Opinion: The self-care industry is selling us stress, not solace (pg. 7)
The Case Western Reserve
Observer
Friday, December 6, 2024
Volume LVI, Issue 14 Est. 1969
CIM joins American Federation of Musicians, Local 4 in faculty vote to unionize
Zachary Treseler News Editor
At the end of September, faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) voted to unionize at The Coffee House. Passing by majority, CIM faculty joined the American Federation of Musicians, (AFM) Local 4, which includes professional musicians from The Cleveland Orchestra.
According to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), 81 ballots were submitted with 56 voting in favor and 26 voting against unionization. Twenty-five of these ballots were challenged for their legitimacy.
During the campaigning stage, both sides presented passionate and charged arguments. Robert Vernon, a former violin professor at CIM, argued against a union, saying that “AFM’s leadership and negotiators have no experience in negotiating salaries and compensation for college or university faculties” and that they are unable to bridge the gap between issues unrelated to compensation.
A YouTube video, which has since been deleted, from Bonnie Cook, a secretary of the board of trustees of CIM, also encouraged faculty to vote against unionization efforts.
“CIM’s leadership team and faculty have worked diligently to turn CIM around,” Cook said. “It is my opinion that we don’t need a third-party union to come between our faculty and leadership.” She further mentioned that a union would increase the possibility of strikes, which would impact CIM students.
She concluded the video by saying, “While unions have value for performing artists, I fear that a union at CIM will interfere with our sustainability as
EDITORIAL
The Cleveland Institute of Music votes to unionize, with 56 out of 84 in favor, joining the American Federation of Musicians, Local 4 union. Moses Fleischman/The Observer
an educational institution, and consequently, not be of help to our students.”
Many of the individuals who supported unionization emphasized the need for better treatment. Frank Rosenwein, a professor at CIM who supported the union, said, “The faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music is composed of world-class musicians and educators … We deserve to be treated as such, whether teaching in the conservatory, the Joint Music Program with Case Western Reserve University, or the Academy.”
Organizers also created a small website to post their rallying cries. In the most recent post, they argued that the vote was not “against administration—it is a vote for ourselves, for our
dignity, and for the future of our profession.”
Certified on Oct. 7, the text of the certification of representative notes that “Guest instructors and Guest conductors” are not eligible to join the union. Though, there is still ongoing litigation about who is subjected to the agreement. Leonard DiCosmio, the president of the AFM Local 4, noted that from the vote, “Directors and Division/Department Heads are neither included in nor excluded from the bargaining unit covered by this certification.”
He said, “It remains the position of Local 4 that these faculty members are to be included in the new bargaining unit and will request a hearing before the NLRB to finalize the definition
of the bargaining unit if a voluntary agreement cannot be achieved with CIM.” According to the NLRB, there were not enough votes cast by these individuals to influence the outcome of the election.
DiCosimo further detailed that a similar situation had occurred with faculty in the Joint Music Program, their academy and public programs. He said, “The Union prevailed in pre-hearing sessions and teachers in all departments were included in the election. The remaining faculty members that are now being challenged by CIM had an opportunity to participate in the election as a voter subject to challenge, and all parties agreed that they may request a review of the post-election determinations.”
While the unionization pull is strong across East Boulevard, it remains to be seen if these waves will hit elsewhere in University Circle. In early 2024, staff at The Holden Arboretum, which runs the Cleveland Botanical Garden, rejected a union vote. At CWRU, the last union vote took place in 2014 in the Division of Public Safety, where out of the then 14 police officers, nine voted against forming a union.
In a statement from CIM to Crain’s Cleveland Business, CIM administration said, “The CIM administration will respect the results of the vote and looks forward to working with our outstanding faculty to continue to accomplish our mission, to empower the world’s most talented classical music students to fulfill their dreams and potential.”
The vote reflects a national trend of increased unionization across higher education, as 27% of faculty members in the United States are a part of a union.
Student leaders are failing the student body
Editorial Board
Just months after the KSL Oval Gaza solidarity encampment, Case Western Reserve University’s administration issued a series of policy updates, from “clarifying” the posting policy to reestablishing the Freedom of Expression Policy Committee. In instituting these changes, the administration has repeatedly stated that they sought out feedback from student leaders and other governing groups around the university. In regard to policy changes for tabling, posting, Spirit and Advocacy Wall use and student organization standing, one of the groups solicited was the Student Presidents’ Roundtable (SPR)—an organization comprised of the highest-ranking officers of the Undergraduate Student Government (USG), University Program Board (UPB), Undergraduate Diversity Collaborative (UDC), University Media Board (UMB), Class Officer Collective (COC), Interfraternity Congress (IFC), Panhellenic Council (PHC), Residence Hall Association (RHA) and the Allocations Committee (AC), each serving
in an ex officio capacity.
In a written comment to The Observer, the university stated that “Elected student leaders of the Graduate Student Council Executive Board, Undergraduate Student Government Executive Board and Student Presidents’ Roundtable were invited to review the proposed policies and provide input. Adjustments were made based on their suggestions before being adopted and implemented.”
The current form of SPR was established in 2016 by the Student Executive Council, and they have since been responsible for large-scale improvements to the campus community. In 2016, the organization lobbied and secured $44,000 in funding to renovate the Thwing Student Center and its ballroom. More recently, in 2021, SPR advocated to reopen Eldred Hall, previously vacated by the Department of Theater. Over a series of meetings, they were able to amass funding from the other board organizations to significantly improve the space so it could become available for community use. In 2023, Eldred was officially opened for students and continues to function
as a study space and theater for campus and community productions.
Beyond campus initiatives, SPR’s duties include being a voice for the student body when interacting with the administration. In her Nov. 4 email introducing the revised tabling and posting policies, Provost and Executive Vice President Joy K. Ward and Vice President for Human Resources Carolyn Gregory stated the administration “shared these new or adjusted policies and guidelines with leaders of student government, Faculty Senate and the Staff Advisory Council to review and enhance, based on their experiences in and advocacy for their communities.”
