year’s cast members include/included—as the majority of the contestants have been eliminated by the time of publication—four professional athletes, two leading persons of “The Bachelor” franchise, three actors, a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model and most notably, a convicted felon. Con artist Anna Delvey, notably described by the show as a “fashionista and entrepreneur”—and yes, she did dance while wearing her ankle monitor— was a highly controversial choice that likely brought in the majority of the show’s new viewers, including myself. However, like many, I kept watching the show long after Delvey’s Week 2 elimination.
Many of the other celebrity contestants were also shockingly relevant for a show that hasn’t pulled anyone of note in years. Rugby player Ilona Maher and gymnast Steven Nedoroscik—you may know him as “Mr. Pommel Horse”—were everywhere on TikTok this summer during the Paris Olympics. Both Bachelor Joey Graziadei and Bachelorette Jenn Tran’s seasons’ aired this year, and the latter had a sympathy-inspiring viral moment when she was
forced to relive her breakup on live television. Plus, some of the lesserknown cast members have grown on me despite their lack of notoriety. Former Disney star Chandler Kinney is a sweetheart and probably the best dancer of the season, and professional athletes Danny Amendola and Dwight Howard
have come back from a slow start to reveal personality-packed routines.
Apart from its star-studded cast, I was surprised to find how much I enjoy “Dancing with the Stars” as a program. Compared to other competition reality shows where the judges are celebrities with little technical knowledge, the “Dancing with
the Stars” panel comprises former professional dancers and choreographers who actually know their stuff. I’m surprisingly learning about ballroom dancing technique by watching the show—I know to look for whether the contestant is keeping a strong frame and their elbows up, and that the quickstep is the fastest dance and the rumba is the slowest.
“Dancing with the Stars” also has a level of camp—perhaps due to its 2000s roots or the inability to edit out any mistakes in its live broadcast—that makes the show incredibly entertaining. First and foremost, host and former “Footloose” leading lady Julianne Hough is kind of a freak. She has an eerily fixed smile and says the weirdest things during her live interviews, at one point stumbling over and repeating the phrase “beautiful Black woman” to contestant Phaedra Parks. Judge Bruno Tonioli is similarly unhinged—in every episode he wears a shirt, often sheer, unbuttoned all the way to his navel and stands on top of his chair for each critique he gives. If he really likes a particular dance, he’ll take off his blazer and throw it on the floor during his segment. Host Alfonso Ribeiro and judge Carrie Ann Inaba are relatively normal but have had their moments as well. For instance, Inaba gave out five tens during the Halloween episode, most of which were not echoed by the other two judges. This unpredictability of the show’s permanent cast keeps you on your toes and makes for a more interesting viewing experience. For its endearing cast, technical know-how and unmatched quirkiness, I would highly recommend that anyone interested check out “Dancing with the Stars.” You can catch the show live Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. CST on ABC and Disney+ and the next day on Hulu.
“We Live in Time” is a masterclass in writing love and loss
Penelope Cloonan Staff Writer
Spoilers ahead. Trigger warnings for cancer, its complications and a graphic birth scene.
“We Live in Time” presents itself as a standard love story, though it is anything but. Tobias (Andrew Garfield), a recent divorcé, meets Almut (Florence Pugh), an up-and-coming chef, when she hits him with her car. They fall in love, go through the trials and tribulations of making a life together and navigate a cancer diagnosis. The movie is split between the story of how they met and the modern day.
“We Live in Time” has all the elements of a classic love story: a meetcute, a reason why the couple would never work and a dramatic scene in which they finally get together. The audience gets to fall in love with Almut and Tobias over the course of
years. They argue about career goals and whether or not they want children and a traditional family, finally choosing to be with each other in the end. However, not long after they get together, Almut is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She grapples with wanting to have kids now that that choice is being taken away from her. This is a sobering moment in the film as Almut has previously been staunchly against a traditional family. Almut and Tobias stay together through her treatment and once she is in remission, they have a daughter after rounds of IVF. For a while, all is well. Tobias and Almut raise their daughter, build up a home and restaurant. It is a picture-perfect love story ending, but this is not where the film ends.
Years later, Almut’s ovarian cancer relapses. She has doubts about going through grueling treatment again and giving up her career as a chef. Tobias urges her to carry on
with chemotherapy and put her career on hold to recover. Almut agrees to go through with chemotherapy, though she enters a high stakes cooking competition behind Tobias’ back. The treatment proves unsuccessful and Almut works through her deteriorating health to train. Just before the finals, Tobias finds out that Almut has been putting herself under more stress with the competition. Though he ultimately supports her, it is a rough fight. Almut successfully competes in the competition and walks off the stage happily, surrounded by family. While the movie does not directly confirm Almut passes away, the film closes with a touching scene of Tobias and their daughter in the garden of their family home, without Almut but happy.
When I say “We Live in Time” is a masterclass in writing love and loss, I think the love part is self-explanatory. Almut and Tobias fall in love
like real people. They are fully developed adults who deal with real challenges in their relationship and come out stronger together. That said, I feel the writing of loss in the film deserves more attention. When “We Live in Time” was first announced, it seemed all anyone could talk about was that Pugh and Garfield were going to be starring in a romance movie together. The second was of course the ugly horse carousel meme from this past summer, which is on screen for a shockingly short period of time. These are two actors who have earned respect across genres. You can feel Pugh’s anger when Almut learns about her relapse and grapples with her legacy. There is not a moment when Garfield’s character is teary-eyed and the audience is not. The performances are emotional, guttural and real.
Continue reading on page 4
Season 33 of “Dancing with the Stars” airs on ABC, Disney+ and Hulu. Hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, the show follows celebrity contestants learning ballroom dances. Courtesy of Disney
“We Live In Time” from page 3
Cancer is a delicate topic in media. We are coming off of the “terminally ill romance” craze of the 2010s. Films like “The Fault in Our Stars” (2014) and “Five Feet Apart” (2019) enraptured audiences with stories of teenagers falling in love and dealing with the tragedy of a terminal illness at a young age. These films were intensely emotional and often criticized for making light of cancer. The disease was almost fetishized; cancer is the character, not the person. In the wake of this boom in terminally ill romances, the public has turned against the genre. I will admit that I was hesitant to watch “We Live in Time” for this same reason. I had concerns that Almut’s cancer would not be treated with the respect she deserves—that she would become entirely her cancer. I was proven wrong.
With a major theme of the movie being what we leave behind when we’re gone, the film needed its ending to land right. It did. The entire reason Almut chooses to sacrifice her health to compete is the fact she wants to leave something behind. She wants to be more than someone’s “dead mom.” Given her previous apprehension towards being tied down to a family, this makes sense. Almut is highly individualistic. This humanizes Almut immensely and draws a stark distinction from the terminally ill romances of the decade prior. Almut is as real as anyone else and she is not her cancer. Additionally, she is the type of person who would want to be remembered fondly in death.
The film never directly says that Almut dies. The audience is not subjected to a gruesome death or a morbid funeral scene as they would
have been in previous terminally ill romances. There are no cheap shots at emotion from shockingly horrific events. Early on in the film, Tobias and Almut joke about getting a dog to ease the pain of Almut’s eventual death for their daughter. The closing scene is Tobias, their daughter and their new dog in the garden that Almut loved. They are happy because they had time with a wonderful person even if it is over now. The subtlety of the ending is what makes it work. While my theater had tears through-
out the film, this garnered genuine sobs. Life really does move on after death, and it is the realism that hurts the most. This is the happiest ending possible.
“We Live in Time” is fundamentally about love, but it is a hard watch. There are definitive triggers for cancer and loss of life due to said cancer. As someone who has had cancer impact their family I will say this: it hurt more than anything watching the movie, but walking out of that theater felt wonderful. The writers cared
about the story and knew how important it was; this horrendous part of life was finally represented well. Cancer at such a young age, impacting a wonderful family is a tragedy— it is messy, but it is real. There is as much love and truth and care in that script as there should be. It is a good hurt.
If you have the chance to catch “We Live in Time” in theaters, I urge you to take it. If not, watch it at home with people you love, and a box of tissues.
“Creation, Birth, and Rebirth” at the CMA is a look at myths across the world
Kennedy Wolf Staff Writer
This past August, the Cleveland Museum of Art debuted a new installation titled “Creation, Birth, and Rebirth.” This exhibit examines different cultures’ artistic interpretations of their respective creation myths. The exhibit is located in Gallery 115 on the first floor of the museum and was curated with the help of Case Western Reserve University’s medieval art program.
One of the most interesting things I found about this exhibit was how vastly different each piece was from the others. In past exhibits, all the artwork was connected by a common medium or the context in which the pieces were created. While this exhibit does focus on the context of creation myths, the reason why all the works are so different is paradoxically because nearly every single culture around the world has a distinct creation myth. I believe this to be a testament to humanity’s similarities across time. Just about every human wanted a story to explain how the world started, regardless of their culture or period.
Unsurprisingly, many of the pieces in this exhibit focus on religion. Front and center is “Virgin Nursing the Christ Child,” a French limestone statue from 1370 depicting a young Mary breastfeeding the baby Jesus. This statue is one of the larger pieces from the collection. The piece was commissioned and displayed by
a church, which is indicated on the unpainted backside of the statue as it would have been placed against a wall. Another similar piece (in the sense that it is also a statue) from a different religion is “Birth of the Buddha,” which dates to Northeastern India in the ninth century. This statue is made of black chlorite and is also unpainted. While both of these statues were commissioned and used by religious institutions, they could not be more different. They each convey a distinct narrative and were meant to invoke contrasting reactions in their worshippers. And while upon first viewing, someone might think they appear to be similar, their meanings could not vary more. Nonetheless, these pieces are both three-dimensional and made of a type of stone. This shared medium between the two pieces is certainly not universal to the exhibit. There are many two-dimensional pieces as well, such as “Nuremberg Chronicle: The Emblem,” which was produced in Germany during the late 15th century. This piece was produced by the Nuremberg printing press and was part of a collection with over 1,000 images representing the history of the Judeo-Christian world. In this image, we see the Christian God speaking the world into existence and then ruling over it. This piece is especially interesting considering how revolutionary its means of production were for the time. It conveys how changing technology affects the manufacturing of art.
Another two-dimensional piece is the “Kalpa-sutra Manuscript with 24 Miniatures: Mahavira’s Initiation,” which was produced in Gujarat, India, during the late 15th century. This piece was completed by hand on paper using gold leaf, ink and gum tempera. It depicts the miraculous birth of Mahavira, who was the founder of Jainism. While this piece and “Nuremberg Chronicle: The Emblem” were produced within 20 years of each other, how they were manufactured is quite different. One drew on new technol-
ogies, while the other was created in the traditional way. And while each work aims to inspire a feeling of awe and amazement in their viewer, the means by which they achieve this effect vary as well.
“Creation, Birth, and Rebirth” does a wonderful job of exemplifying the differences that exist between cultures as well as the commonalities of the stories we create as humans. It is on display until July 2025, and I recommend visiting the exhibit if you want to learn more about the things that unite us as humans.
Left to right: “We Live in Time,” starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, explores themes of love, death and grief with its emotionally-gripping characters and realistic plot. Courtesy of A24
“Birth of the Buddha” is one of several religious pieces in “Creation, Birth, and Rebirth.” Dating back to the ninth century, this black chlorite statue depicts the Buddha’s mother reaching for a tree branch. Moses Fleischman/The Observer
Photos of the week!
Top ten ways to get your boyfriend to break up with you
1. Kiss his male family members on the lips 2. His best friend ... in your bed ... on his birthday 3. Make his parents’ contact in your phone “The InLaws” 4. Compare him to your dad ... constantly
5. Post his sleeping face on social media with “Love Waking Up Next to This”
6. Create a TikTok series about your relationship without telling him
7. Refer to his roommates as “Our Roommates”
8. Refer to yourself in the third person … but only in bed
9. Make a shared Google Calendar of all your “anniversaries” (Count the day you met, first date, first study session, first time you both ordered tacos— everything)
10. Play break up songs while you're with them
Overheard CWRU
Compilation of out-of-pocket things heard across campus
"Call your daddy."
"All we need is Trump walking out to KSL's. "
"Part of the criteria for being on the newspaper is being underweight."
Auden Koetters/The Observer
Zachary Treseler/The Observer
Auden Koetters/The Observer
Anjali Bhuthpur/The Observer
1 Before, poetically
9 Where many hands may be at work 13 N.Y.C. ave. between Park and Third 14 Cellular blueprint 15 “And Then There Were ___” 16 Newbie crossword solver’s thought on a Monday
18 “Veep” actress Chlumsky
19 Lacking temerity
20 J.F.K. alternative
21 Start of a courtroom oath
22 “30 for 30” airer
23 Newbie crossword solver’s thought on a Tuesday 27 Where the action happens
28 Place people walk into for jokes?
29 Lunar holiday
30 Holder of tent sales
31 Winter sights at New York’s Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park
33 Mantra, often
35 Newbie crossword solver’s thought on a Wednesday
40 “Likewise”
41 Said “hello” from a distance
42 Off-road transport, for short
43 IGN’s #1 Video Game Console of All Time
46 Top of a can 47 June honoree
50 Newbie crossword solver’s thought on a Thursday
53 Scourge 54 Green prefix 55 Na+, for one 56 Potables in
kiddush and the Eucharist
57 Mellow cheese
58 Newbie crossword solver’s thought on a Friday
61 Actress Palmer of “Nope”
62 Fracases
63 “My dear fellow”
64 Some flock members
65 Actress Amy of “Enchanted”
66 Something you should hold onto, in an expression
DOWN
1 Division I players, say
2 Alter
3 Not included
4 Like canvases, when being painted
5 Bank statement abbr.
6 Department store chain that began as a corner grocery
7 “Potentially”
8 Kind of oil in cooking
9 “What did the ___ say when it was riding on the back of a turtle? Wheeeee!”