During the open forum of SPR’s Oct. 23 meeting, Director of Student Activities and Leadership Marc Hartmann and Vice President for Student Affairs Travis Apgar presented the updates to the group.
In response, student leaders asked clarifying questions about the policies, which Hartmann and Apgar attempted to address. For example, one member wanted to know if these updated policies “[applied] to university departments posting things on boards/
kiosks,” while another one wanted to specify if the new social media regulations encompassed the current logo or previous ones as well. Students also asked whether these changes would prohibit larger posters from being displayed in Thwing Center. Overall, most of the queries could be deemed inconsequential compared to the more large-scale impacts that these policies have on student perceptions and campus culture.
To SPR’s credit, in the subsequent Oct. 30 meeting, one student leader brought up concerns about these changes, stating that the language could be generalized to regulate the way community members interact with the university and through social media. After a lengthy discussion, SPR voted 7-2 that they were “dissatisfied” with the updates as they were introduced and voted 5-0 to send their specific concerns to Apgar. According to the following meeting minutes, though, no further action on the topic has since taken place.
Continue reading on page 5
“Wicked” is an astoundifying translation from stage to screen
Penelope Cloonan Staff Writer
It seems the “Wicked” movie has been in the works for as long as I can remember. The musical first appeared on Broadway in 2003 and the movie adaptation was announced in 2012. Many young people, including myself, have never known a world without “Wicked.” Given that the musical has touched so many people’s hearts, creating a movie version was going to be a tall order.
“Wicked” is a what-if narrative about a potential backstory for the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda, the Good Witch from the 1939 classic film, “The Wizard of Oz.” The novel-turned-musicalturned-movie-musical follows Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West (Cynthia Erivo), and Glinda, the Good Witch (Ariana Grande), during their time at Shiz University. We watch Elphaba become wicked, Glinda become good, learn about the wonderful world of Oz and question what it means to be good. In an attempt to avoid spoilers I will mainly be reviewing the vocal performances and adaptation of “Wicked” from stage to screen, so if by this point you’ve managed to avoid spoilers elsewhere, good job and feel free to read on.
Theater has such strong emotions tied to it; being in a room surrounded by performers who give their all to a story is a feeling like no other. Successful movie musicals must emulate the energy often unique to live theater of being truly immersed in a story. Based on the trailer, I did not think “Wicked” would be able to pull this off. The audio mixing and the scenes selected for the trailer do not represent the feeling of big Broadway. They are flat, lifeless, strangely autotuned and do not reflect the experience of watching the movie whatsoever. “Wicked” takes the splendor of the stage play and uses the movie medium to amplify it. For instance, the climax of “Wicked” is a dance scene set in a large ballroom. While this was magnificent to see in person, the expansion to the screen gave the creators of “Wicked” license to pull off more complicated lighting, set design and even dance numbers. It feels like big Broadway. Nothing beloved from the play is cut; it is only expounded upon. Wicked is not just a stunning musical production; there is real heart in the story. The audience is made to truly care for the leading women’s friendship by curtain call. Since these roles mean so much to so many people, the casting for Elphaba and Glinda was extremely important. Erivo, who plays Elphaba, is an Oscar away from an EGOT and a well-respected Broadway performer. There was little argument when it came to her casting. While her astounding closing riff
in “Defying Gravity” has become unavoidable by this point, I would like to call attention to an earlier song of hers in “Wicked,” “The Wizard and I.” “The Wizard and I” is a classic “I want” song that sets Elphaba up for her character development throughout the musical. In the song, she yearns for acceptance by her community and hopes to maybe even achieve greatness. For the first time she wants something for herself. Erivo delivers not only a stunning vocal performance, but also a deeply grounded and sympathetic version of this song. The audience can feel the desperate insecurity in her voice in a way that I did not think possible outside of a theater. Erivo continues to amaze for the rest of the movie, but this was the moment I knew I was witnessing something wonderful.
The other leading lady, Glinda, is equally dear to people’s hearts. She had a much more contentious casting, with Grande eventually taking the role. Though Grande is now a pop singer, people often forget she does have a background in acting and theater. Grande clearly devoted an appropriate amount of time to “Wicked” as she is the perfect Glinda. While actresses for Elphaba have their signature riffs, actresses for Glinda often develop signature “Glinda voices.” The character is ditzy and snooty, but largely means well, so most actresses tend to play her with a snobby-yet-naive voice, which packs a strong comedic punch. I do think actresses onstage get to be a little bit more dramatic with their voices than those onscreen, but I will say that Grande managed to strike a good balance there. Just as Elphaba has challenging songs to sing, Glinda’s songs lie in a very high register. Grande hits all the right notes while dancing around like the ingénue she is. In Act 1, Glinda’s most well-known song is, fittingly, “Popular.” In another masterful translation from stage to screen, the creators took this opportunity to include more complicated choreography for Glinda. While singing about the importance of popularity and entertaining people, Grande dances on a railing and spins around a chandelier. It is a truly special comedic performance and adds depth to the character’s carefree attitude. The number reminds you that you are watching young women come of age and bond. This girlish friendship is portrayed marvelously. Those involved in the musical space, especially the movie musical space, know that singing live on a set is a big risk to take. Generally, when a film has singing in it, the vocals will be recorded separately and added in post-production. “Les Miserables” (2012) is a famously horrible case study in singing live, as doing so hurt the audio of the musical-based film. As such, when
Cynthia Erivo’s and Ariana Grande’s performances as Elphaba and Glinda were phenomenal in the new cinema adaptation of “Wicked,” with their energy and vocals making the show an unforgettable watch. Courtesy of Universal Pictures
it was announced that all singing would be done live for “Wicked,” I was apprehensive. Thankfully, I was proven wrong and the live performances were quite good. It is truly impressive that Erivo performed all of the aerial stunts during “Defying Gravity” while belting. I can only attribute the fact that singing live worked so well to the hard work of the production team and that most of the performers have at least some theater experience themselves.