10 Lempira spender
11 Like a newborn babe
12 Samosa veggie
14 “___ knows”
17 Beefeater, for one
23 Diminish
24 Rubs the wrong way
25 Scratched the surface?
26 Baby foxes
28 Item of wear named after an island
31 Grand Canyon viewpoint
32 Scatter, as seed
34 Prepared for a surprise party, in a way
35 Part of Caesar’s boast
36 Longtime soda slogan
37 Chocolate confection that melts before you eat it
38 D.C. tourist spot
39 Like Thanos in the Marvel universe
44 Very secretive sort
45 Sent away, as a pest
47 Like Legos, originally
48 Cause of fatigue
49 Bedouin’s home
51 Encyclopedia volumes, e.g.
52 ___ Holmes, sleuth in young-adult fiction
53 Part of a bridle
56 Director Craven
57 Barely manage, with “out”
59 Real beauty
60 “___ Diaboliques,” 1955 Simone Signoret film
Word search: UMB clubs
Medium
Very Hard
THE ATHENIAN THE OBSERVER
WRUW
DISCUSSIONS
FILM
Starbucks sales are stirring up trouble: Can the coffee giant brew up a comeback?
Katharina Staehr Staff Writer
When I used to step into Starbucks, I felt like I was being transported to another place. Inside, the smell of freshly roasted beans suffused the air. The rhythmic whirr of espresso machines at work was a reminder of the coffee being brewed. Baristas whizzed back and forth as they whisked up fiestas of flavor. Amidst the soft jazz, there was an ambiance of comfort and familiarity—one that begged me to stay as I savored every sip.
What started as a single, small coffee shop amidst the charm of Seattle’s Pike Place Market in 1971 has now grown into a $108-billion coffee colossus with over 38,000 stores across the globe. Inspired by the magic of Italian cafes, former CEO Howard Schultz had a clear vision for Starbucks to serve as a “third place” between work and home—a place where people can come together, share stories and indulge.
Recently, things have started to change. While the amalgam of jazz and the aroma of fresh coffee still welcomes me as I walk through the door, the coziness has vanished into a hectic frenzy: people on the go hustle in and out, the counter overflows with drinks waiting to be picked up by customers who ordered ahead on the mobile app and sparse seating no longer invites customers to linger long hours over a steaming cup of coffee.
Occasional customers and loyal Starbucks enthusiasts, it seems, have been feeling a similar way. The company’s preliminary release of their 2024 fourth quarter and fiscal year report two weeks ago appears to be frothing up more concern than the delight a dazzling Starbucks coffee date would suggest. For months now, Starbucks’ sales in the U.S. have been dropping. The 6% decrease in sales in the latest quarter compared to last year has made it the worst quarter since the pandemic, and the number of purchases has declined by 10%.
The fundamental problem? Going to Starbucks isn’t what it used to mean—and the brand itself no longer represents that “third place” it used to be. Instead, that place is getting lost in the company’s selfcommoditizing marketing machinery.
For starters, printed labels on cups have taken up the spot of once upon a time handwritten names and pick-me-ups in black sharpie. Every beverage is given the appearance of a ready-made sealed product, hiding the authenticity and uniqueness of the handcrafted drink within.
What’s more, Starbucks has concocted a seemingly endless and bizarre menu of drinks infused with an exhaustive list of customizations. From the notorious “unicorn frappuccino” to toffee nut syrup, these ‘extras’ fail to deliver the true Italian espresso culture and premium quality coffee experience to the everyday consumer.
Starbucks coins it “experiential convenience”—the increasing shift
to mobile ordering over in-person transactions. The goal is to make every step in the experience—from ordering to drinking coffee—as effortless for the customer as possible. Yet those wishing to enjoy their coffee in-store will find themselves literally rubbing elbows with inand-out convenience buyers. Coffee shop enthusiasts may not even find seating altogether, as cafes are removing chairs and tables to make room for their ever-growing digital ordering culture.
Still, what has perhaps been stirring up Starbucks customer turnover most are the staggering beverage prices. It is rare to leave the store without having spent at least $5 on a drink, even finding menu items under $4 is quite the feat. Instead, customers are beginning to turn to Starbucks’ fierce competitors: cafes with a “neighborhood coffee shop” feel and supreme coffee flavor, and the number of fancy coffee makers tucked away in peoples’ kitchens and workplace offices.
To address the stifling number of sales, new CEO Brian Niccol has a “Back to Starbucks” plan on the menu. “We’re reclaiming the third place, so our cafes feel like the welcoming coffeehouse our customers remember,” Niccol said.
First and foremost, mobile ordering, with a reduced number of customization options, will be taking a backseat to focus on elevating the in-store ambience. More comfortable seating, coffee served in ceramic mugs and the return of the black sharpie are supposed to breathe new life into the sparkling allure that once kept customers coming and encouraged them to stay.
Other changes include a maximum wait of four minutes, a less exhaustive drink menu, no surcharge on non-dairy milk, increased staffing, fewer discounts that overwhelm baristas and a revival of the pre-pandemic condiment bar.
Perks like free milk substitutes and the condiment bar certainly
sound enticing—and the emphasis on bringing back that “third place” Starbucks strives to represent seems to be serving up the right vision. But a major problem Niccol’s plan fails to address are the drink prices, which have been blown significantly out of proportion and are a major source of pushback from customers. What’s more, changes like store redesigns, comfier chairs, ceramic mugs and increased staffing will require considerable investment, and it remains to be seen how, and if, this will reflect onto the consumer, hiking up prices even more.
Niccol appears not to consider this brewing concern. “We have a clear plan … I’m very optimistic,” he said. Only time will tell how effective Starbucks’ turnaround will be, but it’s clear that the company has some serious re-envisioning to do. And maybe, just maybe, it will once again swirl up some magic— that indescribable feeling of sipping in surprise and delight.
LTTE: My response to Professor Geller
Thomas Kim Hill Contributing Writer
In response to my Oct. 11 LTTE in The Observer criticizing an LTTE by Professor Jay Geller on the conflict in Israel-Palestine, which he wrote earlier this year, he says that he appreciates my taking time to engage with him. I likewise appreciate the positive tone he sets. He models a civil, respectful, open discourse that is missing in much of the debate over I/P.
He sticks to the issues and does not engage in the personal animus that so often accompanies disagreements over I/P. He does point out my factual error in my Oct. 11 LTTE where I said, “the majority of the Jews who founded Israel immigrated after the Holocaust.” He makes clear that the founders in 1948 were
there before the Holocaust. I thank him for his correction.
I confused the timing of the mass migration of Ashkenazi Jews, who survived the Holocaust, into Israel from the refugee camps of Europe. (I stand by my other positions taken, especially on the genetic roots of the Ashkenazi Jews of Israel from Europe.)
Professor Geller cannot, however, change the fact that Israel was founded by European settlercolonialists who were dominant in Israel’s early history. My primary point was that these Ashkenazi Jews were the ones who “committed the war crime known as ethnic cleansing,” in which 750,000 Palestinians were driven from their homes. This Palestinian Nakba (“catastrophe”) of 1948 is now a well-established historical fact.
We may ask, “is this history even
October 31: A day to celebrate a unique cultural juxtaposition
Aditi Joshi Contributing Writer
This year, Diwali and Halloween both fell on Oct. 31, marking a unique cultural juxtaposition. What made this day really interesting for those who take pride in celebrating both, was deciding which holiday to celebrate first. Both festivals celebrate two contrasting themes: Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, while Halloween indulges in the mysteries and allure of the darker side. So, the day was essentially a balance of honoring the light and embracing the darkness.
Diwali is one of the most important religious festivals celebrated by Indians worldwide. India is a melting pot, rich in diverse cultures, religions, languages, people and traditions. It is the one religious holiday that all Indians, regardless of what religion and traditions they follow, celebrate and use to bring everyone together. The crux of Diwali as a holiday is the idea of following dharma (duty) in the face of good, bad, evil and darkness. So, when night falls, everyone lights up a diya (or a candle) to illuminate the victory of good (represented by the light) over evil (represented by the night).
Since both Halloween and Diwali are celebrated at night, this past October it became difficult to celebrate both holidays at once. For some Indians, celebrating Halloween on the day of Diwali can be considered sacrilegious. So the idea of these two holidays coming together on the same day was a bit of a drawback for those celebrating both. While Diwali is not always on Oct. 31, the rare overlap made it feel like something was missing given that each holiday could not be fully celebrated in its own right. While a rare occurrence, the experience of this day highlighted
important, given current events in Gaza?” As we know, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, has accused UN Palestinian Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese of being an anti-Semite based on Albanese defining Israel’s military actions in Gaza as genocide. Genocide is now a key issue for justice in Palestine.
Well, the question hinges on history. Zionists in Israel and the U.S. subscribe to Old Testament biblical-historical-theology, that “God gave this land to me.” The same for the founding of Israel in 1948. Pat Boone actually sang “God gave this land to me” in the 1960 Hollywood film, “Exodus.”
Evangelical Christians in the U.S., who are not fans of the separation of church and state, believe the U.S. should be a Christian nation. These evangelicals are predictably Chris-
tian Zionists and are very influential in the U.S. Israel Lobby, standing politically with Israel. Establishing all of “Greater Israel,” from the river to the sea, as a Jewish nation, is the goal of Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing political coalition. History and religion are conjoined.
More than 43,000 civilians in Gaza have now been killed, including so many innocent women and children.
The great American journalist I.F. Stone, who first exposed the intellectual dishonesty of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s war in Vietnam, before Daniel Ellsberg, also spoke to the contradictions in Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians. In 1976, he stated Israel is “creating a kind of moral schizophrenia in world Jewry.”
Thomas Kim Hill 1973
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the personal choices that had to be made for self-fulfillment. As an Indian myself, I thought celebrating Halloween on the day of Diwali was a bit odd, especially since I have grown up looking forward to Diwali every year. Being a firstyear in college, this was set to be the first time I was not present with my family and friends to celebrate Diwali. Around this time, the atmosphere is always lively and celebratory—being present for the Saraswati Puja to start the celebrations, lighting up firecrackers and the anticipation of eating mouthwatering Diwali sweets and savory snacks, such as chakli, anarse, shankarpali and kaju katli. I wanted to relive that experience at college on the day of Diwali, so my friends and I created our own version of Diwali by eating out, dressing up in our traditional Indian clothes and calling our families. We also wanted to acknowledge Halloween, so we visited the on-campus haunted house in Eldred Hall. While it wasn’t a traditional Halloween or Diwali experience, we created our own version of it and, well, we loved it anyway.
Going into the festivities, I was confused about what holiday to celebrate. Should I honor the culture of the place I reside in or should I honor my heritage and ethnicity? Could I possibly honor both? Battling through these questions was difficult before I eventually came to the conclusion that I get the privilege to celebrate two fun holidays on this day.
Will such a day ever come again? Maybe four, 10 or even 100 years from now. But through this holiday reflection, I found myself genuinely considering the value of each holiday and why we celebrate them, rather than just celebrating for the sake of it.
Overall, the Diwali and Halloween mash-up was a weird day but definitely a memorable one.
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Why do more Muslim men than women attend Friday prayer?
Katharina Staehr Staff Writer
“Let’s talk about the importance of saying as-salamu alaykum,” Professor Ramez Islambouli states as he begins his Khutbah, commencing what is known as Jummah. Every Friday, students, doctors and community members alike gather to observe Dhuhr, the second Islamic prayer of the day, in the comforts of the Interfaith Center. Shoes and school bags decorate the premises as the Muslims trickle into the prayer area. Men sit in the front. Women sit in the back. Although, as I find my way to the women’s section, I can’t help but notice the difference between the number of men and women in attendance. Over double the number of men than women go to Jummah. Why is that? I have a few theories.
Theory one: This imbalance is a reflection of Islamic policies. In Islam, Jummah is required for adult male Muslims and not for females. However, the Quran does not explicitly differentiate between genders when discussing the topic of Jummah. The Quran states, “O you who believe! When you are called to congregational (Friday) prayer, hasten to the remembrance of God and leave off
trade” (Quran 62:9). Nevertheless, a combination of historical and religious interpretations have agreed that men are expected to actively participate in communal activities, while women are allowed to choose based on their individual circumstances, thus concluding that Jummah is required for men and not for women. With this in mind, having more men at Jummah makes sense.
Theory two: Women don’t actually know about Jummah on campus. For undergraduates, the main channel of communication for Muslims to communicate with one another is through the Muslim Student Association (MSA), where a general body chat is managed by the executive board on WhatsApp. However, you must engage with the student organization before joining the chat by either going to an event or talking to someone already in the chat who can request to add you. Thus, there is a possibility that fewer women are engaging with the organization than men, potentially explaining the lack of awareness amongst undergraduates.
For community members, there is a group chat for Muslim doctors at University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic to share information. This chat functions as MSA’s ver-
sion of the general body chat, but the demographics are highly dependent on the gender makeup at these hospitals. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, women make up only 38% of all doctors. Thus, if this group chat is largely made up of doctors, there are bound to be fewer women in the chat than men. The underrepresentation of women in these spaces may contribute to their limited awareness of Jummah on campus.
Theory three: Women do know about it, but are choosing not to attend. There could be a number of reasons for this. Perhaps Muslim women on campus prefer to observe their religion in other ways. Since Jummah is not required, they may choose to pray at home, reading Surah Al-Kahf in the comforts of their dorm.
A potential second reason women may not attend Jummah is that additional social pressures keep women from engaging with the Muslim community. Starting at puberty, women are expected to wear a head covering called the hijab and begin to dress more modestly. Men also face conformity as they are expected to take a larger role in the household, serving as a leader in the community. However, in an age of social media
and patriarchal gender roles, women face an additional level of scrutiny because their choices about religious observance and personal expression can be subject to public judgment. This scrutiny may lead women to withdraw from communal settings such as Jummah, resorting to alternative forms of worship.
This phenomenon does not exist in isolation; it mirrors broader trends in religious participation across various faiths. In the broader context of religion, the demographics that populated churches, synagogues and mosques 20 years ago are shifting. For the first time, more young men are engaging with religion than women. Amongst Generation Z, those aged 18 to 25, women are nine percent more likely to identify as having no religious affiliation. Maybe this imbalance seen at Jummah is pronounced because Generation Z students constitute the majority of attendees.
Despite the reason why more men attend Jummah than women, there are questions that need to be answered: Is there something the community can do to make Jummah a more inclusive environment? How do we access these female doctors? And what’s Professor Islambouli going to talk about next week?