One of the most intimidating things about the “Wicked” movie was the runtime. Clocking in at about three hours, “Wicked” is a long viewing experience. Though the combined runtime of “Wicked” parts 1 and 2 will likely be more than
double the runtime of the stage play, I would say it is a worthwhile use of time. The movie requires multiple establishing shots and moments to show off the scenery that really are not necessary in a stage production. Though I have concerns about how they are going to fill “Wicked” part 2, as Act 2 of “Wicked” has far fewer songs, I remain open-minded. I was lucky enough to see “Wicked” on Broadway when I was about eight years old, so I can confidently say that this movie fulfills all the expectations that have built up in the 10 years I’ve been waiting for this movie. I highly recommend that you don your emerald glasses and head to the theaters to see “Wicked”—you won’t be disappointed.
Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour is the greatest
Aambar Agarwal Social Media Manager
This year has been amazing for pop music. From Charli XCX’s “Brat” to Dua Lipa’s “Radical Optimism,” Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet” and even Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!,” no pop fans have been left wanting. Yet, even with so many popular releases, one album takes the crown: Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft.” Released in May to widespread critical acclaim, all 10 of its tracks are mesmerizing.
Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour does full justice to the album. Having begun in September, the North American leg is wrapping up at the end of this month. Next year, Eilish will commence the Australian and European legs of the tour. I was happier than ever to attend a concert on Nov. 8 at the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati—and it was everything I wanted.
Walking toward the arena, I was met with throngs of Eyelashes. With bandanas, beanies and backward caps adorning their heads, concertgoers were clad in oversized jerseys, baggy merchandise, knee-high socks and chunky sneakers, emulating Eilish’s signature style. The interior of the arena was bathed in an electric blue glow to match the cover of “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” and classic ’90s and ’00s hits played as we waited for the show to begin.
The opener, Towa Bird, revved up the crowd during the wait for the headliner. With her high-energy, poppunk songs and catchy guitar riffs, there was never a dull moment. She even played “Hollaback Girl” and had
us all stomping along to the beat. After her performance, the screens showed a video narrated by Eilish describing how she is reducing her environmental impact while touring and how we can too. She partnered with Reverb, an environmental association, to install recycling bins and water refill stations, reduce single-use plastic waste, offer vegetarian food and connect fans to nonprofit organizations in each of the tour’s venues. She also partnered with Google Maps to help concertgoers find eco-friendly and fuel-efficient routes to her concerts and highlight vegetarian restaurants in every city where she performs. The video ended with a QR code for us to get more involved. Her commitment to environmental causes and use of her platform for good were a great way to start the concert and really touching as well.
Not long after that, the show began. Starting with “CHIHIRO,” Eilish gave us a one-and-a-half-hour masterpiece filled with beautiful music and fantastic visuals. She sang, bopped and sprinted around a rectangular stage in the center of the arena, giving fans on all sides a chance to see her. Her band and backup singers performed in pits in the middle of the stage. The stage itself was a massive screen, changing to different colors and patterns for each song, from the blue zigzags of the opening to bright neons for “LUNCH.” Various four-sided screens hung from the ceiling in addition to a central cube that doubled as a screen and a platform, enhancing the experience for those of us in the stands.
The lighting changed to match the mood of each song, including “Brat” green for her surprise performance of “Guess featuring billie eilish” and Barbie Pink for “What Was I Made For?”
From “CHIHIRO” to “BIRDS OF A FEATHER,” Billie Eilish captivated the audience throughout each performance of her “Hit Me Hard and Soft” tour, showcasing her deep connection with fans worldwide. Courtesy of Universal Music Group
Flames burst from the stage during her edgier tracks such as “Therefore I Am” and “bury a friend,” and arrays of lasers even flashed around the arena to intensify the atmosphere for her harder-hitting songs. Her softer songs featured more stripped-back visuals, with dark blue lighting for a medley of “lovely (with Khalid)” and “idontwannabeyouanymore” and crashing waves for “ocean eyes” as she played the keyboard.
The best moments from the show were also the most intimate. One of my favorites was when Eilish asked for complete silence from the crowd. Then, for 30 seconds, she layered her voice in real time, singing the beginning of “when the party’s over.” Hearing her voice in the quiet stadium was simply magical. It was also touching when she acknowledged that it had been a rough week due to the results
of the presidential election and promised to be an advocate for us. She then proceeded to sing “Your Power,” “SKINNY” and “TV” while playing the acoustic guitar. You could feel our collective sorrow and rage when, during “TV,” the crowd yelled the lyric “they’re overturning Roe v. Wade” with Eilish.
Another highlight was Eilish’s performance of “bad guy.” It was full of fun as she filmed herself singing and her band playing with a GoPro-like camera connected to the arena’s screens. Later in the show, she even hopped down into the audience and highfived any fans she could reach. But, as always, all good things must come to an end—Eilish ended the show with the joyful “BIRDS OF A FEATHER,” skipping along the multicolored stage as confetti rained down.
Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft” concert was truly the greatest.
“Mahashmashana” is not my favorite Father John Misty album
Kate Gordon Life Editor
Released Nov. 22, “Mahashmashana” is the sixth studio album by Josh Tillman under the moniker Father John Misty. Like Tillman’s previous albums, “Mahashmashana”—an anglicization of the word for “cremation ground” in Sanskrit—manages to balance a deeply cynical tone alongside a surprising amount of emotional depth.