Live off campus, be independent and enjoy life
Catherine Choi Staff Writer
At the start of college, students are excited to move out of their parents’ houses to be on their own. However, this excitement soon turns into disappointment once they realize that there are still rules to follow, the food in college is not great, living with a total stranger is hard and dorm life is far away from the “real world.” Case Western Reserve University, in particular, requires students to live in a college dorm during their first two years of school. After that, they can choose to continue living on campus, move off campus or get free housing by becoming a resident advisor. The same applies for meal plans. Firstand second-years are required to select a meal plan with a fixed number of meal swipes and mandatory CaseCash, whereas upperclassmen can choose to opt out of the meal plan. Although the benefits of short transport time and not having strenuous responsibilities may be alluring, living off campus has many benefits of its own. Students can save money by living off campus. When living in a
dorm, students have to pay numerous fees for various purposes even if they do not fully enjoy the benefits of the payments. When living off campus—depending on lifestyle and how frugal one is—students can have a lesser cost of living than they would have on campus. The average cost of upperclass dorms are in the range of $1,431 to $1,700 per month—equivalent or higher than the average one-bedroom or studio apartment rent cost near campus— for each person, and oftentimes students have to share the area with a roommate. For upperclassmen meal plans, the average price per meal is in the range of $12.90 to $21.60. Considering the quality of food offered in campus cafeterias, it would be more cost-efficient if students prepared their own food from scratch or dined out. By splitting the cost with those you live with, students can save so much money, living at a lower cost than they would in a college dorm.
Living off campus gives you more room for growth. Regardless of what students want for themselves at the moment, once they graduate college, they must learn how to live independently and take on responsibility. Starting at an early age, stu-
dents can learn how to take care of their apartment, health and food, learn the value of money, maintain self-discipline with no one to enforce the rules and solve problems as they come along. Early exposure to these processes can help reduce the eventual burden of adulthood, which may entail holding a full-time job and requires you to navigate coworker relationships and financial responsibilities such as insurance and retirement.
Also, if you have a roommate, living off campus helps you build skills in communication, negotiation and teamwork. Even if students are living with their close friends, they have fundamentally different backgrounds and lifestyles. Learning how to compromise on issues—such as a roommate bringing over loud guests—teaches the fundamental skill of adaptation to different personalities. Being accountable for other people’s money by paying their share of rent and utilities on time, doing designated chores, taking care of shared items and following the mutually agreed upon rules can make the transition to society outside of college much easier. Finally, there is more freedom and privacy off campus. Despite be-
ing legal adults, there are fixed rules that accompany living in a dorm, such as quiet hours or guest access restrictions. However, once students move off campus, as long as apartment guidelines are followed, they are free to use their time as they like, have guests over whenever they want, own a pet, eat what they want and create the environment that suits them. This unlimited freedom allows students to get out of their comfort zone and explore life. Students can also learn that they should not enjoy unfettered freedom by only following self-initiated guidelines. After being accountable for themselves, they may learn that parents and teachers made rules and restrictions to protect them from harm. Although the thought of partying, drinking, dining out all the time and constantly playing video games is exciting—in the long run, they are habits that can cost one’s academic performance and physical and mental health.
Many students are apprehensive about moving out off campus because they fear responsibilities that they are not familiar with. However, one must eventually learn how to be independent, and getting an early start has its own benefits.
Elect to manage your stress
Editorial Board
This past week marked the end of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, with the popular vote and Electoral College selecting former President Donald Trump to serve for the upcoming term. Leading up to the election, there was an underlying current of anxiety on campus, and it’s likely that you’re still feeling the effects of this after the results— maybe even more than before. Often when we are anxious, we begin to shut down, wishing to remain isolated from the rest of the world. It is easy to stay in a state of high tension, but this may only lead to us feeling lonely and upset.
It is somewhat surreal to have to go on with your life, class and exams in the midst of such a possibly lifechanging event. Those in Generation Z, perhaps more than any other young generation before us, are incredibly involved and interested in U.S. and world politics. This is in part due to our increased connectivity through technological access and education. For many of us, this is the first presidential election we are participating in. Students who feel as if their rights could be yanked away at any moment have felt particularly anxious during this time, wondering whether the outcome of this election could bolster the
“The bad experiences tend to stick with us the most, but we need to remember that just because a candidate has won or lost doesn’t mean that our lives will immediately take a 180-degree turn”
spread of blatant hate, disrespect and further political division.
Yet the reality is that remaining in a constant state of anxiety about something that ultimately cannot be changed is not a productive use of our time. It is important to remember that we can lean on others at times when we may feel helpless, and doing so requires that we don’t fall into a trap of self-isolation or pity. If we don’t voice our concerns out loud or through writing, they may never be fully processed. As a result, we might miss out on op-
portunities to challenge our negative thoughts, staying stuck in a detrimental cycle. It is likely that those you are friends with also care a lot about the election or at least have some thoughts on it. By finding a community of people who may be feeling the same way as you or have some sort of silver lining to share, you may feel better. This can also backfire, though, if the people around you are nervous about the state of the world. It is important to look at the current circumstances without an alarmist mindset by re-
Lucas Yang/The Observer
minding yourself that everything in your life is not going to suddenly flip on its head because of an election—that is the point of the multiple branches of government and our democracy: to protect our rights.
For marginalized communities in particular, this can be a difficult realization to come to, especially when you may experience casual microaggressions in your daily life. It can be easy to accept defeat by believing everything will automatically become tenfold more difficult as your mind begins to jump to all the harmful things you may have heard from the other side or news outlets. The bad experiences tend to stick with us the most, but we need to remember that just because a candidate has won or lost doesn’t mean that our lives will immediately take a 180-degree turn. There are many people who share your same sentiments and will work to keep from letting that happen.
University Health and Counseling Services created a list of tips to help us deal with election stress. First, you can limit “your consumption of social media, images, and news stories.” Decreasing our social media intake can be very beneficial to our mental health at this time. There has been a barrage of information from news outlets and social media, fighting to get our attention and predicting why we should be concerned about our future. Yet this barrage of information is not helpful in the short term. If you are feeling overwhelmed, you should take a step back from the internet. Delete social media if you have to, turn off news notifications or block certain words from showing up in your feed. We should also “[e]ngage with people and communities you trust. When you need a break from election stress, you can suggest that the group avoid talking about politics.” Your friends should be able to respect your concerns at the moment and be able to shift the discussion to a lighter topic until you begin to feel better. Lastly, we must be able to “[r]estore [ourselves] with rest and healthy food.” Making time to make sure we are well-rested and nourished will help us in all aspects of our mental health. Food and rest will give us energy that we can put into our daily tasks or having a productive conversation with others. And, of course, if the results of this election are still weighing on you, reach out to the university’s counseling services in order to speak with a professional. Try to make the conscious decision not to let stress from the election weigh you down. We’re all in this together.
Men’s Soccer Senior Spotlight
#0 - Sam Rojanasakdakul
What moment or game will you never forget, and why?
A game I will never forget was when I started against John Carroll my freshmen year and drew 1-1. It was my first collegiate start and JCU was a very experienced team with many fifth-years. The next game my body was hurting everywhere from all the set pieces I challenged.
What will you miss the most about your time as an athlete here?
The thing I will miss most about my time as an athlete is having a large family of brothers always around me. Sharing meals, traveling, grinding together. Nothing will beat kicking a ball around and having fun with 30 brothers for 4 years.
#17 - Charlie Wittenberg
What has been the most challenging part of your journey as a student athlete, and how did you overcome it?
The most challenging part of my journey was probably the beginning. I walked on as a sophomore coming from a club soccer team, I was super nervous about proving myself and had no idea whether or not it was going to work out. I trained so hard that I developed a chronic inflammation in my hip/pelvic bones that caused me to get a bunch of cortisone shots and miss 7 months after the season. I was able to overcome it by really focusing on my mental health and taking baby steps. It taught me that nothing is going to be perfect and that sometimes you can work super hard and still have bad things happen. Eventually my PT clicked and I finally was able to run, cut and jump again. I went from an injured, nervous walk on to a starter in my second year on the team. Looking back on it, I am super proud of myself and owe it to the people around me who kept my head in the game.
#7 - Lukas Dalakis
What has been your favorite memory as part of the soccer team?
My favorite memory from being a part of the team is being surrounded by people who care about me and love the sport that I love so much. It has helped me create a bond with people who I will stay close with for the rest of my life.
What moment or game will you never forget, and why?
My favorite memory from a game would be last year in the NCAA tournament when we played Hobart. I scored the first goal of the game after a rough couple of games for me personally to end the season. We won the game 3-2 and advanced to the next round.
#8 - Kysen Kroeger
What moment or game will you never forget, and why?
I will never forget the game against NYU my sophomore year because of the game winning goal I scored in the 89th minute. It was an unreal feeling being able to score that last-minute goal and help my team win the tough, away game.
What will you miss the most about your time as an athlete here?
The thing I will miss the most about my time as an athlete at CWRU has got to just be the time I was able to spend with the team and the relationships I built over the years with those guys. I have grown close to so many of my teammates and a lot of those friendships are going to last long after college.
#11 - Brandon Kim
What has been your favorite memory as part of the soccer team?
My favorite memory as part of the soccer team is just our team events, whether it was a team meal or doing an activity as a team.
What will you miss the most about your time as an athlete here?
As an athlete here at CWRU, I will definitely miss walking onto the field for practice or games with my teammates, who are also my best friends.
What moment or game will you never forget, and why?
I will never forget our win against Hobart in the NCAA tournament last year because it was such a high-intensity game and we ended up winning 3-2 to move to the next round.
#19 - Sawyer Dockal
What has been your favorite memory as part of the soccer team?
Definitely making it to the NCAA tournament two years in a row and watching our name get drawn in the drafts were very special memories. It’s not really a specific memory, but I will always be proud looking back at it, to know I was part of a team that had gone to the tournament back-to-back years which had never been done before in the men’s soccer program here at Case.
What will you miss the most about your time as an athlete here?
I’ll miss all of the guys and being around the team most of all. You get very close to everybody on the team and create a lot of memories over your four years and it is sad to think about all of that changing and moving on to a new chapter in life.
Cross country UAA Championship recap: Crowley earns UAA Rookie of the Year, Nathan and Iagnemma receive All-UAA honors
Darcy Chew Sports Editor
This past weekend, the Case Western Reserve University cross country teams both placed sixth out of eight teams at the UAA Championship, which was hosted by Brandeis University, and held in Highland Park in Attleboro, Massachusetts. The Spartans saw strong results, with the men’s and women’s teams scoring 144 and 159 points, respectively. New York University and the University of Chicago claimed the men’s and women’s UAA Championship title with scores of 34 and 38, respectively.
In the women’s 6K, third-year Lauren Iagnemma was CWRU’s top finisher, with a time of 21:38.5. Competing against 72 other runners, Iagnemma recorded the Spartans’ best time of the season and earned her first career AllUAA First Team honor.
“The UAA Championship is always really competitive because there’s just a lot of really, really fast girls in the conference. Being able to go and compete against other fast runners is just a really exciting thing that we get to do as a team in the UAA. Overall, it was a really fun trip that I got to spend time with my team, and we all got to hang out and just do our best on the course on that day,” Iagnemma commented. “Overall, it was a fun race. It was definitely a tough one. It was a little bit hillier than some of the stuff that we’ve run this year, which is fine because all cross country courses are different. It’s always going to be a challenge wherever you’re running. But yeah, it was definitely a good race.”
The rest of the Spartan scorers were third-years Ashley Novak (18th overall, 22:02.0), Arianna Holbrook (40th overall, 23:07.9) and Julia Hluck (46th overall, 23:27.0) and second-year Pimada Phongsuriya (49th, 23:49.4).
As one of the team captains, Iagnemma discussed the pride in watching her teammates cross the finish line.
“It’s a really exciting thing because
of just how close our team is. Running is an individual sport, but the team aspect is really, really important because we’re there to support each other, and we’re there to run for each other. I’m really proud of what my team has done this year. Getting to be able to be a part of that group and see the growth the girls on my team have put in, and the men’s team, since we practice together and we get to work closely together. Being able to see everyone have that chance to race, and put everything out there is extremely satisfying. I just hope that they enjoy it as much as I do, getting to be a part of that team and getting to watch them,” she said.
In the men’s 8K, fourth-year Aidan Nathan was the 12th runner to cross the finish line and the first for the Spartans, completing the course in 24:45.8. With the top 14th finish, Nathan earned his first All-UAA honors with second-team acclaim.
Following Nathan’s finish, the second Spartan—and 23rd runner overall to cross the finish line—was firstyear Donovan Crowley with a time of 25:12.6.
Crowley shared his mindset going into the race.
“My goal was kind of just to complete the course because looking at the course, this was probably the most difficult course to run on because you had to do three loops. And every single time at the end of each loop, there was this hill that was really steep that kind of would destroy your momentum. I knew that a lot of people would kind of [fade] because of that hill. It’s just kind of a mental block to get over, more than a physical block,” he said. “I got out hard along with the rest of my teammates, and I kind of just stuck it out with the top group, and it worked well.”
Besides being the second scorer for CWRU, Crowley was also the first firstyear to finish the course, earning him the title of UAA Rookie of the Year. Crowley is the third Spartan to achieve this honor, following Jack Begley in 2019 and Aaron Johnston-Peck in 2003.
The men’s cross-country team competed in the UAA Championship this past weekend in Attleboro, MA. They scored 144 points overall, beating Rochester and Brandeis by 48 and 98 points, respectively. Courtesy of CWRU Athletics
“I’m honored. It’s very cool. I’m honestly just trying not to think about it too much. I like the philosophy of Marcus Aurelius, where he hired somebody to whisper in his ear … ‘you’re just a man.’ This is not the end, I hope to also do well in regionals,” he said. “I just want to work on what I’m trying to do, and continue to do the best that I can do, and continue to improve. I’m very honored to be in that list of people because those are two exceptional, [they] are like legends. I met Jack Begley at the Alumni meet, and what he’s done is very impressive. I guess I’ll try to follow in his footsteps but kind of make it my own.”
After Crowley, second-year Jacob Slater and first-year Adam Esa crossed the finish line side by side, taking 35th and 36th with a time of 25:40.6. This was a career best for Esa and a season record for Slater. Following the pair, graduate student Stephen Henry placed 38th overall after crossing the
line at the 25:48.1 mark.
Overall, the Spartans recorded three personal records and five season records.