Let me start with what I liked. Tillman’s lyricism sparkles, as ever, with imagery; his ability to tell a story through music is unmatched. In the track “Josh Tillman and the Accidental Dose,” he sings of a woman well-versed in politics, “By a small degree, she got him to admit / They’re tacit fascists without knowing it.” His references are wide-ranging but never out-of-place; examples include the Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme and Jeremy Bentham’s panopticon, and, of course, there are multiple mentions of film history and most notably, Christianity, throughout the album. Tillman sings about Mary Magdalene, Goliath, baptism and Christ’s resurrection, which tie into the record’s larger themes of death, rebirth and the passing of time.
I’d also like to give particular praise to the track “Screamland.” Released as the album’s first single, it is a long, slow song that gradually crescendos to each of its three choruses, which are not quite screamed (though they come close) and ooze with passion, emo-
tion and the most sincerity Tillman can muster. Despite the almost sevenminute song’s generally bitter tone, the sheer emotional release of the choruses feels downright sweet; they are perhaps the only truly satisfying moments on
the entire album. I listened to “Screamland” on repeat throughout late September and early October, and I think it’s the clear standout. The other songs on “Mahashmashana” might be clever, but they lack feeling, and “Screamland”
is spread thin trying to play catch-up. This brings me to my main problem with “Mahashmashana.” To me, a lot of the songs sound the same—they’re either orchestral, sweeping numbers fit for a movie soundtrack or jazzier, quicker tracks that aren’t really interesting beyond having a lot of saxophone. “Mahashmashana,” “Mental Health,” “Screamland” and “Summer’s Gone” fall into this former category, whereas “She Cleans Up,” “Josh Tillman and the Accidental Dose,” “Being You” and “I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All” belong to the latter— and with nothing left over, you’ve split the entire album in half perfectly. I wish Tillman would have spent anywhere near as much time on instrumentals as he did lyricism; listening to “Mahashmashana” got pretty boring by the end. I agree with Pitchfork’s review that the album’s recurring image is “the orchestra playing on the deck of the sinking Titanic,” although I must admit that I was secretly glad when the last song ended and the imagined quartet slipped under the surface of the Atlantic.
All in all, “Mahashmashana” is not objectively bad—most critics gave it around an 80% rating—but I was expecting a lot more from the album after how much I loved “Screamland.” I think it is far from Tillman’s best work, and I hope his next release explores new sounds as well as topics. He’s a talented writer and musician, and I guess I’ll just have to have faith that album number seven pays tribute to both of these strengths.
Father John Misty’s inconspicuous album, “Mahashmashana,” is subpar compared to his previous releases that allowed for musical exploration and lyricism that rang true for a variety of audiences.
Courtesy of Sub Pop Group
The Jumble
Top 10 CWRU moments this year
1. Kaler lowkey having students arrested
2. Ranking the fourth most socially awkward colleges in the U.S.
3. CWRU actually being sort of lit for the eclipse
4. Sigma Psi closing
5. USG accidently overspending by $50,000
6. Spray painting over students
7. Literally being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights
8. That one time they gave out fruit in KSL oval
9. Quizbowl did something
10. The Observer trashing the university almost every week
Weekly Horoscope
What are your winter break plans?
have
Taking a spontaneous, poorly planned road trip in bad weather conditions
Spend your time talking to your childhood stuffed animals because "they get
Opinion
Failing the student body from page 1
In a comment to The Observer, fourth-year student and Chair of SPR Lauren Eterno said, “SPR’s constitutional responsibility is to discuss current initiatives of individual boards and facilitate communication for collaboration between boards. The Presidents determine what topics are discussed at meetings and what actions should be taken based on those discussions. In the case of recent policy changes, SPR provided feedback and raised concerns, but this does not mean SPR agrees with the administration’s updated policies.”
On paper, SPR represents the diversity of our campus; however, how well they use this platform to enact real change and advocate for students is debatable. Specifically, SPR has overlooked the way seemingly minor changes in the letter of policy—namely the posting policy—can be perceived as retaliatory against certain groups and hinder the way students exercise their freedom of expression on campus. Even if administration is unreceptive to immediate repeal, SPR is in a unique position to question their decisions, communicate student concerns and criticism of university policy and open longer conver-
sations that could lead to amendments at a later point in time.
Based on the most recent meeting minutes, SPR is focused on the most insignificant issues, squandering the time they have to collaborate, plan and organize projects that would address student suffering and improve student wellbeing. For example, SPR spent countless meetings clarifying the technical language of the spirit and advocacy wall policy and the rules of its enforcement, which had little to do with its actual student impact. Additionally, they dedicated time in at least four meetings to planning a mixer event for members of board organizations—resources which could have been better spent on the 6,000 undergraduate students facing an especially tense period in our campus history. These discussions reflect an apathy toward the administrative decisions in question and general hesitancy to voice student concerns—neither of which is enough to excuse the lack of initiative. Meanwhile, there is also no record of discussions about the Nov. 8 alleged vandalism, the Nov. 11 and Nov. 13 student arrests and subsequent protests and the Nov. 19 Q&A with President Eric Kaler.
A year in review
Beyond these topics, there has been no planning for campus improvements at the scale of Eldred Hall or the Thwing Center renovation. Students deserve better from their elected leaders. In its current state, SPR functions less as a representative voice of the CWRU student body and more like an endorsement of administrative decisions. Even when they have had the opportunities to confront university leaders on ongoing policy changes, no dissent or requests to amend have been effectively raised.
SPR members are in the unique position to serve as leaders of their respective board organizations and as members of a collaborative effort to advocate for students and initiate campus-wide change. While this may have been the motivation of members in previous years, recently we have seen a weakened SPR—one that sidesteps difficult conversations and often surrenders their power as liaisons to the administration. Perhaps SPR is not the panacea to engaging students in university-level decisions. Perhaps the administration should create a more direct line to engaged students—those who are truly invested in these decisions and their long-term outcomes.