This upcoming weekend, the Spartans will send a contingent of athletes to Wooster, Ohio, for the Wooster Twilight 5K Challenge, while the top runners will prepare for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional. The NCAA Regional race will take place in Shelbyville, Indiana, on Nov. 16. “It would be awesome if our team qualified for the national meet. That’s the goal every year. I know that this year specifically, we were kind of really, really shooting for that. Just like with anything, people, like teams, can come out of nowhere, kids can come out of nowhere.” Iagnemma said. “I think that if we have a really good day, we have a really good shot at making it. So, I’m excited for that. I’m excited for the regional meet, and that chance to show the region what we’ve got.”
Spartan wrestling places third in season opening invitational
Abhishek Nambiar Staff Writer
This past Saturday, Nov. 2, the Case Western Reserve University wrestling team kicked off the 2024-25 season at the Adrian Invitational, traveling to Adrian, Michigan, to compete against 10 other teams. The meet marked the collegiate debut of Spartan first-years Chase Crutchley, Alexander Greene Barrios and Robert Minden and saw CWRU place third out of 11 competing schools with 115.5 team points.
Going into the meet, third-year Art Martinez—who competed in the 133-pound bracket—felt very confident about his chances.
“I had been wrestling at 141 lbs for the last two years and made the decision to drop down a weight class over the summer. I lost the weight and felt really fresh going into the tournament, so I was not concerned with how the cut would affect my wrestling,” he stated.
CWRU’s strongest result at the
meet came from third-year Aidan Gassel, who placed first in the 197-pound bracket. His four victories are as follows: 16-1 in 3:35, 18-3 in 5:18, a 10-0 shutout to reach the finals and 8-2 by decision to win the bracket. This marked Gassel’s second bracket victory of his career.
Meanwhile, Crutchley advanced to the finals of the 174-pound bracket. He began the day with a 4-1 decision before achieving a narrow win in the semifinals with a 5-4 tiebreaker thanks to a last-minute escape 22 seconds into overtime, but he ultimately lost in the final match of the bracket— nonetheless a strong result for his first-ever collegiate meet.
Similarly, Martinez reached the finals of the 133-pound bracket. He started his run with a fall in 2:02, his first of the season. This was followed up by a quarterfinal 20-2 win in 4:38 and a 16-7 win by major decision in the semifinals. In the finals, Martinez lost 13-7 after getting ridden for a full minute.
“Being ridden for such a long time
in my finals match was extremely unexpected. I don’t get ridden for such a long time very often so it was humbling that it happened in the first tournament,” said Martinez. “It was exciting though that I got to face such a tough region opponent so early on in the year, and if I fix a couple things I know I will be able to win down the line when I see him again.”
Fourth-place finishes were achieved by three Spartans in their respective weight categories. Secondyear Mathew Gummere went 4-2 in the 184-pound bracket; he also achieved three pins, the most out of any CWRU wrestler at the meet. Second-year Dillon O’Keefe went 3-2 with two falls in the 149-pound bracket, while third-year E.J. Alizio split four matches in the 125-pound bracket.
In addition, three other Spartans placed in the top eight at the meet. Greene Barrios placed sixth in the 133-pound bracket and achieved his first career win, third-year John Conover placed fifth in the 157-pound
bracket with two wins, with one win by fall, while second-year Louka Babic finished sixth in the 174-pound bracket: He achieved two victories and one pin. Additionally, second-year Mike Valerino earned his first win by fall of the season while competing in the 141-pound bracket.
Martinez reflected on CWRU’s overall performance at the meet.
“Overall it was a really good first tournament for the team, and I’m extremely excited about the trajectory of our season,” he noted. “I think our team this year is top to bottom the best it has ever been during my time at CWRU. Our schedule is tough this year but I think this is the year we can have our first [national qualifier] which hasn’t been done at CWRU in over 10 years.”
The Spartans will look to achieve further success as they host the Bob Del Rosa Ohio Intercollegiate Open on Sunday, Nov. 10, inside the Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center. The first matches are set to begin at 10 a.m.
Volleyball Senior Spotlight
Maria Tuepker #6
What has been your favorite memory as part of the volleyball team?
My favorite memory as part of the volleyball team are team travel trips— I love the bus rides, hotel stays, and even flights, so long as it’s with my team (and I hate flying). We have some amazing team chemistry; I always enjoy a good bus ride “Question of the Day,” and I’ll always cherish the only times I’ll ever look forward to flying.
What moment or game will you never forget, and why?
I will never forget upsetting WashU our sophomore year — it was clean, competitive, and exciting volleyball! The upset was one of the first moments we proved we could keep up with, and beat, nationally ranked teams. It gave us a lot of confidence and made us hungry for more. It opened the door for the successful team we are today!
Jolie Held #7
What has been the most challenging part of your journey as a student athlete, and how did you overcome it?
The most challenging part of being a student athlete, for me, was accepting that my college experience looked a lot different than some of my other friends from home and at CWRU. I had to accept that I was sacrificing some of the freedom to do social things while in season, and the fomo that came with it, because I chose to prioritize my academics and athletics, and there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything, all the time. Over the course of time, my perspective shifted, and I realized that although my college experience was not the typical college experience, my experience is unique, and most people don’t get to be a part of a team, have that community and camaraderie, and devote so much time and effort towards goals that are larger than themselves. I realized that I wanted to enjoy competitive volleyball for as long as I was able, and the sacrifices were worth it, because what I gained from being a part of the team (the friendships, memories, lessons, etc.) is exactly why I love the sport, and this outweighed the experiences I missed out on.
Rea Marfatia #11
What has been the most challenging part of your journey as a student athlete, and how did you overcome it?
The idea that you always feel like you can be doing more, in school, for your sport, or for other extracurricular activities is something I felt pretty often as a student athlete. Taking things one day at a time and relying on professors, coaches, and friends for help has been helpful.
What moment or game will you never forget, and why?
Finding out we made the tournament on NCAA tournament selection day in 2023 was an unforgettable moment. Winning against Carnegie Mellon and WashU on the same day during the 2022 season and sweeping NYU at home in 2023 are two other days that come to mind.
Erin Murphy #12
What has been your favorite memory as part of the volleyball team?
My favorite memory was making it to the NCAA’s last year. It was one of those moments where we were on the edge of making it or not. So when we did, I remember I wasn’t able to make it to the watch party, but it was on Twitter and I remember seeing my teammates jumping up and down and screaming. It was just such a huge moment for the team as a whole.
What moment or game will you never forget, and why?
It was actually JCU last year. We lost the first two sets and I remember going in and the third set I was really locked in like “we really gotta do it”. We came back and reverse swept them at their place. They don’t like us very much. It is a great rivalry to have and I am really looking forward to playing them again. That was definitely my favorite volleyball moment.
Carly Scott #13
What has been your favorite memory as part of the volleyball team?
Making the NCAA tournament for the first time last season in over a decade was so special. We are also hoping to make a run in the NCAA tournament this year! If selected, this would be the first time the program has made back-to-back NCAA appearances.
What moment or game will you never forget, and why?
One of my favorite memories from being on the volleyball team was our team spring break trip in 2024 to Brazil. In addition to getting to vacation with teammates, we got the opportunity to play some amazing people and teams in Brazil. These are the most memorable games of my volleyball career. The first game, the entire town came to watch in a large arena – it was the loudest game I have ever played in!
Gwendolyn Hayes #16
What has been your favorite memory as part of the volleyball team?
Getting to see how our team has improved over the 4 years I have been here and making the NCAA Tournament.