The pro-Palestinian encampment on KSL Oval
Salsabeel Salem Staff Writer
It’s about 7 p.m. now as the crowd gathers around one corner of KSL Oval, the setting sun providing a nice backdrop for the rally that’s about to ensue. A man dressed in khaki shorts with a keffiyeh draped over his shoulders shakes the megaphone in his hand, preparing to take center stage. He raises the megaphone to the heavens, takes one long, deep breath, and shouts “Gaza Gaza you will rise.” A rumble of noise erupts from the crowd as they repeat his words back to him, raising their Palestinian flags in harmony. “Palestine will never die,” he shouts again. And the symphony of protesters sing again, encouraging the man to keep going. This scene decorated the lawn in front of the Kelvin Smith Library for 11 days straight. And in these 11 days, the students peacefully protesting the genocide in Gaza faced mass scrutiny from the university and their peers. Now, it’s been over six months since the encampment ended. Yet, the legacy of those who gathered will endure far beyond the chants and flags, reshaping the way the institution approaches dissent, protest and political engagement on campus.
Eleven days of demonstrations. Despite the claims of “disrupting university operations” and participating in “intimidating speech,” as cited from President Eric Kaler’s emails at the time, the encampment provided a safe space for students and community members alike to
leisurely gather. Yoga, kite flying, volleyball and numerous potlucks of yummy food brought about reasons for students to enjoy the sunny May weather gracing Case Western Reserve University’s campus during finals week. Drummers provided background music as students drew Palestine-inspired artwork on poster boards and sipped their Capri-Suns. Bystanders passing by stopped for a snack, talking to their favorite professors gathered around the outer circumference of the area. The evening rally was always the most exciting time of the day. With chants oftentimes led by members of Cleveland’s chapter of Jewish Voices for Peace, not an ounce of anti-semitism was to be found on the premises, despite Kaler’s numerous claims.
Twenty protesters zip tied. Though the encampment was inherently peaceful, escalation in part by the institution and CWRU police led to an altercation on the first day of the encampment. With police officers demanding students leave the circle, the protesters gathered around the tent, locking arms to form a line of defense. Violence ensued from there as officers began grabbing students and zip tying them to limit their mobility. And that was just the beginning.
Three students painted. With the intention of finding creative ways to promote freedom for Palestinians, the Spirit Wall quickly became a key form of expression. Protesters painted the wall with barbed wire, calligraphy and red handprints to represent the struggle for survival happening in Gaza. Unimpressed
with the artwork, the university called in a contractor to cover up the designs. And in that process, they painted over three students. In the only email in which Kaler showed any sign of remorse for the students, he apologized, claiming to be “disturbed by what occurred.” He claims that this “is not who we are as an institution” and says they will be held accountable. But yet, the only people he decided to hold accountable were the students.
Seventy students disciplined. Weeks after the encampment ended, an email from the Associate Dean of Students and Director George O’Connell started arriving in student inboxes. The email stated that the office is “opening an investigation into your involvement at the KSL Oval,” imposing sanctions against the students. One of the most common messages was an interim persona non grata from all Commencement activities, which meant that students were not permitted to attend any graduationrelated events. A senior who wasn’t sure what this meant proceeded to attend an event until they received an email stating that they were “still under investigation and had to leave.” More permanent sanctions such as warnings, disciplinary probations, persona non grata from campus and suspension for multiple semesters blemished students’ disciplinary records.
Two new precedents. Since the encampment closed its doors, the university has updated its policy on demonstrations and the Spirit Wall. From now on, a large demonstration “requires the written approv-
al of the [Freedom of Expression Policy] Committee before it may occur.” In addition, demonstrations are now limited to five hours between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and are only permitted to happen at KSL Oval, Case Quad adjacent to Adelbert Hall, Van Horn Field or Freiberger Field. Tents, projection of lights and microphone systems are also not permitted. As extreme as they are, these limitations are a step back from even harsher requirements initially posed by Kaler. Nevertheless, these new amendments are reactionary and disheartening. Now, any form of resistance against the university has to be approved by the university, defeating the whole point of a resistance. These “precautionary” measures signal a step back from the values of free expression that CWRU claims to uphold.
In reflecting on the 11 days that unfolded at KSL Oval, it’s clear that the encampment was not just a protest but a powerful demonstration of student resilience, creativity and solidarity. What began as a peaceful outcry against the atrocities in Gaza quickly became a battleground for the larger issue of freedom of expression on campus. Despite the university’s efforts to stifle dissent, the voices of those who gathered will continue to resonate, reminding us that true freedom of expression is never something that should be granted or controlled by the institution. The story of those 11 days serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right and the enduring value of student activism in shaping the future of our communities.
LTTE: Regarding CWRU’s history of protest and political consciousness
Thomas Kim Hill
Contributing Writer
Congratulations to the three Case Western Reserve University writers for “CWRU’s history of protest: The response to the Vietnam War on campus.” Their article is a very important contribution, shedding light on the current campus crisis over the Gaza war. This historical review from Observer archives of student protest in another era suggests what is possible today.
Protests at CWRU and nationwide were arguably the primary fac-
tor leading to the political downfall of President Richard Nixon and then Congress defunding Vietnam. The Pentagon Papers are often cited, but Daniel Ellsberg was inspired to release these documents by the earlier student protests. The killings at Kent State University in 1970 were obviously the precipitating event.
We must also mention the role of Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. in opposing the war. And we should not forget University Hospital’s famous pediatrician Benjamin Spock, who sided with the students and went to jail. Professor Sidney Peck also sided with the stu-
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BUSINESS
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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.
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dents. Robert Morse, the president of the university at the time, had to resign for doing the same.
There is more in The Observer archive precisely pertinent to the current situation in Gaza. In the aftermath of Israel’s massive attacks on Lebanon in 2006, Students for Justice in Palestine, led by Rami Mikati, Zayed Schwen and Uri Strauss, started organizing on campus—curiously, Strauss was a law student who had grown up in a West Bank settlement.
CWRU’s president at the time, Barbara Snyder, was much more even-handed with student protesters than the administration now. She was under great pressure, for example, to disallow the authors John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt from speaking on CWRU campus. They had been prevented from speaking in New York and Chicago about their new book, “The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy.” Snyder stood up to the pressure, and the authors were allowed to speak. The Observer was the focal point for much of the debate.
The Observer graciously published an op-ed I wrote on Oct. 5, 2007: “‘Israel Lobby’ authors’ appearance breakthrough for free speech.” I de-
scribed how the liberal magazine The Atlantic had broken a contract with the authors, forcing them to publish an early article on their research in the London Review of Books. It was about the same time former President Jimmy Carter was also condemned as an anti-Semite for his book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.”
To finish this story, along with SJP, it was CWRU Professor Alice Bach, the director of the Hallinan Center, who brought “The Israel Lobby” authors to speak at CWRU. She also scheduled Ali Abunimah, Norman Finkelstein, Alison Weir, Noura Erakat, poet Suhier Hamid and many more. It was an exciting time for political consciousness-raising at the university. My favorite memory is the dramatic film “Slingshot Hip Hop” shown on campus. Young people in Palestine often shot stones at Israeli tanks, and three different groups of rappers—in the West Bank, in Gaza and inside Israel—competed to produce the best lyrics. They could not, however, meet in person because of Israel’s barrierwalls and travel restrictions. They did finally meet when they were flown to a U.S. film festival to perform together for an audience here. Movements for peace and justice run on music!
Starting 2025 strong
Catherine Choi Staff Writer
As 2024 is coming to an end, people are beginning to have mixed feelings about the upcoming new year. Some are apprehensive about getting a year older and some are upset that they did not keep to their new year resolutions. On the other hand, some people are excited about what the next year will bring while getting ready to start the new year strong. Regardless, many people hope that next year is better than the current one. In this article, I am going to provide you with five ways to prepare for 2025.
The first thing you should do is reflect on the current year. Take some time to consider everything that happened, whether it was a good or bad experience. As much as it is important to plan the next year, it is also important to assess the current year’s state. This will help us form an overview of the large and small life events that altered our mindsets. Every experience comes with a lesson and, depending on how we regard it, can lead to personal growth. After you have reflected, use your discoveries as a foundation to establish what you want for the next year. Next, start to think about what you want to keep and what you want to improve. A lot of the time, we want certain personality traits simply because society has made us believe that they are valuable. Pursuing something that we do not truly desire can lead to failure due to lack of motivation. For instance, someone who prioritizes a work-life balance and fun life experiences will struggle to achieve a 4.0 GPA if they want it merely because it is something that society values and believes determines their worth. In this process, keeping your focus on school, work, social relationships, finance, health and personal growth while being honest with ourselves is key to success even if the process makes us uncomfortable.
Once we establish a clear vision of
the person that we want to become, the next step is to make plans for self improvement and evaluate where to get the needed resources using the SMART template (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-based). For example, after evaluating my habits and attitude in the workplace and school, I have decided that I want to be a person that people want to be around. I have come to realize that I have bad habits that deter some people from me, such as not knowing how to set boundaries, behaving immaturely and appearing disinterested in my surroundings. Along with this, I have decided to improve my verbal habits by not oversharing, putting in a more conscious effort to speak eloquently and refraining from appearing condescending. Additionally, I would like to work on speaking up and trying to understand those around me without being too sensitive. Also, make the goals specific and measurable. Instead of saying something like “I will escape alcohol addiction by fighting the urge to drink,” say “I will reduce alcohol consumption to this amount with the help of a professional’s guidance.” Something serious like alcoholism cannot be recovered from in a short period of time and may require the support of others.
The fourth step is to be true to yourself. Ignore those that discourage or make fun of you for the plans that you set, and stay focused on yourself. All of your goals have been made with intention, and now you know how you can get there and why you have to get there. Instead of focusing on the things that are going on around us, such as drama, we should focus on preparing to transition to the next year strong and smoothly.
Some might believe that there is nothing special about New Year’s Day since it is like any other day with 24 hours. Whether there is a change, though, depends on you. 2025 can be exactly the same with the exact same problems, or it can be better than any other year in our lives.
The self-care industry is selling us stress, not solace
Katharina Staehr Staff Writer
Rough day with classes? A test you thought you did well on didn’t go too hot after all? Drowning in busy work and chasing one assignment after the other? Maybe some friendship drama, too? We’ve all been there—especially now with finals fast approaching. With the end of the semester teasing us with the tantalizing prospect of a well-deserved break, life can appear very overwhelming.
But don’t fret, there’s a simple solution: it’s called “self-care.” Treat yourself to a hot bath, but not without that $15 rose-scented bath bomb. Slip into a $120 cashmere robe and lather up in $30 eucalyptus body butter. Put on some soft pajamas, make yourself a cup of blueberry sage stress relief tea and maybe indulge in some retail therapy online. Feel better already?
Granted, a routine of hot bubble baths, extravagant skin care products and lavish spending habits appears inflated with hyperbole for the everyday consumer. However, when considering that self-care has grown to an $11 billion industry, it doesn’t seem quite as far-fetched after all. Social media trends like “TikTok made me buy it” have gained more than 60 billion views as of 2023, and the TikTok hashtag “selfcare” currently sits at a staggering 13.6 million posts.
The problem with self-care isn’t merely that it has morphed into a money-making machine—it has become a lifestyle that is considered “cool” to entertain. The pitfall? Practicing self-care has begun to feel like work, rather than being something we painlessly incorporate into our daily lives. Thus, achieving stressrelief and betterment through selfcare becomes ironic. The original purpose of the concept disappears into a meaningless, empty buzzword.