What has been the most challenging part of your journey as a student athlete, and how did you overcome it?
Most challenging part of being a student athlete is the time management. Being a double major with mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering you have to find time where you can.
What moment or game will you never forget, and why?
Over the four year I haven’t had much time on the court but the environment at HOPE college during the first round of NCAA is a moment I will never forget.
Lily Crouch #18
What moment or game will you never forget, and why?
I don’t think I will ever forget our experience traveling to the NCAA tournament last year. I can still remember watching the selection show and finding out that we made it. I hadn’t been sure that we would, and it was such an honor to have all of our efforts recognized on a national scale. Then, the surreal feeling only grew when we traveled to Hope College for the regional rounds. There was so much excitement and anticipation; it was certainly a special experience and really brought the team together in a way I don’t think we had previously achieved. Although in the end, we did not get the outcome we wanted, we fought all the way to the end. I think, over the course of that weekend, we gained tremendous confidence as a team which really set us up to be so successful this season and hopefully get another shot at the tournament in a few weeks.
Chloe Maciejewski #19
What moment or game will you never forget, and why?
I will never forget our 12-0 start to the season, nor will I forget beating Carnegie Mellon this year and scoring the last point after 5 tough sets. It was an awesome moment for the team and I feel that that team victory really brought us together.
What has been the most challenging part of your journey as a student athlete, and how did you overcome it?
Injuries during my time at Case have been quite an obstacle, not only physically but mentally as well. Finding the confidence to still give it my all in this final season has come from many sources, but the biggest being the support of my teammates. They’ve really helped me get over the mental block of using my hands when passing specifically after my thumb injury, and continue to encourage me even now when I start to feel it again.
Deme Yianas #24
What has been your favorite memory as part of the volleyball team?
My favorite memory as part of the volleyball team was during our joint TeamIMPACT signing day, when our TeamIMPACT match Jady officially joined our team!
What has been the most challenging part of your journey as a student athlete, and how did you overcome it?
The most challenging part of my time in volleyball was when I was injured for the entirety of my sophomore season, but support from my friends really helped me.
Women’s basketball tips off 2024-25 season
Ellie Palaian Staff Writer
Coming off of a 11-14 2023-24 season and having finished 4-10 in conference play, the Case Western Reserve University women’s basketball team is back in action and ready for the 2024-25 season.
After graduating five fourth-years and two graduate students last season, the Spartans are entering the new season as a relatively young team, featuring four first-years and five secondyears, with just three third-years and two fourth-years on the roster.
“It was definitely an adjustment,” fourth-year guard and co-captain Nyah Moore said. “However, I think our team has really taken a new approach and adapted to the skill and talent that we have. We are adapting to what our strengths are both on and off the court and taking that into this season.”
First-year guard Lauren Ludwig has felt warmly welcomed by her teammates and has thoroughly enjoyed her experience with the team so far.
“Joining the team as a freshman has been an incredible experience,” Ludwig said. “It feels like a family, and we’re all motivated to push each other to continue to improve. I’ve enjoyed learning the team culture and creating new bonds with my teammates, and I’m excited to see those relationships grow throughout the season.”
Following the 2023-24 season, the Spartans have been focused on team building, fitness and other key areas to ensure a strong start to the upcoming season.
“We have been focused on building our fitness and sharpening our skills, and the team did a great job of working hard during the past few months to prepare for the season,” Ludwig
said. “While there’s a lot of work to do, it’s been rewarding to see how we’re all growing and coming together as a team.”
Moore is confident in the team and excited to help shift the perception of the Spartan women’s basketball team this season.
“I am most excited to see the team growth throughout the season,” she said. “I think a lot of teams and outside peers are underestimating the talent that we have. So, I am excited to prove those who are doubting us wrong.”
Ludwig attributes the team’s supportive and positive environment to the leadership of captains Moore and fourth-year forward Evie Miller, as well as the guidance of Head Coach Jennifer Reimer and Assistant Coaches Brooke Beecher, Morgan Micallef and Madison Gutierrez.
“Our captains have been great leaders, setting the tone in practice and making sure the team stays focused and motivated,” Ludwig said. “And the coaches have been focusing on making sure we have a solid foundation and challenging us to reach our full potential. They emphasize the importance of hard work, enthusiasm and always striving to get better every day.”
As a captain, Moore believes that she and Miller, along with the coaches, have played a key role in fostering a positive atmosphere both on and off the court.
“I think we have both done a great job in influencing and impacting the attitude our team has this year,” Moore said. “With having a more demanding pre-season this year, we showed how much dedication it takes to be on the women’s basketball team. Our coaches have helped us throughout this journey so far as well, by consistently being present for the whole team. They have great confidence in
the team’s ability to do well this year, and they are really focusing on making us become the best version of ourselves.”
Ludwig is eager to begin her first season of collegiate basketball and looks forward to seeing the team’s hard work during preseason pay off.
“I’m really excited to see how the team develops throughout the season and to experience the competitive atmosphere of the UAA,” she said. “We have so much talent, and I am looking forward to seeing how we grow and develop. I am excited to learn from the coaching staff and upperclassmen and be able to represent the team, develop my skills and always leave it all on the
court.”
As this is her final season with the Spartans, Moore is determined to give it her all on the court and is grateful for the experiences and opportunities the team and school have provided her over the past four years.
“Honestly, it still does not feel real that I am a senior,” she said. “I have become more grateful for the opportunity to have been able to play at such a high level of competition while still getting an amazing education. Not many people get to say that. So, I think I have had a new outlook or perspective on how and what I can do to make the team better both on and off the court.”
Scores and Upcoming Games
Volleyball
CWRU vs Westminster (11/2) - W 3-0
CWRU at Grove City (11/2) - W 3-0
CWRU vs John Carroll (11/6) - L 2-3
CWRU vs Wooster (11/9, 6 p.m., Horsburgh Gymnasium)
Men’s Soccer
CWRU vs Brandeis - L 1-2
CWRU vs Carnegie Mellon (11/9, 3:30 p.m., DiSanto Field)
CWRU at Bill Sudeck Tournament
CWRU vs Penn State Altoona (11/8, 7 p.m., Horsburgh Gymnasium)
Swimming and Diving
CWRU at Carnegie Mellon (11/2)
Men’s team: L 87-211
Women’s team: L 139-161
Women’s Soccer
CWRU vs Brandeis - T 1-1
CWRU vs Carnegie Mellon (11/9, 1 p.m., DiSanto Field)
Women’s Basketball
CWRU at Women Leaders Tip Off
CWRU vs Penn State Behrend (11/8)
CWRU at Allegheny College (11/9)
Wrestling
CWRU at Adrian Invitational (11/2) 3rd of 11 teams (115.5 points)
CWRU at Bob Del Rosa Ohio Intercollegiate Open (11/10, 10 a.m., Veale Convocation, Recreation, and Athletic Center)
CWRU at Grove City (11/9) Football
CWRU vs Washington and Jefferson (11/2) - L 21-34
Cross Country
CWRU at UAA Championships (11/2)
Men’s team: 6th of 8 teams (144 points)
Women’s team: 6th of 8 teams (159 points)
Wooster Twilight 5K Challenge (11/8)
Head Coach Jennifer Reimer guides the women’s basketball team as they enter a new season. Phillip Kornberg/The Observer