The concept of “self-care” first emerged in the 1950s as a means for patients to heal by practicing care and empathy. Amongst the medical community, it was considered an alternative treatment to biomedicine that was intended to improve patients’ self-esteem. During the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, mindfulness techniques, such as meditation and yoga, strengthened African American communities in a society that systematically mistreated them. In this light, modern conceptions of “self-care” become dehumanizing because the original purpose of the idea—its focus on preserving health and dignity in frameworks of oppression—has
been lost through excessive, highend consumerism.
Now the 21st century has welcomed the “wellness epidemic” in which it seems like everyone has an official diagnosis that warrants some form of expensive treatment—from exclusive Pilates classes and energy healing therapies to elaborate skin care regimens, habit tracking apps and self-help books promising to “fix” us.
With the rise of social media, selfcare has garnered an edge of aestheticism too. TikTokers sit at their elegant, perfectly organized vanities, touting their 10-step make-up routine to feel empowered throughout the day; YouTubers flash their
leather-bound notebooks and expansive array of stationery pens they use for gratitude journaling; Instagrammers fashion oversized fleeces and flare leggings in stylish bedrooms from their retail therapy Amazon hauls. Amidst this slew of content, self-care is marketed as a desirable way of living, boasting the very perfectionism it strives to combat.
Indeed, this lifestyle can provide a temporary escape from the seemingly downward spiral that is sometimes called life—it’s that initial burst of excitement when we treat ourselves to a new piece of clothing or attend a Pilates class for the first time. At the end of the day, however, none of this will actually beat our burnout.
What truly lures us in is the reward of social recognition from entertaining habits considered “mentally nourishing.” We aren’t genuinely interested in feeling healthier and happier. Instead, we are racing towards a personal stake in the self-care arena.
What’s more, we quickly begin to hold ourselves to an achievement metric where we must carve out extra time in our day just to “do” selfcare. Yet when stress-relief and welldeserved you time begins to feel like a considerable effort, something has gone awry—self-care is supposed to alleviate stress, not add another item to your to-do list. Self-care doesn’t have to be a product, lifestyle or performance. Think about how self-care practices organically make their way into your day-to-day. Is it your walk to class in the morning? Listening to the banger that gets you out of bed? Your afternoon run or workout? Maybe the meal you share with friends at the dining hall? Self-care isn’t about face masks, retreats or making time for yoga, it’s about changing our perspective on the activities we already do in our daily lives. And that’s something no industry can sell us.
Black Friday may never be the same again
Growing up, Black Friday was an event. My entire family would pile into a couple of cars and drive to the mall on Thanksgiving night. Outside of Walmart, Target and Dillard’s, families would be in line, bundled up in coats and waiting for the doors to open. Once they finally did, everyone would flood inside, tearing the store apart in search of deals. Black Friday was a zoo—you could see someone cursing out a child for grabbing the last bottle of nail polish or yelling at an underpaid, overworked cashier holding up a line of grumbling customers. The day was known for bringing out the worst in people with the best steals of the year. Although, in recent years, the Black Friday mania has dwindled severely for many reasons.
For one, brick-and-mortar stores have increasingly had to contend with rising online empires such as Amazon. Many people now prefer online shopping for everything at one emporium over the inconvenience of heading into multiple stores to find what they’re looking for. As a result, most stores that
prospered in the past few decades have had to raise their prices to survive. In addition to this shift in consumerism, younger generations have begun to popularize alternative forms of acquiring their goods—one of these being thrifting.
There was a time in high school when I felt like the clothing stores that I had grown up loving weren’t updating their merchandise fast enough to fit my evolving taste. I would stop by Hollister or Aéropostale and feel like they were still stocking items that were trendy in the early 2010s, and I was over it. As a result of this, thrifting became something of a hobby for me. I could find good quality, unique pieces of clothing for a fraction of the price in stores. In addition, I found that the clothes people donated helped me to figure out my style, which led to me being more intentional about how I spent my money overall. I was starting to become more educated about the harmful effects of fast fashion, like many other kids in my generation, and could more easily notice that all manufactured items aren’t made with the same amount of care. Additionally, social media platforms such as TikTok have greatly
influenced the life cycle and range of fashion choices, causing younger people to have more radically different aesthetics than possibly ever before. When a swipe is the only thing necessary to influence you, of course it’s easy to discover more style options and hold them up to the ones you already know for comparison. The proliferation of social media, connecting more people and spreading more advertisements over time, has ultimately exposed us to many more ideas and opinions. In turn, this has influenced what we decide to buy and not to buy. Without harping on wasteful consumerism under capitalism too much, I’d like to posit that the substantial decline of Black Friday began after the initial COVID-19 pandemic peak in 2020. Schools were on lockdown and people were meeting outside from six feet away, if not over Zoom. Malls all over the country gradually began to shut down in the aftermath of the virus, with mall vacancies in 2023 at their highest in the past 15 years. A study found that only two in five shoppers last year intended to holiday shop in person at malls, with most survey respondents preferring online shopping. Generally, the closure of malls
coincides with the lack of third places and the rising digitalization of certain spaces. While I may have spent the formative years of my childhood walking around the mall with my friends on the weekend, many people younger than I spend their free time in their bedroom, talking to their friends on a headset from a Robloxian world relatively similar to the one right outside. This is not to claim that this move to a more technology-focused world is bad, but it is certainly a shift from what we’ve known. Our increasing preference for the digital world translates to how we spend our free time and money.
I must say it makes me a bit sad to see what seems like the demise of Black Friday as I knew it in real time. It’s probably for the best that people aren’t trampling each other for a flat-screen TV in aisle 16 of Walmart all that much anymore, although I do think I’ll miss the treasure-hunting sense of excitement and camaraderie that being in such a chaotic environment brought when I was younger. That being said, I remain interested to see what the future of consumerism has in store for us—literally.
Hannah Johnson Opinion Editor
Lucas Yang/The Observer
Volleyball falls in first round of NCAA Tournament
Darcy Chew Sports Editor
Despite an early two-set lead, the Case Western Reserve University volleyball team concluded their 2024 season with a tough five-set fall to the University of Dubuque in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The squad ends the season with an overall record of 24-8 and a 5-2 record in conference play. Earlier in the semester, the Spartans went on a historic 12-0 run in nonconference matches and recorded Head Coach Karen Farrell’s 500th career win. They also made their second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance with the match in Holland, Michigan on Nov. 21, hosted by Hope College.
The two Spartan teams traded points in the first match before CWRU went on a 5-0 run off of a kill by third-year outside hitter Kalli Wall, placing them at a 20-16 advantage. The squad maintained the lead to claim the first set. Following the win, the Spartans then carried the momentum into the second set, taking an early 8-3 lead after another 5-0 run once again led by Wall. CWRU did not relinquish their lead, leaving Dubuque trailing the rest of the set. The final kill by Wall gave the Spartans a 25-18 victory.
However, despite their early two set lead, Dubuque would find their spark and claim the next three sets for the NCAA first round win.
Following the loss, Farrell commented on the results during the post-game press conference.
“Hats off to Dubuque. They really played a great volleyball match. They gave us everything that we can handle and more and a really impressive display,” she said. “We obviously are disappointed with our season ending this way in the first round as it did last year at Hope College.”
During the press conference, Head Coach of Dubuque Karrah Davis commented on the turning point in the match up, leading to Dubuque’s win.
“We were able to get our stuff figured out in the third [set] and carry
all that momentum with us in the third and fourth set to the fifth set.
I’m really proud of [the team] for how we battled back with our mentality,” she said. “[I] said a couple things to get us straightened out a little bit, but it was really them turning it on, getting together and figuring it out.”
While it was an unideal result with the Spartans second consecutive first-round loss at Hope College, the captains were able to reflect upon the success of the season and their achievements during the postgame press conference. In particular, fourth-year captains Rea Marfatia and Carly Scott commented on their graduating senior class.
“Coming in during a recruiting season that was influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, we were all looking to form bonds and we were all really excited for volleyball, but also just for life to get back to normal again. We really grew with each other. We fought through our challenges together and celebrated our successes together. I think these bonds will last far beyond volleyball and for many years to come,” Marfatia said.
“Through our four years, we brought this program up to the level it is at now. We’ve made two appearances [at the tournament] back-toback, which hasn’t been done before and we’re going to be a normal appearance from here on out, I believe. I fully believe it was our class, the class above us, that was the mental turning point of ‘let’s win.’ We’ve had an amazing season and amazing growth in four years.”
Farrell also expressed pride for the nine graduating fourth-years and the impact they have had on the team’s newfound reputation.
“[They’re] a transformational class. All of them, all nine of them. They have worked extremely hard and have been very focused on competing at the highest level,” she said. “We’re super proud of them. They definitely leave a legacy of three straight years [of] 22+-win seasons. The reputation that our program has nationally was unprecedented prior to this.”
Despite their loss at the NCAA Tournament last Thursday, the CWRU volleyball team had a great season, taking pride in their tremendous growth as a team over the last few years.
Courtesy of CWRU Athletics
Scores and Upcoming Games
Wrestling
CWRU at Baldwin Wallace Invitational (11/23) - 4th of 12 teams (126.5 points)
CWRU at 2025 UAA Wrestling Challenge
CWRU vs Aurora (1/4)
CWRU vs Millikin (1/4)
CWRU vs Augsburg (1/4)
CWRU at 2025 Claude Sharer Duals
CWRU vs Manchester (1/11, 11 a.m., Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center)
CWRU vs Otterbein (1/11, 1 p.m., Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center)
CWRU vs St. John Fisher (1/11, 3 p.m., Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center)
Women’s Basketball
CWRU at Pitt-Greensburg (11/23) - W 90-46
CWRU at Mount Union (11/26) - W 58-46
CWRU vs Denison (12/7, 1 p.m., Horsburgh Gymnasium)
CWRU vs Pitt-Greensburg (12/19, 1 p.m., Horsburgh Gymnasium)
CWRU at Gratz Park Private Wealth Holiday Tournament
CWRU at Transylvania (12/29)
CWRU vs Carnegie Mellon (1/11, 3 p.m., Horsburgh Gymnasium)
CWRU at WashU (1/17)
Men’s Basketball
CWRU at Bethany (11/23) - L 93-105
CWRU at Kalamazoo (12/4) - L 75-96
CWRU vs Wooster (12/7, 3 p.m., Horsburgh Gymnasium)
CWRU vs Hiram (12/11, 7 p.m., Horsburgh Gymnasium)
CWRU vs Denison (12/14, 2 p.m., Horsburgh Gymnasium)
CWRU at E.M. “Mose” Hole/Wooster Kiwanis Class
CWRU vs Babson College (12/29)
CWRU vs Pitt-Bradford (12/30)
CWRU vs Carnegie Mellon (12/11, 7 p.m., Horsburgh Gymnasium) CWRU at WashU (1/17)
Swimming and Diving
CWRU at Total Performance Invite (11/21-23)
Men’s team: 5th of 8 teams (1010.5 points)
Women’s team: 4th of 8 teams (1049.5 points)
CWRU at CMU Diving Invite (11/22-23)
Men’s team: No team scoring
Women’s team: No team scoring
NCAA DIII Championships (11/23)
Men’s team: No team scoring Women’s team: No team scoring
CWRU at Spartan Alumni Meet (1/7, 10:30 a.m., Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center)